#i had to beat 33 seconds and i kept getting 34-35 seconds for so long lmao

[diah-the-demon]

hey look what i did earlier today

[bratshaws]

goodness gracious 68. brb x oc

a/n: god im so excited for this new batch of CHAPTERS I--- i hope you guys like it, I REALLY DO AAAAAAAAAAAA

check out the fic's playlist made by the sweet @wiipes !!

pairing: plus size!oc x rooster

warnings: Fluff, Rooster being a good boyfriend ( and a protective one ), Bea's parents finally CHILLING

chapters:

1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12/13/14/15/16/17/18/19/20/21/22/23/24/25/26/27/28/29/30/31/32/33/34/35/36/37/38/39/40/41/42/43/44

45/46/47/48/49/50/51/52/53/54/55/56/57/58/59/60/61/62/63/64

65/66/67

(pls let me know if you want to be added to the taglist!!)

taglist: @mirandastuckinthe80s @roosterschanelslut @wiipes @lcahwriter @shrimping-for-all @gretagerwigsmuse @frenchtoastix

@lizzie-rdj @fanboyluvr @atarmychick007 @comebacktoearthpls

@peachiicherries @mak-32 @lizziespidiepridie @roosterswifey @ollyoxenfrees @piceous21 @sqrlgrl22 @hofficoffi @lexhalstead3 

@lorilane33 @legendarydreamersharkparty @luckyladycreator2 @emilybradshaw @j-6o @louisahale @leobabbyyy @kulicny @winter-run @ktjmac @graciereads 

-

Beatrice tried to put on a cheerful smile once she got to the bar, she tried to act as normal as she could but Shells saw right through her, well, Shells and Penny. It was easy to know when Bea was really sad, because she could have a huge smile facing you only for it to drop once her back turned and that was happening a lot that night.

Shells wondered if maybe she and Rooster had an argument, because the pilot wasn’t there with the rest of the Dagger squad, but she’d definitely tell her if that was the case.

So,when Beatrice was busy filling a pint glass, Shells got closer to her with both of their backs turned to the patrons on the bar, “Hey.” she calls, gently nudging the brunette’s shoulder, “What’s up? You look really upset.”

Beatrice’s breathing hitched and she cleared her throat, her eyebrows furrowed so hard Shells thought they’d pop out of her forehead, “...It’s just…something happened.” she whispered, and the blonde woman thought she’d continue her explanation but Bea didn’t so she unfortunately had to pry a bit more.

“Did something happen between you and Rooster? Do I have to beat his ass?” but Beatrice shakes her head quickly, telling Shells Rooster had nothing to do with what happened. So her instinct was right,but something did happen. But Beatrice just didn’t speak, she instead just stared down at the filling glass, immediately slapping on a smile as she turned around to serve the patron.

“I’ll go get the tables.” she says, grabbing the tray from the bar top, Shells watching with her mouth parted in surprise, following Beatrice with her eyes as the brunette walked around the bar, with the same plastic smile on her face. Shells’ lips pursed, her eyebrows furrowing just a bit before she got closer to her aunt.

“Aunt Penny, Bea isn’t telling me what happened.”

Penny looks over her shoulder towards Shells, then back at Beatrice, “Then maybe she doesn’t want to talk about it yet, Shells. Don’t force it out of her.”

“I don’t plan to,” she says quietly, “But Bea has a tendency to keep things to herself until she’s ready to burst and that’s always bad.” Shell’s blue eyes darted back to Beatrice, who was coming back with empty glasses, setting them on the sink over the counter, “Look at her, she looks….dead behind the eyes.”

It was very strange to see Beatrice with her green eyes looking so dull and lacking any sort of light, it was wrong especially for those who knew her for a long time. Shells kept her eyes on Beatrice for a while, until the brunette placed the tray on the bartop and stared at nothing, just stood there with her eyes completely blank only looking up to talk to Penny. The older woman nodded and Beatrice excused herself to walk out of the bar for a little bit, something that Shells immediately noticed, “Aunt Penny, what happened?”

“She just asked for a few seconds outside, it’s all.” Penny reassures, “She’ll come back soon.”

Beatrice, once outside the bar, rubbed both of her hands over her face and inhaled deeply, letting the air out in a shaky breath as she paced around the sidewalk. No sign of the blue Bronco yet and her paranoia started to go wild.

He got uncomfortable because you let all that on him, how could you? How could you do that? He has his own problems that are a lot worse than yours and you couldn’t even call your therapist?? You are pathetic.

She just felt like she wanted to disappear, to the ground to open and devour her whole, hiding her from her own thoughts and hoping she’d be okay eventually. Her father’s words and lack of support hurt her so much, she felt that now she introduced Bradley to them and they liked him, they couldn’t care less about her working on the Hard Deck, after all Bradley was there with her so it wasn’t bad.

But no, her father just thought the same thing as he always did and even outed himself by saying he disliked her choice in career. She knew her parents didn’t approve at first, but they went to her graduation and they were happy to have another child with a degree but…the fact he voiced as ‘its not something our family usually does’ hurt her so much. Beatrice sniffled, wiping her eyes off of any tears, only looking up when she heard the knowing engine roaring then going silent not too far from her.

The blue Bronco arrived, and Bradley stepped out of it so quickly Bea couldn’t even blink fast enough. His long strides reached her in minutes, “Baby.” he whispers, engulfing her in a hug, kissing the top of her head, “What are you doing out here? Are you okay?”

Beatrice hugs his middle, burying her face on his chest and inhaling his cologne, her nervous mind no longer echoing the anxious thoughts from before, the goblin voice was wrong yet again. Bradley cups the back of her head, caressing the part of hair that wasn’t pulled up in her usual bun, “Talk to me, pretty girl.” he whispers, “What are you feeling?”

“I’m so hurt,Roos.” comes her soft reply, a bit muffled because of her face pressed against the cotton of his shirt, “I’m so fucking hurt.” she was amazed she hadn’t started crying already, maybe her eyes were just too tired and too dry to cry again. Her boyfriend huffs out a breath that moves a couple strands of hair, but he keeps his arms around her, only dropping his lips to her scalp to comfort her.

When she lifts her head again, after she feels ready enough, she meets his eyes with her glazed one, “Why were you late? Was there something going on at work?” maybe because he couldn’t come back when time allowed it?

Bradley hesitated, licking his lips and clenching his jaw ever so briefly, “In a way, yeah,I had to resolve some things.”

“Oh…did you?”

“I like to think so.” he replies, cryptically, but she doesn’t feel any malice in his answer, especially when he lowers his mouth to her forehead and kisses the soft skin there “We’ll see as the night goes by.”

The night goes by? Beatrice furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, but she was already feeling a lot better having him there with her, “...okay, well,I think we can go inside now.” he nods, letting her walk in first and he follows right behind. His mind was still repeating the events from moments before, rubbing his jawline as he thought about it.

He should tell Beatrice, but only if something doesn’t come out of it. 

-

Bradley drives the Bronco towards Little Italy, remembering every street he had to turn and go from Christmas’ Eve, seeing her parents’ house coming into view. The lights were on, which meant they were inside - thank God. Maybe he shouldn’t be doing this, it’s a personal matter between Beatrice and her parents, but he couldn’t not do anything. Just hearing her sob through the phone was painful enough for him to worry.

So when he parked the Bronco in front of the house, he stepped out with everything he’d say in mind. He walks up the steps, knocks on the door and waits. Her mother opens it, greeting him with a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes but she’s polite enough to let him inside, “Are you hungry,Bradley?” he’s about to say no, but Claudia is already inside the kitchen, “I’ll heat something for you.”

Meanwhile, Rafael’s frame appeared down the hallway, his hands in his pockets, “Bradley, well…what a surprise.” He stood there awkwardly, looking over the pilot’s shoulder to see if he had anyone else with him, “Did…did Beatrice come with you?”

“No.” Rafael drops his head when he hears it, his brows furrowing downwards, “No, she’s working right now.” this was it, he had to do something about it because it wasn’t right by him “I’ll go meet her in a little bit.”

“I see.” her father murmurs, “Well…is there a reason you came over then?”

Rooster’s chest expanded because of his inhale, mentally preparing himself for what he was about to say, “I came here to talk about Bea.” He was really going to do this, wasn’t he? “She…is very hurt Mr.Schiavoni.” Rafael’s head recoiled, Rooster was unsure if it was because of the honorific he asked Bradley to drop ages ago or because he heard from his daughter’s boyfriend that her feelings were hurt, “And no, she has no idea I’m here.”

There’s silence that follows, Rafael’s big hands on his hips just show that the older man wasn’t expecting such words to come out of Bradley’s mouth, like he was trying to keep himself upright because of how heavy those words sounded. But it was easy to see he was annoyed by the subtle tic of his eyebrow, “I don’t know what that has to do with you Bradley, it’s a family matter.”

“I love her, she’s my girlfriend.” he adds quickly, “And I hate seeing her hurt. “ he never raised his voice, but there was a firm intonation in his words that undoubtedly showed that while he respected Rafael as the patriarch of the family, he wasn’t going to let that slide so easily.

Rafael narrows his eyes in Bradley's direction, “Look, ragazzo. I understand you do, but this thing has to be resolved between me and Beatrice.” he explains, “Yes, it was a bad conversation and yes there were misunderstandings happening, but I’d like to speak to Beatrice myself.”

If Bradley knew Bea,which he did, she wouldn’t want to speak to her parents for a while to recover from the emotional blow that undoubtedly shook her to her core. It was one thing having her brother talk about the bar, and he remembered how much that hurt her, but hearing her father say something about it really made her feel worse than before. 

The two men share a look, Bradley’s jaw moving as he tries to think how to reply without hurting the older man’s feelings and making this situation worse, “You can go to the bar and talk to her,” he suggests, hearing a soft gasp from the kitchen and seeing Rafael’s eyes widen behind his glasses.

“What?”

“Beatrice would like it if you went there and saw what she did, and you could see there’s nothing wrong happening there.” there wasn’t anger in Rafael’s eyes, mostly confusion, he couldn’t understand why Bradley would suggest such a thing to him especially after the conversation he had with Beatrice earlier that day.

The Schiavoni patriarch just remained silent, the hands on his hips clenching his sides so tight Rooster could see the lilac colored fabric of his shirt stretching just a bit under the pressure. One of his hands came up to rub his beard, his lips tight as he ran his fingers on the graying black beard, combing the whole length down to his chin.

Rafael sighs heavily through his nose, “I don’t know…if it’s a good idea.” he begins, “I…”

“Listen, the Hard Deck is a really cool bar. It’s safe, Bea is safe there. She not only has me there, she has my friends and her friends as well.” he explains, gesturing in the direction the bar would be, “I don’t like seeing her hurt like that, and I know you don’t either.” her father had a look on his face, a look that answered most of Bradley’s questions that he was of course right.

Him and Beatrice both had in common how both their eyes showed their emotions a lot. And right now it showed that the older man was sad, very sad, that his youngest daughter was hurt because of his words and that she didn’t want to speak to him because of it. Rafael looked up from the ground to meet his wife’s eyes from the kitchen threshold, Claudia had her arms crossed with a deep frown, clearly not pleased by this situation either “...I…I’ll think about it. Would–how long does she work?”

Jesus, he doesn't even know how long Bea’s shift is. “She gets out at midnight, I take her home.” he adds quickly when Rafael immediately seemed to worry thinking his daughter would be alone waiting for a ride in the middle of the night.

Rafael dug his hands in his pockets, then rubbed his beard one more time, looking away from Bradley, “Would she be alright?” he questions, “If we showed up?”

“She’d be surprised.” Bradley replies, “But maybe she’d consider that you two are willing to see where she works and give her the chance she’s been wanting.” and deserving, and needing after all she told him about her parents’ overprotective nature. Rafael shares another look with his wife, who just nods quietly, crossing her arms “Is that a yes?”

“It’s a maybe.” Rafael says, sighing at the end of his sentence, “We just, we’ll have a talk then see if it’s wise or not.”

It was better than a no.

-

Bradley left the Schiavoni’s house without the dinner Claudia prepared for him, not because she didn’t want to give it to him after the conversation, but because he would go to the bar and it’d be better if she kept it in her fridge since there was no way he’d go home. Claudia understood, she even kissed his cheeks and forehead as a goodbye before he got back into his car.

And now he was sitting with the rest of the Daggers, his eyes moving from his beer bottle to the doors where patrons came and went, only averting his gaze towards Beatrice whenever she appeared in his view. She was still sad, but he noticed that ever since he stepped into the bar the brunette seemed to have relaxed tremendously and he was glad he could help with that. He hoped she wouldn’t be upset about him talking to her father; he didn’t mean to intrude, but he just wanted to figure out a way to help her.

But the night went by and there was no sign of the Schiavoni’s and he felt like part of him was succumbing to disappointment. He had to tell Beatrice, since there was no sign of her parents anywhere. He pushed himself to walk to the bar top, sitting on his usual stool as Bea walked around behind the bar, offering him a small smile when she noticed him there, “Hey,” she said quietly, quieter than normal, “Do you need another drink?”

“No,I just wanted to check on you. How are you feeling?” Beatrice offers him a weak shrug and a smile, cleaning some glasses as she focuses her attention on him. ‘...Listen, don’t get mad at me,” she stops the cleaning to furrowed her eyebrows at his odd request, “But I went to your parents.” he explains to her, as quiet as he could - thank God for the jukebox playing -  what he did and why he did it.

Beatrice listened without moving her gaze away, her expression unreadable until Rooster was finally done, then her eyes turned to her hands, “Oh.” she said softly but instead of worsening her emotional state, she surprised him “...you didn’t have to do that, Roos, it’s okay.” with the calmest, sweetest voice he had ever heard and her smile turned wider, “I’m not mad at you.”

“You’re not?”

“No,” she laughs softly, “Honestly. I just don’t want to bring you my problems, you know? And making you worry so much about me. I still appreciate what you did but… I doubt they’ll show up.” her smile only faltered by the end of her sentence, turning her body away from him and leaving him seated still digesting what she said. He closed his eyes with a sigh, dropping his head forward and supporting his forehead on his interlaced fingers. Beatrice was too good, too sweet. He almost felt bad thinking she’d be upset at him, it was a possibility of course, but she just sounded guilty, like she was bringing problems into his life.

Which wasn’t true, she wasn’t, he did that willingly. She wasn’t a burden because of her issues; he knew she had to deal with them alone for a long time, with her parents alone for a long time, but she didn’t have to anymore. He wanted to help her go through those things just like she does to him after all when he asked her to m– he immediately straightened himself, clearing his throat and tapping the bar top to distract his brain.

Now it wasn't the time to think about that.

He looks down at his watch for a second, then does a double take when he turns to face the door. Rafael and Claudia looked extremely out of place, they also looked worried while moving their eyes around. Neither Beatrice nor her parents connected gazes, letting the other know of each other’s presence inside the bar…but it was Shells, who was coming back from a table, that voiced it out to the brunette quietly to ‘look at the door’.

Rooster watched Beatrice’s body slowly turn to the door, the rag in her hand clenched so tightly by her hands he feared she’d rip it, ‘They came.” she whispers to herself, then turning towards him, “They really came. They never–I…” Her voice shook ever so slightly and she quickly gave her back to the front doors to do anything else, her hands trembling a bit, “Are they looking at me?” she asks Rooster softly, to which her boyfriend subtly flicked his brown-eyed gaze to the older couple that slowly made their way inside.

“They are looking for you.” he corrects, seeing how they moved their heads around hoping to find Beatrice, stopping when they met Bradley’s eyes… and Beatrice’s back, “They found us.” Beatrice bites her lower lip hard, giving him a terrified stare through her lashes, “I’m with you, baby. It’s okay, alright?” It took her a while to nod in response, but she did after inhaling deeply and eventually turning around to face her parents.

Both Rafael and Claudia looked extremely guilty, her mother looking like she was about to burst into tears at any second while her father just kept his arms inside his black coat’s pockets, looking at his lap “...um.” Beatrice clears her throat, “Can I give you guys anything?”

“Water.” both say immediately, looking at each other and then away. Claudia shaking her head exasperatedly. Beatrice knew they had a fight by the way they were acting, maybe her mother didn’t agree with her father as much as she thought she would. But the brunette placed two water bottles in front of them and they shared glances, neither of them knowing what else to do.

That was until Beatrice had to leave to serve another patron, leaving Shells behind the bar and giving the Schiavoni’s a little smile and wave. The blonde’s smile only dropped when she faced Rooster, “What the fuck is happening?” she asks in a quiet rushed voice, making it seem that she was cleaning the bar “Why are Bea’s parents here?”

“I asked them to come,” he just rolled his eyes at Shells confused expression, “They hurt her feelings, Shells. Well, her father did and I thought this could show them it wasn’t so bad here. You know how much she likes it.”

Ah, so the mystery is solved. That was why she was so upset…and Shells couldn’t blame her, not really. As someone who had certain issues with her actual mother, Shells could understand why Beatrice was so hurt. She didn’t know exactly what happened but it was more than enough for the blonde to sympathize with her. She however knew that Bea’s parents, in all their overprotectiveness and fear surrounding Beatrice, weren't like her mother.

So when they seemed very out of place, sipping their water bottles in silence, she made sure to talk to them every once in a while, asking if they needed anything else. Besides the obvious need to talk to Beatrice, they were fine, they chose to just keep to themselves. Rooster and Shells shared a look, with the pilot nodding subtly before he moved a stool closer to them, “I’m glad to see you two here.” he smiles, placing his interlaced hands on the bar top, “Bea didn’t think you’d show up.”

Rafael laughs awkwardly, “Well…we almost didn’t, but we had a very long,long talk,” he and his wife share a look, with Claudia’s eyes narrowed just enough for Bradley to know she was probably the one who forced Rafael to come along, “And…it was better if we all talked, soon instead of waiting too long.” Rafael’s eyes traveled around the bar, Rooster could see one of his legs bouncing to the music from the jukebox, about to say something but a voice interrupted them.

“Rafael? Rafael is that you? I’ll be damned!” Jeff, the regular that always was there with his wife, appeared on Claudia’s side, “I can’t believe I’d ever see you here!” Beatrice’s father widened his eyes, a smile forming on his face as he stood to his feet, engulfing the other man in a hug. A hug that appeared to be like they hadn’t seen each other in ages, a hug that made Rooster arch his eyebrow in questioning.

“Jeff! What are you doing here?”

“Me? What are you doing here?” They held each other’s shoulders, laughing and then going for another hug, clapping each other on the back. Rafael turned to Claudia, who smiled just as wide, hugging Jeff in a greeting and the three of them started talking. Rooster just smiled, looking down at his hands with his lips pursed, moving his eyes upwards when Beatrice returned.

His girlfriend sent a bewildered look towards Bradley when she saw her parents talking to no one other but Jeff, “What’s happening?” she asks once she’s close enough.

“I have no idea, I think they know each other.” which was new information to Beatrice as well considering how her eyes were wide with surprise written all over her face. Soon enough Jeff’s wife joined the conversation, the four of them marching to where the regular couple usually sat to chat amongst themselves. She saw her father gesturing to the bar, then to her still shocked form, with Jeff’s face expressing complete surprise.

“I had no idea she was your daughter!” she hears Jeff laugh, “She’s been working here for months and I never imagined she’d be yours! She’s so quiet, a complete opposite from you.” Beatrice had no idea how her father and Jeff knew each other, especially since Jeff is a Navy Vet and her father isn’t. 

Rafael cussed at the other man, punching him on the shoulder like they were best friends from a time Beatrice couldn’t even…think about. She wracked her brain thinking how would it be possible for her father to know Jeff, thinking of past stories of his friends from school or even from business school and no one came to mind. But she was a bit glad that whatever this was, it was making her father smile while in her place of work, “I shouldn’t snoop.” she tells Rooster without taking her eyes from the four, “I still have work to do.”

“I’ll snoop for you if you want,” Beatrice turns to look at him, and he cups his hand around his mouth, “I’ll be very quiet, hand me another beer, I can be subtle when I have to.” Both of them move their gazes to the group, before Bea grabs another beer and places it in front of him, slowly backing away from her spot behind the bar to grab the tray, reaching the other patrons. 

Rooster did as he said he would, sipping the beer with his eye on the group of old friends apparently, even leaning his body to the left so he could hear it better. He could catch small pieces of information, something about high school, about Jeff entering the Navy and never seeing Rafael again, about a group of people called the ‘Iron Club’ that they had to contact once again…and then Jeff started complimenting Beatrice, reassuring her parents about the Hard Deck, about how she always did a good job and was respected by everyone.

Honestly, Rooster had a feeling that having a friend tell him that would work better than if either he or Bea did. He smiled against the bottle, tilting it to his lips to drink the amber liquid before he set it aside, he wasn’t really feeling like having more - he just wanted an excuse to stay at the bar. And then he heard his name being said, well, his callsign more exactly. Jeff and his wife - whose name he now found out was Theresa - complimented him and Beatrice vigorously.

Theresa especially said how ‘cute and sweet’ they were and it was so charming to see Bradley always wait for Beatrice whenever it was her time to go, that they’d sometimes see them talking by the parking lot…he panicked briefly, because there were times they didn’t only talk in the parking lot…especially because it was dark and he didn’t think anyone would see. Well now he had to keep an eye on that too.

Her parents kept on talking to the other two for hours, Jeff even asking Bea to bring them drinks. She did, smiling bemusedly and staring at the scene with her eyes locked on how her parents apparently forgot about her, choosing to reminisce amongst themselves instead. She turns to Rooster with her smile still there, bright and just how she should have it, jutting her thumb to the older adults as if to say ‘can you believe it?’

Rooster just shrugged, grinning at her, her own happiness seeping towards him. She already looked so much better than earlier, even going back behind the bar with a pep on her step, going back to her normal self. Time went by again and soon enough it was time for Beatrice to leave, she said her goodbyes to everyone, Rooster standing up to meet her as she made her way out of the bar.

Bea looks back at her parents still talking to Jeff and Theresa, then faces Rooster, “I think I’ll…let them know I’ll be going?” he nods, following her as she gets closer to their table, holding her back strap with both hands, “Um,mama, papa, I’m going already.” she says, offering them a small smile,”You ah, will you guys be okay?”

“Yes, tesoro we will be fine.” her mother says, holding out her hand to grab Beatrice’s, a gentle squeeze that said more than words ever could. ‘I’m sorry’ she could feel ‘I’m sorry for doubting you and this place.’. Claudia then nudges Rafael’s arm, the man, who was already looking up at Bea finally stands to his feet. 

Father and daughter share a look, Beatrice smiling diminutively before her father hugs her to his chest, pressing his lips to her scalp, “Mi dispiace, tesoro.” he whispers in her ear, “Per aver ferito i tuoi sentimenti.” Beatrice had to hold back her tears immediately, smiling against her father’s shoulder, rubbing his upper back comfortingly.

“It’s okay papa, I forgive you.” she replies in english, leaning back to fix his crooked glasses with a small smile, “Call me once you both get home, okay?” he nods, slowly letting her go so she could go back to Bradley. The pilot met Rafael’s eyes, the older man offering the other a proud smile and a nod, a nod that held so much…weight, Bradley couldn’t even describe it. Something in it had more than just ‘thank you for asking me to come’, more than offering a peaceful solution between him and Beatrice.

He didn’t know what it was yet, but he nodded back, following Beatrice out of the bar and leaving the group of old friends talking inside.

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

23rd October >> Mass Readings (Except USA)

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

(Liturgical Colour: Green)

First Reading

Ecclesiasticus 35:12-14, 16-19

The humble man's prayer pierces the clouds.

The Lord is a judge    who is no respecter of personages. He shows no respect of personages to the detriment of a poor man,    he listens to the plea of the injured party. He does not ignore the orphan’s supplication,    nor the widow’s as she pours out her story. The man who with his whole heart serves God will be accepted,    his petitions will carry to the clouds. The humble man’s prayer pierces the clouds,    until it arrives he is inconsolable, And the Lord will not be slow,    nor will he be dilatory on their behalf.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 33(34):2-3,17-19,23

R/ This poor man called; the Lord has heard him.

I will bless the Lord at all times,    his praise always on my lips; in the Lord my soul shall make its boast.    The humble shall hear and be glad.

R/ This poor man called; the Lord has heard him.

The Lord turns his face against the wicked    to destroy their remembrance from the earth. The just call and the Lord hears    and rescues them in all their distress.

R/ This poor man called; the Lord has heard him.

The Lord is close to the broken-hearted;    those whose spirit is crushed he will save. The Lord ransoms the souls of his servants.    Those who hide in him shall not be condemned.

R/ This poor man called; the Lord has heard him.

Second Reading

2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18

All there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me.

My life is already being poured away as a libation, and the time has come for me to be gone. I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day; and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his Appearing.

   The first time I had to present my defence, there was not a single witness to support me. Every one of them deserted me – may they not be held accountable for it. But the Lord stood by me and gave me power, so that through me the whole message might be proclaimed for all the pagans to hear; and so I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from all evil attempts on me, and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation

Matthew 11:25

Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children. Alleluia!

Or:

2 Corinthians 5:19

Alleluia, alleluia! God in Christ was reconciling the world to himself, and he has entrusted to us the news that they are reconciled. Alleluia!

Gospel

Luke 18:9-14

The tax collector, not the Pharisee, went home justified.

