#i cant walk on bare floor in over half of my small closet room

[ittybittybumblebee]

Guys cn u remind me to clean my room tomorrow its pretty bad

[siriusmydeer]

smut req: being risky with sirius in the showers in the locker rooms after his quidditch practice (omg gia im sorry lol)

caught in the act

sirius black x fem!reader

summary: you and sirius get caught in the locker room showers together.

word count: 1.5k

warnings: penetration, pet names, dirty talk, teasing, choking, getting caught, exhibitionism, mentions of voyerism.

a/n: in my catholic school, during math class, writing smut. sounds v gia to me.

“darling, you don’t want us to get caught now d’you?” he crooned into your ear affectionately and in faux-fright as his hand danced around the hem of your skirt that had been pushed up from his needy touch of your skin. his lips previously nipped small marks of blooming red hues at your neck, his presence evident at your short puffs of air and small splotches of red transitioning to violet on your neck by the minute; his tongue previously drawing dainty swirls on the flushed skin under your ear, your whimpers only persuading him to continue in the public area of the gryffindor locker room.

his fingers buried themselves gravely underneath the hem of your black lace underwear, just at the sight of your jutted lip in limited-patience for his warm touch. your flushed-skin feeling the calloused pads of his fingers glide flawlessly through your cunt. the sight of him beating away bludgers belligerently without the bare amount of effort it usually took others was enough to have you clenching your thighs together as you cheered for the gryffindor male.

he caught the hint as soon as your legs crossed whilst he was mid-flight and sirius caught sight of the impatient recurrent bounces of your leg, suddenly taking several missed opportunities to tease you to the point where once he had finally landed you were anxiously clawing at his uniform in the quidditch lockeroom. “ahh— patience puppy.” he began to chastise you at your desirous whines while pulling on the bottom of his vermillion-hued uniform.

“please— i need you.” it was like your small plead was a rapid switch in his creativity-roaming brain, trying to contain every single sound while students chatted amongst each other just outside the locker room. it was almost a guarantee they would hear— at first sirius wanted to refrain for your sake of embarrassment, as you were a prefect, but now all he wanted was to be buried inside you with the whole of hogwarts students who yearningly pinned after you, hearing how he could make you feel at his very decree.

his hand grasped onto the column of your throat, slightly catching you by surprise but before even uttering a word of confusion he hastily placed his lips on your own; his own desperation taking over his clouded mind. without a warning be shot his tongue directly into your mouth, tasting your recurrent mango lipgloss directly onto his tastebuds every time he kissed you— it was familiar like your tongues greeting, similar to old friends, just tremendously more passionate.

the next thing you heard was the clatter of metal, feeling the small tinge of discomfort at first, realizing you were now pinned up against a vermillion locker with sirius’ small scribbling along with smeared ink all over it. your lips that were once melding like glue, and tongues prodding each other were seperated for a moment. at the anxious flick of sirius’ wand, hot water was streaming from the closet shower, the glass fogging up in merely seconds that could slightly cover up your bodies from any peering eyes that could interrupt the both of you.

you both glanced at the other for a moment, his pearl irises hastily gaping on every detailed aspect of your face; your eyes, the creases in your eyebrows, the pout of your lip, it all drove him absolutely mental in the best way possible. his hands now rapidly opening the buttons of your uniform top, as well as your pleated skirt. your own hands nimbly tugging the maroon and gold jumper off of his torso, pausing for a moment to appreciate the sweaty streaks that were glazed onto his clenched and over-worked abdomen from the quidditch practice he had partaken in.

the heavy sound of the water pouring out of the stream that directly landed onto the ivory tiled floor was heard amongst the teenagers heaving breaths as you both rapidly disarrayed each others clothing and made way to place yourself’s under the searing stream of water.

you hair was clinging to the nape of your neck as you were in a familiarly lustful position with your boyfriend, this time under the scorching shower head; sirius’ hand grasped onto your throat yet again, pressing you against the shower wall in the midst of a passionate kiss. the stream gliding through your body’s, chest to chest, without any room between the couple.

the prod of sirius’ prick was felt directly on your inner thigh, taking tutelage of the situation you placed your legs in a lock behind his back— in the direct position you had been desperately aching to be in for the past hour and a half of watching sirius stride through the air effortlessly on his broom, and his uniform sticking to every nook and cranny of his torso showcasing his an structure to every female sat upon the quidditch stands; a tinge of jealousy still remaining from all the girls fawning over your boyfriend.

“you’re sure?” the murmur was barely coherent, but it was still heard from the close proximity that you both had been sharing for the past ten minutes. the vibration of his words directly hitting your pouted lips as he patiently waited in response for your consent to continue. “yes, need you, please.” you confirmed with the anxious shake of your head.

aligning himself he took the tenacity to steadily push himself into the warm walls of your cunt, you body clenched suddenly as he waited for you to adjust to his substantially sized prick inside of you. he waiting for the shake of your head to continue before he took it upon himself to hold you against the wall of the shower and pace himself in the deep walls of your cunt before starting a paced speed before gaining velocity.

pure skin on skin being shared between the two teenagers, the thrilling feeling of adrenaline shared thickly through each other’s kisses running directly through your blood stream like recurrent laps around the quidditch pitch at the mere thought of someone watching sirius claim you for himself in such a public area. the sound of the falling patter of water mixed with the slap of each other’s skin was prominent; the lingering sounds of hoarseful grunts and moans from the rapid pace that was set from the beginning of his thrusts and only continued as he edged you both further to release.

“my desperate little puppy, begging for me.” the mockery of his words had begun, while he thrusted deeply into the walls of your clenched cunt. your brain bleary in pleasure, too distracted by the way he was inside of you too even nod at his words, you could barely even acknowledge his voice; only finding the will to whimper subconsciously as it travelled from the crevices in your throat directly into his ear.

“cant even mumble a word f’me, getting all fucked out are you?” he began to question your unresponsive figure, he knew you couldn’t answer and just further got off on the fact that your only focus was how he euphoric he could make you feel all at once. the squeeze of your neck from his hand, that had remained on your throat, at the sides evidently brought you to where you were as he awaited your response to his mocking words.

“yes— yes i am.” you finally muttered as the quick broil in your belly started to swirl through your bloodstream recurrently like lightning bolts ready to loop around the crevices of your spine and finally ready to spill into the depths of your awaiting cunt.

the twitch in sirius’ cock was predominant as he was close to his release as well after teasing the both of you for such premeditated amounts of time, “gonna cum, gonna finish.” you hummed into the coagulated air, that was dense from the steam of the shower and the arousal that set into the ventilation system, as he pushed one final thrust inside of your trembling figure the squeak of the door rang through your ear like violent alarms bells ringing like someone had stolen one of the most pristine items in the world.

while in the midst of your elated orgasams both overcoming your sweaty bodies being coated in the scorching water of the shower, while the feeling of sirius releasing into you was overcome in arousal. the tinge of fright started to become more prominent as the seconds ticked of whom had just walked in on you and your boyfriend intensely having sex meters away from them.

“sirius? where is he” you heard the familiar whisper of the quidditch captain, james mother fucking potter, the boy who could never shut his trap walk in on you and sirius having sex. he whistled in thought as he padded in around the locker room in a stroll for his best mate. his eyes starting to crease at the clothes scattered across the floor.

you glanced at sirius with wide eyes as the footsteps became more coherent to both your ears, sirius paused at the whistling numb down, his body frozen inside of you as a small skid was heard on the ground and a heavy sigh following.

“sirius, in the showers? really mate?”

taglist: @sirius-animagus @ronbrokemyheart @aricela @kirascottage @five-cups-of-coffee @myloveforluna @abbott27 @hufflepuffsfordraco

just a reminder i have a seperate tag for nsfw so if you wanted to be tagged in nsfw content go check out my taglist in my navigation!

[hanniiesuckle17]

Stray Kids Reaction: Asking to Borrow S/o's Razor/ Wax

A/n: so this came from the revelation that stray kids probably freaking shave and wax their armpits. BC LIKE OMG THEYVE B EEN WEARING TANK TOPS RECENTLY and like idek man like i was just like its so smooth that cant be natural

Tagging: @distrikt9​ @mini-meanhoe​(if you want to be added to the tag list just comment or reblog! <3)

Warnings: probably some cursing

Bangchan:

“AAAAAHH NO!!!” 

Hearing your boyfriend’s scream you raced to the bathroom door and knocked. This would not have been the first time Chan had fallen asleep in the shower and slipped. “Chan! You okay, love?” You asked, knuckled wrapping against the door. 

“Uhhhh....one sec, Y/n.” 

You waited patiently in the hall before Chan told you to come in. The shower had been turned off and Chan stood in the shorts he was wearing earlier and his hair hung in wet strands in front of his face. “You okay?” You asked eyeing him for injuries. Then your gaze fell upon the little pink razor that lay in two parts in Chan’s hand. Your boyfriend looked from you to the shaving utensil cutely.

“I think I broke it.” He mumbled.

Your heart fluttered seeing his adorable face looking down at the tiny pastel broken razor in his big hands. “Yeah, I think you did, babe.” You did your best not to laugh when he tossed the snapped razor onto the counter. You watched him reach under the sink and pull out a clear bag full of little pink razors. The kind you used to use in middle school. “Oh my gosh, Chan you aren’t using those are you?” 

He blushed seeing you laugh at the bag. “Yeah...why?” 

“Awww baby.” You kissed his cheek and took the bag and tossed it in the trash. Your boyfriend watched you open a drawer and pull out one of the extra razors you had lying around. “Here use this. I’ll go buy you an actual razor this weekend.” His dimples made an appearance as I handed him the metal razor. 

“Thank you, Y/n.” He said kissing your forehead.

Minho:

“Y/n?” Your boyfriend called out into the apartment. “Y/n!” 

You sighed and got up from your comfy place on the couch. “What, Minho?” One of the cats brushed up against your leg as you walked into your shared bedroom. “I thought you were gonna take a shower?” Minho lay face down on the bed, like the drama queen he was. 

“I can find my mppphrhp.”

“You’re what?”

“My mmrmpr.”

“Babe, take your head out of the pillow.” Minho dejectedly rolled over and stared at the ceiling. He didn’t even move when Doori hopped onto the bed and snuggled into his chest. 

“My razor. I can’t find my razor. My stylist called and told me she has me in a cutoff tee tomorrow and I haven’t shaved since before the comeback.” Knowing Minho, he probably left it out on the last tour or something and one of the boys swiped it. They were always ‘borrowing’ things from each other and never giving it back.

“Hold on. I’ve got an idea.” You said turning on the light to the adjoining bathroom. “Are you too upset to take off your shirt?” The only answer you received was a grumble from Minho and the sound of fabric rustling. You came back into the room with a box of wax strips. 

Minho raised his head, hearing the box open and he shot up from the bed fear in his eyes. “Hey...back off.” He tried to laugh off the nervousness as I approached him with a wax strip in hand. “Y/n, you know I love you right?” He said holding a hand out so you kept your distance.

“Come on, Minho. It will only hurt like.....a lot.”

He sprinted out of the room only to trip over a cat, giving you a chance to tackle him and apply a strip to his underarm. “Y/N! NO- OWWWWWWWW YOU ASSHOLE!”

Changbin:

Your nap was interrupted by the sound of your boyfriend loudly opening drawers in the bathroom. “Binnie! Shut the hell up please!” You said stuffing a pillow over your head. He mumbled an apology but continued to loudly open cabinets.

“Hey...baby?” Changbin asked crawling onto the bed. He lifted the pillow from your face and laughed at your scowl. “I need your help.” You shook your head and turned over. “Please....” He tried pulling the covers away from you, but the effort was in vain.

“Y/n I’ll order your favorite takeout if you help me?” He coaxed in a cute voice. Changbin laughed when your sleepy face peeked out from under the covers.

“What do you want, Binnie?”

He huffed and collapsed on top of you, a groan leaving you in response to his weight. “I forgot my razor at the dorms. Do you have one I could borrow?” You rose an eyebrow and wrapped an arm around his bare back. 

“By borrow do you mean gunk up with your armpit hair?” Changbin laughed and nodded. “No, sorry. I only use wax.” He sighed and dropped his head down into your neck. 

“Is it my only option?” 

To be honest, you probably had a cheap razor lying around somewhere, but....he had woken you up from your nap. He deserved it. “Yes, this is your only option.” He whined and rolled off the bed. You told him where you kept the wax and paper and he retrieved them from the bathroom.

“I’m a manly man. This should be nothing.” He said, giving himself a pep talk as you spread wax over a strip and placed it under his left arm. He raised it over his head and readied himself for the pain. “Ooo. That wasn’t so bad.”

“Changbin I haven’t pulled it yet.” He just blushed and stared straight ahead. A high pitched scream filled the apartment when you ripped away the paper.

Hyunjin:

Hyunjin lounged on your shared bed, blonde hair laid out in weird directions as he scrolled through his phone. You walked out of the bathroom carrying the laundry hamper, most of it filled with Hyunjin’s workout clothes. “Oh, Chan called and asked me to remind you that you are filming your dance practice tomorrow.” You said adjusting your hold on the basket.

“Thanks, babe,” Hyunjin answered still on his phone. 

“Your clothes are rank, Jinnie.” You said beginning to sort through the clothes so you could begin laundry. He shot up from the bed eyes wide. You watched as he ran to your closet and searched through the clothes. “What’s wrong?” You asked sorting the dirty clothes.

“All I have left are tank tops.” 

“So? You look really hot in tank tops.” You said with a smile. Hyunjin collapsed against the closet doorframe. “You wanna tell me what’s wrong, drama llama?” He whined and groaned until he collapsed onto the floor in a puddle of depressed Hyunjin.

He pouted up at you. “I forgot to buy a new razor. I can’t film in a tank top tomorrow looking like Bigfoot!” You laughed, finding the tiniest bit of joy in his misfortune. Hyunjin was honestly overreacting. You were certain no one would care if his underarms weren’t smooth and shaved. 

However, knowing he was going to whine and complain and be an overall pain in the butt until the problem was solved, you stopped sorting the laundry. Hyunjin was too caught up in his whiny fit to see you go into the bathroom and pull out an extra razor from under the sink.

“There. Problem solved.” You said tossing it into his lap. 

“Thank you, Y/n.” He said, expression changing to a bright smile like a flip of a coin. He rushed over and gave you a sweet kiss before sprinting into the bathroom and turning on the shower.

Jisung:

“HEY BABY!”

The loud sound of Jisung’s voice rung out through the apartment making you jump. Your ears picked up on the sound of drawers opening and closing. You pushed yourself off the couch and ventured into the bathroom. Your boyfriend stood with messy hair and half his shirt over his shoulder rummaging through the cabinets.

“What’s up handsome?” He sighed, a small whine escaping his lips when his head rolled back.

“I can’t find my razor. I think I lost it on tour.” You leaned against the doorway and watched Jisung continue to search. He gave up eventually and tugged his arm back into his shirt. “Can I borrow yours? I have a performance tomorrow.” He asked cutely taking your hands in his. 

“Jisung, I only have wax strips right now. I used yours if I needed a razor.” Everyone knew guys razors were better. He flinched hearing the word wax. You could practically see the gears turning in his head. He was debating whether to go through the pain of wax or go on stage in a tank top unshaven.

“Fine. But will you help me?” 

You nodded and he trudged his feet into your shared bedroom. “Shirt off babe.” You called before grabbing the strips from below your sink. Jisung lay on your bed, feet planted on the floor and hands covering his face. His tan skin exposed to the air. You leaned over, crawling on top of him and resting your thighs on either side of his waist. “Ready.” He nodded squinting his eyes closed.

He raised his arm and you placed the strip down and smoothed it out. Jisung’s other hand held on firmly to the bedspread. “1...2...” You yanked off the strip before you got to three.

“HOLY FUCK!” Your boyfriend screamed. You took his face in your hands and peppered it with kisses.

“You ready for the other side?”

“No. But....just do it.” He flinched, feeling you press another strip under his other arm.

Felix:

Felix had been in the bathroom for three hours. You were starting to get a little worried. After another hour without hearing the shower or water running, you decided to check on him. Your knuckles tapped on the wooden door. “Felix, baby, you okay?” 

“Actually could you come in? I need some help.” His deep voice floated through the door. The scene that greeted you when you opened the door almost made you laugh out loud. Felix was standing shirtless in front of the mirror his arm raised above his head. Foamy soap was in his armpit and he held scissors in his hand, the blade having little traces of foam soap on it. “What?” He asked when you started laughing.

“Felix, what the fuck are you doing?”

“I’m trying to shave. We are filming at a water park tomorrow.” 

You could no longer hold in your laughs. Felix watched you fall to the floor clutching your side. “Oh my gosh....I can’t breathe.” You said between labored laughs. 

“Why are you laughing at me?” He asked completely serious. You smiled seeing your boyfriend look at you with utter confusion his arm still slightly raised. He watched you lean in and place a kiss to his lips. “What was that for?” He asked, though he thoroughly enjoyed the kiss. He smiled feeling your fingers play with the end of his hair.

“You are too cute.” He blushed and looked down. “If you needed to borrow a razor all you had to do was ask, baby.” He smiled and kissed you again.

“Can I use your razor, please, darling?” I reached into the nearest drawer, a hand still on Felix’s cheek, and pulled out the shaving utensil. “Thank you, Y/n.”

“What’s mine is yours, Lix.”

Seungmin:

“Hey, Y/n?” Your boyfriend called. 

You set down the spoon you were stirring with and turned down the heat on the stove. “Coming, Min. One sec!” You wiped your hands on a towel before following your boyfriend’s call into your bathroom.

He was on his knees and searching for something under your sink. “Hey, can I borrow your razor?” He questioned as if he was simply asking the time. The question confused you. He wanted to borrow your razor? Like the one you shaved your legs with?

“My what?” 

“Your razor.” 

Still quite confused you walked into your bedroom and pulled out your still semi-full suitcase. You had gotten back from a trip a few days ago and Seungmin had spent the last few nights at your place. He claimed that it was because he needed a break from the boys, but you knew he missed you. His arms wrapped around your stomach from behind and he watched you search through your bag for the shaving utensil.

“Why do you need this again?” You asked, pulling out your toiletry bag.

“Cause I usually borrow Jisung’s before a performance but Changbin stole it before I could.” 

“I’m gonna ignore how unhygienic that is.” You said pulling out a clean razor from under your shampoo bottle. “Here you go.” His hand brushed yours when he took the commercial blade from your grip.

“Thanks cutie.” He surprised you by pressing an exaggerated kiss to your cheek before running back to the bathroom.

“KIM SEUNGMIN IF YOU CLOG MY RAZOR I WILL CASTRATE YOU.”

“I KNOW!”

Jeongin:

“Y/n?” Your boyfriend called. Innie was somewhere in your apartment doing something. This was one of the few days the Jeongin had free of any schedules and you were ecstatic he chose to spend it with you at home. 

He turned when you opened the door to the bedroom. Jeongin sat on the edge of the bed in a loose tank top. “What’s up, handsome?” You asked jumping onto the bed and resting your chin on his shoulder. 

“Do you have a razor I could borrow?” Your brows furrowed in thought. To your recollection, you only had wax strips. They gave you a closer shave job than a razor. He sighed when you shook your head ‘no’.

You rubbed his shoulder and he gave you a half-assed smile. “I have wax strips. They will be a little painful, but they will get the job done.” Jeongin let out a nervous laugh before shrugging and letting me go get the strips from the bathroom. 

“How much is it gonna hurt?” He asked, eyes going soft. He laid down on the bed at your direction and raised his arms over his head. 

“Not as much getting your ears pierced.” You said placing the wax strip in his armpit and smoothing it out.

“I don’t have my ears pierced.”

“Yeah, when are you gonna do that? You would look really hot with piercings.” In the middle of your sentence, you ripped away the paper making your boyfriend yelp in pain. “Aww....baby.” You leaned down and kissed his cheek before moving to his lips. 

“You’re right that wasn’t too bad.”

Requests are open my lovelies! Just send an ask!

Masterlist

[notanacousticsetcal]

broken pieces - calum hood

summary - an imagine based off of the song “broken pieces” by 5 seconds of summer.

warnings - angst

word count - 1.6k

a/n - this is one of my favorite things i’ve ever written omg. i feel so proud of it. i hope yall like it.

i woke up in the place we started. your clothes on the floor in that old apartment. i never thought you'd leave with out a trace.

calum stirred, slowly coming back to consciousness. he took in his surroundings. your shared bedroom in your LA apartment. he could faintly hear the buzz of traffic outside coming through a window just barely ajar. something was different. memories flooded back of last night. the argument that broke out between you. stupid stuff you spew at each other every single night about how he doesn't try anymore and how you seem bored in the relationship. how he drinks too much and should quit smoking. how you were all over that guy at the party. both of you knew the relationship was deteriorating. both of you constantly on edge, the warmth in your apartment that had been there so long ago wiped almost completely. he pinched his nose in annoyance. why had he said the things he said? he sat up sleepily, ready to face you, probably sulking and as pissed off as ever in the kitchen with a cup of coffee. he braced himself to apologize. calum blinked slowly, running his hands over his eyes and rubbing them fiercely. he couldn't believe what he was seeing. the closet was open and half empty, some scattered garments of yours laid unclaimed on the floor, left behind, forgotten, your makeup was cleared from the desk. the room looked bare. you left.

i cant shake this sinking feeling. i know you're not there and i'm barely breathing. holding onto things i cant replace.

calum sat at the kitchen island, head in his hands, the coffee ashton brought him untouched. "mate, you can get her back. this doesn't have to be the end if you don't want it to be." ashton clapped a hand onto calum's back and shook his shoulder sympathetically. "you do want her back, don't you?" calum sighed impatiently. "things haven't been good between us for a while. maybe it's for the best." ashton looked solemn and disappointed. "think about this, mate." and with that, ashton stood and headed for the door, stepping out into the quiet hallway and leaving calum to his thoughts. he wondered what she must be doing right now. she's probably staying with her sister, playing with her niece to distract herself from the heartache. calum pictured her with the little girl, giggling and smiling that beautiful smile of hers, her morning hair tousled and messy and her eyes squinty with sleep. calum felt his heart sink into his stomach. he pictured the way she looked that day at the park when he surprised her with flowers, her pink lips quirking up into a delighted smile. her cheeks flushed in the LA heat and her skin dewy in a thin layer of sweat. he could see her little yellow sundress and the way it complimented her figure. he pictured the way she sat, how she leaned into him while he told stories. how she laughed at even his lamest jokes. he felt himself getting choked up at the memory of how she looked sleeping in the morning, her hair a mess against the silky pillow and her lips the slightest bit chapped, mouth ajar. she looked peaceful. he wondered what she was dreaming about as her nose scrunched in distaste. calum's head sunk farther into his hands and his fingers gripped angrily at his hair. everything he did that day, every time his brain flipped to thinking about something - anything - else, his mind was plagued with her again. her eyes and her smile and the way she smelled like flowers and strawberries and the way her hair tickled his face and what it was like to kiss her. he couldn't even remember why he was upset the night before.

i'm looking for a way to change my mind. don't walk away. oh tell me what we're fighting for. it's turned into an all out war.

calum knew your relationship was toxic. the way you never said how you both truly felt and avoided calling each other out on your shit until you were so pissed off that it all unloaded at once in an explosion of name calling and accusations and pent up frustration and resentment. the way you both got so intoxicatingly jealous and didn't trust each other as far as you could throw one another. but calum knew what you had was so immensely passionate, so intoxicatingly fiery and overwhelmingly intense that even with the biggest of fights and quarrels, you had the most loving and intimate moments. your love for each other was so huge that you would go to any extreme to please the other person and you couldn't get enough of each other. calum knew what he had with you was a once in a life time type of love. everything logical in him told him to let you go, but his heart practically stopped beating at the thought.

