#i had also work and a grad party i was attending to the day the finale realeased

[sweetbans29]

Catch Me If You Can - CC

Pairing: Caitlin Clark x Reader

Summary: You were untouchable, until one summer day (based on THIS request)

Warnings: cuteness

Word Count: 4.5k

Sweetbans Masterlist

AN: I may have done a little too much with the backstory...

You were born and raised in Iowa City. Grew up going to all the local farmers markets and participating in any and all town events. Your parents are both teachers at the University of Iowa, your mom is a business professor, and your dad is an English professor. A lot of your time was spent on campus which made you pretty known starting at a very young age.

It started when you were a little girl, your parents would bring you to lectures and you would sit in the corner and do whatever you could to keep yourself occupied. The students in your classes never minded and would often come and color with you or read with you when class was over and your parents stayed around to answer questions.

When you were in middle school you would go to campus every day after school to do homework. It would either be in your parent’s offices while they had class and/or hosted office hours or they would let you go to one of the coffee shops on campus, as long as you were with one of their trusted students. At this point, you were pretty well-known on campus by both students and faculty.

Things pretty much stayed the same when you got to high school. You never really had many friends at your own school but had so many the second you stepped foot on campus. You continued to spend most of your time there - most of it studying but sometimes going to campus events (if your parents were okay with that).

The University of Iowa had always been your fate. With both of your parents working there, it was a no-brainer that's where you would be attending school. It also helped that you knew the campus like the back of your hand and were already known. It made going to college less intimidating.

For your high school graduation - there was a group of students at Iowa that hosted a view party since they all couldn't go to your graduation. If you got more than 8 tickets, they would have been there in a heartbeat. They live-streamed it from one of the lecture halls. You didn't know at the time but it filled up with students and faculty all super proud of your accomplishment and ready to have you as an official student. After your graduation, your parents took you back to campus saying they had a surprise - it turned out to be a surprise grad party with a couple hundred people from campus. You have never felt more loved than you did that day.

When fall rolled around, you started your journey as a Hawkeye. Campus felt like home and had become home when your parents gave you the option to commute or live on campus. It was a no-brainer as it was your dream to live on campus and would try and convince your parents to let you stay overnight ever since you were in 4th grade.

Your first year goes as expected. You started to make solid friends. Everyone knew you around campus and if they didn't they for sure knew of you. You would do homework at the same on-campus coffee shops and began to venture out more as you began studying on lawns and in different places to switch up the scenery. Freshman year was everything you had hoped and more.

Going into your second year at Iowa was about the same as the first. Campus remained comfortable for you. You couldn't go anywhere without several people stopping to say hello - people thought it would be annoying but you genuinely loved talking to people. You were well-known and well-loved by pretty much everyone.

As active as you were on campus, one area you never really paid attention to was sports. Your parents never made them a priority thus you never made them one either. Another reason they kept you away from games was because of the reputation a lot of the players had around campus. Ever since you started hanging out around campus in high school - your parents made it known that you were off limits and would remain off limits. It became an unspoken word on campus.

Even with your parents, relationships were never a priority for you. Not to say it was something you didn't want because there were times that you really did long to have the same experiences as your peers. After high school though, relationships weren't even a thought. It was interesting because it wasn't like there weren't people interested, but more so there was no one that you found interesting. Seeing your parent's love, your bar was raised far higher than any college student could really commit to.

It surprises you how frequently you get asked out. It isn't weekly but you consistently have people coming up to ask you out. It unofficially became a game on campus - specifically among athletes. They would place bets on who could get you to say yes to going out with them but nobody ever availed.

You of course learned about the whole thing when one of the guys you were friends with let you know out of respect for you. He was one of the waterboys for the men's basketball team and overhead them taking bets on who could get you to say yes. John always kept an eye out for you - he was a year older than you and treated you as his little sister. He has 3 little sisters at home, as he was the oldest and the first to leave for college - watching you was a second nature to him especially since he was one of your parent's favorite students.

When John learned it was more than the basketball guys and more teams were jumping in to see who could court you, he made it a point to make sure you always felt comfortable on campus. Not that he ever doubted you, but doubted all the guys and girls trying to get in your pants.

You were sitting and waiting for John and some other friends to meet up with you when you were approached yet again.

The star of the school's water polo team approaches you while you are studying on the lawn.

"Hey," he says trying to get your attention. You finish typing out your sentence then look up at him.

"Hi," you say with a smile. "It's Erick, right?"

He flashes a smile when you know his name. "Ya, we are in the same stats class."

You nod.

"Hey, I was just wondering if you were free this Friday night? The team has a game and it would be cool it if you came. We could go grab ice cream or something after and hang out." He asks with the confidence of you knowing who he is.

You give a light smile.

"Erick, I am sure you are a nice guy," you say - knowing all too well that he was not. It was just last week that he took a cheerleader out then was caught making out with one of her teammates the next day. "But I'm just not interested."

"Good luck on your game though - should be a tough one," you say and he walks away.

John comes up catching the tail end of the encounter and gives you a look.

"Another one?" He asks as you get up from the grass.

"Yep, nothing new - he went with the 'come watch my game then we can hang out' bit. You would think they would all get the hint considering I haven't been to a single Iowa game." You say.

"They all want to be the first," John says. You laugh.

"Well jokes on them," you say as the two of you head to meet up with the rest of your group.

You get through the rest of the semester with only a few more people attempting to ask you out. You never mention it to your parents because the last thing you need is them making some big fuss about something you have a pretty good handle on.

That summer is one where things took a turn in a direction you would have never expected.

A majority of your summer was spent around town at your favorite coffee shops. They would be your favorite place to read. It was something you did every summer at the same coffee shops - so much so that they would have a reserved sign at the table you would always sit at.

It was a gloomy morning when the shop was extra busy. You had been settled in for a while now and were sucked into your book. You are used to the buzz of the coffee shop but are pulled out when you hear a loud sound.

You look up and see a frazzled girl, bending over and collecting the bag she just dropped. You set down your book and immediately help the girl. You gather some things and stand up, passing them to her.

"Thank you," she says, still flustered from how busy the coffee shop is.

"Of course," you say with a smile, hopefully easing her.

"I came here hoping to have a quiet morning not realizing how busy it was going to be. I heard this is the best place to come to work," she says.

"Well I agree that this is the best place to work - it typically isn't this busy. I think there is an event going on in town this week. If you are looking for a table, you are more than welcome to join me," you say as you sit back down.

"Thank you," she says and sits immediately. It is just after she sits when you see her relax. You introduce yourself, offering your hand to shake. She reaches out and shakes it. She knows who you are - everyone knew who you were but thought it would be better to just keep your meeting simple.

"I'm Caitlin," she says. You smile at her - also knowing who she is. She had quickly became one of the faces on campus - the 'basketball superstar'.

"It's nice to meet you," you say with a smile. "You are always welcome at my table."

She notices the 'Reserved' sign on it and laughs.

"Did they do that for you?" She asks.

"Ya," you say with a laugh. "I've been sitting here for years now."

The two of you spend the rest of the morning working independently. You locked into your book shortly after your conversation missing the stolen glances Cait would take of you.

Caitlin took you up on your offer every day for the next several weeks. She even went out and got books to read just to come and spend time with you. The two of you would chat when she first got there, then would settle in and being reading for a few hours until you both got hungry. What started as a place for Caitlin to sit turned into so much more. The two of you started getting lunch together and really getting to know one another.

It's in the final month of summer when Caitlin asks you on a proper date. You are unsure at first but remind yourself that she isn't a stranger. The two of you have genuinely gotten to know each other over the course of the summer and you trust her.

It is after that first date that you decide Caitlin is worth it but if you were to ask her when she knew you were it, she would have said that first morning in the coffee shop.

Heading back into the school year, there were subtle changes in your day-to-day. You would still be on campus to study in all of your favorite places but when it came to grabbing your mid-morning smoothie, Caitlin would be waiting outside your first class of the day - smoothie in hand, waiting to walk you to your next class. Caitlin made it a point to be a part of your morning, just like you did in the summer.

It slowly became something Caitlin's team noticed - the first one being Gabby who passed by Caitlin holding two smoothies outside of one of the lecture halls.

"Cait - what are you doing here? Isn't your next class on the other side of campus?" Gabby asks when she sees her teammate.

"Ya, just catching up with a friend," Caitlin says, hoping Gabby will go before you come out. One of the things Caitlin had learned while getting to know you was the bitter taste athletes gave you. Caitlin was slowly changing that but didn't want to give you any reason to backtrack. She also hadn't told the team that she had started seeing you over the summer and would like to keep it that way for as long as she can. Not to hide you, but she valued having you all to herself. And she knew that the second her team found out - she would lose you to them. You were too incredible.

Gabby nods but her suspicion remains.

"Whatever you say Cait," she says and continues to walk. "I'll see you at practice."

Gabby turns a corner but stays in the vicinity - wanting to see the mystery person Caitlin is waiting for.

You walk out of class and see Cait standing against a wall with two smoothies in her hands. You make your way over to her and she meets you halfway.

"Why hello there," you say with a smile. She passes you one of the smoothies.

"Your favorite," she says and you thank her.

The two of you proceed to walk to your next class, missing a hiding gabby who sees Caitlin is walking with you. Gabby can't wait to take the news back to the team. Everyone knows you are not a fan of Iowa sports but here you are walking about with one of the biggest stars on campus. She also doesn't believe that Caitlin is one to wait outside of someone's class with a drink in hand only to walk them in the opposite direction of where she is going.

Later that day Caitlin arrived at practice to find her team bombarding her with questions.

"Woah, woah, woah - what's going on?" She asks overwhelmed.

"Gabby told us who you were spotted with and we think that is the cutest thing ever," Jada says - excited for her teammate.

Caitlin feels her cheeks heat up.

"How did you swing talking to her?" Another teammate asks. "She practically hates every sports team on campus."

"She doesn't hate us - well you know the shit that goes around with teams asking her out and making bets and stuff. It's left a bad taste in her mouth. It's not like they were discrete about it anyways." Caitlin says backing you up.

"Ya but still, I mean what makes you different - Cait you are the biggest name on campus right now and it is only junior year," Sydney says.

Caitlin shrugs, opting to leave how the two of you spent the summer out of the conversation.

"Is it even like that?" Kate asks. "I mean she could just be a friend."

"A friend that Caitlin goes out of her way to get a smoothie for then walk to class?" Gabby scoffs. "No ya, sure sounds like a friend to me."

The team keeps making fun of Caitlin to which she never confirms or denies any of their allegations. The two of you had been on several dates but never really solidified what you were to each other so Caitlin didn't feel like it was proper to bring it up when the two of you really didn't even know what you are yet.

"There is no way Caitlin could pull her - I mean it's CC, can you imagine her dating at all? Let alone the campus's princess." One of the girls says in a joking manner. Caitlin knows her team means well but it sort of rubs her the wrong way when they think she isn't worth your time.

Caitlin speaks before thinking.

"What if I get her to come to a game - would you believe it then?" Caitlin asks and immediately regrets it.

"No way in hell could you get her to come to a game," Jada says. "I've heard she's never gone to a sporting event nor will go near one with a ten-foot pole."

"Ya, but if she comes, then you'll all shut up about this?" Caitlin asks hoping it will be enough to just get you to a game.

"Get her there in your jersey and we will know it's real," Gabby says.

Caitlin grumbles but agrees.

After practice, Caitlin messages you and asks to meet up. You tell her to come over and that you will be making chocolate chip cookies - you know they are her favorite. Her mom also happened to send you home with her famous recipe after Caitlin brought you home once during the summer. It was before she asked you on a date - it was actually quite spontaneous.

"Would you be up for joining me on a little trip home? I told my brothers I would be there for an event of theirs. It won't be long but I don't want to make the drive alone." Caitlin asks you at the end of one of your mornings.

"I would love to," you say and she just casually mentions she is heading there now. When you still agree to join her - she is ecstatic but hides it well.

The two of you head to her home, talking the whole way there. When you get there Caitlin goes to help her brothers and you stay with her mom, she is baking for the event. You help her make her chocolate chip cookies and tell her about yourself. She then tells you all the stories of when Caitlin was little. You couldn't help but grow fonder of the girl after hearing about her childhood.

When the two are heading out, Anne pulls you into a hug and asks you to watch over her baby girl. You smile and nod. She then proceeds to stick something in your pocket - her chocolate chip cookie recipe.

Caitlin gets to your apartment and instantly recognizes the smell of her favorite cookies. You pull them out right after she gets there.

"Are these," she begins and picks one of them up right away.

"Caitlin! You are going to burn yourself!" You swat at her hand but she is too fast for you. She takes a bite of the cookie, blowing out the hot air and trying not to burn her tongue. Once she is able to enjoy it, her eyes close and she lets out a moan.

"You like them?" You ask, already seeing her answer. She finishes the cookie before speaking.

"Just like home. How did you get these?" She asks finally opening her eyes and going for another.

"From the one and only, Mrs. Clark - told me to take care of you," you say with a smile. "And I know that the only real way to care for you is through cookies."

Caitlin looks at you in awe and her mind begins going a mile a minute. Her mom doesn't give her recipe out to anyone - she doesn't know what you did in the kitchen with her that one day but seeing as you have her full approval, Caitlin begins to seriously consider what life would be like with you.

You can see the gears turning in her head.

"Talk to me," you say to her with a little laugh. "I can practically see the steam coming out of your ears. What's going on?"

Caitlin wants to tell you how much it means to her that you made her cookies, her mom's cookies. She wants to tell you how she misses how it was just you and her like it was during the summer and wishes the two of you could go back to that. She wants to tell you how she has started talking to your parents about you and how they have unofficially given her the okay to take you on a date (she didn't tell them how she had already taken you out but that is beside the point).

"How would you feel about coming to my game this Friday?" She asks, settling on getting this out of the way first.

You stand there putting more cookies on the cookie sheet, thinking over her question.

"I know you don't go to games and how much you aren't a fan of Iowa sports, especially with all the athlete's track records with you," she is cut off by you.

"Ya but I am a fan of you," you say which earns a little chuckle. Her heart skips a beat but she continues.

"But we are playing one of our biggest rivals and I think it would be neat to have you there," she says debating on adding the part about her team. She thinks about all you have been through and decides it is better to be honest upfront.

"And my team doesn't think I can get you there," Caitlin says nervously.

You look up at her amused, kind of shocked she would think you would be open to it. But you ponder it.

"It's not a bet - you know I am not like those other guys and girls. You know that right?" She asks.

You just look at her.

"Please tell me you know I am not like them," she says beginning to panic.

"Yes, CC, I know you are not like them."

"One of them saw me waiting outside of one of your classes and started saying that you're out of my league and it irked me." She says.

"And you thought it would be a good idea to tell them that I would go to your game and what? Cheer you on? Wear your jersey?" You press her.

"Well, ya - kind of," she says shyly.

You don't know why but this whole thing should make you uneasy but it doesn't. Not one person has actually told you to your face that their team was betting on you. Caitlin sought out talking to you about it - but in her words, it wasn't a bet.

"Okay." You say and her head shoots to look at you.

"Okay?" She asks.

"Okay."

Friday comes around and you look at yourself in the mirror. You are wearing Caitlin's jersey with some black leggings. You are second-guessing your decision and want to back out but know that's not an option.

You head to the game with your friend John. Caitlin got you two tickets which you instantly asked John to join you for.

The game is intense - watching Cait on the court was mesmerizing to you. She is electric on the court and you wish you had started watching her sooner. It's easy to see why so many people love her.

The game ends and Iowa takes the win by 4.

You turn to John.

"Should I go down to her? I don't know if I should wait until she is done or what to do," you say nervous.

"Go to her - show her how proud you are of her. Be the excited girlfriend," John says with a smile.

"She's not my girlfriend," You mumble.

"Just go," he says and pushes you towards the court.

You walk down to the now-packed court looking for Cait.

When you see her, you begin making your way to her. When her eyes find yours, she lights up. When you get to her you jump into her arms and she spins you around.

"You were incredible," you whisper in her ear.

"Thank you," she says with the biggest smile.

She puts you down and the two of you just look at one another. She finally speaks.

"I like you in my jersey," she says and you blush.

"Please stop," you say and hide your face.

"You're cute," she keeps teasing you.

"Okay okay, I'm going to go now," you say and begin to walk away.

"Wait no," she says and grabs your arm. "I'll be good. I promise."

You stop walking away and turn back to her.

"Come meet my team?" She asks and you nod.

You make your way to some of her teammates as Caitlin introduces you to them. You shake all of their hands then stick to Caitlin's side.

They all try to hide how shocked they are but don't do a real great job with it.

"You all look surprised I am here," you say with a laugh.

"We are - you are sort of known for avoiding sporting events like the plague," Kate says with genuine intent.

"Well, I decided to make an exception for a special little someone," you say and pinch Caitlin's side causing her to blush. All of her teammates take note and poke fun at her.

"Why Caitlin?" Sydney asks boldly and Kate hits her. "What? I am genuinely curious - Caitlin isn't the easiest person to be around."

You laugh and smile up at Caitlin. Then shrug.

"She puts up with me," you say.

"Ya but you're the campus's sweetheart," Sydney says.

"Don't let her fool you," Caitlin jokes and you hit her arm. She puts her hands up in surrender.

"Oh you two are cute," Kate says.

"I can see now why CC was playing extra hard today," Jada says coming over.

"Okay, you are all embarrassing me," Caitlin says and excuses the two of you. The team wants to get to know you more and protests but you follow Caitlin. She leads you to the tunnel where it is not so crowded.

"They are all sweet," you say.

"If by sweet you mean embarrassing then ya, they are great," she says laughing and rubbing her forehead.

You turn to face her.

"What is your intention with me, Clark." You say boldly, catching her a little off guard.

"Well, I really enjoy spending time with you - and I like you, but everyone likes you so that is really a given," she says stringing along more little comments.

The once confident All-American, now a blabbering mess.

"Caitlin Clark," you say pulling her out of her jumble of words. "Ask me to be your girlfriend."

She stands there looking at you, takes a deep breath, and takes your hands.

"Will you be my girlfriend?" She asks, her eyes locked on yours.

Without blinking, you respond.

"No."

"What? You literally just told me to ask you," she says with protest.

You laugh and she catches on to you.

"You are unbelievable," she says.

"I may be but I'm your girlfriend now, so you are just going to have to deal with me," you say.

"Well you just said no, so it looks like I am still on the market," Caitlin says now teasing you.

"Mmhmm, sure you are," you say wrapping your arms around her neck as her arms wrap around your waist. She laughs and looks into your eyes.

"I'm going to kiss you now," you say.

She waits and you stop leaning in - she takes you in.

"Okay," she says and your lips meet hers for the first time. The first time but certainly not the last.

AN: This may be one of my favorites...ever. But my opinion doesn't matter, let me know what you think. And as always, thank you for all the love and support 🤍

[eponymous-rose]

Monday!

It's been a while since I've done one of these week-in-the-life posts (and I LOVE reading them from others), and it's a particularly stressful week where I'm trying to stay off social media for Reasons, so hey, let's do this again!

It's a busy day, but it starts relatively late - I don't have to leave for the office until 10AM. So, you may ask, why on earth do I set my alarm for 8:30? Is it because I have an elaborate morning routine? Is it so I can hit the gym and go for a jog? No, no, no, it's because I have a little cat who takes the alarm as her cue to cuddle and I don't want to disappoint her, so I inevitably spend half an hour hugging her like a purring teddy bear first thing in the morning before I get up.

I respond to some e-mails as I get ready and on the bus ride over - mostly prep for our department's holiday party (I'm in the band and we're trying to get as much practice in as possible), but also a little work getting supercomputer access restored for an undergrad research assistant, offering to write a letter of recommendation so my colleague doesn't have to (we both know the student well and said colleague is traveling across the country for a funeral on a redeye flight tonight...), reworking some elements of the rubric for the faculty search committee I'm on, and confirming a meeting with my grad student.

10:45 - I get to the office and go to make my usual mug of tea... and realize in the moment I close my office door that the keys are still inside. I get the hot water from the lounge and meander by the office, but nobody's there. Just as I'm about to work up the nerve to go interrupt a more senior professor's meeting to borrow his keys, one of the office staff walks by and is happy to open the door for me, phew.

11:00 - My most senior grad student is doing an internship in Colorado this quarter (it's the location he most wants to do a postdoc at as well!), and we've set up a call to catch up after a few weeks without chatting. It's a bit of an awkward chat because he wants to go to his second conference in two months, and I had to bring out the "well, um, this is a side project you're doing with someone else's research group and you may want to check with them about where the $2000+ for conference costs is coming from". I possibly have an avenue - I might ask him to just attend for a couple of days instead of the whole time, so I can use some funding from a different grant, but I'm hoping we can get some cost-sharing going here, or possibly the other professor he's working with can present his poster for him if need be. Still, his work's going great and I'm hoping we can get him to this conference! He finishes his PhD this year, and I can attest to how helpful conferences are for landing postdocs.

12:00 - Speaking of grants, I had a successful grant come through late last summer to study wildfire smoke dynamics with novel instrumentation (something new to me!), and the whole team is meeting up for the first time to talk logistics! I also have to teach real soon, so I'm only on for the first chunk of the call, but we get some of the plan set up. Looks like we'll be meeting at a NASA facility early next year to do some siting stuff prior to the first controlled burn. I genuinely have no idea what I'm doing on this project, apart from being willing to write a big chunk of the proposal, but it's a good time!

12:30 - Class time! This is my domain-specific intro-to-python class that I developed 5 years ago and have been iterating on ever since. It's going a lot smoother this week than last, and the students are pretty responsive to my jokes (priority #1, lbr) and seem to be following along quite well, judging by the handful of questions I get after class. Not a ton of technical issues today, either, which is a HUGE win over last week.

1:30 - Forecasting time! I'm once again part of our university team in a giant forecasting contest. While I'm decidedly average at it (usually around 250th out of 1000 participants), my grad student was #1 for a while there. We chat in broad terms about the next week of weather in our targeted forecasting region.

2:30 - Meeting with another graduate student! We talk about some of the researchers he reached out to after his first conference a couple weeks ago, and we're starting to narrow down a possible author list for his first paper. He's working on writing up the methods and data for that paper while he incorporates a few new datasets into his preestablished workflow. He's been doing really well! Being a dual-major in CS means his code is a heckuva lot more organized than most second-year grad students I've had.

3:30 - ...nothing??? I've decided to skip my usual seminar and postpone one undergraduate student research meeting this afternoon (the one currently locked out of the supercomputer he needs for his project) since I have a couple of grant proposals due very shortly. I head out to grab some teriyaki to bring back to my office for lunch/dinner, but the restaurant just has a big sign out front saying "closed for FIRE" so I opt to go across the street for some chicken katsu and boba tea instead. I approve the final budget (coming up on a million dollars, no pressure) and keep plugging away at the statement of work (which is basically "what are you going to do, in detail, with one million dollars over the next three years? please tell us in exactly 15 pages, not counting your 3-page bibliography and 6 appendices"). I even find a perfect paper to reference to discuss one of our theories! We've made it through one round of reviews with our pre-proposal, and man, we'd love to do this project - it would be myself, a colleague, and a postdoc looking at some really novel stuff in severe storm predictability over the next three years. I also get a little work done on the invited talk I'm giving to a student journal club tomorrow, and work on some more e-mails (trying to set up a meeting with a friend's graduate student to help her out with some methods she's using from an older paper of mine).

5:15 - One of my colleagues has retired this year and has a farewell song he wants to sing at our holiday party, which happens to be mostly voice & piano, so we agree to meet up before the main practice and go over it a couple times before the rest of the band shows up and he has to head out to dinner. I'm really sorry to see him leaving (although I know he's delighted to get to spend more time with his kids and grandkids) - he and his wife were extremely welcoming when I started here, and were so kind and supportive when Mom died. Just very touched that he reached out to me to play piano on this one. Tragically, though, whoever was supposed to bring in the keyboard hasn't left it in the practice room, so we'll have to wait and run through it with the rest of the band on Thursday. Instead, it's back to the office to get caught up on e-mail and try to slog through more of the grant application (all today's research and work has netted me... 1 page of writing, blah).

6:00 - The rest of the band shows up! We run three songs of our eight-song setlist, and I'm somehow now playing on 4/8 of them, despite there being five people signed up for keys. It's a good time, though!

8:00 - I make it home and give Clara a bunch of new toys that have arrived with her prescription food (one of which she licks for 15 minutes straight). Luckily, tomorrow's work schedule is much more chill!

[missjomarch]

I’m here to request Nico. Of course 🤭 Imagine Nico surprising his girlfriend at an event she thought he couldn’t attend. Either during the season or off-season. Like he has to basically move mountains to get there. But he knows how badly she wants him to be there so he does it because she is worth it.

( I am such a sucker for these types of sceneries 🥰) k love you, bye!

I'll never complain about Nico requests. I expected nothing less, he's our man. I love him. I'm equally a sucker for these situations because it just shows so much love & care, y'know?

I'm thinking reader has just finished her masters degree at a university that is no where near Jersey. Maybe even all the way back in Switzerland. She's graduating on May 12th, but the devils are in the heat of their series with the Canes. Obviously she wants him there, but she knows that this is likely the most important game of Nico's career and that he needs to focus on that. So she doesn't expect to see him at all until after the Devil's playoff run.

Little does she know that Nico Hischier has a plan. He's not even sure that he will make it. It's unwise for him to miss practice, with his captaincy and all. However, in the event that the Devils lose to the Canes in game 5, Nico has a plane waiting to fly him to Switzerland immediately. He was definitely not happy with the way the game went, but he was excited to be able to support her during such a big moment. He took a few minutes after the game to do media, but then it was straight to the airport to board the flight.

By the time the game is over, it's like 5 am in Switzerland and she's dead asleep. She would usually have stayed up to watch, but she knew she needed the sleep for the busy day ahead. When she woke up and checked the score, her heart broke. Mostly for Nico and the disappoint she knew he was feeling, but also slightly because he had to miss her graduation for something that ended up being so futile. She wasn't upset with him, just the circumstances. She sent him a sweet text letting him know how proud she was of everything he accomplished this season and promising to fly to NJ to see him as soon as the graduation brouhaha was over. He sent her back an equally ooey gooey text thanking her for always supporting him and profusely apologizing for having to miss her graduation. Liar.

She appreciated the text, but it was also just another reminder that he wouldn't be with her today. She mourned his absence for a few minutes before forcing herself out of bed to start getting ready, entirely unaware that Nico was on his way to her.

With all the grad festivities, she didn't have any time to talk to Nico throughout the day. Which actually worked out for the best because he had no service on the plane.

Her parents did a great job distracting her throughout the day, hosting a small party and taking a million pictures. Nico's plane arrives around 2:30, giving him about 4 hours to get ready and grab flowers before the 6 pm ceremony.

He sent her an inconspicuous video from his hotel bathroom wishing her luck and telling her not to fall on stage before he headed to the arena. The selfie she sent back stopped him in his tracks for a solid 2 minutes, causing him to almost be late. But everyone was getting seated when he arrived. Perfect timing. Her parents had saved him a seat, and immediately pointed out where she was sitting.

She didn't notice him until she was standing beside the stage, waiting for her name to be called. As she climbed the stairs, her eyes found her parent's thus subsequently finding Nico. She stumbled over her feet ever so slightly when she spotted him, tears instantly lining her eyes at the sight of his bright smile. Her nerves diminished significantly with the knowledge of his presence, and she had to refrain from bounding up the stadium seats to reach him. She barely registered the rest of the ceremony, anxious to get to Nico.

When the ceremony had finally ended and the graduates had processed out, she all but sprinted to the lobby. She found Nico standing there with a wide grin and a bouquet of flowers. She nearly knocked him over as she jumped into his arms, flinging her own around his neck and letting out a dry sob.

"You're here," she mumbled into his neck. He chuckled lightly at her disbelief.

"I'm here, baby." He squeezed her, pressing a light kiss to her head. She pulled away slightly to press her forehead to his, tear tracks clear on her face.