Jesus spoke the following parable to some people who prided themselves on being virtuous and despised everyone else: ‘Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood there and said this prayer to himself, “I thank you, God, that I am not grasping, unjust, adulterous like the rest of mankind, and particularly that I am not like this tax collector here. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes on all I get.” The tax collector stood some distance away, not daring even to raise his eyes to heaven; but he beat his breast and said, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” This man, I tell you, went home again at rights with God; the other did not. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the man who humbles himself will be exalted.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[horansqueen]

Stuck With You - Chapter 38

Chapter 38: Stuck With You

🡪chapter 1  🡪chapter 2  🡪chapter 3  🡪chapter 4  🡪chapter 5  🡪chapter 6  🡪chapter 7  🡪chapter 8  🡪chapter 9  🡪chapter 10  🡪chapter 11 🡪chapter 12 🡪chapter 13 🡪chapter 14 🡪chapter 15 🡪chapter 16 🡪chapter 17 🡪chapter 18 🡪chapter 19 🡪chapter 20 🡪chapter 21 🡪chapter 22 🡪chapter 23 🡪chapter 24 🡪chapter 25 🡪chapter 26 🡪chapter 27 🡪chapter 28 🡪chapter 29 🡪chapter 30 🡪chapter 31 🡪chapter 32  🡪chapter 33 🡪chapter 34 🡪chapter 35 🡪chapter 36 🡪chapter 37

College Enemies To Lovers AU

characters // masterlist // instagrams // mood board

I wanna get stuck with you In the middle of the party We're just getting started I wanna get stuck with you  In the eye of the tornado Rowing in the same boat I wanna get stuck with you Get stuck in the middle with you I wanna get stuck with you

Gotta go with the flow And ride the wave right where we're supposed to Yeah, we can go through all the highs and lows Yeah, life's a crazy roller coaster

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NIALL

                                              We were lucky enough to find a store still open, buying everything she needed to snowboard before renting more equipment. I looked at her getting ready with a small smile and tried not to chuckle. She was endearing, and the fact that she was ready to try this just for me meant a lot and also proved a lot.

"Shit, I forgot my phone!" she let out, rolling her eyes and making me raise my eyebrows.

"Do you really need it right now?" I asked with a chuckle. "I have mine." I patted my shirt pocket and grimaced immediately, letting out a groan. "Fuck, I forgot mine too."

"Do you really need it right now?" she teased with a grin, making me smile more.

"Yes, one of us has to have one, just in case something happens." I took my gloves off and put them on the couch next to her. "Wait for me okay? I'll do quick."

She nodded and I looked around, realizing the place was more quiet than I thought it would be. I rushed to the hall and took the elevator, running to our room and walking in. The light was still on and I grabbed my phone on the nightstand where I left it but finally decided to search for hers, too. It took me about a minute to notice it on the desk placed against the wall and grabbed it, turning around to leave, before something caught my attention.

I frowned, recognizing the back of my head on a picture, and took it in my hand to look at it better. My eyes quickly roamed on my shoulder, neck and hair but when they stopped on Devon's forehead and hair, I held my breath. My fingers were slipped in it and my heart started thumping in my chest. I remembered exactly how I felt at that moment, how deep inside her I was, how her lips parted in pleasure. It was the very first time we ever had sex and looking at that picture made me realize we would always have something to remind us of this moment, something that would always bring many emotions inside me, including lust and love. I already loved her at that moment and I wanted to believe she did too.

I ran my finger on the part of her forehead I could see and sighed. It was still not completely clear between us, I knew we had a lot of things to talk about, but I was not sure what exactly stopped her from giving us a chance. I loved her, and she loved me, and obviously, we had been been through bad relationships and I was sure that neither of us would want the other to suffer again the way we had before. Besides, it was totally different. Abby didn't love me and I was pretty sure Henry didn't really love her either.

I couldn't believe she had brought the pictures with her and it made me wonder why she never showed them to me. She had talent to take pictures, there was no doubt about it, but this picture had probably turned out that good mostly because of luck. She couldn't have put much thought into it, giving the position she was in, but the result was incredible and something twisted in my stomach as I looked at it. I didn't know if other people beside us would be able to feel all the emotions that emanated from it but at the same time, I didn't really care. I liked to think we were the only ones who could understand, the only ones who could really feel deeply about it because of how involved we were. It was even slightly scary to know that some people could look at it without understanding the degree of intimacy in it.

I was about to put the picture back on the desk where I found it when the light of the room reflected something behind it. I turned it around and read the words written quickly at first and then slowly the second time. It was Devon's handwriting and I immediately recognized the second part she had scribbled. My heart skipped a beat as I re-read my own lyrics of the song I had written for her and I shook my head slightly. She had an incredible memory and it made the left corner of my lips raise in a small smile. I went back to the first part and my smile fell when I realized she had written an actual verse for my song.

"Darlin', are you always tryin' to blame me? Is it me or 'cause you came here? Just accept that time was wrong Oh, change thee I've been thinkin' bout it lately We never finished what we started Now I'm fearful that it's gone."

I sang it in my head a few times before doing it out loud but still very low. It fitted perfectly and I sighed, my eyes still roaming on the words. It was amazing to think we sort of wrote a song together and I loved knowing that each verse was the point of view of one of us. Did she know the song was about her? That thought made my heart jump in my chest before I rolled my eyes and let out a chuckle. It was not a secret that I loved her, not anymore, and it was a good thing. I wasted so much time trying to hate her even though I knew it was impossible.

I grabbed my phone and snapped a picture of the lyrics she wrote but also of the picture she took to be able to look at it whenever I wanted and finally checked my watch. I had been gone for a while and I rushed out, reaching the elevator as fast as I could. When I walked back to her, she was sitting on the couch, her head leaned on the back and her lips parted. I could hear her snore lightly and I chuckled, shaking my head.

"Devie, hey." I said softly, bending down to shake her gently and making her whimper. "Wake up."

She groaned and sat up quickly, rubbing her eyes and letting out a sigh. She was cute when she slept and I waited a few seconds until her eyes fluttered open to talk again.

"Come on, we only have time for a few basic things."

She got up but almost tripped and I held her, chuckling again.

"You okay?" I asked, moving my face a bit closer to look at her.

She sent me a small smile and nodded. "Yea sorry, just give me a few minutes to wake up completely." she licked her lips and finally raised her eyebrows. "Hey, what took you so long?"

"Oh, I couldn't find your phone." I half-lied, searching my pocket and handing it to her. "I put it in a plastic bag for you, just in case you drop it in the snow or something."

Her head tilted and she sent me a fond smile before pressing her lips together. I felt my heart skip a beat when she moved closer but she stopped herself suddenly. "Thank you."

I wanted her to kiss me. I wanted her to do it first, for once. It seemed like I was always the one who made the first move no matter what we did, especially when it came to something romantic. Maybe she's had had a few initiatives when it came to sex but somehow, whenever it was about love, she seemed reluctant.

"You're welcome." I whispered, fighting the urge I had to kiss her.

We grabbed our stuff and walked outside. I saw her shiver next to me when a whiff of cold air hit us but she still followed me to a very small slope. I tried to show her the basics but she was clearly scared to hurt herself and I finally sat next to her in the snow after she fell.

"How about we go a bit higher?" I proposed, smiling gently when I saw the alarmed expression on her face. "I'll be there with you, okay?"

It took her about a minute to answer. Her eyes roamed on my face and once again, I thought she was going to kiss me and my eyes dropped to her lips. She probably noticed because she licked them nervously and my gaze moved back to her eyes.

"Okay."

I helped her up and we walked slowly to the chairlift in silence. I kept glancing at her and she did the same but it's only when we were half-way there, completely up in the air that everything stopped. My heart jumped in my chest and my eyes got bigger when I realized we were stuck and I swallowed hard, turning to her as she did the same. Her lips curled a bit and she burst into laughing, throwing her head back and making my lips curl.

"It's good luck, remember?" she pointed out, smiling more. "That's what you said!"

"I still think that!" I laughed with her, taking my gloves off to grab my phone. "I'll text Lewis, I know he's near his phone. He can inform them and they'll come get us."

I typed something quickly and sent it, my eyes stuck to the screen until I got an answer from my friend that simply consisted of a laughing emoji and a thumb up.

"It's weird isn't it?" I finally said after a few minutes of silence. "How we always get stuck together somewhere when we have something to solve."

She turned her head my way and tilted it, sending me a small but curious frown. "We have something to solve?"

I turned my body as much as I could to face her and shook my head, my eyebrows raised. "Yes we do. Devie, why don't you want me to say you're my girlfriend?"

"We.. We didn't even discuss it."

"We are now." I pointed out with a sigh. "You said you loved me, we made love this afternoon. I didn't tell our friends because I saw how you reacted when I said the 'g' word this morning in the closet but, what do I have to do?"

"You don't get it."

"No! No I don't!"

I was trying to keep my cool but I wanted her to open up to me, I needed it. I needed her and I needed to be with her. It sounded obsessed, it was intense, but It was driving me crazy to know how she felt without being able to really be with her.

"I do love you! I love you so much Niall I don't think you understand!" she let out before breathing in deeply. I saw her tear up and my lips parted slightly. "You remember when you said I moved you? That my art moved you? Henry used to say that too. I know you're not him, but it's not easy for me to put aside all the pain I went through with him just to throw myself in a new relationship. I don't know how you do it. Abby has hurt you so much too and you're just ready to... to jump back into something official and serious with me." She breathed in and I noticed a tear falling down her right cheek. I wanted to reach out to her but I couldn't, I felt paralyzed. "I am nothing special. I am not like the girls you've been with. I am... I am lost, and scared, and scarred! I love you but I'm scared! I'm scared I'll give you everything and that you'll break me the way I was broken before! But I love you so much more than I loved him! I feel so much closer to you than I ever felt to him! And if you... if you leave... When you realize I'm average... or even below..."

I waited a few seconds, staring at her and she sniffed. It was crazy that she kept all that inside for so long, and at the same time, I was so happy she was finally telling me how she feels.

"Are you done yet?" I asked making her look in my eyes again before sending her a small smile. "Devie, I'm scared too. But I love you, I'm in love with you, and I'm ready to take that chance, because being without you is worse than being heartbroken by you. It's ok to love again!"

She sniffed again and pressed her lips together. I brought my hand to her face and brushed my fingertips on her skin, smiling more. "If you shut yourself from feelings, you may make sure that nothing bad happens and that your heart won't be broken, but you also miss all the good things and all the love you could get." I explained in a low tone. "I can't promise you that everything will always be perfect, but I promise I'll keep trying because that's how much I love you. I told you, Devie, you're my main girl. You're the protagonist of this story. No one can take your role. No one."

Her lips curled too and she chuckled before nodding quickly and bending closer to me. She pressed her lips on mine, making me smile too. "I wouldn't want to be stuck here with anyone else." she whispered, making me chuckle before kissing me deeper.

We started laughing against each other's mouth when the chairlift started moving again and finally walked back inside. We were both very cold and we decided to just go back to our room, taking the elevator in silence again. We both got changed into warm clothes and sat in bed together. She leaned her head on my shoulder and moved her legs over mine. I smiled when I saw her warm socks and left a kiss on top of her head.

"That painting you made here the other night..." I started gently, leaning my cheek on top of her head. "It was the first time I saw you paint with light colors. It was beautiful, it looked like a summer sky."

She reached for my hand on her thigh and intertwined our fingers. "All the paintings I made since I arrived here were about you. My art has been about you and my feelings for you, the emotions you made me feel." she explained, surprising me a bit, especially that all my songs were about her. "You make me feel those colors. You make me feel light and clear and warm. You make me feel alive."

"That's not what the painting in our room says, the one you gave me. There's yellow, but there's so much darkness in it. Every time I look at it, I feel horrible for ever making you feel so bad. I'm sorry, Devie."

She moved away slowly to turn around and face me. Her lips curled softly on the left and she licked her lips, shaking her head slightly. "You got it all wrong, Niall." she pointed out gently, raising her eyebrows. "You're not the black in that painting. You're the yellow. You're the light trying to reach me, stopped by my own demons and fears. You're the light in my life, Niall. You've always been the light."

I brought both my hands to her face and cupped her cheeks, kissing her harder than intended. I felt her move closer and straddle me and I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her as close to me as possible. "I love you, Devie, I love you so much." I whispered in-between kisses. "Since the first day."

"I love you too." she murmured back, slipping her hands in my hair. "I always have."

----

We got prepared together the next morning and whenever I'd walk near her, I'd pull her close to kiss her lips and she'd giggle or smile. There was something natural in the way we moved together around the room, even in a place we were not used to, and I couldn't help but think it was a proof that we were made for each other. When we were ready, I grabbed her hand and pulled her closer, making her twirl around as she started laughing and I walked to the door, bringing her with me. We took the elevator to meet our friends downstairs but when the doors opened, I let go of her hand, not really sure if she had changed her mind. I didn't want to rush her, and I didn't want to lose her either. She glanced at me but still followed me to the main room where all our friends were waiting for us, talking and laughing together.

I turned to look at her as her eyes roamed on everyone and after about a minute, I felt her hand reach mine and grab it tight. It took a few seconds but Lewis finally noticed us, his lips curling into a smirk when he noticed we were holding hands. He hit Louis a bit roughly who just frowned but finally turned to us too before our friends noticed us one by one. I cleared my throat when Louis jumped off the couch with a big smile.

"Fuckin' finally!" he yelled, catching the attention of almost everyone in the room. "That's it? That's official? You two are dating?"

"Yes, it's official." Devon replied loud and clear, surprising everyone.

I noticed Mandy winking at her and squeezed her fingers tighter as Louis walked quickly to us, throwing his arms around my girlfriend's neck and holding her close.

"Took you long enough." he told her with a chuckle as she wrapped her free arm around him. "I'm so happy for you two."

Lewis walked to me to hug me too and then almost everyone followed. I noticed Abby sending me a small and sad smile from afar and I just smiled back gently at her, surprised that she took it so well.

"Okay!" Louis let out, clapping in his hands. "Who's hungry?"

Everyone started talking at the same time and they all decided to go to the restaurant to get some food before starting the day. I stopped Devon as she was following them, pulling on her arm to bring her closer to me and just wrapped my arms around her as she tilted her chin up, sliding her hands on my back.

"So that's it? You're my girlfriend?" I asked with an amused grin, making her smile too.

"Mmhm, I'm ready to try that boyfriend/girlfriend thing with you."

"Are you happy, Devon Eaton?" I whispered low, looking down at her.

Her traits softened and she looked at me fondly, in a way no one else had ever looked at me. "Happier than I've ever been. I love you, Niall Horan."

"Not as much as I love you."

[etherealvibespls]

till the stars fall out of the sky

Hi. It's been almost two years but I hope you enjoy this short + messy krii7y piece :)

--

The thing about it being the end of the world is how little time there is to prepare. No matter how many people seem ready with their canned foods and underground bunkers, or even the discarded pamphlets scattered throughout the streets filled with government advice as if, maybe, those in power had an idea of what was to come, no one is actually prepared for what they’re faced with; the end of everything.

And it’s terrifying.

Smitty had so many plans. A few weeks ago those plans held some dread, had his heart skipping at just the mere idea of change, and yet now his heart only aches.

In front of him the website mocks him. The screen is dim to preserve the little battery he has left in his laptop, but the floor plan of the apartment is still too bright, painting a pointless fantasy for his eyes to gaze longingly at.

He should have moved by now, but his fear kept him back. Rooted him in what he’s familiar with.

Now it’s too late.

A quiet ding snaps him out of his haze and the second his eyes settle on the notification the knot in his chest loosens, smoothed out by the person miles and miles away.

John (10:02): so it turns out the world really is ending

Smitty snorts. To his embarrassment, there’s already a smile stretching across his face.

Smitty (10:03): you’re just now realizing?

John (10:03): i mean can you blame me? how was i supposed to know all those youtube videos were real? but today i actually left the house for the first time in like, two weeks and it looks like i’m in hell

John (10:04): at first i thought i was dead because what the fuck, right? the sky is fucking red, but then i saw someone walking their dog as if it were normal so now i’m assuming this is what everyone’s been talking about

Smitty (10:04): have i ever told you i hate you

John (10:05): uh hello? what the fuck

Smitty (10:05): i’ve been stressed out of my fucking mind and you’ve been clueless this entire time?? go fuck yourself john. like actually take that dildo you thought i forgot about and fuck. off.

John (10:06): HELLO ? you said you’d never bring that up

Smitty (10:07): the world is ending dickhead. i’m allowed to embarrass you one last time

Smitty bites at the inside of his cheek, suppressing the urge to laugh as he waits for his friend’s response. It takes longer for John to reply this time but he’s probably writing a paragraph that makes absolutely no sense and only serves to insult Smitty whichever way he can.

After a quiet minute, John finally responds.

John (10:08): don’t say that

Smitty blinks, not expecting such a short reply.

Smitty (10:08): don’t say what?

Half of him is still expecting this to lead into a snarky remark and he prepares for John’s little ha-ha, got you, but by John’s next message, it’s clear he’s no longer joking.

In an instant, the mood has not only shifted into something serious, but into pure heartbreak as well.

John (10:09): “one last time”

John (10:09): it makes it sound like you’ve already lost hope

Smitty (10:09): john…there’s nothing left for us. they’ve done all they can but there’s no fixing something so completely destroyed, and at some point you just have to accept that it’s over

John (10:10): this isn’t the end

A pause.

John (10:10): i still haven’t met you yet

Smitty releases a long, shaky breath. He’s tried so hard to not think of the mistake he made those weeks ago, yet it seems like there’s always something to remind him of it.

It’s possible John isn’t even mentioning it now, but Smitty is so consumed by guilt that his mind wanders there regardless. The end of the world hanging over everyone’s head has only made it worse, dug it up again and shoved it into his every waking thought, constantly reminding him of what could’ve been.

Mocking the opportunity he ruined.

Smitty (10:12): i’m sorry. i should be there.

John (10:12): you don’t have to keep apologizing, smit. you had your reasons

Smitty shakes his head in disbelief at the message, biting down hard on his lip the moment his eyes begin to burn, blinking back unshed tears.

He hates how nice John is. How even as they face down their last days on earth there isn’t a part of him that’s angry, or at the very least, disappointed.

Smitty (10:13): my reasons were selfish and stupid and it’s because of them that we have to message each other as the world literally crumbles around us

John (10:14): being alone does suck, and it would’ve been nice to have some company, but i still don’t blame you

It probably isn’t supposed to come across as tragic as it does, but Smitty’s shoulders sag with grief anyway.

Briefly his eyes flick over to the corner of his laptop, locking onto the battery life. His heart twists painfully, constricting tight as it flashes, down to its remaining minutes of life.

John (10:16): you know...i still look at it sometimes

John (10:16): it probably sounds so lame but sometimes i imagine how it would’ve been. i’m not a morning person but i think you could’ve made me one, and you hate staying up late but i think i could’ve shown you why sometimes i never fall asleep

John (10:17): i even imagine how it would’ve been decorated. like, from the pictures you’ve sent me of your place it looks so plain and i think about all the trips we’d have to go on before we could agree on some simple shit just for the living room. but i wouldn’t want you to feel bad about your taste or anything so i’d probably let you pick out a bunch of things anyway

Smitty presses his face into his shoulder for just a moment, overcome by so many emotions. A part of him can guess where this is going and his chest nearly caves in at the thought, knows why it’s happening now, of all times.

Smitty (10:19): ... i look at it everyday, imagining the same

Smitty (10:19): i was looking at it before you messaged earlier...can you believe it’s still available? how has no one else wanted it?

John (10:20): because it was always meant to be ours

Ours.

His gaze drifts back to the floor plan still on the screen, and not for the last time, he yearns. He thinks even after everything is said and done, his longing will ripple through the endless void of space.

Thinks heartache as great as his can never die, instead linger like a mournful ghost that will haunt even the brightest stars.

Smitty (10:21): i’m sorry i ruined it

John (10:22): i’m sorry i didn’t try harder

Smitty (10:22): john, none of this is your fault. it was my idea and i couldn’t even go through with it

Smitty (10:23): we had so many plans and i shattered them all because i was too scared to leave

John (10:24): but i wanted it more than i ever admitted, and instead of fighting to get you here i didn’t say anything

Smitty (10:24): i wanted this to happen more than you think, believe me. but we know how my thoughts can get, so i don’t think there was anything you could’ve said that would’ve change my mind

John (10:25): what about i love you?

Smitty startles, but he would be lying if he said he didn’t expect this. His stomach still does a silly little swoop, the butterflies that are always present when he talks with John suddenly coming to life, fluttering rapidly.

Smitty (10:25): john?

John (10:26): if the world is going to end no matter what, then fuck it right? i’ve been keeping my mouth shut for over two years and even if now is probably the worst time because i can’t see your face and my laptop is about to die, i can’t go out without telling you i’ve been in love with you for half the time i’ve known you

John (10:27): and the time before that i really, really, really liked you

Smitty chokes on his tears, stopped caring about holding them back the second he saw i love you.

Smitty (10:27): me too

Smitty (10:27): i think i’ve been in love with you since you first messaged me that stupid one-liner about artists

John (10:28): oh god, i forgot that was the first thing i sent you

John (10:28): in my defense i was extremely bored and your page was filled with memes, i thought you would’ve enjoyed it

Smitty (10:29): i fucking loved it

John (10:30): i regretted it the moment you sent me a pic of yourself for the first time, though

Smitty (10:30): what? why?

John (10:31): because you were prettiest person i’d ever seen and i hated that the first message i sent you was about dicks

Smitty laughs, the sound croaky and awful and usually he’d be embarrassed about the noise but he sits alone in his living room, completely consumed by the messages and the guy sending them.

Smitty (10:32): who would’ve known that would be the way into my heart

John (10:32): after about a week of talking to you i knew

John (10:33): i think that’s when i started falling in love

Smitty (10:33) god, i hate that we’re saying this now. i wish both of us said something sooner

John (10:34): yeah...it would’ve been nice to finally hold you, but i’m happy you finally know

John (10:34): and no matter what happens from now till...the end, i want you to know i love you

John (10:35): i always have, and i always will

i love you-

The screen flickers once before it fades to black, the battery completely drained. Smitty’s fingers hover over the keyboard, his pinky so close to hitting ‘enter’.

It takes longer than it should to register in his brain, and for a few minutes Smitty sits and stares at the screen. He blinks rapidly through his tears, can still see i love you every time he blinks but his heart beats wildly, aware of the inky darkness surrounding him and the deafening silence, no longer interrupted by the quiet dings of messages.

Like a dam finally unleashed, his tears fall at once and a sob racks through his body, forcefully pushed out of his quivering mouth. With his legs curled to his chest and his face buried in his bony knees, he cries out in anguish, fingers clutching his sweatpants like a lifeline.

He doesn’t move, stays curled in the corner of his couch long enough to see the last bits of sunrise fall over his furniture, and stays even longer to hear the shouts of panic outside his front door, aware but uncaring, of everything ending around him.

--------

Based off the prompt: “So the sky is still raining fire and meteors, and my laptop is running low on battery, but I wanted to say that I like you, a lot. Even though we haven’t ever talked in real life, if this is the end of the world then I’m really happy that I got to meet you.”

[jaxsteamblog]

Nightmare

Click here to read the entire fic on AO3

Content warning: References past violence

Fire snapped, water dripped, and rocks tumbled down walls. As Katara clung to Zuko, she felt his hold on her weaken. The moment he slipped into unconsciousness, everything in her body tensed. Instinctively, Katara pulled walls of ice shards up whenever someone approached. She did the same when someone tried to get to Azula.

“Katara.” Rohan said softly, holding up their hands as they approached.

“No one can touch them.” Katara hissed, the ice rippling like a spine. “I don’t trust anyone here.”

“Thuy needs help. You need help. And there aren’t enough of us.” Rohan said.

“THUY!” A panicked yell ripped through the crowd and Katara snapped her body around Zuko’s unconscious form. Peering back out into the pit where the audience had gathered, she saw two young women arguing with a few guards and Tenzin. They were the twins Katara had seen skulking around the palace when Thuy was there.

She narrowed her eyes.

“No.” Katara said.

“Katara-”

“Then get more people Rohan!” She snapped. “No one else is allowed near them.”

“You need to let go, Katara.” Rohan said.

“Back off, Rohan.” Katara seethed, pulling the shards closer around herself and Zuko. “I’m warning you.”

Rohan held out a hand and placed it gently on her shoulder.

“Let me help you.” They said softly, holding her gaze.

Katara began to tremble, first feeling her chin wobble before her whole body dissolved into tightly held tremors.

“Okay.” She whispered.

Rohan squeezed her shoulder and everything went dark.

When she came to, Katara scrambled to her feet. It was pitch black and her head swam, making it impossible for her to get her bearings. Her stomach pitched and she almost went with it, but Katara swallowed the lump in her throat.

As she looked around in the nothingness, she tried to find some clue as to where she was. The air was stale and reeked of metal. Not just steel, but the stench of long containment.

A bright light snapped on, blinding her with its large, watchful eye. Katara tossed her arms up to shield herself from the searchlight and it felt cold on her skin. Still, it gave her light to see by, and Katara looked under her arms to see where she was.

It was a simple hallway. The floor was metal but the walls were painted white stone, with long, thin vents running at the top. That was what circulated the air through this underground chamber, albeit poorly. It was cool and dry, keeping things from getting damp or sweaty.

It was one of the places the Fire Nation would keep Waterbenders.

“We have to keep moving.” Katara said and started running. Behind her, she could hear two pairs of feet following. Then more. The two were planned, the others were not.

Hama had told her about this place, had warned her about it, had prepared her for it.

But after seeing Kya again, Katara swore she wouldn’t use it.

“Hama!” Kya’s voice cried just as something hard hit the metallic floor behind Katara.

“Go!” Hama urged.

But Kya was a nurse. Kya wouldn’t go.

Fire blazed as Katara spun around, catching the brunt of it in the cloak Suki had supplied. But not all of it. She faltered, clutching her forearm, as the Fire Nation soldiers thundered down the hall.

Shadows licked up the edges of the bright white spotlight, and Katara could hear everything.

Guns made such a unique sound. It was more than a pop; it was all about air being forced out of a space by the sudden arrival of something very deadly.

So much like lightning, the thought flashed just as suddenly as the muzzle in front of her.

And the lightning stopped as it buried itself in someone else’s abdomen.

“Bend it!” Hama demanded.

“No.” Katara said, stepping over her mother’s body and crouching low. “Not her.”

She held out her hands as the muzzle flashed and the lightning cracked.

“Them.”

“MOM!”