our last words ringing in my head. i wish we'd take back all the things we said. i'm trying to find a way to yesterday.

calum remembered how you threw petty insults at each other that only got more hurtful as the argument escalated. he remembered the pained look in your eyes as you watched him walk to the bedroom. "i'm going to sleep." he had said. why didn't he acknowledge that you were hurting? why didn't he take a step outside himself and realize that there were healthier ways to tell you how he felt? he was immature, you were stubborn. but he could've been the bigger person. if he took that first step, he knows you would've apologized. he knows you regretted it as much as he did. calum gripped the counter tightly, exasperated and so angry at himself. why did he get so caught up in it? he would take it back in a heartbeat if he could. he just gets so riled up, you make him feel a way that no one else can. with all that passion in the form of love, there comes passion in the form of heat and confrontation. its almost like he couldn’t find a way to have one without the other.

if he had just apologized, you would be sat at the island watching him dance around cooking your breakfast. you would be laughing your laugh — the one that's so contagious that whenever you smile calum feels his lips turn up and his chest lighten. the laugh that makes a dark room feel like the surface of the sun. you would have your fuzzy sock covered feet stowed away underneath you, warm cup of tea in hand. your hair would fall around your shoulders, catching the morning light. you would look at him so fondly, his favorite look. calum wanted to take it all back. more than anything.

i'll find a way to fix these broken pieces and let go. and let go, let go, let go. fix these broken pieces and let go.

after spending the entire day in sheer agony, calum sat anxiously on the couch, desperately wishing you were tucked into his side watching the social network or se7en or train spotting. everything he used to do with you felt completely useless without you. he missed the light you were in his life. how you always seemed to be able to make him laugh and the look of concentration on your face when you read and the way you talked to duke. fed up with himself and feeling so fucking miserable, calum grabbed his coat and stormed out the door, car keys in hand. he sped his way to your sisters house, rolling through a few too many stop signs, but he couldn't be bothered. he needed to see you. he quickly threw the car in park and raced up to the door, slamming his fist against the wood like there was no tomorrow. but that's the thing, every tomorrow would feel the same — boring, bland and gray, without you. your sister opened the door, bleary eyed with annoyance written all over her face. she sighed, not surprised in the slightest. "cal, it's late." she began to close the door on him but he stopped her, a pleading look of desperation in his eyes. "please, let me see her," he begged, one arm on the wall and one on the white door. "cal, you had all day and now it's 10 o'clock and you're too fucking late." she attempted to shove the door closed with more force this time and calum was going to let her. she was right. he should've come sooner. idiot. but a small, fragile voice piped up from behind her. one calum thought he might never hear again. "no, it's alright. let him in." your sister rolled her eyes and hesitantly moved from the door frame. "don't make me regret this," she muttered. calum stayed rooted on the porch, partially in shock that you wanted to see him and partially in shock that you somehow managed to get more beautiful every time he saw you. even when he thought it was impossible. "calum, if you don't come in right now, i'm locking you the fuck outside." calum snapped out of his trance and stepped softly inside, throwing an apologetic smile your sisters way. he started walking slowly towards you but once he picked up on the heartbreak and pain in your eyes, he rushed over and pulled you into a bone crushing hug. there's that damn strawberry shampoo that he missed. he didn't want to smell anything else for the rest of his life. he felt that familiar feeling of your hands wrapping around his waist, sitting comfortably like they were made to be there. he could stay like this forever. he knew in that moment that he would do anything and everything to make sure he never had to spend another night without you. whatever broken pieces made up the two of you, he knew they fit together like an 1,000 piece puzzle. and he would spend the rest of his life gluing them back together if he had to.

[the-sunshine-dims]

the one time janus didn't mind his body turning him into a snake

i’m not the most proud of the second halves timing but its fine,

i’m pretty sure this is from a prompt by @sanderssides-prompts but i cant find it so i have no clue

words: 1495

contents and warnings: fluff, hurt/comfort, snakes, turning into a snake, cold, hopeful ending, panicking, borrowing without permission (for a good reason), cursing, minor injury,

ao3 link

___

Janus quickly walked down the hallway, Virgil's hoodie and Patton’s cardigan in hand, he internally promised them he'd return them later. But currently the reason of having them in the first place is his priority, he bites back a wad of guilt, but he’s really cold, he doesn’t wanna transform into a snake, it’s always extremely tiring being that vulnerable and honestly it was kind of embarrassing, at least it’s early in the morning, barely six am, so at least he has time before he has to give it back.

Suddenly he feels his body getting smaller and oh no not yet

He thought he had time before his body decided to take his temperature into its own hands.

He tried to take a shaky breath but by the time he managed to it came out into a soft hiss.

Suddenly his senses were dulling and in the warm pile of soft garments he couldn’t help but drift off, he didn't even realize he hadn’t gotten close to his room.

——

Virgil searches restlessly for his hoodie, he swore he put it on the chair in his room, he was almost certain of it, and he was getting stressed the longer he looked, he looked everywhere and There was no way it could even be in his room.

But how could it just vanish?

after a couple long suffering minutes he sighed before deciding to summon Patton, he wished he didn’t have to bother him but he knew If he didn’t appear at all throughout the day do to searching for The hoodie he would end up being worried, and hey at least it wasn’t necessarily early.

“Patton” he exhaled the words and Patton shot up practically instantly,

One thing Virgil noticed instantly was the clear lack of a cardigan

Patton still smiled though. “hey kiddo what do you need?”

“My hoodie, it’s just.. gone, do you know where it is?” 

Patton hummed before shaking his head “I don’t, sorry kiddo,” after a moment he brightened “maybe the one who took your hoodie was The one who took my cardigan!” He paused and pointed to his shoulders to indicate what he meant in case Virgil hadn't noticed. “which as you see is gone.” 

Virgil can’t help but chuckle softly and nod, after a moment though he paused “will we have to go talk to the others?”

Patton tilts his head like a confused puppy “yes?”

Virgil hunches in on himself, it was one thing to have Patton see him without the hoodie, it was a whole Nother thing for the others to see him without his safety blanket..

Suddenly Patton’s eyes fill with understanding and soft sympathy.

“If you want I can ask them for you? But I think you would want it sooner, so maybe, you could wear another hoodie?” He asked softly before hastily added “just until we find your hoodie! I know your hoodie’s special to you after all!”

Virgil exhaled “okay”

“Okay?”

Virgil nodded “okay. I’ll just wear another hoodie until we find it, it’ll be fine.”

Patton gives him a sympathetic smile before Virgil went into his closet to find a hoodie,

Unfortunately for him he could only find a pastel purple hoodie he didn’t know he had, so he huffed before putting it on, and it may not have been his hoodie but the weight on his shoulders was familiar and grounding.

So he took a breath before uttering “let’s go”

.

They barely made it down the hallway before they saw the lump.

Their clothes!

They got all excited and were about to pick it up before they saw the small vibrant yellow snake sleeping in the clothes.

Virgil exhaled, he wasn’t even mad, he couldn't even be mad, he knew Janus’s body heat was naturally really cold and because he was half snake he needed more heat then he almost ever got, and he also knew the subconscious was already oddly cold, and he knew he hated to transform into his snake form, so naturally he tried anything to not transform.

So he gently picked the snake up and put them in his hood, close to his neck so the heat would radiate to Janus.

He then picked the articles of clothing off the floor and handed Patton’s cardigan to him

Patton took a moment before just pointing to Janus utterly baffled “where did the snake come from?”

Virgil sighed “Janus,” he said as if that was the simplest of answers and Patton was clearly confused so he continued “he gets cold and when he gets to cold he turns into a snake, I’m guessing Remus was gone if he resorted to his last method of warming up,”

Patton then squealed “he can turn into a snake!” He said excitedly.

Virgil quickly shushed him, pointing to the still sleeping form, Patton pouted but just continued more quietly

Virgil exhaled “Patton, your room is warmer right?”

Patton grinned and nodded.

___

Two hours had passed, Janus had awoken a couple times but his mind was still in snake mode so he simply slithered over to Patton or Virgil to wrap himself around their arms or any other warm appendages he found.

Patton was absolutely delighted, and he was happy he wasn’t the only one who turned into an animal.

The two had been working in silence when Janus turned back into his human form, he was still asleep on Patton, his head resting on Patton’s lap.

And Patton froze, not knowing what to do, he didn’t want to wake him up but he had to get stuff, 

Virgil huffed softly and just grabbed a blanket and plopped it onto Janus.

Patton gave a nervous smile to Virgil, and Virgil just smiled and sat next to him “where’d all that excitement go?” He asked jokingly before giving a small chuckle.

Patton pouted before whisper-panic-yelling “Virgil, what if I wake him up or he panics because he’s in here!” 

“Patt, it’s okay, like there's a big chance he’ll still be tired so he won’t have the energy to panic, also we’ll both have to be nicer to him, that way he won’t be weirded out that the one time we’re nice to him was the time he unsuccessfully stole our clothes.”

Patton sighs and starts to play with Janus’a hair “I guess so, I still hope he doesn’t get all panicky, I know i probably would..” 

Virgil smiled softly “your okay Patton, nothing will go incredibly wrong,”

“Okay..” he sighed once again and went back to carding his fingers through janus’s hair.

“Don’t worry Patton, that’s my job.”

Patton laughed “will do”

Unfortunately the laughing ended up joggling Janus and he shifted and grumbled 

Virgil and Patton froze, they may have just been comforted but now they are faced with not knowing what would actually happen.

Janus groggily looked up, he blinked a couple times before just curling back up,

And then barely a minute later he realized who it was and remembered that he had stolen (and hadn’t returned) their clothes, he flung himself away, ending up hitting his back on Patton’s bed.

Patton let out a concerned gasp, he didn’t want Janus to get hurt or bruised!

Janus got lost in his head in panic and Patton slowly and carefully scooted on his knees closer, holding his hands up in a placating gesture.

“Janus, are you okay?” Patton asked softly

“have- have I stepped into an alternate universe?” He asked incredulously, why did he wake up in Patton’s lap and why didn’t he hear yelling? He stole their stuff! Sure it was for a good reason and he was planning to return them..

“No, sweetheart your not-“

“Ooh Patton said sweetheart, bringing out the big guns”

Patton pouted at Virgil and Virgil chuckled

“Anyway, sweetheart, no you’re not, you were in your snake form- which Virgil explained to me, and you shouldn’t have to steal clothes for a little bit just to stay warm, so we’re gonna try and be as nice as we can to you so that if nothing else, as a last resort you can come to us for cuddles instead of having to take stuff.”

Janus stared at him, and looked at Virgil, silently asking a question, Virgil nodded, and Janus took a breath, “you sure?”

Patton nodded then paused, “you and Roman should apologize to each other, that way their won’t be any bad blood, but yes I’m sure, you were out for like four hours, I had time to think this through,”

“Okay.. that’s fair, and-“ he took a breath -“okay. But if I do end up spending more time with you guys Remus is gonna end up coming along,”

“Fuck yeah! I need to show him how much I’ve bested him at dance dance revolution!” virgil piped up almost gleefully.

“Language..?”

Janus couldn’t help but laugh. Even if he was still really confused about what happened, maybe it would all turn out okay?

[something-tofightfor]

Tipping Point - 13

Pairing: Benjamin Greene x Reader

Word Count: 9025

Rating: NSFW-ish (There’s some language. Some adult themes. Some... zest.)

Summary: Finally back at your place, you and Benjamin spend the second to last day (and night) of his trip together - and a couple of very unexpected things happen. 

Author’s Note: This one got long too, but I couldn’t cut it in any other place. (I’m sorry) Getting this chapter right was really important to me - because it shows you what Benjamin’s true motivations are... as well as gives you (as a reader) a stronger sense of who this Reader really is, too.

He opened his eyes, blinking to focus them. This bed is… Stretching, Benjamin’s arm brushed against the balled-up blanket next to him and he turned his head toward it. What time is it? He pushed himself up with both hands, looking around the empty room. Obviously after nine. Benjamin rubbed a hand over his head and yawned, rolling out his neck. Downstairs. He got out of the bed and moved across the room and to the dresser, his gaze landing on the postcard that you’d picked up to show him only a few nights earlier before they moved down to the things that were on top of it - bottles of perfume, a brush, a small tray that was filled with jewelry. I don’t know why I’m looking, I won’t… I won’t be here much longer. 

 Benjamin turned away from the mirror, reaching for the t-shirt he’d removed the night before and pulled it on over his head, grabbing for his glasses on the nightstand and then leaving the room, making his way down the hallway. The two of you had spent a few extra hours downtown - managing to get tickets to the Skydeck as well as taking a guided architecture tour that put you on a boat that traveled along the shoreline and up the river. Sunny skies and warm but not hot temperatures had made it pleasant for both of you, and Benjamin knew that he’d think back on the trip often. We’ve got the pictures to prove it, too. 

 There were very few pictures of him and Julia - and there’d been even fewer of him with Allie, but in Chicago? He had photographic proof that you’d happily accompanied him almost everywhere he’d been. And I didn’t even have to convince her. Benjamin grinned as he made it down the final few steps and turned toward the room that he’d slept in for the first few weeks of his stay - the room you’d had turned into your home office. 

 The door was shut almost all the way, and though he paused before knocking, trying to listen and make sure you weren’t on the phone, he didn’t need to. “Come in, Benjamin. I hear the floor creaking.” Grinning wider, he pushed the door open, stepping inside and meeting your eyes. “It’s about time you woke up.” 

 “It’s barely nine.” He licked his lips, sitting on the arm of the couch, just behind you at the desk. “You act like it’s midday.” You laughed at that, reaching back with one hand and waiting until Benjamin took it in his, squeezing your fingers tightly. “I didn’t even hear your alarm, you -”

 “It didn’t go off.” You shrugged. “But you were out, Benjamin. You didn’t move, even when I was getting my clothes out of the closet.” I must have… needed the sleep. “I’ve got a conference call in about fifteen minutes, and then…” He leaned forward, cutting you off with a kiss - one that ended much too quickly for him. 

 “I won’t bother you. Just wanted to say good morning.” You were smiling when he pulled away, keeping his face close to yours. “Get back to work, I’ll go into the other room after I eat.” He felt your fingertips on his cheek and heard you sigh; a contented sound that he didn’t think he’d ever get enough of. “I’ve got some calls to make, anyway… Zac reached out while we were downtown, and so did Leo, so…” 

 “Sounds good, Benjamin.” You leaned back in your chair, Benjamin still leaning forward. “When I’m done here I’ve got to do some stuff outside. Eric said he’d cut the grass for me while we were gone, but he didn’t, and I cant put it off until Sunday night -”

 “I’ll do it now.” Benjamin stood, nodding. “Not a big deal, as long as the noise won’t -”

 “No, I can’t ask you to…” But he held up his hand, raising his eyebrow. “If… if you’re sure, you can…” I’m sure. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but… have you ever -”

 “Yes.” He laughed. “Julia normally had people come in and cut, but I’ve used a mower before.” He shrugged. “I’ll manage.” 

 “Go into the garage through the kitchen, and just press the button to open it. The gas is -”

 “I said I’ll manage.” He laughed again, leaning in and letting his lips rest against your cheek. “Get back to work.” Benjamin turned and walked back to the door, glancing over his shoulder at you before stepping back into the hallway. “Hey.” You turned to look back at him, one side of your mouth rising in a half smile. This feels too normal, too… right. He gripped the wooden door frame for a moment and then shook his head. Don’t question it. “When you’re done with work, can I…” He paused, straightening his shoulders. “Can I take you out to dinner?” You didn’t hesitate before you answered. 

 “Yes.” Chewing on your lip, you nodded. “I’d like that very much, Benjamin.” So would I. 

 A few minutes later, Benjamin was in your kitchen, standing in front of the stove and using a rubber spatula to carefully cook an omelette. As the pillowy eggs began to bubble around the edges, he reached over, grabbing a handful of cheese and sprinkling it over the surface before folding it over onto itself. Breakfast and then outside before it gets too hot. That way… when she’s done, we’ve got the whole night together.  He slid the eggs onto a waiting plate and then pulled two slices of bread from the toaster. I’ll have to look up places near here. Turning to the table, he frowned. This is the only date we’ll be … He sat, palms flat against the wooden surface of your table as he stared down at his plate. The only actual date we’ll be able to have while I’m here. 

 --- 

 Two hours later, Benjamin was stretched out on your bed, phone in his hands and his hair still wet from the shower he’d taken after mowing your front and back yards. Thankfully, there’d been a pair of Eric’s old Nikes for him to wear, and Benjamin hadn’t had to mow in his boots. I would have if I’d needed to, though. He grinned, staring up at the ceiling. Your lunch break fell while he was in the back yard, and more than a few times, Benjamin felt your eyes on him through one of the windows, watching as he mowed. He’d gone back inside to a large glass of ice water and a sandwich waiting on the counter for him, and after gulping it down, he’d gone straight to the shower, spending long minutes under the cold spray to remove the sweat and grass clippings from his skin, mentally reminding himself not to get used to the way he felt. 

 Find a restaurant. Call Zac. Message Leo. But Benjamin didn’t do those things in order, and to his surprise, he found himself pressing the button to call Leo first, mentally calculating the time difference in his head as the phone rang. He should be out of work, by now, and at home and - “Benjamin! How’s America treating you?” He cleared his throat, staring at the ceiling. That’s a loaded question. 

 “I’m… having a good time.” It’s not the whole truth. “I’ve seen a lot, Leo, it’s been…” He heard the younger man scoff on the other end of the line. “What?”

 “Mum’s about having a conniption over your trip.” That didn’t take long. “She came in to London on Wednesday for dinner with Patrick an’ me, and didn’t shut up about it.” 

 “Leo, she called me last weekend, said she couldn’t have been happier that it was finally over, I don’t -”

 “She said that, Benjamin. And she badmouthed you and that American girl you’re staying with, saying that you deserve each other, but she’s hurt.” She has no right to be hurt, I tried everything. I wanted to save the marriage, I… “Patrick agreed with her, of course, swearing and calling you every name in the book and reminding her that she saved herself loads of trouble by getting away from you quickly, but…” Leo paused. “Benjamin, mate, you look… you look happy.” I am. “And it’s not like there’s anything going on with you and… what’s her name again?” He reminded Leo absently, frowning. “You told me before you left that she’s seeing someone, yeah?” Yeah. Well. 

 “Yeah, Leo, about that.” Leo laughed, the sound clear through the speaker. “No, it’s not like that, Leo. Their relationship wasn’t what I thought it was, but… that’s not the point.” What is the point? “She’s happy to have her brother home, and -”

 “Looks like she’s spending quite a lot more time with you than she is with her brother, Benjamin.” You can tell this from pictures? Really? “Whatever makes you happy, yeah?” Yeah. “I’m surprised you called, though. You could have just sent back a text, it‘s what I’dve done.”

 “Yeah, well, you said you had something to ask me?” He heard Leo take a breath. “Leo?”

 “Yeah, look, Benjamin.” Leo paused. “I needed… I needed to ask you if…” Whatever this is, it’s… “I’ll be applying to a few places, and I wanted to see if I could use you as a reference. You know, a character reference, just since… since we lived together for all that time.” What? “You’re not technically related, and I know that we’ve had our -”

 “Yes. Of course, Leo.” Genuinely shocked, Benjamin sat up. “I’m not sure what I can tell them if they call, but…”

 “You saw me when I was working with Kieran, and I’m sure… I’m sure you can say something about how I’ve matured and… I donno, Benjamin, they might not call, and I…” 

 “Stop. I’ll sort it out if anyone calls, Leo.” He closed his eyes. “What did you mark me down as, though? I’ll need to -”

 “Family friend. A bit of a fib, but…” Benjamin laughed. “Seeing as I’m the only one in the family that really thinks of you that way, but…” You do? “Anyway, Sara and I are heading out to see a movie tonight, but I’m glad that I talked with you before we left.” 

 “I am too, Leo.” Benjamin stood, beginning to pace the small space between the foot of the bed and your dresser. “We’ll need to get together for that pint when I’m back, and you can  -”

 “No. You can tell me about your trip to Chicago, Benjamin. And everything that’s happened while you’re there.” There was a short pause. “I bet there’s a lot that the pictures don’t show, yeah?” 

 “You’re a lot smarter than people give you credit for, Leo Day.” Both men laughed, and when they’d hung up, Benjamin quickly typed out a response to Zac instead of calling, not expecting a reply. That’s sorted, then. Benjamin continued to pace for a few seconds and then headed downstairs, settling onto the couch and turning the TV on, idly flipping through channels. Plenty of time to look up a place to eat. She works for another three hours. 

 But the early wake-up coupled with the difficulty of cutting your lawn in the building heat only added to the lingering fatigue he felt from a few days of walking around the large city, and within minutes, Benjamin was slumped down against one arm of the couch, fast asleep. 

 --- 

 “Hey.” He felt a hand on his arm at the same time as he heard your voice. “Benjamin.” I’m dreaming. “If you’re going to sleep, at least lay down.” He cracked an eye open, seeing that you’d perched in front of him on the edge of your coffee table. “You must be -”

 “Come here.” Benjamin swallowed, pulling himself up into a sitting position. “I didn’t mean to … to fall asleep.” He rubbed a hand over his face, still waking up. How long did I sleep for? “What time is it?” He questioned you as you settled onto his lap, head leaning against his shoulder. “Are you done with -”

 “Yeah, I’m done for the day, Benjamin.” He kissed the top of your head, arms wound tightly around you. “I went upstairs when I finished, but you weren’t there, and then I found you sleeping here, and I didn’t want to wake you up.” He heard the uncertainty in your voice and felt the way your fingers curled against his chest. 

 “But?” You sighed. 

 “But this is the second to last night you’ll be here, and I didn’t think you’d want to spend it sleeping sitting up on my couch.” You’re right. “But if you -”

 “No. I want to take you out. On a…” He paused before he said the word, testing it out in his mind before making it reality. “On a date.” He hadn’t been out on a date - a real date since Julia’s birthday weekend, but the word felt natural coming out of his mouth in relation to you. I know we had downtown, but...“Only if you want to, though, I know that we’ve not gotten to that point yet, but we… I just…” He was fumbling with his words - not because he didn’t think you wanted to go out with him, but he didn’t know how you’d feel about the word date being used. “It doesn’t have to be a date, we can just go out as friends and -” You sat straight up, lips pressed together, but didn’t say anything. “Why are you looking at me like that?” 

 “Are you done?” Done what? “I can be ready in twenty minutes, Benjamin.” What? “If you think,” you said, speaking quietly and leaning in, biting one corner of your lip. “That after this last few days? After … this?” You gestured between the two of you, tone serious. “That I wouldn’t want it to be… a real date?” You kissed him, Benjamin leaning into the softness of it, the surety. “You’re crazy.” He tightened his hold on you even though the kiss was brief, his heart thudding in his chest. “And I already know you’re not crazy, Benjamin Greene.” You spread your fingers against his chest, palm flat. “So I’ll go get changed.” 

 You stood before he could say anything, pushing off of his lap and moving back toward the door. “Wait.” He was dazed - still waking up and surprised at how serious you were being with him. “Where do you… what do you want to eat, I need to narrow things down a bit, I’m sure there are tons of restaurants, and I want to be sure you -”

 “I’m not picky, Benjamin.” You shrugged. “We could go down the street to get burgers and I wouldn’t care.” What a difference. He thought back to Julia - to the way she’d turned her nose down at much of the Shard’s menu, at the idea of cooking at the flat, of ordering take-away on nights when they’d been occupied until late. This is so different. “But.” You crossed your arms. “There’s a place called Francesco’s. It’s… a little bit of a cliche, because… Italian, but the food’s good, and they change their specials twice a day.” You grinned. “So it’s kind of always a surprise what they’ll actually have.”