"How're you here? You're supposed to be in Jersey."

"Got on a flight right after the game. I wanted to be here for my girl," Nico mumbled back. This brought her back to reality. The game, shit.

"Oh my god. Have you even slept? I'm so sorry about the game, but you did everything you-"

Nico cut her off with a kiss, "Today is all about you. We can talk about the game later."

"Okay but-"

"Yes, baby. I slept on the plane. Stop worrying about me. Look," he presented the flower bouquet in front of her face, "for you."

She took them, a soft smile gracing her face before she pressed her lips to his.

"I love you, Hischier. You surprise me every damn time."

He smiled against her lips, "I love you more."

They broke away to acknowledge her parents, who had begun making polite conversation with a nearby family. They took a billion pictures and had all the emotional hugs before deciding on a place for dinner. Nico's treat, of course. He wrapped an arm around her waist as the exited the building, comfortingly rubbing his hand along her hip.

"Hey, question."

Nico turned to look at her, waiting for her question, "Hmm?"

She leaned up to whisper in his ear, "Can tonight be all about me too?"

His eyes darkened at her suggestive tone, not missing the coy smile playing on her lips. He didn't respond, just slid his hand to grab lightly at her ass. Oh yeah, tonight was all about her.

---------------------------------------------------------

I was half tempted to write an actual fic for this, but there has been sorority girls screaming outside my dorm all day so this is all I can give. :') So I present you: my (unedited, un-proofread) thoughts. Super cute idea though. anyways, love you :33

[givingtorebent]

Top bit is a little piece of a portrait that's taking a while. I just quite liked that mask bit.

On the porch eating a breakfast that won't go down, with a pot of lukewarm drip mocha. Thinking about everyone's personal vision of reality. I get a decent bit of mine, I generally do things that make sense or silly to me (frequently both.) In the past when coming into contact with new substances - alcohol & [farmbill legal] THC, painkillers for surgery, I've taken notes. I went to Germany at 19 or so in a gap year I took after I decided a particular college wasn't my calling. I was staying with family friends, absolutely lovely people. The mother an excellent cook and conversation, the father knowing the out of way places to show me (also loaned me some of his grad students for a tour), and the daughter roughly my age was great. A good hang of a family. I really like them.

Anyways. The daughter was in their senior year of highschool (I got to attend a day. Made me question a lot of things about our education system.) So I'm hanging out with a bunch of German teenagers who have more drinking experience than me. I'm the Texan in town. I'm funny, I'm strange, and I'm foreign. I'd love if they thought most Texans were like me (I think I made a couple jokes about being the most normal Texan.)

A birthday party is happening. In an apartment complex. I'm apparently invited. To that point I was having a great time just saying "yes" to whatever someone wanted me to do. It was fantastically easy on me. I go to the party. There are the typical older weirdos who buy the liquor for highschool girls (I didn't know German law had 2 drinking ages at the time - I also didn't know I was hanging out with a badass who maybe didn't have a creep detection function, but that's here or there.) Teens are blasting German techno, Rihanna, etc. Dancing in the living room. My host girl is being a gem and reading liquor labels for things marked gluten-free and feeding me thimble shots. And I'm taking a note on my phone that is about 3 pages long about each second I'm feeling. NEW EXPERIENCE BEING DRUNK AT THE TIME. The note is fairly strange. I was structuring it per thimble shot - which did lead me to texting my mother that I had had 7 shots (I'm a lightweight and 115lbs on a good day - I had maybe 3 or 4 shots in reality.) My mother thinks I'm going to die, German highschool girls are confused about the adorable American gremlin'd up on the couch typing up a storm and keep asking me to dance. I politely refuse because my notes are very important.

At one point I get up and decide to play a song. Dance a bit. I decide to introduce these party youth to Collard Greens by ScHoolboy Q (not a feminist masterpiece - but an ass-shaking-jumpy beat). I do some hopping, creature a bit. Use the bathroom for the 7th time after a couple stops sucking each other's faces off.

I liked the party! And oh I loved the notes! Great notes! But I did leave some folk confused. Not my problem.

Turns out there are some things that haven't changed too much with me.

Be well. I'm late for work.

Ben.

[tcookies777]

Life update - returning to college and how it feels as an older student

First off, for any new TAOL readers here, welcome! Thank you for your comments and for investing so much of your time in binging The Anatomy of Love. I just want to apologize again, to both older and newer readers, for my agonizingly slow comment moderation and my lack in replies. I'm not ignoring your comment out of maliciousness or anything like that - I just lack the time and mental energy but that is not to say I don't appreciate your support!

As many of you who've read my previous post and/or chapter ANs are aware of, I've returned to university to finish my 2nd degree. English/literature had always been a great passion of mine but not the most practical career path for me, so I had to quit it in my youth.

Years later, I'm finally pursuing my dream through the best english program my country has to offer and it is everything I could dream of. The academic quality is superb and every day I am working and studying myself to the bone, reading nearly a dozen books a week and typing papers until the words start swimming on the screen.

Among these joys lie the challenges as well. One being that I lean toward the older side of the demographics, which puts me in a minority as opposed to the many young and fresh-faced college students. I've made many friends and met many classmates who assume I am as young as them but their jaws drop when they realize my real age. There is certainly a discrepancy between us in terms of life experience and more, but it is also refreshing and often enlightening to hear perspectives and ideas from the young, creative minds of these trailblazers.

Being in different generations definitely feels weird at times, but what's truly strange - and even a little heartbreaking - is seeing all these young students strive so far and work so hard to the point that the competitiveness created becomes toxic and detrimental to their health.

I have a classmate who is taking 20 units worth of classes (when 12 is the average given how intense the workload is), has 3 part-time jobs, and commits 20 hours of volunteering a week. During an exam day, a window fell on him and broke his arm. Instead of going to the hospital, he insisted on taking his exam with a broken arm because he could not make time to accommodate for his wellbeing.

I met a freshman girl who suffered a mental breakdown when she got rejected from all the school clubs after dozens and dozens of interviews.

The reason behind all the intense competition is because many of these students are fresh out of high school where they've spent the past 4+ years committing to 10 extracurriculars and 20 Advance Placement classes and 1000 volunteer hours so that they can graduate at the top 1% of the class to (hopefully) attend such top universities. But it gets to the point where we're taught that instead of learning for the sake of learning, we're learning for the sake of getting that piece of paper aka the diploma.

And there are many professors who can recognize the difference between the former and the latter in a student of theirs. And there are many professors who will refuse to give even their A+ students a Letter of Rec because they feel that student is not genuinely passionate enough for whatever grad school or internship.

When I was 18 and crying over the stress of nursing school and feeling I was too dumb compared to everyone else, I wish I had someone to tell me to take a deep breath and RELAX.

So now I want to say it for any new or incoming college students that might be reading this: Relax.

Your career will not be over if you do not get into that club. Your social life is not dead just because nobody invited you to a frat party. You are not a loser if you don't have 10+ best friends. You getting a B or C on a paper does not mean your final grade can no longer be an A.

Yes, go to your professor's office hours but talk to them about things besides the coursework - let them get to know you as a person rather than as just a student. That's how they will really remember you among all the other students, and that's how they'll be able to write about you in their letter.

No, you're not dumber than everyone else. That's your imposter syndrome talking. I promise you that whatever idea, question, or concern you have about the course material, there is 100% another student in your class who shares the exact same thing. If you're struggling, 100% there are other students in your class who are struggling as much as you. Don't compare yourself to your peers because we're all battling our own problems and insecurities but we're just hiding it. Focus on yourself.

Be nice to everyone you meet no matter what because you never know what networking opportunities will arise in the near or far future out of that one interaction. Within 1 month of school, I was already offered an internship at a prestigious publishing house just because I let a girl in class borrow my book and we ended up becoming close friends. That network chain was conceived all because I was just nice enough to share my book with her in class.

Most importantly, be nice to yourself! You are smarter than you think you are. And just because you didn't achieve your goal, that doesn't necessarily mean it's your fault or you're a failure. Sometimes to get to your destination you need to take a different path compared to the path you see everyone else taking. And sometimes it's just not meant to be... yet.

Anyway, I'm extremely lucky and privileged to be able to say I am enjoying my 2nd round of university (especially after much pain and suffering in the first round). Which is a major reason why my updates for TAOL have been erratic and my comment moderation slow, but I will continue to do my best in updating whenever I can!

(And if there's even the slimmest chance one of you readers here might be attending the same uni as me, let's vote Chris Pine as our speaker! We must get the arts some representation and love)

Thank you for reading and I will see you soon in the next update 👀

[smugglerofsass]

i saw your tags and i am dying to know the four GO related costumes, if it isn’t too much trouble to ask? ♥️

Ok ok ok here's the thing, this might be more than you bargained for because it's not four costumes, it's four years worth of costumes and inspired looks I have too many of those lets not talk about that.

Break so I can insert some pictures where I have them.

You see, I started cosplaying Crowley in 2019, like half of the rest of this fandom. I saw the show, I made my best friend watch it, she asked if Aziraphale and Crowley could be our Halloween costume for the year, I agreed exclusively on the grounds I could be Crowley, and the rest is essentially history.....except it's not because if my life isn't one cosmic joke what's the point right. My hair was purple at the time and I insisted I wasn't going to dye it for this, despite everyone I knew asking about it. So we did Halloween, at speed, mind you, so it was more about does it look like them rather than does it look like them, but doing these costumes gave me brain rot bad.

This is genuinely one of the best photos I'm going to be able to share with you rn, because someone took these photos of me intentionally. My best friend/Aziraphale had prior plans and this kinda got dropped on me like what costume can you wear to go to the cemetery approximately now.

In December, I started dying my hair red, we're all laughing because it's funny.

Obviously this was right before the plague times and I was still in undergrad at the time. We had a socially distanced halloween party the next year between the costume and scene shops, and I wore basically the same thing, just with doc martens and sfx contacts that time because I was working on a much larger costume for my undergrad capstone (tho not my history capstone, that was tragically different.) I started working on a late Victorian women's ensemble in black and green that was intended to be versatile enough to be both historically accurate in settings that needed it, while also being able to be an all out cosplay, just an inspired one. I didn't actually get good picture of it until late last year when I had shifted into what I call "stupidly" red hair dye and cut my hair (I was in grad school when s2 filming pictures started to come out, it does something to your brain, you make interesting choices during Thanksgiving break.)

(Enjoy a rare film photo of @christinedieae and I, we were working on these outfits together, and mostly in the same work space in 2021, so it was a mission to photograph these two together because they were so different on the dress forms.)

In 2021, I attended Ren Fair for the first time and made pirate inspired looks for my best friend and I. Tragically I don't have any photos from this year other than us at like 8am in my driveway and I'm not willing to share them rn but I made this full length sleeveless coat with fabric i found at joanns that year that has snakes and roses. I also wore it last year but it was very cold and windy that day so the only photo of me is my "Anakin storming the temple" look, peak my red wig and the best garment I've ever made, my cloak.

Then, some of my favorite ren fair looks from last year. The halo is one of the single best purchases I've made while costuming, and at this point its been a while.

The only down side to ren fair is that I'm often without an Aziraphale, as my best friend has become a bird (this is a genuine logistical challenge and at times takes between three and four of us to manage at the fair grounds so my full length snake skirt might not be returning to the fair this year.) Said bird also steals my glasses.

Here's another look with selections pulled from my historical wardrobe for a wizarding event at the museum I work at last year. This was the first time anyone I worked with saw my contacts and I have found it's good to warn people who know me because they find it a serious jumpscare. Some adults also have opinions, but kids really seem to like them.

And then some silly things from an event we attended in May last year. It was Friday the 13th and easily 100 degrees. I made Aziraphale's waistcoat in a week because I wasn't insane enough already (when you get motivation to do something you take it idk). On an even bigger my life is a cosmic joke note, when the first s2 pictures came out with the leather waistcoat I got in my closet and finally begrudgingly admitted my mom was right, because I had a leather waistcoat she had given me from the 80s.

I feel like I might have posted some of these photos here before, I remember asking for an "angel ( )" caption for my friend dressed as Castiel, and the groupchat soundly rejecting "angel (homosexual)" as too non-specific. It was very hot, we descended into insanity by the end of the night, a group of girls recognized us while we were trapped in the middle of this tiny candy store, chaos at its finest. This is also the night where someone referred to our group as the "most attractive group of queer people" they'd ever seen, and thus named our group chat.

I know there have been sooooo many more, some combination of all of this is how I dress on the daily so I'm kinda always testing new or inspired looks. And our ren fair opens this weekend, and I've been working on making and acquiring some fun new things for some new looks this year, so I'll have more looks very soon.

The last thing I can leave you with, I suppose, is this. I'm going to a wedding in October with costumes encouraged, but all black is off the table. SO I'm recreating an Edwardian gown in a red silk I found that is cross woven with black threads so it has this shift to it while still looking red, the silk is called Omen.

My darling Aziraphale is @jesterjamboree as always. @frameratess also appears here, and is often the only one of us remembering to take pictures. And already mentioned is @christinedieae, we egg each other on with our crazy ideas.

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 2/5

Book Blurb: From the author of the “genuinely funny” and “delightful” Loathe at First Sight (NPR) and “cinematic, charming” So We Meet Again (Emily Henry), a fun rom-com about a young Korean-American woman having to return to college after discovering she’s a few credits shy of completing her degree—only to find one of her TAs is her old college boyfriend.

Lily Lee is a bestselling author of the How to Be a Supernova At Work series, and her editor wants her to strike while the iron’s hot with a new book, How to Land the Perfect Job. But when Lily is offered a coveted position at a top firm, the employer background check reveals she’s short a few college credits and never actually completed her degree. Unbelievably, her worst nightmare has come true.Lily returns to her alma mater, reliving her senior year of college ten years later. She enrolls in classes, gets invited to frat parties, eats most of her meals with “dining dollars,” and to make things even more weird and chaotic, she discovers that her computer science TA is her old college boyfriend, Jake Cho.As Lily and Jake reconnect, she sees that her ex has done well for himself: the handsome, charming grad student appears to have his life together while Lily’s so close to losing her dream job opportunity and her book deal.  Things aren't so simple the second time around.The Do-Over is a delightfully warm and hopeful story about second chances in love and life, and how the future we want may turn out far different than we imagined.

Review:

A best selling author finds that she did not in fact complete her college degree and must now go back to college... all the while facing her ex turned T.A. and the fact that her dream job is in jeopardy if she doesn’t complete her degree. Lily Lee is a best selling author of the How to Be a Supernova at work series and just as her editor wants her to work on a new book she is also offered a coveted position at a top firm... but the employer tells her there is one snag in her background check: she’s short a few college credits and never actually completed her college degree. Now 10 years after graduation she has to go back to college to relive her senior year of college... and when attending her first class... her T.A. turns out to be her college ex that broke her heart and left her an emotional mess... Jake Cho. Now she has to deal with the stress of keeping her going back to college a secret so that people don’t think she’s a fraud, the stress of losing her dream job and her book deal, and the stress of constantly seeing her ex. Lily has to face her anxiety of why she constantly feels the need to prove herself and her accomplishments, the family drama of what happened when her parents chose to pay for her sister’s college while forcing Lily to graduate early... and the emotional stress that is Jake Cho. Jake and Lily were a great couple.. until they weren’t... until the day in which he abandoned her and never checked up on her or looked back and now he is here telling her that he has changed and he has his priorities straight and that he’s sorry and wants a second chance. This story was not really what I expected, and the romance was very light in the background but I found that it just didn’t work for me. Lily and Jake just don’t work for me, I think they would have been better off if they both grew, especially from each other. Seriously, I found myself just screaming “ DON’T BACKSLIDE” the entire time. Lily’s own journey with going back to college and dealing with her anxiety was okay, I didn’t particularly get attached to it and honestly didn’t connect to it that much. As someone who graduated college early and had to deal with an academic advisor who also screwed them over, it somehow didn’t really connect with me at all. Overall, while this one didn’t work for me maybe it’ll work for you, this definitely is more women’s fiction than second chance romance, just a note before going into it.

*Thanks Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager, Avon for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

[deesmenagerie]

The 2023 'Year in Review' trends hit differently when you lived two distinct lives this year.

I usually avoid Instagram trends-- not because I have anything against them, but because I'm usually too lazy to pull together something worth putting online in a timely manner. But this year, I decided that it would be worth doing. So I took some time to go through all of my photos for 2023, and wow.

It started off innocent enough-- pictures of Lilly being ostensibly cute, and nature pictures that, at best, would give you a vague impression of what season it is in New England. But not too far into scrolling I came across photos of Chris and me at Frozen Fenway with Sam and Peter, and I was shook.

I SWEAR we went to Frozen Fenway with Sam and Peter like, a couple of years ago. NOT within this calendar year!!! It has taken me some time to reconcile the fact that yes, January 2023 feels like it was eons ago, and no, my grasp on time is... tenuous at best. And that's because 2023 has to be divided into two distinct eras-- before injury and after injury.

Before my injury, I skiied twice, visited Amherst, visited Montreal, got my wisdom teeth removed, saw a superbloom at Joshua Tree, saw a comedy show and a live podcast show, planned and executed a bachelorette party and bridal shower, visited my brother down in Florida, attended two weddings (and was a MOH at one), and had one of my artworks displayed at a local gallery in Cambridge.

Whew!

From January to July, I had a busy, exciting year, and August through December promised more of the same, with another wedding, an October visit from Shane, and another two trips booked.

Then, on August 3rd, I tore my MCL and fractured my tibia, and the entire trajectory of my life shifted. I stopped working and went on long-term disability, got surgery, and spent the remainder of the year focused on one singular goal-- recovery.

My injury was devastating. I won't sugar coat it. I said goodbye to my mobility and independence, only to fight tooth and nail to get them back. I experienced more physical pain than I ever have, and I also knocked on death's door for the first time in my life. It was a dark time, and it took a lot out of me, and I'm still on the road to recovery.

But despite this disruption, life went on, and the second half of 2023 was filled with lots of rehab walks, local adventures, time with friends, and plenty of time focusing on my extensive personal projects. All things considered, handling this injury was not the most difficult thing I've ever done (looking at you, grad school).

Heading into 2024, I feel like a phoenix rising from the ashes. In all of the photos before my injury, I see myself, but I no longer recognize myself in her. I am someone new, someone different, someone who's evolved from the destruction of my old life.

2023 had hands, but I'm a tough bitch, and she didn't break me. This year was one of major change and major growth. I learned a lot of lessons, and I'm gonna share them here.

Do your best to stay present. Fixating on the future is sure to give you anxiety, make you frustrated about where you are now, and bring a sense of dissatisfaction to your life. Stagnating in the past is sure to depress you, and make you yearn for how things used to be. But in the present, there are no problems, only situations to handle, or experiences to have. Staying in the present got me through the early days of my injury, when my mobility was completely gone. Thanks, Eckhart Tolle :)

Live every moment to its fullest. You never know when life is going to throw you a curveball (or a broken leg). Soak deeply in the good experiences, be patient with the difficult ones, and enjoy the transit time between experiences. It's all life, and you only have one of them. Live it!

Motion is lotion. It takes an alarmingly short period of time to lose your strength and range of motion, and an exhaustingly long period of time and concerted effort to get it back. Find a way to incorporate movement in your life every day. It's worth it.

Your perspective makes your reality. One of the most important things you can do to make your life better is maintain a positive perspective. Your perspective makes your reality. If you're always looking for problems, there will be plenty to find. If you see the worst in people, they'll show you their claws. But if you stay positive, look on the bright side, and stay relentlessly optimistic, life WILL be easier.

Trust your gut. You've made your decisions for a reason. Don't let others convince you out of doing what's best for you. ESPECIALLY when it comes to your health.

Never underestimate the power of a good walkie. Not only is it so good for your body, but it's so good for your brain, too. I don't need to explain this one. Go for a walk!!!

Anyways. Thanks for the memories 2023, but I'm ready to move on. Let's see what 2024 has in store!

[jamiefantana]

Earth. You Don't Have To Be Crazy To Live Here. But It Helps.

   The Office is pretty popular with millennials… but it’s also become pretty basic.  If the blog “Stuff White People Like” still existed, The Office would be on it.  Let’s face facts, it’s like Friends except higher quality.  It was hurt by lasting nine seasons and for being so omnipresent online.  There’s an endless amount of Tinder bios for “Pams looking for their Jims.”  I am here to tell you that the camera crew followed the wrong people on The Office.  We shouldn’t have been following P&J.  

   We should’ve been following Ryan.

   Ryan was relatable.  He was ambitious, flawed, fucked up.

   Look, a few words on Jim and Pam first.  There’s nothing more dull or grating than a self-satisfied smug married couple with no real problems.  Individually, they had their moments.  Pam crying in the interview room when talking about how unrealistic it is to want a house with a flower box.  Her quitting art school and failing.  Jim throwing a party and not inviting Michael.  Jim throwing a party exclusively to get Pam in his bedroom.  These are real moments.

   But Jim as an audience surrogate, or a straight man?  You mean a 6’3 good-looking guy in his twenties who dated Amy Adams, Rashida Jones, and had Cathy Simms throwing herself at him is supposed to be the everyman?  Bullshit.

   No.  Fuckin’ Ryan Howard, man.

   “I miss the days when there was only one party I didn’t want to go to.”

   Nobody gives a shit about your interoffice drama, Pam.  In fact, Ryan was one of the few people to call them out.

   “Little advice?  Take a break from the whole Jim schtick.  Try caring about something.  You might like how it feels, James.”

   And you know what?  James actually listened.

   What was the arc of Jim and Pam?  Two people had emotional affairs with each other, eventually got together, got married, had two kids, bought a house, started a new business, quit the job they hated and lived happily ever after?

   Boring.

   What was Ryan’s arc?  Start out as a temp.  

   “Just think, that temp agency could’ve sent you anywhere.” “I think about that all the time.”

   He hates his meaningless job.

   “If I had to, I could clean out my desk in five seconds, and nobody would ever know that I had ever been here.  And I’d forget, too.”

   Eventually he gets promoted, realizes he’s bad at his job, gets all coked up, gets arrested, fired.  Michael finds him with a bad bleach job working at a bowling alley.  Eventually he gets rehired, ends up as the receptionist, starts an unsuccessful social media company, follows a bunch of weird trends, has a kid with a rando and ends up with custody, then pawns the kid off to some British lady and runs off with his ex-girlfriend.

   I mean, now that’s a ride.  And funny enough, more relatable.  

   Ryan isn’t some 6’3, probably former high school athlete, who simultaneously can make a ton of sales while being able to play pranks on the creepy loner coworker in-between harassing the receptionist.  He came to Dunder Mifflin with the hopes of learning enough about business, or making the connections to start his own business.  He was working during the day and attending grad school at night.  He ends the last season by packing all of his clothes in a trash bag and getting on a Greyhound bus.  

   Starting out hardworking and full of hope, and ending up jaded and broke.

   Ryan Howard is the millennial.

   “A toast to the troops.  All the troops.  Both sides.”

   I mean, I can only aspire to this level of petty.

[purplesurveys]

1612

How much did your senior prom dress cost you? We had prom in junior year and if I remember correctly it only cost somewhere between ₱2000-₱3000; I can’t recall the exact price. I didn’t care for prom and even just brought my cousin to it, so I didn’t see the point in shelling out so much for a dress that I was only going to wear once. 

What dreams have stuck with you since childhood? There was one where I found myself at the balcony of the hotel we used to frequent and I suddenly saw this cradle with an abandoned baby in it. By instinct I went to the cradle and carried the baby who for some reason felt oddly...mine? Like there was definitely a connection of some sort the moment I put them in my arms. That’s all I remember from the dream.

Have you ever been in a serious romantic relationship? Yeah, I have.

Did you ever take your dog to school? I brought Kimi once during college because I included him in my grad shoot.

If you had had a baby in high school, what would you have named him or her? I was dead set on April Kathleen in high school (April after AJ Lee, Kathleen after Audrey Hepburn). Tbh it would still hold up today as I continue to love both girls and the name objectively isn’t bad either.

If you had a baby now, what would you name him or her? I’m into unisex names for a girl these days, so I’ve been loving choices like Elliott, Stevie, Frankie, Arden. For some reason I remain traditional when it comes to boy’s names and still prefer names like Seth, Noah, Lucas, etc.

Have you ever seen someone throw up on a plane? Nah, I’ve only ever seen that happen in that one Mr. Bean episode lol. I’ve heard people puking at a cruise ship though.

Do you get motion sickness? Yep. It’s at its worst during car rides.

Has God ever healed you of anything? If so, what? No, I have a very bitter relationship with religion.

What is the most boring church you have ever attended? Every single church service I have attended since I was 4.

What is the most lively church you have ever attended? I don’t really go anywhere else other than Sunday masses.

Do you find church fun or boring? Boring and a tad bit condescending at times.

What do you hate the most about summer? The fucking weather. Which part of your body is the most muscular? I don’t exercise lol but if I had to cite something, probably my arms. I do a lot of heavy lifting for work.

Did you ever take Latin in school? Not Latin but I remember a very brief period when my school attempted to make French classes a thing (the founder was French). It lasted all of like three weeks when I was in Grade 1 and then I never heard anything of it again.

Which major holiday is closest to your birthday? Usually Easter Sunday.

What is your favorite Japanese name? Keiko or Naoko, for a girl.

Have you ever ran a cash register? Nope, only toy ones lol.

Did you collect Bratz dolls when you were younger? I was never into dolls but I did like Bratz, and had a lot of non-doll Bratz stuff. My preschool lunchbox was Bratz, I had a backpack too, and a bunch of tops that had the girls in it hahaha. The giveaways at my 7th birthday party were also predominantly Bratz.

Do you think your mom is attractive? She is and also looks far younger than her current age (51).

What was the last thing that disappointed you? When I went down after work hoping to still catch some of the nachos my dad made earlier in the afternoon, only to learn that everyone had finished it off.

Do you like the feeling in your stomach on a big drop on a roller coaster? I hate it more than ANYTHING in the world, so I never get on rides.

Skeletons or scarecrows? Um, skeletons I guess. 

Do you own pumpkin earrings? Nope.

What computer game did you used to play all the time? I never was a big PC gamer.

When was the last time you read a book? Last weekend I read a chapter of Around the World in Eighty Days, which was a gift from Kat.

Would you allow your children to date prior to 16? (assuming you want any) It’s so hard to say. Deciding parenthood stuff when you aren’t is so much easier said than done. The way I’d answer now is that I guess I would, but given that they would be minors I wouldn’t hesitate to be a bit of a helicopter parent until they turn 18 (Asian mom instinct, soz). They wouldn’t be allowed to be alone in a bedroom, they’d have a strict curfew, only hang out where I can see you, things like that.

What was the last restaurant you made a reservation at? Hmm, can’t remember, I don’t typically make reservations. Probably at Sundays with my parents nearly a year ago?

Which app on your phone do you tend to get the most notifications from? Counting out Viber which I use for work and by default gets the most notifs in a day, I’d go with Messenger.

What is something you gave up on after many failed attempts? Learning how to ride a bike.

Do you watch political shows? The Crown has to count, right? Haven’t continued it in ages, though.

Do you play any fantasy/roleplaying games? What? No, not into that.

Do you like salami? Eh not really, I’m not into that kind of meat so much. Cold cuts is what you call them I think? Not super prevalent in our culture and I’m not a fan in general.

When was the last time you ate meat? Last night; pork belly.

What was the last hot drink you drank? Coffee.

Have your parents met your boyfriend/exes? They’ve met an ex but they didn’t know we were dating. She was always the “best friend.”

How about your boyfriend’s parents? Met them? I don’t have a boyfriend.

Do you know how to say I love you in at least 4 languages? Mahal kita, te amo, saranghae, je t’aime.

Do you find the sound of a cat’s purr relaxing? Depends. Most of the time I tense up.

Do you know your mum’s first pet’s name? Good question, but I cannot for the life of me remember it right now. I know the name was drawn from the dog’s black color though; it was like Charcoal or something like that.