Katara jolted upright, her body soaked in sweat, and she started to cry. The tears frightened her, as the nightmare left her and the emotions came on as a confusing wave.

Her hands searched erratically until they hit something firm and she dug in. Zuko, still out, lay peacefully next to her.

Katara curled around him, her sobs interrupted by bouts of hiccups as her body was frantically sucking in air.

“No, no, no. Zuko, WAKE UP!” Katara yelled, grabbing his shoulders roughly and shaking him. “WAKE UP!”

Hands were on her and Katara fought viciously. Ice at her fingernails sliced through skin and blood ran down her arm.

A bloody handprint had healed the burn on her arm.

Katara felt the blood drain from her head and the room tilted backwards, shoving her back into bed.

Back into the darkness.

The second waking was much gentler.

The bedroom had a window and the gauzy curtains ruffled timidly from the air conditioning. That was about all Katara could see of the room from her position.

“I assume I’m restrained for a reason.” She said to the other person in the room.

“You are correct.” Iroh replied. Katara was quiet as she heard him close a book and push a chair back.

“I hurt someone.” She stated.

“Correct again.”

“Badly?” Her voice was small.

“I’ve had worse.” Iroh stood over her, a wide bandage taped to his cheek.

Katara’s body went cold but her face flushed and she looked away as Iroh undid the light restraints.

“A moment of psychosis, which is common with PTSD, but more extreme than I think anyone was prepared.” Iroh continued. “I thought this was a bit much but everyone is... a little on edge right now.”

When the restraints were off, Katara rubbed her wrist lightly. There was still dried blood under one of her fingernails.

“Is Zuko okay?” She asked, staring at her wrist.

“My nephew is physically fine, and I thank you for that.” Iroh said and Katara lowered her hands.

As she stayed silent, Iroh continued.

“He is furious about your treatment.”

“Well, it makes sense. I did assault you.”

Iroh chuckled and Katara finally looked over at him.

“I appreciate the sentiment, but actually it’s because of Azula.” He said.

“What?” Katara balked and Iroh laughed again.

“Until what happened yesterday is sorted, you technically assaulted the princess of the Fire Nation. I’m just a pardoned traitor afterall.” He explained.

“That’s completely ridiculous.” Katara said, her eyes going flat.

She jumped upright as the bedroom door slammed open. Iroh stood in front of her, but Katara peered around him.

Zuko stood in the doorway, his hand smoking on the door and his robe undone.

“She’s awake.” He said.

“How-” Katara started as Iroh stepped aside. But Zuko crossed the room in long strides and grabbed her.

“Let’s go.” He said, hefting her into his arms.

“Zuko!” Iroh bellowed as Zuko headed toward the window. Katara wrapped her arms around his neck, her heart galloping under her ribs.

“I won’t let them arrest you.” He said, flinging the curtains to the side.

Iroh grabbed his arm as Zuko lifted a leg, seemingly getting ready to kick out the window.

“You idiot, they’re not going to arrest her!” He snapped.

“You gave him too much!” Rohan’s voice came from outside of the bedroom and Katara clung tighter to Zuko.

“I’m sorry!” Thuy cried. “I didn’t know you used it to raise the dead!”

“Zuko.” Katara said softly, cupping his cheek with a hand.

He stilled and looked down at her.

“It’s alright, my love.” She said and smiled.

Zuko nodded and let her down, almost immediately crumpling at her feet.

This time she kept her composure and, as Rohan and Thuy barrelled into the room, Katara laid Zuko on his back.

“Did you give him adrenaline or something?” Katara asked, looking to Iroh as she pointed to the teapot at the table he had been sitting at.

“Worse. Airroot.” Rohan said.

Katara checked Zuko’s pulse and nearly scoffed at the rapid beat. It wasn’t anything alarming; it was equitable to having made an all out sprint.

“He’ll be okay. Firebenders have a natural resistance to poisons and drugs like these. Their metabolism is crazy.” She said, smiling at Iroh as he handed her the teapot. Still feeling tired, she poured the contents over Zuko, using her bending to cool the liquid and spread it into a flat puddle.

“Oh thank Tui and La.” Thuy sighed, slumping down on the floor with her back against the bed.

“Now,” Katara prompted as she focused her attention on Zuko’s liver. “Can someone tell me how much trouble I’m in?”

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[gguksgalaxy]

Bulls Eye | JJK | Bottoms Up

A summer weekend isn’t complete without Jungkook coming to seek you out at your job at the beach club to bless you wish his smile. A smile that quickly fades to anger one night, when he catches your ex trying to get your attention.

›› Bottoms Up Masterlist ›› AU: Friends to Lovers ›› Genre: Smut / Fluff / Angst ›› Rating: 18+ (sexual content) ›› Pairing: JJK x Reader ›› Word Count: 9.4k Warning Include: Mild violence, swearing, minor injuries, alcohol, toxic past relationship, toxic ex, sex, fingering, cunnilingus, lots of smooching.

Jungkook: Okay but when do I finally get to meet u irl? [19:23]

You: You're legit going to see me like, tonight [19:25]

Jungkook: Meeting u when ur at work doesn't count :((( [19:34]

You: Jungkook, you see me every weekend, the entire summer [19:36]

You: How much more of me do you want to see? [19:36]

You: Nvm dont answer that [19:38]

Jungkook: Ur just scared imma beat ur ass in mario kart [19:38]

Jungkook: Ill let you win though if that means we can hang out :((  [19:40]

Jungkook: Hello? [19:45]

Jungkook: ARE YOU IGNORING ME? [19:59]

Jungkook: I am: H U R T [20:10]

You chuckle at your phone as you’re doing your make-up sitting at your vanity. Jungkook’s been like this for the short time that you’ve known him. It was a little under a year ago when he’d left his phone number on a napkin at your work. Normally you know better than to pick up random number from semi-drunk strangers but his smile had been too good to deny. That, and he had been more friendly than the normal party-goer.

From working at a beach club in the summer, you’re not unaccustomed to receiving numbers that you truly do not want.

When you met Jungkook, he was arguably a little bit tipsy, but he made no attempt at flirting with you as he dropped down onto the barstool in front of you.

You’d been dating someone, something you’d made very clear and it hadn’t mattered to him. You’d be lying to say you hadn’t been a little curious about him. He’d smiled, wide-eyes and wholeheartedly, and you might’ve been whipped ever since. So you’d taken his number under the pretence of sending him the dumb picture you’d taken of him. At his own request.

Here you are, nearly a year later and one boyfriend less. Jungkook has kept texting you but you’ve never really been sure about taking your relationship past your work. According to him, he became a regular just to see you. But it’s easier to not fall too deep in your crush as long as work is the only place you see him.

For him, it seemed to be more of a struggle. When the club closed for winter you truly had expected him to grow bored of you and stop texting. Especially because last year, you were still dating your ex. Also known as the demon who made you last autumn a living hell. 

Jungkook, on the other hand, is an angel. Or well, he might be a bit of a brat from time to time but you’ll take it in stride if you get to enjoy his presence a little more. His daily texts at least. 

It’s because of his sheer kindness and unabashed behaviour that your ever-growing crush developed past a small infatuation. You catch yourself smiling in the mirror just thinking about him. His sweet smile and soft lips. His sharp jawline and broad shoulders. His hands that — you really need to get your head out of the gutter.

That’s how you knew your crush had taken a … ‘bad turn’. When he’d sent you a Snapchat of his Starbucks drink and your first thought was; ‘I wonder what that hand would feel like on my body’. Or when he’d sent you a video of him working out — obviously as a joke — and all you could see what the bulging of his arm muscles.

Truly, you’re whipped for him and you’re afraid to admit it. His flirting has never passed the line of playful, it’s just there to tease you. Guys like Jungkook — caring, sweet, good-looking — don’t go for you. You’d rather keep your friendship with him, than take a risk and lose everything.

Your phone chimes again, not aiding you in your thoughts. It only makes your smile widen.

Jungkook: I will come whoop ur ass tonight if u don't text me back! [20:31]

You: Oh stop crying will you? I was getting ready [20:31]

Jungkook: Did u think about me? [20:31]

You: Jungkook, why in the lord would I be thinking bout you? [20:33]

Jungkook: Oh I dunno, cuz Im cute? cuz u love me? :(( [20:35]

You: Do I tho? [20:36]

Jungkook: D: [20:36]

You: See you in a few hours kook [20:36]

Jungkook: yiss [20:36]

The club is bustling, the air warm and humid as soon as people start to trickle in. The weather is calm, after a few rainstorms it’s good to feel the ocean breeze. It’ll be busy tonight, and you’re prepared for it.

It takes an hour or two for the club to be filled, music on blast and beer flowing like water. You’re behind the black wooden bar, dressed in a red off-shoulder blouse that hangs loosely around your frame. The dress code at work is jeans and anything red, so you invested in a pair of red sneakers just to match.

The dance floor is crowded, people moving, dancing as you mix drink after drink upon request. Cocktails are your specialisation, that is your corner of the bar. By the time your two hours in your hands are sticky with liquor.

As you’re washing your hands, you find yourself searching for that one familiar face. The fact that Jungkook is about as handsome as they come hasn’t helped you fall for him any less in the short time you let yourself. The second you stopped withholding yourself from thinking about him like that, you found yourself thinking about him like that — all of the time. To the point where you almost drunk dialled him, twice.

Truly, you hope to see him. A night at the club is not complete without Jungkook gracing you with his smile. You remember he said something about dying his hair recently, and you’re curious to see as to what he’s done.

A girl walks up to you with an order, and you’re amidst making her three cosmopolitans when Jungkook finally shows himself.

The glass almost drops out of your hand when you lay eyes on him. “Jungkook,” you stammer out.

He’s wearing a thin white t-shirt, neckline showing his collarbones that are covered in a faint sheen of sweat. The fabric clings to his chest a little, not leaving much to the imagination. He’s more muscular than you thought. You wonder if he —

“Hello, eyes up here,” he chuckles, smiling widely.

You blink at him, realising his hair is a few shades lighter than its usual black hue. It softens out his features, yet the side part reveals his forehead and makes him look more mature at the same time. The way in which he looks both sweet and sexy is odd — confusing is perhaps a better word.

“Hey,” you manage to blurt out, trying to focus on your work again. You pour the girl her drinks and garnish them with a piece of orange zest.

“Did you just get here?” you ask Jungkook.

He shakes his head. “No, I got here about an hour ago.”

“And you didn’t come say hi? I’m offended.”

He chuckles again, nose scrunching up. “Let me give you a hug as consolation?”

Your eyes widen at the request. It’s not that you haven’t hugged him before. He’s managed to ensnare you enough times when you were out collecting glasses. Though, this is the first time he’s so openly asked for it and your stomach jumps at the thought. For your own sanity, you want to protest but you find yourself unable to.

“Please? I haven’t seen you for eight months. Give a guy some love.” Jungkook cocks his head to the side, a gesture that makes his hair fall over his forehead. The light catches his eyes — you can’t say no to those eyes.

“Fine, fine,” you sigh with a roll of your eyes as you sling the towel over your shoulder.

Jungkook grins so widely you blush as he envelops you into a bone-crushing hug. He is warm, smelling like an odd mix of beer, sweat and a light perfume. Strangely, it works but you can’t help but wonder how nice he’d smell when he’s not in a club. The perfume you caught definitely matches him.

You can just withhold yourself from literally inhaling him as you rest your chin on his shoulder. His shirt is so thin that you can feel the dip of his spine as your hand grazes his back. Your stomach flutters again.

He lets go too soon, and you have to stop yourself from pouting. “The usual?” you ask.

“Yeah, Tae and Jimin are hanging out somewhere, so two beer too.” He looks over his shoulder to where he must assume his friends are. You don’t seem them, but you doubt they’d stray far. He usually comes with them, though he’s shown up alone too. Every Saturday in the summer like clockwork.

Jungkook always orders the same cocktail. You step back behind the bar as he watches you carefully. His eyes follow you as you move — you’re hyper-aware of it, but too afraid to look up and meet his gaze.

Bulls Eye is not a drink that’s order often, but you’ve started to associate it with Jungkook. As you pour the lemon juice into the shaker, you mix it with light beer, ginger ale, and some sugar. It’s stirred, not shaken. The drink is not your thing, but you’ve tried it on his recommendation. Sadly, anything with beer has a tendency to make your tastebuds cringe.

It’s poured over ice, cold in your hand at you pass it to him. “Here, not too heavy on the lemon juice.”

“You remember?”

“How could I not?”

Jungkook seems taken aback by your comment, silent for a few beats too long. He doesn’t shake out of his trance until you give him the two beers. “Thanks! The others must be wondering where I went. I’ll see you around!”

You smile at him, giving a short wave as he walks off with the drinks crammed in his hands. He turns back to look at you once before he disappears into the crowd. You hope he didn’t catch you staring.

Seeing him again — hugging him — has truly confirmed that you’re in over your head. Your heart is thrumming just from the sight of him. It’s been eight months and yet you swear he matured. The purposely odd-angled Snapchats truly didn’t do him justice.

You remember a few months ago when he’d started sharing his workouts with you. Apparently, he’d been held up by a shoulder injury, but now he was back on his regular regime. Also known as the regime where he spends most of his free time either working out of playing video games. Either of which you receive excessive clips of.

The thoughts make you chuckle. You’ve never been much of a gamer, but Jungkook's excitement about it has pushed you dangerously close to getting yourself a console. Who knows, maybe soon.

His offers to play Mario Kart with you are tempting. It’s the thought of what could happen that make you hesitate every time. The chance of this ending in shambles becomes more and more likely the deeper you fall for him. You’re not sure there even is a way out anymore.

“Hey, miss whipped!” your colleague calls out, waving a hand in front of your face.

“W-what?” You shake yourself.

She chuckles. “Legit, are you still not dating him?”

You frown. “Who? Jungkook? No, we’re not dating.”

“You’re willing to tell me that you two are out here looking at each other like you’re about to walk down the aisle and you’re not dating? Girl, get a grip, the boy’s all over you. Has been since the first time he saw you.” She’s washing out the dirty glasses, hands moving quickly.

You’re unsure of what to tell her. It’s the second year you’re working together but you wouldn’t really consider her a friend. “I’m not sure about that.”

“Wait.” She stops. “Don’t tell me you’re still dating that douche from last year? I know we’re not close but he was a dick and you need to get rid of him.”

“No, no. I broke up with him a few months ago.” You think back of your ex. Last summer when you’d taken this job he’d been displeased. But it’d worsened when he came to see you and decided that every guy who ordered from you was either flirting with you or out to take you from him. He’d always been a little possessive, but after summer he’d just crossed the line with you. Though, breaking up with him wasn’t as easy as you’d thought it’d be.

Despite him being possessive, you really thought you loved him. You didn’t want to lose him and it caused you to be stuck in an unhappy relationship for three months. Until you finally decided to cut him out — a messy breakup to be honest.

If it wasn’t for Jungkook showing you that you were so unhappy you’d still have been moping around.

“Well then,” your colleague says. “What are you waiting for? If I had a guy that hot smiling at me like I’m the sun his earth revolves around I would jump his bones any chance I got.”

“Nina!” you squeal.

“What?” she answers wide-eyed. “Oh please, you must’ve thought about it. Did you see his pecs?”

You blush furiously. “Okay! That’s enough lusting after my friend for tonight!” You push her towards the sink and get back to taking orders.

If she’d been wrong you doubt you’d be this flustered. But she’s not. You hate yourself for thinking about him like that. Jungkook’s a nice guy, he’s not out for more than a friendship. Surely he’d have said so if he was. Right?

You see Jungkook three more times that evening, each time a little more drunk and with a little bit of a wider smile. Though, when he comes to you for his fourth drink he asks for water. His t-shirt sticks to his skin and he giggles out something about needing some refreshment. You tell him to go for a swim in the sea. He replies with a wiggle of his eyebrows, asking you to join him. For skinny dipping.

You blush; your mistake. He sees right through you, eyes narrowing but no commentary following. Instead, he purposely brushes his hand against yours when you hand him his drinks — you now this because he lingers a tad too long. His gaze settles on you before he walks away and you want to blame it on the alcohol in his system but it feels like he knows.

Nina leans over to you. “Girl, your boy is giving you bedroom eyes. Are you really out here telling me he doesn’t want you?”

“Stop!” you shriek.

“Listen, it’s easy. You want him, he wants you. Nobody says you have to bed him, though I’d advise you to. He looks good.”

You roll your eyes at her again, walking into the back to get something to eat and take a breather. The night is warm, but the breeze that trickles in from the open back door is nice. You wish you could swim actually. It’s been a long time since you actually went to the ocean, even if you live so close. Life’s been busy.

When you walk into the club to collect empty glasses and bottles, you spot Jungkook. He’s with his friends, laughing and dancing without seemingly a care in the world. He doesn’t see you, but when he smiles particularly wide your own lips twitch.

You wonder whether being with Jungkook would be as bad of an idea as you thought. Being stuck in this crush for the rest of your friendship might be the end of you. He is too good to be true, yet he’s right here within reach and you’re letting him slip between your fingers.

Would kissing him be as good as you’ve imagined? Because you certainly have imagined it — his lips on yours, soft and maybe a little demanding, smiling into it even.

A hand wraps around your arm and you’re pulled around before you can truly register what happens. “Hey, babe.” You recognise the drawl of the pet name immediately. Your ex.

He smiles at you, fingers smoothing down your arm with a slight tilt of his head. His grin is glazed over with the effects of alcohol in his blood. He’s drunk, about to start something.

You take a tentative step back. “What do you want Hyunwoo?”

Instead of answering immediately, he moves closer with fingers trailing your waist. “I’m just wondering if you’ve had enough time to think? Did you realise you miss me yet?”

The scoff that slips past your lips is probably a mistake — the twist of his face shows his displeasure.

“Babe, don’t be like that. You said you needed space, didn’t I give you that?’

“No,” you spit. “That was months ago Hyunwoo. Before I broke up with you.”

He licks his lips and you hold your breath. Hyunwoo is mostly bark and, usually, no bite, but won’t hurt you but starting a scene is not past him. “People change their minds, don’t they?”

You push his hand off your hip. “Listen, you and I are done. I don’t want to be with you anymore, we don’t work. It’s better if you just leave me alone.” He’d better leave your sight soon. You’ve closed this chapter of your life and this just brings back bad memories you don’t need. Unwilling to grant him another second of your time you turn away to go back to the bar.

He grabs your hand again, pulling you against him. “Babe, come on.”

“Hyunwoo, let fucking go of me!”

Someone pushes him away from you, pulling you back.

“I think you need to back off,” Jungkook snarls suddenly from beside you. Hyunwoo reaches for you but Jungkook stops him with a shove. “I said back off man.” His voice is laced with anger and when you finally gather yourself enough to look up at him you’re surprised to see the furious look on his face.

Jungkook’s eyes are dark, brows set — it’s almost scary.

Your ex merely scoffs. “Who the fuck do you think you are, kid?”

“Someone who’ll treat her much better than you ever did. Now fuck off before I rearrange your teeth.”

The way Jungkook speaks is so out of character, you barely recognise him. Never have you heard him this angry over anything — it’s pure disgust coming out of his mouth. You suppose he’s never liked Hyunwoo, but you sure hope he can keep his hands to himself.

“Jungkook,” you try, touching his arm that’s coiled tight.

“I cared for her when no-one would and what?” Hyunwoo’s eyes run up and down Jungkook’s body. “She cheats on me with a highschooler.”

Jungkook scoffs. “You call isolating her from her friends, caring?” He steps towards Hyunwoo with a puffed-out chest. Your attempt to pull him back by his shirt only fails. “She didn’t cheat on you, have a little self-respect and leave her alone.”

“Self-respect? She’s the one going around fucking randoms.”

“That’s it,” Jungkook barks, shoving him back two steps. “You manipulative fuck, you have thre—“

He doesn’t get to finish his sentence before Hyunwoo’s fist connects with his cheek.

“Jungkook!” you exclaim, but he doesn’t hear you. Instead, he retaliates before you can do anything. Jungkook hits him back and you flinch upon the impact. You’re nailed to your spot as you watch Jungkook’s fist collide with his face again, not even stumbling. Everything around you slows down, you try to pull at Jungkook’s shirt, call his name, but he keeps pushing Hyunwoo further back.

“Stop!” you yell. People around you take notice, and someone tries to pull you back as Hyunwoo tackles Jungkook to the ground. He hits him in the face again and you cry out.

Suddenly, two security guards rush in. They just manage to stop Hyunwoo from hitting Jungkook again. Jungkook scrambles up from the floor and wipes the blood from his mouth as the guards force Hyunwoo out of the club. He yells something you can’t hear over the thumping of your heart.

Jungkook pushes at the third guard that comes for him, swaying on his feet.

“Hey!” you splutter out. The man from security recognises you, stopping with a firm grip on Jungkook’s upper arm. “It’s alright, he was protecting me. I’ll take him outside.”

“Are you certain miss?” He gives Jungkook a sceptical look. One of Jungkook’s eyes is watering, and there’s a bit of blood running from his nose.

You nod. “Yeah, I’ll get him some ice and send him on his way.” Jungkook is rubbing a hand over his eye, and you shakily grab his elbow to stop him. You look around, hoping to find Jimin or Taehyung so they can take him home, but they’re nowhere to be found. “Let's go.” Your voice falters, laced with nerves as you try to steady your own legs.

Jungkook sets his jaw. You shove him forward but he won’t budge. “Go Jungkook, to the bar.” Your legs feel like lead, body heavy with what just happened. He grumbles something when he finally starts walking to the front. The fear of what could’ve happened to him won’t stop running circles through your mind.

You guide him behind the bar and Nina perks up at the sight of him. “What happened?!”

“He punched my ex in the face,” you scoff.

She shoots Jungkook an approving look. “Good riddance.”

“Listen,” you say, grabbing a glass full of ice. “I can’t find his friends so I’m taking him to mine. Will you guys be okay without me?”  Jungkook’s slumped against the bar behind you, still not having said a word.

Nina nods. “Yeah, you look pretty shaken up yourself. We’ll be fine. Do you need me to call a cab?”

You shake your head. “It’s okay. I don’t live far.”

Jungkook huffs at you when you sit him down on a chair in the back. He really overstepped himself, and you want to be angry at him for making a scene at your work. But then again, he wasn’t the one who started throwing punches and the fact that he did it to protect you…you can’t just get mad. He could’ve gotten so much worse, you’re just glad he’s okay.

“Wait here.” You shuffle around the cabinets to find a washcloth and dump the ice in there, trying it up and giving it to him. “Here, for your cheek.”

He doesn’t take it, he just keeps rubbing his eye and blinking aggressively. “I think I’ve something in my eye.”

You sigh, slapping away at his hand from his face and tipping his head back into the light. “I think you just have a serious case of stupid.” Surprisingly, he lets you examine his eye, gently rubbing the skin under it. “It looks fine, just stop rubbing it.”

Jungkook blinks up at you. “Thanks.”

“Where are Jimin and Taehyung?”

He frowns, trying to think. “Uh…I think they were going out for food. I was going to join them after I said bye to you when I saw — what’s his name — talking to you.”

“Okay, well…I live one subway station away. I have a spare mattress, you can stay over for tonight. Come on.” You pull Jungkook up and he stumbles but manages to stop himself from completely falling over. He’s less drunk than you thought, probably just shaken up like you are. You’re not sure if he’s hurt past bruising, but at least his nose has stopped bleeding. At home, you’ll get to take a better look.

You exit through the back door, grabbing your coat and bag and pushing Jungkook towards the subway. He doesn’t say much, on his way there, just silently holds the ice against his face — it’s not going to last long in these temperatures.

You think back, the way that Hyunwoo went from nothing to full-on fist fighting within seconds. It flashes before your eye — Jungkook on the floor under him. Though he too had seemed pretty adamant on giving Hyunwoo a permanent facial.

Once you reach the station Jungkook grabs your hand, ice-cold and wet. You look up at him, his cheek red and a little swollen. “You okay?”

He looks at his feet. “I’m sorry.”

You sigh, squeezing his hand. “It’s okay, let’s just go to my place.” When the train arrives you realise his nose is bleeding again, and motion for him to hold the washcloth up.

Jungkook looks defeated as he sits down next to you. It takes him two entire seconds to lean into your side and nod off. His hair smells nice like he washed it just before he went out. It’s soft, floral maybe even.

As you sit here next to him you realise his hand is still loosely encasing yours, laying in your lap. You never expected Jungkook to just protect you like that. The way Hyunwoo just attacked him, you just hope that he really doesn’t have anything aside from a future bruise. The thought of Jungkook getting hurt because of you is not something you think you can stomach. Even if your ex totally deserved it — maybe you should’ve seen it coming. After all, it had been Jungkook who’d shown you that you deserved better.

When he nuzzles his cheek into your shoulder you realise that better might be him after all. Jungkook has always offered you warmth, a shoulder to cry and lean on.

You gently shake him awake at your stop, and he blushes when he opens his eyes to see you so close. It’s endearing, and you find yourself no longer caring to hide your feelings. You brush the hair out of his face. “We’re here,” you whisper.

Jungkook stumbles after you, sleepily dragging himself up the stairs where he bumps into you again. He’s finally stopped rubbing his eye but it remains a little red. You push him ahead when he wavers and spot scuff marks and a cut on his elbow. It’s worse than he’s letting on.

“Kook, you’re bleeding.” You stop him, twisting his arm to look at it. It doesn’t look to deep and you sigh in relief. The way you’d pulled him has him close to you, almost nose to nose when you look up. “A-are you okay?”

He nods slightly, eyes skimming over your face.

“Okay, we’re almost there.”

Your stomach keeps twisting with the realisation that he got hurt because of you. If it hadn’t been for the guards…Jungkook he’s more than just a friend to you. Even if you never hung out, the steady presence in his life is so important to you. You don’t want to imagine it without him. He texts you almost every day if he can, and maybe it was a good place to start. You feel that you know him as you watch him slump against the wall of the elevator. He knows you. There was nothing physical before you fell.

