#i had to rest for a minute climbing up the stairs home bc my knees thougj

[frvitbatz]

god work was hell today

[quillsareswords]

Could you do something with Damian and a really cuddly, clingy, touchy-feely reader? I feel like his brothers would be v confused about the whole situation bc Damian's just chillin and always seems neutral to what's happening while reader is just like, koala bear hugging him and stuff all the time.

Firstly. I love this concept with every fiber of my being because, oh good god, it's me. Thank you so much for bringing this to inbox, because I've been lacking on inspiration lately, and this is just what I need right now. Thanks doll!!

Prompt List // Masterlist (in bio)

Tim stops dead in his tracks, cereal bowl nearly slipping from his hand as he halts in the doorway to the huge living room. He pauses, before cautiously asking, "What is this? What am I looking at?"

Damian's arm twitches against your back, the only give away that he's been caught off guard. You seem just as relaxed, sprawled on top of him like you've been there your whole life.

You don't even look at him, eyes still glued to the phone screen shining up at you from the floor, which you're facing with your face pressed against Damian's shoulder. "You've known me for five years and you still haven't learned my name? Rude."

He blinks. "Sure, sure. Right. Because it's absolutely normal for anyone to successfully get within a foot of Damian and not get knocked out."

You snort, but it still isn't enough to pry your attention away from your phone. Damian either, as he reads a book over your shoulder, which is settled under his chin. He must be tired or in a terrifyingly good mood, if he hasn't shoved you off in hopes of hiding emotions from his family. That's what he usually does when he gets caught with you, anyway.

He's been tiptoeing around the subject of you for a solid year and half now. It wasn't exactly easy, seeing as you're also a family friend, what with being a vigilante and all. You're Damian's partner, have been for three years, and you're in the manor often enough that you have your own room, right next to Damian's.

Still, even with no clear answers from either of you, the whole family has suspected a relationship for a long time.

But Damian isn't very touch oriented. In fact, he's been known to go to nearly astonishing lengths to avoid being touched at all.

And now here he is, you laying on top of him, out in the open, absolutely unbothered by Tim catching it.

Tim decides quickly not to risk Damian's mood spoiling while he's around, so he backpedals and heads for his room.

• • •

Jason doesn't come to the manor often, but when he does, there's usually a decently concerning reason for it. This time, he's waiting out a possible kidnapping by one king pin or another. You haven't been paying as much attention as you probably should.

Now, he's trotting down the steps from Bruce's office to fix a suspicious rattling noise his motorcycle has been making for a shameful period of time.

However, he stops beside the super computer, looking a little aghast and far too dramatic for the sight.

Damian side-eyes him, still typing away, but his head doesn't move. It really can't, because you're resting your head on top of it.

You're resting your full weight on the back of the chair, which Jason now realizes isn't the tall backed chair that usual sits there, with your cheek buried in the soft looking bush that is Damian's hair. Your eyes are closed, and your arms and draped over his shoulders, hands laying on his chest.

Jason catches himself staring when Damian's side-eyeing turns into a curious glare. Tentatively, Jason points to you, and raises an eyebrow.

Lowly, Damian somewhat patiently answers, "She's half asleep."

Your eyebrows slant together. "Hmm?"

Jason's expression becomes more confused. "She sleeps standing up?"

"Apparently," Damian mumbles.

Jason, more than a little perturbed but Damian's oddly placid demeanor and your absurd sleeping habits, shuffles the rest if the way to his bike, grabbing the toolbox on his way.

• • •

Dick sitting on the floor, wrapped in a blanket—correction, three blankets, facing the rest of the living room, where Damian sits on one couch, and Duke occupies the other.

"No no, I'm not saying Bella wasn't smokin, I'm just saying that those facial expressions and life decisions were questionable enough to make a guy think twice," Dick tries to reason.

Duke makes a face. "Bro, are you kidding? If a chick stares at you from across a lunch room and you've never spoke to her, you don't even try."

Damian scoffs. Duke raises an eyebrow, and just when he's about to beg for the story of who tied him to a steel chair and forced him to watch Twilight, you shoulder the double door open.

Damian doesn't look up from his newest book, which could be deemed rude if you weren't so close and comfortable with one another. "Evening, Beloved, how was your drive?"

You say nothing. You drop your bag by his feet, crawl the rest of the way onto the couch, and collapse. Your head in on a pillow between Damian's thighs and the arm of the couch, the rest of you divided unevenly between his lap and the rest of the couch.

He glances away from the pages briefly. "Traffic?" His hand slips under your shirt to gently run blunt nails up and down your spine.

For a moment, you're quiet, and neither of the two older men know how to react.

Then, without warning, you wail into the pillow. "Who the everloving fuck drives a Winnebago through central Gotham at six o'clock going fourteen miles an hour?"