 “That keeps it interesting, right?” You nodded, agreeing, and then turned and left the room, leaving Benjamin alone. This is really happening, then. He gave himself a few minutes and then stood, too, following you out of the room. Instead of going upstairs, though, Benjamin returned to your office, already trying to decide what to wear. I’ve already made a good impression on her, but now I have to make a lasting one. 

 --- 

 “That was,” Benjamin said, pushing his plate away. “The best chicken I think I’ve ever eaten.” You laughed, taking a long drink through your straw. “Don’t you think so?” You’d gotten something else - having already had the dish that Benjamin had chosen - but he’d made you taste it once it had been delivered, unable to believe that something so good had come from such a nondescript restaurant.

 “No, it’s good Benjamin.” You shrugged. “I guess I just didn’t think you’d be so excited about -”

 “I am.” He reached across the table, squeezing your hand. “And it was, and I can’t think of a better meal to have ended this trip with.” We’ve still got tomorrow, but I don’t want to assume. “Thank you for suggesting this place, I’m glad we came.” 

 “Last meal?” You shook your head, eyes flicking to the waitress, who brought your check and set it in front of Benjamin, standing the case up on his side of the table. He stopped himself from grabbing for it immediately, though you made no move for it either, aside from nodding at the woman before she retreated. “Benjamin, you’ve got one more night here, which means one more dinner.” Good. “Since you brought me here tonight, can I…” You gestured to the case, but didn’t reach for it as Benjamin shook his head no. “Can I take you out for ice cream on the way home then?” Ice cream? “Or do you want me to throw some money in for the tip? I -” She’s not assuming, she’s asking. 

 “No.” He grinned, nose wrinkling. “Well, yes to the ice cream, but no to you paying. This is… I wanted to do this for you.” You leaned back in your chair, eyes on him as he scanned the receipt, pulling out cash instead of his card. I’ve got to use it before I leave, I might as well… 

 “Then I’ll pay next time.” You took a breath. “Whenever that might be.” Damn. He tried not to react to your words, but couldn’t hold back his wince. It might be a while. “But.” You stood, tilting your head to the side. “It’s a Friday, and it’s summer, which means that Graeter’s is probably going to be busy, so the sooner we get there…” He stood too, and as you walked through the small restaurant and toward the door, Benjamin stared after you. I don’t want to leave. You made it to the parking lot, stopping before you unlocked your door and turning back to face him. “I’m sorry that this isn’t… that it’s just… just cheap Italian in a strip mall, and not -” 

 He took the final steps toward you, backing you up against the side of your car and shook his head. “Stop.” He kissed you, the surprised sound you made at the action burning itself into his brain, and when he pulled back, he repeated himself. “Stop saying things like that. This is exactly where I want to be and what I want to be doing. You said it yourself. You would have been happy with a hamburger, and so would I.” I would have. “Before Julia? Before all the home cooking and the nice restaurants? I survived on cheap takeaway and convenience foods.” He leaned in again, nuzzling the side of your face. “I prefer simple.” He chuckled, feeling your hands on his sides, the pressure from your touch steady. “Always will.” And I mean it. 

 “If you say so.” You sounded uncertain, but didn’t push him away, Benjamin’s hands resting on your hips. “But we’re in a parking lot, Benjamin, and this is…” You let out your breath. “Pushing it.” He hadn’t realized how close he was standing to you; your bodies pressed together, your back flush against the cool metal of your car door, and Benjamin backed away first, still not pulling his hands away from you completely. 

 “One of these times,” he promised you, eyes locked with yours. “I won’t… we won’t have to worry about anyone else.” You seemed surprised at his words, but nowhere near as surprised as Benjamin was. Since when do I… “Forget it. Let’s just go… ice cream.” You nodded, finally breaking eye contact, and as you turned to unlock your door, Benjamin walked to the other side, his heart beating wildly. “I’m sorry if that crossed the line.” He settled in, buckling his seatbelt. “I don’t know what…” 

 “Don’t apologize.” You reached over with one hand, squeezing his knee. “You just said what we were both thinking.” Both of us? Does that mean… “I guess I’m better than you at managing my expectations.” He laughed at that, placing his hand over yours, fingers tightening. “Don’t worry, my patience won’t last forever.” He turned his head to look at  you and watched as you winked, your nose crinkling as you turned your attention back onto the road. Which one of us will cave first? 

 --- 

 “We can sit next to the fountain.” You pointed with the hand holding your ice cream. “Looks like there’s plenty of room.” His eyes followed the movement of your hand and without speaking, you and Benjamin moved to cross the street, his free hand reaching for yours. “That line wasn’t too bad, I’m surprised.” Sitting on the stone bench that made up the curved front of the fountain, Benjamin waited until you settled next to him, your arm against his side. 

 “It looks like there’s another option.” He gestured with his chin at the Baskin Robbins across the street in the opposite direction. “Maybe that’s why there weren’t as many people.” You agreed, licking the side of your cone to catch an errant drip of ice cream before it hit your hand. “Why didn’t we go to that place?” You looked over at him, eyes bright and warm in the glow of the streetlamps overhead. 

 “I like Graeter’s better.” You paused. “That’s the only reason.” He laughed at that, taking a bite of his own cone and falling into comfortable silence as he watched the people filtering by. “Do you?” 

 “I’ve nothing to compare it to, but it’s good.” You tilted your head, resting it against his shoulder for a few seconds and then straightened up, continuing to eat. “That’s the bar I went to last week, right?” He caught your nod out of the corner of his eye. “Thought this place looked familiar, even though I’ve only been here once.” He liked the area - the fountain you were sitting at marked the entrance to a park, the shops and restaurants inviting and appealing. And she grew up here. You were only a few minutes from your house, which made Benjamin happy; it meant that there wouldn’t be a great deal of time spent traveling back, trying to make conversation in an enclosed space with you when all he wanted to be doing was sitting in your house and -

 “Benjamin?” The voice drew him out of his thoughts, his head swiveling toward it as he chewed on a bite of waffle cone. “I thought that was you.” Oh, shit. He felt his eyes widen as they landed on the woman’s face, her surprise matching his. “You never called.” No I didn’t. 

 “Yeah, I…” He took the last bite of his ice cream as she stepped closer, Benjamin watching as she looked between the two of you. “I realized I didn’t have your number when I went to bed the night we met, and…” And I didn’t really care. He moved his hand to your back, settling it low against it. “And I’m leaving soon, so…” She frowned, her eyes darting away and then moving back to Benjamin’s. 

 “I figured you wouldn’t call.” You did? “But who’s…” 

 “Wow.” He felt you stiffen next to him, and though his arm trembled, Benjamin didn’t move his hand. Only if she… You stayed put though, even though he knew you wanted to move at the tone of Noah’s voice. “That didn’t take long.” Goddammit, Noah. You chose this, not her.

 “I could say the same to you.” He heard the ice in your voice and Benjamin felt you shift next to him, turning to look at Amanda before you introduced yourself. “I don’t know if -”

 “Look.” The other woman looked slightly uncomfortable, chewing on her lip and looking between Noah and Benjamin quickly. “I… he mentioned you the other night, but he said you were friends, and so when he called, I …” She might have been forward, but she’s not a bad person. 

 “Oh, no.” You laughed, looking back at Noah. “We were only friends. That was the truth.” You paused. “Been friends a long time, and…” She doesn’t sound upset, she sounds… “Just the odds of…” Yeah, right? “We’re done, so we’re going to go.” You stood, looking down over your shoulder at Benjamin. “Ready?” He stood too, letting his arm hang straight down, but staring straight at Noah without blinking. Say something. 

 “If this is going to be a problem, I’ll -” Amanda smiled nervously, and though Benjamin didn’t want to, he did the same, itching to reach out and touch you, but unable to tell if it was what you wanted. I don’t know what’s happening here, but I … “I’ll just go, we can -”

 “No.” You spoke again, shaking your head. “No, you’re not doing anything wrong, and neither am I.” Noah’s eyes flashed, and Benjamin fought to keep from rolling his. You don’t get to be upset, you had a chance to fight for this - for her - and you didn’t. “Benjamin and I are friends, Noah. You knew this. He’s leaving Sunday, and we’re just…” Just what? “You know what?” You looked back over at Amanda and then at Benjamin, who tried to read the look in your eyes, but couldn’t. What happened here? “I don’t have to explain myself to you.” You shrugged. “C’mon Benjamin. Let’s go home.” 

 Without another word, you turned away from the three of them, quickly walking in the direction of your parked car. Oh, damn. Benjamin waited a few seconds and then took a deep breath. Take the high road. “Have a good night, you two.” He offered a small smile to Amanda and then let his gaze move to Noah, who took a single step toward Benjamin. Say something. “Noah.” The other man looked at Benjamin without speaking at first, his eyes narrowing. 

 “Yeah, Benj. Have a good night.” He watched Noah’s lip curl and heard the cruel tone of his voice. The other man leaned in, reaching out with one hand, and Benjamin automatically extended his, feeling Noah’s fingers close around them. Prick. He leaned into the handshake, the volume of Noah’s voice dropping so that only Benjamin could hear. “Let her say goodbye to you. She’s good for -” He felt the fingers on his other hand curling into a fist, anger coursing through his body. How dare you. 

 “You’ve no r-” He felt his arm moving, rearing back. I should knock you -

 “Benjamin.” He froze at the sound of your voice, head turning toward you. “We should go.” He saw the look on your face in the dim lighting even from where you stood ten feet away, and Benjamin’s anger faded immediately. It’s not worth it. She’s worth it, but he… “Come on.” You smiled then - a small, tight lipped one - and he closed his eyes briefly before opening them again, staring straight into Noah’s. 

 “Enjoy your date, Noah.” Without another word, Benjamin spun on his heel and walked toward you. As he took his place next to you, you turned too, not bothering to look back at Noah and Amanda before heading back to the car. You walked side by side, and Benjamin extended his hand to take yours, needing the reassurance that seeing Noah hadn’t changed whatever was going on between you two. But instead of your hand meeting his, Benjamin’s fingers only found empty space. 

 --- 

 Although he’d been excited at the thought of being close to home earlier, the short car ride was a relief for other reasons after seeing Noah and Amanda. Is she angry at me? Did I… do something wrong? Neither of you spoke as you headed back to your place, but the silence was almost deafening. 

 He hadn’t wanted to hit someone as much as he’d wanted to hit Noah since his wedding day, when Ted had shown up to cause trouble, and the surge of anger toward your former friend and almost-boyfriend was shocking. If she hadn’t spoken up, I would have… “Thank you for tonight, Benjamin.” Your voice quiet, you finally spoke up after parking in your driveway, Eric’s car absent. “It was a lot of fun, up until…” Trailing off, you kept your hands on the steering wheel. “You know.” He shifted in his seat to face you, but didn’t reach out though it was the only thing he wanted to do. 

 “It was.” He swallowed, jaw working but nothing else coming out. What do I even say? “Are… are you alright? After seeing him? Them, I mean?” 

 “I am.” You said it with more conviction than he anticipated, finally looking at Benjamin. “It’s not that it bothered me to see him with someone else. I don’t care. I just… the way he looked at me, it’s like… like I shouldn’t have been there with you, even though…” You stopped, head shaking back and forth. “Is this happening too fast?” He watched you blink quickly, and even in the dim light from above your garage door, he could see that you were attempting to stop tears from falling. “It’s only been a couple days, and I’m already out with another…” You reached up, using one fingertip to swipe beneath your eye. “I saw you.” 

 “Saw me what?” He didn’t recognize his own voice, or the edge that it came out with, and Benjamin stiffened immediately. Why are you speaking to her like that? “Wh-”

 “After I walked away? I saw your hand, saw that you... “ You took a deep breath. “You looked like you wanted to hit him, Benjamin.” I did. “Over what, though? I don’t get it.” He thought carefully before he answered, making sure that when he spoke, his tone was friendlier. You’ve got no reason to be defensive. It’s not like before. 

 “I would have, if you hadn’t said anything.” Benjamin ran a hand through his hair, the other one gripping his thigh, just above his knee. “He… insinuated that you and I were… well, much more intimate than we have been. He was throwing it in my face that he’s been with you - recently - and -” You laughed, the sound quiet at first but turning into louder sobs after only a few seconds, your shoulders slumping as you leaned forward and rested your forehead against the backs of your hands, fingers still firmly grasping the wheel. He said your name and then moved, reaching out to put a hand against the center of your back. 

 “It’s alright.” He said your name, ducking his head closer to yours so that he could speak into your ear. “I’m not worried about what he said, he was just being a -”

 “He’s right, Benjamin.” You were speaking to the floor of the vehicle, not looking at him. “What kind of person goes from one… relationship, for lack of a better word to something else after only a few days?” You finally looked at him, cheeks damp and your eyes shining. “I slept with him, Benjamin. And it’s been a while, but it happened. I spent the night with him recently - while you’ve been here, even, and no, Noah and I haven’t done more than kiss in the last couple weeks, but I… we’ve been sleeping in the same bed for the last few nights.” She feels like she’s doing something wrong, she…  “What would hitting him have done, Benjamin?” You shook your head, eyes narrowing. “Made you feel better? Was it supposed to make me f-”

 “He shouldn’t be saying things like that. Especially not when it comes to things that he knows nothing about. We’ve kissed. That’s it. And it’s none of his business what you do, or what we do, or what I do, especially when it comes to you.” Benjamin took a deep breath, feeling his anger rising again. “No man has any right to assume things about a woman just because he’s upset, and Noah especially has no right to be angry that you’re out with someone - a friend, who happens to be leaving to fly thousands of miles away in a few days.” You opened your mouth to speak, but Benjamin cut you off, too deep to stop himself. Get it out. “We know each other. We’ve been speaking for months, and I live with your brother. I’m staying with you. Noah doesn’t know that woman aside from what she and her friends told us in a bar for an hour or two while she was drinking. That’s not spending time with a friend, that’s a rebound.” And a sorry one at that. “If anything, this should tell you that you made the right call.” 

 “Excuse me?” You sat up straight, head cocked to the side, and Benjamin drew his hand back. “What do you mean?” If she’s angry, at least you’ll be leaving soon. 

 “There was absolutely no reason that you and I should have run into them tonight. None whatsoever. But we did. He was out with another woman the exact same amount of time after you ended things that you were out with me. A woman - I might add, that initially wanted me to call her, despite Noah being very clear that he wasn’t in a relationship either. If we hadn’t seen him, you never would have known, whereas he knew you and I have spent the last few days together.” The words made your eyes go wide, hands falling from the steering wheel and into your lap. “He certainly doesn’t feel bad about what he’s doing or what he gave up on by not fighting to be with you before, and you shouldn’t either.” He paused. “Unless you’re upset that you saw him with another woman despite the fact that you and I have been acting as if we…” As if we what? “As if we want this to go somewhere, and you said that it doesn’t bother you.” 

 Benjamin finally stopped, feeling his chest tighten, anxiety creeping through his body slowly. You didn’t speak again, and after nearly fifteen seconds, Benjamin let out a breath, reaching for the door handle. “Where are you going?” It was his turn to laugh. Did I misread this? All of it? Was I just a distraction? “Benjamin, w-”

 “I’m going inside.” He looked back at you, uncertainty growing by the second. “I’m going to get changed, and then go to sleep.” He glanced at the clock. Barely ten. “But.” Tell her the truth. “I enjoyed tonight - most of it - completely.” Benjamin licked his lips. “It was nice to be out with you, to be… openly with you and to know that it was… that it wasn’t just because we’re friends and you’re showing me around.” He sighed. “If that’s the only date I ever get with you? Aside from this last forty five minutes, it was perfect.” You stayed quiet, and Benjamin opened the door of your car, closing it softly behind him after he exited. That couldn’t have ended more poorly.

 He used the key you’d given him to let himself in, again shutting the door behind him, and not even five minutes later, Benjamin was in his pajamas, stretched out on the pull out bed and staring at the ceiling in the dark. He’d heard you come in, your footsteps slowly moving upward as you went to your room, but after a few more minutes, Benjamin heard nothing, the house quiet. It shouldn’t be like this. He replayed the night over in his mind - the feeling that he’d had throughout dinner, the two of you talking over food, conversation flowing easily. The way that you’d been in the parking lot, not hesitating at all to kiss him or let him touch you, the way you’d grown closer than he ever imagined was possible while he’d been in Chicago. I believed it. Believed all of it, and now… He didn’t know what to think - what you were thinking, what you still felt for and about Noah. But she’s never lied before, she’s never… I thought… He scrubbed his hands over his face before he pinched the bridge of his nose. 

 “It can’t end like this.” He spoke out loud, sitting up. “She can’t think that…” He stood, adjusting his shirt and striding to the door, his hand closing around the knob. He didn’t know what he was going to say to you, but Benjamin pulled the door open and stepped into the hallway, head down as he walked toward the stairs. 

 But he didn’t make it more than a few steps before he collided with you, hands shooting out and gripping your upper arms to steady both of you. “Benjamin?” You sounded surprised, and he felt his heart thump at the single word. “Where are you going?” 

 “To see you.” He swallowed, not letting go. “I didn’t want -” But you rose onto your toes, lips colliding with his with such force that he stepped backward, shoulder knocking into the wall. What… You kissed him hard, hands rising to the sides of his face, and even though Benjamin was surprised, he kissed you back, pulling you closer to him without a second thought. 

 Your kiss was hungry, fueled with a need that he hadn’t ever felt coming from you before. What is this? What is she - “I’m sorry.” You apologized in the seconds you took to pull back and breathe, your hands dropping to his shoulders and then running down his chest. “Benjamin, I don’t care what he thinks of me, because I know…” You kissed him again, lips soft and warm, you pulling away with a sigh. “I just don’t want you to think that I’m…” 

 “I don’t.” He wrapped his arms around your waist, holding you close. “I could not care less what Noah has to say or think.” You didn’t speak, instead moving your hands to his back and kissing his jaw.  “Especially when he’s got no room to talk about the way someone’s behaving.” As your lips moved back toward his ear, Benjamin lowered his head, mouth grazing against your cheek and then down. But this time, when he reached your jaw, he didn’t stop, continuing to kiss a path downward. I … we… But neither of you stopped or slowed down, and Benjamin stepped forward, pushing you backwards until it was you whose back was flat against the wall, his hands on your hips and pushing to hold you in place as yours slid up and down beneath the thin material of the back of his t shirt. “Hey.” He reluctantly straightened up, almost unwilling to stop the path of his mouth over the skin of your neck. “I’m not doing this in the hallway.” 

 “Come to bed.” He felt himself shiver at the words, said with such certainty that anyone who heard them wouldn’t have been able to doubt the intention behind them. “My bed. Upstairs, Benjamin.” You had one hand curled around the back of his neck, the other one gripping the center of his back. “Come to bed with me.” Is this the right time? For this? He considered things for a few seconds and abruptly let go of you, standing straight up and pulling away, your hands falling from his body and back down to your sides. “I just want -”

 “Yes.” With a single nod, he gestured to the empty hallway in front of you. Why shouldn’t we? We’re both… “I’ll follow you.” You moved without replying, leading Benjamin up the stairs by one hand, only pausing before stepping through your doorway. He said your name and you turned your head to look at him, the look in your eyes unreadable. “Are you sure?” Asking wasn’t like him - he knew that you were perfectly capable of telling him what you wanted and didn’t want, but he wanted to be sure. “We -”

 “Come on.” You took his hand again and led him in, your room dimly lit by a desktop lamp. “I’m sure, Benjamin.” She’s sure. I’m sure. I want… He took a seat on the edge of your bed, looking up as you stepped in front of him. “Shirt.” You reached for it and Benjamin raised his arms, allowing you to pull it off. “One of these days you’ll have to tell me about this.” One finger stroked the ink on his forearm. “I’ve been wanting to ask, but I didn’t -”

 “I will.” His voice was low, but Benjamin’s eyes were locked on the way your hand looked against his arm, on the movement of each finger. “I’ll tell you anything.” I’ve already said that. You dropped onto his lap, straddling him with your forearms atop his shoulders and Benjamin - for the first time - realized that you had nothing on beneath your shirt when his hands slid up your sides and found no resistance. He sucked in a breath with every new inch of skin that he touched, both thumbs skimming over the underside of your breasts as you arched your back and gripped his shoulders, his name leaving your lips in a breathy whisper. I’m just touching her and she sounds like that. Benjamin leaned in, glancing upward and when you smiled at him, giving a single tiny nod of your head, he kept going, lips closing around your peaked nipple and the fabric that covered it. 

 His eyes closed as he applied pressure with his teeth, and Benjamin felt you remove one arm from his shoulder, that hand dropping between your bodies and coming to rest on his lap. This isn’t real. There’s no way. He felt the heel of your hand rubbing against the growing bulge beneath his pants, the ends of your fingers hooked into the elastic of his waistband and pulling it gently away from his skin. Benjamin moved to the other side of your chest but instead of biting down, he dragged his tongue over the curve, feeling the texture of your shirt against it as the material dampened. “Benjamin, that feels…” You shifted on his lap, changing the way your hand was positioned, and though he tried to keep from reacting outwardly, Benjamin couldn’t help the low moan that left his lips as your fingers brushed against him through the opening of his pants. “No underwear?” Not usually when I sleep, no. He felt the ends of your nails dragging against his skin as you curled your hand around him, and Benjamin couldn’t take it any longer. 

 Before you could get a firm grip on him, he’d let go of you, sitting up straight and reaching for your wrist with one hand, the other reaching up to gather the hair at the nape of your neck between his fingers. He pulled your face toward his and kissed you sloppily - mouth open and tongue seeking entry into your mouth without delay, but it didn’t take long for Benjamin to calm himself down, reining it in and kissing you properly. Each movement of his lips was slow and deliberate, and though you tried to pull your hand from his and return it to his lap, Benjamin didn’t let you, instead linking your fingers together, even at your protest. “No.” Teeth snapping quietly near your mouth, Benjamin finally spoke. “No, if you do that, it won’t… I wont be able to…” You laughed at that, rubbing your nose back and forth against his beard. 

 “Got it.”  You straightened up, glancing down and then looking back at Benjamin, the expression on your face serious, though he could tell that you were hiding excitement. “We should get in bed.” He agreed, waiting for you to stand before he did the same, his hands reaching for you before you’d gotten too far away from him, the fabric of your shirt gathered against his palms. “Oh.” You looked down, taking a deep breath. “Yeah, I guess we’d need to -” He began inching your top up, more skin visible with each movement, but before it had cleared your chest, you said his name again, tone entirely different than it had been before. What? “Benjamin is this…” You sounded worried. “Is this the right thing to do?” 

 He stopped immediately, hands releasing your shirt and falling back at his sides. “What do you mean?” He could feel the mood in the room shifting quickly, your desire replaced by uncertainty, and based on the look on your face, he knew that he had to ask. “I need you to tell me what’s wrong.” You swore loudly, turning away from Benjamin and slamming your hand on your dresser’s top. What is happening? 