Would you ever want to be famous? If so, for what? I mean I think it’d be kinda cool to at least be the best friend of someone famous LOL but I’d never want to be famous on my own. Too much pressure and and too many eyes on you, and I know I’d buckle almost immediately.

Would you ever get a heart tattoo or your back? Naw.

What fruit can’t you stand? Bananas.

Do you know anyone autistic? Not personally. It’s always a friend’s sibling, a work contact’s son, a family friend’s son, etc.

How about someone bipolar? Yes. What do you consider private to you? I’m such an open book that I’m finding it hard to answer this, haha. I share everything at some point.

Name somebody you know who deserves a better life than they have: Dev.

Name something that you’re good at but don’t like: I don’t like being too nice sometimes because it usually ends up putting me in a difficult situation. But I can’t help it and most of the time I will go out of my usual damn route to drive someone home hahaha.

Name something that you’re bad at but DO like: I have weaknesses in my line of work, but I enjoy the general gist of what I do if that counts.

Name somebody who has tried to help you and ended up hurting you: My mom will sometimes say things she thinks is advice but is actually pretty insensitive.

Name a date that has a lot of significance to you: June 13th.

Name something in your life that was a blessing in disguise: I don’t believe in blessings.

Name something that you’ve done that would be considered rebellious: I uhhhh did some weed while out of town, away from my family.

Name something you wish you had enough money to do: Traveling whenever I feel like it.

[hyunfilms]

all for nothing | one.

♡ series masterlist

—summary: after experiencing heartbreak and betrayal, hyunjin has become incredibly closed off and reserved. he hated opening up to people, nor did he think the time or effort was worth it. but when hyunjin meets you, he finally realizes the importance of having someone by your side throughout all the ups and downs of life.

—pairing: hyunjin x f. reader

—genre: (18+) strangers to lovers, grad school au | fluff, angst, smut

—word count: 3.7k

—chapter warnings: nothing too bad, some cussing, very basic introduction to the fic, someone’s a meanie, hints at infidelity, mentions of parties and getting too drunk, some hints of anxiety, they all attend brigham in hawaiʻi but not every depiction of the school/area will match what it is in real life, apologies for any errors as i quickly skimmed through this before posting!

—notes: hi everyone! i hope you enjoy the start to this series. i’ll try to update every weekend from here on out. i’ve been on a writing hiatus for awhile, so i’m sorry if it starts off a little slow or anything like that. also, my chapters tend to be short because i like to spread out my chapters and lengthen the series that way. i do hope you like it! ♡

"Okay." You breathe out, staring out at the campus in front of you. "Shit." You mutter to yourself when you realize you have no idea where your first class of the day is located on this campus.

"Need help?" A black, shaggy haired boy appeared from behind you, a small smile creeping at the corner of his lips. You simply stare at him as you fully turn to give him your attention— clock ticking down to 7 minutes before your class would start.

"Is it obvious?" He shrugs and chuckles a bit.

"Yeah, kinda. No biggie though, still taking me a bit to get used to." His voice is deep, Australian accent strong. You almost wonder where it comes from with how not-so-intimidating he looks. "Felix." He puts his hand out.

"Y/N."

"Pleasure to meet you." He takes a look at the paper in your hands. "May I?"

"Sure." He takes it from your hands and nods slowly.

"Ah, okay. Duley Hall is down that way. I just had class there earlier this morning." He checks his watch. "We'll get you there in time."

"Thanks." You smile before awkwardly following alongside of him. Honestly, you were a bit relieved he had bumped into you. Your decision to attend the biology graduate program here at Brigham Young University was abrupt, almost incredibly last minute. You had decided on staying near home, continuing your education at Chaminade with familiar faces and staying comfortable in your safety zone. However, your teacher had offered you a position to work at his new lab in Brigham, offering to pay a good salary while being flexible with your class schedule. Dr. Kreher trusted you solely because you had been a student and intern of his since your undergrad sophomore year. He had seen you grow, seen you through your best and worst, seen you flourish in his lab. Because of the last minute agreement, you didn't have time to tour the entire campus before they were trying to meet deadlines to shuffle you into the next cohort. You were grateful, happy to have this opportunity come up right out of undergrad. Still, it wasn't easy suddenly having to switch from one university to another. You missed the friends you made, you missed the comfort and knowing the familiar. You missed being near home, you missed the convenience. Now, you were an hour and a half away by car, living in a small in-law on a family friend's property in exchange for some occasional nannying and light housework.

It all happened so fast. For something that placed you on the right path, somehow, you still felt lost.

You wondered how long it would last.

"Where'd you come from, if you don't mind me asking?" He turns to you, hands tugging onto his bag strap.

"Chaminade." He nods.

"That's on the opposite side of the island, isn't it? Almost two hours or so?"

"Mmm, pretty much."

"Why come out here?"

"Well, I was going to continue at Chaminade's graduate program, but one of my professors moved here and offered me a position in his research lab."

"Oh, that's sick. You're in the biology graduate program?" You nod.

"Mhm, I work with Dr. Kreher." Felix furrows his brows a bit and cocks his head to the side, confusion evident on his expression. "He's an infectious disease professor, not entirely sure what classes he'll be teaching though." He chuckles a bit.

"No worries, that's cool though. Must feel nice to know a professor like that, yeah?"

"Kinda." You give off a small laugh. "I feel like it's more pressure."

"I get that."

"What about you?"

"Psychology graduate program."

"Oh, cool!" You look at him with a smile.

"Mm, I suppose." He shrugs, shyly smiling. "So, I'm assuming your family is back in Waikiki?"

"Mhm. I was born and raised there. What about you? Are you from the island?" He shakes his head, which is probably a dumb question to ask being that his accent is pretty thick.

"No. I'm originally from Australia, my family's there. I moved to the big island for undergrad, then Oahu for the graduate program."

"Wow, now that's far. Why move from the big island?"

"Ah, I just like new sceneries, new adventures." He smiles again before leading you into Duley Hall, climbing up the steps right near the front entrance. He leads you to the second floor, turns left at the top and passes two doors before he stops in his tracks. "Welp, you made it with—" He checks his watch. "2 minutes to spare." He pokes his head into the classroom and notices a few empty seats. "Still have some good seats left."

"Thank you, Felix."

"No problem."

"Is your class nearby?"

"It's in another building across campus, but I'll get there, don't worry." You felt bad, but all you can do is nod. "See you around, Y/N. It was nice talking with you." And with that, you give him one last smile before heading into the classroom. The class sizes are standard— nothing too big, nothing too small. You head up to the third row of seats, sitting close to the opposite end. You silently sit your bag down, taking out your notebook and a couple of different colored pens, setting it neatly on the desktop. Suddenly, someone comes to sit next to you, a soft, warm smile on his face as he settles into his seat.

"Hi." He smiles and sets his bag down before crouching over to grab his book and notebook. "No one was sitting here, right? I should've asked before." He chuckles, making you scrunch your nose at how cutely shy he was.

"No, you're good." Maybe this move wouldn't be so bad after all.

"I'm Jeongin." He slides on his glasses before holding out his hand for a quick shake.

"Y/N."

"Cool. I don't think I've seen you around here before."

"Around Brigham?" He nods. "Oh well, yeah. I went to Chaminade for undergrad."

"Ouuu, Chaminade's nice. Why the change?"

"Hm, one of my professors started working here and offered me a position in his lab."

"Wow, that's awesome. You're pretty set then." You giggle and shrug.

"I wouldn't say that just yet." You look at his notebook, watching as he jots the date down neatly. "So, you've attended Brigham since freshman year?" He nods.

"Sure have. I love it here." He gives you a toothless smile.

"Seeing a lot of familiar faces?"

"Some, not a whole lot though—" At this point, the professor walks in, setting her stuff alongside the front desk before booting up her laptop and getting her   slide deck onto presentation mode through the projection.

"Class, hello hello. I'm Dr. Kuo, I'll be your professor for Advanced Molecular Biotechnology." Her eyes dart from the class to the individual who walks in a bit after her introduction. You can't help but stare a bit at him as he quietly walks in with his head hung low; black hair to the length of his neck, beautiful pale skin and plush, pink lips. He doesn't really look at his surroundings even though most eyes fall on him as he heads to the back of the classroom. You look over your shoulder, watching as he lets his bag fall to the ground before slouching in his seat. "Please be on time for class, as I'll be starting our agenda right away." She's pretty much directing her remark to him, but he doesn't budge. Instead, he takes out a notebook and pen, then rests his cheek on his fist.

"I'd hate to be on her bad side." Jeongin whispers to you, even though he pays no attention to the individual that just got settled into class. Almost like he knew him, like this was a natural, day to day occurrence.

"Is she mean?"

"I heard a few things about her. She takes awhile to warm up and is pretty harsh with her quizzes, tests, even grading projects." He pushes his glasses up his nose a bit, squinting at the projector screen.

"Mm, we'll see. It is the master's program, after all. I shouldn't even be surprised." He quickly looks at you with a smile before jotting down notes. The rest of the class is pretty standard, with you and Jeongin pairing up for some partner work towards the last half of class. You find out he's the middle child, having a younger brother in elementary school and an older brother— two years older, as matter of fact. He's super easy to work with and is incredibly patient after all the questions you've thrown his way during the partner activity. It may be early, but you were already considering Jeongin to be someone you could get close to while you were here, especially being that you were in the same program together.

It would be nice to have that while you were away from home. You had to remind yourself it wasn't too far, but it also wasn't easy for you to go home every single weekend. Not with your upcoming schedule already being packed with classes and work. Can't forget the help you've promised the family you live with.

"What's your next class?" Jeongin tugs on his bag strap while he walks alongside of you out of the building.

"Advanced biochemistry." He does a slight head tilt.

"I have the later class. I'm off to lab."

"Where's lab at?"

"Hale Center. It's where most of our labs and science classrooms are." He chuckles. "Well, except this one. Pretty sure advanced biochemistry is there, yeah?" You nod.

"It is."

"Cool. I'll walk with you till we have to part ways." The two of you continue to engage in small talk until you reach the middle point of campus, where most students are at— either making their way to on-campus dorms, the dining hall, library or other nearby buildings for class. It's much livelier around these parts, Jeongin already greeting a few familiar faces as you walk to the other end where Hale Center is located.

"Jeongin!" He looks up ahead of him, waving at a friend coming towards you two.

"Changbinnie." He teases, making the other laugh. Alongside of him was Felix, to your surprise, making you smile and wave at him as well. "What's up, dude?"

"Just going to my last class, what about you?"

"Got lab." He responds.

"Loser." Changbin responds, making Jeongin pinch his bicep. "Ah, hey, this is Felix." Jeongin laughs, putting his hand out to shake Felix's.

"This is Y/N. Y/N, Changbin, Fe—"

"Felix." You call for him softly.

"You survived class." He laughs.

"Nice, you two know each other?"

"He helped me get to class earlier." You turn your attention to Changbin. "It's nice to meet you though, Changbin."

"Same to you." He smiles. "Hey, I'm gonna go to the library and get some work done later. You down?"

"Since when do you go to the library?"

"Shut up. New year, new me." Jeongin laughs.

"Maybe, I'll let you know." Changbin nods.

"You guys are welcome to come too, if you want! The more the merrier." You and Felix smile with a small shrug.

"Thanks. I might take you up on that if work doesn't go overtime for me." You all say your goodbyes and part ways for the time being, the walk falling silent until Jeongin chimes in again.

"Already going to work?"

"Yuuuup."

"Well, you should definitely come meet up with us afterwards anyway."

"I'll try to. It'd be nice to get a head start on things, anyway." He hands you his phone as the both of you stand inside Hale Center's main lobby. You give him a toothless smile, grabbing his phone to plug in your number. When you hand it back to him, he fiddles with it for a minute before you feel the vibration of your own phone in your pocket.

"That's me." He smiles. "Let me know if you'll come meet us."

"Okay."

"See you later, maybe? Have fun in class and work!" He starts to walk backwards, waving enthusiastically before he darts up the steps to his lab room.

Your day goes by pretty smoothly, with you darting off to Dr. Kreher's lab as soon as you finish off your last class of the day. Surprisingly, he's in the lab, mainly because he wants to show you where things are and where the shared supply room was at. He also informs you that he'll be taking on an undergraduate class, so he'll need some help printing out the syllabus to hand out, plus stocking extra supplies in his lab alone just so he has everything in one place. You happily agree to help him as you toss in your lab coat and wipe down the UV hood, immediately getting started on your usual routine. So now, not only were you in charge of running this malaria study with him, but now, you'd be helping him out with his undergraduate students.

You'd for sure be busy for quite some time. You wondered when the next time you could go home would be.

When Dr. Kreher leaves you to your peace, you work under the hood for a couple of hours until you have some down time while you wait for your stained slides to dry. You take this opportunity to print extra copies of the syllabus just as he asked before running to the storage room next door. You grab a couple of supplies from the list he handed over and drag them back to the lab, arranging it neatly along the shelves and countertops. By the time you were finished helping him get ready for class, your slides were ready to be examined under the microscope. It took you a couple of minutes to check out your samples, determining next steps and acting appropriately before wiping everything down and shutting the hood down for the night. You sigh, the clock already hitting 8pm as you hang your labcoat onto the rack and grab your things. You swiftly exit the lab, grabbing your phone to text Jeongin to see if they were still at the library.

However, you felt yourself crash into another body before you could even hit send, the sound of disposable pipette packs and paper towel rolls hitting the floor in front of you.

"Oh my god, I am soooo sorry." You crouch down to grab the pack of pipettes, but a large hand snatches it from the ground before you can even try to help out. "Let me help—"

"Jeez. I got it." He says with an attitude. You look up at him when you stand, realizing it's the same guy who had walked in late to Dr. Kuo's class. He looks at you with his brows furrowed, removing an airpod from his right ear. "Wanna watch where you're going next time?" He plugs his airpod back into his ear before snatching the roll of paper towels on the floor.

"Sorry." You mutter softly. He simply brushes past you to the supply room. You stand there, feeling a bit awkward and upset at the interaction, but you brush it off to finally send the text to Jeongin.

You quietly tug on your bag strap as you step out of Hale Center and follow the signs that would lead you to the library. It was bigger than you imagined, your feet automatically bringing you to the loud section of the library. There were tables lined along the middle, sandwiched in between the aisles and aisles of books. You catch sight of Jeongin towards the back end, Changbin sitting next to him with Felix in front. He sees you as his eyes scan the library, eyes turning into half crescents as he smiles and waves you over.

"Hey." You say as you approach the table, slipping into the seat next to Felix.

"Oh hey!" Felix and Changbin say, scooting their things over to make room for you.

"How was work?" Jeongin asks.

"It was alright, I guess." You take out your laptop and start logging into the student portal to see if there were any introductory assignments you needed to get done for the rest of your classes this week.

"You guess? Bad day already?" Changbin teases.

"No, everything was fine. I just—" You look at them and shake your head, afraid to spill too much on the first day. Not that you felt like Changbin, Felix or Jeongin would judge you for being upset over such a small interaction, but you felt the need to suppress it anyway; like you shouldn't sound like a complainer or a brat on the first day of school, even if that wasn't your intention. "I'm just tired."

"I'm sure." Felix says. "You shouldn't work yourself too much for the rest of the night."

"I won't. I'm just going to see if there's anything else I need to do for the rest of my classes." They nod. "How was today for you guys?" Changbin nods.

"Honestly? Pretty boring." He chuckles. "But, at the same time, I can already sense the stress coming. So, I'll take what I can get for now."

"Yeah, that." Jeongin laughs.

"We should go to more social events together during grad school." Changbin adds.

"Did you guys not go to a lot during undergrad?"

"I did, this dude didn't."

"It gets overwhelming, okay." Jeongin chuckles. "People just get sloppy and weird." He puts his hand out as he corrects himself. "Not everyone, but most."

"I get that."

"It's because of that one party, huh?" Changbin looks at him and laughs. "Fuuuuck."

"Shut up." Jeongin's cheeks turn a faint red.

"What happened?" Changbin continues to laugh while Jeongin sighs.

"Some girl that had a crush on me got really drunk at a party, threw herself on me then tried to kiss me before she threw up." Jeongin visibly cringes. "Some of it got on my jeans before I moved out of the way." He fake cries. "Those were my favorite jeans."

"Oh shit." Felix says.

"I'm sorry." You make a face. "Understandably overwhelming."

"Ah, no biggie now. I would just prefer to not deal with throw up on my jeans again." He looks at Changbin. "But, if Felix and Y/N are down, I'll go."

"Yeah, that sounds fun." Felix responds. You continue to work amongst yourself, your eyes glancing around the library from time to time when the library gets a little nosier than usual. The last glance you take, you catch sight of that same black-haired individual heading down an aisle nearby, grabbing a book and heading back to the front to check out. You didn't catch yourself staring with a certain expression plastered on your face, but Jeongin does, and he can't help but scrunch his nose before giving off a small laugh.

"Do you not like him or something?"

"Huh? Who?"

"Hyunjin." So that's his name.

"Is that his name?"

"You're looking at the guy that walked late into Dr. Kuo's class, right?" You nod. "Yeah, that's Hyunjin."

"Hyunjin as in Hwang Hyunjin?" Changbin adds in this certain tone. "He's a weird one." Now, they both look at you. "Why, what about him?"

"Nothing." You shrug.

"You think he's cute?" Jeongin chuckles as he teases you. You're not gonna lie, the dude is attractive as hell. Tall as hell. Built right as hell. Attitude, though? Hard pass.

"Aw babe, save it for a guy who would really appreciate it. He's not gonna budge." Changbin chimes in before you can even respond to Jeongin's question. "We've known him since undergrad and dude barely says a word to anyone."

"Hm, he's just quiet." Jeongin says.

"Doesn't mean he's weird, though. Maybe he just likes to keep to himself, or maybe he's quiet in general." Felix says to soften the conversation.

"No, he's weird, alright. He doesn't say shit, nor does he even try with anyone. Couldn't be me."

"That's cause you're always so fucking loud." Changbin pinches his arm, making him yelp in return. "Ouch, stop! It's true!"

"Anyways." Changbin glares at him before returning his attention to you and Felix. "I say weird because in the beginning, he was pretty talkative and social. He hung around certain people, had a girlfriend at one point. Everyone thought they were the cutest couple on campus. Then, after sophomore year, he just flipped. Now, he's always pretty cold when people talk to him and try to be friendly. And it's crazy, cause I've talked to a few girls who think he's pretty attractive too, but he just brushes it off. He really doesn't try with people anymore."

"Maybe something happened to make him closed off like that." Felix pouts a bit.

"I heard it was because his girlfriend was cheating on him with his own bestfriend." Jeongin furrows his brows.

"Chan?" Changbin nods.

"Yeah, dude. Crazy, huh?"

"Well, we don't even know if it's true."

"I honestly think it is, I don't remember seeing him hanging around with Chan or his girlfriend after that."

"Mm. It's not really our business anyway." You look behind you to see if Hyunjin is still in the library, but he isn't. Even if it were all true, you weren't sure if that was a good enough reason for Hyunjin to act the way he was acting towards other people. You didn't know him though, didn't think you could get to know him, so this— this is what you'll leave it at.

The conversation about Hyunjin dies down after Jeongin responds with it not being anyone's business. You and the boys end up finishing some work and leave the library a bit past 11PM, Jeongin offering to walk you to your car before parting ways with you for the evening. It's a little too late for your family back home, but you decide to send them a text anyway— letting them know about your busy first day and that you're heading home.

It's quiet on your street. You park your car alongside the sidewalk, street light dimly lighting your surroundings. You grab your things and slip through the gate, heading straight to the back of the property where your small in-law studio is nestled. You lock your door and set your things down before getting your kettle going to boil some hot water for a quick bowl of ramen. You get washed up and throw on your pajamas, settling onto your bed with your bowl of ramen and Youtube on your laptop. You didn't realize how hungry you were until you looked down and saw that you had finished every bit of your ramen. You pout to yourself before your phone vibrates off to the side, signaling a text coming in.

Yeah, maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all. Maybe, you'd make new friends and make yourself feel at home. But, your mind suddenly flashes to Hyunjin. Even with someone like him, a minor interaction as such, it was easy to bring you back to feeling alone. Still.

Can't win them all, I suppose.

♡ taglist: @lotus-dly​ @hyunk1ss @sstarryoong​ @laylasbunbunny​ @azeret98​ 

[bbyquokka]

hello! i recently graduated from college but i did not have anyone around to celebrate except for my friends which are amazing company but i miss home so much. anyway hehe, i was going to ask if i could request a short drabble where you graduate college but you're foreigner so minho can't make it but you just feel his love and support even if he's not with you and video call maybe. bUT then later in your grad party he surprises you and it's all fluffy 💜💜

congratulations on graduating! 🥳🎓 i understand what it's like to miss home sm - living in a different country has its up and downs. anyways – tysm for your request and i hope this is what you wanted. i hope you enjoy and let me know what you think! 🖤

I wouldn't miss it for the world ੈ♡˳

🐰: pairing: Lee Know x gn!reader

🐰: genre: fluff

🐰: synopsis: its graduation time! you felt disappointed that minho couldn't attend the ceremony, but that soon washed away once he surprised you

🐰: warnings: pet names.

🐰: words: 837

🐰: have a request? send it to me here

🐰: read my faq to learn about my guidelines before submitting requests

you did it. after years of tears and laughter, you was finally going to graduate! you couldn't be happier – but also sad – to have finally completed your time at college.

You have made so many good memories, met some amazing people but how you was ready to venture off into the real world. Do what you love doing best.

You're a foreigner in a whole new different country. It was hard at first, having to adapt to the rules of society and the way it worked, but you adjusted pretty quickly.

You had to leave everyone behind – including your beloved boyfriend, Minho

"I've finally graduated, Min!" You exclaimed excitedly, sprawling out in your bed. You was dressed in shorts and a spaghetti strap vest, holding your phone in a position so that Minho could see you.

"Good job baby! I knew you could do it! I'm so proud of you, sweetheart!" You blushed at his words, feeling giddy.

"Thank you, Min. Will you be able to come to the ceremony tomorrow?" You asked, biting your lip. You hoped he would be able to and truth be told, you got your hopes up. You wanted to see him after not seeing him face to face for months! You imagined him being there and kissing you, carrying you bridal style, taking selfies with you – all that lovey dovey stuff, you wanted.

Minho's expression changed, his gaze on the floor. "Sorry baby. I can't make it. I have family stuff to attended to."

Your heart dropped, disappointment setting in. You gave your best fake smile, looking at Minho through your phone screen. "It's okay, Min. I understand."

"I'm so sorry baby. I promise I will make up for it!" You smirked, wiggling your brows in a cheeky, seductive manor

"Oh, I know you will, darling."

Graduation day came and true to his words, there was no sign of Minho. You did feel disappointed, but you also understood that real life gets in the way sometimes and there is nothing that can be done about it.

You accepted your diploma, shaking hands of many teachers and other important people. You listened to cheers and speeches, taking pictures with teachers that you will miss, throwing your graduation cap in the air.

The formal bit was over – now it's time to party!

You're dressed in your best party outfit, feeling the buzz of finally being able to let your hair down and not feel bad about it. Your friend decided to throw the party at their place as it was bigger.

You arrived, the excitement of many others rushing around you, making you feel excited. You grabbed a drink, socialising with people and taking selfies of the many people you will miss. You checked your phone every so often, hoping to see a call or text of Minho, but nothing.

He hadn't contacted you the whole day and you was getting a little concerned. Minho would never forget something as important as this – so why hasn't he congratulated you?

You asked your friend if they have heard anything off Minho. A text, call maybe an instagram post but nothing. you looked in your drink, your reflection staring back at you. You didn't want to feel sad, but you did.

Maybe Minho did forget…

"Hey, (Y/N)! why the long face? it's a party, you should be celebrating!" your old class mate exclaimed, nudging your side gently

"I know, but my boyfriend hasn't contacted me to say congratulations." You sighed sadly, eyes filling with tears.

"Maybe that's because I wanted to say it in person." Your eyes widen as the familiar voice. You spun on your heels at lightning speed to be face to face with your love

"Minho.." You breathed out, putting your drink down. He smiled brightly, his bunny teeth on display.

"Hello, baby. sorry I'm late." you ran into his arms, the force of the collision of your bodies knocking him over slightly. He laughed, wrapping his arms around you tightly. You let out soft sobs, your tears dampening Minho's t-shirt

"You came. you actually came!" Minho hummed, hand stroking your hair gently. "I've missed you so much, Min!"

Your body shook with sobs. Minho hushed you, swaying side to side as his own eyes filled with tears. "I know baby, I've missed you so much too! it's been so painful for me being away from you for so long."

Your friends were watching, giving you two some space as you both sobbed and relished in one another's warmth. You pulled away, looking up at him. He wiped away your tears gently before wiping his own.

"You lied to me, Minho." You whispered, giggling softly. Minho laughed, before leaning in slowly. Faces inches apart, his lips ghosting over yours as his breath fanned on your lips. you could smell his cologne, the smell you've been longing for for months. the smell that drives your senses into overdrive.

"It was worth it though, wasn't it?"

[late-to-the-party-81]

Smut request about sex worker peter x mob boss Steve

Just for tonight

AN: Well, nonnie, this was a spicy ask! It rather got away with me to be honest.

This is absolutely over 18’s only, it’s basically just filth. And like a lot of my one-shots - open ended, letting you imagine what happens next (unless I feel the urge to write a sequel).

Also, Sex Work is work. Don’t like, scroll past and get off my blog.

Not Beta’d.

Dividers by @firefly-graphics.

Mood board by me.

Please check out my master list.

Pairing: Sex Worker! Peter Parker/Mob Boss! Steve Rogers

Word Count: 5.2k

CW: Sex worker (discussions of and negotiations), Age Gap (Peter early 20’s, Steve mid-late 30’s)Explicit sexual content (Oral Sex, Rimming, Anal Fingering, Anal Sex) light bondage, light degradation, spanking (once), size kink, pet names, aftercare, explicit language, propositioning, tiny bit of fluff if you squint.

Peter grabbed a glass of sparkling wine from the server walking past, knocking it back with abandon, the bubbles tickling his nose.

Why did I think that attending this party would be a good idea?

Almost as if she could read his mind, MJ sidled up to him, nudging him with her elbow.

“Relax Parker. You’re not going to attract any business looking like a deer caught in headlamps.”

Peter ran his eyes over his friend. She was wearing a shiny black pants suit, although sans shirt, the two button jackets only just covering her breasts, which she’d applied a light dusting of some iridescent powder to.

“I don’t think I’ll get any, anyway. Look at all the others here! No-one's gonna want someone like me.”

His brunette friend snorted. She was used to his self-deprecation, but that didn’t make it any less annoying.

“Peter, you wouldn’t have been invited if there wasn’t a market for your look at this shindig. You’re the only certified twink here, I’m surprised that some Cougar or Daddy-type hasn’t already come over here to drag you away.”

Peter rolled his eyes. It’s not like he didn’t like his job. The hours suited him, fitting around his studies, he was his own boss, getting to pick his clients. He and MJ worked together to make a safety net, one always knowing where the other was, checking in before and after each job, and trying not to schedule jobs at the same time, in case an intervention was required.

He’d fallen into it by accident, after meeting a nice looking guy in a bar, who, after having received a blowjob in the bathroom from Peter, had stuffed a couple of hundreds into his jeans pocket, having just assumed he was a cute twink sex worker.

Peter had been a bit shocked and confused, but when he’d spoken to MJ about it the next day, she’d chuckled at him affectionately, revealing that he has been moonlighting in the industry for the past year, and if you did it right, made sure you were safe, and screened your clients, you could make good money from it, just like any other job. She’d helped him market himself, get into the local circle, as it were, and, so far, it was working out for him, although he still got imposter syndrome a lot. He just couldn’t work out what it was about him that people were attracted to.