Jungkook hesitates on your doorstep, looks inside the hall as if something is going to jump out at him.

“Get inside Kook.” You look at him over your shoulder. “I’m going to get a warm towel and some stuff to clean the cuts on your elbows and we—“

You’re muffled by Jungkook pulling you into a hug. Your heart jumps as your cheek is pressed against his chest while he holds you. The washcloth is cold against your back where he still holds it. He rests his chin on top of your head, holding you tight. His chest is warm, and you find yourself pressing even closer — you want to feel this forever. He holds you as if it’s the most normal thing in the world.

Tears sting the corners of your eyes as you wrap your arms around his waist. All the tension releasing itself it seems. “Kook.”

“I’m sorry, okay. I just — I saw him grabbing you and I saw how uncomfortable you were. All I could think of was protecting you and I should’ve stayed out of it. I only made it worse and I — I can’t imagine what you must think of me now. I got so angry, I didn’t know what I was saying.”

What you think of him? If only he knew.

He presses his nose into your hair, his next words muffled. “Please forgive me.”

Forgive him? That was never a question on your mind, you were never mad at him. Maybe a little upset, but it was nothing he’d need your forgiveness for. Not in your eyes. You’re more upset about him getting hurt than anything else.

“It’s alright. Just sit down so I can make sure you’re okay.”

He hums and affirmative into your hair and plops himself down on the chair after. You quickly return from the bathroom with a clean towel and some antiseptic. Jungkook sits slouched forward a little, it makes him seem smaller than he really is — cuter. There’s still some blood running from his nose and by the small stains on his fingers you know he’s been rubbing it.

“You’ve got to stop touching your nose,” you mumble. “You’re going to get blood all over the place.” You fill a glass with water for him to drink, and knock your knee against his as a gesture. He parts his legs so you can get a closer look at his face.

“Squeeze the bridge of your nose and lean forward.”

“Everyone always says backwards.”

“Forward, Jungkook. And give me your hand.” You grab his free hand and twist it up. This way you get a good look at whatever caught his arm. The cut shallow, mostly dried by now. “You know,” you drawl as you gently clean the wound. “You really shouldn’t do stupid shit like that.”

You clean away the blood from his arm and fingers. He’s shockingly pliable in your grip. “You could’ve really gotten hurt Jungkook.”

“I wouldn’t have let him,” he answers nasally, still leaning forward.

“I’m serious, Hyunwoo would’ve ripped you to shreds.” Jungkook’s other arm is less wounded, but you clean it anyway.

He winces a little when you twist his wrist to check the cut again. “Do I look like I’m going to let an asshole like him just talk to you like that?”

You remove his hand from his nose, tipping his head back to clean his face too. His hand is warm and you find yourself wishing you could hold it for longer. “Still, you can’t just do stuff like that because you care about me. You don’t have to prove it.”

Jungkook grabs your hand again, pulling it away from his face so roughly you gasp and drop the towel to the floor. “Care about you?” he snorts. “You think I did that because I just care about you?” A soft chuckle leaves his lips as he shakes his head. “I don’t know if I haven’t made it obvious enough but…I wake up and go to sleep thinking about you.”

You stare at him, standing between his legs in the light from your kitchen. Jungkook looks at you with so much determination you’re unable to move or even speak. Was that a confession? You purse your lips together.

He sighs deeply. “All I think about is wanting to wake up next to you and make you breakfast and you think I care about you. You’re a fool.”

A fool for him. “Kiss me,” you whisper.

He falters — stops with parted lips and a change of gaze that is so gentle you’re not sure if he heard you properly.

You shake your hand from his grip and place both on his shoulders, leaning in close enough to touch noses. He hiccups, tiny breath puffing out against your lips. You smile. “I said, kiss me fool.”

He needs to hear no more. His lips come up for yours like he’s coming up for air after a long time starved. Jungkook kisses with fervour, gently but with purpose and you sigh into him. You’ve thought about this for so long and it surpasses all your expectations. Your legs dare buckle at the first graze of his teeth against your bottom lip.

Jungkook catches you, manoeuvring you into his lap and taking advantage of your gasp to deepen the kiss. You moan, surprising even yourself, but the sound he lets out in return is worth it. His hands paw at your hips, sliding under your top to touch your skin after yearning for so long. Everywhere he touches, every little sound you make — it’s like it sets him free. He grows bolder with every move.

Every swipe of his tongue into your mouth is devilish, a stark contrast with his previous words. This beats all imagination. Jungkook is too good to be true. His kiss is a little inexperienced, a little experimental, but you take it in stride because he is so eager.

You want him. “Jungkook,” you moan into his mouth that is parted against yours. He pants heavily, hands played out over your back to keep you against him. You feel steadied by him — you need it when he ruts his hips up into yours without warning.

He’s not hard yet but God you’re already feeling the pleasure pool in your own stomach and you don’t want him to stop. You kiss him even deeper, tongue wet and warm and so good. “Fuck.”

Jungkook pulls at your hips and when you settle over his lap properly, you feel him. The jeans-on-jeans contact doesn’t do much for you but the sheer thought of having him underneath you is your undoing. He breaks the kiss to lather kisses down your neck. Open-mouthed and with a little tongue, your fists tighten into his shirt when he grazes his teeth over your pulse point.

“You’ve no idea how long I’ve waited for this,” he speaks into your skin. His nose is pressed against your neck, paused to take you in. As if time is going too fast.

You can’t blame him, you would stay like this forever if you could. It’s the burning between your legs that won’t let you. “Don’t stop.”

He laughs, a puff of warm air that fans out over your chest. When he looks up at you his eyes are darker, the stars in them dimmed to dusk. “Are you sure?”

“Jungkook,” you whine, grinding your hips over his. He stutters and you grin at the feeling of his hardening dick. “I’m already on the verge of soaking through my jeans — yes, I’m sure.”

Strangely, his cheeks flush at your commentary but it doesn’t faze him in the slightest. He kisses back up to your mouth, claiming it as his and kissing you with a little more ease. It’s as if he already learned from two minutes ago. He slows down, hands ghosting all the way down your mode to squeeze at your thighs.

You gyrate your hips, circling him until you’re certain he must be uncomfortable in those tight jeans. Yet, he seems more than satisfied just occupied with your mouth. You could kiss him for days, but you’re so frazzled by him you have to come up for air. Everything he does makes it hard for you to function, and he sniggers as you nuzzle along his jaw to kiss softly at his neck.

“You good?” he muses, fingers combing through your hair.

“Hmm, perfect.”

“Can I eat you out?”

You frown, looking up at him through heavy-lidded eyes. Did you hear him right? Did he ask to eat you out — as if it is the most normal question in the world? As if he just asked you if you like pancakes. You do, and the thought of having his mouth on you…“If you want to.”

“If I want to,” he mocks. Without any warning, Jungkook hauls you up and you squeal when you tip over backwards. You cling to him, gripping at his back and making his shirt ride up. “If I want to, she asks me. I’ve been thinking about it for months — yes I want to.”

Jungkook deposits you on the kitchen table and you‘re not willing to let him go just yet. You seek out his mouth again, warm and comfortable and your kiss-swollen lips want nothing more than his for the rest of the night. Yet, you can already see the sun rising through the curtains behind him.

“I thought about it too.” Your words get muffled with the kiss but you know he hears you from the groan he lets out. A sound that vibrates in his chest — his chest which you feel rise and fall beneath your fingers. He is muscular, and your mouth waters at the thought of seeing him. “Take your shirt off first.”

He obeys, pulling the white material off with one hand. You marvel at him once he’s shirtless, fingers seeking out his skin and trailing down his abs. They’re defined in the best way, just enough for you to feel them move under your touch as his breath hitches. Jungkook really is gorgeous and you find yourself kissing down his chest.

“Hey, hey,” he chuckles again, stopping your fingers that had slipped down to the buttons of his jeans. “I’m eating you out first, so hands off and back on the table.”

You raise your eyebrows at his half-assed command, a snicker on the edge of your lips. “Oh?”

“I said,” he grins, coming nose-to-nose with you. “On your back.”

You stomach flutters but you listen as he parts your legs. The table is cold against your back and it’s not an unwelcome contrast against Jungkook’s hands sliding up your now spread thighs. He squeezes your flesh and you can’t help but thrust your hips up with a whine. “Kook.”

“Impatient are we? Lift your hips for me.” He pops the button of your jeans and slides them down as you lift. There’s a bit of a struggle shucking them off your legs but it brings some laughter when he finally manages. “Damn tight jeans.”

You huff, still on your back. “You’re one to speak, I can practically see your dick outlined from here.”

Jungkook brushes your shirt up a little to kiss right under your belly button — your stomach dips at the soft touch. “It’s fine right where it is. For now, I wanna know what you like.” He waits for your answer, ticking off the time with little kisses and nips around your hip-bones that make you whine in the back of your throat.

“I — I don’t know?”

He looks up with a frown. “He really sucked didn’t he?”

“Well technically, he didn’t… “ You bite your lips in shame.

Jungkook rolls his eyes at you. “You can guide me as I go then.” He resumes his kisses down your stomach, sucking the faintest bruises on top of your thigh. “I want to make you feel good.”

You nod, laying back and enjoying the feeling of just him. The brush of his fingers as he hooks his thumbs into your underwear, the press of his lips to your skin. It seems like he’s mapping you out, tracing your sweetest spots as he pulls off your panties. The cold skin hits you and you shiver.

The first brush of his lips is tantalising, you hold your breath. It’s not a feeling your unaccustomed too but that it’s him is enough to undo you at the first touch. He spreads your folds, a little hesitantly. The tremble in his fingers gives him away and you fight the urge to lean up and look at him. “Keep going.”

He hums, breath warm against your mound. You can feel him staring and it’s exposing, but you can’t close your legs with his shoulders spreading you apart. Jungkook kisses your clit and your muscles tense, again and again until he licks and you let out a soft cry. He has the nerve to smile against you. The pull of his lips is obvious against your core and you lick yours in anticipation.

For a bit, he keeps at it like that, gently licking your bud until you’re certain you're going to break your toes from curling. “I need more,” you whimper. He obliges, wrapping his lips around the bundle of nerves and suckling. It’s tender but so so good and the little breathy moan he lets out when you tangle your fingers in his hair echoes through your core. You sigh, it’s heavenly. He’s patient, taking his time to learn you — unfold you — as you urge him on bit by bit.

His hair is silky smooth between your fingers and you pull lightly. “A little more to the — ah — left — yes!” you cry, head thudding against the wooden surface. You’re moving so much Jungkook has to slide your back up the table a little. His mouth picks up, figuring out what makes you scream and using just that against you. Your stomach is tingling and you’re moaning without shame now.

“Fingers?” he mumbles, looking up at you through his lashes. The sight of his head between your legs, lips shining, eyes dark — it’s too much.

“Yes, gently.”

He chuckles against you again, a little chiming sound as he circles your entrance with the tip of his finger. “Relax,” he whispers, other hand coming down to press your hips to the table. “I’ve got you.” When he slides in you feel every knuckle and you practically suck him in. You’re so wet it takes him little effort to wriggle in another finger. He starts up a slow pace, kidding your thigh in random intervals as he observes your reaction. You can feel his unwavering gaze on you. “Good?”

“Yeah, just — don’t stop.”

“More?”

“N - No. Ah.” You gasp when he curls his fingers up and deeper. He’s so attentive you’re certain he needs no more verbal affirmatives. Right now you’re putty in his hands, shaking and trembling for him. His fingers glide along your walls, rubbing until you clench him tightly. “Jungkook,” you moan.

He knows. He knows because he starts sucking on your clit again like no tomorrow and it’s enough to make you feel the edge of your orgasm. It builds with his movements, tight, languid, just right — you come hard and he edges you through it until you twitching in his grasp. He keeps his fingers inside of you until you finally open your eyes to look at him.

Then, he withdraws them and sucks them clean. His eyes are even darker if that was possible. You know he isn’t done with you yet.

Your chest heaves as you try to grasp reality again. Jungkook looks ravished, standing between your limp, parted legs with two fingers in his mouth. His hair is a mess, right side sticking up from where you’d gripped it so hard. You open your mouth to say something, but it dies on your tongue.

“Are you still with me?”

“Yeah,” you pant, running your fingers through your hair. “When you said you were gonna make me breakfast, this was not what I thought you meant."

Jungkook laughs, lips spreading into a gorgeous smile as he grabs your hands to pull you up. You come chest to chest, mouth to mouth. His tongue parts your lips and you keen at the taste of yourself in his mouth, arms winding around his neck. Your legs wrap around his waist, coarse material of his jeans rubbing against your sensitive centre. Jungkook’s chest is sticky with sweat already and the muscles in his back dance under your fingertips as you caress them.

He is so good, touching every inch of your body while he takes his time kissing you. There are groans dying in the back of his throat and you can feel the twitch in his hips when he brushes against you. Your hand snakes down his chest to his jeans, palming and drawing a curse from him. You trace the outlines of his cock and he caves, forehead falling to yours.

“God please tell me you have condoms because I’m not done with you yet.”

You don’t want him to be. You’re getting wet again just at the thought of having him inside of you. From what he’s shown — from what you can feel right now — he’s not going to disappoint. “In the bedroom.”

He lifts you up, legs around his waist and his hands on your bare ass. With a grunt, he squeezes, manoeuvring you to the bedroom with your guidance that is drowned out in a kiss. You yelp when he bumps you into the corner and he soothes it with a soft caress, laughter erupting from the both of you. He presses you against the wall and you notice the skin of his left cheek is warm. A hiss passes his lips when you grace it.

You pull away to look at him, brushing his hair away from his face. His cheek is swelling a little but the lustful look in his eyes is enough for you to continue. Kissing him, you lightly pull the hair at the nape of his neck. He likes it, you note.

Jungkook lowers you down to the best, carefully so as he lays himself over you. “Take off your top,” he whispers, sitting up on the bed to undo his own jeans. You slide the fabric off your body, discarding it haphazardly along with your bra. He sits and you sling your legs over his lap as you push him back into the covers.

“What — ah.” He sighs deeply as you start kissing down his chest, fingers grazing his nipples. Jungkook is so pliant, chest heaving underneath you as you crawl down his body. He’s straining against his boxers and you appraise his self-control. “Baby,” he drawls, fingers carding through your hair as your lips stop at the edge of his underwear.

You chuckle, teeth nipping at his skin before you draw his boxers down slowly. His cock slaps up against his stomach, the tip wet with precum that had stained his underwear. You curse at the sight of him, fingers coming up to wrap around the base.

He stops you before you can get your mouth on him, hand around your wrist. “Fuck I — I want to come inside of you. Another time.” His breathing is laboured and his flushed state somewhat cute as he looks at you between his legs.

Yet, you can’t argue with him, you do want him inside of you. Sooner rather than later. You crawl back over him to kiss him more, hips settling over his dick. So heavenly, that first skin on skin contact. Both of you moan, heads thrown back as you rub him up and down, wet with your juices now.

“Stop,” he whines. “I really, really want to fuck you.”

You let him flip you over, your back pressed into the mattress. Jungkook’s muscles stand outlined by the faint light in the room, twisting as he reaches for you. His skin is soft and warm and you want to feel it, everywhere.

“Condoms?” he asks again.

“Drawer.” You point and he reaches beside him to retrieve a packet and throw it onto the bed. It seems that neither he not you can get enough of kissing. The soft nudge of him against your thigh is a reminder of what’s about to come.

You’ve fantasised about this so often you should be ashamed. But what can you do when Jungkook looks like half a god, half an angel all the time. You want him to ravish you, to make you his, now.

He falters as you touch him between your legs, stroking him and fumbling to find the condom. “Here,” he grabs it and wastes no time ripping it open. You help him roll it on, eyes trained on the way he twitches at the feeling. He’s hot and heavy in your hand as you guide him down to your entrance. Jungkook has other ideas however, because he pulls your hand away from him to secure it above your head.

You whine when he nudges his tip against your folds but leaves it at that. “Jungkook!”

“I know, fuck, I know. I just — you know this is not just about sex right?” His eyes lighten, brow smoothing out as he searches your yes.

You trace the seam of his lips with a sigh. “I do, but you can tell me everything over breakfast. Actual breakfast. Right now, I really want your dick inside of me, please.”

He smiles, capturing your lips as he presses closer. You feel him collect your wetness, teasing your clit with the tip of his cock. The anticipation gets to you and you fingers slide over his back to pull him closer. His chest brushes yours when he gently kisses down your neck.

The first breach of him stings, and you tighten your legs around his waist. It’s been so long, but it’s so good and you moan at the stretch of him filling you up slowly. You hiss at the delicious burn — Jungkook hears it and withdraws so quickly you yelp. “Hey!” you splutter, pulling him back to you.

“Was I hurting you?” His eyes are wide with concern.

You snicker. “You’re not that big Jungkook, get a grip.”

He whines. “I’m serious!”

“Silly,” you grin, kissing his cheek. “It was good. It’s just been a while, go slow hmm?”

He nods, pushing back in hesitantly. His eyes won’t leave yours, making sure that you’re feeling good. And boy are you feeling good. The way he stretches you is so delicious you can barely keep your eyes open. When his hips are flush with yours he moans, fingers of one hand tightening around your waist. His bottom lip is drawn between his teeth, brow furrowed in concentration.

“You feel so good,” you whisper hotly.

His cheeks heat up and you can’t help but find it endearing. He’s balls deep inside of you and he still manages to be cute and you love it. It’s uncharacteristically him and —

“Oh,” you gasp when he withdraws a little and pushes back in.

He feels so good, the press of his hips against yours every time he bottoms out. Your nails press into his shoulders, keening at the smooth slide of him inside of you. Jungkook moans, a sweet little sound he tries to hold in.

You touch his face, making his eyes snap up at you again. “I want to hear you,” you say.

“Fuck.” He shifts his legs under you. With a new-found goal he lifts one of your legs over his shoulder and he all but folds you in half as he slides even deeper. “God, you’re so tight.” His voice strains as he starts up again, a steady in and out that has you building up fast.

Jungkook keeps thrusting, making sure you feel his hips on yours every time. A tiny little pause to feel himself fully inside of you and it makes him reach so deep your toes curl.

“Faster,” you moan.

He picks up his pace, groaning into your skin as he does. You try to meet his thrusts. His chest vibrates with his moans, they’re delicious and beautiful and you can’t get enough of it — enough of him. The way he draws out and pushes back in has you clenching him tightly, especially when he grazes that spot inside of you. He lurches forward at the feeling.

“There,” you moan, “right there.” He zeroes in, pulling out all the way and slamming back in with so much force you scream his name. Your mouth falls open as he leans up and starts a punishing pace. He’s relentless now what you like, fingers scrambling to get a touch of your chest. A tweak of your nipple, a squeeze of your breast — he gets it all the while you’re coming apart around him.

“Tell me,” he groans after a particularly hard thrust. “When was the last time you were fucked properly.”

You whine, shaking your head. “Haven’t  — ah — so long — you’re doing so good — don’t stop.” Your sentences are broken with every thrust of him inside of you. Your tipping closer to the edge, yet not close enough. It’s been months since you’ve had anything and this is almost too much, you’re paralysed with pleasure.

He laps up your neck, supporting himself on one hand. “Nobody? For that long? Fuck, that’s why you’re so tight.” His words are muffled against the hot skin of your throat as he bites down and soothes the sting with his tongue.

“All I wanted was you.”

He snickers, pace not faltering as he kisses you again. It’s hot and open-mouthed and sloppy as his tongue seeks out yours. You’re overwhelmed with him. He seems to get deeper with every thrust, every sound he makes sending a shiver down your spine.

“I’m close,” he groans. “You?”

You suck the pads of your pointer and middle finger into your mouth — his eyes darken upon the sight. All you need is the slick slide of your own fingers against your clit, quick circles to get you on that edge. “Wanna feel you come,” you whine. “Please.”

Jungkook doesn’t stop, he pushes your leg even closer to your chest and watches you rub yourself as his dick disappears inside of you over and over again. Your stomach is tightening, walls clenching him in tightly.

His hips stutter, falling back over you as he comes undone with a deep groan. The feeling of him twitching against your walls is enough to give you that last push. You shudder apart around him, clenching down hard with eyes rolling back into your head. It seems to last forever as he holds you, gently rolling his hips to ride out his peak with you.

You’re both panting, still entangled as you come down. His hair sticks to his forehead, sweat dripping down his neck and your fingers slip on his skin. You’re stuck to the sheets, looking up at his ravished form as you feel him soften inside of you.

A foreign feeling erupts in your chest as he kisses you softly, just once. A small peck that makes you want to giggle with the overflow of feelings.

Jungkook pulls out carefully, and you know that you’re going to be sore tomorrow. He soothes your skin, rubbing your thigh before letting it down from over his shoulder. It’s so sweet, the way he looks at you and asks you if you’re okay.

You laugh at him, startling him a little. “To be blunt with you. I’ve never came that hard from sex and I want to do it again.”

He scrunches up his nose but blushes regardless. “Again?”

“Again.” You confirm with a yawn.

Jungkook discards the condom, pulling the soiled sheet from under you as you point him towards a clean one in your dresser. He drapes it over the both of you as he settles down beside your still numb form. You can’t believe he made you come so hard that you’re still seeing stars now.

You snuggle into his side despite the warmth of the early morning. “Your cheek’s going to bruise.”

“Worth it,” he grins. “We should’ve done this much sooner. “

“I agree.” You kiss the cusp of his shoulders, drawing tiny little patterns on his chest where his heart beats quickly.

Jungkook shifts, looking at you with hopeful eyes. “So?”

“So?”

“What now?” He bites his lip.

You giggle as you realise his shyness. “Is this your way of asking me to be your girlfriend?”

A small kiss is pressed to the tip of your nose. “Maybe,” he whispers. “If you want to.”

“Well…” You trail a finger down his stomach. “Maybe I do.”

“Maybe?”

You lean up, kissing him firmly, just once. “Definitely.”

© GguksGalaxy 2018-2020

Special thanks to: @lapysllazuly @jeonkookd @bubypjm @sunshineangelhobi 

Let me know if you guys liked it! <3

@mooniva @flowerymoonlight @lunyua @chimycthulhu @lilacdreams-00 @biblionerd @nininek12 @mrcleanheichou @pakovahayhuha @burgeoninggirl @faithsummers11 @angeltothecore @burntrain @ylevolretsnom01 @lachicayolo @cvbachacbitch @kxkth @d-noona @thethiathang Sorry to those who I couldn't tag <3

[coneygoil]

The Home We Built Together, part 36

Two young Vikings. An arranged marriage. Hiccup always wanted to win the girl of his dreams, but not like this. Now he and Astrid must learn to live together and maybe one day, learn to love…

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9| Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Interlude | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35

Writer’s note:  Finally got another chapter done! It isn't exactly how I envisioned it, but it works and I'm happy. Hope everyone is doing well! <3

Hiccup quickly fed the arena dragons after Astrid dashed off to greet her father. His mind bounced tirelessly as thought after thought joined in the chaos that was flaring up in his head. He’d grown comfortable without his father’s presence on Berk. He’d been careful and cautious working through all the plans that were on the horizon, but in a way, he’d let his guard slip just a little. He felt confident in taking more risks without the prying eyes of his father and so many other Viking men that trudged about with their heavy fists awaiting a battle at any given moment.

Stoick the Vast, Chief of Berk, had returned and that had suddenly and unexpectedly thrown an axe in Hiccup’s plans.

Hiccup couldn’t stay. He couldn’t handle facing his father. Not right now. Not when his nerves were vibrating uncontrollably throughout his body. Not when he could stutter and act like the fool his father gave disapproving looks to. He needed to go. Just go. At least for a while.

Hiccup fled the arena and left Berk behind. Toothless greeted him with unconditional enthusiasm as he always did. The face lick and tail swish eased Hiccup’s nerves, even if only for a moment. They flew away, leaving the island and not thinking twice about how matters would be when he returned to find Astrid’s features contorted in anger for the second day in a row. He didn’t even leave a note behind this time.

He loved his wife. gods, did he love her! But, he was Hiccup – the boy that was notorious for disappearing. He hadn’t been that boy for a while now. He’d become a responsible member of the tribe. Kept a good, sturdy wife. Kept a home of his own. Excelled in dragon training. He’d gone from the dirt to the sky in a matter of a few months. But, he was still Hiccup and he was still excellent at running away. That’s just what he did.

“I knew dad was coming back.” Hiccup paused his pacing on the stony ground, pondering over his thoughts. “At least, I hoped he would come back. But not right now! Not when we were just starting to get somewhere with bringing peace to Vikings and dragons!”

Toothless raised his head and warbled in concern. They’d flown from the time the sun was at the treetops until it hung high in the sky. Toothless had voiced his need for lunch. Hiccup’s stomach, though twisted up, growled for food as well. Scooping up a mouthful of fish, Toothless landed on the little rocky island where the Terrible Terrors gathered. Toothless slurped down several fish already, but Hiccup had yet to build a fire to cook his.

“The gang was about to start training to fly their dragons. I was going to tell them about it today!” Hiccup released a frustrated yell that echoed off the rocks and spooked the Terrors that were starting to gather. The little dragons hovered above the water, eyeing him, before slowly making their way back to the ground.

Hiccup plopped down against Toothless. Laying his head back on his dragon’s warm scales, he closed his eyes and drew his knees up to his chest. His father would be the hardest egg to crack. Stoick hated dragons with an undeniable passion. Hiccup wondered if his father had hated dragons with such vigor before his mother was taken, or if the passion manifested after he’d witnessed her demise. It didn’t matter, though. Stoick hated dragons. For the first time since Hiccup had begun his mission to bring peace, he was plagued by the realization that he wouldn’t be able to convince his father of the goodness that dragons were.