 “I don’t want this between us to be the… result of a confrontation.” Oh, damn. “I don’t … this feels…” I don’t either. “I want you, Benjamin. And it’s so fucking cliche to say that.” You turned around facing him, though your hands gripped the edge of your dresser and didn’t reach for him. It’s not, it’s just honest. “And it’s not because of or in spite of Noah, or seeing him tonight, or the fact that you were willing to physically fight him over me when he couldn’t even …” You lowered your head, shoulders drooping. “But it feels like one thing’s leading to another, and I don’t…” You let go of the wood with both hands, stepping forward and lifting one arm, your fingers again finding the side of his face. “I don’t want that asshole to be what leads us into bed for the first time.” That’s not it, that’s not it at all. He stared into your eyes, trying to find the right response. 

 “That’s… that’s not why I’m here right now.” He swallowed, closing his eyes. “Not at all.” Blindly, he reached for you, feeling your free hand beneath his fingers and threading his through them, squeezing. “But if that’s how it feels to you, we’ll... “ He opened his eyes again, hoping that they showed more certainty than his voice projected. “We’ll table this for another time.” After I’ve gone back to London, most likely. He watched you flinch, and immediately knew that stopping before either of you got carried away was the right call. Not tonight. Not now, even though… “And you saying that you want to be with me?” He wet his lips, head moving back and forth in a series of quick shakes. “Hearing that? You’ve no idea how much…” You squeezed his hand, still silent. “How good it is to know that what I’m feeling is returned.” 

 “I’m sorry, Benjamin, I -” You let out a deep breath, looking away from him and toward the open door of your room. “I shouldn’t have let it -” 

 “Stop.” Without letting go of your hand, Benjamin stepped back, pulling you with him. “Why are you apologizing?” You opened your mouth to reply, but he continued. “What you’re saying makes sense. Perfect sense. And while I won’t say that I didn’t like what was going on,” he paused, saying your name. “If you - or I - were to ever regret anything that happened?” Benjamin took your other hand. “I’d hate myself for it.” There’s nothing else to say. “So.” He tightened his grip on both of your hands, waiting for you to look at him again. “If it’s alright with you, I’ll kiss you goodnight, and then go back downstairs to sleep.” 

 “You don’t have to do that.” Your voice small, you widened your eyes. “Sleep downstairs, I mean, my bed’s…” You swore under your breath, pulling away from him and rubbing your forehead. “What the fuck is wrong with me, Benjamin?” You spun away from him, heading for the side of the bed you slept on and sitting. “You’re standing right here in front of me, and I’m telling you no, and you’re fine with it? We were almost -”

 “This, right here?” He pointed between the two of you with one long finger. “This is the reason this shouldn’t happen tonight.” Benjamin sat next to you, bumping your arm with his shoulder on purpose. “Any sort of hesitation?” He wrinkled his nose, making a face. “That’s not what I want. That’s not what you want.” 

 “But we only have tonight and tomorrow, and then… then you’re gone, Benjamin. Then you’re… back in London, and who knows what’s going to happen?” That’s not a reason to sleep with someone, especially for the first time. You leaned over, cheek resting on his shoulder. “I wish that we…” His arm went around your shoulders, fingers tightening against your bicep as he held you. “Please don’t go.” You looked back up at him, the need in your voice back. “Stay with me up here tonight, if I know you’re downstairs, I won’t sleep, I’ll just lay here.” I’d do the same. 

 “If that’s what you want, I’m …” He grinned at you, winking. “That can be arranged.” You sighed in relief, standing up and letting him know that you were going to brush your teeth. Benjamin stood and followed you from the room, heading back downstairs without putting his shirt on. After he’d used the bathroom down there, he detoured into his room and plugged his phone in, standing in the dark and collecting his thoughts. 

 Your abrupt about face had surprised him, definitely. But even though I know her, that didn’t… that didn’t seem like her. You’d both been affected by the confrontation near the fountain and the conversation you’d had in the car, but Benjamin had still been surprised by your actions in the hallway. I knew it was too good to be true. He scrubbed both hands over his face before scratching the fingers of one hand over his scalp. Not too good, but too… too soon. “Damn.” He left the room, pulling the door partially shut behind him, and Benjamin took the steps up two at a time, hurrying back to you. Have to tell her. 

 You were sitting on the bed when he made it to your room, knees drawn up to your chest and both arms wrapped around them. “Thought you weren’t coming back, Benjamin.” You smiled sadly at him. “Thought I -”

 He stepped into the room, crossing his arms over his chest and  taking a breath. “When we were in the hallway, I questioned it, too.” You frowned, staring at him. “Not because I don’t want you, or didn’t want to…” He gestured with one hand. “You know.” That got a small smile from you, though you didn’t change your position on the bed. “It was because I was just wondering if after we argued in the car was the best time to take that step.” He moved closer to the bed, walking toward the unoccupied side and pulling the blanket down before he sat, turning to face you. “I know that this is all about being impulsive and open to the unexpected, but from my experience? This type of rushing? Of acting first and worrying about the consequences later? It doesn’t ever end well.” Benjamin reached out and trailed a down your arm, elbow to wrist. “And I’m not ready to leave with either of us feeling like we did something wrong.” 

 “It wouldn’t have been wrong, Benjamin.” You straightened up, though you kept your eyes on his hand. “Just… more than either of us expected from tonight.” You’re absolutely right. He watched you for a few seconds, taking in your profile next to him, the way you looked in the low light. “So about tomorrow.” You turned your head to look at him, the look in your eyes no longer one of uncertainty. She’s sad. “It’s your last night, and… Michelle and I have been talking, and we want to make you guys dinner.” What? “You know, before you go back to London and have to fend for yourselves.” 

 He laughed at that, head dropping toward his chest. Back to the occasional kitchen adventure and a lot of take away. “I’d like that. I’m sure Eric will, too.” You slowly turned your hand over, taking Benjamin’s. “What are we having?” 

 “Hotdogs. Hamburgers.” He groaned, eyes closing, but you only laughed, shifting on the bed next to him and urging Benjamin to lay down next to you. “I’m just kidding.” Good. I don’t think I can handle another night of… “We’re going to send you guys on your way with a traditional midwest cookout.” What’s that? “I know what he eats, but I’m telling you now so that I know what I need to get from the store tomorrow.” You were facing each other, heads close on the pillows and your hands still joined. 

 “Whatever you make for me is fine.” He kept his voice low, the mood between you changing again back to one that was comfortable. Still tense, but … it’s not the same tension. She’s... We’re... “I’m not picky when it comes to food. Not at all.” 

 “Good.” You moved closer to him, pausing. “I’ll go shopping when I wake up, so if there’s anything you need for your flight, let me know.” You still sounded upset, and so Benjamin moved quickly; careful to remember what had just happened between you, but unwilling to spend the second to last night with you apart, especially since you were right there. He wrapped an arm around your body, urging you closer, and without any sort of protest, you moved too, burying your face in the crook of his neck and clinging tightly to him. He could feel everything; the minute movements of your body, the way your breath hit his skin, the warmth of your palm against his shoulder blade. I’m leaving this. Leaving this for God knows how long. Leaving her. “Did we do the right thing, Benjamin? Earlier, I mean? Not - “

 “Yes.” There was no hesitation, and though your words were slightly muffled, he understood perfectly. “For tonight? For now? It was the right decision.” And one I’d make again. No matter how much I want things to be different. 

--- 

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[rainbowshawn]

Attention

Summary: All you want is for him to relax…. and give you some attention

Warnings: Smut !! (overstimulation, spanking, daddy kink, general rough sex, unprotected sex)

______________________________________________

It had been a few weeks since Shawn had returned home from his world tour. Months of touring with very short breaks in between exhausted him greatly, but he loves what he does. He pushes and pushes himself, sometimes getting lost in his work. Frequently he would push himself past his threshold, resulting in some not so pretty breakdowns.

It worried you sick at times, right now being one of them. He had practically locked himself up in his studio in the house for the past few days. Only coming out to go to the bathroom and to occasionally eat something. You would go to your shared room at night, slipping into the cold covers by yourself. The lack of his arms around you kept you up longer than usual, a sense of comfort absent. You only felt him slip into bed, wrapping an arm around you, late into the night.

You missed him. Emotionally and physically. It had been days since you’ve really felt him. You were aching for him at this point. You needed him to take a break for not only himself, but you too.

You prodded up the large staircase and slowly made your way across the hallway into the studio he had locked himself in for the past few days. He only came out occasionally, to get food or to go to the bathroom. Other than that, it felt like years since you’ve really seen him. While making your way towards the room, you hear beautiful notes and the soft humming of his voice echoing through the hall. You smiled to yourself at the beautiful melody, until it abruptly stopped. You heard a frustrated grumble replace the once beautiful hum that had just occupied your ears.

You pushed the door open quietly and observed him across the room. His tall figure slumped over his guitar in front of his computer, his back facing you. You slowly made your way across the floor to him, clearing your throat softly to alert him of your presence. His focus still didn’t shift from the guitar placed in his lap, his fingers dancing over the neck, plucking precisely to create that same sound you heard just moments ago.

Your cold hands met his tense shoulders, rubbing at the muscles you could only assume were aching. Your eyes drifted down to admire his strong biceps protruding through his dark navy shirt he was still adorned in from his meeting with his label earlier. He never even took a second to change into something more comfortable, just wanting to get back to his work.

“Honey, why don’t you take a little break? You’ve been working for days, you need to relax…” you said softly, beginning to trail kisses up from his shoulder to the back of his ear, a spot you knew drove him crazy. He groaned so softly you could barely even hear it and leaned back slightly, giving you more access to his neck.

“I have to get this done, babe. It’s gotta get sent off to my label in a few days and I want it to be perfect.”

You mumble something into his neck softly about how he works too hard, still busy kissing him. Your hands slowly leave his shoulders and start to trail down his sturdy chest making their way down to his toned stomach. His breath hitches as he sits up a little straighter, gently pushing your hands off of him.

“y/n.” he says sternly.

You let out a little hmph, frustrated with him. You stand up pulling away from him. You glare down at him and he opens his mouth to reply, but gets cut off by his phone ringing loudly. He turns his attention to his phone, answering it quickly, rolling his eyes at the sound of it going off again. He swears he spends half of his day on the phone.

You stand there in a bit of disbelief. You can’t believe they would call him at this time of night. 9:42 pm to be exact. You shake your head in annoyance and stomp out of the room. You make your way down the hallway into your shared bedroom. Opening up the closet, you start sifting through your drawers in search of something in specific. Your hands dig for a moment before finding a certain lacy red set of lingerie. It was one Shawn had brought back from his stop in Madrid for you. It quickly became his favorite and you were confident this would grab his attention.

Slipping into the thin, red material, you eyed yourself in the mirror before your gaze drifted to a button up of Shawn’s in the corner. You smirked as you tugged it onto your body, showing just enough of what was underneath to drive him crazy.

You made your way back to the dim studio, quietly slipping in. He was speaking into the phone, sounding quite irritated as his head rested in his palm that was propped up by his elbow on the desk. His eyes were pinched shut as he rubbed at his temples. You resumed your place behind him once again, but this time you grabbed the arm of his chair, turning him just enough to where you could stand in front of him.

His eyes grazed over your figure and his mouth dropped open at the sight. His tongue poked out, licking across his lip before taking it between his teeth. You slowly kneeled in front of him, pushing his legs apart as he leaned back in his chair.

“Y-yeah I heard you, sorry.” he stuttered into the phone. He quickly got back on track with his conversation as you started to drag your hands up and down his inner thighs. He exhaled deeply as you began to palm his already semi hard bulge. You began to plant kisses against his clothed length as you looked up at him, a devious look in your eyes.

He bit into his fist to stop himself from groaning at the thought of what he could do to you right now. He wanted to give in. He almost did. He really did. But he didn’t want to give into you so easily. Not just yet. He was incredibly stubborn, but now, he was pissed.

He pulled the phone away from his face, muting the call from his side. With his other hand, he firmly grabbed your face, pulling you away from him. His palm was cupping your jaw while his fingers dug into your face.

“Don’t distract me, pumpkin.” he said stiffly.

You glared up at him, pouting.

“Shawny, please, I need you. It’s been so long….” you begged, leaning your head into his left thigh, shooting him an innocent look.

He knew you weren’t, though. It took everything in him not to give into you. You had no idea what you did to him. He wanted you but he was just too dedicated to his work at the moment.

“Go do something with yourself, babygirl.” he said sternly.

You knew he wasn’t really mad at you but that didn’t stop you from being annoyed with him. You hmphed as you picked your head up, furrowing your brows and scrunching your nose at him. You stood back up and turned to walk away. A smack came across your ass, surprising you and you looked back at the man leaning back in his chair, smirking devilishly.

“Don’t be a brat.”

You rolled your eyes at him, making sure he saw it as you walked out of the room. You made your way back into your bedroom and shut the door behind you.

He was determined, you’d give him that much. But you were too. And you weren’t going to stop until you got what you wanted. You smirked as you plotted your next move. You made your way across the room, plopping yourself down on the plush bed.

Your hand made its way into the table next to your bed and pulled out your favorite pink vibrator. Laying back against the pillows, you turned the toy on. A soft humming sound filled the room as you started to tease your nipples through the thin lace with it. You slowly moved the toy down your body, moaning as you pushed it under your panties.

The toy met your clit and you groaned out in pleasure. You pleased yourself for a few moments, making sure to be loud. You wanted him to hear you. You wanted to make him mad.

You wiggled the toy over your aching clit bringing yourself closer and closer to your impending orgasm. Moans echoed off the walls and you were positive he could hear you. You were so focused on the pleasure you didn’t even notice Shawn make his way into the room. Your eyes only snapped open at the sound of his belt clanking as he tugged it out of his belt loops.

“What do we have here, huh?” he said darkly as he made his way up the bed on his knees. You knew he was no longer playing games.

“Taking care of myself since you won’t” you spat at him. Your hand still between your legs pushing the vibrating toy against yourself.

He quickly snatched your hand, taking the toy from you. You whined at the loss.

“Is that so? Now, where’s my good girl? Can’t even let me get my work done…” he tutted.

Your hands reached for his, trying to get the small bullet back. He quickly grabbed both your hands, pinning them above your head. You moved your head to look up, trying to see the toy in his hand that had you pinned down. His other hand made its way to your face, grabbing it and making you look at him.

“We cant have that, can we?”

He pushed his hips into yours, making you feel how hard you had made him. You moaned at the delicious friction, lifting your hips trying to get more.

His lips made their way down to your neck, kissing it slowly before sucking on the skin harshly. His tongue poked out to soothe the now purple skin, moving down towards your chest. Your eyes closed as you let him dress your skin in marks.

“Gonna be a good girl for me and keep your hands up here or am I gonna have to tie you up?” he said, looking up at you from your chest.

“I’ll be good” you said breathlessly. He already had you so far gone and he’d barely even done anything yet. You were fucked for him and he knew it.

His hand left yours and made its way down, taking his button up off of your body. His hand joined the other in rubbing your sides as he kissed down your stomach. He pulled the straps of your bra down, silently telling you to take it off. Once the red marker all hit the floor, his mouth immediately latched onto your nipple, biting lightly. His tongue swirled lightly, taking turns on each nipple. The feeling of his warm breath sent shivers through your body as you bucked your hips up. His hands pushed your hips back down and settled on the cherry covered fabric that decorated you. He kept his eyes on you as he looped his fingers into your panties, tugging them down your legs.

You licked your lips in anticipation, lifting your head to watch as he kissed up your thighs. He stopped to nibble on the nook between your heat and your leg. You quietly groaned to yourself, causing him to lightly smack the side of your ass.

“I wanna hear you babygirl,” he said “you didn’t have a problem doing that when I was trying to get my work done, did you?”

You nodded your head quickly, as his lips met with your throbbing clit. He immediately sucked you up into his mouth, his wet tongue flicking against you in a rapid pace. You yelped and you arched your back as your breath hitched at the pleasure he was giving you. Your eyes screwed shut as you focused on his relentless tongue on your soaking heat.

You were speechless. His tongue was heavenly against you, making your mind go blank. Nothing compared to this in your mind. He knew just how to pleasure you.

His hand reached up for that little bullet and he abruptly pulled his mouth off of you, quickly replacing it with the vibrating tool. He sat back on his knees as he watched you writhe on the bed, your beautiful moans filling his ears. He decided you could take more, bringing his other hand up to push two fingers into you. You were losing your grip quickly, your hips starting to grind against his big hand.

“Feel good, baby?” he said calmly, toying with you.

“So fucking good” you choked out.

He quickly removed the toy, returning back to rubbing his tongue against you. You were gone, hands grabbing at your tits to find something to grip onto. Your back arched as he curled his fingers finding that perfect spot hidden deep within your center. Your hands found their way into his curly hair, tugging before he pulled off of you completely.

You realized your mistake immediately and whimpered knowing what was coming. You stuttered our apologize but he was already set. His tall figure stood up grabbing you by the ankles and flipping you onto your tummy.

“You remember the color system right? Is this okay?”

You gulped and nodded, knowing exactly where this was going.

“I need to hear you, baby”

“Y-yes” you choked out in anticipation, knowing he needed verbal communication from you before he proceeded. He never wanted to push you to do anything that made you uncomfortable.

Shawn kneeled back onto the bed, straddling your legs. He rubbed your ass softly, soothing you a little as he leaned down to whisper into your ear.

“You said you were gonna behave, darling….” he murmured, kissing your shoulder “but you couldn’t and now I have to punish you.”

He sat back up, still rubbing your right cheek before bringing a hand down on it harshly. You yelped at the smack, your ass burning a little bit. You moaned in pleasure and lifted your ass a little higher, as much as you could, wiggling it in the air for him while you waited for the next one.

His hand smacked down once again, a bit harder this time. “Naughty girl,” he murmured softly. His cock was straining in his pants, aching at the sight of you yearning for more smacks from his hand.

He continued a few more times, getting fuled more and more by the yelps that left your pretty lips.

“Still doing okay? Think you can handle one more? Doing so well, baby” he said so softly, a stark contrast to the dirty situation that was playing out right now.

You confirmed you were fine and bit your lip waiting for the last slap. His hand came down one last time and you exhaled loudly and relaxed against the bed. His large, warm hand rubbed you, soothing your now red skin.

He leaned down kissing up your spine, still rubbing you while he whispered some soft praise to you. His hand made its way between your legs, feeling how wet his brutal treatment had made you. He groaned at the feeling.

“Such a dirty girl, you like when I spank you?”

You turned your head glancing at him with innocent eyes, “mhmmm”

His hands grabbed your hips pulling you up to your knees. With your face still buried in the mattress, you felt him spread you open for him with his large palms. He groaned at the sight of you dripping for him.

“So fucking wet for me. You ready for this cock?”

“Yes, please, I need it” you begged. You were absolutely wrecked for him. The long days without his affection catching up to you quickly. You would do anything.

You raised yourself onto your hands, turning slightly to watch him as he rid himself of his clothes. You groaned at the sight of his cock springing out from his boxers as he pulled them down.

“Like what you see, baby?” he chuckled darkly, his smirk sending chills through your body.

“Mhmmm, you’re fucking perfect” you choked out, admiring his flushed dick and toned body. You wiggled your ass that was propped up in the air a little, prompting him to come back to you.

“Be patient sweetheart, you know I’m gonna take care of you.”

You were sure of that. He always did.

He came up behind you, grabbing his length and sliding it up and down your slick lips, making sure he’d slide into you with ease. Once he felt comfortable he lined himself up, your core already pulsing in anticipation. You couldn’t stop yourself from melting as his thick girth pushed its way inside of you. Even after years of being together, you still weren’t quite used to his size. You had become addicted to to slight pain you felt when you two first started. You moaned in pleasure as you felt him bottom out inside of you.

He only gave you a moment to adjust before he started to snap his hips harshly into you. The speed he was thrusting at was quick and his actions were pointed. He knew just what you needed and planned on giving it to you. His pace was unfaltering and he groaned at the feeling of your tight walls around him. His head fell back as he slammed into you.

“That’s right baby take it, take it” he growled.

You couldn’t stop the moans spilling out of your mouth. You were beyond grateful for the home you two had recently moved into, providing you with the privacy to be as loud as you wanted to be. Your moans were the most beautiful sound to him. Shawn swears there’s no better song; no better melody. He could spend his whole life like this with you.

His hand pushed against your back, pushing your face back down against the mattress as he continued railing into you. The bed was shaking, smacking the wall as you two chased your highs.

“love this pussy, god I fucking missed being in you” he groaned as he spread your outer lips with his thumbs as he watched his length disappear inside of you. Somehow the small change felt so good and your walls clenched around him tightly.

“you gonna cum on my cock, baby? I can feel it”

You could only moan in response, too overwhelmed with pleasure as his hand started to play with your sensitive clit. You felt yourself getting tighter and tighter around him as your orgasm approached. You hips began to meet his fast thrusts, searching for your high.

He kept up his pace as he grabbed your hair up in a ponytail, tugging your head back to look at him as he fucked you.

“That’s it baby, cum for me” he growled as he sped his pace up.

That was all it took for you to fall off that ledge. You were a screaming mess as your walls pulsed around him. You were sure everyone in the neighborhood could hear you. Your body was limp, only being held up by his grip on your hair.

He fucked you through your orgasm, slowing after a few moments. You focused on your breathing as you felt him slip out of you. Your eyes were shut as you laid down on the bed, body spent.

“You think i’m done with you, darling?” he darkly chuckled “we’re just getting started”

And just like that he had you flipped onto your back, his hands spreading your legs open. Your cum was dripping down onto the sheets, and you weren’t sure you were ready for another round yet.

You mewled as you felt him blow cold air onto your still pulsing clit. You tried to shut your legs but he kept you spread open nice and wide.

“I’m gonna make you cum again and again. As many times as I want tonight.

“Shawn I can’t, i’m so sensitive” you said frantically, shaking your head.

“You wanted my attention so bad, you’re gonna get it. Sound good, my love?”

You gulped and nodded, eyes big at his request. After all, this is what you wanted. Your body may not have been ready, but you were. You relaxed against the pillow under your head, feeling Shawn’s hands smooth up and down the backs of your thighs. You closed you eyes and waited for his next move.

He kisses your neck as he slips his length back inside of you. He shuddered at how tightly your walls gripped him, somehow even tighter than before. He grabs your calves and lifts them to hook over his shoulders as he begins thrusting slowly again.

Your tummy cramps for the first few moments, still a little sore from his previous assault. Your face scrunches up a little as you wait for your body to adjust again. He notices your discomfort and begins pepper your faces in light kisses, murmuring his praise to you.

“You doing okay, my love?” he asks, angling his slow thrusts a little differently

“I’m okay, you can go ahead” you assure.

He looks into your eyes, confirming you are in fact okay before he gets back to business. Like before, his thrusts are quick. He isn’t shy about setting a hard and quick pace for you. He wants to make you feel good. He knows he’s been distant and it’s been eating him alive.

Your chorus of moans starts ringing out again after a few moments of soft whimpers. You know he wants to hear you and he makes it easy to deliver. You feel his cock deep in your tummy and he rocks in and out of you.

“Fuck, daddy. You’re so fucking deep like this.” you whisper, breathlessly. He grunts at the name, almost cumming right there. You know exactly what it does to him and you smirk at his reaction.

“Yeah? Feel me in your tummy? Shiiiit, I can fucking see myself in you.” he groans out when he catches the way your stomach pokes out a little as he slams inside of you. You glance down and whimper at the sight.

You feel yourself getting close to cumming again. You’re shocked at how fast he gets you there, you weren’t sure how much you could take.

He angles himself differently and hits that perfect spot that sends you reeling every time. You’re screaming as you cum for the third time tonight. He’s a moaning mess above you, eyebrows knitted together as he feels you flutter around him.