Duke barks a loud laugh, before he claps a hand over his mouth in fear of a punishment. But a man can only do so much, so he sits with his hand over his mouth, giggling like a fifteen year old listening to a dirty joke with his parents in the room.

Damian chuckles lightly, white teeth peeking through a little smile that he's trying to suppress, much for the same reason Duke is doing his best not to let you hear him laugh.

Dick is more focused on the two of you, and the fact that his baby brother has grown up and changed for the better so much—

• • •

Cassandra climbs the stairs with some difficulty, thanks to two new sets of stitches and a few too many fresh bruises.

It's nothing a few days of relaxation won't fix. It was worth it, to see Poison Ivy put back behind bars—even if it did take four of you.

Shortly after arriving back, you and Damian had disappeared up to his room, after you'd both been checked over by Alfred. Aside from some intense bruising and a fee cuts and scrapes, you'd both been spared.

She knocks on his door a few times. With no answer, she loudly turns the handle and pushes the door open slowly, giving you enough time to correct her if need be. She knows at least one of you are in here, because the light is on. "Alfred sent me to tell you that there's dinner, if you want–"

She stops. You are, in fact, both in the room. However, neither of you are conscious.

Damian is sprawled haphazardly across his bed, face half squished into a pillow.

You're flopped across his back, horizontal across his bed, likely also with a pillow, but she can't see your face to be sure.

For a moment that feels a little intrusive, she stares, eyes wide. Not because he's in only boxers and you're in shorts and a sports bra (neither are necessarily a new sight, with one makeshift locker room in the Cave and a city with way too many privacy-surpassing emergencies), but because she's never witnessed Damian allowing another person to be so close to him while asleep.

Even on week long stakeouts that confine them to one room, he claims one corner for himself and doesn't tolerate that invisible boundary to be broken, especially when he's asleep.

She wouldn't even be so surprised if you were passed out in his reading chair, or even on a pile of blankets in the floor, or hell, even if you were on opposite sides of the bed. But you're literally as close to him as you could possibly be. And he's still sound asleep.

She closes the door and backs away slowly, a little smile on her face, even though she was too tired to laugh at the joke Bruce tried to crack a few minutes ago.

• • •

Bruce sits, almost impatiently, on a stone bench by the fountain the middle of Gotham City Gardens. The whole family had come here for the day, on invitation of the organization's owners. Of course, not everyone was officially recognized as family by anyone outside the Manor, so there were quite a few plus ones—you being one of them.

Of course you were. You're always invited. Over the years, it's become a running joke. A trip to the grocery store? (Y/N) must be invited. Walking from the W.I. building to an ice cream parlor and back? I bet (Y/N) is invited. At one point, Damian became so simultaneously annoyed and amused by it that for a week, you really did join him on every single outing. No one knows how exactly you made it across Gotham in six minutes flat to help him pick up cereal but by golly you managed it.

Bruce is currently waiting on you and Damian, who swore to meet him here for a few pictures (at Alfred's request). The pair of you had gone off on your own after about an hour of meandering around with his family, and no one has heard from either of you since. He would be worried, but you were both too excited about this to get into any trouble that would risk being sent home early.

Your laughter finds him before you do. It comes from around a corner of tall hedges, and shortly after, so do you.

You're smiling ear to ear, giggling like a school girl, elbows balanced on Damian's shoulders, about as precariously as you are on his back. That is to say, quite stable. Damian is grinning as well, his arms linked around you're knees at his sides to keep you as stable as you are. You've got an ice cream cone in each hand, one obviously having had more attention than the other.

Bruce's heart swells in his chest at the absolute joy on his son's face.

Damian stops not too far, shifting your weight to free one hand. You help, carefully resituating yourself to hold yourself up easily. You hand him the neglected ice cream, resting your now free hand on his shoulder.

"Sorry, Father," Damian sounds a little winded, and Bruce wonders if the running he heard earlier had been you two. "Somebody found an ice cream bar and insisted we stop before meeting you." He doesn't sound apologetic in the least.

"Hey!" You laugh, flicking the back of his ear as payback.

As payback for payback, he takes the edge of his cone between his teeth, and uses his free hand to give the back of your knee a quick pinch, before he occupies his hand again to tilt the odds in his favor.

You squeal and jerk. "Damian! You're gonna make me fall, and if I go down, you're coming with me!"

Bruce laughs loudly.

• • •

Alfred is on his way to the library to finish the afternoon chores. All he needs to do is straighten up in there, and he can call it an evening. Just in time, too, as one of the local channels is running a Downton Abbey marathon tonight that he doesn't particularly want to miss.

He pushes open the doors to get a little extra fresh air, but pauses just inside the doorway.

Damian is stretched out in one of the plush leather chairs, his long legs propped up by his ankles on the coffee table, head resting limply on the back of the chair. You're curled up in his lap, head on his shoulder, legs folded up on either side of his thighs, arms wound around his back. His hands are folded together on your back. You're both fast asleep.