He had a semi-regular client base now, a couple of older men and a couple of older women. They were all nice, and attractive, enough that it made his work not too onerous. They were respectful, albeit predictable, in their requests, and provided him with a steady paycheck that was helping him through college. He was in his final year and was considering a post-grad, but money was the key to that.

However, when MJ had told him about the event tonight that she had been invited to he’d been intrigued. Full of high-rollers, he’d have the opportunity to make a week’s pay in one night if he attracted the right client. She’d managed to haggle a ticket for him after showing the organiser a photo and then came over to his apartment beforehand to personally style him.

Wet-look, black pants that moulded to his legs and ass, black boots, a cropped white t-shirt, that was so baggy the neckline tried to fall of his shoulder, a bit of gel in his hair to highlight his curls, and a tiny slick of eye-liner - the very definition of twink.

“Anyway,” MJ went on, “It’s only been an hour, I bet the best guests haven’t even arrived yet. And also, they’re gonna want to talk business, or whatever this party is actually for, before trawling for entertainment. Just relax and enjoy the free booze and canapes. Remember, all transactions take place here, in our booked rooms, and nowhere else, no matter how much they ask.”

Peter waved his hand at MJ. “Yeah, yeah, I know. Safety first.” He leant over and gave her a peck on her cheek. “You go circulate and work the room. I’ll stay here and try to look brooding and mysterious.”

The next forty-five minutes passed fairly pleasantly. He leant against the wall, with an unaffected air, sipping on wine and virgin cocktails. He smiled at potential clients, and flirted a little, but so far he didn’t seem to be anyone's particular cup of tea. Well, at least he wasn’t stuck at home and, as MJ said, there were drinks and nibbles, so it wasn’t all bad. He was wondering how his friend was getting on, when a shadow fell across him.

Peter looked up.

And up.

Into a pair of azure blue eyes, filled with an equal mix of mirth and interest.

“Aren’t you a pretty little thing…” A smooth baritone voice washed over Peter as he took in the sight before him. The man was tall and handsome, broad at the shoulders, and narrow at the waist. He had blond hair to go with his deep blue eyes. He wore a mid-blue suit with a white dress shirt. Looking the stranger over a bit more, Peter noticed a matching tan leather belt and shoes.

Peter returned his gaze to the man’s face, smiled, and placed his small palms on the man’s muscular chest.

“I could be your pretty little thing if you wanted…” he tipped his head to the side coquettishly. “Mr..?”

“Rogers, but I think I’d like you to call me ‘Sir’.

“Of course, Sir. I’m Peter, but you can call me whatever you want.”

“You got somewhere we can go?” The bass rumble of the man’s, Mr Rogers, voice vibrated through Peter’s body, going straight to his cock, which was very interested in these proceedings.

“I’ve got a room upstairs, all set up.”

“Excellent. Lead the way, pretty thing.”

Peter walked towards the elevator, swaying his hips and looking over his shoulder. He really hoped this guy could deliver on all he was promising, cos fuck, what he wouldn’t give for a really good fucking. God, all his instincts were screaming for him to give it to this man for free.

He caught MJ’s eye, where she was in conversation with a red-headed lady in a full-length, plunge neck, black velvet ball-gown. He smiled at her, and she nodded back, indicating that she thought she’d be up in her room shortly too.

The elevator came and Rogers crowded Peter into the small space, as the young man leant across to press the button for his floor. The man’s eyes roved over him in the harsher lights of the car, before bringing a hand up to brush over Peter’s pink, plush lips. A calloused thumb pulled down at his lower lip, and he snuck his tongue out to brush over the tip, keeping his brown eyes fixed on the blue of his client.

“Are you a brat or a good boy, Peter?”

“Which would you like, Sir?”

“I can work with your natural inclinations.”

The corner of Rogers’ lips twitched up in amusement and Peter took the opportunity to tease a little. He walked his fingers up the button’s of the crisp white shirt, and took hold of the blue tie, pulling on it to make the blond lean his head down.

“Then I leave it a surprise for you to find out then…Sir”

He brushed his lips over Rogers ’in a ghost of a kiss, and then ducked under his arm as the elevator door opened. His client shook his head, with a wide grin on his face, as Peter backed towards his room with an answering smile, unlocking the door with a practised hand and inviting the tall man inside.

“Take a seat, Sir. Would you like a beer?”

“What a wonderful host you are, Peter.”

The young man blushed at the praise and retrieved a bottle of Bud from the mini-bar. Having removed the cap, he passed it over and then grabbed some paperwork from the desk. He perched on the arm of the easy chair that Roger’s had sprawled in and held out the papers.

“This is my ‘menu’ for want of a better phrase. Please mark off what you’re wanting from me, cash up-front and please sign to say you’ve understood what’s off limits. I use the traffic light system and condoms are non-negotiable. If you want to add anything part way through, we’ll pause for a brief discussion and make any payment adjustment at the end.”

The large blond’s eyes roved over the papers, flicking up and down the list and turning over the sheet to see what was off limits.

“You sure you’ve never been a boy scout, pretty boy?”

“No, just sensible with a good mentor. Safety first. I’ll let you read through whilst I just head to the bathroom.”

“Don’t change, please. I want to peel you out of that sinful outfit when I desire.”

Peter pulled his lower lip between his teeth and gazed into Rogers’ eyes.

“Whatever you say, Sir.”

“Good boy.”

Peter sashayed into the bathroom, before shutting and bolting the door behind him. He turned on the faucet and rested his hands on the sink as it began to fill, taking in deep breaths and mentally preparing himself. He quickly stripped and gave himself a wash down. He’d done a thorough job before setting out tonight, but just wanted a quick refresh. He brushed his teeth and checked his hair, before drying himself and popping his pants and t-shirt back on. He left his shoes off, certain that Rogers wasn’t going to be worried about those.

When he returned to the main room, he saw that Rogers’ had removed his suit jacket and tie. Peter’s paperwork and a pile of cash was sitting on the coffee table as the large man finished off his beer. Peter picked up the document and read through what was being asked of him. Steve wanted the works; oral (giving and receiving), penetration (giving) after preparation with fingers and mouth. He wanted the option of marking Peter with his mouth, carrying out cum play, mild restraints and mild impact play. He also wanted Peter to call him Sir, throughout. He’d signed to say that he understood that toilet play, blood play, and heavy degradation were off limits and that he agreed with the traffic light system. Peter added his signature too, then picked up the agreement and the cash, which he quickly looked at, and placed them in the room safe.

He turned back to Rogers’ who was looking at him like a predator eyeing up his next meal.

“Now that the formalities are out of the way, Sir, how would you like to start?”

His client spread his legs wider. “You can start by bringing yourself and that pretty mouth over here, doll.”

Peter kept his eyes on him, nibbling on his lower lip and swinging his hips as he moved the couple of feet back across the room. He dropped to his knees and started to run his hands up and down the thick, clothed thighs either side of him. He nuzzled his cheek against the soft fabric, and moved his hands up towards the tan belt. Roger’s kept his hands on the arms of the chair, but his breathing picked up at the sight of the pretty young man knelt between his legs.

Peter unbuckled the belt with ease, and unzipped the fly of the blue pants. The outline of a heavy cock was obvious through the stretch cotton of black boxer briefs, and he shifted to rub his face over it. There was a small wet patch near the head, and Peter sucked gently on the fabric, a sense of accomplishment running through him at the low growl the blond emanated. Rising up on his knees he took hold of the waistband of the briefs and pulled them down, revealing a cock which filled Peter with want, and tucked them under a pair of equally impressive balls. He could help but let out a curse.

“Fuck… wow.” Steve chuckled before moving one of his hands to tangle in Peter’s hair and draw him down. The young man took his client in hand, fingers barely meeting and started to run his tongue up the fat length in front of him. He placed open mouthed kisses over it, until Rogers tugged on his hair with more urgency. Making sure their eyes were locked, Peter moved his lips to enclose the large tip and started to suckle. The blond’s head tipped back on the chair and his large hand caressed Peter’s neck as he bobbed up and down, his hand jacking the lower half of the spectacular cock.

Peter worked himself lower and lower, until the head pushed past his gag reflex and he began to swallow around Rogers. With his free hand he started to roll the impressive balls, and when he had to come up for air, he took one, then the other, in his mouth. Rogers’ breathing picked up and with a growl he pulled the young man up and onto his lap, slim thighs spread over him. He pulled him into a deep kiss, moaning into Peter’s mouth, licking into it with his own strong tongue. All Peter could think about was how the tongue was going to be lapping over him later, and he whined in response, his hips rolling instinctively, his arms wrapping around the corded shoulders and neck.

In one move Rogers stood, lifting Peter as though he weighed nothing, and took a few large strides towards the large bed, before dropping Peter onto it.

“My turn now, pretty thing.” Peter lay sprawled on the comforter, and watched as his client divested himself of his shirt, toe-ed off his shoes and removed his pants and briefs in almost one move. Peter could feel himself salivating. The man was bronzed all over, covered in firm, cut muscles and a light smattering of chest hair that Peter couldn’t wait to run his hands over. Rogers knelt down at the foot of the bed, took hold of Peter’s ankles and pulled him down in one move until his ass was only just on the mattress. Large fingers then took hold of the top of his pants and peeled them down, leaving him in his cropped t-shirt a little red thong.

“Fuck, baby. You look absolutely delicious.” Rogers pushed Peter’s thighs apart, settling between them and pressed kisses to the soft skin of his inner thighs. His large nose pressed up against Peter’s balls within their fabric covering, nuzzling in and inhaling the young man’s clean scent.

“I’m gonna wreck you so good, sweet thing, and what are you going to say?”

“Th… Thank you, Sir.

“Good, boy.”

Peter’s body shivered at the praise and Rogers chuckled.

“So that’s how it is, huh? Just made my night more interesting.” He took hold of the small scrap of fabric and dragged it from the slim body. “Well, well, what have we here? Just as pretty as the rest of ya’.” He licked up the boy’s cock and then engulfed it in his mouth. Peter’s hands fisted the sheets and his hips bucked up.

“Fuck! Sir, oh god!” Rogers just hummed, the vibrations causing Peter’s eyes to roll back in his head. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been on the receiving end of a blow job, let alone one like this. Large fingers gripped him, holding him still, gently but firmly. Peter could feel Rogers’ tongue pressing up against the underside of his cock, rubbing rhythmically. Whines and moans left his mouth.

���Sir, oh! So good, feels so good!”

Rogers let him go with a lewd pop.

“You like that pretty boy, you’re gonna love this.”

He threw Peter’s legs up over his broad shoulders then pulled him by the hips to press his mouth flush against his furled hole. He growled as he licked over the crinkled flesh, his tongue covering it in plenty of saliva. Peter was finding the sensations almost too much to bear, his grip on the sheets turning his knuckles white, unable to speak any coherent words. When the strong, flexible muscle speared its way inside him, he cried out, which only seemed to make Rogers’ double down.

Peter’s head was fuzzy with desire as pleasure washed over him. Firm fingers held his ass cheeks apart, the tongue was worming it’s way as deep in him as possible and Rogers’ nose was pressed up against his taint. Peter moved one of his hands to tangle in the blond hair that was pressed between his thighs.

“I’m too close, Sir… fuck!” He didn’t want the man to stop, but he was so close to coming. He could almost feel the reluctance with which Rogers pulled away from him, before the large man slid up Peter’s body, his blue eyes gazing into the younger’s brown ones as he pulled the baggy top up and over the mop of brown curls.

“Look at us, sweetheart…” Rogers’ deep voice rumbled and he directed Peter’s gaze down to where their cocks were nestled side by side. Now, Peter had never been insecure about himself, he knew what he had (purely average) but he knew how to use it (above average in his humble opinion) but next to the sheer size of his client, he couldn’t help but feel a little intimidated and a lot excited. A blush rose up his cheeks and he couldn’t tear his eyes away. Fuck, that was going to go in him. His tongue peaked out to lick his lips which had gone suddenly dry. Rogers reached down with one of his large hands and wrapped it around the pair of them, jerking slowly and gently, and Peter bucked his hips and threw back his head.

“You like that baby? You like that I’m so big and you’re so small. You’re like a delicate little angel and I’m gonna ruin you so good…do you want that, pretty boy?”

“Yes, Sir, please. I want it so much.” Peter was so full of need, so full of desire, that he had mostly forgotten this was a job. He was so turned on and desperate. At his whimpered confession Rogers captured his lips again, deep and dominating. Peter was aware of the man leaning across him, having let go of their cocks, to reach the bottle of lube that was sitting, waiting. The snick of the cap was quiet, but the squelching sound as the blond squeezed some out onto his hand was lewdly loud in the relative silence of the room. He continued to kiss Peter as his slick hand slid between the boy’s thighs, massaging against his already slightly relaxed hole.

Peter gasped at the chill, before bringing his knees up and then letting them fall to the side, giving the man more access. He wasn’t surprised to discover that Rogers knew exactly what he was doing; he wasn’t rushing the proceedings, which Peter greatly appreciated. It was several minutes before the large man slid his forefinger inside to the first knuckle, and Peter moaned into his mouth.

“Sir…”

Rogers worked his digit slowly, pulling gently at Peter’s rim and working the rest of it in, thrust by thrust. Peter’s body relaxed around the invasion until the broad finger was gliding in and out of his welcoming body. Rogers moved his mouth to Peter’s neck, kissing and licking at the delicate skin. When his lips reached the boy’s collar bone he sucked hard, raising a bruise, before travelling lower and biting on the small, but firm pectorals.

“Ready for another finger, doll?”

“Yes, Sir,” Peter sighed. “Want all of you.”

“Greedy boy…” A second finger slid in beside the first and the fullness made Peter feel dizzy.

“So full, Sir!”

“Oh, this is nothing, sweet thing…” Rogers’ scissored his fingers, twisting his hand at the wrist and stretching Peter out thoroughly. The young man had both hands fisted in his client’s hair as the blond continued to kiss and suck and bite across his chest, and slid his two large fingers inside him. The pleasure brought by the third being introduced made tears appear in his eyes.

“You’re almost ready for me, my pretty boy. Soon, soon, I promise.”

“I need you, need you so much, Sir. Can’t wait to have you in me. Fuck…”

The wet sounds of the fingering were loud and obscene in the room, mixing with Peter’s moans and sighs. He whined when Rogers fingers slid free of him and the man rolled to the side to take hold of the small foil packet on the side table. He tore it open and rolled the condom onto his thick length. Then he got up, much to Peter’s confusion, until he reached the other side of his room and picked up his tie from where he’d discarded it. Peter’s eyes widened in understanding and he raised himself upon his knees.

“You still green, doll?

“Absolutely, Sir.”

“Turn around then.”

Peter shuffled around and Rogers’ gently bound his wrists together, behind his back. The big man then lay down on the bed and lifted Peter, so he was straddling the broad hips, and had Rogers’ thick cock nestling between his ass cheeks.

“I want you to use these gorgeous thighs of yours and ride me, pretty thing, but I’ll help you, okay?”

“Yes, Sir…”

Rogers slicked more lube over the condom and gave Peter a tap on one cheek to get him to rise up. The young man felt the broad head nudging at his hole and he started to bear down on it, bouncing lightly until it popped past the ring of muscle, punching the air from his throat. An answering groan came from Rogers.

“That’s it baby, ride my cock, work it all in, like the good boy I know you can be…”

Peter whined and writhed as he slowly worked himself up and down, the stretch and the overwhelming ‘full’ feeling taking him over. He breathed out a sigh of relief as he felt the prickle from the thatch of blond pubes against his ass, signalling that he’d managed to take all of the man.

“You okay, Peter?” In an oddly tender moment, Rogers pushed a curl out of Peter’s eyes, searching the young man’s face for any sign of discomfort. Peter just grinned at him though, clenching down.

“So okay, Sir. Fucking love your cock. Fills me so good…” He circled his hips a few times, before lifting himself up and then sliding back down. He set up a steady pace and looked down at Rogers from under his eyelashes, every so often bringing in a circle motion and watching the older man smile and groan in pleasure. The fat cock inside him was sliding over his prostate and he was damned if he wasn’t going to get as much pleasure from this transaction as possible.

He almost breathed a sigh of relief though when he felt those large hands take hold of his hips and start to help him.

“Look so pretty riding me, doll, riding your ‘Sir’. God, wish I could have you like this all the time. Ready and waiting for me. Dress you in the prettiest things, baby, show you off. Let everyone know you’re all mine.”

Peter was used to a level of possessive ‘in the heat of the moment’ talk from his clients, but for some reason Roger’s words hit differently. He could tell this man actually meant it, and god help him if there wasn’t a small part of him that wanted it too; to be kept by this man, be at his beck and call, whenever he wanted Peter to warm his cock, in whichever way he saw fit. His own, smaller cock twitched at the thought, where it stood almost touching his own stomach, tip an angry red and weeping copious pre-cum.

“You want that too, don’t you sweetheart. Can tell. You’re gone for this dick, aintcha? Gone all cockdrunk. Can’t even think now, can ya?”

“Sir…” Peter wasn’t even sure if he was agreeing, or questioning or pleading at this point. However, there was one thing he was sure of. “‘M getting tired, Sir.” His movements faltered as his thigh muscles burned.

“‘S’okay baby, I gotchu, I gotchu.” The large hands lifted him and he moaned at the loss of the cock from inside him. “Shhh, sshhh, you’re gonna get it back, sweetheart. Gonna fill you all up, till you’re cryin’ and beggin’ for me.”

Rogers laid Peter face down on the bed, then pulled his hips up.

“Fuckin’ beautiful.” He slapped both his hands against Peter’s buttocks, not too hard, but hard enough to leave pink marks and elicit a small squeal. “Fuckin’ love that noise too. Can see how that little cock o’ yours is leaking.”

Peter shivered and Rogers curled his large, warm, body over his back and breathed into his ear.

“This is it, pretty thing, this is where I ruin you, and the only thing you will be able to say, the only thing you will be able to think is ‘Sir’. You still good?”

“Still green, Sir. So fucking green. I need it, please!”

Rogers didn’t need any more encouragement, just pushed his way back into Peter’s welcoming body. This position meant he could drive himself deeper and harder, and he slowly upped his pace. One hand gripped Peter’s hips and the other held onto the tie, where it was still wrapped around Peter’s wrists.

“Fuck, taking it so good. So fucking good, baby.” He was like a man possessed, thrusting into Peter’s smaller body with abandon, each movement forcing a small cry or moan out of him, and then each of those cries seeming to turn Rogers on even more. His hands shifted, one sliding on to Peter’s chest, pushing him up against his own, and the other moving to take hold of Peter’s weeping cock. Peter looked down and saw it had almost disappeared in the man’s big hand, just the tip peeking out as he was jacked.

Rogers purred in his ear again. “You gonna come pretty boy? Come on this cock of mine, squeeze it real hard and make a mess of my hand, like the little slut that you are? You’re my slut, aren’t you, baby? Say it. Tell me whose slut you are.”

“Yours, Sir, I’m your slut. Gonna make a mess for you. Fucking love it…”

He came with a cry, clenching and jerking around Rogers cock, that was still spearing him. Shocks of pleasure darted through his slim frame, in one rolling orgasm, and his head fell back against the big man’s shoulder. He floated, only just aware of the final few thrusts into his spent body, as Rogers grunted into his ear.

Rogers gently lowered Peter down, withdrawing from him, discarding the condom into the waste bin and grabbing a bottle of water from the mini bar. Next he released the young man’s wrists and started to rub up and down his arms to ease any cramps as the blood began to flow properly again. He settled behind him pulling Peter against the warmth of his own body, pressing soft kisses to the boy’s spine and shoulders as he came back up. As Peter started to stir, Rogers cracked open the bottle cap, glad it was a sports top and held it up to the brunet’s lips.

“That’s it sweetheart, take a good drink. You must be worn out after being so good for me. Would you like me to run you a bath?”

Peter swallowed down the cool liquid and then blushed. Not all his clients were so good with the aftercare.

“Oh, no, that’s okay, Mr Rogers. You don’t have to do that.”

The blond’s lips turned up in a small smile.

“I was quite getting used to you calling me ‘Sir’. But I understand.” He stood up from the bed and started to retrieve his clothes. “Am I okay to use your shower?”

“Absolutely… Sir.” Peter shot him a smile that made Rogers chuckle.

“So now you brat. I’m learning a lot about you Peter.” He disappeared into the bathroom and turned on the shower, although didn’t shut the door.

Peter got up from the bed on wobbly legs, and grabbed his red satin robe from the wardrobe, belting it around his waist. He found his phone and shot MJ a quick text to tell her he was alright, and that he’d text again when everything was finished. He saw it was delivered but not read, so guessed she had her own client, maybe the red-headed woman she’d been talking to earlier.

“You all checked in then, sweet thing?” Peter spun around, feeling as though he’d been caught doing something wrong, cheeks pinking in embarrassment. Rogers had redressed in his suit pants and dress shirt, tie poking out of his pants pocket and he was rubbing his still damp hair with a small towel.

“Don’t worry, baby. I’m impressed by how sensible you are. It’s good to take safety precautions in this line of work. I hope you never need them.”

He threw the towel back into the bathroom and moved over to where Peter stood, cupping the boy’s pink cheeks in his hands.

“You’re something special, Peter. And I meant what I said. I’d really like to have you be with me. Work for me. On an exclusive basis. I’d treat you right, I hope you know that? Get you a nice place to live, a regular wage with a contract, the whole thing. I’m not sure one taste is going to be enough.”

Peter’s cheeks got even redder, and he eased himself away, moving to put the easy chair between them.

“That’s… um… a really nice offer and all, but I… um… I’m good, thanks. Not really looking for that kind of arrangement.”

Rogers smiled at him, indulgently and moved over to the desk. He pulled a card out of his wallet and wrote something on the back of it, before propping it against the base of the lamp.

“Well, when you change your mind, just give me a call, sweetheart.” He swaggered towards the suite door and pulled it open.

“Don’t you mean ‘if’, Mr Rogers.”

“No, Peter. I mean ‘when’. People don’t often tell me no, and I have a feeling you won’t want to. See you soon, pretty thing.”

The door snicked closed behind him and Peter let out a breath he hadn’t even realised he’d been holding. He wobbled over to the desk and picked up the card. And then almost immediately dropped it when he saw the amount of money Rogers was offering for exclusivity. Maybe he had been right to be certain on the ‘when’.

Peter sat down on the bed to think. This wasn’t a decision he could make lightly. He picked his phone back up and saw his message to MJ had been delivered. He texted out a message to her.

Peter: Can I come to your room, I need to ask your advice on something…

Tag list: @mrs-mischief-209 @marvelstarker-mha98

[therenlover]

Therenlover’s Official Fanfic Glossary!

Hey hey hey! This is the place where you can find all my up-to-date fanfics linked nicely, read about what projects I have upcoming, and learn what requests I’m taking at the moment! Cheers!

This post is massive so, for the sake of your dash, everything is under the cut

A NOTE ABOUT REQUESTS!

I will do my best to fulfill any requests I get while my ask box/requests are open! That being said, I cannot promise every request will get done, and that if they do, they’ll be done in a timely manner. I’m currently working on a long-form project that needs a lot of time and energy to come out consistently, so unless I’m doing a writing event most of my writing juice will be focused on that. That being said, if you want something ask! The worst I can possibly do is direct you towards someone else who might be able to write what you want if I cant.

If I choose not to do your request based on personal preference (it makes me uncomfy/I don’t write for the character at that time/I don’t feel I can write what you want/etc.) I will do my best to contact you and let you know! That being said, if you think your ask got buried/forgotten, feel free to message me again and let me know, but please tell me when you message me if I should be looking for a prior request.

Characters/Fandoms I will write for currently

 💙 = I’m Currently Super Inspired To Write For This Character

Marvel/X-Men

Bucky Barnes

Loki

Peter Maximoff 💙

Pietro Maximoff

Helmut Zemo 💙

Hank McCoy

Ralph Bohner 💙

Vision

American Horror Story

Tate Langdon

Kit Walker 💙

Kyle Spencer (Pre- and Post- Death)

Jimmy Darling 💙

James Patrick March 💙

Kai Anderson

Fallout 4

Nick Valentine

Hancock

Star Wars

Poe Dameron

Armitage Hux 💙

Kylo Ren/Ben Solo

Finn

Han Solo

Assorted/Random

Diarmuid Ua Duibhne - FGO

Cu Chulainn/Cu Alter - FGO

Warren Lipka - American Animals 💙

Enjolras - Les Miserables

Grantaire - Les Miserables

Gabriel - Supernatural

Imagines - REQUESTS CLOSED

Songs From Musicals Y/N Would Sing To The Evans

Characters: Tate Langdon, Kit Walker, Kyle Spencer, Jimmy Darling, James Patrick March, Kai Anderson, Peter Maximoff

Rating: T

How The Evans (+ Quicksilver) Would React To Yoplait’s New Gushers Yogurt

Characters: Tate Langdon, Kit Walker, Kyle Spencer, Jimmy Darling, James Patrick March, Rory Monahan, Kai Anderson, Peter Maximoff

Rating: T

Would The Danny Bunch Survive A Holiday With My Family?

Characters: Laszlo Kreizler, Alex Kerner, Niki Lauda, Andrea Marowski, Ernst Schmidt, Helmut Zemo

Rating: T

Headcanons - REQUESTS CLOSED

Modern! AU Armitage Hux Boyfriend Headcanons

Zemo With A Well Dress S/O Headcanons

Zemo Getting Jealous Headcanons

Oneshots - REQUESTS CLOSED

Marvel/X-Men

Helmut Zemo

One Last Night In Madripoor

Synopsis: Baron Helmut Zemo is a lonely, wanted man looking for some fun, you’re a piss-poor bounty hunter in search of a connection before leaving your life of crime behind, and fate has brought you together at a party the likes of which has never been seen before. You only have one night left in Madripoor, so why not take a chance?

Rating: 18+

Word Count: 4200~

Still Some Catching Up To Do

Synopsis: As a member of the criminal underworld, people walk out of your life all the time. Some are killed, others kill themselves, most get caught and only a couple get out of the life unscathed, disappearing into the world never to be seen again. Very few walk back in. So when your supposedly incarcerated ex-lover, the Winter Soldier, and the Falcon waltzed through your door and made you murder your boss, needless to say, you were surprised and more than a little bit pissed.

Rating: 16+

Word Count: 6800~

Nine Years Starved

Synopsis: It had been a little over nine years since Helmut Zemo lost his family, his country, and his sanity. Nine years since his last kiss. Nine years since he felt like a human man. Finally, he was ready to start over again, but first, he had to pay his penance back where it all began; Novi Grad. That’s when, by the grace of the fates, he met you.

Rating: G

Word Count: 7000~

Daddy Dearest

Synopsis: Not everyone gets lucky enough to go from being a broke college student in New York to being the sugar baby to literal royalty, but not everyone is you. Most people would be worried about messing things up or losing him to someone else, but you knew he would never find another baby just like you. Besides, you knew exactly what to do to keep him wrapped around your little finger. He may have been the daddy, but you pulled the reins.

Rating: 18+

Word Count: 8000~

In Fleeting Touches & Airy Sighs

Part One   Part Two   Part Three   Part Four

Synopsis: As a wanted man, Helmut Zemo spends most of his time jumping from place to place in the hopes of avoiding a trip back to prison. Unfortunately, that means he can’t always be home in your arms. When he is, though, in the rare moments of calm, you’re reminded of just how worth it it’s been to wait, even if that wait was only shortened by the arrival of your enemies.

Rating: 18+

Word Count: 35,700~

Two Bodies In The Rain

Synopsis: It was raining the day you finally had to admit your feelings to Helmut. You hated to tell him the way you did, under the grey skies as your blood pooled below you, but at least you knew, in the end, he had seen the real you, even just once. That was enough.

Rating: T

Word Count: 5600~

Rest

Synopsis: Living life on the lam with your escaped super-villain lover means things rarely slow down enough for a real rest. When the exhaustion starts to take its toll on you, though, he knows exactly what to do to ease the pain. He may not be a good man, but he’s a good husband when it counts.