“Gonna make daddy cum babygirl, you feel so good. Always take me so fucking well”

His hips snap against yours, pace faltering slightly as he loses his grip. The sound of your skin was echoing through the room, the noises slightly wet from the mess between your legs. It was obscene but you couldn’t get enough. Your legs are still slung over his shoulders as you grab his face between your hands, looking him in the eyes as he comes deep inside your throbbing heat. You both watch each other in amazement as his hips keep thrusting his cum in you.

You stay like that for a moment while he collects himself, telling each other how much you love the other as he rests his face against your bare chest. Your hands find his sweaty hair, playing with the curls as his hand trails up and down your side.

The moment is quiet. The breathing of you both being the only sound that reaches your ears. You relax into his embrace, soaking up the intimacy.

“M’sorry” he says so quiet you barely hear him.

“What, baby?”

“I said I’m sorry. I’ve been an asshole lately. I’m just stressed out but I shouldn’t ignore you.”

You coo’d at him and kissed his forehead.

“You’re busy, Shawn. I get it. I know what I signed up for. But you can’t lock yourself away from the world, honey. You work too hard.”

Your hands start to rub across his back, soothing him and wishing you could take his stress away.

“I know, just don’t wanna disappoint anybody.”

“You could never disappoint anybody. Nobody expects you to be perfect. People don’t love you because you’re perfect, they love you because you’re you.” you say softly, using his own words he’s used to help you. If only he would take his own advice.

He giggles at your stolen advice and nuzzles into your neck, kissing it with a loud smooch.

“Alright, alright.” he kisses you.

He lays his head back down, falling back into a comfortable silence. He sighs thinking of how supportive you’ve been over the years. Regardless of him touring, working, writing, and whatever else his crazy lifestyle brings, you’re always there beside him. You keep him sane. You bring him home.

“Was I too rough?” his question breaks the silence.

You laugh at the question, your face scrunching at his abruptness.

“Not at all babe,” you giggle “it was hot. I’ve missed you.

His lips catch yours and press a few sweet kisses to them.

“I’ve missed you too. I love you. More than you know.”

You hum.

“I love you too.”

[worldserasingandcreatinginmymind]

The Intern | Part Seven

Series Summary: You move to New York to focus on your art but end up working as an intern at Stark Enterprises

Chapter Summary: you begin your training with Natasha and start to feel the effects of the serum

Pairing: Tony Stark x Reader, Natasha x Reader (friendship), Bruce Banner x reader (platonic)

Word Count: 2190

A/N: this story does not follow the same timeline as the movies. Also, spelling and grammar is not my strongest skill so please be kind :) *really sorry how long this took me to post and that its quite short*

Part Six | Masterlist 

- - - - -

You're woken up the next morning by the sun suddenly shining on your face as the curtains opened themselves and the sound of an alarm you definitely didn’t set. You pull your pillow up to the sides of your head to cover your ears.

“uh..? FRIDAY?” 

“good morning miss Y/L/N”

“whats going on? What time is it?” You ask as the alarm stops.

“it’s 5.30am. This is your wake up call.”

“its 5.30 in the morning?!” You sit up, rubbing your eyes.

“Miss Romanoff is waiting for you in the training room. There are clothes in the closet.”

When Tony said Nat liked to train early, you didn’t realise it would be this early. 

“okay thanks FRIDAY” you say, swinging your legs over the side of the bed. You rub your hands over your face then lean forward, resting your elbows on your knees and your chin in your hands. You are so tired. You don't realise your eyes closing. Then the alarm starts again and you jump up. 

“okay! okay! I’m awake!”

The alarm stops. 

You walk over to the closet and find the training clothes that have been left for you. You quickly get changed, tie your hair up and head to the elevator. FRIDAY sends you to the right floor and before the doors open she tells you to walk to the end of the corridor and take a left. You thank her and follow her directions. 

When you walk into the training room you find Natasha stood at the shooting range, gun in hand. She pulls the trigger twice, hitting the target in the head and right in the heart.

“wow” you gasp and she spins around to look at you.

“don’t get too excited, we’re not doing gun training today” she says locking the gun back in the gun case. You let out a small sigh of relief. You didn’t want her to know, but the thought of handling a gun was terrifying to you. 

She picks up some boxing gloves and walks over to you. 

“you ever boxed before?” She asks, you shake your head. She hands you the gloves and smiles. “then this is gonna be fun”

An hour later you are soaked with sweat. Nat was right, boxing was fun but it was also exhausting. After teaching you some basic moves on the punching bag, Natasha grabbed some punching mitts. She put them on and instructed you to try hit them as she moved around. You were worried about accidentally hitting her but she assured you she could take it. You were surprised at how much you were enjoying training, and how good you were at it. You feel a sudden surge of energy and as you punch you miss Nat’s hand and hit her in the stomach. You must have hit her harder than you thought because you send her flying across the room straight into the weights rack.

“oh my God Nat! Are you-“ you start but suddenly feel your energy drop extremely low, to the point where you're swaying and cant even finish your sentence. Natasha gets up out of the mess just in time to see you fall down to the floor. She runs over to you, shouting your name. She rolls you onto your back, you can barely keep your eyes open. 

“y/n? Can you hear me? y/n?! FRIDAY! Get Tony down here now!”

She stays kneeling next to you, trying to keep you awake until Tony comes running in, followed by Bruce. 

“what happened?” Tony sounds slightly panicked

“We were boxing. She was doing really well; she threw me across the room…” she points to the knocked over weights rack “…and then she just fell”

“we need to get her to the lab, now!” Bruce instructs. Tony immediately scoops you up in his arms and carries you hurriedly out of the room. Thankfully the lab was on the same floor so you didn’t have far to go before you were placed gently down on the same hospital bed you woke on in yesterday. Bruce grabs some sort of scanner off the table and waves it over you, looking at the screen. Your eyes flicker open slightly.

“Tony?” You whisper breathlessly.

“shh, its okay y/n. You're going to be okay” he responds, squeezing your hand. Your eyes shut again and everything goes quiet. 

— — — — 

When your eyes reopen you're still in the hospital bed in the medical lab. Tony is sitting on a chair next to the bed. He’s deep in thought and you note the look of turmoil on his face. He spots you looking at him and instantly his face changes, he smiles at you.

“Hey you're awake. You gave us all a fright. Nat thought she broke you.”

“she thought she broke me?!” You ask shocked, as you sit up in bed “I’m the one who punched her!”

“about that, why didn’t you tell me you were New York’s strongest woman?!” He jokes standing up to sit on the edge of the bed. 

“because I’m not” you shake your head “I don't know what happened in there. It’s like I had this, sudden burst of power come through me and I couldn’t control it. Then as soon as it came, it left again. Only it left me completely empty.” You pause and Tony watches you closely. You take a breath. “does this have something to do with Professor Randall’s serum?” 

“yes” comes another voice, you look and see Dr Banner stood in the door. He comes in, holding more papers like the ones yesterday. “the serum was supposed to have given you super strength all the time. But you only had half the dose which means-“

“I only get half the strength?” You finish. 

“Kind of. Your body is fluctuating between having powers and having none. That’s why your strength left as quickly as it came. The problem is when it leaves, it leaves you with nothing at all. And thats why you passed out.”

“so what do I do? Am I going to just be stuck like this forever?” You ask fearfully.

“there is something we could try-” Bruce starts.

“no!” Tony suddenly interrupts, standing up and walking over to Bruce “I told you yesterday we cant do that, there has to be something else” he takes the papers from Bruce and looks through them, looking for answers.

“do what?!” You ask, frustrated at being left out of the loop.

“we could inject what’s left of the serum into you, complete the dose. The powers should come though properly then.” Bruce explains.

“not an option” Tony states.

“don't I get a say in this?” You say.

“no! This is too dangerous, we’ll figure something out.” Still frantically reading though the papers you now realise are results of tests Dr Banner has been doing. 

“like what Tony? We don't know how much worse this could get?” Bruce says.

“and we don't know what else is in that serum” Tony replies.

The two continue arguing with each other, and you find yourself zoning out as you stare at the floor. You think for a while and come to a decision. You stand up out of bed and walk closer to the boys. 

“I want to do it.” You interrupt them. They stop arguing and look at you. “i want to take the rest of the serum”

“absolutely not!” Tony starts

“this is my body!” You argue back. “I didn’t get a choice when those guys broke in and injected me, but I do get a choice now. And I choose to take the damn serum.” You say forcefully. Dr Banner looks slightly shocked. 

“okay… I’ll, uh, I’ll go get things ready” he says slightly startled by your decision but he leaves the lab. You watch him leave then take a seat on the edge of your bed, processing what you're about to do. Tony silently takes a seat next to you. 

“y/n-“ he says quietly but you interrupt him.

“please don't try and talk me out of this” you say, staring at the floor. He pauses. 

“I’m not going to” he finally says and you look at him. “i just want you to be 100% sure that this is what you want”

You think for a moment before answering. You nod. 

“I am. I don't ever want to feel the way I felt today again. I had no control over my body at all. It was terrifying.” You take a shaky breath. Tony places his hand on your knee and gently squeezes. “so I’m taking back control.” You say suddenly sure of yourself. Tony nods.

“well I’m not happy about it, but I support you.” He says.

“Thank you” you whisper smiling, before resting your head on his shoulder. He leans his head on yours and you stay like that until Dr Banner returns with the serum and a needle. Tony stands up to move out of the way. When you see Dr Banner preparing the needle you feel a sudden wave of anxiety. 

“is there really no other way of taking this thing? Never been very fond needles, especially ones that inject unknown substances” you say and Dr Banner shakes his head. 

“remember you don't have to do this” Tony says.

“no, I want to” you say, trying to convince yourself more than anyone else. 

Dr Banner rolls up your sleeve and you look over to Tony, trying to focus on anything other than what’s about to happen. 

He sees the fear in your eyes and rushes to your side, sitting next to you and putting his arm around your shoulder. 

“I’m right here” he holds your hand with his other hand.

Dr Banner picks up the needle and as pushes in into your arm as gently as possible you squeeze Tony’s hand tightly. He empties the serum into your arm and removes the needle. 

You take a deep shaky breath, relieved its over but also apprehensive of what comes next. The last time you were injected with this stuff you felt immense pain and passed out. Would that happen again?

“now I need you to stay here tonight so I can keep you under observation” Dr Banner says as he guides you to relax into the bed and attaches various monitors to you, one of which starts beeping quietly in sync with your heart rate. Once he’s finished he puts the needled and empty serum bottle on a tray and carries them out of the room. Tony stands up off the bed and you think he’s leaving too. You grab his hand.

“please don't go” you say and he turns to you in surprise. 

“I’m not going anywhere” he smiles “ill stay here as long as you want me to y/n”

“thank you” you reply.

You start to feel a tingling in your fingers and toes. Then it moves up your arms and legs. You look down at your arms, wiggling your fingers as the feeling gets more intense. 

“y/n?” Tony asks, noticing your movements and hearing the heart rate monitor starting to beep faster. “y/n? Are you okay?”

“I.. I can feel it…” you say shakily as the tingling turns into a burning sensation, like before. “its happening again” your heart rate becomes rapid as the sensation travels through your chest.

Dr Banner returns and comes straight over to you.

“y/n? What do you feel?”

“burning” is all you can say, clenching your fists and bringing them up to your head. Your eyes are shut tight and you hold your breath, you're trying not to scream. 

“this is normal, this is your body reacting to serum. Your DNA is adapting. y/n? Listen to me, you have to breathe. It will be over in a minute” he tries to reassure you. Tony stays unusually quiet but doesn’t leave your side, keeping is hand firmly on your shoulder as a reassuring presence. 

After a few minutes the sensation starts to die down and your heart rate slowly returns to normal as you steady your breath. You open your eyes and immediately look at Tony who gives you a small smile. 

“at least you didn’t pass out this time” he says and you give a small tired smile.

“no but you should get some rest now. Your body has just been through a massive ordeal. I’ll come back and see you later” Dr Banner says before leaving. 

“he’s right, you should sleep” Tony says and you nod. “do you want me to leave you alone?” He asks and you shake your head. “do you need anything?” He asks. 

You think for a moment before replying. 

“I’d really like a hug” you say, and Tony smiles. You move over to make space for him and he climbs up onto the bed next to you, putting his arm around you. You lean into him, resting your head on his chest. You can hear his heart beating and its strangely comforting. You allow yourself to drift off to sleep and Tony kisses the top of your head.  

Part Eight

Taglist: @brownbuble​, @shookie-shookie​, @thebuckysoldier​, @chai--chae​, @ilovespideyyy​, @sunflowers-and-snowdrops​

[littlebitoffanfic]

I’ll Return - part 2

Fandom: The Hills Have Eyes Characters: Ruby, Mars, others mentioned Relationship: Mars/reader Request: Can I officially request a continuation of the Mars soulmate au? Maybe the reader took a few years to return for him due to trying to get settled and ready for a life with him and ruby in the outside. Reader fights tooth and nail to have him go with her this time. With some fluff and/or smut please? A/N: little steamy kissing section, but that’s as far as the smut goes… for now

Part 1

 Ruby knew you were thinking about it again. About him. You had gone quiet for a few days and she heard you crying at night. In the mornings, you seemed distant and away with the fairies. She settled at the table across from you, flattening the skirt she wore out as she did so. Drawing your attention away from the window, you looked at the young woman. She had truly grown since you first met her. Ruby thrived in the real world, now working a cash-in-hand job at the local shop. She was still a little skittish around strangers who weren’t on the other side of a counter, but she was getting better at hiding it. You couldn’t help but smile at her. To think it had been 2 years since you first found this little house. By pure coincidence, you had been talking with Ruby at a diner, just after you left. The old woman there had seen the dirt on Rubys skin and the way you were both dressed (slightly ripped clothes and messy hair). “Now, cant have two girls wondering around on their own. Don’t worry, loves. I’ll help yah.” Marge had said, telling you both to stay till closing. She bought you to this house, telling you that it was her sisters but due to an unfortunate accident, the house now lay bare. She couldn’t bring herself to sell the land, and offered it in return for labour. You took a job in the front of the diner with ease, but Marge could see Ruby had troubles at would make it difficult. So she started the young girl out in the kitchen, washing dishes with her husband, Old Jack. The place was run by family, with Marge having both her cousin and her aunt Flo working there. Old Jack had rolled his eyes when he set them on the two of you. “Im already out numbered back here.” He’d snapped, nodding to the front where the three woman stood chatting. But the smirk that followed showed no malice. So that was where you stayed. Ruby was asked by Flo if she would want to help in her husbands shop as a shelf stocker which was quieter and not as hectic as a kitchen, and Ruby nodded so hard her head might have fallen off. You took care of money. It was something Ruby had never had to worry about, in the sense of budgeting and bills. You sat down with her, explaining what needed to be paid and how it would portion out but she just started at you blankly. So you gave her an allowance for her own personal things while you pooled the rest of the money for bills. The first thing you did when you got your first paycheque was take her to the local clothes store and treat her. She came home with a new hat, a few tops and jeans as well as some nice skirts and three pairs of shoes. She had been bouncing off the walls with excitement. The house was large. With three floors, it had a small room and three double rooms on the second floor and the third was a large master bedroom. Ruby got first choice, but she still chose the double room. You took the master bedroom on the top floor. And so here you were, two years later with a lovely house, a full fridge, a closet of clothes and a warm bed. Yet you felt empty still. Your eyes drifted back to that tattoo. “I think-“ Ruby hesitated, as if trying to find the right words. “-It would be a good time to try.” Instantly, you knew what she was talking about because you had been thinking the same thing. “Me too. But I think the first time I should go back alone.” You sip your drink and glance to the clock. It was only 8am. You were both off today, but Ruby liked getting up and watching the sun rise. So you and her had spent the morning pottering about and now just sat down for some caffeine while Ruby had a bowl of cereal. Ruby looked up from her cereal. You could see the concern in her eyes as her spoon was forgotten half way to her mouth. “He might not want to come. I really hope he does, but if it feels like he wouldn’t be happy, I cant force him. But if it feels like it is something he wants, and still wont come then we can both look at going back.” You put your cup down and reach across the table to take her free hand. “And I don’t want to put you back in danger.” She opened her mouth to argue, but you knew she had that fear still. So she nodded, squeezing your hand. “When will you go?” She asked. “Today.” The moment she heard what you said, she chocked a little, making you chuckle. “Why wait? Im off today and tomorrow.” She spent the next hour or so flitting about. She gave you weapons just in case, as well as packing you some food and bottles of water. Poor Ruby couldn’t seem to sit still as you got ready. She put your things out to the car and double checking everything until you were pulling on your jacket. She didn’t question you, and you knew she had went back into herself, afraid to speak up or question you. You hugged her and bid her goodbye. Ruby stayed in your rear view mirror until she was out of sight.

  The drive was long. You found yourself unable to concentrate fully on the road, seeming to go into auto pilot as you drove. When you realized you were on the dreaded straight was when you passed the gas station. The very one where you had spent some time. Pulling up, you saw the place was locked up. the door was shut and boarded up. Maybe Fred had gotten away, or maybe he had fallen to Jupiter’s rage. You didn’t know, and in truth, you didn’t want to find out. Looking down the road, you wondered about driving on a little, but you knew there was a valley in the hills just behind the gas station. It was were Mars and Ruby would come out of when they visited you. Drumming your fingers on the wheel, you wondered what you should do next. You couldn’t go running into the hills, since there was a better chance that one of the other family members would find you before Mars would. You didn’t know whether to wait it out and see if someone came out, or whether to try leave a note or something. You really hadn’t thought beyond getting to the gas station. it seemed like such a far away and daunting task that actually being here was like stepping into a memory. Pulling the car into the shade of the gas station so you could just see the entrance to the hills, you were about to plan your next step when you saw movement coming from the shop. From the rear door of the shop, Mars stepped out. He took a drink from a bottle of water and closing the door over behind him. Then he started to walk back to the entrance. The wonder of how he didn’t seem to hear of see the car was lost as you felt your world stop. He was exactly as you remembered him, and you were pretty sure you must have been looking back at him with rose tinted glasses. Getting out the car, you raced to catch up with him, finding your mouth dry as you silently approached him. “Mars?” you spoke his name, knowing better than to run up behind him and wrap your arms around him. The second you spoke, Mars froze. The bottle he had been drinking from dropped to the ground as he turned to look at you He stared at you, his eyes seeming to glaze over as if day dreaming. You opened your mouth to say something but ended up closing it again. What could you say to him? You had focused so much on seeing him again that you had little plan on how to persuade him to come back with you. Maybe you should have bought Ruby, and then if you two could have thrown him in the back of the car and drove away before he could escape. The humorous idea shot some life back into you as you smiled a little. Then a little more as you realized you were back with him for a moment. “Mars.” You whispered his name, and saw a visible shiver run down his spin as he hunched over himself slightly and dropped his gaze. “Why did yah come back?” He asked, his voice broken and horse. Very horse. Frowning, your eyes darted to his neck. It wasn’t easy to see considering the top he wore, the curls from his hair and the dark shadow that was cast of that area. But as you focused, you saw a bruise. Not even a small one. It wrapped around the front of his neck, the purple and black marking his skin. Stepping forward, you closed the distance between you too. You didn’t notice Mars freeze up, staring at you with wide eyes as he seemed to stop breathing. Raising a finger, you gently touched the bruised flesh. “Does it hurt?” You ask, looking up at him. It was only then that you realized how close you had gotten. His face hovered only 4 or 5 inches from your own. So close. “Not now.” He breathed, his eyes falling to your lips. trailing your fingers around to the back of his neck, you allowed your hand to slid into his curls, earning another shiver. You smiled at the reaction. “Ive missed you.” You tell him, smiling despite the fear. His fingers hover over your side, about to touch you when something in him seemed to snap. “You shouldn’t have come back. Go.” He commanded before twisting out of your touch and walking away quickly. You stumbled forward, confused beyond belief before running to catch up with him. “Mars, Please.” You call after him, following him but struggling to keep up with his pace. “Come home with me?” The words slowed Mars down until he stopped. You walked up behind him, slipping your arms around his torso as you pressed your forehead against his back. “I want to share my life with you. We’re soulmates. Right?” You shake your head as you feel your heart hammer. You started to doubt yourself. He kept refusing you. You tried to shake off the idea that your soul mate might just not want you because it seemed impossible, yet here you were, doubting if he was yours. He hadn’t given you a real reason not to come with you. Ruby had been practically bursting to get away from this life, and you found out later that Jupiter was an abusive piece of shit. So you would have thought he would have wanted away from this life. So perhaps he didn’t really want to come with you. But Mars had wanted to kept you hidden so you could stay. Confusion raked through your body as you tried to figure out what to do next. But you couldn’t until you asked a very important question. “Mars?” You closed your eyes as they filled with tears. “Do you want to come with me?” You put slight emphasis on the word ‘you’, hoping he hadn’t picked up on your shaking voice. Mars paused for a moment, and you felt your world stand still for a moment as you waited for his answer. “Yeah.” Mars breathed, barely audible. Your arms drop from around him as you step in front so you could look up at him. He looked so conflicted, unable to look you in the eyes as he frowned in through. “Why cant you?” You asked, placing a hand on his chest in hope that it might sooth him. “My brothers. I cant leave ‘em.” He whispered to you, glancing to an opening in the hills. “Bring them. Theres enough room and I know Ruby missed them.” You encourage him, nodding as he looks back to you. His mind worked quickly as he drew together a plan that you didn’t know. “Go back to the car. Don’t get out. Keep the door locked. And if I aint back just after sundown, you leave.” His spoke with such control and authority, you felt a small tremble of lust shoot through you as you nodded. He was about to walk away, but you grabbed his hand. As he looked back to you in confusion, you darted forward. Going up on your tip toes, you kissed him. The immediate rush of adrenaline and pleasure was almost overwhelming as you let out a small mewl. Mars was so shocked by the kiss that he didn’t respond until he heard you mewl in pleasure, and he was immediately lost in your lips. his arms wrapped around your waist, pulling you flush against his chest before running up and down your back. As he deepened the kiss, it appeared he had found more courage as his hand moved down past your back to grope your ass and a growl left his throat. Your hands ran up his front to then drape your arms over his shoulders. Your fingers played with his curls, but in truth you couldn’t concentrate fully on anything other than his lips. In an unexpected move, he suddenly lifted you up. You squealed a little but Mars refused to break the kiss as your legs instinctively wrapped around his torso. He pins you to the rock face, pressing his body against yours as his hands explored your sides. A groan escaped his throat as he explored your mouth. You give him full access, allowing him to dominate the kiss. Your fingers gripped his hair as you silently begged him for more. The small tug of his hair only earned more lust filled moans from Mars who began to grind against you. The cloud of lust which had settled over your mind was quickly cleared when you heard a voice. “MARS! Where are yah?!” The voice gave you a fright, but it sounded distant, as if playing on a television or maybe over a phone. Mars took a moment, only appearing to pull back when he noticed you had frozen. Keeping you pressed against the wall with one arm still supporting you, he pulled a walkie-talkie out of his back pocket. “Just comin’ back.” He mumbled over the radio. It was apparently enough to silence the voice as nothing else was said. You both knew that the make-out session was over, and you were suddenly back in the real world. The one where you would probably be running for your life in a few hours. The one where Mars was about to do something which could get him killed. He lowered you to the floor, but didn’t back away. Instead, he hugged you. His head was on top of your own, as if kissing your hair but he didn’t. he just kept you close, as if trying to memorize your scent. “Go to the car, wait for you and your brothers, take you away, be happy.” You listed off the actions as you looked up, causing him to pull away. He smirked, but you could see in his eyes that it wasn’t going to be that easy.