There was scurrying and scratching of claws on rock around him. Hiccup lazily opened his eyes. A green Terror, one he recognized from several trips to the island, was in an epic battle with Toothless. The little guy had snatched a fish right from under Toothless’s leg. Toothless snatched the fish back, gobbling it down and laughing in his own guttural dragonic tone at the little Terror. The Terror scratched at the ground, preparing to obliterate Toothless with his exaggeratedly imagined fire power. Before he could so much as fire a shot, Toothless fired his own shot into the Terror’s mouth. The poor little guy puffed up and sizzled and smoke seeped out its mouth as the gases in his mouth ignited. He stumbled around, dizzy from the misfire.

“Toothless,” Hiccup chided, “Play nice, bud.” All Toothless did was laugh again. Hiccup threw the Terror a fish for his troubles. “There you go, little guy. Not so fireproof on the inside, are you?”

Hiccup froze as his mind suddenly kicked into full gear. “Not so fireproof on the inside,” he repeated to himself. He patted Toothless’ side as if to get his attention. “Toothless, I have another idea. One that could end the Red Death!”

Toothless cocked his head, curiously.

Hiccup’s rising features drooped as the idea formed and then fell as he quickly weighted the risks. “It would be the biggest risk we’d ever have to take.” He made eye contact with his dragon, Toothless’ big green eyes watching him intently. “A risk that we most likely wouldn’t come back from, and we’re the only ones that could pull it off.”

A Night Fury never misses.

Laying his back against Toothless once more, Hiccup sighed loudly. “If Plan A doesn’t work – if we have to use this new plan—” He swallowed, his throat bobbing, and squeezing his eyes shut. “I can’t tell Astrid.”

Footsteps poked around on his legs, alerting Hiccup of a little visitor. He looked down to find the green Terror crawling onto his lap. The edges of his mouth curled up just slightly as he petted the little dragon. “You’re always needing attention, huh, little guy? You’d make a good house dragon?” He scooped up the Terror and held it in front of his face. “Wanna come home with me?”

The Terror’s forked tongue flicked out, licking his nose.

Hiccup laughed softly. “I’m taking that as a yes. You gotta behave if you’re coming home with me, okay?”

The Terror chirped at him, licking its eyes.

Hiccup nodded. “As long as we have an agreement.”

***

Hiccup ran through apologies in his head as he trekked back to the village. He’d let Astrid do whatever she needed to do – yell at him, punch him, give him the cold shoulder – if it made her feel better. He knew he deserved it. He’d tried a hundred times harder tomorrow to not let her down again.

The green Terrible Terror from the rocky island was safely stowed away in his satchel. It minded well for an untrained dragon. Hiccup would present it to Astrid as sort of a gift – a house pet they could train to come and go without being noticed. Terrors were small and sneaky, and Hiccup had no doubt he could work with it.

Firelight flickered through the window of his house. Astrid awaited him. Maybe she’d prepared supper. If she didn’t, he probably deserved to eat stale bread and raw veggies that he’d have to settle on. Hiccup hesitated at the front door, hand on the knob. He drew in a deep breath, rehearsing his apology in a whispered tone one last time.

“You finally made it back.”

Hiccup felt like invisible hands suddenly jerked him to a stop, his stomach sloshing at the force. Stoick the Vast – Chief of Berk, the one person he desperately wanted to avoid – at least for today – sat at his table. A mug of some kind of drink was held in his firm grip.

“Hiccup, your dad’s here,” Astrid’s flat tone floated in front somewhere.

Hiccup shook off the shock as best he could. His eyes scanned to find Astrid standing by the firepit, arms crossed over her chest, looking none too happy.

“Daaaaaad!” Hiccup drug out in a sorry attempt to sound cheerful. His scratched the back of his head then threw his arm out in a grand gesture that was only Hiccup’s. “You’re back!”

Stoick nodded in agreement. “That I am, son. It seems you’re finally back too. Where were you all day?”

The satchel slung over his shoulder shifted against his back. “Hold that thought.” Hiccup rushed his legs over to Astrid. He unslung the satchel, blocking it from view with his narrow body. As close as he could get to Astrid without seeming weird, he tried to communicate with code. “Astrid, could you take my satchel upstairs. Keep it quiet and still. Don’t want any of the contents to escape.”

Astrid’s features contorted in bewilderment. His code was lost to her for the moment, but she did what he asked. She knew how weird he could be. She threw him a wide-eyed expression over her shoulder as she departed, most likely feeling the little wiggles of the cargo inside.

Hiccup spun on his heel to face his father. He stepped over to the table where Stoick sat, trying his best to keep his father’s attention on him. “Dad, how’d the campaign go?”

Stoick’s deep-chested sigh said it all. He shook his head. “Not as I’d hoped. But, I’d rather not talk of such things. It is over and we move on.” He shifted his seat toward Hiccup, leaning elbows on his knees. His brow cocked in a way that made Hiccup uncomfortable. “Let’s talk about the dragons.”

Hiccup seized up as if freezing water had been flung on him. His breath caught as his heart skipped a beat. “Dragons?” he managed to squeak out. His breath jumped from 0 to 60, pumping through his lungs in sharp thrusts. How did he know? Had Astrid informed his father? Was she that angry with him that she spilled their secret as revenge on him? “Da-dad, I’m sorry. I wish I could have come to you about this, but I didn’t know how—”

A boisterous laugh bubbled up through Stoick’s massive form, booming throughout the bottom floor of the house. “You had me going there, son! All these years thinking you were the worse Viking to ever walk Midgard!” The smile splitting Stoick’s face made Hiccup more uncomfortable than when he thought his father was angry with him. “Just wait until you spill a Nadder’s guts! Mount a Gronckle head on a spear! Memories you’ll never forget.”

Hiccup’s stomach clinched at the gruesome images his father provided. He suddenly found himself falling backwards from the ‘light’ smack of Stoick’s back hand. He toppled onto the bench beside the firepit.

“I, uh, definitely wouldn’t forget that.” He wondered if Astrid had heard. Then it hit him. His father didn’t know their secrets, and now it was stupid to even conceive that Astrid would betray him and their dragons.

“With you doing so well in dragon training, we finally have something to talk about.” Stoick scooted his chair closer as Hiccup righted himself on the bench. His father beamed at him with a light in his eyes Hiccup had never witnessed shining upon him from the man.

Hiccup needed to look anywhere but his father. He couldn’t handle the admiration. He didn’t know how. The worse part, though, was it was all under false pretenses. A lie. A well-crafted ruse.

The seconds dragged on more like hours as he grew even more restless in his skin. A bump against the wall, as if something slammed into it, came from upstairs. Several footfalls followed it then suddenly stopped.

Hiccup chuckled nervously, hoping his wife could keep the Terror under control. “Astrid must be putting away the stuff I brought home.”

Stoick’s nod accepted the explanation. He cleared his throat.

“I brought you something.” He pulled as object from his mantle. “A gift now that you’re one of us. Or, well, soon you will be. When you kill your first dragon.”

Hiccup reached out at the gift. His mouth gaped slightly in surprise. He carefully gripped the horns of the Viking helmet in awe. He’d never had use for a helmet, but to be gifted one, was a great honor in the tribe. Especially if the one giving it was the chief of your village.

“Thanks, dad.”

“It’s half of your mother’s breastplate.”

Hiccup’s hand halted all movement on the headpiece at hearing the source of the metal. He withdrew his hand, wiggling his fingers as if to remove whatever gross feelings he got from the fact.

His father tapped his own helmet. “Matching set.” Bumping his closed fist against his heart, he added, “Keeps her close, y’know. Wear it proudly. From all that I heard from Gobber, you deserve it.”

Hiccup sucked in his bottom lip, trying to figure out how to get out of the most awkward visit in Viking history. He heard footsteps shuffling upstairs. He threw his arms out wide and yawned as if he hadn’t slept for 100 years.

“It’s getting late. I think me and Astrid need to grab some dinner and get some shut eye.”

“Yes, uh, good talk. It has been a long day,” Stoick agreed, pushing off the chair, its legs shrieking along the floor from his overwhelming weight. “Long journey home.”

“Thanks for stopping by. Thanks, dad, for the uh—” Hiccup coughed into his fist, “breast hat,” he added, not being able to stop his tongue before saying the awkward  words.

“Yes, the hat.” Stoick paused at the door. He cleared his throat. “Goodnight, son. Give Astrid my regards.”

“I will.” Hiccup mentally ushered his dad out the door, shutting it closed. He leaned his back against the door, blowing out a gust of relieved breath.

“What in Thor’s name were you thinking!?”

Hiccup cringed. This was the moment he’d prepared himself for the entire walk home from the cove. He’d apologize. He’d take whatever frustrations Astrid dished out. She stomped down the stairs, carrying the Terror – who was oblivious to her foul mood.

“Astrid, I’m—”

“NO!” She shoved the Terror at him. “You don’t get to speak, Hiccup! You don’t get to explain why you vanished the entire day! Again! When you promised me just yesterday you wouldn’t!”

Hiccup instinctively stepped back, the fury rolling off her so strongly he could feel it slamming him through the air. He expected her to be mad. He didn’t expect her to morph into something akin to a flaming red Monstrous Nightmare ready to devour him. Just her sharp blue eyes alone scorched him.

“Enjoy cuddling up with your dragon by the fire tonight. If you so much as set foot on the stairs, I will split your hair in two with my axe!”

With that threat fastened firmly in place, Astrid spun around on her heel and stomped up the stairs. Her ire hung in the air all around Hiccup, making his skin crawl. He’d never seen her this angry -- not even when he broke his promise about not using his dragon killing inventions a few months back. He shut his eyes, regret flowing through him and burning a hole in his gut.

Hiccup sighed heavy in his chest. The Terror licked his hand, bringing him back to that matter. He held the Terror out in front of him, frowning deeply.

“Guess it’s just you and me tonight, little guy.”

 Tags:  @martabm90​ @chiefhiccstrid @drchee5e

[worldcakecakecake]

Feliciano and the King of Hearts

Chosen by the gods as the Queen of Hearts from the moment of birth, we follow Feliciano’s story as he grows into royal life, learns to rule, go against age old customs, and his relationship with his husband to be, the King of Hearts.

Chapter 1 I  Chapter 2 I Chapter 3 I Chapter 4 I Chapter 5 I Chapter 6I Chapter 7 I Chapter 8 IChapter 9I Chapter 10I Chapter 11I Chapter 12 I Chapter 13 I Chapter 14 I Chapter 15 I Chapter 16 I Chapter 17 I Chapter 18 I Chapter 19I Chapter 20 I Chapter 21 I Chapter 22 I Chapter 23 I Chapter 24 I Chapter 25 I Chapter 26 I Chapter 27 I Chapter 28I Chapter 29 I Chapter 30 I Chapter 31 I Chapter 32 I Chapter 33 I Chapter 34 I Chapter 35 I Chapter 36 I Chapter 37I chapter 38 I Chapter 39 I Chapter 40 I Chapter 41 I Chapter 42 I Chapter 43 I Chapter 44 I Chapter 45 I Chapter 46I Chapter 47 I Chapter 48 I Chapter 49 I Chapter 50 I Chapter 51 I Chapter 52 I Chapter 53 I Chapter 54 I Chapter 55 I Chapter 56 I Chapter 57 I Chapter 58 I Chapter 59 I Chapter 60I Chapter 61 I Chapter 62 I Chapter 63 I Chapter 64  I Chapter 65 I Chapter 66 I Chapter 67 I Chapter 68  I Chapter 69 I Chapter 70 I Chapter 71 I Chapter 72 I Chapter 73

                                                    Chapter 74

It was the third day of Feliciano’s journey in the interludes, well-marked before all in large writings tall above the pool. Louis had made it to keep themselves counted, to make sure and not miss a single beat of this mission. They kept their watch on the body. It was never left unseen. There was a rhythm of turns they had already begun to get used to, all while others took their own turn attending to the war. The room was never quiet, someone was always running in and out, stomping, throwing items or shouting, making it almost impossible to take any sleep as they had hoped.

 “-It is imminent! We need to guard even the Northern Heartian border. The Faroe Islands I’m sure have enough people to act,” Aldrich commanded with those slams on the table that had the sleepers startled away from whatever dream they tried to manage.

 “They only have a population of fifty-thousand, and thirty-thousand of them have already been sent to aid the front with Destro!” Elizabeta joined in those hits.

 “Then they have another ten-thousand to protect their own Kingdom from being attack by Khaos.”

 “Many of those twenty-thousand left are children and caretakers!”

 Aldrich groaned and growled into the palm of his hands, rocking in a way that almost looked like he was defeated in tears.

 Kandake sighed, “I’ll send a messenger to see if there are more soldiers they can offer. If not, then we’ll have to call soldiers back to defend.” Kandake gazed to the latest numbers sent…it looked that perhaps she might have to send from her own people…it hurt and pained how less they had become by now.

 “Tunisia in my kingdom is one of the closest provinces to them…I’ll see if they can send from their own to help,” Lili began, each time tiring, her eyes darkening and ready to fall to the pavement as she stood. Vincenzo, who had awoken and could not find it to rest again, stood and offered to give Lili the chance to sleep. She finished writing her message and headed off without a word.

 Kiku, Louis, Arthur and Renata kept the current watch on Feliciano, close, Kiku at one point had even let himself rest on Renata’s shoulder, and she smiled and caressed his arm. Feliciano still floated just the same, nothing of difference.

 “Tomorrow is the fourth day,” Renata reminded. “After, Feliciano should be heading to the second realm.”

 Kiku yawned, “do you think he’s found something by now?”

 A lulling silence, even Arthur and Louis beside them were struggling to keep their eyes open.

 “I don’t know…we can’t really tell…”

   “Forward! Forward!” Manuel shouted, many others spreading the message and thus the men and women, a mixture of Clubian and Diamond soldiers, stood before the strong winds Khaos blew in rage. At Manuel’s words, they extended their frontal leg forward and raised their hands in a defense posture for the spell. From the united magic and force of these thirty casters, long piercing pillars of emerald emerged from the ground to stand as a wall and hurt the large menace. Khaos was ready to fire with a demanding swish of his hand, but these walls did well to do nothing to the small creatures that laid behind.

 “Now! Now! Now!” Antonio called, riding one of the long dragons that a Clubian infantry let him use. He raised a light in his hand and all ran and rode between the crevices of the pillars, Khaos before them clear to attack with many balls and rays of light that brought another shriek in this large plain.

 “Fire!” A Diamond woman called from a distance, with a long line of Clubians with arrows, their ends with fire and magic, to add, targeted perfectly to blow with the light spells. In his anger, Khaos gained the energy he needed to completely crush the pillars. Many squashed horribly under him and their very own creations, yet still there were survivors who continued their light, the arrows joining in continuing to madden the Dark god.

  Yong Soo could have met his end at the ground underneath him, but to his luck, Zuma came in his own St. Mark, catching him so he could ride as comfortably as he did. “Did you do it?”

 “It’s good and ready!” Yong Soo smiled greatly as if there wasn’t blood dripping from the side of his head and they weren’t right before a nine-hundred meters monster.

 “Get out of there, you two!” Lukas shout came through a small device, a recent creation in the mess that had done them well.

 They hurriedly flew off, at whatever range could save them from the coming blow. To activate it, Lukas used every particle of energy in his being, such a drain that had him falling, gone. Matthias was there to catch him before he hit the ground, sending other casters to finish the last piece, but luckily it worked. It shimmered in different colors, quite beautiful before it teared and pained. Destro screamed and fought on with the soldiers on ground that tried to stall the pace of his walk how they could.

 Yong Soo and Zuma landed on what they considered command grounds, where messengers came and every act began. “We got some time! Now the healing wards can move,” Zuma told and messengers moved to get it done.

 From their far off distance, they could only watch as Destro continued to convulse in the bomb and spell, hoping indeed that he could do so for the mere minutes they needed.

  The darkness remained, the blue light of the line the only divide, the only ground, the only thing that made him aware of the steps he took.

 He had begun to get used to the bodies floating around him, only stumbling and whimpering at the sight of people who were mere citizens, those who couldn’t evacuate in time and were left in the crush. He tended to run past them, hurrying at a pace that still left him in the same nothingness.

 It was hard to find an essence of time, but Feliciano knew that enough have had to pass. Perhaps two days?

 He had walked on, not feeling any tiredness or drain in his legs. To spend some sort of time, he imagined and thought about the people he passed by, wondering their stories, remembering, hoping to find anybody he could give his condolences and help when he returned…if he ever did. No one else awoke, no other walking figure, it was only now that he reached some sort of difference.

 Large chunks of buildings, teared, broken, from all kinds. Churches, schools, homes…stationary, their presence creating bigger glows that gave Feliciano ease. He came close, touching and feeling their smoothness, their crevices, their designs…he never though he would long so much to just touch something that didn’t shock him in pain. He smiled true, exploring where the lines of this window could take him, still in his frontal path, on and on until…big green open eyes, startled, a clear gasp, a figure…a moving figure…running away. Feliciano startled himself, moving back, trying to calm down how frantic he had gotten. When he relaxed…the sudden realization.

 “Someone! There’s someone!” He shouted to himself, taking a run. “Wait! Wait! Wait!” He called and begged behind the rushing green figure, losing finally the single line he had made this entire journey, crossing and turning around all these different ruins as the figure continued to evade him and even try to hide.

 “Please! Please! I need your help! It’s a matter of saving the four kingdoms!” He hoped could convince, but yet they were running, the debris now growing larger, entire courtyards and tall pillars surviving here. It made it easier for the other to hide, to lose himself between in clear knowledge of where he was, Feliciano easily losing sight of him.

 No…no, he couldn’t loose a chance like this!

 He stopped, a realization and then a groan at understanding the idea he had. How he hated it…but if it meant he could get this person to stop…

 “Halt! I order you to stop and come to me in the name of the Queen of Hearts, Feliciano Valenti of Italy!” He shouted in strong command…just as Ludwig taught him.

 Feliciano heard a distant gasp, the footsteps stopped…and they started again, coming close, the figure shy in showing itself, slowly peeking from the crumble of a wall. It just wasn’t his eyes that were green…the top of his head was green…his skin, his light, even the hands that slowly came up to hold themselves, pulling him slightly more up to reveal how even his body was in the same color. With the brightness of his shoulder length sleek hair, Feliciano imagined that in his life it must have been blond. He wore a long flourishing blouse, with a vest rich in floral sewing even to his boots, and fine jewelry. Clubian…as if the mere color wasn’t proof enough to show his kingdom.

 “…your majesty…it’s you…it’s really you…” then he was confident enough to show himself completely, lithe, about Feliciano’s own height…he wasn’t resting…or producing light to offer to this realm…he was just as Feliciano that moment. “But you can’t be! If you’re here… then that must mean you’re-”

 “I won’t be.”

 Astounded eyes, riddled in question, already asking for the Queen to answer.

 “I’m not actually supposed to be dead. My body is currently in a pool in the Berlin castle being watched. I’m here to look for the power of the universal alignment. Once I get it, my mother will release me from a spell, and I can go back and do the job I was prophesied to do!” He rushed and panicked.

 The other looked perturbed and he shone on with more questions.

 “I don’t have any time to loose. Please, just tell me what you know and anything that can help me!”

 With the silence that came, Feliciano worried the man didn’t understand well the common language, but he was thinking, debating. “So…you’re not some spy trying to trick me?”

 “No, no, no! Why would there even be spies here?!”

 “Okay, yeah, maybe not spies, but there are some creepy stuff going on from time to time, I mean, just look at you!”

 Did he have some extra appendage? No, he looked down to himself and only saw his usual. He was to comment on it, but then comparing, he realized that he still kept his own colors. His hair was still brown, his skin maintained its bronze cream, his boots black, his pants and simple blouse shirt in white. The only difference was his silhouetted red glow, and still it did not fill him in completely.

 “From who I’ve met here, you’re only supposed to awaken once all your magic is drained in here.” His green outlook was the proof of all magic gone, the shell of a person’s spirit. “If you’re like this, then either your magic is still with you, which is just weird…or some other crazy crap I don’t know about,” he wailed his hands showing his frustration.

 “I don’t know either! The book didn’t mention something like this and after-” he realized something in what he just said. “Wait! From who you’ve met? You mean there are others!”

 “Oh yeah, tons! All of us who’ve woken up and are waiting for the second realm.”

 “Please, take me to them! They might know something.”

 “I doubt it. Most of them are as confused as I am. There’s really nothing out there helping or explaining anything to us. I came her actually trying to find someone who could or just someone who woke up and needs to calm down.”

 “Then please, take me to them! Perhaps together we can work something out,” he neared already providing a warm comfort, one that made the other smile, already accepting.

 “Well, come on then! We’re not too far, hopefully. We try to stay by recognizable stuff, so we won’t get lost.” He started a route that Feliciano happily followed behind. He didn’t know if this could actually lead to finding out something, but it was still very nice to just meet somebody else, talk and have company.

 “Feliks Łukasiewicz. From Clubs if that isn’t obvious enough. Province of Poland,” he introduced.

 “Feliciano Vale-”

 “Yes, yes, you already introduced yourself all haughty and mighty. Everyone knows who you are, and you will give everyone quite the surprise once they see you. Man, how cool is that, meeting the Queen of Hearts here and on some special mission. I wish I could tell Toris that.”

 It was a long walk, hours surely, much easier as they now had this debris around them to landmark. Feliks knew his way around, with ease, sometimes whistling or chatting on. Feliciano deeply appreciated it, even joining in song or talking of the lifestyle in the castle, something that Feliks constantly asked on.

 “Eight cooks!”

 “The main ones at least. Each one has around eight helpers.”  

 “And, like…do they make absolutely, everything you like?”

 “Everything!” Feliciano smiled, already missing it…back before the war, before bearing, when Ludwig…he shouldn’t let himself wallow like that, not when he found this sudden happiness here.

 “I bet you never had to go to the kitchen.”

 “Actually, I do love cooking and sometimes went there myself to make my own food. Many times, I’ve actually fed all who were in my table.”

 “Wow. If I had a team like that in my kitchen, you would never catch me there.”

 Feliciano chuckled, “there was a time, back in my year of arising, where all I wanted to do was stay there…at the time I was avoiding my King.” The miss, the lessening of his spirit, holding his hands to himself as control to not fall so deep in that misery. Feliks now had to keep his glance on him, worried and wondering. “…but later,” he smiled again, the sweet of the memory giving his cheeks a pinkish glow that made Feliks slightly jealous on Feliciano’s kept colors. “…he would bake me the sweetest cakes…. he would try to make them tall, all because he remembered how as a child he used to say he would one day make them reach the ceiling for me, and well, it was just fun.”

 Feliks didn’t know how to answer, brought into silence, only continuing his heading, that memory of the Queen bringing him to his own memories of the same nature. He sighed, “I guess I know the feeling. A…friend of mine lived pretty far from me, a good three-day coach ride further north. When we were young, we would only see each other once every three months and…we couldn’t stand being so long without the other. He did a short apprenticeship in Washington in Spades and when he came back, he brought this…contraption with him that could bring him way faster to me…only mere hours. I think it was called a…bicycle or whatever. Even if he did have something that made him come more often and quicker, it was still a hard route and many hours of peddling, but…he always came to see me no matter.” He didn’t need to blush in red, Feliciano could somehow see it glow on him with a beautiful green. It made him smile and ease, letting that moment one to appreciate sacrifices and devotions. He was to ask more on this man, but a diverse glow in the distance caught his attention. It was people…awake, moving, many of them, all shinning in different colors and huddled under the ruins of an old dome.

 “That’s them! Come!” Feliks rushed them those last steps.

 They weren’t paying attention to their approach, instead, they focused on the sleeping body of a young girl, a mere teenager, in her last descend down, slowly coming into their arms. Only her arm was left in her old colors, the rest of her now in blue. In one last small shock, the last of her magic was gone and she was completely drained. She fell into the arms of another young man, this one full in yellow. From what Feliciano could tell in his clothes, he was of the highest aristocracy in Diamonds.

 “Be sure to be careful,” one woman in blue told him and he nodded, being gentle as she opened her eyes, gave small groans, looking how she could, trying to make sense. Not recognizing anybody, not understanding where she was, she instantly drew into a panic, sitting up, breathing again harsh and hurting. The man began to soothe, rubbing a hand on her back, calm, something that the rest showed, beginning to give space. Feliks and Feliciano did well to remain in the back. Feliks had seen this happen enough times to know, while Feliciano took the time to see it for the first time and understand.

 “We wish you no harm, we only want to help. Please, tell us your name.”

 She refused to, shaking her head, untrusting.

 “I am Aaron Harbia of Diamonds. The province of Emirates. I am here because I got too close…too close to the furies of Khaos along with a large division of my men and women. I was wiped under him and now I’m here. Do you know where you are?”

 The girl’s breathing slowly relaxed, yet she fretted and shook as if she was attacked by a big cold. “I-I’m…I’m…Sam! Sam Kimura of Spades. The island of Anguila in the Oralee. I….I don’t know. Where…where am I?”

 “Do you not know?”

 She couldn’t recognize anything, nothing of what she had known or knew.

 “Darling,” the near blue woman came down, offering her comfort along Aaron’s, “you’re in the Interludes. You have begun a process of death…”

 She stilled…so hurt, lost more than ever even when the answer was given to her.

 “No…no…no, I can’t be!” She teared, having nothing to hold but to Aaron, taking a harsh grip of his jacket, the kind of force that would have torn if they were back in the living world. “My father would have found me…he wouldn’t have let me…he wouldn’t have let me alone…he didn’t know…he didn’t know…” she was wallowing now, in hardships that didn’t let her speak more. They all gave her that space, understanding well what she was going through.

 “Most of us awake just like this,” Feliks told Feliciano in the lowest whisper he could manage. “At least she has us now…most are not so lucky.”

 “You can tell us what happened. It might help,” a man in green neared.