Rating: T

Word Count: 3200~

American Horror Story

Jimmy Darling

Red Nights In Jupiter

Synopsis: At the end of another long day, you fall into bed with Jimmy Darling. The men you served throughout the day don’t matter then, nor do the coins in the mason jar by the door, or the women scheduled to attend Jimmy’s next Tupperware party. No, in that quiet darkness it’s just you and the man you love, bone-tired and happy to be home. Who could ask for more?

Rating: 16+

Word Count: 3000~

James Patrick March

Heartsick

Synopsis: When you fall ill, James is given a forceful awakening about how he’s been neglecting your needs and what he must do to prevent harm from befalling you again.

Rating: 16+

Word Count: 3700~

In Sickness And In Health

Synopsis: Normally people don’t have their wedding and funeral on the same day, but you and James don’t quite have a normal relationship, do you? Besides, you wouldn’t wanna go any other way.

Rating: 18+

Word Count: 5500~

Fallout 4

Currently Empty

Star Wars

Currently Empty

Assorted/Random

Currently Empty

Long Form Works/Series

Young Artist!Zemo AU

Chapter One: The Boy With The Easel

Synopsis: About a month into your first semester at Novi Grad’s top university, you finally meet the strange young man that you’ve taken to calling “easel boy” in the back of a bookshop. From a distance, he always seemed cold and aloof. As you get to know him, though, you realize things aren’t always what they seem.

Rating: T

Word Count: 7000~

Till Forever Falls Apart (A Peter Maximoff/Reader Series)

Chapter One: Welcome Home

Synopsis: As if getting thrown through the multiverse, trapped in an attic (albeit a cool one), mind-controlled to manipulate his grieving sister, and subsequently dragged out of Westview “for his own safety” by the FBI wasn’t enough, Peter Maximoff has now been shipped off to New York to live with a glorified baby sitter like some tragic orphan in a comic book until they find a way to get him back home. Things are not always as they seem, though, and this change might just be for the better.

Rating: T

Word Count: 2400~

Chapter Two: The Doctor Is In

Synopsis: Peter’s first few days in his new home are mostly uneventful, so he decides it’s the perfect time to dust off his running goggles and steal some shit. The building with the massive circular stained glass window seems like a great place to start! People with buildings that lavish are usually rich and weak, so what could possibly go wrong?

Rating: T

Word Count: 2800~

Chapter Three: It’s Always Been You

Synopsis: After a month of adapting to his new universe, Peter Maximoff can confidently say that he likes his new life more than his old one. Sure, he misses home sometimes, but he’s been far too busy flirting with his new roommate to spend time crying over the things he’s lost. Everything is smooth sailing until a strange journal in his roommate’s study leaves him with more questions than he knows what to do with. Now he’s on a mission to discover who he’s really living with before she has the chance to turn against him.

Rating: T

Word Count: 8600~

Chapter Four: Before You Go

Synopsis: Peter, after days of contemplation, has realized that part of him loves Y/N no matter what she is or what she’s been through. Unfortunately, he can’t find her anywhere. When she finally returns home with the intention of leaving again, Peter realizes it’s his last chance to tell her how he really feels. Will he succeed, or will he fail to be fast enough once again?

Rating: T

Word Count: 4000~

Chapter Four And A Half: Gimme Swayze

Synopsis: Now that the issue of Y/N leaving is out of the way, and Peter has finally kissed her, he falls into the motions of learning how to love someone for the first time. It’s easier than he thought it would be.

Rating: T

Word Count; 2600~

Cakes For The Evans: A Blogging And Baking Adventure!

Kai Anderson’s Disaster Cake

Hey you! If you’ve made it this far down the list, thanks for supporting me as an author! I’ll be linking my AO3 here. I post everything there shortly before I post it here, and there are some older fics there you might enjoy along the way! It’s also easier to drop comments over there and I keep them open for non-members, so give me a shout if you liked what I wrote!

I love you all, you make me so happy, and without you support I would never be motivated to write! Cheers!

[strangebiology]

How DID you get into the BU program?

Two weird things I’ve learned in journalism and in life are:

If you want to see more, you have to open your eyes wider.

If you want to learn more, you have to ask the same question several times.

Well, this question has been asked several times now, so I guess you deserve an answer.

The story starts during the Persied meteor shower of 2015.

Our pupils were dilated like a camera on a wide aperture setting, the soft depths of the Milky Way so clear and shimmering it looked as though the sky was one giant long-exposure photo. Even through the light pollution of San Francisco, we could see the stars while standing on the beach during my going-away party. A few weeks after that night, I left for the East Coast. I would be gone for 5 years.

I had been accepted to a science writing grad program on the other side of the country, and was planning to ship out at the end of the month, so I invited some friends to say goodbye. Ideally, the grad program would kick-start my writing career and launch me into a financially and spiritually fulfilling employment.

While I received many congratulations under the clear night sky, I wasn’t sure if getting into grad school was something worth congratulating. I mean, higher education is an experience and it can launch you into wonderful opportunities. But it’s also ruining some people’s entire financial lives. Haven’t you read the news?

The question wasn’t whether I could go through the program; that much I was sure of. The question was, would I be a good, gainfully employed science writer at the end of it? I only knew that I had been accepted for some reason and that, and of course I could pay for it: literally anyone with a social security number has the choice to take out loans for tuition and living expenses. My family insisted BU only saw me as a cash cow; why else would this sort of higher-end school accept someone from such a low-prestige undergrad as mine, with no formal training or work in science at all? And not much special about me except an obsession with animals and the fact that I have a science Tumblr?

I wondered this until I was wondered-out. On the beach, my friend “Buck” and I ran into the ocean and held hands. We couldn’t even feel whether the water was cold. “I know you’re worried about the finances,” he told me. “But you’re really gonna do great at this program.”

“I appreciate your optimism,” I replied as stars shot overhead. “But I wonder if that’s the [joy and friendship] talking.”

“No no no,” he insisted. “Look, you do this blog, you’ve done this book, this program is at a prestigious university, and they picked you to be in it. You will definitely kill it and you’re gonna be a science journalist afterwards.”

“Yeah,” I conceded. “I guess my acceptance into the program proves that I can do well afterwards. It’s a small program. They wouldn’t accept just anyone.”

____________________________________________________

The program turns out surprisingly easy for me to hack. My lack of formal science experience puts me at no disadvantage, and I’m getting straight A’s.

For various reasons, I was increasingly curious as to how I had been accepted. Someone had asked me on my blog how they could get accepted too, and of course I had no idea. I had written that blogs are great because I thought that mine helped me get into the program, but again, that was just a guess.

But why guess when you can ask?

I had found that the program directors were somewhat wary of answering questions about the program, but I’m sort of an addict for information, so I’d rather annoy them than be curious for the rest of my life.

So I asked one director. He described me as “nosy” for wanting to know about the program that I had paid fifty thousand dollars to attend.

So I asked another. Because if you want to know something, you have to ask the same question several times.

“How do you pick who gets into the program?” I asked one day before class. I had hardly used any segue. “How does anyone get in? How did I get in?”

The director looked at me with wide eyes, and was speechless for a moment. “You want me to answer that here, in front of everyone?”

I looked around. The only other people in the room were other people in the program. We were at the far end of the table, and no one else was listening. But I was willing to go about this however she wanted, and if she wanted to answer the question privately, we would do so at her office hours. So we scheduled to meet in her office at 2 P.M. Besides, by setting up a time specifically for this discussion, I figured she’d have to give me a solid answer.

When I got to her office I sat on the couch and made a bit of small talk.

And then I asked again: How did I get into this program?

“You’re obviously feeling a bit insecure,” she said. That was incorrect. I was just curious. (Fast forward 5 years, and I’m not as successful as I had hoped, but I am in fact an employed science journalist.) Plus, I assume she’s just gonna give me compliments, and I love compliments! And I don’t want to speculate on these things, I want to know.

She knew.

“Are you sure you want to know?” She asked.

I didn’t walk up two flights of stairs just to decide I wasn’t curious anymore. I put my chin on my palms, and my elbows on the table and stared at her intensely.

Wide-eyed.

 “YES.”

She stood up and slowly closed the office door. “You can never tell anyone.”

“Okay.” (Sorry Prof!)

She talked around the subject for a bit. Said that it was very rare for this to happen.

But you see, once it did happen, it’s rude to take it back.

What was on my application that they liked so much, then? The application that I spent so much time on and was meant to bear my soul, to set me on a lifelong path of science journalism? What’s the secret of the oh-so-mysterious admissions office?

Nothing.

They hadn’t even seen my application.

I might as well have sent a box of worms.

But, fatefully, someone down in some other department, the advisor explained, pressed some wrong button…

…and sent me my acceptance letter by accident.

I decided never to tell anyone.

[atlafan]

a/n: okay, here it is! a lot of you really wanted me to post this on here, SO THAT MEANS I’M GONNA SEE LOTS OF FEEDBACK AND REBLOGS, RIGHT?! Can’t wait to know what you think of this one! [Patreon] [Buy Me A Coffee] (not proofread) I was inspired by a lot of different things with this, it’s sort of like Scarlet Witch meets The Dragon Prince meets ATLA??? Also, Harry is a major himbo in this, and we love that for him.

Warnings: angst, fluff, flirting, magical fighting, smut (rim job)

Words: 22K

Pairing: Harry x OC (Amber Hale)

Song Inspo: High For This - The Weeknd

“What do you do with a BA in English?” The age-old question that was coined from the hit musical, Avenue Q. Harry thought he had the answer to that question, and it was go to graduate school to get his MEd in English. He’d get his K-12 certification, not that he wanted to work in a K-12 school system. No, he wanted to be a literary professor. He wanted to be able to have high level discussions about the classics, post-modernism, film adaptations, and more. He loved reading, ever since he was a little kid there was a book in his hands. There was just something about getting lost in a world that someone else created for a bit, and then analyzing the shit out of it.

He had already done a semester of student-teaching as a senior, he didn’t love it. He took a gap year trying to find a publishing company to work at. He thought he could maybe be an editor. Harry soon realized he didn’t like being told what to read, and the pay was pretty low. He even tried working at a bookstore for a bit. It wasn’t as much fun as he thought. So, at the age of twenty-four, he enrolled in a master’s program to get his Med in English. At least this time when he’d have to student-teach, he’d be doing it at a collegiate level. He knew he’d get stuck teaching a couple of sections of first-year composition, but he had no problem teaching students how to properly construct a paper. There were three classes he needed to take in the fall, all of them being online-asynchronous: Social Behavior in a Diverse Society, Philosophy, Ethics, & Education, and Teacher Action Research.  

Since Harry had a semester of teaching under his belt, he was able to get a better paying grant, and wouldn’t have to just TA, he could actually teach. He’d still be subject to observation, but at least he could be trusted. So, he’d be teaching two sections of Composition, and one section of Fiction Workshop, where students would read texts Harry picks out, and discuss them. Fiction was his favorite, so he was really excited to be teaching this particular course.

The university he was attending was on the east coast in the states, a very picturesque college town by the seacoast. Harry loved fall, so he was happy about getting to be immersed in the season. So, he had his courses settled that he had to take, he knew what he was teaching and set up his Canvas pages, the last thing he needed to figure out was a place to live. He had been staying at a motel in the area, but that was starting to get pricey. He looked around online, but there wasn’t much out there. He also didn’t want to get stuck living with a bunch of undergrads that were loud and partied. He asked the other faculty in the English department if they knew of anything, but they didn’t.

Harry decided to go for a walk in the downtown area, and see if there were any ads in some of the shop windows. A lot of the buildings looked to be apartments up top. On his walk, he noticed an interesting looking café. There were other coffee shops in town, and this one looked to be almost deserted. Harry shrugs his shoulders and heads inside. A chime sounds as he walks in, and he sees that it’s almost like a country store. There’re tee shirts, sweatshirts, scarves, gloves, books, knick-knacks, and treats. This seemed like a neat little place, why wouldn’t there be a lot of people here? It was still summer, maybe it was more of a college student hangout?

Even though it was still summer, the place smelled like cinnamon and apples. The fresh smell of coffee wafted through the air as well. From the back comes a woman wearing a green apron over her clothes, dusting her hands off. Harry stops in his tracks as he looks at her. She had these piercing blue eyes that resembled sapphires. Her hair was up in a loose, wavy ponytail, the color being one of those silver/lavender mixes, a contrast to her dark eyebrows. She was a short thing, couldn’t have been a little more than five feet tall. Her nails were painted black, and she had this gorgeous necklace hanging around her neck. She also had various piercings in her ears, and a silver hoop in her left nostril.

“May I help you?” She asks Harry just as a Siberian husky comes trotting out by her side.

“Hi! I’m new to the area, and I was just strolling by and saw your shop…um, do you have iced tea?”

“Yeah.” She nods slowly. “Come over to the counter.” The dog circles around Harry, sniffing at his legs. “Are you okay with dogs?”

“Love ‘em! Boy, girl?”

“She’s a girl, her name is Opal.”

“That’s a lovely name.” Harry smiles, and leans down a bit to let Opal sniff his hand. “She’s a beautiful dog.”

“Thank you. So…you said you wanted an iced tea? Here’s the list of flavors.” She taps a laminated paper that’s taped to the counter.

“Right, yeah, um…what do you recommend?”

She furrows her brows at him for a moment, studying his face.

“I just drink the plain, black tea with a dash of sugar syrup.”

“Then I’ll have that.” He smiles.

She nods, gets a cup to fill with ice, and goes into one of the small fridges where the tea was chilling. She adds the syrup and then the tea, then snaps a sippy-cup style lid on top.

“Here you go. That’ll be $3.99.”

Harry sets a five-dollar-bill on the counter.

“Keep the change.”

“Thanks.” She puts the rest in the tip jar.

“What’s your name? You’re not wearing a tag or anything.” He says before taking a sip of the tea.

“It’s Amber.”

“Amber! Oh, is that why you’re wearing one?” He points to her necklace.

“Well, I was given this when I was a little girl.” She says as she looks down at it, then back up to him.

“Do you mind if I peruse around the store a bit? Although, I shouldn’t be buying any trinkets until I actually find a place to put them.”

“What do you mean?” She blinks at him. Who was this man and why was he being so friendly with her?

“I’m new to the area, and I’ve been having a tough time finding a place to live. I’m at one of the nearby hotels, but I can’t stay there much longer. You wouldn’t happen to know of any vacant apartments, would you?”

“Sure she does!” Another woman comes out from the back. “Amber owns the whole building, which means she owns the apartments upstairs.”

“Penny.” Amber seethes, and then looks at Harry. “I’m sorry, I don’t rent to college students.”

“I’m a graduate student, and I’m also going to be teaching. M’not loud, and I keep things tidy. I’d be happy to fill out an application if you like.” He smiles. “Plus, I could be a walking advertisement for the place because this tea is incredible.”

“The shop does well for itself.” Amber mutters.

“Oh, just give the boy an application.” Penny says.

“Fine.” Amber sighs, and ducks down to grab an application. She hands it to Harry reluctantly. “My email is on the bottom. Just scan it and send it to me that way, and I’ll get back to you.”

“I’ll make sure of it.” Penny smiles. “Parking’s included.” Amber glares at her. “Well, I’m just going to head back to the back, take stock of things.”

“You do that.” Amber says, shaking her head, and then looking at Harry. “She’s a good worker, but she’s nosey as shit. So, you’re a grad student?”

“Mhm, and I’m twenty-four, so I’m not fresh out of undergrad either. I’m going for my MEd in English, and I’ll be teaching a few classes as well. I’m excited to get started.”

“English, huh?”

“Mhm.” Harry smiles.

“You must really like to read.”

“I do.” He nods. “Do you?”

“No, I hate it actually.”

“But…there are so many books here.”

“Yeah, the majority of them are cook books, or informational books about the area. I’ve never really cared for reading. It’s a waste of time, if I’m being honest.”

“A…a waste of time?” He blinks at her.

“If I’m reading, it’s so I can learn something.”

“But even if it’s fiction, you can still learn so many life lessons.”

“Maybe worry about teaching that to your students instead of me. I’m a lost cause.” She smirks. “I need to finish up what I was doing in the back, so if you still want to peruse…”

“No, uh, I’ll get out of hair. I’ll email this over to you later tonight. It was nice meeting you.” He looks down at Opal who was eyeing him carefully. “And it was nice meeting you too, gorgeous girl.” He smiles, and leaves the shop.

Amber takes a deep breath and heads into the back where Penny is. She glares at her, and it makes Penny laugh.

“You could use a new tenant.” Penny says to her.

“I don’t need you finding one for me.”

“He’s cute.”

“He’s annoying.” Amber deadpans. “Practically told me his whole life story!”

“He clearly felt comfortable around you.”

“So? He’s an English professor or something, how pretentious.” She makes a disgusted noise.

“Just give his application a fair shot, would you?”

“I will, but only because if I don’t I know you’ll keep bugging me about it.”

//

Harry couldn’t believe that he just heard with his own two ears that reading was a waste of time. He knew there were people that didn’t care for it in the way that he did, but Amber said she hated it. He couldn’t fret over it too much, though, because either way he still needed an apartment, and she had a vacancy open. So, when he got back to the hotel later that day, he worked on his application, and emailed it over to Amber. The name of shop was cute: Opal’s Café & Convenience. He found it endearing that she named it after her dog. Amber seemed rough around the edges, but maybe Harry could be the one to smooth her out a bit.

//

Much to Amber’s dismay, Harry was the perfect applicant. He didn’t have any pets, he wouldn’t be throwing wild parties, his credit checked out, and his references were solid. Amber would be stupid not to let him take one of her apartments. She emailed him back and let him know it was his if he wanted it, and when he could move in. In the email, she attached a list of rules he’d need to follow when being one of her tenants. She lived in the building as well, and she valued her privacy. She explained that she would often make a lot of tea in her own apartment, so Harry might catch a whiff once in a while.

Harry was so thrilled he’d have an actual place to live just in time for school starting that he agreed to all of her conditions. So what if he’d smell tea once in a while? There were far worse smells out there. Harry packed everything into his car, and headed over to the building as soon as he could. He found his parking spot, and started moving things up. His apartment was on the floor beneath Amber’s. She had the entire top floor to herself. Harry was surprised that he’d have the whole second floor to himself. It was a spacious one bedroom that he was grateful for. He was drenched with sweat by the time he got the last of things upstairs. The first thing on his list was to install his air conditioner. He tore his shirt off, kept the front door open for some airflow, and got to work putting the air conditioner in the main window of the living room. It was the space he’d be in most, so he wanted it cooler in there. He could always leave his bedroom door open or just use a fan at night.

Amber was heading down the stairs with Opal, and noticed Harry’s door was open. She was about to get to work opening the shop. Her eyes widen when she sees that he’s shirtless, littered with tattoos. He just happens to turn and see her standing in the doorway.

“Oh, hi!” He smiles, and walks over to the door, bending a bit to pet Opal.

“Everything going okay so far?” Amber asks.

“Mhm.” Harry nods, crossing his arms. “Just got the A/C installed, so it’ll be nice and cool soon. Thanks again for letting me rent from you.”

“Yeah, well…it’s money.” She shrugs. “Look, uh, there’s a basement here too, don’t go down there. It’s locked anyways, but I keep all of the supplies for the shop in the basement, so…it’s off limits.”

“Oh, no worries. I’ve got plenty of space up here. I don’t have a bike or anything, so I don’t think I’d even need the extra storage.”

“Good.” She nods. “Well, I’m headed down to open up. See you around.” She snaps her fingers to get Opal’s attention, and they go downstairs. Once they’re down in the shop, Amber notices Opal looking at her. “Don’t even start, I already know you’re on Penny’s side.” She sighs.

“He is awful cute.” Opal says. She and Amber could communicate telepathically.

“I have more important things to focus on, we have more important things to focus on.” Amber crouches down to her dog. “You realize we can’t just chat freely with him around.”

“It’s the same with the college kids. He might think it’s cute that you talk to your dog.”

“I don’t really care what he thinks.” Amber rolls her eyes and stands up. “I have to get the coffee and tea going. Could you check the shelves and see what herbal teas we’re low on?”

Opal nods, and heads over to the aisles to take stock of everything. Amber gets the coffee and tea brewing so it’s fresh for the customers. Penny comes in an hour or so later to make some fresh biscotti while Amber was working on making more herbal tea. Amber’s herbal teas were quite popular with the college students. Were they laced with a little magic? Maybe, but it was all for a good cause. She had special anti-stress and anxiety teas, sleepy time teas, wake-up teas, and some teas that could put someone in the mood, but she didn’t advertise those often.  She didn’t want anyone taking advantage of anyone else, she only sold it to people who knew to ask for it, and they had to sign a waiver.

Certain coffees had some magic involved too. There were coffees that were ground with something to help people focus for long period of time, coffees for all-nighters, and more. She lived in a pretty liberal area where people were super into different types of “wellness”. There were so many people that would rather try drinking an herbal tea, than take a pill, so she used that to her advantage. No one ever really questioned why her products worked so well.

Amber had been living pretty peacefully the last few years, but as of late she felt this odd disturbance. Something bad happened in the spring. Something came after Opal. Amber almost lost her best friend in the world. She had been trying to track down whatever the fuck it was, but the trail had run cold. She took the time to train and work on some of her spells. Opal explained that Amber should be able to just think and cast instead of having to say the spell out loud. She had gotten a lot better at it, and she had gotten a lot better at throwing a punch. Whatever the fuck that thing was, she’d be ready for it. Amber also didn’t want anything bad happening to the college students. They were so vulnerable as it was, but a lot of them would walk around intoxicated at night, making them the perfect target. She felt protective over her college town, she wasn’t going to let anything happen to anyone.

That’s why she had a chip on her shoulder when it came to Harry. She didn’t exactly trust the new guy, especially since he came right to her shop, and asked about a place to live. It was rather peculiar, but she thought it would be better to keep a close eye on him, so she accepted his application. No one else seemed too bothered by him, and she didn’t exactly appreciate the glances Penny and Opal gave her when it came to him. Yes, he was cute, but Amber had a hardened heart that couldn’t be so easily sueded by a handsome man with a kind a smile.

//

Harry couldn’t believe how packed the shop was once the college kids were back in town. Amber did really well for herself. He liked living above the shop a lot. Sometimes he’d buy a coffee, find a place to sit, and get some grading done, or do some homework of his own. Sometimes he’d catch Amber looking at him, a deep furrow in her dark brows. He’d give her a soft smile, and she’d just look away. Opal liked sitting by his feet. Any time he’d sit down for a bit to get some work done, there she was. He loved dogs, so he was happy she seemed to take a liking to him.

“Hey, Professor Styles!” A girl in one of his composition classes, Zoey, says to him.

“Oh, uh…it’s Zoey, right?” He looks up from his laptop.

“Mhm.” She nods. “You like to hang out here?”

“I live upstairs, actually. I like to come down here for a change of scenery. Do you come here a lot?”

“Oh, definitely. My friends and I come here almost every day. Amber has some of the best tea and coffee I’ve ever had. I was just stopping in to stock up on her sleepy time tea.”

“Sleepy time tea?”

“Yeah! Puts me right to sleep after having a small cup. You should try it.”

“Zoey, come on!” One of her friends says.

“I better go, it was nice seeing you!”

Harry waves to Zoey as she leaves to go down one of the aisles. He gets back to his work. He was doing some research for his philosophy class. He had to look into the different philosophies of various educators from a list his professor gave him. Without even realizing it, he skipped dinner, and ended up being the last person in the shop.

“Glad to see you’re making the most out of having free Wi-Fi.” Amber scoffs as she crosses her arms. “We’re closed.”

“Shit, I’m so sorry.” Harry scrambles to pack up his things. “Time must have gotten away from me.” He looks down at his watch and sees that it’s nearly 9PM. “Fuck, I need to get to sleep. Hey, could I buy some of that sleepy time tea you sell? One of my students was telling me about it earlier.”

“Sure, you can buy a pound for fifteen dollars.” She grabs a bag of it and they both go up to the counter so she can ring him up.

“Must be good stuff if college kids can afford that.” He hands her exact change.

“It lasts a while.”  She purses her lips briefly. “You may have some…vivid dreams. It’s really, um, potent, especially if it’s your first time drinking it.”

“Do you make it yourself?”

“I do.” She nods. “I promise it’s all FDA approved.” She smirks.

“I trust you, no worries.” He chuckles. “Do you need any help cleaning up?”

“No, I’m all set. Penny’s in the back still, I’ve got all the help I need.”

“Alright, well, have a good night.” He smiles.

“You too.” She watches as he heads out the door in the back to go upstairs. Amber looks down at Opal. “You need to stop sitting by him so much. He’s going to think I’m staring at him every time I look over at you.”

“I can’t help it! He smells nice.” Opal says.

“I don’t care what he smells like. We need to be cautious.”

“You worry too much. Whatever that thing was caught me on a lunar eclipse, so I couldn’t transform fully. Had I been able to, I never would have gotten hurt.”

“Yeah, and it probably knew that. Probably want to make you transform into a wolf full time. You’d become rabid.”

“I’m well aware of that. I’d be able to sniff out anything demonic about him, especially by now. He seems genuine.”

“Good for him.”

“Amber.”

“Opal.”

“Would you two give it a rest?! You’re giving me a headache.” Penny says as she comes out from the back. “We have receipts to go over.”

//

Harry took a quick shower when he got up to his apartment, and then made his tea. It tasted really good, like, the best chamomile he ever had. He only drank about half of it when his eyes started to droop while watching to TV on the sofa. So, he got his butt into bed, and fell asleep almost immediately. Amber was right about him having vivid dreams.

There he was, walking through a forest at night. He had no idea where he was going, but let his legs take him there regardless. There was a glowing light that intrigued him, so he made his way over to it. As he approached, he saw a woman from behind, her hair flowing in the breeze and her hands glowing with what looked like electrical currents. He steps on a twig by accident, catching her attention. She looks over her shoulder at him, her eyes glowing a white-hot blue.

“What are you doing here?” She says, floating in the air above him. He falls to bum and looks up at her.

“I…I don’t know.” He swallows. “What are you doing here?”

“You need to get out of here it isn’t safe!” She scolds him.

“M’sorry, I don’t even know how I ended up here.” He scrambles to his feet, and she lowers herself to the ground. Her hair was still flowing, her eyes and hands still glowing. “I saw the light and just followed it I guess. Is there a way for you to turn that off? It’s pretty bright.”

The woman takes a deep breath, and closes her eyes. Her hands stop glowing, and when she opens her eyes, all Harry sees is a familiar sapphire color. He realizes who it is once her hair settles. It was that same silver/lavender color that Amber had.

“Amber?” His eyebrows shoot up as he looks at her. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing that you need to concern yourself with. Get out of here, now.” Her eyes glow again, as well as her hands, and she shoots up into the night sky without another word.

“What in the actual fuck?” Harry says to himself.

Harry woke up to his alarm the next morning not feeling groggy at all. In fact, he had never felt so refreshed after a night’s sleep! He quickly grabs his phone and opens the notes app before forgetting his dream. It was so bizarre and weird, he wasn’t quite sure what it meant, if anything at all. Why would he have a dream about Amber? And why would he dream about her glowing the way she did? He hadn’t watched Harry Potter recently, or anything of the like.

He gets dressed for the day, and decides to go into the shop for his morning coffee. The place was already bustling with early birds. Amber was behind the counter getting coffee and tea orders out. It astounded Harry that she was able to do so much by herself. He waits in line, saying hello to some of his students in the process.

“Good morning, what can I…oh, hi, Harry.” Amber sighs. “What would you like?”

“I’ll take an iced coffee, please, black.” He smiles as she nods. “That tea really put me to sleep last night. You were right, I had an odd dream.” She freezes for a moment as she scoops the ice cubes into the cup. “You were in it, actually.”

“That’ll be $3.50.” She says flatly as she sets the cup of coffee down on the counter. He hands her his card, and she runs it through the machine.