------------------- time skip ---------------

 The day had taken ages, and you felt constantly on edge as you waited for darkness. You had to sit in the darkness, the car turned off and no lights on inside either. The car and you had to blend into the night. The silence was almost driving you insane. You couldn’t turn on the radio, so you were left in the dark and silence. You were drumming your fingers on the wheel, not keeping to any tune or song as your leg bounced with anxiety. The lack of communication was the worse. If only you knew they were on their way, or that they were safe at least. Glancing ahead, you felt your heart stop and your mouth go dry. You sat up straight, seeing three figures running to the car. You held your breath, squinting your eyes in the darkness. When you saw the bouncing of Mars’ curls, you turned on the engine, still keeping the lights off for now. They were running from something, or someone, and you were pretty sure they would need a quick getaway. Unlocking the door, they were flung open as the boys jumped into the car. “Go.” Mars demanded as he slammed the passenger door behind him with the other two got in the back. You nodded, turning on the headlights and you screamed. In front of the car was a man. Jupiter. He was angry, screaming insults as he raised an axe, about to bring it down on the hood of the car. You shoved the car in reverse and floor it backwards, causing Jupiter to swing forward and hit nothing. The momentum from the swing caused him to stumble forward. You slammed on the breaks, put the car in first gear and put your foot to the floor. Yanking the steering wheel to the side, you narrowly missed the deranged man as you drove away. “You okay?” You asked, glancing to Mars then back to the road. “Yeah, just keep drivin’” Mars leaned back in his seat, panting. It probably didn’t help that you had given them all a heart attack when you first saw Jupiter and screamed. Glancing in the rear view mirror, you saw the two brothers. While you had never met them, you had seen the tall one with the bald head before and knew him as Pluto. As for Mercury, you had heard him on radios, but never seen him before. He was smaller than his brothers, perhaps even shorter than Ruby. He was hunched over himself, both his legs pulled up to his chest and his feet perched on the seat. “You two okay?” You call back, turning your head a little to see them in your peripheral vision. Two nods calmed your worry as you turned back to the road. The drive was tense, and really awkward. You understood why. Neither Mercury or Pluto knew who you were. Perhaps they knew you had taken Ruby away, but you didn’t know if they considered that a good thing or not. You decided not to push them, allowing them some time with their thoughts for now. Mars kept quiet the whole away, to the point you thought he might have fallen asleep. You reached across and placed your hand on his thigh, making him jump slightly until he saw no threat and relaxed again. Nothing was said until you pulled up outside the house. Instantly, you felt guilty. Ruby must have been worried out her mind. You had barely climbed out the car when the door flung open and the young woman came hurtling out the house. “[y/n]!” She tried out, her arms flying around your neck as her body collided with your own so hard you stumbled back a little. “Im sorry for scaring you.” You held her tight, feeling how she was shaking. “Ruby?” Mercury’s voice called out her name she pulled back. The others had gotten silently out the car. “Merc…” She trailed off, blinking as if suspecting it was a trick of the light. Until her face broke in to a massive smile as she called out his name, running to him. With the same enthusiastic hug, she threw herself at her brother, who spun her around. You smiled as she embraced all her brothers the same way and earned different responses. Pluto patted her head with a smile while Mars ended up standing rather awkwardly. You laughed, whole heartedly for the first time in a while. There was so much to say, to explain, to question. But now wasn’t the time. Inviting them into the warm glow of the house felt like they were being invited into a dream. Mercury and Pluto were eager to follow their sister, while Mars paused outside. “Mars? You coming in?” You call out to him, holding the door open. His eyes fell on you as he blinked slowly before stepping inside, leaving his past at the door as he started his future with you and his family.

[musicaltheatrewannabe]

snow - a seblos oneshot <3

hope yall had a merry christmas - i am back with another seblos fic bc i cant get enough of them, so here we have them as boyfriends building a snowman and cute shenanigans ensue, enjoy!

Carlos put his feet up on the couch and yawned. It was the morning of December 26th and all of the Christmas excitement in his house from the day before had worn off, leaving his family scattered around doing nothing. For one thing, it wasn’t snowing anymore, and the non-stop snowfall of the day before had made it a magical white Christmas. Carlos got out his phone and scrolled mindlessly through the multitude of Christmas - and the handful of Hanukkah - posts on Instagram, smiling at all of his friends’ pictures. He was so glad that the production of High School Musical that semester had given him not only the opportunity to work as a choreographer, but also his first real group of friends. And then there was Seb, his boyfriend. Carlos smiled at the thought of the blonde musical theatre farmboy. He was still getting used to them being boyfriends, but with every day that they spent together it sunk in a little more. Carlos navigated back to Seb’s account and was looking at his family Christmas post just a little longer when he received a text from him: hey babe! happy boxing day lol:)

Carlos felt his heart flutter at being called “babe” and replied: happy boxing day to you too! you doing anything interesting to celebrate? ahaha.

Seb’s reply came immediately: not really - everyone has kind of disappeared to their own corners of the house…

Carlos stretched his back and sat up a bit on the couch before replying: honestly same, idk how my house went from the chaos it was last night to being completely deserted.

Seb wrote back again: well, if you’re not doing anything, do you wanna come over? the snow is so pretty here on the farm!

Carlos already started getting off the couch as he typed out his reply: yes pls, ok ill be there soon!

Soon enough Carlos had put on a scarf, hat and gloves, and had gotten one of his older cousins to drive him to Seb’s farm. He rang the doorbell eagerly, filled with the nervous energy that he got every time he saw Seb. Carlos heard footsteps thundering down the stairs and smiled at the fact that Seb was running to get the door. A few moments later, it swung open to reveal Seb grinning out at Carlos. “Hi!” he said, and leaned in to give Carlos a peck.

Carlos blushed at the kiss and said, “hey, what’s up?” He walked inside after Seb and started to take off his coat and hat when the other boy turned to grab his arms.

“Well, I’ve honestly just been hanging around so far, but I was thinking we could head out back and, I don’t know, like, make a snowman? Or something?” Seb looked hopefully at Carlos.

Carlos shrugged his coat back on with an eager grin, “yes, that sounds super fun!”

“Ok, great! Let me just put on my coat and boots,” Seb reached into his hall closet to get his winter clothes, including a long knitted rainbow scarf.

“Is that a homemade scarf?” Carlos asked. “Because it’s very cute,” he nodded his approval.

Seb grinned and wrapped it around his neck. “My grandma knitted it and gave it to me for Christmas,” he said, “it’s really cute, she’s been trying so hard to show her acceptance of me being gay ever since I came out to her last year.” Seb closed the closet and walked Carlos through the living room to the house’s back door.

“That’s so sweet, did you manage to fit your entire extended family in here last night?” Carlos asked, trying to imagine dozens of relatives filling the space.

“Don’t ask me how,” Seb laughed, opening the door and stepping out onto the porch. “Between my extended family and the farm animals, there was a lot of chaotic energy here last night.”

Carlos reached out to hold Seb’s hand as they looked out at the untouched snow beyond the porch. “Well, it’s very peaceful now,” he said, leaning his head onto Seb’s shoulder.

Seb took a deep breath and basked in the silence for all of three seconds before yelling, “not for long!” and running off the porch out into the snow.

Carlos laughed and followed suit, trying for fun to step exclusively in the footprints that Seb had made. “You’re such an idiot!” he called after his boyfriend, who was already gathering up snow into a large pile. When Carlos caught up to Seb, he started helping to build the base of the snowman.

They quickly finished the first layer, though that one was the easiest. Seb tried to make a small snowball and roll it around to accumulate more snow for the second layer, but it kept falling apart when it was only half the size that they wanted. When Seb kept failing, Carlos said, “here, watch and learn,” and tried as well, but his snow wouldn’t stick together either.

“You were saying?” Seb smirked and raised an eyebrow at Carlos, who shot him a glare in return.

“Hey, this has always worked for me before, okay?” Carlos countered, playfully hitting Seb on the arm. Seb feigned shock and knelt back down to the ground, forming a snowball again. “What are you doing, honey, it’s not just gonna work all of a sudden-“ Carlos’ sentence was cut off when Seb looked up at him with a mischievous grin and threw the snowball at him.

“Seems like that one worked,” Seb giggled.

Carlos raised his eyebrows at Seb and calmly said, “oh, I see, we’re doing this?” He dropped down to the ground to start making several snowballs, and a look of worry crossed Seb’s face.

“Uh oh…” Seb trailed off, running away from Carlos and the house. He stopped behind a tree and started making his own set of snowballs there, ready to retaliate when Carlos would attack. Seb took a quick peek back around the tree and was immediately met by a snowball to the chest and Carlos running toward him.

“How are your reflexes so fast, what the hell?” Seb laughed, throwing a few snowballs at the quickly-approaching Carlos.

“Ten years of dance training!” Carlos shouted back with a grin and a pirouette. Before he could reach the blonde boy, he dropped his last snowball and stopped to make a new one.

Seb took this as his opportunity to get away and ran in the opposite direction, frantically looking back to see Carlos hot on his trail. “No!” he shrieked and laughed as Carlos hit him right in the center of his back. Seb dramatically dropped to his knees and fell into the snow, turning around so he was on his back.

Carlos stood over him with a triumphant grin. “Do you accept defeat?” he asked.

Seb nodded and held out his hand. “Help me up?” he asked, looking up at Carlos with puppy dog eyes.

Carlos rolled his eyes and laughed, grabbing Seb’s hand. “You shouldn’t have dropped to the floor,” he tried to pull but Seb wouldn’t get up, and instead pulled Carlos to the ground with him.

Carlos let out a shriek but landed gracefully before laying his head carefully back into the snow. Seb laughed and turned to his boyfriend, his face softening into a smile, before looking back up at the clear blue sky again. He stretched out his arms and started sliding them up and down, along with his legs. “Look, a snow angel!” Seb turned his head to Carlos and beamed at him.

Carlos smiled fondly and softly said, “you’re a snow angel,” before blushing madly. “Oh my God that was so cheesy I’m sorry,” he laughed, and Seb giggled.

Seb stopped making the snow angel and shuffled closer so he could wrap an arm around Carlos. “No, I think it’s cute when you say stuff like that,” he chuckled. “It shows that you’re comfortable around me,” he said softly and nuzzled Carlos’ nose with his own.

Carlos stared back at Seb in awe and wrapped his arm around his neck. “Yeah, I guess I am,” he smiled, their faces still nearly touching. Barely needing to move, he leaned in to kiss Seb, slowly and gently. Seb’s arm tightened around Carlos’ back and then his hand started tracing patterns over the other boy’s coat. Carlos played with the hair at the nape of Seb’s neck in response, eliciting a contented sigh. They pulled apart and locked eyes again, not needing any words to express what they were feeling. Carlos leaned back into the snow again and his eyes drifted shut. Maybe it was just the cold, or maybe it was the way that he could feel Seb there without seeing him, but he felt the need to take in the moment, and Seb did the same.

After they had laid in the snow a few minutes longer, both boys started to really process the cold and got up to wander back to their unfinished snowman.

“Let’s try together,” Seb suggested regarding their previous failed attempts at making the second layer. Instead of just rolling a regular snowball around, they placed one on the first layer and packed snow onto it, and it stuck together.

“Nice!” Carlos high-fived Seb when they got the second layer to stay in place. They quickly managed to make the snowman’s head as well.

“I’ll go get some pebbles - can you find a few twigs for the arms back at my tree?” Seb asked with a chuckle.

Carlos picked out two pretty even sticks to be the arms and returned to find Seb giving their snowman pebble eyes, a nose and a mouth. Carlos nodded approvingly and stared at the snowman contemplating how to stick in the arms, earning a laugh from Seb.

Finally he stuck the twigs into the snowman so that they were sticking up, twig hands in the air. “Now we can call him Bob Fosse, what do you think?” Carlos grinned at Seb.

“Sounds about right,” Seb laughed, taking off his hat to put it on Fosse’s head.

“And for the finishing touch,” Carlos said and dramatically put his scarf around the snowman. He stepped back to look proudly at Fosse and took a picture of him.

“You know what? I’m very impressed with our creation!” Seb beamed at Carlos, their gazes lingering on each other. Seb noticed Carlos shiver and his expression turned to one of concern. “You don’t have a scarf anymore!”

“Oh, don’t worry, I’m fine,” Carlos said, his teeth chattering.

“No no, it’s cold! Here, we can share mine,” Seb unwrapped his long rainbow scarf and looped it around Carlos’ neck, pulling him closer and wrapping it around his own neck as well. Both boys laughed at the impracticality of it but Seb just put his arms around Carlos and said, “see?”

Carlos couldn’t help but smile as he glanced up at Seb’s head. “And you don’t have a hat anymore, which means I get to do this,” he grinned as he ran his fingers through Seb’s hair.

The blonde boy thought about protesting in the name of not messing up his hair, but then he realized that he’d already laid in the snow, and besides, it felt really nice. “I won’t complain this time,” he sighed, his eyes fluttering shut at the sensation.

“So the truth comes out, huh?” Carlos chuckled and dropped his hands back down, earning a pout from his boyfriend. Seb tightened the scarf around their necks to bring them closer to each other and crashed their lips together. Carlos was momentarily startled by the action but his eyes squeezed shut and he reacted quickly. His hands flew back up to Seb’s head, running through his hair, and Carlos felt Seb smile into the kiss. He pulled away but placed tons of little kisses over Seb’s cheeks and jaw, earning a small giggle, before returning to his lips. Seb finally pulled away for good and nuzzled his face into Carlos’ neck.

They rested there peacefully for a moment before Seb’s little sister ran out onto the porch and yelled, “Sebby! Can you make us hot chocolate?!!” The boys rolled their eyes with a sigh and laughed.

Seb unwrapped the scarf, leaving it around Carlos’ neck, and took his hand to walk back inside. Seb couldn’t help but kiss Carlos on the cheek right before they walked in. “You just look so cute in my scarf,” he said with an unapologetic smile.

After making hot chocolate for all of the kids, the boys were cleaning up in the kitchen. “You know,” Seb said, turning to Carlos, “we should make this our new Boxing Day tradition, since neither of us had one.”

Carlos smiled and raised his eyebrows at Seb. “Oh yeah? That could work… Which part?”

Seb bit his lip and grinned, wrapping an arm around Carlos’ waist and whispering into his ear, “all of it?”

[emilyxvalentyne]

Alcoholic Love CH

A/n: So this is my first ever series so please bare with me. I may not be the best but I’m trying so please leave some positive feed back. Don’t let this flop please.

Disclaimer: This is just some good old classic fiction. I am not involved or do I know anything about the character used in this.

Warnings: not really any in this one but for the (series) there is going to be some of the following: alcohol abuse, drug abuse, cursing, depression, anxiety.

Summary: CalumXgirlfriend theres a rough patch in the relationship Calum has become distant, she slowly turns to drugs and alcohol to numb her pain.

A/n: please don’t let this flop!! Give me some tips on how to better it or if you have any ideas for me.

…………

I woke up to the bed empty this morning, I heard some noise going on downstairs so I assume Calum is still here. I got out of bed and put some socks on trying to avoid the cold floor. I made my way down stairs and into the kitchen. I saw Calum making some coffee. I slowly made my way behind him wrapping my arms around his torso resting my head against his back, he tensed up against my touch but didn't respond to it. I sighed and moved away from him walking over to the fridge, grabbing the butter, jam and orange juice. I set them on the counter next to Calum, who was sitting on a stool drinking his coffee and texting someone on his phone. I turned away from him and stuck some bread in the toaster. Calum seemed to be entertained with his phone to pay me any mind. I leaned my side in to the counter keeping me up on my propped elbow. I stared at Calum trying to read his face. Lately it's just been nothing but him working or going out, this is probably the longest we have been in a room together in about three weeks. He was dressed up as if he was about to head out. I would be lying if I said I wasn't sad that he was going out. I've tried talking to him about it but all he says is that he doesn't have time to talk about it or that he was to tired. I felt sad whenever I was alone here in our home, of course I went to work and did some college classes but whenever I got home to an empty house (besides duke) it always depressed me. I was pulled out of my thought when my toast finally popped up. I took out a butter knife and smeared the butter and strawberry jam on the golden squares. I poured some juice into a glass and put everything away. I pulled out the stool next to Calum and sat down. I felt Calum's stare burn into the side of my face as I sat there eating my toast.

'Do you want some of my toast?' I slide my plate over to Calum finally making eye contact with him. His eyes were dark and unreadable, but I could sense he was annoyed. Calum rolled his eyes and got up placing his mug into the sink. I felt as if he was almost annoyed with my very existence.

'No im heading out' I heard Calum mumble as he stared walking towards the living room. I followed I never ask Calum where he went anymore so I could avoid him getting mad but now I was kind skeptical on where exactly he was going. Calum was crouched down petting dukes head.

'Heading out where?' I asked more to myself rather then to him. I could practically see him rolling his eyes. He stood up and glared over at me.

'I'm just going out, God do you need to know where I am like your my mom' Calum was now heading up to our room I was right behind him following him into the closet where he continued to look for shoes.

'I never ask you where you even go anymore because you get mad all the time' I stood there in front of him as he sat on the bed tying his shoes.

'Well then why do you ask its just a waste of my time and yours' Calum was now putting on some cologne. He looked extremely agitated with me but at this point I could care less.

'Because I was wondering what time you would be home so we could hang out you know it's been a while since we-' I was cut off by Calum chuckling he stared at me as if I was stupid.

'Look I really don't have time for all of this right now I have to get going' calum said as he stared walking past me. But I reached forward to grab his wrist.

'Are you seriously to busy to even hang out with me? What has gotten into you, huh? All you do is go to rehearsal and go out with your friends, you seem to never have time for me, your girlfriend anymore' I looked into his dark eyes trying to see anything but all I could see was annoyance.

'Oh my god, fine then be ready by 6' Calum pulled his arm back and walked out of the room. I followed not wanting to give up.

'Are you serious, you are taking me out later?' I said before he walked out the front door. He turned around stood directly in front of me towering over me. I felt as if his eyes were burning into my soul, all I wanted to do was step back but I felt locked into place.

'Yes, I'll be back later' Calum reached forward and and caressed my cheek and leaned in placing a kiss on my forehead. He then turned out the door shutting it closed with a loud thud. I was left in the same position as he left me in. Confused his kiss didn't feel right on my skin anymore almost as if he had forced it. I walked back upstairs and into my room where I then laid on our bed. I glanced over to his side of the bed. It was slightly wrinkled as if he only slept on top of the blankets. I wish he was still here, I wish he would spend the day with me, I wish.... I wish he would love me... no he, does love me maybe he's having a hard time at the studio and rehearsal.

I rolled into my side and looked at my alarm clock it was 12:36 in the afternoon. I sat there deciding whether or not to clean the house. After a long sigh I got up and walked over to the laundry basket that of course had only my clothes in it with Calum's clothes all bunched up on the floor around it. 'For the last time the clothes goes into the basket' I groaned out loud, I put all the dirty laundry in to the basket and made my way down to the laundry room. I started organizing the clothes and washing and folding. It's amazing how much clothes Calum goes through in one week. After about an hour and a half of washing and folding I finally finished and fed duke and washed the dishes. The rest of the house was basically clean since I clean it almost everyday. I sat on the couch finally checking my phone. I responded to a few text and checked the time it was 3:17 I groaned and decided to watch tv. I flipped through the channels while duke laid on my lap.

'You understand me right' I spoke to the little furry dog that laid on my lap. Duke just continued to chew on his bone. 'Why is your owner such an asshole sometimes' this time duke looked up and whimpered almost as if he understood what I said

'But I love him just as much as I love you' I ruffled his fur and kissed his head. I got up finally making my way to take a shower and getting ready to go out with Calum.

I put on a two piece set with some sandals I curled my hair and sprayed myself with Calum’s favorite scent on me. My makeup was done and now it was just a waiting game.

6:30 rolled around at this moment he could just be late. I let duke go out into the backyard I watched him run around then come back inside where he literally stopped to look at me and then he ran back out. I laughed at every little thing he did he really does cheer me up when I’m feeling down. He’s like a best friend but I always wish he could talk that would be cool. I played tug war with him and I always let him win. He made me miss my family and my dog back home.

7:30 rolled around the sun was getting ready to set and there was still no sign of Calum. I knew at this point he wasn’t going to come but a small part of me still had hope. I was mad that I got all ready for him to not even show up but in the end I should have expected this it’s really no shocker. I texted him but it wasn’t the usual ‘hey are you still coming!’ Text. Rather I sent this instead ‘ you could’ve just told me you were busy tonight or not even have told me to get ready for disappointment tonight at all. It probably would have hurt less’. I dragged myself up stairs to change I put on some sweats and a Pink Floyd t-shirt, I slipped my checkers vans on and grabbed my credit card and keys. I decided to just leave my phone I got into my car and went to the local Mexican restaurant I usually go to. I really didn’t want to sit around being sad.

“Well well well welcome back, long time no see” Celia my usual waitress was always to cheerful.

“Yah yah yah I know” I laughed as I took a seat right in front of her as I scanned the menu as if I didn’t know what was on it.

“What will it be hermosa? The usual?” I nodded and handed her the menu.

“Wait Celia can I get it to go and a strawberry margarita to go as well please”

“Of course Emily, I’ll be right back” I scanned the restaurant it was pretty slow for a Friday night usually the place packed with customers.

“Slow tonight because banda MS is in town, how come you’re not there you usually love seeing and going to bailes mija”

“I wasn’t really feeling it tonight I guess” I wasn’t even feeling anything tonight. I didn’t even know my favorite Latin band was in town.

“What’s wrong chula you seem like you have a lot on your mind you know you can tell your momma Celia anything” I really wanted to cry she always made me miss my mom.

“I’m just stressed about school and work that’s all”

“No no I think this something else, do you got boy troubles is it that boyfriend of yours the Australiano” she could always tell what was wrong.

“Yah... he stood me up again I don’t know what to do anymore, god Celia i really love him, but he doesn’t seem to feel the same anymore. It’s like the more I try to talk to him the farther away he gets” tears welted up on my eyes but I held them in.

“Chula you cant force love, sometimes you just have to get up and go. If he is the one for you he will make that clear he will chase after you if he wants you for you because he loves you. And you will see that he wants you because he loves you, you will feel it but if he doesn’t want you then you need to move on and do what is good for you, you have to fall before you can get back up you are young and beautiful and dont forget you are a Latina, nos otras somos fuerte (we are strong) I don’t want to see you all sad next time you come in okay?” I hugged Celia she’s my mom from my home away for home.

“Okay thank you Celia” I paid and tipped her and left I made my way back home to finally eat my Nachos and drink my margarita.

11:30pm rolled by and there was still no sign of him. I always try and try and try. I Put others before myself, and my heart just isn’t ready to let go. I feel as if having this big heart of mine is only a blessing when it becomes an accommodation to other but it’s a curse to my feelings. I put my plates in the sink and my trash in the bin. I switch off the lights and locked up so I can head up to bed.

Another night alone, same bed that made me feel so loved and protected. Now it’s the place where I long for that innocent loving touch

[hotoffthepressfics]

Choose Me Instead

MASTERLIST

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Female Reader

Word Count: 2,570

Summary: Set in the time after CW, the reader’s enigmatic neighbor is hiding something. There’s more to the story of misunderstandings and hurt feelings, but will she be able to handle the truth?

Warnings: Injuries, nudity

Inspiration: “Instead” - Ryan Amador

A/N: This was one where the idea sounded better in my head I think. I never could get it quite the way I wanted to, but I still enjoy. Hope you all like it as well!