 They waited until she calmed down, until her breathing eased enough to the point she could speak coherently. “My…my father was called to fight. He…wasn’t so good at fighting…only sailing as all Oralee should and should only do. My family…we begged him not to go, that it was all under control, that we were sure the Kings, Queens and Jacks could manage on their own. But as things got worst, as news of a second monster came, as messengers arrived begging for new people to go and fight…my father wanted to obey to some…sense of calling and pride that I still don’t get.” She whimpered that moment, lost again. More they waited for her voice to come back. “He left with that group…and I couldn’t take it…so I followed after him, dressed to look older…they were so desperate and worried that they didn’t give me a second glance to know if I was age appropriate or not. I followed him the entire time, across the sea, across Spades, I think…I think we reached Clubs when…I saw him…I saw him…” she trembled now in utter fear, those who were there understanding, the very reminder making them sweat and shake, the air becoming somber. “They planned to do a surrounding on two of his sides, with Gegen spells, then fire the Sloan cannons…we were part of the huddle. I tried to stay close to him…and I did…but…I’m not old enough to do Gegen spells, I couldn’t do it. I was trying so hard to do one that I didn’t notice his closeness…it wasn’t until part of my armor disintegrated that I saw the darkness that came, eating and tearing apart everything in its path. My father called for me…he saw me…I know he tried to come for me…but…all I remember after that is pain and darkness…and…now I’m here…” The telling of her story helped to relax her…to come into acceptance of where she was, the ease she was currently in and the comfort of these strangers that surrounded her.

 “I’m…so sorry this happened to you. If there is anything we can do, and it is within our reach, we’ll offer it,” the blue woman said.

 She thought of something, debating if the answer would be to her liking or hurt, “…my father…have you seen my father here? His name is Justo Kimura. We look very similar, but he has very long dreadlocks and a scare on his chin…he-he'll tell you it was from a fishing accident as a kid.”

 “I’m sorry, but we haven’t found anybody of that description yet,” Aaron told her.

 “If he is not here, then take joy that he is still alive and well,” a diamond woman told.

 “I…I really don’t think so. We were both under the same darkness.”

 “If he is here, it could be that he is still asleep,” a Heartian man guessed.

 “Not to worry, child. You will meet him, I’m sure of it. All who die must come here.”

 That was a realization that widened Feliciano and brightened his eyes. “Of course…why didn’t I think of it sooner? Ludwig…it means …Ludwig has to be here!” He smiled large and loud, turning and hoping to see him that instant. His loud proclamation could not be ignored, all taking a glance to the back wondering.

 Many gasped and fretted.

 “It’s the Heartian Queen!”

 “Wha-what?”

 “You-you-your majesty!”

 “No! No! You’re supposed to be in Berlin. You weren’t fighting in the war!”

 “Don’t worry! I’m not really dead! But Ludwig! Ludwig! I have to find him! I just have to!”

 “Wait! Wait! Your majesty!” A Spadian woman called and came near when Feliks couldn’t take a grasp of him.

 Feliciano halted, lost again, not knowing where to look, where to go…for a moment he forgot that he was here to look for something else…not his King. He realized how fretful he was being, especially after what the girl went through, embarrassed to show himself.

 “Sir, the King died many weeks ago,” the Spadian woman reminded, “…he shouldn’t be in the first realm anymore.”

 Like being taken away from him again, Feliciano gripping, hating how easily he could still tear up at his fault.

 “But…it is possible he could be in the second one,” Feliks came close and smiled up to him, a comforting hand on his shoulder, trying to pull him back, to their company…what he wanted…help and the presence of others.

 Feliciano gave him a grin, taking a deep sigh, telling himself to be patient…and focus on what he came here to do. He turned to the rest, showing himself…the others transfixed at how he kept his own colors, shinning unique and truly queenly. Even Sam, in her curiosity and wonder, managed footing again, standing and joining the rest in their impression.

 Feliciano came back, nervous and unsteady, but trying out a smile that was offering. “I apologize. It was very rude of me to cut in like that.”

 “You are desperate to find someone you love…especially after you thought you’d never see them again…” Sam said, shy…she had never been before the presence of royalty. “I understand…and I guess, we should all help each other to achieve that.”

 “That’s a plan I’ll gladly be a part of.”

 “First of all, your majesty, I would love to understand what you’re doing here. You mentioned you’re not really dead. What is going on?” Aaron could stand again, his direction towards him like the rest.

 “I…I don’t know what you were informed, but I was unable to get the power of the universal alignment. Ludwig was really worried about me…especially after finding out I was bearing…” He liked that he didn’t have them so obvious here, people’s gazes wouldn’t go so quickly to them, they could pay attention to him and what he had to say. “He trapped me at the bottom of the castle without any reach to the outside so I wouldn’t dare go back to the war and risk myself. But…afterwards, we…found a way to get it again…and it involved coming here to the Interludes.”

 “So…you killed yourself to get it?” The Spadian woman questioned.

 “Well…yeah, kind of, but, it was carefully planned in the suggested way. My body right now is being held under a spell in a place I can come back to once I get it. And when I do…I can face Khaos and Destro and put an end to all of this.”

 Silence as they all gazed between themselves, taking the time to understand and realize.

 “What do you need now?” Another Heartian woman came forward, ready to act and do what was needed.

 “Information. What do you know of here? How is the second realm reached? The books mentioned that the arsenal of power is in a deep connection between the first and fourth realm. What does it mean?”

 And they all thought and gathered in their minds all they have recently found out.

 “Out of all of us, I have been the longest here.” Aaron offered himself, coming forward to answer. “As I’ve learned of my time here, when you arrive, you are in this deep sleep while your magic is drained. As soon as it’s done, you awaken in the state we are in and linger still in the first realm. I assume I’ve been here about five days. I did meet this lady from the White Kingdom…from those who had been fighting. She was the one who found me and helped me to calm down. After she reached about a week here…she suddenly…” They all came close, eager. “It was like she got frozen…her eyes were covered in light. I tried to speak to her, anything to get her off it, but she stayed…then the next moment, she had her arms spread open and she was swallowed down into the water.” He pointed to the very ground they stood on, all fearful as if it was ready engulf them that instant. “I haven’t seen her since.”

 “It has to be…” One spadian woman worded what all had begun to make certain.

 “But we can’t be sure…until it happens to us,” Feliks reminded that they were still intended to head on that very same faith.

 “Anything else?” Feliciano hoped for. “Anybody else out of the ordinary…anything…that explained to you more of what’s in here…Angels…even an Ace...”

 By the emptiness, Feliciano could already tell there was no such answer.

 “It has only been us…” she then looked around…the ruins, some bodies floating by, yet the darkness, “…and this,” the Diamond woman replied, bringing dread to Feliciano, already feeling like he was back at the beginning, lost in nothing and alone.

 “It will happen to all of us though…the second realm…perhaps there you can find the answers you need…” Sam tried to alight him, and although it raised his eyes and a smile…it was not closer to what he needed.

[whiskynottea]

An Interruption in the 1st Law of Thermodynamics.

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13, Chapter 14, Chapter 15, Chapter 16, Chapter 17, Chapter 18, Chapter 19, Chapter 20, Chapter 21, Chapter 22, Chapter 23, Chapter 24, Chapter 25, Chapter 26, Chapter 27,  Chapter 28, Chapter 29, Chapter 30, Chapter 31, Chapter 32, Chapter 33, Chapter 34, Chapter 35,  Chapter 36, Chapter 37, Chapter 38, Chapter 39, Chapter 40, Chapter 41, Chapter 42, Chapter 43, Chapter 44,  Chapter 45, Chapter 46, Chapter 47, Chapter 48, Chapter 49, Chapter 50, Chapter 51 Chapter 52, Chapter 53, Chapter 54, Chapter 55, Chapter 56, Chapter 57

AO3

Thank you @theministerskat​ for your beta! ❤️

                                  – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Chapter 58. Rain

How long can one night be?

It felt like I was lying in my bed for ages. I wanted to get up, run, do something, but the darkness was heavy outside my window, and my heart felt heavier. 

My heart, the one that kept beating, no matter how many times my breath hitched in my throat.

My heart, carrying its own heavy load, waiting. 

Holding off was slowly killing me, but I had resolved not to call him again.

Hours had passed while my phone remained silent. A sinking sensation wrapped around me, dragging me down, deeper and deeper. 

What had happened, exactly?

I had spent the first few hours rationalizing.

What if something happened to him? No. John would call me. Jamie is fine.

Maybe he forgot his phone at the pool and they are all out celebrating now. But he would send something from John’s phone, right? 

Not if he’s still mad at me for not calling him before the race. 

Maybe he needs time, and he will call when he’s ready. He’s stressed, and he’s exaggerating. It will be okay. 

If only he called sooner.

I had messed up, yes, but it wasn’t like I had been out for drinks, having fun, and ignoring him. And it wasn’t like we hadn’t talked all day. I would explain myself. I would tell him the truth and ask him to forgive me. Simple as that. 

Not that I hadn’t done that in my texts already. But texts were not the same. 

I closed my eyes and imagined his disappointment when the time had come and I didn’t call, when I didn’t reply to his messages. I could see in my mind’s eye how upset he must have been, his deep breaths as he tried to focus on the impending race. I hoped he’d thought of all the times I wished him good luck in the past, of how much I loved him and believed in him. Or at least to forget everything about me and give his best to the race.

It didn’t matter, really. Nothing was as important as winning the race.

I knew he would do well. He was the best swimmer I had ever seen.

It will be alright. He’ll call back and it will be alright.

I tried to stick with this line of thought and get some sleep. Make this endless night go by faster. 

But sleep wouldn’t come. 

Where was he? The chances he’d lost his phone were…scarce. He’d seen my texts and was still so angry that he couldn’t even reply?

A single message was all I needed. ‘I’m fine, won the race, we’ll talk tomorrow.’ How hard was that?

It was the first time Jamie had done this. The first time he blatantly ignored me. The first time he didn’t want to talk to me. 

Or rather, the second. The first one had been when he got the scholarship, but that had been different. 

This wasn’t at all like him. 

Maybe he’s preparing a surprise for me?

The week following the New Jersey race would be a slack one. Maybe he’d come to visit me, to celebrate with me.

I let hope nestle in my chest, its arrival gifting me with a few full breaths. Maybe he was flying to England right now. A smile curled the corners of my mouth, up and up, until I was biting my bottom lip in a smile full of expectation. 

A moment later, reality crashed on me. Exactly when I was the most vulnerable. It always does that, waiting in the corner until we give way to the dreams, and then rushes to overtake us. With a single move, reality names the dream an illusion and takes it away, with a low, malicious snicker. 

My smile vanished in a matter of seconds. Jamie wasn’t coming, and I was a fool to even think he would. He was in New Jersey, celebrating with his friends. 

The waiting was killing me. I held in my tears, refusing to cry when I didn’t even know why. When I didn’t know what was happening. 

He had left me hanging. He had left me in the dark, alone, with no power over anything. 

I felt small. Insignificant. Alone. 

When the first tears stained my pillow, sleep took pity on me. 

I didn’t dream.

–

Mary’s voice woke me and I felt her hand gently nudging my side. 

“Claire? Are you coming to the lecture? We need to go in fifteen minutes.”

The lecture? Did the world have the audacity to go on when my life was crumbling?

For the first time in my life, I didn’t care about the lecture. I didn’t care about anything at all, after checking my phone to find that nothing had changed since the previous night.

That was a living hell, I was sure of it. 

I pushed all thoughts and emotions deep down and got out of bed. It would do me no good to stay in the dorm all day, and I had practicals that I couldn’t miss anyway.

I brushed my teeth mechanically for a good five minutes and washed my face with freezing water until the bones in my hands ached from the cold.

Numb – I needed to be numb. Retreat to that place deep inside me where I was safe. A peal of cruel laughter left my lips. 

This place, and all the bloody safe places inside me had been opened for him. 

There was no safehouse, no hidden crypt. I had given everything and I had nowhere to go now. 

I started crying again and immediately rinsed the tears away. 

Get yourself together. Don’t think.

I left the bathroom and got dressed. Mary looked at me with a frown, but didn’t ask any questions. I loved her for it. No prying. She would patiently wait until I was ready to talk. Which meant never, in this case. 

We walked to campus and headed towards the auditorium. I vaguely registered that it was an interesting lecture, one of those that would fill my head with questions and ideas on any other day. Not today. 

Today, I took notes like an automaton. I breathed like an automaton. When the lecture finished, I talked to others like an automaton.

It was like living in virtual reality. I was at Oxford, going on with my day, responding to the stimuli around me as if they were real, but I had this feeling that everything was only a projection on a wall, and real-life would look like the earth had been destroyed by meteors. Or a collision with another planet.

Or maybe that was just my world.

I went on with my day as if nothing had changed, as if I could breathe as easily as the next student in the practical. 

I nodded mechanically and I even smiled once or twice when everyone was laughing, because I felt like I had to.

I checked my phone every minute. It felt like a punch in the gut. When I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, I turned it off, only to panic and turn it on five minutes later. 

Not that I had missed anything.

I thought of texting Jamie again, but what else was there left to say? How many times can one apologize before those three words sound cheap?

I wrote ‘I love you’ at least ten times, only to erase the message a moment later. Didn’t he know that I loved him? What difference would a text make?

After our practical, I followed Mary to the library. I sat down with a heavy textbook and ended up reading the same line twenty times. 

It was then that my phone vibrated against the wooden desk. 

My heart jumped to my throat, and my knees trembled as I tried to stand up. 

It was him, and he was smiling in the picture on my screen and I just wanted to fall back on my chair and start crying.

I didn’t. I swallowed hard, instead, and ran outside. Fat raindrops hit my face, but I hardly noticed them. I wore my earphones, and slid a finger across the screen.

“Hi,” I said, walking away from the entrance and leaning against the exterior wall, trying to shelter myself from the rain as well as I could. The light post was only four feet away, but my face was covered in shadows. 

“Hi, Claire.” Jamie tried for a smile, but ended up taking a deep breath instead.

My heart was beating so fast I thought it would break through my chest. A ridiculous thought from an aspiring doctor, and yet there it was.

“How did it go?” I asked. “The race,” I clarified, as if it wasn’t obvious.

“Second. I finished second.” 

Second. Shit. Is this the reason he didn’t call?

His face was a mask, his voice colourless. I didn’t know what to say. I’m sorry? It sounded stupid. Don’t worry? 

I nodded twice, before I mumbled, “Congratulations.” He didn’t seem to hear it. I cleared my throat and tried again, louder this time. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks,” he said, dismissively. 

And then, silence. A long, heavy silence that stretched and stretched until I couldn’t take it anymore. It was stealing my breath.

“Did you celebrate last night?” 

Jamie looked sideways, then back at me. “Aye, we went for drinks wi’ the team.”

“Nice.” I tried to smile. “Did you have fun?”

He closed his eyes and set his jaw. I saw his throat bobbing as he swallowed and waited for his answer, but his mouth opened only to close again.

“Are you alone?” I blurted. It was obvious that we couldn’t keep this conversation going for long, and I didn’t want to start talking about what really mattered if other people were in his room.

“Aye. John is out.”

I tried to smile, and let out a sigh before starting explaining myself. “Jamie, I am so, so, so sorry I didn’t manage to call you yesterday. I know you needed me to call and you’re angry at me, and you’re right… But I was in the middle of a tutorial and time went by, and –” I stopped abruptly and squeezed my eyes tight. “I am sorry.”

Jamie nodded but didn’t say a word. I couldn’t recognize the look in his eyes. 

“Talk to me, please. Talk to me, Jamie, we will figure it out,” I pleaded in a quivering voice. 

“Claire –”

“Yes?” I bit my lip hard, trying to keep the tears inside.

“I didna call ye yesterday and all day today, because I needed time to think.” 

The wall behind me was rough underneath my fingertips as I pushed harder against it, wishing for the pain to ground me. To prepare me, somehow, for what was coming. I knew it. I knew him. I could see right through him. The way he talked, how he looked at me… I recognized that look now – the pain and regret, the determination. Tears blurred my vision before he could go on.

“This isna working, Claire,” Jamie said, and I felt a thousand daggers sinking into my heart. I felt them hovering around me all day, biding their time. A whimper left my mouth before I could stop it, and I pushed my lips together in reflex. I looked at Jamie, at the bloody screen, and tried to keep my raging emotions under control.

“What –” I started in a broken voice, and I summoned all my courage to go on. I wouldn’t stop this conversation before it had even started because I was crying. I pushed my fingernails into the wall, willing it to support me. “What do you mean?” When Jamie only shook his head, I continued. “Since when is it not working?” I huffed a laugh, challenging him. “I forgot to text you once, and that’s it? I’m not good enough for you?”

That rilled him up. “Did I ever say ye’re not good enough for me, Claire?” he demanded. “Dinna put words in my mouth!” He then murmured something under his breath, lowering his eyes.

“So what is this? You don’t call, don’t text, don’t even tell me that you need time to think and I’m here waiting for you to deign to inform me that things aren’t working out because the idea stuck in your head?”

“It’s not in my head! It’s in my life! This – what we have... It’s not what it once was, and –”

“And you want to end it?” I couldn’t believe I was uttering those words. This had to be a nightmare.

“Aye.” It could have been a whisper of the wind. It could have been a raindrop falling into the river. It could have been the rustling of leaves. But it was his voice, and the sound choked me. A small word I had heard him say thousands of times. The same word, ending it all.

I bit my lip until I tasted blood. I scraped my palm against the wall, and saw the hand holding my phone shaking. 

“Why?”

Why are you giving up on us? Why aren’t you patient? Why are you tearing my heart out?

I couldn’t ask that. I wouldn’t. So I just whispered again, “Why?”

“I love ye, Claire,” he said, and I noticed for the first time that he was crying, too. 

Hearing his words broke all the walls I’d tried to build to keep my despair aside. “This makes no fucking sense,” I sobbed.

“I ken, I ken,” he repeated. “I love ye, mo nighean donn, mo ghraidh, my Sassenach. I love ye so much and I wish you were here or I was there, but you’re not and I’m not and I canna go on like this.” He said it all with breath, and then this face paled, as if a chunk of life was torn out of his chest. 

“No, no, no.” I shook my head violently, wet curls flying and sticking on my face. “We will make it work, we said we would, remember?” 

He needed to remember. He just needed to know that we would be together no matter what, and then he would change his mind.

“I canna. I miss you, and this is not what I thought it would be. Seeing you once every three months? What kind of relationship is that?”

“Our relationship!” I all but screamed. “It’s our relationship and we’ll work on it. This is just the beginning and I am overwhelmed a bit by the workload here, but I will get the hang of it. I know I should have called before the race –”

“Claire!” he interrupted me. “This is not about the race. I mean, it is, but it’s not only that. Ye’re not here when I need to cuddle in bed with you after a hard day. Ye’re not here when I want to go out and dance and feel your body against mine. Ye’re not here when good things happen, when bad things happen, when nothing happens… Ye’re not here.”

“Of course I’m not there! I’m right here, doing my best to be a part of your life! And you knew that, Jamie Fraser! You knew I wouldn’t be there!”

“Your best…” he trailed off before finishing the thought. I was ready for another attack, when he said, “I hadna thought it would be so difficult.”

I repeated his words, mocking him. 

“Yes Claire! I thought ye’d be with me until your term started, but no! God forbid! Ye had to volunteer and go to Zambia! And then –”

“You said you were okay with me going to Zambia!” I interrupted him, indignant. I felt my cheeks flaming in anger now.

“I said I didna like it! But ye didna step back! Ye said that ye really wanted to go and really, what choice did I have in the matter?”

I snorted, refusing to talk to him. I couldn’t believe that he was holding my trip to Zambia against me. What else was there that he had never talked about?

“Well, I’m not in Zambia right now.”

“Aye, and what good does it do to us? Ye have internet access and we still hardly talk. D’ye think that thirty minutes per day is enough to keep a relationship going? Because it isn’t!”

I took a long breath through my mouth, blinking at him. I couldn’t believe my ears. “We limit the time of the video calls because of your training,” I spat.

“And your practicals, your tutorials…” He shook his head and his red curls fell into his eyes. It had become one of my habits to run my fingers over his forehead and push them aside, but I knew that even if he was in front of me right now that would be the last thing I would do. Smack him on the forehead, maybe. “Ye didn’t come for my race, as we had agreed. Do ye ken how long it is since we had sex?” Jamie asked, bringing me back to our conversation.

I felt my eyebrows curving in an impossible arch. “What? So this – this is about sex?”

“No. Not only sex, but sex is important, too.”

“Our schedule is fucked up!” I declared.

“I ken!” he shot back. “This doesna change the facts though, does it?”

It didn’t. “We can do better,” I said, more calmly now. My breaths were short and fast, and I stopped for a moment, trying to collect myself. “I miss you, too.” Jamie didn’t reply. “I thought I was there for you, I thought what we had was enough.”

I slid down the wall, sitting on the wet pavement. I was soaked by this point and I didn’t care. 

“I thought it would be enough. I wanted it to be.” Jamie’s voice was soft, as if he murmured something in my ear as we lay together in bed. “But I want to live, Claire, not to be constantly suspended between two continents. I want to live here, now. And I wanted to share now with you, even though I couldn’t share here. But I can’t even have that.”

Because I hadn’t sent a bloody good-luck-text. “I don’t know what else I can do. I can’t promise that I won’t mess up again, but I can promise that I will try not to. And I’ll be there in a few weeks. We will spend a whole month together.”

“Sassenach,” Jamie rasped, pained. “Stop. Don’t do that.”

“Don’t do what? Love you?” I asked, with an incredulous laugh. “I don’t remember how life was before I loved you.”

Jamie rubbed a hand on his face. His eyes were red and puffed when he looked at me. “It pains me, Claire. It pains me to wake up and know you’re not in my arms, it pains me to count the days until I see ye again. I canna do it anymore.”

I had no breath to speak. Tears kept rolling down my face, and Jamie’s ragged breaths sounded closer through my earphones than the rain pattering on the pavement I sat on. I felt him closer than all the world around me and I wanted to reach out and grasp that feeling, afraid I would never have it again. 

“So that’s it?” I croaked, and licked my lips, tasting the salt.

It couldn’t be it. We couldn’t end like this. 

“I am sorry. I love you. I will always love you. But maybe this is for the best. For both of us, ye ken.” A sigh, and he continued. “I will focus on my life here, and you on yer studies…”

The words sounded unreal in my mind. I couldn’t reply. I couldn’t agree or oppose the notion, not that it mattered. 

Love isn’t a cage. It’s not working that way. Love is like the wind, aiding us in staying airborne, lifting us higher.

“Goodbye, Jamie.”

My finger trembled as I ended the call. I felt the sky drop closer, crushing me. A flash of lightning tore up the darkness in the distance and I closed my eyes, wishing Jamie would be there to hold me in his arms. 

But there would be no more Jamie. No one would hold me to keep me safe. No one would brush away the hair from my face. No one would kiss away the tears. 

I held my breath in an attempt to verify that my heart was still beating.

It did. My treacherous heart went on with hollow, empty beats against my ribs. 

My head hit the wall, and I stayed there, sobbing under the rain until Mary found me. 

Chapter 59

[viinchester]

Prompts

How/What to request

Please comment or send an ask with the number of the prompt(s) you want + the character + more details you want to be included. I'm feeling really creative right now, so I might be able to do some of your requests.

-

1. "Did you bring us here to die?" - "Obviously." - "I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not."

2. "You.. You are-.." - "Beautiful? A genius? Immensely talented?" - "Dangerous."

3. "All that blood looks good on you, it really brings out your eyes."

4. "You keep on pointing that gun at me and blabber about how much you've been wanting to kill me. I'm beginning to doubt your commitment."

5. "Remove your hand or I will rip your arm off and beat you to death with it."

6. "I don't care if you're panicking - just do it quietly."

7. "How long have you been standing there?" - "Longer than you'd like."

8. "Keep your morals away from me."

9. "When did you become so smart?" - "Since I stopped listening to you."

10. "I remember kissing you.. Why do I remember kissing you?"

11. "I was just kind of hoping that you'd.. y'know.. fall in love with me."

12. "Well, that didn't end the way I expected it to, but at least nobody important died."

13. "You're going to have to tell people you're leaving eventually." - "Yeah, but how should I do it? Shall I shout it from the rooftops or send a mass e-mail?"

14. "I have never been so insulted!" - "You don't listen much then, do you?"

15. "What are you doing?" - "… Eating." - "We're being held hostage and you decide to raid the kitchen!?" - ".. They didn't say the fridge was off limits."

16. "Come over here and make me."

17. "I have a name and it's not sweetheart."

18. "I wouldn't miss you. Nobody would." - "..." - "No, wait! I didn't-" - "Fuck off, I hate you."

19. "I really wish you were never born." - "Well, me neither. But.. life be like that sometime." - ".. You're an idiot, you know that?"

20. "I'm dying and you can't do anything about it, so please just hold me. I don't want to die here alone.."

21. "You're bleeding! Where's your friend!?" - "Left me to die to save their own ass. Guess you were right, I really am not worth it."

22. "Did you really think I cared about you?"

23. "This is what I get from trusting you.. Everybody told me to stay away from you, but I ignored them.." - "Yeah, that was really stupid. You should've known better. And for the record: I don't regret anything."

24. "You lied to me! Everything you ever did.. It was all just a game to you!" - "You found out? What a shame.. I kind of enjoyed playing with you."

25. "This is a joke, right? Right!?"

26. "What are you doing?" - "Just what's long over due."

27. "I'm a monster." - "You know you're not."

28. "Listen, I believe there's good inside of you somewhere.. Just.. Just put that knife down, okay?"

29. "Sometimes you need to make your sarcasm more clear."

30. "Oh crap. That's your »I did something bad«-face."

31. "This never happened. Understood?"

32. "Can't you be happy for me for just five minutes?"

33. "You don't give a damn about me!" - "Frankly, I do give a damn about you, my dear."

34. "Innocent until proven guilty, my friend."

35. "You did what!?"

36. "I know I'm very drunk, but I want to kiss you so bad.." - "Excuse you?"

37. "Are you done?" - "Depends."

38. "I should hate you, but all I feel is love!" - "Well, I have that effect on people."