“You’re not even the least bit curious as to what I dreamed about?”

“Nope.” She smirks. “I don’t need to hear about your wet dreams.”

“It wasn’t a…I didn’t…” He shakes his head as his face flushes. “It wasn’t like that.”

“I’ve got a line of customers waiting.” She slides his card back to him.

“Can we talk later?”

“Harry, whatever it was, it was just a dream. So I was in it, so what? I’m flattered you were thinking of me, but don’t worry about it.”

“It’s just that…the strangest thing happened. Your eyes were glowing, and your hands were too, but, like, a different type of glowing, and we were in this forest. Oh! And you were, like, flying or floating, or something like that. Your hair was kind of glowing too.”

“You read too much fiction.” She rolls her eyes. “Buh-bye.”

“But-“

“Next!” She shouts, and it makes him flinch. He grabs his drink and leaves. Amber looks down at Opal, who was about to say something, but Amber shakes her head as to warn her.

“Amber, we need to talk about this.”

“Later, I have customers.” She whispers down at Opal, and looks at the next person in line. “Good morning.” She smiles.

Harry was so distracted during his classes, he ended up showing the movie version of The Grapes of Wrath to his fiction workshop class. It worked with the unit they were since they were discussing historical fiction. He wanted to know why Amber was so cold to him even though she was plenty kind to just about everyone else that stepped through her shop. He also wanted to discuss his dream with her. It felt so real, and he wanted to know why. He had a few students come see him during his office hours, and he tried to be as present as possible for those. There was one girl in his fiction class that came to just about all of his office hours, and normally he didn’t mind, but he had a lot of course work to do, and some grading to get done. He was also in a rush to get back to the shop.

“Hi, Professor Styles.” Whitney smiles.

“Hi, Whitney.” Harry sighs as she sits down.

“Are you feeling alright today?”

“Just a little stressed. I’ve got some work for the classes I’m taking to get done.”

“It’s so cool that you’re a grad student. You’re so good at teaching, I never would have guessed you weren’t a full professor.” She had a tendency to flirt with him. She was a senior, and twenty-one. In any other scenario, Harry probably would have gone for it since he was only a few years older, but he wasn’t about to start dating a student.

“Thanks, that means a lot. Listen, uh, I know we usually chat for a bit, but I really need to get some work done, so unless this is class related…”

“Oh.” She sits up a little straighter. “Um, I guess I don’t really have any questions…I will say, watching the movie helped me understand the book a little better. I was supposed to read it in high school, but I just used spark notes back in the day.”

“Good! I’m glad you have a better understanding of the themes.”

“Well, I guess I’ll see you later. Have a good weekend!”

“Thanks, Whitney, you too.”

They smile at each other before she leaves. He runs a hand through his hair, and attempts to get some of his grading done. Once he makes a decent enough dent, he packs his things and heads to the shop. He finds an open table to sit at, and gets to work on his courses. He was sitting near one of the aisles with the mood enhancing tea.

“I’m telling you, I’ve never been so wet in my life.” Normally, Harry wouldn’t eavesdrop, but a sentence like that was something he couldn’t just ignore. “This stuff really works.”

“Okay, but how was Robbie?”

“Hard as a rock, and desperate to please. He went down on me for, like, twenty minutes! He said I never tasted so good. We fucked for, like, an hour total. It was incredible. I’m definitely buying this stuff again. I couldn’t recommend it enough.”

“Does it taste good?”

“Mhm, like strawberries. I think that’s why it makes for such a good aphrodisiac. There’s a chocolate flavor too, but Amber said that one’s really strong, and it’s better to start out with the strawberry flavor.”

“Oh, damn, I’ll have to ask her about it then. Look, she restocked the anti-anxiety tea! The blueberry flavor is my absolute favorite.”

“I like the lemon, personally, but to each their own.”

Harry couldn’t believe what he heard, more so at the beginning of the girls’ conversation. How the fuck was he supposed to concentrate on his work now? He needed to wait out the customers like he did the night before. Opal comes trotting over to him like usual.

“Hey, there, pretty girl.” He pats the top of her head. “Thought about you today. You gonna curl up around my feet again?” Opal does just that and lets out a such that makes Harry chuckle. As the sun sets, and less people are in the shop, Harry finishes up his work. He notices Amber wiping down the tables. “Hey.” He says to her, standing up and walking over to her. “Could we talk?”

“Is this still about your dream? I told you might have some weird, vivid ones with it being your first time drinking the tea.”

“It’s just…I don’t know why I would have dreamt something like that. I asked you what was wrong, and you told me it was nothing I needed to worry about.”

“Hm, sounds like dream me is a lot like the actual me.” She smirks. Harry frowns slight, and she sighs. “You’re really worked up about this, huh?”

“A little, yeah.”

Amber looks down at Opal, and then back to Harry.

“I wish I could be more help, but it was just a dream, Harry. Try having some more tea tonight and see what you dream about.” She looks down at her watch. “I need to close up early, I have somewhere to be in a bit.”

“Oh, uh, do you have a date, or something?”

“What? No.” She scoffs. “I take Opal for a long walk on Friday nights. She gets antsy if we don’t leave on time.”

“Is that safe?”

“Of course it is.” She blinks at Harry. “We just go walking through some of the neighborhoods with the students live off campus.”

“Could I join you? Haven’t explored the area all that much.”

“Wouldn’t it be weird for you? In case you run into your students?”

“Nah.” He shrugs. “Doubt they’ll recognize me in the dark.”

“Let him come with us.” Opal says, and Amber glares down at her. “I know we were going for a hunt, but it might be good to get to know him better. His dream could mean something.”

“Ugh, fine!” Her voice startles Harry a bit. “Be at your door in ten minutes with some sensible shoes on.” She looks down at the loafers he’s wearing. “You’ll wanna wear sneakers, Grandpa.”

//

Ten minutes later, Harry was waiting outside his door for Amber. He decided to wear his light-wash jeans and a windbreaker, along with his glasses. Amber came down the stairs with Opal wearing a long black jacket, and black jeans tucked into a pair of combat boots. Her hair was down for a change, Harry thought it looked beautiful.

“Ready?” She asks him.

“Mhm, you’re not going to put a leash on Opal?”

“Nah, she’s not the type to run away.” They both head down the stairs and out the back door to the street. They make their way to the off-campus neighborhood.

“I’ve been meaning to ask, how long have you been dying your hair that color? It’s really pretty.”

“Huh?”

“Your roots never show either, do you touch it up at home?”

“I don’t dye my hair.”

“Amber, remember who you’re talking to.” Opal says.

“I mean, uh, I have a hairdresser do it.” She smiles weakly at Harry. “I go every six weeks like clockwork. My hair’s, uh, naturally blonde, so my roots don’t show.”

“Really? But your eyebrows are so dark?”

“Dye those too.” Amber hated lying about herself, but there was nothing she could really do about it. “I don’t really like talking about myself, um, let’s talk about you. How come you’re going to grad school here and teaching?”

“Well, I love literature, reading and whatnot. I have a degree in English Education, but I wanna teach at a collegiate level, so I got into the master’s program here, and they’re letting me teaching. I’m technically a grad assistant, but I have my own classes.” They cross the street, and head up a slight hill. “Sort of hurt a bit when you said you hated reading.” He chuckles.

“I’m not going to apologize for that. I genuinely hate it if it’s not for research.”

“Did something make you not like reading as a kid?”

“I didn’t have much of a chance to read as a kid.” She mutters. “I went to an agricultural boarding school growing up, not much time for reading fantasy books when you’re working the land.”

“Wow! Why’d you do that?”

“I didn’t really have of a choice.”

“How come?”

“I just didn’t. I don’t really want to talk about it.”

“Well, is that how you got so good at making tea and coffee? I overheard some girls talking earlier, uh, you make an aphrodisiac?”

“I make a few, yeah. What did you hear?”

“That they work really well.” He smirks.

“They do. I only put out the best.”

“What would make you put out a product like that?”

“Sex sells.” She grins at him.

“Have you ever tested your product?”

“Sure, I test all of them to make sure they work properly.”

“And you found that it worked properly?” He smirks.

Amber is about to make a smart remark when she hears a blood curdling scream. She and Opal look at each other before sprinting off in the direction of the scream. Harry’s puzzled, and concerned, so he runs after them. He couldn’t believe how fast Amber could run. They all hear the scream again, and run towards the beginning of one of the walking trails. Harry loses sight of Amber and Opal as they run deeper into the woods. Harry’s stumped on where they could have gone. He uses the flashlight on his phone to help him see better.

“Help!” He hears a woman yell, and runs towards the sound.

When he gets closer, he starts getting major déjà vu. It was just like his dream. He stops short when he finds Amber and Opal. Opal’s eyes were glowing a striking blue and so were Amber’s. Amber’s necklace was glowing bright orange too. There was a woman on the ground, knocked unconscious. There was some odd shadow looming over her. All of a sudden, Amber’s hands start glowing, and what looks like electricity comes from her fingertips. It latches around the shadow like shackles, and it bellows a horrible sound.

“Who sent you?!” Amber yells to the shadow, but before she can get an answer, it vanishes. “Son of a bitch!”

“Amber.” Opal says. “Harry…”

Amber looks over at Harry, who she had completely forgotten about. Her necklace, eyes, and hands stop glowing. She looks down at the woman on the ground. She looked like a college student. Amber sighs, and raises her hands up, thus levitating the woman.

“Can you carry her? I’ll explain later.” Amber says.

Harry nods, and cautiously takes the woman in his arms, carrying her bridal style. Amber puts her hand on one of Harry’s shoulders, and blinks. Next thing Harry knows, they’re back on one of the streets in the neighborhood. Amber places her hand on the girl’s forehead, and takes a deep breath. Her eyes glow for a moment before she takes her hand away. She snaps her fingers, and the girl disappears from Harry’s arms.

“What the fu-“ Amber snaps her fingers again, and they’re in her apartment. “Fuck!” Harry pants, totally freaked out.

“Okay, calm down.”

“Calm down? Calm down?! How do you expect me to calm down?!”

“If you don’t then she won’t be able to explain.” Opal says.

“Did she just talk?” Harry points to Opal.

“Yeah…she must be allowing you to hear her.” Amber shrugs.

“Right.” Harry’s eyes roll back, and he faints, dropping to the floor.

“And here I was thinking I’d have to force him to drink some tea to make him think this was all a dream.”

“Don’t you think he deserves an explanation? He literally had a dream where something similar happened! What if he’s some sort of mage too, but just doesn’t know it?”

“How could he not know it?”

“Not everyone’s born into it like you were. Maybe something drew him here, and maybe things activated when he drank the tea.”

“What do you want me to do, wake him up and explain everything to him? No way, I’m not diving in deep with a stranger.”

“But if you just-“

“Enough!” Amber’s eye glow warningly. “What I say goes.” She snaps her fingers, sending Harry down to his own bed. “He’ll just think he had another wild dream.”

“Wouldn’t that be suspicious?”

“Not if I give him something.” She grins. “I’ll be back in a minute.” Amber snaps herself down to Harry’s bedroom. She sprinkles some dried strawberry dust over his open mouth. “Sweet dreams.” She nearly cackles, and snaps herself back upstairs. “With the dream he’s about to have, he won’t be recalling a damn thing. It’s better if he doesn’t know.”

“We’ll see about that, stubborn girl.”

//

Harry wakes up Saturday in a cold sweat. He couldn’t remember how he ended up in bed, or taking his clothes off. He rips the blankets back and winces when the cold air hits his stiffy. He was used to being hard in the morning, but not like this. His prick was swollen and throbbing, begging to be taken care of.

“Jesus fucking Christ.” He spits into his hand and grips himself.

He hisses from his own touch. He tries to remember last night. He recalls going for a walk, and then not much else. He jerks himself off until he comes. When he does, he swears a wank has never felt so good. He makes a proper mess of his tummy and heads for the shower. As he’s washing his hair, he notices he’s still hard, like, really hard. Not the post orgasm hard before he softens, it was like he hadn’t come at all. He sighs heavily, and starts pumping himself again. He grips at the tile on the walls as he whimpers and whines until he comes again.

When he gets out of the shower, and walks towards his dresser, he feels a throbbing between his legs. He looks down and sees that he’s hard again. Now he’s just annoyed. He had no idea what was going on. Unfortunately, he knew it wasn’t gonna go away on its own, so he jerks off a third time. He gets dressed, and goes upstairs to Amber’s apartment. He knocks on the door, but doesn’t hear anything.

“Amber, you home?!” He knocks again, but there’s nothing. She didn’t open until noon on Saturdays, where could she be?

He heads down the stairs, and peers into the shop, but doesn’t see anyone. He hears some noises coming from the basement door. He sighs and goes over to it. He knows he’s not supposed to go down there, but he needed answers. He knocks on the door loudly.

“Amber, you down there?!” He jiggles the door handle, and much to his surprise, it’s unlocked. “Amber?” Harry makes his way downstairs, and is stunned with what he sees. There were dozens of bookcases filled with old looking books, and bottles full of different liquids and leaves.

“Harry!” Amber shouts as she storms towards him. “You’re not supposed to be down here!”

“The door was unlocked.”

“Fucking.” She pinches the bridge of her nose. “I’ll have to talk with Penny. Go upstairs, now.”

“What is all of this stuff?”

“It doesn’t concern you.”

“Is this a weird meth lab or something? Are you a drug dealer? Is that what you’re really selling to the students?” He gasps for a moment. “Are you selling them ecstasy?”

“What?! You’re a fucking moron!”

“Then explain what’s going on because I woke up with a raging boner this morning, and it took a really long time for it to go away, and I also can’t remember a thing that happened last night, so I want some answers!”

“Wait, you woke up the boner?”

“How is that the thing you’re focusing on?”

“You were supposed to have a wet dream. Did you dream about anything?”

“No, one second I was on a walk and the next I woke up in my bed all sweaty and hard.”

“Weird.”

“You’re telling me. Now-“

“No, it’s weird because what I gave you had a delayed effect.”  She walks over to one of the shelves and pulls out a book. She flips through one of the pages. “Ohhhh.” She nods, closes the book, and puts it back. “I sprinkled some strawberry dust in your mouth from my dried stash, it’s extremely potent, that’s why I make it into a tea. Um, when it’s used the way I used it…it’s supposed to make you have a wet dream. I think it delayed because you passed out last night.”

“I did?!”

“Yes.” She sighs, and snaps her fingers, bringing them to her apartment.

“Amber, I’m about two seconds away from-“

“Have a seat.” She points to her couch, and sits down. He sits down next to her, but not too close.

“Where’s Opal?”

“Out shopping with Penny. She upset with me because of last night. She wanted me to tell you everything, but I didn’t want to. I guess I don’t really have a choice now.”

“What do you mean she wanted you to tell me?” Harry blinks.

“May I press my forehead to yours? It’ll be easier to explain that way.”

“Um, sure?”

Amber grips the back of Harry’s neck, pulling him closer. It was almost like she was about to kiss him, but she doesn’t. She presses her forehead to Harry’s, and her eyes start glowing. Harry suddenly has flashes of everything from the night before. She lets go of him, and gives him a moment to process everything.

“Holy shit.” He says, blinking a few times. “So my dream did mean something.”

“That’s what I’ve been trying to figure out. You had some sort of vision, and I have no idea why.”

“What are you then?”

“I’m a mage.”

“Which is what?”

“Well, it’s sort of like a witch, but less spooky. I can cast spells, and I have other abilities. I was born into it. My hair color is naturally like this, that’s why you haven’t seen my roots grow out.”

“Your necklace was glowing last night too. Does that have anything to do with it?”

“I’ve had this since I was born. It helps enhance things.” She grips the jewel for a moment. “It also keeps me safe.”

“From who?”

“People who might want me for their own selfish needs. I’ve been trying to track this…this thing down. A demon of some kind attacked Opal last spring. I thought I was close to finding it last night, but that shadow was just a minion.”

“Do you know why something might have attacked her?”

“We’ve…wait a second, you’re taking all of this in a little too easily. You’re not freaked out?”

“Most of the fiction I read is fantasy based.” He shrugs. “Besides, it’s hard to doubt something when you see it with your own eyes. So, why do you think something attacked her?”

“We’ve been trying to figure it out for months! We were out in the woods at night collecting some leaves. I turned my back for a second and I heard her yelp out. It was terrible. Luckily, it left before it could do some real damage. I don’t want it hurting her, or any of the college students. Seems like it’s back.”

“Can I ask…why have a shop that’s so obviously full of magic?”

“A lot of people are into natural healing methods these days. And this is a pretty granola town.” She shrugs. “I’ve been here the last four years. Things took off quickly.”

“Where were you before?”

“I told, you I went to an agricultural boarding school. It was for kids like me. I…don’t really know my parents, and I don’t have any siblings. They kind of just send you off once you’re of age to go to pre-school.”

“That sounds terrible.”

“It wasn’t.” She shakes her head. “Well, it was and it wasn’t. I learned how to keep myself safe, and learn how to properly use my powers. They let you leave when you’re twenty. I had all my firsts there. My first kiss, my first love, my first heartbreak.” She sighs.

“Is Penny a mage too?”

“Sort of.” Amber smiles. “She’s more a mother to me than my own. She practically raised me. When I left the school I asked her to come with me, and she agreed.”

“When did you get Opal?”

“When you’re little, around the age of six, they take you to a farm so you can connect with an animal. She was the cutest puppy I had ever seen. I bonded with her right away. We ran around and played and laughed. Opal’s my everything.”

“And she can talk with you and others telepathically?”

“Correct. She has to feel bonded to the people she allows to hear her. She’s felt comfortable with you since you got here…I’ve also been trying to figure that out. It pisses me off to no end that she likes you.”

“Why?” He chuckles.

“Because I can’t stand you. You’re so fucking positive and bouncy. You’re always in a good mood, it’s disgusting.” She grimaces.

“Well, I know being a mage can’t mean you’re crabby because Penny’s always delighted to see me.” He smirks. “It disgusts you that I’m happy?”

“Very much so, yes.” She nods.

“I can’t help it. I’ve got a great job, I’m studying something I’m interested in, and I get to see you every day. What could be better than that?”

“You’re happy because you get to see me every day?”

“Well, sure. You’re so interesting, and…I’m very attracted to you, but I’m sure that’s been obvious to you since I walked through the door.” He rubs the back of his neck as he blushes.

“I’m flattered, but I’m not really one for dating. I don’t have the time for it. Not when there’s a fucking demon on the loose that I can’t seem to track down.”

“Maybe I could help. Two heads are better than one.” He smiles.

“No, the only thing you can help with is keeping all of this to yourself. You can’t say a thing to anyone.”

“I won’t, I promise.”

She nods and takes her necklace off. Harry watches as she moves her fingers above the stone, and crates an amber ring from it.

“Here, you like to wear rings, so put this on.” She grabs one of his hands and slides the ring onto his pinky. “This will keep you safe. It’ll keep us connected.”

“Thank you for trusting me with all of this. Um, so about this morning…did you think I was going to be distracted by a saucy dream?” He smirks.

“It was supposed to make you forget everything entirely. I’m sorry it didn’t work right, that must have been painful. How many times did you, uh, you know, before it stopped?”

“Three.”

“Poor thing.” She pouts. “You must be exhausted.”

“I’m still a little tired, yeah.” He chuckles.

“Why don’t you go to take a nap? Penny and Opal should be back soon, and I need to catch them up on everything.”

“This isn’t some trick, right? You’re not going to try to cast a spell to make me forget?”

“No.” She chuckles. “I don’t see much use in it. Your body was clearly trying to fight off what I gave you.”

“Does, um, does it always last like that?”

“Oh, you mean staying hard after you come?”

“Yeah.” He blushes.

“Not if you fuck someone. If you’re alone and have to take care of it yourself it takes longer for it to wear off since you’re not exerting as much energy.” They both stand up and she walks him to her door. “Should have come knocking sooner, I could have helped you out.” She winks at him.

“That’s not funny.” He deadpans.

She laughs anyways, and sends him out. She snaps herself back to the basement where Opal and Penny are already waiting for her.

“Before so a word, I told him what he needed to know.” Amber tells them.

“The powder didn’t work?” Penny asks.

“No, apparently it didn’t kick in until just before he woke up. Poor thing had to jerk it three times.” Amber shrugs.

“See! This is why I think something is dormant within him. First, your tea causes him to have a vision. Second, the powder didn’t work. What did he say when you told him what was going on?” Opal says.

“He took it really well. The questions he asked were more for his understanding, to piece things together. He wasn’t freaked out at all.”

“Then that’s a third thing. We need to figure out what he is.”

“I know, but how? It’s not like I can experiment on him.” Amber sighs.

“I’ve heard of this before.” Penny says, padding over to one of the book shelves. She makes a motion with her hands to get one of the books on the top shelf down. She brings the book over to the lectern so she and Amber could look at it together. Penny flips through the pages, and finds what she’s looking for. “Ah-ha! Here it is. Long ago, there were families that left the coven, wanting to leave the magic behind. It was when a lot of those awful witch hunts became popular. After a few generations, the families became unaware of their abilities, thus the magic lying dormant within. Apparently, all it takes to ignite the magic is meeting another witch, and drinking something magical they made for them. You’ve been making him tea and coffee for almost two months! Then you gave him that tea sleepy-time tea that’s laced with magic. No wonder he had a vision.” Penny shakes her head.

“I wonder if deep down he felt a pull here…to Amber.”

“Could be.” Penny ponders. “I’ve seen that happening too. Certain covens did have truces back in the day. You two could have been from two separate covens, but bonded nonetheless.”

“If you’re getting into some weird soulmate shit, I’m gonna have to head out.” Amber says.

“That’s not what I’m saying.” Penny shakes her head. “When’s his birthday?”

“Um, February, I think.” Amber says.

“Then is birthstone would be an amethyst.” Opal says.

“If you look at any color wheel you’ll see that purple and yellow are polar opposites.” Penny says.

“But they’re also complimentary colors.”

“Can one of you just get to the point?!” Amber huffs.

“You’re not soulmates, but you are connected. In our various covens, those with citrine birthstones, like yours, and those with amethyst birthstones tended to make great pairs. They’re good at problem solving together.”

“I made him a ring from my stone…should I add an amethyst to it?”

“No.” Opal says. “No, he’ll need that ring to stay as it is for safety. We need to get him his own necklace with the stone. Then we can see if it glows.”

“If it glows…he’s a mage.” Penny states.

“Great, where the fuck am I supposed to get a pure amethyst on such short notice?” Amber pinches the bridge of her nose. “Not to mention getting it welded into a necklace.”

“You’ll have to take him out to the Four Peaks Mine in Arizona. I can run the shop while you’re gone. You’ll take Opal with you, simple as that.”

“It’s not simple. He has classes to teach, and there’s a demon on the loose!”

“Yes, but you might be able to ward it off together. It’s Saturday, we could get there quick, and be back by tomorrow night. Plenty of time.” Opal says.

“That’s a long way to snap us there. We’ll need to sleep there tonight so I get gain my strength back.” Amber says.

“Then so be it.” Penny says. “I can handle things here. We’re only open a half day tomorrow as is. Where is he now?”

“Napping.” Amber sighs. “I’ll go wake him up. Opal, be ready in five?”

Opal nods, and Amber snaps herself into Harry’s apartment. She walks into his bedroom where he’s sleeping soundly. Poor thing was knackered. She sits on the edge of his bed, and gently pulls him out of sleep. His eyes flutter open slowly.

“Amber?”

“Hi.” She smiles softly. “We have to go to Arizona for the night to get you an amethyst stone.”

“Um, okay…why?” He sits up a bit.

“It’s your birthstone, just as this is mine.” She points to her necklace. “We need to test something, and we need the pure substance to do so. We may be connected somehow, yellow and purple are complimentary colors.”

“Can I ask you something? If the birth stone is so important, why don’t you glow yellow instead of blue?”

“Blue and yellow are also complimentary colors, just as green and purple are. I was born in November, so it was already obvious what my stone would be, but when my parents saw my eyes for the first time…they knew I’d be powerful. Not all citrines are born with such blue eyes, only the most powerful. Your eyes are very green, so you may be quite powerful yourself, but we won’t know anything until we get to the mine. Pack an overnight bag, and be downstairs in five minutes.”

Without another word, she snaps herself out of his room, leaving him speechless.

“I’m really starting to hate it when she does that.” He says to himself before getting out of bed.

//

It was dusk by the time Amber was able to snap herself, Harry, and Opal to Arizona. Their first task was to find a motel to stay at for the night before heading to the mine. The biggest challenge was finding one that was pet friendly.

“The mines will be too dangerous for you two. I’ll go and bring back what we need by morning.”

“I can’t let you go alone.”

“Amber, you’ll know if something’s wrong. I’ll check in with you. Just get a room and rest up.”

Opal sprinted off into the night while Amber and Harry went to the check in area of the closest motel. They go inside to see what the vacancy situation is. An older gentleman was behind the desk.

“Good evening, folks.” He smiles warmly.

“Hi, we’d like a room with two queens please.” Amber says.

“Let me just double check if we have that available.” The man goes onto the computer on his desk. “Unfortunately, our last available room with two queens has already been reserved by a family of four coming in. I do, however, one room with a full left. Would that work?”

“A full is so tiny.” Amber frowns. “Is there at least a couch in the room?”

“A small loveseat.”

“Ugh, alright, we’ll take it.” She sighs, and gives him her credit card. Harry can’t hide the smirk on his face as the man types away at his computer. Amber glares at him briefly before taking her card back, and getting the room key.

“Enjoy your stay.” The man smiles at both of them.

“Can’t you just cast some sort of spell to make the bed bigger?” Harry asks once they’re in the room.

“No, that’s not how that works. I can’t change the molecular composition of a mattress like that. I’m also too weak to perform that kind of magic even if I wanted to. Snapping us across the country took a lot out of me, and I need to rest so I can get us home tomorrow.” She closes and locks the door behind them.

“What exactly will finding this amethyst do?”

“Well, I’ll turn it into a necklace, put it on you, and we’ll see if it glows.”

“And if it does?”

“Then you’re a mage, and we’ll have some bigger fish to fry.” She sits down on the edge of the bed and takes her boots off. “I’m gonna go wash up, and then I’m turning in. I brought some tea so we can get to sleep.” She makes her way into the bathroom. Harry goes in after her. When he’s done, she hands him a cup of tea.

“Thanks…do you think I’ll have a weird vision again?”

“You could.” Amber shrugs. “I have no idea.” She goes through her bag and pulls out a night shirt and pajama bottoms. “Turn around.”

Harry does so quickly while she changes. He grabs his own pajama pants to throw on, and stays in his tee shirt. Once they’re done with their tea, they both climb into bed. It wouldn’t be a big deal, but there was little wiggle room, and Harry was a broad, tall guy. They were shoulder to shoulder, squished in the small bed.

“Could be worse, could have been a room with just a twin.” Harry says to break the tension.

“Why in the fuck would there be a motel room with just a twin bed in it?”

“I don’t know, I was just saying.” He shrugs, and turns his head to look at her. “Clearly, there are stranger things out there than that.” He smirks.

“Go to sleep, Harry.” She rolls away from him onto her side.

“You’re making a bigger deal out of this than it needs to be. You’ve never shared a bed with someone before?”

Amber sighs heavily and rolls back onto her back to look at him better.

“I have, but these are tight quarters if you haven’t noticed, and you told me you were attracted to me-“

“So? You think I’m going to disrespect you and take advantage of the situation? I’m not that kind of guy.”

“I didn’t say you were. I just feel…nervous. It’s been a while since I shared a bed with a man, that’s all. You’re pretty, um, attractive yourself, so…there’s that.” Her face had to be beat red right now, she could feel it.

“Well, look who’s expressing their feelings!” Harry gasps. “Who knew this side to you even existed?”

“Don’t be sarcastic with me, Harry. You don’t know what it was like growing up the way I did. It was really hard at times. We were basically like grounded nomads.”