The rain falls steadily outside, making soft pattering sounds on the window panes as you grab your bag and begin to head out the door. You backtrack to the coat closet, almost forgetting an umbrella. Most people would find a day like this dreary and depressing, but it soothes you. The peace and calm are what was missing in your life lately.

You step out of your apartment, closing and locking it before looking up across the hall. You shriek, tripping over your feet and bumping against your now closed door. You clasp a hand to your chest feeling your heart race from fright. There, slumped against his door frame, stood one very haggard looking Steve.

“You scared the hell out of me –“ you walk over and bend down to peer into his face. You gasp.

“Oh my god, Steve! What happened?!” 

He looks like hell. Bruises mottle his face. A split cheek and lip match the gash across the bridge of his nose. His eyes flutter open and it takes him a moment to register your face. He sucks in a breath and raises his eyebrows in surprise.

“Oh hey, Y/N. I dropped my keys and… I was just too lazy to pick them up.” He says tiredly, fingers wriggling towards the ground.

You scoop up the keys. “I wasn’t talking about that! What on earth happened to your face?”

He shrugs, and it seems that’s all the response you’re going to get from him. You bite your tongue to keep your ire in check. You open the door and help a wobbling Steve into his apartment. He’s nearly dead on his feet. Steve sways a little as you stop him so you can peel off his leather jacket. As soon as it’s passed his broad shoulders you gasp again. Blood soaked through the fabric of his T-shirt, clinging to his body.

“Jesus, Steve! You shouldn’t be here, you should be in a hospital!” You reach into your jacket pocket, pulling out your cell to call 9-1-1.

Steve closes his hand around yours to stop your dialing. You glance up, confused.

“There’s no need, it’s not that bad.” He turns and slowly limps into the kitchen, hauling a chair away from the dining table.

He throws a leg over it and sits, resting his head against his arms on the chair back. You continue to stare at him, bewildered.

“Not that bad? You’re bleeding through you shirt! We need to – “ You stop when he shakes his head.

“It’ll be fine, I promise.” He mumbles.

You bite the inside of your cheek. The heavy weight of disappointment and hurt settling in your chest. He’s hiding something; you could sense it. 

“At least let me get a look and clean it up.” You say quietly, making your way to stand behind him.

You carefully lift the soiled shirt, but the blood is caked and dried in areas. The fabric pulls at his skin and wounds, making Steve hiss through his teeth. You release the hem of the shirt. Walking into the kitchen you rummage through the drawers. After the third drawer you find a couple dish towels. Some more digging around and you come back with a bowlful of warm water.

You dip the towels into it, soaking them and gently placing them on Steve’s back.

“I need to let it soak so we can get your shirt off. How long were you just standing out in the hallway?” You ask him.

He shrugs once more. You want to scream but you turn and head out the door. Collecting your things, you drop them just inside Steve’s apartment and close the two of you in. Silently you come back and smooth a hand over the towels, removing one to wring out and soak again. Neither of you speaks, and the awkward tension grows.

“How’s Chad?” Steve finally breaks the silence while you strip off the towels.

You pause, unsure if now would be a good time for this conversation. You resume slowly peeling up his now wet shirt, carefully picking apart cotton cloth from open wounds.

“He’s gone.” You say curtly.

“When’s he getting back?”

“He’s not coming back. He’s gone.” You snap a little. That got Steve’s attention. He raises his head slightly and cants it toward you.

“I thought you were…”

“You thought wrong. You would have known that if you had stopped and let me explain. Instead you storm off to god knows where for three weeks and come back looking like you got in a fight with a wood chipper, and the wood chipper won!” You rush through the last part in one breath, yanking a little too hard on the soggy material to punctuate the end.

Steve winces and a stab of guilt pierces your heart. “Sorry..” you mumble. Steve sits up long enough for you to pull the shirt over his head. You rinse out a towel and dab at the wounds; he was right, they weren’t as bad as you first thought.

The truth was that you’d missed him. The deep, bone-aching, kind of longing. You didn’t realize how much you’d grown to care for Steve until he’d chosen to leave. All because of a misunderstanding. 

Chad had never been good to you, but the one good thing that relationship had brought you was Steve. Missed and cancelled dates turned into impromptu outings with Steve. You felt heard and valued when you spent time with him.

You closed your eyes, that horrible memory replaying unbidden behind your lids. Chad kneeling in front of you, ring box in hand, begging you to take him back. Steve walking in on the scene. The mistrust and hurt that filled his eyes still made you want to cry. He’d turned and walked out the door without a word. You prying yourself out of Chad’s grasp, chasing after Steve. You could still feel your throat closing as you held back tears, pleading with him to stop and listen to you. You’d chased him all the way out onto the street but you couldn’t keep up.

You’d waited days for him to return to his apartment across from yours. After a certain point, though, you thought he’d never come back. Anger replaced sorrow. You couldn’t believe he’d think so little of you to suppose you’d accept Chad’s half-assed proposal. Especially when he’d just confessed how he was feeling towards you.

The more you puzzled over it you’d thought that maybe it’d been an out Steve was looking for. He’d skirt around questions about his job and the phone calls he’d take, much like Chad did. You’d wanted to return those feelings but you didn’t want to jump into another secretive relationship. You’d had enough of that for a lifetime. Steve was keeping something from you and if he couldn’t be open about it, then maybe it was better he’d been trying to cut ties.

Steve reaches behind himself, searching blindly for your hand. Relenting, you aid him by wrapping your fingers around his. He gently tugs and you let him pull you onto his left knee. You glance up into his battered face, his eyes searching yours.

“So you aren’t… engaged to him?” He asks earnestly.

You shake your head, fighting bravely not to cry. “I never would have accepted him.”

Steve draws you closer into a clumsy tangle of limps. He presses his face into the nape of your neck.

“I’m sorry, I just assumed…” he trails off, his voice muffled against your skin.

“Yeah well, this coming from the guy who admitted to me what he assumed ‘fondue’ meant.” You tease.

Steve laughs weakly. You smile and reach up to touch his cheek, but let your hand fall to your lap. You pull back enough that Steve lifts his head and gazes into your eyes.

“I want to be with you, Steve… but I don’t want another relationship built on lies. What aren’t you telling me?” You ask softly.

His eyes roam over your face as if he’s trying to memorize your features. He drops his hand resting on top of your thigh.

“The closet in the bedroom. There’s a loose panel on the back wall.” He says quietly, leaning his head back down against the chair back.

You slowly get up off his leg, staring at the back of his head in befuddlement. Walking into the room you pause in front of the closet. Apprehension for what you’d find gnaws away at your stomach. The dramatic side of your brain briefly wonders if you’d find a dead body. Yeah, right. There was no way it was that bad… Although you had never thought you’d find Steve as battered and bloody as he was tonight… 

You pull open the door. The closet is mostly bare. A few shirts, a pair of pants, and a couple pairs of shoes on the floor are all that inhabit it. You kneel down and push aside a pair of tennis shoes. Crawling in you run your hand along the back wall, feeling for the loose panel. Your fingers brush along the seam and you push, popping it open. 

Setting the panel aside you carefully reach into the darkness. Your hand rests on something made of thick cloth, a little coarse to the touch. You lift it out, a small thud sounding when it’s shifted. In your hands is a worn and tattered uniform in the shades of blue, red, and white, though the colors are mostly covered in dirt and grime.

You reach back into the space and feel around for the object that dropped. A cool, hard, angular surface meets your touch. A light, metallic star comes up when you lift it out. Ripped fabric clings to each point of the star. You stare at the two pieces as realization dawns on you. 

Steve hadn’t moved from his spot as you walk back out with your findings. His back still looked raw and traces of blood still lingered. Now, however, all the wounds were scabbed over and healing. You stand just behind him too stunned to quite speak yet. Finally, you find your voice.

“You… you’re Captain America.” You had meant it as a question, but with the evidence in your hands it came out as a statement.

Steve scoffs, “I think you mean I was Captain America. I don’t carry that title anymore.” 

You say nothing. Steve lifts his head and shifts his body out towards you, a sad expression on his face.

“Now you know. So tell me, is this okay? Can you still be with a war criminal? Someone the world has told you to despise?” He grins at you morosely.

Without another thought you drop the items, the star clattering against the wood floor, and purposely march towards him. When you reach him you sling your leg over his thighs, straddling him. On instinct, Steve grips your hips and pulls you closer as you slant your mouth over his, kissing him fully.

Your hands graze over the skin of his neck, threading your fingers into his hair. You kiss each other greedily, teeth clashing. Tasting one another. Steve pulls back and the two of you catch your breath. He presses his forehead against yours. You lean into the chair back, bringing him with you. It’s quiet save only for the rhythm of the rain falling outside.

“I shouldn’t do this. I shouldn’t drag you into all this.” Steve murmurs, more to himself than to you.

“Why?” You whisper back. His clear blue eyes bear into yours.

“Because it’s nothing but chaos. You’re not equipped to handle it. I’ll just break you. I’ve already stayed in this place too long…” Panic enters his voice as he continues. 

You kiss him gently to silence him. When you pull back there is still a frightened look to him but he says nothing. You watch as his Adam’s apple bobs when he swallows.

“You asked me to choose you before you left. I did. Now I’m asking you to choose me. Choose this moment. Stay here and be with me. At least for now, until there’s no time left.”  You add the last part begrudgingly. You know when it comes down to it, it’ll be the hardest battle to fight.

He stares at you another minute then nods, pulling you in again and kissing you like it’s his last gasp for air. After another long minute you break away again, panting.

“So, are you going to tell me how you got these now?” You prod, sliding a finger along a wound that crossed his rib towards his back. He chuckles.

“Ah, I picked a fight with some bad guys. I needed to punch someone. Felt like the right way to go.” 

“They must have been pretty strong if you were left with these injuries.” You muse. He laughs again, shaking his head.

“I… may have let them get in a few swings or two.” He concedes.

That sobers the mood a bit. You lean in, carefully wrapping yourself around him. “If you had just let me explain you wouldn’t have had to fight anyone.”

“I know… I’m sorry.” He says. Steve returns the embrace, holding a little tighter than necessary. You don’t complain.

Steve plays with the hair draped down your back. His other hand trails along your stocking-clad thigh, to where your dress skirt is bunched. You halt his hand.

“Steve, as much as I want you, I don’t think we should be having sex with your injuries as they are.” You say into his shoulder, contradicting your words with a peck to his neck.

You pull back to look into his face. A sheepish grin is plastered over it. A slight pink tint spreads to his cheeks.

“I wasn’t really thinking of that, though I will want to have you later. I just need to touch you. I need to be close to you.” He murmurs, pressing a kiss to the corner of your mouth. 

You consider this a moment then slip your dress up and over your head. He slides you closer and you close your legs around his back as he lifts you up out of the chair. He slowly makes his way to the bedroom,  unclasping your bra. You slide it down your arms and press close to his bare skin. You both shudder, craving the tactile connection.

Steve nudges the door open with his foot, delicately placing you atop the bed. You shimmy out of your stockings while Steve scrambles out of his shoes and pants. He helps you pull the covers back and climbs underneath with you, naked with the exception of your underwear. He hauls you closer, entangling your arms and legs until there’s not a space between the two of you.

That’s how you spend the next hour. Feeling one another, kissing every inch you could reach, savoring the intimacy of just holding someone you love. Soon Steve falls asleep, exhausted from his injuries. He breathes softly against your chest, still clinging tightly to you. You stay awake, occasionally brushing your face into his hair. 

For now you’ll safeguard him, protected in this small corner of the universe. You wanted to hold onto this moment; embed it in your memory. For if the time came, when the time came, you just hoped you could still choose each other again.

EVERYTHING TAGLIST: 

@booktvmoviefangirl @lowkeybuckyb @mrsdaamneron @xxashy999xx @c-ly-g @coal000 @rroguebones @ghostlyrose2 @part-time-patronus @emelielwh @peaceinourtime82 @buckysforeverprincess @geeksareunique @amnahs9695 @v-2bucky @scarlet-skywalkers @lokilvrr @thisismysecrethappyplace @sacre-bluhm @tatertot1097 @until-theend-oftheline @amoonagedaydreamer @marvelouspottering @thatfanficstuff @chuuulip @averyrogers83 @ellaprime68 @shield-agent78 @jewels2876

STEVE ROGERS TAGLIST: 

 @patzammit @bloodiedskirtts

[oh-mother-of-darkness]

The first time, Jason came very close to stabbing her. He and Damian were waiting in a warehouse in pitch darkness, trying to catch an arms ring in the act, when something warm brushed against his ankles. He lunged backwards, yelping in surprise, and nearly fell over in an attempt to pull a knife from his belt. 

Damian swung down from the rafters to check on him, not that Damian would admit that was what he was doing. “Trip over your own incompetence?”

“No, your ego. Easy mistake.” 

“Hilarious. What happened?”

“I don’t know. There was something here. I thought it was you,” Jason told him. “You’re usually the only thing at that height.” He grinned as Damian backhanded him lightly in the shoulder in retaliation. 

“Ow, my knee.”

“Hilarious.” Damian repeated, pulling a pen light from his glove. He flicked the dim beam around the room for a few moments, until it landed on a small shape in the corner— a dog with it’s tail tucked underneath it. She stared back at them with reflective eyes. 

“Oh,” said Jason, putting away his knife.

“Oh,” said Damian, hurrying over to the corner. The dog didn’t run away, but she did huddle in tighter. She got over that pretty quickly. As soon as Damian started petting her, she rolled over to solicit a belly rub, happily wagging her tail as Damian complied. 

She was a small dog— a puppy really. A tiny golden retriever without a collar. Jason bent down to pet her himself, then retreated back to his hiding place. Somebody had to keep watch while Damian was distracted. 

It was a good thing he did, because moments later, the warehouse lights flipped on and gunshots started firing. Jason dove behind the crate of weapons he and Damian had opened earlier. On his way down, he saw Damian grapple into the rafters while the puppy bolted out the door. 

So much for that. 

The second time, Jason found her at the mouth of an alley, barking up a storm. Behind her lay a still body, not moving. Dead? Jason wasn’t sure. The dog growled when he tried to get closer. 

“Hey,” he told her. “I’m trying to help.”

The dog, rather predictably, did not understand him. 

“Okay,” he muttered, pushing past her into the darkness. The figure on the ground turned into the still form of an adolescent boy. Jason could see him breathing, but he was in bad shape. There was blood dripping from his head. 

“Shit,” said Jason, dialing 911. He ran to his motorcycle and pulled his first aid kit. The kid would need it. One brief conversation with the emergency center later, Jason knelt by the boy with a roll of bandages. 

Something warm rammed into his side. BARK! Jason almost fell over from the impact. 

“I’m trying to help!” Jason repeated. He shoved the dog away from him as she ran in for a second pass. “Jesus! Is this your owner?”

Emergency sirens started up in the distance. 

“He’ll be fine, okay? Good girl. Good dog. Trying to help.” 

The dog did not calm down until the ambulance arrived to take the kid away. Jason scooped her up as the EMTs loaded up the stretcher. He would bring her to the hospital, he figured. The boy would want his dog back. 

Jason encountered a small hiccup in that plan when he arrived and spoke to the family: she wasn’t their dog. 

He couldn’t exactly stick her back on the street. They were miles from the alleyway or the warehouse from before. He had been carrying her for hours, first in his arms and then on a makeshift leash made from grappling wire. 

One night with a dog wouldn’t kill him. 

Before they entered the safehouse, Jason stopped to give the dog a stern talking-to. 

“Do not,” he began, “destroy my things. There will be no barking or licking while I am asleep. We will find your owner tomorrow.”

The dog stared at him.

“Somebody out there is really upset that you’re MIA.”

More staring. 

“Missing in action,” Jason explained. “M-I-A.”

Soft bark.

“Mia.” Jason tried. 

The dog looked back at him with wide, brown eyes.

“Mia, then. That’s what we’re calling you.” Jason grinned. “Full name ‘Damian’ because you’re small and a pain in my ass. Plus that’s where you’re going if we can’t find your owner. He’ll take you in.” 

More staring.

“God, I hope you’re house trained,” sighed Jason, opening the door. 

He pulled off her leash as they stepped inside. She bounded off happily; Jason went to find some spare bedding. He tossed his phone on the couch on his way to the linen closet, then pulled out the rattiest blanket he possessed. He turned around. 

Mia bounced in front of him, his phone in her mouth.

“No!” he told her. “Bad dog!”

He threw his phone back on the couch. She sprang across the room and returned it in a pile of slobber. 

“Don’t… okay. Phones are not for fetch. Here.” 

He found a baseball— a trophy from a Riddler incident, if he wasn’t mistaken— on his display shelf and tossed it across the room. “Fetch!” he told her. 

Mia ran back to the linen closet, grabbed Jason’s phone in her mouth, and brought it to him. 

“I said fetch, not phone. Fetch!” 

He gestured after the ball. 

She dropped his phone on the ground and pointed at it with her nose. 

“You’re an idiot,” Jason told her. He laid out a couch pillow and the blanket on the floor, then flipped off the lights. “Go to sleep, idiot.” 

He dropped her on the pillow and went to his room to get ready for bed, singing under his breath as he went. As he pulled on his pajamas, he broke into full song 

Howling from the other room. 

Jason stuck his head around the doorway and stared into the darkness. Luminescent eyes stared back at him. 

“Shhh,” he told her, then ducked back into his room. He began to sing again, softer this time. 

More howling. 

“Hey! It’s a safehouse. People aren’t supposed to know we’re here.” Jason flipped on the lights in the main room and glared at the dog. “Quiet.”

She huffed excitedly, ran across the room, and bounced off Jason’s legs. 

“Idiot,” he repeated. “Do you like to sing too?” He started up again, watching Mia intently. 

Instant howling. For a few seconds, he let her duet— him singing, her howling— then cut off quickly. It was cute, really, but he had a low profile to maintain. 

“Go to sleep,” he told her again. “That’s what I’m doing.” He flipped off the lights and went to lie down. 

There was thumping at the foot of his bed, then a small, furry figure flopped on top of his feet. 

“Whatever,” Jason decided, and fell asleep. 

Regrettably, he didn’t stay asleep for long. Right before sunrise, Jason woke up to loud, repeated barking. 

“Mia,” he groaned. “Bad dog! Quiet!” 

Mia didn’t stop barking. Jason sat up and found her pressed against the window to the fire escape, yelling angrily at whatever was happening outside. 

Jason went to the window, expecting to find another dog passing beneath them. Instead, he saw a half dozen figures walk out of the darkness. 

All of them carried guns— big guns, the kind he and Damian had found in the warehouse where Mia first appeared. 

Well shit. Jason didn’t have enough time to change into his work clothes, so he grabbed the helmet from his nightstand and kept moving. It would have to do. He ducked beneath his window and cautiously rose enough to see outside. 

The figures gathered silently beneath him. One lifted his hand and motioned towards Jason’s building. 

He dove away from the window as the bullets started flying. Mia bolted from the bedroom into the blanket on the living room floor, away from the sound of gunfire. Jason was glad she did. He didn’t want her to get shot. 

As it turned out, she wasn’t the one to worry about. Jason looked down and found two holes in his leg that definitely should not have been there. 

“Fuck!” he hissed. The pain hit him in a wave after that. Beneath him, the gunfire went silent as the gunmen began to reload. 

Jason decided that he maybe, possibly, he might need some help. He reached up and fumbled on his nightstand for his phone, then remembered he had left it in the other room. Fuck! He didn’t think he could make it that far. He was bleeding badly. 

“Mia!” he yelled. “Fetch!” 

She brought him his phone. 

Jason barely had enough time to send out a distress signal before the gunfire started up again. He pulled Mia behind the bed for cover. His own gun was hidden beneath the mattress. He retrieved it to return fire. 

Jason didn’t remember much after that: just gunfire and Bruce on his windowsill. 

He woke up in the Cave with something furry in his lap and Damian hovering next to him.

“You didn’t tell me you kept the dog!” Damian burst out, as soon as Jason opened his eyes. 

“I’m not keeping the— ack!” Jason cut off as Mia bounded up his chest and licked his face. 

“Good girl,” Damian told her, thrilled. 

“Yeah okay,” Jason muttered, pulling Mia back into his lap. “I’m keeping the dog.” 

[thisisthe-way]

Proposal

Uraraka stared in awe around her at the large, traditional Japanese property, smoothing out the ruffles of her pink dress and clinging to Bakugou’s arm. She smiled over at him, fixing the collar of his dress shirt when it began to flap upward. “You look very handsome, Katsu.”

“Tch,” Bakugou snorted, but smirked down at her. The vile of pebbles he always wore was showing under the shirt, only the brown twine resting on his barely visible collarbone. Uraraka couldn’t complain that he never wore a tie with his dress shirts. She rather enjoyed him keeping the first few buttons open like that.

Luuuucky, she sometimes throught as she admired her well-built boyfriend’s hero body. She kissed his cheek. “And what about me?”

He glanced down at her again, and shrugged. “Passable,” he teased—and found himself flailing and yelling on the ceiling suddenly.

A head of white hair with little red flecks peeked our or the house’s largest room, and blinked behind glasses. “You must be more of otouto’s friends. He’s told me about the loud, angry boy before.” She stepped all the way out and smiled. “I’m Fuyumi. Come inside. The rest of you are already here.”

Inside, the rest of class 1A was standing around a refreshments table, eating and drinking, and Todoroki was pacing at the back of the room in front of a frail looking woman sitting in a chair.

Endeavor was on the other end of the room, talking bolsterouslty to the only other elders in the room. He and the frail woman were as far apart as the size of the room would allow.

Uraraka released her boyfriend from the ceiling and trailed inside, waving to Midoriya and Iida, talking to Jirou and Kaminari near the refreshments.

Todoroki noticed them, and touched the seated woman’s shoulder before approaching them, glaring, his gaze only half-hearted as he still seemed preoccupied. “Could you two have made a louder entrance?”

“Gomen, Todoroki-kun,” Uraraka replied, touching Bakugou’s shoulder gently. “He’s an asshole.” Her smile only brightened.

“You say that too easily now,” Bakugou mumbled down at her. She grinned, sweetly.

Todoroki frowned and glanced over at his father and the other two elder Quirk users. “Momo’s parents. My old man is getting too friendly.” He scoffed. “He’s pretty happy I decided to marry the only other person from my class who got in on recommendation.” He laughed bitterly. “He actually thinks I’m doing this because of our Quirks. Delusional bastard.”

Uraraka glanced over st Endeavor. “I thought things were better between you two? That’s what Yaomomo said.” She felt Bakugou’s arm tighten on her waist, and she touched his wrist, discreetly. It was no secret to 1A anymore the way Endeavor had raised Todoroki. Their class tended to be a little warier around the flame hero now, number two or not.

“Sort of. He’s not that different. No one changes that quickly,” Todoroki replied, glancing down and shaking his head. He looked over at the seated woman. “At least Okaasan could be here for this. Did Momo text you, Uraraka-san?”

“Mm. She just got off. She thinks it’s just dinner between the four of us. Your secret is safe.” Uraraka smiled at him. “You ready for this?”

“Absolutely not,” Todoroki mumbled, and glanced up at his siblings who were bringing their mother a drink and a plate of food. “But it helps to have everyone here.” He fiddled with something in the pocket of his slacks.

Bakugou snorted. “Shut the fuck up. How can you pretend to be good at everything like you do if you’re afraid of something that’s actually supposed to be fuckin’ good? Screw what your old man says—you love her, right? So unfreeze your shriveled balls, man the hell up and do it.”

Todoroki chuckled and raised his white eyebrow at Bakugou. “Thanks for the pep talk, Bakugou. I feel so much better now.” He slid his eyes to Uraraka. “He’s a keeper.”