39. "I didn't do it." - "Then why are you laughing?" - "Because whoever did it is a genius."

40. "Was it really necessary to hit me with the corpse's leg?" - "Necessary? No. Hilarious? Yes."

41. "Oh, you're still alive." - "Don't sound so disappointed, I might begin to think you don't like me."

42. "Hold on, you died!" - "Yeah well, it didn't really stick."

43. "I think I'm having a feeling. How do I make it stop?"

44. "This is a beautiful place." - "What a shame you came from so far away to destroy it, right?" - "Not really."

45. "I don't like how that ended. Let's pretend it never happened." - ".. Life doesn't work like that." - "It does now."

46. "I didn't-.. I didn't mean to! This wasn't what I wanted!"

47. "Do you feel any remorse for what you did to them? For what you did to me?"

48. "Please, you have to let me make this right!"

49. "How long are you going to keep on blackmailing me?"

50. "This is going to sound controversial, but I think that went well."

51. "You know, you're adorable when you're mad." - "I could literally kill you."

52. "Well, this is a nice change of scenery." - "It's a prison cell." - "I was being sarcastic."

53. "Run! Run away as long as you got the chance!" - "Run away from what!?" - "From me!"

54. "Rumour has it, I make you nervous."

55. "I can't focus with your damn hand in my- ah.. Oh…"

56. "How are you mad at me, when I'm the one with the broken arm!?"

57. "Well, shit. I'll need a fucking lawyer."

58. "Are you enjoying the party?" - "Party? This isn't a party." - "Not until somebody almost dies."

59. "FUCK! You scared the shit out of me!"

60. "Don't. Move."

61. "You're bleeding on my carpet."

62. "Excuse me, but whoever stood you up is an idiot and a jerk."

63. "Call me that one more time and you'll see what happens."

64. "It's pitch black in here and I can still see you're blushing."

65. "Am I supposed to be scared of you?"

66. "Murder is kinda against the law, you know?"

67. "Bend over."

68. "Beg for it."

69. "I'll make sure you never see them again."

70. "If you relaxed, it wouldn't hurt so much."

71. "There you are. Did you really think you were gonna escape?"

72. "I love you, I love you so much and I'll make sure you feel the same." - "You-.. You are insane.."

73. "Let me out of here! You're a fucking psychopath! I won't ever bend to your will!" - "Now, why did you have to make me mad by saying something so inconsiderate?"

74. "See, now was that so bad?" - "We're in the hospital, you idiot!" - "Yeah, but we could be dead instead, so I consider us lucky."

75. "How do you even sleep at night?" - "Oh, just like a baby."

76. "It'd be a shame if I had to damage that beautiful face.."

77. "Stop struggling. It doesn't have to be painful."

78. "I killed my own blood. What do you think I could do to you?"

79. Person A is wrapped in christmas lights, their body bound tightly to the chair they're sitting on. Person B comes in and grins. "Oh boy, I must've been good this year."

80. "Why don't you ever listen to my orders!?" - "I don't like being told what to do."

81. "I'll go easy on you."

82. "You don't look like a professional criminal.." - "Oh sorry, let me just.. grab my Ted-Bundy-Mask and put on some bloody gloves."

83. "You don't have to stay. I understand."

84. "You don't have to fight me."

85. "Watch me."

86. "You make a sound and it's game over."

87. "I'm like 75% sure this isn't going to kill us."

88. "Uhm, I don't think kidnapping is legal.. So if you could just let me go, that would be great."

89. "Please, I'm begging you.. I will do anything!" - "Anything, you say?"

90. "Cooperate with me and nobody will get hurt."

91. "Shoot him/her. Or I shoot you."

92. "I'm not going to kill you, Y/N. You will kill yourself."

93. "Your life is completely in my hands, so don't test my boundaries."

94. "Why are you crying?"

95. "I could help you, but it will cost you."

96. "Oh, you mean you need.. this antidote?"

97. "Go ahead and pray. See what good that does for you."

98. "What did you do to them!?"

99. "If we get caught, I'm blaming you."

100. "Complain all you want, but hurry and help me hide the body while you're at it!"

101. Person A to Person B: "There's no way in hell I'm doing that!" *Five seconds later* Person B to Person A while watching them do it: "You were saying?"

102. "They don't make a card saying »Sorry for almost bleeding out on your two thousand dollar couch and completely ruining it«, so I got you this instead."

103. "I didn't ask you, because I knew you were going to deny. And I don't need your fucking permission to do anything!"

104. "I am the only thing standing between you and all those people out there wanting to kill you, so I strongly suggest you stop pissing me off."

105. "Why is everbody running around like the city's on fire? What did I miss?"

106. "Alright, so I'll do this ridiculous thing you asked me to do, but in exchange you'll have to come to family-dinner with me and pretend to be my boyfriend/girlfriend, because I've kinda been lying to my family about being in a relationship to get them off my back and now they want to meet my partner."

107. "That's a terrible thing to carve into a tree."

108. "This is definitely not as charming as you might think."

109. "But that wasn't the fucking question, was it?"

110. "You take me instead! Do you hear me? Give her/him/them back and take me instead!"

111. "You know I hear you talking, but I still don't have my coffee."

112. "Take one more step and I'll snap her pretty little neck."

113. "This is real. You're real, I'm real.. I need you to come back to reality with me."

114. "You shouldn't have seen that."

115. "Whatever you do, don't make a sound."

116. "I'd rather be spitting blood."

117. "You can't have her and it's killing you inside."

118. "I could hear you screaming, are you alright?"

119. "I was made to destroy. Not to fix or repare, but to break."

120. "I know how this goes. First, you buy me a drink, then you tell me how pretty I look and at the end of the night, you'll ask for my number."

121. "I'm drunk and I hate everything.. Wait, lemme correct myself, I hate everything but you."

122. "Put the gun down, please. You're starting to scare me.."

123. "I'm right here. I've been here all along. Please, just.. see me."

124. "Stop looking at me with pity in your eyes. Stop it. Stop fucking looking at me like that!"

125. "You took adventage of me when all I did was help you. Others would've left a long time ago, but I kept on believing in you. But you only ever saw me as an opportunity to get what you wanted.."

126. "You really don't know how to talk to women, do you?" - "There was no need to until now!"

127. "You already know how this will end. It always ends with my blood on your hands. I've come to terms with it, you should get used to the idea too. After all, you can't change destiny."

128. "If you want to keep me away, then tell me a lie that will hurt me so deep I'll never want to see you again." - "I love you."

129. "Go ahead, underestimate me. That will be fun."

[lovemesomesurveys]

1. What kinds of genres of music do you listen to? I listen to a variety of music.

2. Are there any types of music that you don’t listen to at all? House music, trance music, dubstep...

3. Do you own any band tees? Yes, I have a few.

4. Name some of your favorite male solo artists. Charlie Puth, Post Malone, Ed Sheeran, Drake, Shawn Mendes, John Mayer, Stevie Wonder, Usher, etc.

5. Name some of your favorite female solo artists. Stevie Nicks, Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Demi Lovato, Halsey, Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, Megan thee Stallion, Lana Del Rey, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Rihanna, etc. 

6. Name some of your favorite boy-bands. Jonas Brothers, NSYNC, BSB, New Kids on the Block, 5 Seconds of Summer. 

7. Name some of your favorite all-girl bands. Hmm. Only girl groups are coming to mind, but that’s different than a band. The only one that comes to mind at the moment is Aly & Aj. 

8. Name some of your favorite bands/groups in general. Linkin Park, RHCP, Coldplay, Foo Fighters, 3 Doors Down, Maroon 5, Destiny’s Child, Paramore, Fleetwood Mac, Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco...

9. Do you sing in the shower? Yeah. I have a shower playlist on my Spotify I listen to.

10. Do you sing along with the radio in the car? Well, my family plays their Spotify in their cars, but yeah I often sing along if I like the song playing.

11. Do you listen to music while you are cooking, filling out surveys, or cleaning the house? I listen to it when I’m cleaning, getting ready, taking a shower, in the car, or just chillin’.

12. What’s the name of the song that you’re listening to right now, if any? What’s the name of the band/singer? I’m not listening to music at the moment. 

13. What kinds of music do your parents listen to? Do you think that their music taste differs greatly? Whose music taste is better, in your opinion? My dad listens to a lot of classic rock, rock, and country, but he likes some top 40 type stuff. My mom listens to a variety of music like I do. Since I like a variety, I enjoy a lot of the same music as my both parents. Probably more so my mom, though. 

14. Do you ever listen to music without any words? Not often, but sometimes. Like some classical music. It has been awhile, though.

15. Are there any famous musicians that you’ve met? Are there any that you would like to meet? I met Drake Bell a couple times. I wish I could have met Chester Bennington. :(

16. What was the first concert you’ve been to, if any? How about the last/most recent? Which, out of all of the concerts you’ve attended, was the best? My first concert was a Christian alternative band with my first boyfriend. My last concert was Green Day with my best friend at the time. Green Day, Jonas Brothers, Drake Bell, and the Jingle Ball concerts (had several artists/bands perform) I went to were all awesome. 

17. Do you have a favorite movie soundtrack? What is it? Sweeney Todd.

18. Would you want to be a band groupie? Why or why not? No.

19. What is a band/singer you would like to see but haven’t gotten a chance to yet? There’s several. I’m really sad I never got to see Linkin Park. 

20. Do you care more about the beat of the music you listen to, or the lyrics? Both. I mean, there’s songs that I just like or are catchy and the lyrics don’t matter as much, but I love songs with relatable lyrics that just speak to me.

21. Does anyone in one of your favorite bands play an unusual instrument? I mean, they might in addition to the one they play in the band, but *shrug*

22. What are some of the songs that you listen to the most frequently? There’s a lot. I just hit shuffle on my main Spotify playlist, which consists of a variety of genres and arists/bands. That’s the playlist I listen to all the time.

23. Could you make a playlist of songs that describes your life? What kinds of playlists do you have made? I wouldn’t have the motivation or energy to attempt that. It would take a lot of time and thinking.

24. Do you remember listening to music on CDs and cassettes, not just on the internet? Yes.

25. What kind of music device do you use in order to listen to music? (iPod, MP3 Player, etc. I listen to Spotify on my phone.

26. Is there anyone in your family who is a musician? No.

27. Would you ever consider a career in music? No. I don’t have any musical talent. I played some piano when I was younger, but I wasn’t great. I really wish I took it more seriously, though, and kept up with it. 

28. What is a song that would describe your current mood? Who is it by? lol Jason Mraz’s song, “Sleep All Day”  just popped into my head because of the title. It’s almost 7AM, so I probably will sleep all day.

29. Are there any musicians of the past that you really admire? Absolutely.

30. Do you listen to Top 40 type music? Yeah.

31. What musical instrument would you like to learn how to play? Have you ever played an instrument before/taken lessons? What was it? Like I said, I played some piano when I was younger and I wish I took it more seriously and kept up with it.

32. Do you enjoy watching musicals on DVD or sitting through them as plays? Which method do you prefer, and which is your favorite? I haven’t seen a lot of musicals, but there’s a few I’ve seen and liked. Seeing them live is awesome, but I like watching them at home whenever I want as well. Sweeney Todd is one of my favorites. Side note, Disney+ just added Hamilton and I’ve been thinking about watching it. I remember when it was super popular, so now that it’s available to watch I’d like to check it out.

33. What was the worst concert you’ve ever attended before, and what made it the worst? I’ve never been to a bad concert.

34. Have you ever crowd-surfed during a show or been a part of a mosh pit? No.

35. Have you ever gotten into an altercation with a drunken concert fan before? What happened? No.

36. Have you ever dated someone who was a musician? Joseph plays the guitar and can sing. 

37. What are some of your favorite music videos to watch? Before a week ago when MTV did a Flashback Friday thing and played music videos from the 90s and early 2000s, it had been a long time since I’ve watched any music videos. They’re not a big thing anymore, I feel like. I mean, I know they’re still being made, but it’s not like back in the day when we had TRL and MTV actually played music videos. I remember getting excited back then to watch them.

38. Have you ever made a lyric video on YouTube? No.

39. Have you ever recorded a cover song and posted it? What kind of feedback did you receive? Noooo. I can’t sing, why would I embarrass myself like that?

40. Is there an album cover design that you really admire? There’s been a lot of cool album covers.

41. What are some of the most overplayed songs right now, in your opinion? I haven’t listened to the radio in like 3 years, so I don’t know.

42. Do you watch music awards shows on television? Yes.

43. Have you ever competed in any sort of singing contest before? No. I can’t sing. I mean, I sing at home along to my favorite songs, but I don’t sing well lol.

44. Have you ever tried to start your own band before? No. I told you, I have no musical talent.

45. What’s the name of a band/singer that you recently have discovered? I discovered this song called, “Dream Girl”,  by Ir-Sais. I heard the song on TikTok. I’ve found a few songs that way, but that’s the most recent one.

46. What are some annoying/weird/funny songs that have gotten stuck in your head? >> Barbara Ann gets stuck in my head all the time, but that’s okay because it’s fun and I love it. <<< Haha, now it’s in mine. I like it, too, so it’s fine. Anyway, yeah there’s been a lot of songs like that that get stuck in my head. I’m failing to think of another example at the moment, though. I’m too tired.

47. Are there any songs that actually make you cry? What are they, and who are they by? Yes, there’s a few. One is the acoustic version of Everlong by Foo Fighters.

48. Do you listen to any music in another language? Some in Spanish. There were also a few I liked in Swedish.

[a-zebra-is-a-striped-horse]

[horansqueen]

You & Me : chapter 49

A Niall Horan fanfiction ; rated MA

Sequel to AM CONVERSATIONS

CHAPTER 1 || CHAPTER 2 || CHAPTER 3 || CHAPTER 4 || CHAPTER 5 || CHAPTER 6 || CHAPTER 7 || CHAPTER 8 || CHAPTER 9 || CHAPTER 10 || CHAPTER 11 || CHAPTER 12 || CHAPTER 13 || CHAPTER 14 || CHAPTER 15 || CHAPTER 16 || CHAPTER 17 || CHAPTER 18 || CHAPTER 19 || CHAPTER 20 || CHAPTER 21 || CHAPTER 22 || CHAPTER 23 || CHAPTER 24 || CHAPTER 25 || CHAPTER 26 || CHAPTER 27 || CHAPTER 28 || CHAPTER 29 || CHAPTER 30 || CHAPTER 31 || CHAPTER 32 || CHAPTER 33 || CHAPTER 34 || CHAPTER 35 || CHAPTER 36 || CHAPTER 37 || CHAPTER 38 || CHAPTER 39 || CHAPTER 40 || CHAPTER 41 || CHAPTER 42 || CHAPTER 43 || CHAPTER 44 || CHAPTER 45 || CHAPTER 46 || CHAPTER 47 || CHAPTER 48

NOTES:

-4.4k -im sorry, i never proofread, i hate it. -there WILL be smut. but not only smut. -this is a romance, comedy, smut story. -for the summary, check my MASTERLIST.

READ AM CONVERSATIONS AGAIN ON WATTPAD HERE

- notes: one more chapter and this story will be over. im extremely emotional rn.

(both povs again! also i hope the smut scene isnt too disappointing)

PLEASE VOTE FOR ME! 

I was nominated in 3 categories!

*Best Friendship (Liv & Niall)

*Best Smut (AM Conversations)

*Favorite Author

you can vote for me HERE! thank you if you do!

TAKE A LOOK AT THE CHARACTERS HERE

Chapter 49

NIALL

How we managed to actually fly to Vegas without any pictures taken or meeting any fan seemed like a miracle. Something was clearly on our side and I took it as a very good sign. I watched her as she threw her bags on the carpet when we walked in the suite I had rented for the week and her lips curled. She let out a few cute giggles before running to the bed and jumping on it. It was huge, shaped like a heart with red silk sheets and a velvet cover of the same color except a bit darker. Olivia started jumping more as she kept laughing and I rolled my eyes with a smile when I noticed the pillows falling one by one from the bed to end on the floor.

"This is the cheesiest shit i've ever seen." I pointed out with a chuckle. "And stop this, you're gonna hurt yourself."

She turned to me and stopped jumping before sending me a smirk. "Make me."

We stared at each other for a few seconds and suddenly, I jumped on the bed too and she let out a short scream. I wrapped my arms around her but one of my legs weakened and I brought her in my falling before we both bounced on the bed. It made her laugh even more and I smiled as she panted, her lips parted. I ended up on top of her and she spread her legs a bit as I layed between them. She finally looked in my eyes and sent me a fond smile that I sent back. I couldn't believe we were here and I couldn't believe we were about to do what we were about to do.

"In less than 12 hours you're gonna be my wife, how does it feel?"

Her traits softened and she brought her hand to my face, running her fingertips on my cheek and jaw slowly. "Like I'm exactly where I'm meant to be, doing exactly what I'm meant to do."

I let my eyes roam on her face and smiled again before bending down closer and kissing her lips gently. "With the only person I'll ever be in love with." I added, finishing her thought in a whisper against her mouth.

"Mmhm." she replied, bringing her other hand to my cheek and cupping my face. "But you're not supposed to shag the bride before she says 'I do'."

I smirked against her lips and couldn't help but let out a chuckle. "You really want to follow that rule?"

"It's good for building up the tension."

"The sexual tension, you mean." I corrected.

"Mmhm, and besides, you're probably going to fuck me in all the ways you want, whenever you want and for as long as you want... for a whole week. Right?"

"That's the plan." I whispered, gripping her hair in one fist as I held myself with my elbows on each sides of her head.

"What's a few hours, then?"

"You're gonna have to ask that question to my cock, petal."

She laughed again and my grip in her hair loosened as my lips curled. She was right, we didn't need to have sex now, we'd have plenty of time for that, and I was going to make sure she got whatever she needed and wanted during this whole trip.

"What do you want, my love. Food? A nap?" I just asked, raising my eyebrows. "Name it and it's yours."

Her smile faltered and she tilted her head on the side, her hair spread on the bed. She finally pressed her lips together before my name escaped them softly, in a murmur.

"Niall James Horan."

I chuckled with a fond smile and shook my head slightly. "I'm already all yours."

                                                           ---

"I shouldn't have eaten a second piece of pie." she pointed out, trying to zip her dress.

I watched her squirm and groan for a few more seconds and let out a small laughter before placing myself behind her and zipping her dress easily. I leaned my chin on her naked shoulder and wrapped my arms around her waist from behind, my eyes closed. She smelled good, the same mix of honey and vanilla she always smelled, and something twisted in my stomach as I realized it was a smell I would always enjoy. For the rest of my life.

"It's a spray." she just said, making me open my eyes and frown.

"Excuse me?" I asked, moving back up to look at her as she turned to me.

She nibbled on her bottom lip for a few seconds while staring at me and finally, she reached for her bag, taking something out and quickly putting it in my hand. I frowned more, bringing it to my face, as I checked the product. It was, indeed, a body spray that she clearly also used in her hair. I turned the small bottle in my hand and finally nodded.

"I'm gonna buy this company and make sure they keep making this product until the day that I die."

She let out a short laughter and grabbed it from my hand before spraying more in her hair and neck. "Don't be silly!"

"Fine then, we'll stock a few boxes in the basement to make sure we have enough."

She turned to me and laughed again, wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling me closer. I felt her lips brush against mine and kissed her firmly.

"Don't make me regret telling you." she whispered, making my lips curl.

"Hey, we're getting married! There can't be no secret between us anymore!"

"Yea? Then I guess I have a few questions for you!"

I cleared my throat and took a step back, making her chuckle again. "We should just get ready, or we're gonna be late." I pointed out, half-joking. "And you know you're the worst at being on time. I'm not sure you've ever been on time before, have you?"

"I think my wedding day is a good time to start."

She took a step closer and worked on my tie, tightening it before letting both her hands slide on my chest. I brought my hands over hers and she looked up at me with a smile. I could feel my heart beating so hard in my chest and I couldn't remember a time I was more nervous than at this exact moment.

"Are you sure you didn't want the whole deal with friends and family?" she asked in a low tone, raising her eyebrows. "With the big dress and the reception and the wedding song and gifts and..." she shook her head and closed her eyes for a few seconds before they fluttered open again. "I feel like we're about to disappoint your mom. I don't want that."

"My mom just wanted us to be together." I let out softly. "I promise she'll be super happy for us. Don't worry. Today is our day, okay? And we'll only think about us. You and me."

She tilted her chin up and chuckled low. "We're so fucking crazy. Jumping in a plane the next day you asked me to be your wife to get married. Who does that? Crazy people!"

"Then I must be extra insane because I sincerely believe this is our best idea yet!" I laughed. "In this lifetime!"

She frowned and tried to stop a chuckle from escaping her lips. "Who are you and what have you done with my best friend? The most organized and less impulsive person I know?"

"I guess he learned how to be from the most spontaneous and messiest person he knows."

"You're about to marry that person, remember? Think you can handle it for the rest of your life?"

I brought my finger and pressed it on the tip of her nose, making her giggle a bit. "I know I can. I want it."

Slowly, I moved my head closer to hers but instead to kiss her, I rubbed my nose gently against hers, making her smile grow into a fond one. "Come on, petal. Let's get married."

                                                            ---

The sky was dark, which was surprising, since I thought it was mostly sunny in Las Vegas. I glanced up and noticed a few clouds but I just grabbed Liv's hand and pulled her with me. We jumped in a cab and I checked my watch, making me realize that we wouldn't be late and it made me smile. Her dress was simple but white and with my black suit, I knew no one could doubt where we were actually going. The ride was short and when we got out, we both remained motionless and looked up at the sky who had turned a dark shade of purple.

"Can we be unlucky to the point where it'll actually rain in Vegas for our wedding?" she asked with a chuckle. "That's my legendary luck!"

"Well, they say 'for better or worse'..."

She laughed a bit but squeezed my fingers tighter. "That's what they say."

"Are you sure you didn't want to do that in the desert? Or with an helicopter ride, or something bigger like that?"

We stared at the chapel for a few more minutes and she finally sighed, making me turn around. She was smiling wide and it made me grin too. "This is exactly what I want." Her smile faltered and her lips parted suddenly, making my heart jump in my chest. "Shit, we forgot the flowers. And the witnesses."

"Oh." It took me a few seconds to move but my eyes fell on an old couple in their 60's that were walking close to us and when I stood in front of them, they looked a bit surprised. "I'm sorry, my girlfriend and I are about to get married... We totally forgot we needed witnesses.." I shook my head and sent them puppy eyes. "Could I ask for a few minutes of your time? I can pay, if needed."

They looked at each other and laughed a bit before looking at me again. "We just renewed our vows." the man let out, glancing behind me, probably at Olivia. "It'll be our pleasure."

I sent them the biggest smile I could and shook my head slightly. "I can't thank you enough!"

Quickly, I turned to my girlfriend and grabbed her hands in mine. Maybe we were going to be late, after all. "Give me five minutes, okay?"

She nodded with a frown and I started running, stopping nearby a man who was selling roses. I couldn't believe my luck and looked up at the sky again, telling myself that maybe it was not going to rain at all. I searched through my pockets and traded a good amount of money for too many flowers and ran back to the chapel, where Olivia was in deep conversation with our witnesses.

"That's amazing." I could hear emotions in her voice and I stopped next to her, my eyes roaming on the side of her face. "I hope we can stay married that long, too."

"Of course we will. I'm saying 'I do' for a lifetime, you're stuck with me!"

She laughed and turned to me, shaking her head slightly before getting on her tiptoes and cupping my cheeks. Her lips found mine and I smiled against her mouth.

"I'm supposed to kiss you after the vows, my love." I whispered, feeling my lips brush against hers. "Ready?"

She moved slightly away and I stared at her. I couldn't believe how much she glowed. I had noticed that she did glow more than ever on that day I saw her at the bakery. It was selfish of me, but today, I knew she was glowing partly because of me, and it made something stir in my stomach. I was happy because of her, and I wanted to bring the same kind of feelings to her than the ones she brought me. Looking into her eyes made me realize that I did and I licked my lips. Perhaps, the way she was glowing was reflecting on me.

"I've been ready for over two decades." she giggled and tilted her head. "You bet i'm ready!"

                                                       ---

OLIVIA

We had a hard time choosing between being married by Elvis, or by an alien, and in the end, we opted for a simple officiant. I tried to listen to his words, but the way Niall was running his thumbs on the top of my hands as he held them made something stir in my stomach. I stared at him as he stood in front of me, and I couldn't help but tell myself over and over again how lucky I was. It was meant to be, I knew it now, but there were times in my life I had lost almost all hope. The dark times were in the past, though, and I wanted to focus on the future. I wanted to enjoy every single second I spent with Niall because I felt blessed in a way I felt I maybe didn't deserve.

"...until death do you part?"

I blinked a few times and noticed Niall's lips curl as he kept staring at me. "I do."

I filled my lungs and held my breath as I let my eyes roam on him. I suddenly became very emotional at the sound of those two simple words. Somehow, I knew he was aware of everything it implied, even if this whole ceremony seemed frivolous and a simple spur of the moment.

I blinked a few times and licked my lips when Niall raised his eyebrows. "I do." I just ket out in a low and soft tone. His face illuminated and his lips cuirled more before he squeezed my fingers tighter. I hadn't listened to the officiant's words, too lost in my boyfriend's eyes, but it didn't matter because no matter what he was asking me to promise, I was ready for it. I was ready to do anything to make this work, and make him happy.

"Oh, oh yea." Niall muttered, letting go of one of my hands to reach in his pocket. "I give you this ring as a symbol or my love and commitment." I bit my bottom lips as I stared at his fingers and I could swear he was nervous. He slid it on my finger, over the other one, and breathed in. "I'll love you forever, beyond this life. You're the only one."

My lips curled and I swallowed hard, trying to keep my tears in. I took the ring I had for him and put on his finger too, licking my lips. "I give you this ring just like I gave you my heart and all my love." I whispered, taking a short pause. "I've always been yours, and I promise that I'll always be."

"I now pronounce you husband and wife." I heard before swallowing again.