“M’sorry.” He turns on his side to face her easier. “Would you, uh, would you want to have a cuddle while we drift off? Doesn’t have to mean anything, but I know you’re worried about Opal, could help you calm down some.”

Amber nods and turns back over so Harry can spoon her. He doesn’t fully press his pelvis to her bum, he didn’t want to push it and make her uncomfortable. She did feel better having his arm wrapped around her. They both drift off easily after settling, the tea kicking in.

In his dream, Harry’s brought to a large estate, like a mansion from 1800’s London. There was a large field as well, a gentle breeze flowing. It looked like it was a beautiful day. He goes walking for a bit and finds this gorgeous tree that had a few tire swings attached to it. He stops short when he sees Amber. She looked a little younger, her hair was much longer, tied back in a flowing braid, and she was wearing a black, off the shoulder maxi dress with buttons running down the front. She had her arms crossed over chest, and she didn’t look happy with the young man she was speaking with. Harry creeps a little closer to hear what they’re talking about.

“Is what Opal told me true, yes or no?” Amber says to him.

“Amber-“

“Yes, or no, Max.” She scowls at him.

“What exactly did she tell you?”

“That you’ve been practicing dark magic in the woods at night.”

“She’s never liked me.” He scoffs. “I can’t believe you’re going to believe that mat over me.”

“Be very careful with how you speak about her.” Amber’s eyes start glowing.

“Settle down.”

“Answer the question.”

“Yes, okay, yes…I’ve been practicing dark magic.”

“Why?! You know it’s against the rules.”

“Well, it shouldn’t be. It does more good than harm, everyone is just too scared because it’s powerful.”

“You’re going to get expelled if one of the elders catches you. Do you want to be thrown out into the world before you’re ready?”

“We’re eighteen, Amber, we can do whatever we want. We could leave here together, and never come back. This place is a prison.”

“This place keeps us safe. You know as well as I do we can’t leave until we’re at least twenty.”

“Since when do you follow every single rule, huh? Where’s the girl that sneaks off into my room at night?” He steps closer to her, caressing one of her cheeks.

“That’s totally different.” She swats his hand away. “You shouldn’t be messing with that shit. If Opal saw you, others could too.”

“So I’ll be more careful.”

“Or you could stop. If you don’t…if you don’t then it’s over between us.”

Max’s dark brown eyes start to glow, along with the jewel hanging from the chain around his neck. It looked like aquamarine. Brown and blue were opposites as well. Maybe those gems had a connection too? He couldn’t be sure, a lot of this was confusing. Amber’s eyes were glowing again to match Max’s energy. Both sets of their hands started glowing as well.

“You’d throw away everything between us over something so small?!” He yells at her.

“This isn’t small, this is serious! Don’t make me strike you, Max.” There were tears streaming down her cheeks.

“You wouldn’t dare.”

With a flick of her wrist, she blasts him, knocking him down to the ground. She hovers over him, ready to serve another blow.

“I’m so disappointed in you.” She says to him.

“You don’t know what you’ve just started.” He grits his teeth.

“Actually, pretty sure I just finished it. Goodbye, Max.”

Harry blinks, and all of a sudden he’s in a forest at night. He could hear growling. He runs in the direction of the noise and sees Opal growling towards a man. It was Max. Harry’s eyes widen as he watches Max chant something, striking a blow towards Opal. Harry tries to save her, but he’s frozen in his place.

“Opal?!” He hears Amber yell, and Max disappears. “Opal! Oh my god!” She drops to the ground, her body going over Opal’s and snapping them away from the scene.

Harry’s eyes burst open, and he sits up right away. Amber’s not in the bed anymore. Before he has a heart attack, he hears her coming out of the bathroom.

“Morning.” She yawns. “Opal’s about five minutes away. How’d you sleep?”

“Amber, uh, when Opal got attacked, did she ever say what it was, or who it was that attacked her?”

“No.” Amber shakes her head. “She couldn’t remember a thing. I think whatever it was put a hex on her memory of the event. Why?”

“I had a really unsettling dream.” He blinks a few times and looks at her. Before he can say anything else, Opal appears in the room, letting a large amethyst fall from her mouth.

“You wouldn’t believe the digging I had to do to get this, but it’s a good one.” She says. “You both slept in that tiny bed?”

“Not the time. Go drink some water.” Amber snatches the amethyst. It hovers above her palm. Her eyes glow, and in seconds it’s transformed into a slide on a necklace. “Let’s do this first, and then we can talk about your dream, okay?” She says to Harry as she comes over to him. Opal hops up on the bed, and Amber sits beside Harry. “Close your eyes.” She says softly, and he does so. She places the necklace over his head, and the gem rests on his chest.

The amethyst starts to hover and glow. Amber and Opal look at each other.

“Is anything happening?” Harry asks.

“Open your eyes.” Amber says.

Harry opens his eyes, and they’re glowing a bright green. He gasps when his looks down at the floating amethyst. He looks down at his hands and sees that they’re glowing too.

“How do I turn it off?!” Harry yelps in fear.

“Don’t panic! Give it a moment, the gem is bonding with you, just breathe.” Amber says.

A few moments pass before the gem rests on Harry’s chest once more. He eyes and hands stop glowing as well, and he takes a deep breath.

“What does all of this mean?” He asks them.

“You’re a mage, your abilities have been dormant for quite some time. You’re definitely more powerful than most, you’ll have to learn how to hone in on it.” Opal explains.

“I guess that would explain the vision-type dreams. I…Amber, I saw your break up with someone named Max. You got into a fight because he was performing dark magic. Then I was in the woods where Opal was attacked. It was him who attacked her, not some random demon.”

“What?!” Amber’s eyes flash for a moment. “I’ll kill him, I’ll-“

“No, Amber, that’s the exact rage he wants you to feel.” Opal says. “But we do need to track him down before he does more damage around town. Those college kids don’t deserve his wrath.”

//

When they all got back Sunday evening, Amber explained everything to Penny. She was beyond infuriated, and reached out to the other elders back at the boarding school to let them know what was going on. Harry was taking in a lot of information in, but he was doing well at not freaking out. Penny took him aside to calmly explain to him was his powers meant, and that there was a code of ethics he’d need to read up on and follow. Now that Amber knew Max was involved, she needed to figure out a way to track him down, and fast.

//

The weeks go on, no shadows lurking, no demons, and no Max. Amber, Penny, and Opal take advantage of the quiet to train Harry in their spare time. Lucky for them, he was a fast reader, and a quick learner. He was picking up certain spells naturally. He knew it would take a while to get as good as Amber at all of this, but he was happy with the progress he was making. He had never felt more like himself in his life. Penny had them working on combination spells, and boy were they powerful. The blue and green glows mixed beautifully.

“I have a feeling he may strike on Halloween.” Opal says to them one evening.

“Wouldn’t that be sort of cliché?” Harry asks.

“Please, Max lives for shit like that. He probably thinks it’ll be the perfect cover since we usually go out on Halloween.” Amber says.

“What do you do?”

“Penny stays back to hand out candy to the little kids, and Opal and I usually go around making sure there aren’t any creatures looking for trouble.”

“If Opal thinks he may strike on Halloween, then I think I know where we could wait for him. If I draw out where I had that original vision, do you think you’d know where in the woods it is?”

“It’s worth a try.” Opal says.

Opal knew exactly where Harry was talking about after looking over the picture he drew. Halloween was only a few days away, they needed to prepare. Harry was about to get ready for bed when there was a knock on his door. He looks through the peephole to see Amber, and he smiles.

“Hi, there.” He says as he opens the door.

“Hi, may I come in?”

“Of course.” She nods and comes inside. She had on an oversized shirt and pajama pants. Harry smirks to himself as he closes the door. “So, what’s up?”

“Nothing, I just…well, I just wanted to say that I’m really proud of you.”

“For what?”

“Taking all of this so well, for jumping in without a second thought. You’re doing really well with the lessons, and I know it’s got to be stressful because you’re trying to balance this whole mess along with getting your master’s and teaching.” She chews on her bottom lip. “I know Penny is really good at giving praise, but I’m not always so good at it…that’s what the kids at the boarding school used to tell me when I’d work with them anyways, so I just wanted to make sure I told you how proud I am. I really couldn’t stand you when we first met, but I like you a lot more now.”

He knew the last part was a joke, so he laughs before responding.

“Thanks, that means a lot. When I’m passionate about something, I tend to just dive right in, and I usually aim to please.” He steps a little closer to her. “Is that all you came down here for? To praise me?”

She narrows her eyes at him while her cheeks turn a bright red. He was making her nervous, and she hated feeling that way.

“What else would I have come down here for?” She puts her hands on her hips.

“I don’t know, you tell me. Typically, when a girl comes knocking at my door after midnight, she’s looking for something very particular.”

Amber scoffs and shakes her head. She crosses her arms as she smirks at him.

“Mm, I bet you’d love it if I came down here to seduce you. You strike me as the type that likes to hear a woman beg for your cock. Am I right about that, Harry? You’re so nice and sweet all day long, do you like to get a little mean in the bedroom?” She raises her eye brows playfully. “No, maybe you like it when your woman gets a little mean, or maybe it’s a mix of both.”

“You know what I think?”

“Tell me.”

“I think that whoever you’ve slept with in the past never pleased you in the way that you need to be pleased.”

“And how do I need to be pleased?”

“Probably with a lot of tongue, I’m guessing.” He watches as Amber’s pupils dilate just the smallest amount. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? To feel all warm and wet between your thighs.”

“I’ve got a toy that does that for me. Perfectly mimics the feeling of someone sucking on my clit.”

“Can’t beat the real thing.”

“Sure it can.” She shrugs. “It gets me panting, mining, screaming. And it gets me absolutely soaked. Probably squirted for all I know.” She pushes past him to walk towards his door. “Sleep well, Harry.”

“How am I supposed to sleep knowing that right above me you’re soaking your own sheets?” He pouts at her.

“Drink some tea, you’ll sleep just fine.” She winks, and out the door she goes.

Harry groans to himself, and heads to the kitchen to make himself some tea. There’s no way he’d sleep on his own tonight.

//

“I should be going with you two.”

“No, you’ll stay here with Penny where it’s safe. Dark magic can’t infiltrate the shop. You’re his target, so we’ll have a fake you set up.” Amber says. Both her and Harry were dressed in all black. She takes his hand in hers, and she snaps them out to the forest. “We’ll have to travel the rest of the way on foot.” She tells Harry.

“When we get there, and we catch him…what exactly are you going to do.”

“I’m going to take his powers away. I should have done it a long time ago.”

“You know how to do that?”

“Yes, Penny taught me how. It’s only for extreme circumstances, but I know how to sort of, like, bend the energy from him. His stone will go black, and that’ll be it.”

“So…all of this is because he thinks you broke up with him because of something Opal saw him do?”

“It’s more than that.” Amber sighs. “He was always jealous…I put Opal first a lot. He didn’t have the same relationship with his animal guide, and eventually he parted from it. That can break something within you. It’s probably why he turned to the dark magic in the first place. I tried to be there for him, but we started fighting a lot more, and when Opal told me what she saw, that was the last straw for me.”

“How long were you together for?”

“Well, I’d known him my whole life, but we got together when we were sixteen, so two years. He was my first everything. I’ve had other relationships, but it’s tough dating a non-mage. Everything has to be a secret; it’s exhausting.”

“Hearing you say that helps me make sense of my own dating life. I never felt fully connected to any of my girlfriends, even when we were having sex. I felt like I was trying to force the passion or something.”

“God, you’re such a romantic.” She says in a disgusted tone. “It’s all that damn fiction you read.”

“Are you telling me you don’t want to have passionate sex?”

“No, but sometimes sex is just sex. You get your rocks off, zip back up, and get on with your day.”

“That doesn’t sound like much fun.”

“Have you ever fucked someone you hated?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever hated anyone to be honest with you. I’ve not liked people before.”

“Okay, have you ever fucked someone you didn’t like?”

“Why would I do that?”

“You can be attracted to someone and hate their guts. It’s hot and lustful.” She smirks.

“Too bad we didn’t fuck when you hated me then. Could have been pretty steamy.”

“You’re an idiot.” She laughs. “Wait, I think we’re here. Get into positron.”

The two of them huddle behind a large tree. Amber’s eyes glow, and with a few twists of her fingers, a fake Opal is created. Amber acts as if the dog is a puppet, making her sniff around and dig. Harry quietly watches in amazement. Before long, a shadow appears, then a few more. Max appears with the shadows, his eyes glowing a reddish brown.

“You must think I’m a real idiot.” Max chuckles lowly, snapping his fingers and making the fake Opal vanish. “Come on out Amber.” Amber and Harry stand up, coming out from behind the tree. “Oh, look! You’ve brought a friend. Did you really think I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between your mutt and an illusion?” He smirks.

“No, we knew you’d figure it out.” Amber says. “You’re such a sick fuck trying to hurt her when really it’s me you’re mad at. I broke your heart, and you blame her, but you did it to yourself. You knew I wouldn’t tolerate all of this.”

“You broke just about every rule you could at that boarding school!”

“Yeah, like sneaking into your room after hours, and breaking curfew, not messing with dark magic! It’s possessed you, your eyes aren’t supposed to glow red. I’ve grown fond of this town, and I won’t have you terrorizing defenseless kids because of me. This ends now.”

“Well, you’re about that, but I don’t think you’ll be satisfied with the outcome. See, I’m going to find Opal, and I’m going to make sure she learns that eavesdropping isn’t okay. I know she’s gotten older, but even old dogs can learn new tricks.”

Max’s hands and eyes start glowing, and he charges towards Amber.

“Harry, handle the shadows, I’ll take care of Max!” She yells just as she jumps into the air to avoid Max’s blow.

While Amber and Max cast spells at each other, Harry springs into action. He couldn’t fly or float, or whatever the fuck Amber’s able to do just yet, but he had gotten pretty good at casting key defense and offense spells. Max’s shadows were strong, getting the better of Harry a few times, but Harry’s eyes start glowing along with his gem, and then all bets are off for the shadows. He’s impressed with himself when he’s able to make them vanish. He looks over and sees Amber and Max rushing towards each other with an immense amount of rage. The blow they strike at the same time explodes, causing them both to be flung backwards. Amber’s back slams into a tree, making her fall to the ground.

“Amber!” Harry sprints over to her, cradling her face in his hands. “Come on, Love, wakeup.” He’s panicking now.

“I should have known.” Max says as he scrambles to his feet. Harry looks over at him. “An amethyst and a citrine, how cliché.” He scoffs. “You’re new to all of this, I can feel it. Why she’d spend her time with a mongrel like you is beyond me.” His hands start glowing again as he walks over to Harry. “Not to worry, once you and Opal are out of the picture, she’ll be all mine once more.”

“I’m sorry, but you’re mistaken.”

Harry lunges forward, tackling Max by the legs. He pins him down, and punches Max in the face. Max telepathically throws Harry off him. Harry casts spell after spell towards Max, but they’re all blocked.

“You’re weak, what could she possibly want with you?” Max laughs as he blocks another strike.

Amber’s eyes flutter open, and she sees the two men fighting. She rises off the ground, and gets high enough to have an arial view of them. She watches as Max throws Harry into a tree. That was the last straw. She takes a deep breath, and nose dives towards Max. He doesn’t see it coming as he’s forced into the ground. She pins him down and snatches the gem around his neck, and breaks the chain.

“What are you doing?!” He shouts.

“Something I should have done a long time ago. You’re too dangerous.” Amber shoots back up into the air, and Max follows her.

“Give it back!”

“No!”

She wraps the chain around her fist, and points her other arm out at him. The blue glow leaves her palm and goes right to Max’s heart. First, a red glow starts to leave his body, and soon it turns into Max’s original brown glow. They both start lowering to the ground. He’s screaming at the top of his lungs, and she has tears streaming down her cheeks. There’s a large flash of light, and then nothing.

“You have no idea what you’ve done.” He says weakly on his knees looking up at her.

“I know exactly what I’ve done.” She throws Max’s gem on the ground and steps on it, breaking it into tiny pieces. “I can’t believe I thought this would actually be a challenge.” She pushes him all the way down to the ground with her boot, and steps on his chest. “Only the weak turn to dark magic.”

“What am I supposed to do without my powers?” He asks weakly.

“I don’t know, why don’t you ask your friends?” The shadows come to surround Max. Amber steps back from him and watches as they circle around him. They look to her. “Unless you want to end up just like that, I strongly suggest you take him far away from here.” They all vanish. Amber had a feeling this fight was long from over, but for now Max wouldn’t be able to do any more damage. She rushes over to Harry who was still laying on the ground. “Harry!” She cradles his head into her lap and places her hand on his forehead.

“Amber?”

“Hey.” She smiles down at him.

“Did we win?”

“We did.” She nods. “You were so brave trying to battle him. I took his powers away, we should be safe for a while.”

“I bet Opal will be relieved.”

“Yeah, she will be. Let’s get back to the shop, yeah?”

Harry hums his response just as Amber snaps them to the shop. Penny and Opal were cleaning up from the trick or treating.

“You’re back!” Opal exclaims, running over to the two of them. Amber drops to her knees to hug her friend.

“I took his powers away. We could easily see him again, but not for a long time.” Amber says.

“I’m so proud of you.” Opal nuzzles her forehead to Amber’s. “I’m proud of you too, Harry.”

“I’m glad you’ll be safe now.” Harry scratches at Opal’s head.

“You two look knackered.” Penny says. “Here, I made some tea for you both, go upstairs and unwind for a bit. We can talk about everything in the morning.”

“Good idea, thank you. Where’s the tea?” Amber asks.

“I snapped it up to Harry’s apartment.” Penny smiles. “Go on, Opal and I can finish locking up.”

//

Harry and Amber make their way into his apartment. They see the tea on his coffee table, and sit down on his sofa. They’re quiet for a moment as they take a sip. It had the faintest hint of a coffee smell, which was peculiar. It should either taste like chamomile or vanilla. Amber was too tired to question it.

“I’m going to head up.” She says after finishing her tea. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Alright.” He smiles at her. “We can keep training together, right? I’d like to keep learning.”

“Of course.” She smiles. “You still have a lot to learn. Goodnight, Harry.”

“Night, sleep well.” He walks her to the door and watches as she heads upstairs.

Amber takes a quick shower, and changes into a tee shirt and bed shorts. Opal was already asleep on the daybed in the living room. Amber crawls into bed and sighs with relief. She tosses and turns for a bit. She felt wide awake now, like she had just been given a burst of energy. She huffs and puffs, getting more and more uncomfortable. She feels hot all over, and kicks her blankets back. Her thighs felt sweaty, so she dips her fingers inside her shorts and gasps. She was wet, incredibly wet. She sits up and remembers the tea.

“Fucking, Penny.” She groans. Coffee had a way of masking other smells. Amber gets out of bed, getting more and more frustrated with each step. Opal pops an eye open.

“Can’t sleep?”

“Why’d you let Penny give me the mood tea?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Seems like your problem will go away faster if you see Harry, though.”

“You’ll face my wrath in the morning.”

“Mhm, go have some fun.”

Amber makes her way down the stairs to Harry’s apartment. She bangs on his door, preying he wasn’t asleep already. After a few moments, he opens the door only wearing a pair of boxer briefs. He was holding a pillow over his crotch. Amber places her hands on either side of the doorframe.

“We have a problem.” She huffs. “Penny slipped us the wrong tea.”

“Was wondering why I got so hard once I got into bed.” He looks her up and down. “Why’d you come all the way down here?”

“Because if we don’t take care of it properly then we’ll be up all night, and I don’t feel like masturbating for hours on end until it stops.”

“Here I was thinking I’d have to wank off to just the thought of you.” He steps closer to her, dropping the pillow to the floor. Her eyes flicker down to his strained prick.

“I wanted us to go out on a proper date before we did anything like this.” Amber mutters. “Penny’s so pushy whenever she wants me to be with someone.”

“Do you ever listen to her?”

“No.”

“Seems like she took the necessary steps.” He hooks an arm around her waist, pulling her into him. “I’ll take you out to breakfast tomorrow morning, how’s that sound?”

“I’ve always wanted to go on a breakfast date.”

“You wanna do this? I can kiss you, touch you?” His lips ghost over hers.

“Please, take care of me. M’dripping.”

“For me?”

“For you.” She confirms. “This stuff is potent, but it works better when you have someone in mind that you really want to fuck.”

Harry groans and slots his mouth over hers. He brings her further into the apartment, and kicks the door closed. His hands cup her cheeks as they bump into various walls. She bites down on his bottom lip and he moans into her. He licks into her mouth and starts sucking on her tongue. She tugs on his hair and jumps up so he can carry her into his room. Her legs wrap securely around his waist, moaning into his mouth as he sucks on her bottom lip. He drops her onto his bed, a whine escaping her from the loss of his body. He smirks as he moves to hover over her, attaching his lips to her neck. He sponges wet kisses along her skin, and nibbles on her earlobe.

“What do you like, Amber?” He says into her ear, and her hips buck up into his.

“Anything right now would be good, I’m soaked.” She whimpers, and he moves to look at her.

“Because of the tea, or because you really want me, because I can’t fuck you if it’s just from the tea.”

“It’s a mix of both. The tea can bring out things you’re already feeling for someone else. I want you, I mean it, I’m not just saying it so you’ll fuck me. I…I like you, alright? I really do like you. I think about you when you’re not around, and the best part of my day is when you come into the shop after you’ve finished working for the day. You set up your stupid laptop and work on your stupid assignments, all while looking unapologetically handsome.”

“Why would you keep all of that to yourself for so long, hm?” He coos, brushing some hair away from her face.

“Because romance makes me sick, and so does being vulnerable.” She pouts at him.

“Well, lucky for you, I’m pretty good at both.” He presses his lips to her once more before shifting down her body. He tugs on her shorts, and she lifts her hips to help him take them off. She wasn’t wearing anything underneath, which made things much easier. His eyes widen when he sees how slick she is between her legs. “Christ, you weren’t kidding.”

“It hurts, please, just do something.” She whines again.

Harry smirks before licking over one of her inner thighs, and then the other. He licks over her slit, and she moans out in relief. He licks up to her clit and sucks harshly on it. He moans into her and presses down on her lower stomach. He slides two fingers inside her, and her head rolls back into his pillows. Harry thought she tasted amazing, and she was so wet and warm around his fingers. He was leaking into his boxers, he could feel it. He knew part of it was from the tea, but he also knew how he felt about her. He had been dreaming of this moment since the day he met her, and he couldn’t believe it was finally happening. The tips of his fingers pet against her g-spot, and her hands fly to his hair to grip onto. He continues to suck on her clit, trying not to bust in his boxers too soon. She cries out as she comes around his fingers. She gets her shirt off while he rids himself of his boxers. He comes back down to hover over her. He licks into her mouth as her arms wrap around her his neck. He ruts his hard cock against her folds.

“Do you want me to wear a condom?” He asks her as he starts to knead her breasts.

“N-no.” She shakes her head. “Are you okay with that? I…I’m clean.”

“So am I. Are you on the pill, or something?”

“I have an IUD, so you can come inside me if you want.”

“Is that what you want?”

“We’re going to be able to go for multiple rounds, and I want you to fill me up each time.”

“Fuck.” He groans, and spreads her legs farther apart.

He rubs his tip along her clit before pushing inside. Her nails dig into his shoulders, her mouth falling open from the stretch he was giving her. Her heels dig into the backs of his thighs, pulling him closer to her. Her hands trail down his back until they reach his bum, sinking her nails into the plushy skin.

“You feel so fucking good.” She gasps as he thrusts in and out of her.

“So do you.” He groans. “You’re so fucking tight, don’t know how long I’ll last.”

“It doesn’t matter, you’ll get hard again.”

“Thought you said since we were taking care of it properly it won’t last quite as long?”

“It won’t last as long, but it’ll still last for bit.” She pulls his face down to hers to kiss him. “Let me get on top, yeah?”

He nods, and rolls them both over. She readjusts, and starts bouncing up and down on him. She throws her head back and scratches down his stomach. His hands find her hips, thrusting up into her to match her pace. He watches as her tits bounce up and down. He sits up a bit so he can suck on one of her nipples. Her clit rubs against him perfectly, and she’s coming again in no time. With another thrust, he come inside her, biting down on her shoulder in the process.

“You’re amazing.” He mutters into her neck. “I can feel how hard I still I am.” He groans as he looks up at her. “It’s like I’ve got a cock ring on or something.”

“I know, don’t worry, we’ll make it go away together.” She smiles and lifts herself off of him. “Um…there’s something I’m sort of into, and I was wondering if you might be too?”

“Well, what is it?”

“Could I…would you be comfortable if, I, uh, got behind you and lick you? Maybe use my fingers? I can conjure up some lube.”

Harry’s eyes visibly dilate, making Amber smirk.

“You have no idea how okay with that I am.”

“Yeah? Have you done it before?”

“No, but I’ve always wanted to. I think I actually have some lube here. Let me just double check my side table.” Harry eagerly leans over and reaches into his side table drawer. He finds a bottle of lube and tosses it to her. He gets onto his stomach for her, and she giggles as he wiggles his bum at her.

“M’gonna make you feel so good.” She says lowly, giving his bum a little smack before leaning down to spread him apart.

She licks a strip around his hole, swirling around his him. He grips the blankets on the bed, moaning and whimpering into his pillow as she suckled and slurped around his hole. She sits up for a moment to get some lube on her fingers. She starts with her middle finger, rubbing it around his rim, and then slowly slipping it inside him.

“Fuck.” He groans.

“Does it hurt?”

“No, feels good, don’t stop.”

Amber bites her bottom lip as she slips another finger inside him. She pumps them carefully, she didn’t want him to be in any sort of pain, this was supposed to be pleasurable. Her fingers get deep enough to reach a particular part inside of him. She reaches a hand around front to grip his throbbing cock.

“Doing so well, Harry.”

“Think you found my prostate, shit, feels so fucking good.” He grits his teeth as her thumb rubs over his tip. “M’gonnna come again, fuck!”

Amber presses his prick as close to his stomach as possible to make less of a mess as he comes. She slowly retracts her fingers from him, and lets him roll onto his back. He was sweaty and panting. She licks the palm of her hand that was full of his come, and then leans down to lick his stomach clean. His prick hardens back up instantly.

“Harry, I’m so wet, I almost came watching you enjoy yourself.” She says after licking her lips. “And your come tastes so good.” She pouts.

“I eat a lot of fruit.” He breathes. “Lay on your side for me.” He pats the spot next to him, and she does what he says. They get into a spooning position. She raises her leg a bit, and he slips inside.

“Oh, wow, you’re in so deep.” She arches into him. He grips her hip and starts moving in and out of her.

“Yeah? Like feeling me like this?”

“Yes.” She gasps when his fingers slip to her clit.

“You like it dirty, huh? You don’t like have vanilla sex.” He says into her ear, nipping at her lobe.

She moans out, unable to form an actual response. Once he gains a little more energy, he has her turn onto her stomach so he can fuck her properly from behind. He sits up on his knees, and starts pounding into her relentlessly.

“Oh my god!” She gasps. “Keep going, just like that!”

He grips the back of her neck with hand, and reaches around front to rub her clit with the other. He strokes are fast and deep, beating up her g-spot. She was chanting his name, and it was just egging him on more. He needed her to come again, and he needed her to come hard. As good as she felt, he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to do it again after this.

“Want you to soak my sheets.” He growls. “Come all over my cock, Amber.”

“M’close, m’close!” She cries out.

Everything feels overwhelming all at once, and she finally lets go. He comes inside her at the same time, and does soak his sheets. His cock is absolutely drenched. He collapses next to her on the bed. He sighs with relief when he feels his cock actually start to soften.

“I have a spare set in the linen closet.” He says to her, and she giggles.

“Don’t bother, that was just the first session.”

“Um…what?”

“That was just the first session. You’ll probably come two more times.”

“But, that other time I only came three times.”

“Yeah, and it hurt, right? Did these last few hurt?”

“Not at all. Felt amazing.”

“We could 69 for the next one. You’re really good at going down.” She bites her bottom lip.