Sensing the sarcasm, Uraraka grinned. “Eh, passable.” She raised her eyebrows up at Bakugou, wondering if he’d catch the joke. He did, glaring playfully down at her.

“She’s coming!” Jirou called, her earphone jack plugged into the wall—she could hear Yaoyorozu coming up the path of the Todoroki residence.

“Shit,” Todoroki breathed and Bakugou smirked widely at how nervous he was all of a sudden.

“Does anyone have a camera? Stoic Half-half is shaking!” Bakugou growled in glee. “Someone take a picture!”

“....you really are an asshole,” Uraraka said to her boyfriend, her expression deadpan.

A moment later, the door slid open, Yaoyorozu having heard some of the commotion and she blinked when all eyes turned on her. “Oh. Uh. Okay....hey, everyone.”

Todoroki swallowed heavily and approached her. “Aisuru, there’s someone I want you to meet.” He placed his left hand gently on her waist, despite her having returned home and changed into regular clothes after work, and sent a small shock of heat through her body to warm her from the cold night air she’s walked through. He led her over to the seated woman, and smiled, gently. “Okaasan.”

Todoroki Rei glanced up at them, and smiled gently. “So, you’re Yaoyorozu Momo? Shoto never stops talking about you when he comes to visit me. He never stops smiling—more than I’ve ever seen him smile, even.”

“Okaasan...” Todoroki mumbled, blushing lightly.

Yaoyorozu giggled with her own blush, hiding her smile and embarrassment behind her hand. “Oh, Todoroki-san, arigatou. Shoto is very kind to me—he builds me up when I’m doubting myself. He’s a good man.”

Rei looked at her son with a small, distant smile. “He is. I wish I could’ve seen him become one.”

Todoroki shot a sharp look over his shoulder at Endeavor when he tried to approach behind Yaoyorozu’s parents. “She’s visiting from the hospital just for tonight,” he murmured, returning his attention to his girlfriend.

“Tonight? Why, Shoto?” Yaoyorozu asked with a curious frown. “What’s special about tonight?” She smiled at her parents and waved when they were close enough, and then turned her eyes again to Todoroki. “Why is everyone here?”

Todoroki swallowed and pulled her to the center of the room. “Momo, Aisuru, boku no kokoro,” he murmured, affectionately.

“Seriously, where the hell is a camera when we need one?!” Bakugou barked, gleefully, at seeing Todoroki in such a vulnerable state.

A sharp brown eye snapped toward him. “Damareyarou,” Todoroki commanded, his tone low, even and extremely irritated, emphasizing the words with a slam of his foot down, causing a line of ice to crawl over the floor and up Bakugou’s body until his mouth was frozen over.

Bakugou struggled, growled and yelled against the ice, snapping and popping small explosions against it until he was free. “TEME!!”

“KATSUKI,” Uraraka snapped, and Bakugou immediately stopped, crossing his arms over his chest and pouting angrily, steaming coming up off of his head.

There was a snorted laugh from someone in the room, and Bakugou’s eyes flared, and he started to lunge toward the noise, but was caught and held by Tsu’s tongue.

Uraraka looked at her friend and smiled. “Arigatou, Tsu-chan.” She looked back at Todoroki. “Go on. Sorry.”

Yaoyorozu was laughing a little at the familiar antics of her former classmates and she tilted her head at Todoroki. “What is going on with you? Bakugou-san is right; you’re acting strangely.”

She took half a step back in shock when a small velvet box was suddenly held between them, her eyes widening. “Sh-Shoto...?”

“You know what it means. I don’t have to say it. But I will if you want me to. I’d do anything you asked of me, honestly. I’ve never loved any one thing as much as I love you, Momo.” His eyes were sincere. “And the idea of loving something that much terrifies me.”

He turned a sharp glare at his father. “You may be strong, with an impressive Quirk,” and then his gaze was soft again, and only hers, “but I would love you even if you were Quirkless. So? What’s your answer?”

Yaoyorozu felt the sting of tears in the corners of her eyes, and took the box, opening it to reveal a silver ring with a diamond and ruby inlayed in separate settings.

“It’s my mother’s ring. My father had it made as a...tasteless symbol for what he was trying to do,” Todoroki murmured, softly. “But if you wear it, it’ll actually mean something. That’s what Okaasan told me when she gave it to me to give to you.”

The tears fell without warning, and she looked back up at her boyfriend, her lips pressed together tightly to keep from squeaking or sobbing. She swallowed, and swallowed again, and then nodded as little Russian nesting dolls started to fall out of her sleeves and skirt.

“N-nesting dolls?” Todoroki asked, eyes widening.

“Th-the first time you believed in me—I cant help creating them sometimes when y-you’re overtly kind to me,” she whimpered, wiping at her eyes.

“I’ve never seen you—“ He began, and she shook her head to interrupt him.

“You haven’t seen the back closet in my house!!” She cried, implying she would escape their to discharge her Quirk, and then return. Despite the sweet moment, he has to wonder how many were actually in the closet as of now—they had been dating for almost two years.

He chuckled, his own nerves suddenly dissipating, and he pulled her into a tender kiss as their classmates cheered, before sliding the engagement ring on her finger and kissing her again.

After all was said and done, the rest of the guests and family began to eat and drink and toast, and Kirishima approaches Bakugou and Uraraka with a grin.

“So how many of those little doll things do you think she’ll make on their wedding night?” He asked, quietly with a grin, tilting his glass toward them.

“Probably best not to think about it,” Bakugou grumbled, an arm sllung around Uraraka, all three sipping their drinks and watching Todoroki and Yaoyorozu mingle.

Hard not to think about it, now.

The trio snickered, and Uraraka looked up at Bakugou.

“Are we next?” She whispered with wiggling eyebrows.

“Hn.” He grinned widely. “Guess we’ll see.”

Indeed.

[dsmadmin]

#GoodAsHell

Written by: @demonhunter1887 , @DemonicGeneral_ & @LilyResurrected

Jacob: I suppressed my California memories years ago. At least I thought I did. But they all came rushing to the surface when I turned on the news. There had been an increase in the number of people picked up for solicitation and public indecency.

There were only so many details the friendly floating head from the news could share with the public. This seemed eerily familiar. The vibration of my phone pulls me from my thoughts.

"What do you want?" I answered. I didn't bother looking at the Caller ID. It didn't matter who it was. They wanted something from me.

"Jacob Greyman?" the small voice on the other end of the line answered.

"Guess you should know who you're calling before you pick up the fucking phone, right?" Irritation was evident in my voice. "What do you want?"

"I'm Sister June," she said, "from the Cathedral of the Holy Cross."

Of course, I thought, Catholic churches were always so pretentious.

"How can I help you /Sister/," I responded.

"The Prince of Hell has risen," she said.

"Which one?" I asked, "My fath-- ... Lucifer created several."

"Asmodeus."

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Asmodeus: -Standing on the second role balcony he looked down upon the ground of people. Lights flashed and changed colors as the music offered a beat to move by. He could feel the sexual prowess coming off the crowd, many of who were engaged in sexual acts right in front of others. The club had so much potential as the group of women lying in the bed behind him would prove. He'd been sent back to complete their mission, his to seed the world of many demons as he could. The humans made it so easy, they succumbed to their desires so easy it didn't take much of an effort on his part. MDMA was being passed out and only increased things. Five more beautiful women were brought to him and the others were taken away to the warehouse beyond.-

:::::::::::::::::::::::

Jacob: "No wonder this shit looked familiar," I mutter into the phone. I open my laptop and peck out a few keys.

"I've dealt with him before," my lips pull into a slight smile, "he does make things... /interesting/ doesn't he, Sister?"

"Sinful," she says, "utterly utterly sinful."

"What you call sin," I tell her, "most people call a good time. But Asmodeus' isn't just trying to get laid. At least that wasn't his prior MO. He wants to create more halflings."

"Yes," she answered, "Demons that pass as humans."

"And fuck if that wouldn't be a terrible thing," I responded, "Send me the details you have. Has he picked a woman to carry his seed? Most don't survive the possession."

"That's why I've called you," Sister June stated.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Asmodeus: -Cages descended from the ceiling overhead holding nearly nude dancers, screams went up as the dancers sprayed the crowd with water. Bodies rolling into each other as the new beat started up. The lust thick in the air. Bubble butt, black hair, and blue eyes mounted a pole swinging round. Locking her leg around the pole leans back exposing most of her breasts in the tiny halter top she was wearing. A blonde guy in the crowd leans in and kisses her. Within minutes they're both on stage fucking to the beat as the crowd cheered them on. Asmodeus shoved another woman off, the pile of corpses was piling up. Looks at one of his demons.- Get this shit out of here. -Lighting up a cigarette, walks out to the balcony shirtless looking over the crowd. He hadn't even broken a sweat yet.-

::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Jacob: "Of course," I snort, "the church rarely does its own heavy lifting." My fingers peck on the keys of my laptop searching for anything that would be a hotspot.

"There was a girl," the nun started.

"It always starts with a girl," I responded letting out a deep sigh. "Where is she?"

"She's locked at her parents home," Sister June says, "Cardnal Antonio is waiting for your there."

"Way to bury the lede, Sister," I replied, "Text me the address and I'll be there." I close my laptop and walk to the end of the hall. I open the closet and grab the bag from the top shelf. I put it away a long time ago. But I had to pull it out again.

I toss it in the back seat of my car and pull out of the drive.

:::::::::::::::::::::

Asmodeus: -He'd sent out some minions to see about the half-breed the church had killing his spawns hosts. He was both annoyed and curious. He wasn't completely human to have survived the encounters that were making it back to Asmodeus but confirmation had not yet be made. He wondered if indeed it was the same he'd encountered so long ago and had been bested by. Breeding at least another twelve women he went off in search of other distractions from the club and waited for information to come in.-

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Jacob: I pulled into the driveway of the address the nun had sent me. Typical Irish Catholic family home. Gawdy cross hanging over the door. I did nothing to detur the demon that ate the soal of the girl locked away inside.

I tilt my head, listening to them praying. I hated to be the one to tell them that it was too fucking late. The daughter they loved was gone. What was left was just an empty shell of what was once there. Maybe she was an innocent girl. But it didn't matter.

I tapped on the door, ready to put on the show before putting down the demon that filled the husk of the girl's vessel.

:::::::::::::::::::::::

Asmodeus: -The priest had been cited the exorcism when the demon turns its charms on him and soon the priest succumbed to his lust of the flesh. The demon attacked the priest and took great pleasure in killing him, head snapped up baring teeth at the knock at the door.-

:::::::::::::::::::::::

Jacob: I follow the chants of the excersism up the stairs of the family home barely hearing the voices of the family begging for my help. It was too late for the help they wanted.

I swing the bedroom door open and see her. The girl was writhing against the prayers. It wasn't enough to destroy her. Priests never got there in time. They had to think and plan and pray before action. By then it was always too fucking late to make a real difference and the body was dead.

The girl started laughing when she saw me, "Yay, a threesome!"

"I don't think so," I told her, "neither you or he are my type."

::::::::::::::::::::::

Asmodeus: -Her limbs contort in odd directions as she crotches like in the middle of the dead eyeing the newcomer.- Well that's too bad but don't worry you won't live long enough for me to care. -Launching herself at Jacob, nails scratching at his face with teeth snapping at his throat.-

:::::::::::::::::::::::

Jacob: I caught the flying girl as she launched herself in my direction. She was strong. I remembered how strong he made the carriers of his seed were. My fingers tightened around her wrists and I push her hand from my face.

I listen to the priest's fruitless effort to cast the demon from the girl's body. But there was no human soul remaining in her body. I push her hard against the wall, "Where is he?"

:::::::::::::::::::::

Asmodeus: -Spitting in his face her head canted to one side her eyes inhuman looking now.- Don't worry he'll find you soon! -Using her feet she shoved with all her might against him and soon as she got loose she bit into the priest's neck ripping open his carotid artery. Blood sprayed over her and the wall.-

::::::::::::::::::::

Jacob: The blood spray coated the girl's room like a bad paint job. I quirk a brow and waive a finger letting a chair slide out from the girl's desk, I take a seat and watch as the possessed girl dances around in the sprays of blood. Like a child running through sprinklers. It was too late to save the priest.

It was likely too late when I walked through the door tonight. But I could report back to the Church that I tried.

"Where is he?" I asked her again, "You're dead either way. Doesn't matter to me."

::::::::::::::::::::

Lily: It was a typical day for Lily, waking up in a homeless shelter, leaving to go find one of the local dealers to get her fix. She took in all the sights; the couples doing their mushy things, people walking their dogs, squirrels playing with each other, the flowers that were blooming for the year, the trees having healthy leaves and children playing since school was out for the summer. Even though Lily was strung out on every drug imaginable it was nice to get a glimpse of the real world every once in a while. By the time she got to her local dealer she had went into depression mode from 'walking down memory lane'. "How'ya doin' today?" "Could be better." Lily answered the dealer. "Well hell, let's fix that." He said with a smile. The two had done their exchange then headed off in different directions. Lily had found an empty alley....well almost empty, the stray animals would dig through the trash cans for food. Ducking behind a trash can Lily had pulled out a tourniquet and wrapped it around her upper left arm. Once it was tight enough she pulled out the syringe that had the special juice that her body was craving. Lily had tapped on her arm to find a good vein, once it was found she popped the top off of the syringe and stuck the needle in then slowly administered the liquid. When the last drop was pushed in she sat back and waited for her high to kick in.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Asmodeus: -His minions always on the lookout for potential humans, they frequented the slums. Forgotten people with no one to care or come looking for them. Coming across a junkie in an alley one grabbed her by the hair and tossed her over his shoulder disappearing into the buildings so she could be taken to his master along with many others. The hotel they'd taken up residence in was filled with people everywhere and sex was stout in the air. Moans and groans filled the air as they took up the latest finds tossing them on the floor at the master's feet. The possessed girl back at the house didn't cooperate just cursed him till she collapsed on the floor eyes blank and soul gone. One more death in a rising death toll.-

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Jacob: I stepped outside of the Irish Catholic home. The Church's cleanup team would be here soon to take care of the bodies.

I should feel sorry for them. The girl or the priest. But I don't. They are just a blip in the war between heaven and hell. That war had been brewing since the dawn of time it seemed. Each side worked to build its numbers. Both used deceit to get there.

I had to figure out what the target is now and how to slow or stop it.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Lily: Being on her high, Lily's process times for reactions were delayed. She had no clue that she had been picked up until they were in the building. She had tried to ask where the minions were taking her but her speech was too slurred to understand. When they got to their master, Lily barely processed to put her hands out before her face hit the floor. Blinking a few times to get used to the different lighting she heard the moans and groans of pleasure. She raised her head to see more women around her and then her attention came to a man that was in front of her and all the women. What did Lily get herself into this time?

::::::::::::::::::::::

Asmodeus: -The hotel was full of humans fornicating all over the place but the women were brought to his bedroom first. It was huge and many women laid upon it. Candles flickered around the darkroom. Lust was oozing from his pores and moans were slipping past the whores lips. They thighs opening and begging to be bred. Each one he took the lusting seemed to get worse, twisting and thriving they were ready for him without complaint. As he got to the latest arrival he ran his vessels fingers down her spine before rubbing his rather large members between her now stripped thighs. He breached her with out word and began to fuck her like the trash she was. He hoped some of these were strong enough to bring his children into the world and serve their master well.-

[redditnosleep]

I've Been Seeing A Man In My Backyard For The Past Two Nights

by Opinionson

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 (Final)

To start I need to give some background:I am a male who lives in relatively nice neighborhood

It’s your average small town run of the mill suburbs area with not a lot of people.

I am a college kid who’s home on break while my parents have gone away which doesn’t help at all.

I have a two story house

I do not have gun nor do I have any real weapons other than kitchen knives

I am not on any medication and I have no record of schizophrenia or any other mental illnesses

I barely have any relationships with my neighbors most of whom are elderly and the rest I have minimal contact with

I do not have any people in my neighborhood (that I know of) who have reasons to attack or harm me

Now, let's get into what has been happening. About two nights ago I woke up very late in the night and I went to the bathroom to go take a shit. Now, my second story bathroom has a window that can see the entirety of my backyard. Directly behind it is a cul de sac which you can see directly into. There is a group of trees and pile of rocks and mulch that divides it. Usually I can see everything in my backroom without turning on my because lights from my neighbor's house dimly lights the room.

As I am using the toilet I look outside and I notice there is a car parked directly facing my house in the cul de sac. Now if you have ever seen a cul de sac before you would know that when you park you always either park next to the curves of the sac or the sides of the street. This car was directly facing the curve behind my house. I thought this was extremely strange considering whoever parked must have been there to visit someone, but if that were the case then why would they have not parked in one of the driveways? The people who lived behind me were both elderly so they probably didn’t have some big block party I didn’t know about, and even then only an idiot would park like that.

As I stared into the car I could distinguish a figure in the driver's seat, just sitting there. Since the lights were not on in my bathroom whoever was in the car probably couldn’t see me through that window. At this point I was determined to see just who the fuck was in there, so I went downstairs, got my binoculars from my dad’s closet, and went back to my bathroom to see who was there.

Take in mind this is 3 in the fucking morning, what person would be in their car just sitting there in the middle of the winter? As I go into my bathroom, I look outside to find...nothing. The car had since left. I thought it was relief seeing as I probably was just freaking out over nothing and the person was just leaving whoever they were visiting, but then again, what are the odds that the moment I notice the car that's the moment that the person leaves?

I finally calmed myself down and went back to sleep. The next day a mix of boredom and paranoia got the better of me; I decided it was time for some investigation. I go to my backyard cul de sac to see if there was any trace of the person who was there last night. Nothing. I go to my neighbors to see if they had anybody over the other night; maybe it would clarify just why the fuck somebody would be parked there. I asked both the owners of the 2 houses on the curves the cul de sac, all of whom said they did not have visitors. I asked for their numbers and I left.

This is when my paranoia really started to kick in. This was fucked up, I had no clue whether the person was coming back later, and I can’t call the police as they won’t respond to a complaint that isn’t even valid. I decide to wait until later to see if the person came back. I spent that night talking with my college friends about it over video chat, all of whom thought I was either making it up, or freaking out over nothing. I sign off and watch netflix until it's pretty late. The entire time I just kept thinking about looking out my window to check, but since my friends had told me I was worrying about nothing and also since I am a bit of a coward I just never checked it.

Finally the clock ticked 3:24 am, the exact time I woke up the night before. I thought fuck it, might as well check to be sure. This is where I absolutely shit myself, the same exact car was parked, and there was a man in a black hoodie and a ski mask standing right next to it just staring at my house. I immediately ran to go get my phone dialed my neighbors, none of which answered. I ran back to the window, only to see that he was standing in my fucking backyard. This was no longer a burglary attempt, because if it was he would be looking through my lower house windows trying to break in. This had to be some sort of a stalker.

I decided fuck this and opened up my window and screamed at the top of my lungs “WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?!”. No response. “I’M GOING TO CALL THE FUCKING POLICE GET THE FUCK OFF MY PROPERTY!” I yelled. Finally the man spoke “HAVE A NICE DAY!” in like that cheery way a cashier at the store would say when you are leaving. The man waltzed (and I literally mean waltzed like a happy cartoon character) back to his car and left.

I called the police department immediately. They asked me if I had any friends who were trying to play a prank on me, I said no. Like I said, this town was relatively small and the police did jack shit. They told me that if it happens again to call them immediately. I am shitting myself right now, it’s currently 11:00 pm, and god knows he’ll be back tonight. I am going to be looking out my window all night waiting for him. I’ll keep you all in touch if anything happens. Wish me luck.

Edit 12:24 am: I am currently staring outside looking out my window waiting for the man to come. I have informed my neighbors about his arrival and they have told me they are also on the look out. I feel extremely nervous but at least I have my neighbors helping me out. I just want this to be over.

Edit 1:24 am: Nothing has shown up yet. Got a call from my mom about a half hour ago. I haven't told them about any of the shit happening. I just told her I loved her and hung up the phone. My friends have been snap chatting me asking me about this shit. I said that I'll try to get a picture of him if I can. If I do I'll upload it so you guys can see.

Edit 1:34 am: Neighbors told me they see a car parked up the street from them. One of my neighbors who's in his mid 40's says he's going to check it out. My foot is tapping the floor like crazy right now.

Edit 1:37 am: False alarm. Turns out it was just the car of a family who just got home. Fuck me this suspense is making me sick.

Edit 1:48 am: One of my neighbors says he is going to sleep. This isn't good. I just hope the rest of them hold out for me until the rest of the night. I don't know if I'm going to fall asleep at all. I've already chugged two cups of coffee and I'm as alert as possible.

Edit 2:11 am: I was looking out my window when I heard something in the bushes of my backyard. I couldn't tell whether it was the the guy, the wind, or some animal so I shined turned on the light in my backyard and saw nothing. I think the paranoia is getting to me.

Edit 2:17 am: Alright it's official, I am losing my shit. I heard something crash in my kitchen and I ran down to see what was happening. Some pan had fallen over from the shelf. Nothing notable but it scared the absolute shit out of me. I went back upstairs to start looking out the window again, at one of the streets right of my backyard which is about 200 yards away, through the trees I saw a car at a corner flashing its brights repeatedly and then making a right driving away from the street leading to my house. What the fuck is going on?! Is this motherfucker taunting me?

Edit 2:32 am: Alright. /u/joeenid1 has freaked me the fuck out. I'm out of here. I'm bringing my laptop and my wallet and phone with me and staying in my neighbors house. I'm not staying here another second after reading that man. Fuck that.

Edit 2:40 am: I am currently at my neighbor's house staring into my backyard/the cul de sac. I walked out my back door and sprinted and rang the door bell as fast as possible. They saw me and opened the door immediately. Scariest shit I have ever done I was worried he was gonna pull up any second. Now I just wait and hope for the best.

Edit 2:51 am: Nothing out of the ordinary has happened. I am dreading what will happen at 3:24 though. I saw 2 cars pass by my house. I couldn't tell if they were the same car as the one the stalker was using. At the same time I cant tell if its was the same car passing by both ways. This guy is playing tricks on my mind. I am ready to dial 911 at any second now. I called my parents and told them what is happening; they said they will be on their way home tomorrow. God please protect me.

Edit 3:01 am: This guy is definitely coming. A car came up the street on the cul de sac and started flashing it's high beams again and left. He is trying to fuck with my mind. Thank god I left the house, because the direction he is going he is definitely coming back around to my house. Fuck I'm scared and I'm not even in my house anymore. The moment i even see him outside his car I am calling the police.

Edit 3:11 am: My neighbor and I both agreed we are going to leave the house and drive to the police station as soon as we see him park near my house. My heart is racing. I can't believe I had just waiting in my house alone for the past couple hours. What the fuck was I thinking.

Edit 3:20 am: Still nothing yet. Even if he doesn't come I sure as hell am not going back. I'm not even sure if I'll stay here. This is the scariest shit that has ever happened to me holy fuck.

Edit 3:25 am: SOMEONE HAS PARKED IN MY FUCKING DRIVEWAY!!!!!!! I am getting the fuck out of here. I'll try to update you guys on mobile or later when if they arrest this guy but I am leaving now. Thank you all for the support. And thanks /u/joeenid1 you may have saved my life.

Edit 1:15 pm 2/19/17- For those who are concerned I am alive. I went to the police station and I have been questioned and they are working on finding the guy. They haven't found him yet unfortunately. I went to a hotel and got some sleep and I just woke up. I'll write more about this in a new post but for right now I am just taking some time to get this sorted out. Thanks to everyone for their support.