I let out a short and nervous laugh and moved closer to him. Just like when we kissed for the very first time, Niall's hands reached for my face, his fingers spread on my cheeks, jaw and a part of my neck. His lips found mine just as avidly as it had in that bar, after singing a song to me, and it brought me back to that day as a bunch of other memories invaded my brain. I thought that first kiss was incredible, and I remember when I kissed him again after over a year, back at my place. That time too, felt amazing. But today was different. The kiss we shared was full of promises and a future actually emanated from it. It was cheesy, and perhaps a bit silly, but it didn't matter if all this romantic jazz seemed to be coming straight out of a movie. It was my reality, and I wouldn't have wanted it otherwise.

I don't know how long we kissed but when his grip loosened, I heard a few 'woohoo's!' and 'congrats!' coming from our witnesses. Niall grabbed my hand and I bite my bottom lip, a bit embarrassed by the whole thing. We thanked the couple and shook their hands before walking towards the exit.

"You've got all the papers and stuff?" I asked, glancing at him.

"Mmhm, I do my love."

"Then, what are we waiting for?"

I turned to him and our lips curled at the same time. I let out a chuckle and he did too before we held each other's hand even tighter. Almost at the same time, we started running, pushing on the doors only to meet the lights of the town and I quickly looked up as I heard the sky growl.

"Shit, is that thunder?"

As if someone up there had heard my question, it started raining and I closed my eyes, feeling drops falling gently on my face. I shivered and Niall pulled on my hand as we started running again.

"Come on!"

I followed him, making our way through the cars and the people walking around. We looked a bit ridiculous in our wedding suits and dress, and I gripped his hand even tighter, realizing I left the flowers in the chapel. We were still laughing when we hopped in a taxi and I ran my hand in my face, knowing my make up was totally ruined.

"What are the chances of rain, in Vegas, in december?" Niall laughed, shaking his head. "Less than 5 percent i'm sure!" He turned to me and his smile faltered a bit. "Hey, you're cold?"

I shivered and nodded slowly before he made a quick head movement, inciting me to come closer. I did as he asked but quivered again in his arms. Despite the fact that he was warmer than me, his clothes were drenched too and it didn't really help but I didn't move, just enjoying the fact that we were cuddling.

We didn't talk on the drive back to the hotel, and we kept quiet in the elevator, too. It's only when the door of our suite closed behind us that he turned to me and smiled.

"We fuckin' did it." he just let out, shaking his head with a smile. "We got married. You're my wife."

I stared at him as a bunch of emotions invaded me. It was a mix of relief, happiness, excitement and love. I looked in the eyes of the man I wanted to spend my life with, knowing that I actually had just promised to love him forever, and it was not scary at all. It was pretty much the opposite of scary. I felt safe in a way I never did before.

"You're so beautiful." he let out in a low tone, taking a step closer and shaking his head slightly. "I'm in love with you."

I knew it was a lie. My make up was ruined, and my mascara was probably making big dark spots under my eyes, perhaps it was even sliding down my cheeks. My dress was soaked and so was my hair. All I cared about was the fact that my husband thought I was beautiful.

"If you think that right now, imagine when I put a little effort."

His lips curled a bit more but he just licked his lips. His suit was wet too and my eyes dropped to his chest. I moved my hands up and pushed on his jacket as it fell down on the carpet.

"Did we just get married?" I added as my whole body started throbbing.

"Fuck yea we did, petal."

"You're not gonna regret this tomorrow?" I asked again, raising my eyebrows.

"Not tomorrow. Not in a month, not in fifty years." he whispered, looking down at me as I unbuttoned his shirt slowly. "This was meant to be. Written in the stars, as you'd say."

I pressed my lips together, loosening his tie, and pushed his shirt away as it fell on the floor too. I pulled on his tie gently and he smiled, bending down until our mouths pressed together.

"You know what's next?" he asked, his lips brushing against mine.

"You're gonna fuck me into oblivion?"

He chuckled and shook his head. "No, I'm gonna make love to my wife. And I swear you're never going to forget it." he explained, kissing me gently again. "And then, I'll fuck you. All night. Until we both pass out."

I didn't say anything but smiled more and he wrapped his arms around me to reach for the zipper of my dress, sliding it down very slowly. He moved my dress over my shoulders and I shivered a bit, realizing that my skin was wet too, and when he got down one of knee to pull on my dress, I smiled more. He moved back up, letting his fingertips run on my legs and thighs softly as I stood in front of him only in my underwear. I started working on his pants and tilted my head, blinking a few times.

"I'm so in love with you." I admitted, moving closer and running my hands on his ass gently, pushing his pants down. "I'll never be able to explain properly how I feel. It's killing me."

"You don't have to explain. I know. Because I feel the same." he whispered.

It was hard to believe but I just swallowed, trying to keep my tears in. Was it even possible that he loved me just as deeply as I loved him? Two years ago, I would have said no, but right now, after we just got married and seeing the way he was looking at me, I allowed myself to believe it.

He placed his hands on my waist and turned us around, pushing me backwards to the bed. Instead to throw me on it the way he normally does, I just lied down slowly and when he got on his knees between my legs, I let out a short chuckle.

"There are... mirrors up there."

Quickly, he tilted his chin and I felt my heart twist in my chest when his lips curled. Fuck, he was too pretty for words, shirtless and in simple white boxers, his tie still hanging loosely from his neck. I reached for it and pulled on it, making him fall on top of me. He laughed but held himself with his hands on each side of my face and I smiled more.

"It's perfect." I added with a smirk. "That was I can look at your ass while you make love to me."

"Mm, alright. but later we're gonna have to try other positions so I can be the one looking at you." He chuckled, brushing his lips up and down on mine.

"Deal."

He moved closer again, his lips sucking on my upper one before kissing me deeply. I whimpered in his mouth and he finally brought his kisses down my neck and to my breasts. I felt one of his hands travelling on my waist and pulling down the side of my panties. I moved my butt up to help him and when he was back on top of me, I quickly pushing on his boxers, glancing up at the ceiling and smiling when I saw his ass reflect in the mirror.

"Oh it's funny?" he asked, moving away to look in my eyes, a big smile on his lips.

"Very. I think we should buy mirrors for our room at home, too."

"Great minds, pet. I was thinking the same thing."

I giggled but he kissed me again and I pulled more on his boxers. He squirmed a bit and the only piece of clothing that was left was the tie around his neck. I spread my legs more and his lips moved to my ear as he sucked on it gently. It took him about a minute but he finally pushed himself inside me, making my eyes flutter and my lips part.

"Mm, I can't believe I'm inside my wife right now."

I chuckled but immediately let out an other whimper as he ground against me. The whole thing seemed to crazy yet so obvious at the same time. The thought of us making love and being married was incredibly exciting and it made me emotional. He started moving in and out of me so slowly that I felt my eyes flutter and roll back every time he was balls deep inside me.

"I'm so close already, how do you do that?"

I knew it was a mix of love and lust that made us so horny for each other, and I loved it. He kissed my bottom lip and part of my chin gently as I moaned and arched my back.

"I love you, I love you so much." I let out a bit louder than intended.

"I love you too, I'm so happy to be your husband."

It was the first time he pronounced that word and for some reason, the thought was so good it made me reach my peek immediately. I started shaking beneath him and to suppress my moans, he pressed his lips against mine.

"You feel amazing, oh my god!"

He shut his eyes tight as he reached an orgasm and watching him cum made me feel dizzy suddenly. He pushed himself as deep as he could and stopped moving for a while, groaning near my ear and making my lips part. When he became limp on top of me again, I started running my fingertips on his back and down to his butt. He leaned his forehead against mine and kissed my nose gently before I finally opened my eyes.

"Ten minutes. Ten fucking minutes. And it's a miracle I lasted that long." he laughed.

"I barely lasted five, you're good!" I admitted with a laugh, making him smile more.

He looked down at me and I could swear his eyes were sparkling. This was perfect. It was everything I had ever hoped for. It was everything I had ever wanted.

"Now sit down." I proposed, raising my eyebrows. "Let me ride you." I shrugged. "Unless you're not ready for round two?"

"Oh you know me, petal. I'm always ready."

[itsguillia]

40 Fun Card Games for 2 People

Huge List of Two-person Card Games

Keep reading for a comprehensive list of two-person card games that will have you ever entertained all night long.

1.Build a Tower of Cards

Although there are not any real rules, it is often super fun to aim to create a house of cards. If they subside, you'll always try again. Good for all ages!

2. Whist

Specifically, German whist. There are other versions of whist but the differentiating think about this version is that every player only plays two cards in each trick. Whist is often complicated, but most adults can handle it.

3. War

War may be a very simple game for anyone to play. you only need to decide which of the played cards ranks the very best. Easy game to play with all ages.

4. Five Card Omaha

A variation on Omaha poker that deals with five private cards. you'll back the sport and therefore the rules are slightly different than other sorts of poker.

5. Marriage

In Marriage, you’ll need three decks of cards for this one. The name comes from the very fact Kings and Queens will get you the foremost points. This game is best for more advanced players.

6. Tuxedo

You can play this game with 2 to six players and you’ll need a deck of 40 Rook cards. the principles of the sport are almost like a casino, but with a special sort of card deck.

7. Agram

You will only need 35 cards from the quality 52 card deck for Agram. you would like to get rid of the kings, queens, jacks, two and therefore the ace of spades before playing.

It is not a sophisticated game, but it'd seem confusing with the smaller deck. Agram is extremely almost like “Sink-Sink” and “Fapfap”, so if you wish Agram check those out too!

8. Humbug

Humbug is another two-person version of whist. it'd be the only version of whist available. you want to attempt to win tricks to win the sport. Just the name of the sport makes me want to undertake it!

9. Hola

Hola is often played with two players, but four players may make the sport more interesting. confirm to read the principles carefully because this game can get a touch complicated.

10.Tute

Tute has many various variations including tute americano, tuteCorriente and tute habanero. All of those are often played with two people. A tute may be a combination of all four kings or horses in one person’s hand. You earn points supported the amount of tute worthy cards in your hand.

11. Mate

Mate may be complicated information based cards that have played throughout 4 rounds. you are trying to realize points by getting a card that your opponent cannot match in either number or suit.

12. Cribbage

Cribbage or “crib” is often played by 2 to 4 people. you would like a typical deck of cards and aboard. the primary to 121 points wins! the principles seem complicated, but you'll get the hang around it pretty fast.

13. 5 Card Cribbage

This is just a stimulating twist on the sport above. Worth a try!

14. All Fives

All fives may be a variation of the sport “All Fours.” There are tricks involved and you would like to earn the foremost points and you'll get points by taking certain trumps cards like the ace, the ten and therefore the 5. If you wish All fives then also try high-low-jack.

15. Blackjack

Blackjack may be a commonly played game in casinos around the world. Any number of individuals can play this game. you'll either win or lose to the dealer. you would like the worth of your cards to feature up to 21, but if you re-evaluate you're out. Blackjack is a simple and fun game to play!

16. poker

Use the traditional rules of poker apply, but with the added risk of losing your clothes. Fun with the proper people, but not an honest game to play with kids.

17. Three Card Poker

Three card poker may be a great variation of ordinary poker. the thought is that the players bet the dealer rather than one another . you simply need two people to play, but a couple of more can make it more fun.

18. Texas Hold’em

Texas Hold’em may be a classic poker during which five shared cards are placed on the table and two private cards are dealt with those within the game. Whoever has the simplest five-card hand wins! you'll play with two or more people. If you would like to incorporate the youngsters, then just bet with pennies or candy!

19. Hand and Foot

Hand and foot are often played with 2 to six players, but you'll need one whole deck of cards per person. the thing is to urge obviate all the cards in your hands and feet!

20. Stealing Bundles

Stealing bundles may be a fairly straightforward game during which you are trying to urge as many cards as you'll. The person with the foremost cards wins. It is often played with 2 to 4 players and it's an easy game to play with kids!

21. Kings Corner

In this game, it'll desire you're playing solitaire next to your opponents. However, there can only be one real winner. you'll play with 2 to 4 players. This game is best for adults.

22. 52 Card Pickup

Someone throws all the cards on the bottom and therefore the other picks them up. Maybe not the foremost interesting game, but might be fun to play with kiddos!

23. Canasta

You will need three decks of cards for this game. you'll earn points by melding cards and therefore the most points win the sport.

24. Basic Poker

If you wish the variations already mention above, then you'll just like the original poker. you would possibly want to stay a replica of the ranking of hands list handy because it's easy to forget which hands are winners and losers. as an example, I always forget that three of a sort beats two pairs!

25. 500

500 seems to blend Euchre with Bridge to make an entirely new game. you'll play with 2 to six players and you'll need only one deck of cards. most of the people play with two teams of two people.

26. 5 Card Draw

5 Card Draw is analogous to poker, but all five cards are dealt with directly. the very fact that there's just one play within the game might make it more or less exciting counting on how you wish your card games.

27. Bond

The name is Bond, Bond. a bit like the films, the cardboard game is fast-paced. rather than saving the planet, you've got to gather as many sets of 4 similar cards as you'll. Although Bond is that the coolest name of this game it goes by “Atlantis” and “Chanhassen.”

28. Steal War

Steal war may be a hybrid game between War and Stealing Bundles. If you liked both of these games, then you'll adore this hybrid. the mixture remains an easy game that will be played with kids!

29. Spite and Malice

Otherwise referred to as Cat and Mouse. This game may be a game that's supported solitaire but with a competitive edge. it's not an actual race because the players need to alternate, however, is it still features a sense of competition you would possibly not associate solitaire with.

30. Snap

The central feature of the snap is the response time. you'll get to be fast to win this game! it's supported the numbers of the cards, not the suits. Snap is straightforward enough to play with all ages.

31. BS

Although this game goes by many names: cheat, I doubt it, bulls**, liar, and bluff. All of those games ask an equivalent game during which you are trying to lie your thanks to the highest. If a fellow player catches you during a lie, then you'll be punished. this is often an excellent fun game and maybe played with 2 to 10 players of all ages!

32. Speed

Speed is essentially solitaire, but a race to ascertain who can finish first. If you're an efficient solitaire player, then you'll have an excellent time with this game.

33. Cricket

Not the physical game that's somewhat almost like baseball, but cricket the cardboard game. it had been created by two British prisoners of war who desperately missed playing the important cricket, therefore the cards attempt to recreate a live match with cards. the principles are adapted from the sector sport, which keeps it interesting. This one is worth a try!

34. Hockey

Hockey is analogous to cricket because they're both trying to imitate a physical sport through cards. Each play represents one team and therefore the cards represent the players. If you don’t understand hockey, then this won't be the simplest game to find out. But if you're keen on hockey, then I cannot consider a far better card for you!

35. Rummy

Two players may be a good number for this game. you would like to urge obviate all of your cards during this game. Rummy may be a game with many various versions, so if you wish it explore more options.

36. Red Frog Black Frog

Red frog black frog may be a game that centers around the colors of the cars. Red cards are worth nothing and black cards could be worth something. Interestingly, the ace of clubs is worth nothing but the ace of spades is worth tons of points. This Thai game is worth trying!

37. Knock-out Whist

Knock-out whist is another version of whist, but it's aimed toward a younger audience. the sport remains trick based, but it seems to be slower paced for a less intense game.

38. Irish

Irish may be a variation of Texas Hold’em that deals each player four hole cards. All of those are often kept until the top of the second round of betting, on the other hand, each player has got to discard two cards. it's a stimulating twist on the classic game. you'll play with two or more players.

39. Spider Solitaire

Spider Solitaire may be a variation of normal solitaire during which the sport is slightly more complicated so you get to finish it with a partner. it'd be fun to only be playing the cards rather than one another.

40. Pennies from Heaven

In Pennies from Heaven, most of the principles from canasta apply but there are some variations. you'll need four packs of cards. Pennies from Heaven are often played with two people, but up to six people can play.

Summary

Card games can keep you entertained for hours and price you nothing. Plus, as you'll see there's no shortage within the number of latest card games you'll play.

Before you begin a game, read the principles to form sure everyone knows what's close to happening. It is often only too easy to start a fight within the middle of a confusing game. you would like entertainment, not drama!

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

27th October >> Mass Readings (Europe, Africa, New Zealand, Australia & Canada)

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

(Liturgical Colour: Green)

First Reading

Ecclesiasticus 35:12-14, 16-19

The humble man's prayer pierces the clouds

The Lord is a judge

who is no respecter of personages.

He shows no respect of personages to the detriment of a poor man,

he listens to the plea of the injured party.

He does not ignore the orphan’s supplication,

nor the widow’s as she pours out her story.

The man who with his whole heart serves God will be accepted,

his petitions will carry to the clouds.

The humble man’s prayer pierces the clouds,

until it arrives he is inconsolable,

And the Lord will not be slow,

nor will he be dilatory on their behalf.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 33(34):2-3,17-19,23

R/ The poor man called; the Lord has heard him.

I will bless the Lord at all times,

his praise always on my lips;

in the Lord my soul shall make its boast.

The humble shall hear and be glad.

R/ The poor man called; the Lord has heard him.

The Lord turns his face against the wicked

to destroy their remembrance from the earth.

The just call and the Lord hears

and rescues them in all their distress.

R/ The poor man called; the Lord has heard him.

The Lord is close to the broken-hearted;

those whose spirit is crushed he will save.

The Lord ransoms the souls of his servants.

Those who hide in him shall not be condemned.

R/ The poor man called; the Lord has heard him.

Second Reading

2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18

All there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me

My life is already being poured away as a libation, and the time has come for me to be gone. I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day; and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his Appearing.

The first time I had to present my defence, there was not a single witness to support me. Every one of them deserted me – may they not be held accountable for it. But the Lord stood by me and gave me power, so that through me the whole message might be proclaimed for all the pagans to hear; and so I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from all evil attempts on me, and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation

Matthew 11:25

Alleluia, alleluia!

Blessed are you, Father,

Lord of heaven and earth,

for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom

to mere children.

Alleluia!

Or:

2 Corinthians 5:19

Alleluia, alleluia!

God in Christ was reconciling the world to himself,

and he has entrusted to us the news that they are reconciled.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Luke 18:9-14

The tax collector, not the Pharisee, went home justified.

Jesus spoke the following parable to some people who prided themselves on being virtuous and despised everyone else: ‘Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood there and said this prayer to himself, “I thank you, God, that I am not grasping, unjust, adulterous like the rest of mankind, and particularly that I am not like this tax collector here. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes on all I get.” The tax collector stood some distance away, not daring even to raise his eyes to heaven; but he beat his breast and said, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” This man, I tell you, went home again at rights with God; the other did not. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the man who humbles himself will be exalted.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[mtvswatches]

Wynonna Earp 1x13 I Walk the Line

Wynonna Earp 1x12 House of Memories

Spoilers disclaimer (please read before sending messages or writing comments.)

Click here for previous recaps!

Stray thoughts

1) Well…

Can you shoot them?

Yes.

Should you shoot them?

Also yes.

Do they need to be shot?

Yas.

2) They just threw her out of the window! Priceless!

3) Noononononononono

4) So… for a second there it seemed as though Bobo would be able to cross the threshold but then he started burning up, and I thought: “Yes! That means that Willa is NOT the true heir!” But of course, they needed Peacemaker, and she was like “but I have it” and again I was “Yes! That means that Willa is NOT the true heir!” but… it wasn’t the real Peacemaker. Bless Waverly – I’m assuming it was her who came up with this idea… - but when exactly did she pull off the switcharoo? Or did we see that and I just forgot about it?

5) Please tell me that’s not fucking Clootie…

Who would get her out of her comfy hole?! And more importantly, WHY?

6) Oh, my god, bitch, you’d better die in this episode!!

I KNEW IT! I knew I shouldn’t trust you, you duplicitous wannabe-heir!

7) She’s so fucking disgusting, I can’t get over it????

WILLA: Maybe we have time for a quickie. You screw me, and then we screw this town.

For a second, I thought that she might be trying to play Bobo, but no, she’s just a fucking nasty bitch, that’s all.

8) Oooh, Doc is ready to pour some tea…

And Dolls’ explanation…? 

It's just medicine. Look, I've taken this since I was a kid. It helps keep me alive and some parts of me dead.

9) Nicole just saw the weapons stash and got all wet. That’s my girl.

10) I also love her reaction to being brought up to speed. She was like, “Finally, thank you!” Like, seriously, it comes to a point in supernatural shows where it is disrespectful to the characters to keep them in the dark about the supernatural.

11) Seriously, dude, if anyone is a cancer is yourself, just take a look in the mirror.

12) So… Willa is still looking for Peacemaker so it can’t have been her who put Waverly to sleep and kidnapped her…

13)  It was fucking Chrissy who got Waverly!

14) Ay, Wynonna, why aren’t all your alarms going off right now? Everything Willa has said so far is giving her away… She couldn’t care less about Waverly’s safety, she’s only concerned about getting Peacemaker back and she just wants to off all those “meatsticks” – her words – so I hope Wynonna is not that gullible…

15) Same initials as Jesus Christ? What’s this dude’s name?

16) So, on top of all the other evil things about him, Bobo’s also a pedophile, right? I mean, Willa must have been a teen when they “fell in love”, right? Can someone please help with the timeline?

17) So the bitch is showing her true colors…

I really love this! If I think back to episode one, I would’ve predicted that Waverly would be the optimistic, naïve sister in contrast to Wynonna’s cynicism and untrustworthiness. But Waverly is intuitive like Bobo said, and she is damn smart. So while everyone else was celebrating Willa’s return, she held her guard up and watched. Ugh, Waverly has the potential to be my favorite…

18) OMG the fucking bitch just shot Nicole!! After Wynonna gave up Peacemaker because WAVERLY SAID THAT SHE LOVED NICOLE!!!! I swear to God, if Willa is alive after this episode I’ll fucking go and murder her myself!

19) Oh thank god she was wearing a bulletproof vest! And she’s also got Wynonna’s approval…

20) Now, this?

This is rather epic…

21) I knew the Sheriff was going to stand up for Wynonna, he’s been slowly but surely turning into a somewhat decent man, has come a long way since his misogynistic remarks from episode one.

22) Guys, I’m really into this. Now Wynonna has to save all the townspeople, who are literally placing their lives on her hands. Like, it’s literally full circle since episode one and I’m loving it!

23) DOLLS ALSO GOT SHOT?! WTF IS THIS SHOW DOING?!!!

24) Oh, no worries, false alarm…

HE’S JUST A FUCKING MONSTER!

25) Okay, I’m genuinely scared of Dolls?

26) Why didn’t Dolls let Wynonna touch him? Are the drugs he’s taking contagious or something? Again, they really don’t seem like medicine…

27) I’m not gonna lie. I’m super excited about watching Doc and Wynonna teaming up and shooting up everyone’s assholes into hell.

28) WTF Waverly!

Is she really trying to reason with Bobo…?

29) Okay, so… Willa was thirteen… when Bobo “fell in love” with her…

30) Shit, I did not see that coming…

But at least he has some decency left in him, he protected her from Willa…

31) Oh, Waverly, I want to hug her…

32) So many Spuffy “Touched” vibes, the feels are real…

WYNONNA: Come on, Doc, spit it out. DOC: Spit what out? WYNONNA: You know, the rousing old-timey speech that's gonna make me believe I can take on my own sister. Come on. WWWD. What Would Wyatt Do? DOC: I once had a dog the name of Plucky. WYNONNA: Your big pep talk is "Plucky"?

33) ISTG! Why am I such trash for ships like this?!

34) Seriously, though, doesn’t this whole conversation give you Spuffy vibes?!

WYNONNA: Willa's got Peacemaker. Bobo's got telekinetic powers. What do we got?

DOC: Things that go boom.

WYNONNA: She's better than me, Doc. Faster. I don't think I can beat her.

DOC: But you are still gonna try.

WILLA: I have to.

DOC: Careful, Earp. Doing what's right even in the face of ridiculous odds? You are beginning to sound like a hero.

35)  Okay, so… Dolls’ superiors want to kinda let Bobo cross the border and see what happens? And she called Dolls a monster, and I’m guessing it’s not a metaphor…

36) Bobo was ricocheting the bullets like fucking Neo or something and then…

A fucking grenade!!!

37) Wait…

That fucking JC guy said that if the heir crossed the limits with hatred in her heart they would all go to hell or something, didn’t he?!

38) Oh my fucking god Wynonna, just fucking shoot her!!

39) Dolls shot her…

And this snake thingy definitely has some Buffy vibes…

40) Oh, damn, this wasn’t as satisfying as I had expected…

41) Yep, this was epic…

But what does it mean about the borders?

42) And they’re taking both Bobo and Dolls…

43) “We know what you did.” What the fuck did she do?!

44) Wait, are they going to blow up the whole town?! Why did that bitch say “Boom”?

45) So… the revenants want to leave the triangle, but there are other thingies that want to get in…

46) …

She put him out of his misery… wtf!!! No more Bobo?! (and I’ve just realized how ridiculous that question sounds)

47) WTF!!

Waverly, why on earth would you touch a sticky substance in a hellhole like Purgatory?! And why is this show not over with the plot twists?!

48) WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

49) What an awesome season finale! I enjoyed literally every second of it, the surprises kept on coming and I didn’t have time to deal! I’ve got to so many questions?! Who’s the old one Bobo mentioned? What possessed Waverly? I’m positive she couldn’t have shot Wynonna, but who or what did she shoot? Is Bobo really gone? Or will he be back? Who’s Waverly’s father?! And how the hell is Wynonna going to manage to keep the revenants from getting out while guarding off the things that want to get in?

This show has everything that I love about supernatural shows, and I’m super into it! I can’t wait to start watching season 2!! And if you have any questions about my feelings/opinions about season 1 stuff, hit the ask box!

50) There are more comments in this recap than minutes in the episode, btw.

51) Hope you enjoyed my recap, and, as usual, if you’ve got this far, thank you for reading! If you enjoy my recaps and my blog, please consider supporting it on ko-fi.Thanks!