“Wouldn’t mind feeling your mouth around my cock either.”

“Seems like you’re almost ready again.” She looks down at his hardening cock.

“Fuck, please, come sit on my face.”

“You don’t want me to clean up first?”

“You just licked my asshole, I’m not too concerned about tasting my own come while it drips out of you.”

Amber whimpers and scrambles her way to hover over his face, leaning down over his cock so she can lick over his tip. Harry immediately starts sucking on her swollen clit, making her gasp before she’s able to wrap her lips around him. They went at for hours, switching between a number of positions, making an absolute mess of Harry’s sheets. Amber realizes that Penny must have given them a combination of the strawberry tea and the chocolate tea; that’s a strong combination. They couldn’t get enough of each other, and instead of being upset with Penny’s antics, they decided to just roll with it. Harry ate out Amber’s ass, she rode him reverse, he hit it from the side, they were like animals. He had scratch marks all over his chest and back, she was littered in bite marks, by the time the tea wore off, they were exhausted. Neither had the energy to magically make the sheets clean, so Harry stripped the bed while Amber helped make it back up. They fell asleep curled up with another completely naked.

//

Opal woke up to an empty apartment, to which she laughed. She headed down the stairs to go see Penny, and let her know their sneakiness paid off. The only thing was, there was no sign of Penny. Opal couldn’t get a scent on her.

“Oh, no.” Opal says to herself, and goes upstairs to Harry’s apartment. She scratches at his door. “Amber!”

Amber sits up quickly in bed. She wraps herself in one of Harry’s blankets and sprints to the door, rattling Harry awake.

“Come back to bed.” He groans, but she doesn’t hear him.

Amber opens the door, and Opal rushes in.

“What’s going on?” Amber asks her frantically.

“I’m sure you’re tired, and rightfully pissed off, but Penny didn’t show up this morning. I don’t even have a scent on her.”

“Shit.” Amber groans. “This has Max written all over it. He probably bagged her on her walk here this morning. Why she doesn’t just live here, I’ll never know.”

“What’s going on?” Harry asks them.

“Penny’s missing, get dressed.” Amber says firmly before snapping herself and Opal upstairs.

Harry wanted to talk to Amber about everything they did last night, take her to breakfast like he said he would. But Penny was missing, so that meant their nightmare from the night prior wasn’t over. He gets himself dressed and down to the shop. Amber was already waiting downstairs with Opal.

“Where do you think they took her?” Harry asks.

“I have an idea.” Amber sighs. “He probably sent those damn shadows after her.”

“Penny’s so experienced, I don’t understand.” Harry shakes his head.

“She’s old, Harry.” Opal says. “She wouldn’t stand a chance alone.”

Amber’s eyes start glowing out of nowhere, and she starts hovering in the air. Just as soon as it happens, she’s back on the floor.

“I know where she is, she just sent me a signal.” Amber says.

“I know where she is, she just sent me a signal.” Amber says. “It’s essentially a trap, they know we’re coming for her.” She looks down at Opal. “Are you strong enough for this?”

“I’ll have to be. Let’s go get her.”

//

Amber snaps them to where they need to be. Mac had the shadows take her to an old, abandoned building on the outskirts of town. Amber brought them just down the hall from where Penny was being kept. Harry had so many questions, but he knew now wasn’t the time. He stays close to Amber and Opal, walking down a dark corridor.

“Harry, stay with Opal. I’m going on the room.”

“I can’t let you go in there alone.” He tells her.

“I wasn’t asking.” She says before snapping herself into the room. Penny was chained up to a wall. “For the love of god.” Amber sighs before snapping her free.

“Behind you!” Penny shouts, and Amber gets zapped by what looks like red electricity. She gets knocked to the ground, but picks herself back up. Max’s eyes were glowing red.

“I told you that you had no idea what you did.” He grins evilly at her. “Give me the dog, now.”

“It’s me you want, not her. You have me, okay? Just take me.”

“The thing is…” He walks towards her. “I don’t have you.”

“What do you mean?”

“You can’t be serious.” He scoffs. “You wreak of that dolt’s scent, Amber. What did you do, go home and fuck him to celebrate? I found this one because she was wearing one of your sweaters, thought it was you.”

Amber looks back at Penny with wide eyes. She had to have known that Max was going to come for her. Penny set the tea up so Harry’s scent would mix with Amber’s, and make her hard to find. Penny essentially sacrificed herself.

“And to think I was mad at you.” Amber smiles softly at Penny.

“I’d never trick you on purpose.” Penny says.

“Blah, blah, blah.” Max rolls his eyes. “Either way, I’ve lured you here.”

“What do you even want from me? Do you think forcing me into a relationship is going to be much fun?”

“Don’t flatter yourself.” Max chuckles. “You think you’re such a prize, but you’re not. I’ve had women far better than you. This really is about Opal, so hand her over.”

“No.”

Amber’s hands glow, and she strikes a blow at Max. He blocks it and sends it back to her.

“Like the new powers? My friends gifted them to me.” He grins.

“Red’s never been your color, sorry to say.”

They both run towards each other to duke it out. Shadows start to crowd around Penny, and she tries to deflect them, but she needs help. Harry and Opal storm in to help her. Harry’s able to zap them away. He looks over at Max, and runs towards him, striking him with a powerful blow. Amber’s eyes widen as she watches Harry try to face off with Max.

“Amber, get Opal and Penny home, now!”

“Harry, I’m not leaving you!”

“Go!”

“Listen to your foolish boy, Amber, you won’t want to see this.” Max says as he strikes Harry.

Amber fights back tears as she snaps herself, Penny, and Opal out of there. She starts crying because she knows she doesn’t have the strength to snap back right away.

“If I lose him, I…I don’t know what I’ll do.” She cries. “I finally opened up to him, and I-“

“Don’t waste your energy on panicking.” Penny says. “I tried to stop him so you wouldn’t have to worry. I wanted to ward him off, I’m sorry.”

“This isn’t your fault, it’s mine.” Opal says. “I was in the woods that night because I was following him. I had caught wind of dark magic usage, and my suspicions of it being him were true. I had no choice but to tell you.” She says to Amber.

Amber drops to her knees, and wraps her arms around Opal. Amber didn’t blame Opal for anything. This was all Max’s fault. She could feel herself getting angrier. She needed to know if Harry was alright.

“I have to get back to him. He can’t face Max on his own.” Amber looks up at Penny. “Do you think I’ll be able to do it?”

“You are the strongest girl I know. If anyone could muster up the energy to do this, it’s you. Don’t rely on the anger, rely on the love that feel for that boy.”

Amber wants to protest, but she couldn’t deny it. She loved Harry, a lot. She’d fallen for him, and she needed him to be okay. She takes a deep breath, and snaps herself back to where Harry is. She gasps once she’s back in that room. Harry was levitating Max in the air with his powerful green glow. He was holding Max in some sort of bubble.

“Harry!” Amber shouts.

“I’m okay! I don’t know how I’m doing this, but I’m okay!”

“Let me help!”

She blasts her blue glow up at Max, mixing with Harry’s. Max shouts this goulash sound, and a bright red light shines, filling the room. A loud explosion occurs, blasting Harry and Amber back. Max falls to the ground with a loud thud. Amber scrambles to her feet, and dusts herself off. Harry was totally knocked out. She wants to tend to him, but she has to make sure Max can’t do any more damage. She rushes over to him, and stands over him, nudging his body with her boot. His eyes flutter open, and he looks up at her.

“You’re so far gone.” She shakes her head. “You could have been such a wonderful mage, now look at you.”

“I’ve always envied you.” He says weakly. “You were given the best companion, one that could actually help you and bond with you. You’re one of the most powerful citrines out there. We could have been something together.”

“You ruined it. I feel nothing for you, absolutely nothing.”

“I can tell. Your heart belongs to that one.”

Amber steps on his chest, making him wince.

“And don’t you forget it. I showed mercy by taking your powers away. Walk away while you still can, or I won’t show you such kindness again. Do you understand?”

“Yes, I understand.”

She rushes back over to Harry, and immediately snaps them back to the shop. He was still unconscious. Penny and Opal crowd around the two of them.

“Harry, please wake up.” Amber whispers to him. “I need you to be okay, please, I need you.” She cries into his chest.

“Amber.” Penny puts her hand on Amber’s shoulder. “Let’s get him up into your bed. You have some things in your kitchen we can whip up to help him.”

Amber nods, and Penny snaps them all upstairs. Amber gets Harry tucked into her bed. His breathing was steadily, and his blood pressure was normal. He used so much energy to keep Max at bay, he must be so drained, especially after the night they had. All he wanted to do was take her to breakfast, Amber hoped they’d get the chance. She goes into her kitchen with Penny while Opal stays curled up next to Harry.

“So, what are we making?” Amber sighs.

“Here, crush these mint leaves up, I’m making a watermelon tea, so I’m reducing some watermelon over the stove to make a syrup. We’ll use the mint leaves for the tea itself.”

“What will this do? He can’t drink this if he’s not awake.”

“He’ll need it for when he wakes up. It’ll be like an energy boost.”

“How do we wake him up?”

“We don’t. He needs to sleep whatever this is off. You’ll be there when he wakes. I’m sorry again about last night. When you told me what Max did, I knew he’d try to find you today. I just wanted to help, and-“

“I understand why you did it. It’s okay.” Amber smiles softly. “It could have been worse. Please, sleep here tonight in my guest room.”

“Alright.” Penny nods. “I think that’s a good idea.”

Once the tea is done, Amber brings it into her room, sets it down on the side table closest to Harry, and crawls into bed. It was only the early afternoon, but she felt sleep pulling her in. She succumbs to it, letting her eyes droop as she rests her head on Harry’s chest.

Hours later, she stirs awake when she feels the weight shift in the bed a bit. She looks over to see Harry knuckling at his eyes, and sitting up. He looks at her and smiles softly.

“Hey.” He says.

“How are you feeling?” She asks, reaching to caress his cheek.

“M’alright. I woke up a little while ago, Opal had me drink the tea you made. She’s downstairs with Penny running the shop. I fell back asleep after I drank some of the tea.” He presses a kiss to her palm, and she smiles. “How are you?”

“Better now.” She sighs. “I’m glad you’re awake, I was worried. We got blasted backwards after our magic combined. I don’t know how you were able to hold him off for as long as you did.”

“He…he was trying to egg me on. He was saying all of these awful things about you, but I remember reading it wasn’t good to harness anger to make yourself more powerful, so I just sort of thought about how I wanted to keep you safe, how I wanted Opal to stay safe because I knew that if anything happened to her you’d be devastated.”

“I was really worried about you.” Her voice cracks, and her eyes widen. “I thought he was going to try to kill you. I don’t know what I would have done if you didn’t make it out of there.”

“Amber.” Harry cups her cheeks, using his thumbs to wipe her tears away. “I…I didn’t know you felt so strongly about me. We haven’t had a chance to talk about last night. I know we did a lot last night, and we had a bit more, um, gusto thanks to that tea, but everything I said to you last night I meant. I want to be with you.”

“I want to be with you too. I…I don’t want to know what it’s like to be without you. I was scared that I would. I know I pushed you away in the beginning, but I was fighting off something bigger than the two of us. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this way about someone before.” She looks down for a moment, and then back up at him. “I think…I think we were supposed to find each other, like, there was some sort of pull between us. I mean, there were plenty of other stores on this strip with vacant apartments, but you came into mine.”

“I always thought this stuff only happened in the books I’ve read, but it all sort of makes sense. I mean, I had no idea I was a mage, or whatever. Clearly, whatever this is inside of me was trying to bust out. And…amethysts are drawn to citrines, right?”

“Yeah, sometimes.” Amber smiles. “Usually, um, it’s a male citrine that goes for a female amethyst, not the other way around.”

“What about same sex couples?” He smirks.

“Same sex couples usually share the same gem, it’s rare if they don’t. I’m not sure what the science behind it is, you’d have to ask Penny.”

“Oh, is Penny…?”

“Mhm, she’s a widow, but her wife was the kindest woman. The two of them basically raised me.”

“What was her name?”

“Luna.” Amber smiles fondly. “They’re both garnets.”

“That’s really cool. I want to keep learning more about all of this; it’s so fascinating.”

“You’ll definitely learn more. I’ve got shelves upon shelves of books downstairs that you haven’t even touched yet.”

“Do you think I should tell my family about any of this?”

“God, no. Sometimes these things skip generations, they’d probably think you were nuts.” She chews on her bottom lip for a moment. “We’ve digressed a bit, um, I feel really strongly about you.”

“I feel strongly about you too.”

“Like…I…I’m in love with you, Harry.”

“Oh, thank god.” He sighs with relief. “Feel like I fell in love with you from the second we met, but I’ve been trying really hard not to come on too strong. You’re not the biggest fan of romance.” He smirks.

“No, I’m not.” She leans in to peck his lips. “I’m the stoic one, and you’re the cinnamon roll.” She grins.

“Mm, your dirty talk is impeccable.” He rolls his eyes, and it makes her laugh.

“Let me continue. You’re the only one this stoic girl becomes soft for. You turn me into a little cinnamon roll, one of those really sweet ones with a ton of icing.”

Harry chuckles and leans in to kiss her. He sucks on her bottom lip, smiling into the kiss.

“Definitely sweet.” He mutters against her lips.

“We should probably get out of bed before we completely throw off our sleep schedules.”

“You’re right.” He sighs. “M’also starving. I don’t think I’ve eaten all day.”

“Same here.”

“I owe you a breakfast date.”

“It’s already past five, no restaurant would serve us breakfast right now.”

“Maybe not, but I’m sure I could whip something up. You got groceries?”

“Yeah, plenty of food in the kitchen.” She blinks. “You want to make us breakfast for dinner?”

“Mhm.” He kisses her again. “Do you like pancakes?”

“Love ‘em.” She nods.

“What about chocolate chip pancakes?”

“Those are my favorite.”

“Mine too.”

//

Turns out Harry made some of the best pancakes Amber ever had. After they ate, they went down to the shop to see how Opal and Penny were doing. Amber decided to close down early. Harry needed to finish up some homework, and make sure he had his lesson plans ready to go for tomorrow morning. It was weird getting back to reality, but it was a routine Amber was sort of craving. For so long their main focus was training to prepare for Max’s eventual strike. Amber couldn’t be certain that he wouldn’t try something again, but she looked him dead in the eyes when she threatened him. She saw fear, she could feel his fear. She wasn’t worried about him anymore, nor was she as worried about Opal. She could exhale for the first time in a while.

She had a new concern: Harry. Over the next couple of weeks, she wouldn’t let him sleep alone, which he didn’t mind one bit. Harry liked that Amber was being so affectionate towards him, he reveled in the attention. The kisses, the soft touches, the hugs, the smiles, everything Amber did, Harry loved. He couldn’t wait to finish up his office hours most days so he could get to the shop. Even though Amber had to work, Opal would still curl up at his feet, and Penny would drop off an extra biscotti at his table. Harry felt like he had formed this new little family. It made the little town he decided to call home actually start to feel like home. He even got to see how Amber made her many teas.

The only thing that wasn’t so great was that Harry’s student Whitney tended to keep him late, and Amber didn’t like it. She trusted Harry with her whole heart, but she didn’t quite like the idea of someone else thinking they could try to flirt with him. Whitney came into the shop all the time, Amber knew exactly who Whitney was. She was a senior, so not much younger than herself or Harry, but still, it wasn’t appropriate for a student to be so forward with her professor. So, much like with everything else, Amber took matters into her own hands.

One evening, Harry had made Amber a late dinner after she closed up the shop. After they ate, they made their way to his sofa. Harry thought they were going to just cuddle for a bit, but Amber had made her way into his lap, straddling him and running her fingers through his hair while she sucked on his neck. Normally, Harry would be more cautious about having a mark in such a public spot, but it was getting colder out, so he could wear a turtleneck or scarf to cover it up. He was also just enjoying her body on his too much to care. She was rolling her hips into his, and his hands were kneading her ass.

“What’s gotten into you tonight, huh?” He pants as her teeth really start to sink into his skin. “Not that I’m complaining.”

She pops off him with loud, wet noise, catching her breath as she looks at the red mark forming on his neck. She runs her thumb over it in hopes that it’ll turn a delightful dark purple.

“You just smell so good, you know your cologne drives me wild.” She says as she latches back onto his neck. He moans out as she nips at his skin. She rolls her hips down in a way that grins her center right over his bulge.

“Fuck, Amber, can we move this to the bedroom? M’about ready to explode here.” He groans, squeezing harder at the skin on her hips. She tugs his head more to the side to make the mark even bigger. “Can mark me up all over, yeah?”

“Mm, that sounds nice.” She mumbles into his neck, and kisses her way over to his lips. “Maybe we could take a quick shower, and I could lick you all over too.” She wiggles her eyebrows at him, and his eyes visibly darken.

“Should make you dinner more often.”

//

Harry was on cloud nine the next day at school. He couldn’t stop smiling even if he tried. Amber made good on her promise to lick him all over, especially where he liked it most. He liked that they both enjoyed a good tonguing, and he liked that they were so good at taking turns. He wasn’t even mad about how fucked up his neck looked. Harry knew what Amber was doing, she was clearly marking her territory, and he didn’t mind one bit. If he wasn’t into her dominant personality, he wouldn’t be with her. The sweater he was wearing covered up most of it anyways, and his students never seemed to hide the marks on their necks, so what was the big deal, really?

After he finishes his classes for the day, he heads to his office for his office hours. He dives into the papers he needed to grade. He assigned a ten-page paper for his fiction workshop, and now he was regretting it. He got about a third of the way through his stack when Whitney came to his office.

“Hi, Professor Styles.” She smiles.

“Hey, Whit.” He smiles back. “I’m actually glad you’re here, could use your help.”

“With what?”

“I have a ton of grades to put into a spreadsheet from my physical gradebook. Think you could do that for me?”

“Sure!”

Harry unhooks his laptop from the docking station so she could dive into the spreadsheet he started. Things were quiet for a bit, but she was having trouble reading his writing. Harry had horrible penmanship.

“Professor Styles, I can���t read this.” She says, getting up from her seat and walking over to him. She leans over him slightly, and points to some of his scribbles. “See, I can’t tell if that’s an 87 or an 81.” Her cleavage was practically spilling into his face. He was about to say something, but someone else beat him to it.

“Maybe you should get your eyes checked.” They both look up to see Amber leaning against the door frame.

“Hey!” Harry smiles brightly, and Whitney stands up straight. “Amber, this is Whitney, one of my students. Whitney, this is my girlfriend, Amber.”

“Girlfriend, oh…um…I didn’t realize you were seeing someone, Professor Styles.”

“Course you did, how else would he have gotten that mark on his neck.” Amber smirks. “Now, why don’t you do everyone a favor and put your tits away because he’s not going to suck on them, alright?”

“Amber.” Harry looked mortified.

Whitney looked frightened, and she was speechless. She quickly gathers her things and walks out of Harry’s office. Harry stands up and goes to close his door. He was upset, Amber could tell.

“What?” Amber asks.

“You can’t talk to one of my students like that!”

“Why not? She was practically shoving her tits in your face, and you were letting it happen.”

“I was about to tell her to back off, but then you showed up. Why are you even here?”

“I came to surprise you, but I can see I’m unwanted. Why was she even here?”

“She comes to help me most days after class. She was working on a spreadsheet for me. And you’re not unwanted, you just don’t come to see me here often. It would have been a nice surprise if you hadn’t come in guns hot.” He puts his hands on his hips and looks at her. “Are you seriously jealous?”

“I can’t help that I feel protective over you. I don’t like that other people think you could be theirs when you’re mine.”

“And to think you didn’t want anything to do with me just a few months ago.” He smirks.

“That joke stopped being funny after the first time you made it.” She rolls her eyes, and stops towards him. Harry was just under a foot taller than Amber, and yet she commanded every room she walked into. She grips the collar of his sweater and tugs him down to her face, her eyes glowing.

“You’re so sexy when you’re like this.” He wraps his arms around her, lifting her up and sitting her down on his desk. “But don’t think it gives you a pass for acting like that. You need to be nice. She’s one of your customers, remember? You’re nice all the time at the shop, why can’t be nice where I work?” He pouts.

“Because no one flirts with me at my place of business.”

“Oh, please.” He scoffs. “I’d be a very rich man if I had a dollar for every time I’ve caught someone checking you out.”

“That’s totally different. No one’s shoving a part of their body in my face.” She pouts back at him. “Why does someone so pretty have to be one of your frequent flyers?”

“Okay, let’s get something straight. The only tits I want shoved in my face are yours.” He plants his hands on either side of her thighs, getting nice and close to her face. “And even though Whitney might be pretty, no one could ever compare to how incredibly beautiful you are.”

He always knew exactly how to melt her heart. He leans in to kiss her, sucking on her bottom lip, and licking into her mouth. Her hands move up to his chest, tugging on his sweater to pull him closer. She wraps her legs around his waist, and slowly lowers herself back onto his desk. He follows her, helping her keep her legs around him.

“Wait.” She pants as he kisses down her neck. “Go lock your door.”

“Shit, you’re right.” He says, quickly going over to the door to lock it, and then going back to her. “This is going to hurt your back, do you wanna do it on my chair, on the loveseat?”

“I really want you on top.” She whines.

“Yeah? Want me to be in control right now?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s sit on the loveseat, even if you’re on top, I’ll thrust up into you.” He kisses her. “I’ll rub your clit.” He kisses her again. “Suck on your glorious tits.”

“Fuck, okay, just get my clothes off.” She huffs.

He picks her up, and undoes her jeans quickly. He tugs them down, along with her underwear. Harry drops his own pants and rips his sweater off. Amber gets her jacket off and wraps her arms around his neck. Harry tugs her back to the loveseat, turning her around so she’ll sit on him reverse. He pumps his cock a few times before lining himself up with her. Her jeans were around her ankles since she didn’t bother to take her boots off, so things felt a little tighter than usual; neither of them were complaining.

He bites down on her shoulder, and her head rolls back into his chest. His hands grip Amber’s hips, and he starts thrusting up into her. They needed to be quick and quiet, so he takes one of his hands and it brings it up to her mouth so she could suck on his fingers. Her eyes roll back as she sucks on his digits. His other hand slips between her thighs so his fingers could work her clit. She moans around his fingers from the sheer pleasure. His tip was pummeling her g-spot, and his fingers were working magic – excuse the pun. His palm was pressing into her bladder, and she was starting to panic. She didn’t want to make a mess of his loveseat.

“Can feel you squeezing around me.” He says into her hear, nipping at her lobe.

“H-Harry, I-“ She mumbles around his fingers.

“Hm? What’s the matter, gonna make a mess?”

“Mhm.” She whines.

“Well, we can’t have that, can we?” He stops all motions immediately, and lifts her off of him.

“What the hell are you doing?!” She asks as he grabs a tissue to come into.

“You said you wanted me in control.” He says as he pulls his pants back up. “Can’t have you squirting all over my office. I’ll take care of you when I finish work for the day.” He smiles and kisses her forehead.

“Harry, this isn’t funny.”

“M’not trying to be, Babe.” He helps her pull her own pants back up. “I have a lot to do, and since you sent my little worker bee away, I may be here a little later than usual. I’ll come to your place when I’m done.”

“You’re sure you wanna play this game with me?” She asks as she puts her jacket back on. “I don’t think you’re prepared for what you’re coming home to by denying me of an orgasm.”

“I’ll take my chances.” He smirks. “I can’t have you thinking you deserve a reward for acting up in my office.” He pecks her lips and opens his door. “I’ll see you in a little while.”

She narrows her eyes at him, looks him up and down, and nods.

“Okay.”

Harry felt a chill run through him as she left. Maybe he should have let her come.

//

Harry wasn’t kidding when he said he had a lot of work to do. He didn’t get home until after the shop closed. He drops his things off in his apartment before going up to Amber’s. She was sitting on her couch watching TV when he came in.

“Hey, Baby, sorry I’m back so late. Where’s Opal?”

“Staying with Penny tonight.”

“Oh?”

“Told her we needed some alone time.” She stands up and walks over to him, giving him a slow kiss on the cheek.

“Huh.” He swallows. “Well, we’re alone now.” He puts his hands on her hips. “Did you, uh, take care of yourself at all?”

“I’ll admit, I almost did just to spite you, but I thought it would ruin the fun.” She slides her hands up his chest. “That being said, I’m not quite in the mood for you to be so in control anymore.”

“What a relief.” He sighs. “M’exhausted, I don’t think I could keep up the façade of being so in charge right now.” He pouts at her and she giggles.

“You made a very good point earlier. I shouldn’t have spoken to your student like that. Bring some coupons with you tomorrow to give her as an apology, but make no mistake, if she keeps hitting on you I will not hesitate to fuck her up.”

“I can live with that. She’ll only be my student for another month or so.” He presses his forehead to hers. “So, what would like to do instead of playing games tonight?”

“I’d very much appreciate it if you ate me out for a bit. You denied me of what would have been a rather powerful orgasm and I think you should make up for it.”

“Fair enough. Then will you go back to bouncing on my cock the way you were? Felt so nice.”

She nods, and takes his hand to lead him to the bedroom. She takes her night shirt off, revealing her naked body to him.

“You’re wicked.” He grins. “Lounging around with that glorious bum of yours out for anyone to see.”

“Good thing I was home alone.” She grins, and gets onto the bed, spreading her legs open for him. She snaps her fingers to light the candles in the room.

Harry rids himself of his clothes, and knees onto the bed. He kisses on her belly, leaving a trail of wet kisses behind as he makes his way between her thighs. He hooks his arms around her thighs and dives in. He sucks on her clit immediately, making her moan out. She cards her fingers through his hair as he eats her like he hasn’t eaten in days. The noises he makes as he sucks and licks on her are filthy, and they only spur Amber on more with her moans and whimpers.

“Oh my god, Harry.” She whimpers. “You’re so fucking good, Baby, so fucking good.” She was near tears. His tongue was so wet and warm, fucking in and out of her. “Fuck, I’m gonna come, I’m gonna come, Harry!” She comes hard on his tongue, and he laps it up, moaning at how good she tastes.

“Fucking hell.” He breathes when he sits up. “Do you want me to give you another this way?”

“God, you’re insatiable.” She groans. “Please, I need you inside me now.”

Harry sits up against the headboard, and Amber sits on him reverse she like had earlier in the day. This time they could both be as loud as they wanted, and this time Harry could grope freely at her breasts. She uses her knees to move up and down on him. She was moving fast, wanting him to fill her up. He uses one of his hands to rub circles into her clit.

“Amber.” He moans into her ear, thrusting up into her. “You’re so fucking wet for me, feels amazing.”

“Only ever want your cock, no one else’s.” She had never said anything like that to him before. “Don’t want anyone else ever again.”

“Fuck, I don’t want anyone else either. M’all yours.”

“Yes!” She gasps as she comes around him. He follows right after, filling her up. “Yes.” She whispers.

“Are you all mine?” He whispers into her ear before kissing on her cheek and shoulder.

“Mhm.” She relaxes into him, and looks up his face, admiring his features. “You’re all I want.”

“You’re all I want too. I’m so glad we found one another.” He wraps his arms tightly around her.

“So am I.” She sighs happily.

Eventually, she gets off of him, and they both clean themselves up before getting into bed. Harry tells Amber about his classes and coursework, and she tells him about some of the funny customers that came in that day. They lay there giggling and chatting, just enjoying each other’s company.

“Harry?” She asks as she traces over his tattoos with her finger tips.

“Hm? What is it, my love?”

“You mean the world to me, I hope you know that.” She snuggles into his chest. “Jealousy is quite ugly, but when I love, I love hard. It’s just who I am.”

“I’m so honored that you’ve welcomed me into your small circle. I see the way you are with Opal and Penny, the love you have for them radiates off you. I can feel what you feel for me.”

“And I can feel what you feel for me.”

“We’re connected.” He says, and kisses the top of her head.

“We are.” She nods. “And it feels wonderful.”