The elder man is suddenly flooded with memories of the boy's first few months in this manor. In this room, even. He was politely feral, as Bruce had once put it. He was so uncomfortable all the time, though he fought not to show it. It was so new to him, to be openly cared for the way his family tried to care for him. Most people he met back then treated him as the cold, rude, trained assassin that he presented himself as.

So many overlooked the terrified ten year old boy that shook beneath the armor and the weight of the mantels he was expected to take up in so few years.

Of course Alfred had been paying attention to him all this time, all the growing he's done and the man he's becoming. He's always been proud.

But it's here, in this exact moment, that Alfred really takes in how different he is now, compared to then.

Not only did he find the strength and the trust to forge a close bond with you, one that would arguably outlast just about anything it was forced to endure, but he'd fostered such a sweet affection for you. He's found the space within himself to make room for a great love for you, and his family, and his friends.

And you're so good for him. You remind him of the things he could be, if he wanted, and not of what he should be or could have been. You provide him a sense of normalcy when he needs it, and battle ready companion when he needs that.

You look past the blazing armor of controlled aggression and lessons learned to reach the beautiful soul he is. And most importantly, you love him for all of it. You manage to dig so far beyond what he's been taught and the walls he's put up, that you look at what was meant to be the perfect soldier and you see a pillow to sleep on. You trust him with everything, including your vulnerability, just as he trusts you.

Alfred marks the page of the open book on the floor, closes it, and leaves it in the table for you later. He leaves as quietly as he came, in hopes of leaving the two of you undisturbed.

[vintagedolan]

Hey lovey, i had a concept or blurb whatever you prefer to do. Maybe a little something about giving gray a massage or helping him when if poor back hurts and just being there for him. I’m so soft. Ok thank you love you! Ps make sure you are eating and drinking enough water 🥺💖

(did I get 1k words into this and then tumblr deleted it? yes. am I rewriting it bc I love you? also yes)

The first time that Grayson hurt his back, it was Ethan’s fault. A few overly-competitive wrestling moves on the too-thin mat in the garage ended with the breath knocked out of his lungs and a sore back for a week. After that, it would only flare up occasionally. Lisa took him to the doctor when he was 11, and all they said was it could be a nerve, it could be the way his muscles were wired, or it could be nothing. So they left with no answers, and he signed up for football the next month anyways, ignoring the pain after one too many tackles at practice and stealing the ice pack from the freezer every night. 

Now, at 20, without contact sports in his daily life, he had it under control for the most part.

But there was still one thing that could have him, in his words, ‘kinked up’ in no time. 

Stress.

He’d gotten a better handle on his stress over the last few years, combatting it with a good workout, a walk, even meditation. When work got stressful he knew how to brace for it, how to make sure his body didn’t have any adverse reaction.

But when Ethan decided to prank him with an elaborate set up that had him thinking the house construction got delayed for another 3 months?

Back -> kinked.

Which was why when you made it to the front door of the rental house in Laguna, Ethan answered it instead of your boyfriend.

“Is he good?” 

“He’s pouting in his room cause I got him good,” he teased, wiggling his eyebrows.

“Don’t sound too concerned,” you laughed, moving past him and sliding your shoes off by the door. You followed the now familiar path down the stairs and to the right, unsurprised to hear music from behind his closed door.

If anyone else had opened it and saw what you saw, they probably would have thought it was a ritual of some sort.

Grayson was flat on his back in the middle of the bed, shirtless, staring up at the ceiling without moving a muscle. There was a candle on each of the nightstands - healing on the left, relax on the right you would later realize. Music played from the speaker in the corner, quiet enough to still be relaxing.

“Hey you.”

He perked up, but only moved his neck, looking up at you and offering the best smile he could muster. It was pitiful.

“Still hurtin’ huh?” He’d text you about the whole prank a few hours ago, and you’d hoped that maybe it had eased up before you got there. But he just shook his head with a bit of a sigh and a pout.

“Roll over baby, I’ll try to get it out.” 

He did as you said, trying to stay quiet as he tensed up at the pain. It pulled at your heartstrings, and your hands fluttered over him uselessly as he groaned a bit, finally making it over to his stomach. 

You climbed on the bed as lightly as you could, careful not to jostle him as you got situated, straddling him over his ass and letting a bit of your weight rest on him while you held yourself up with your knees.

As soon as you leaned forward and pressed your hand onto his back he groaned, but you recognized it as a pleasant one rather than a painful one.

“Just try to relax, it’ll help,” you hummed, starting to work up by his neck and shoulders.

“Your hands are tiny,” he mumbled, voice muffled a bit by the comforter. “Feels so good though.”

“Your back is just huge,” you countered, leaning forward and pressing a kiss to his lions. He sighed at the feeling of your lips on him, relaxing even more as you continued your work, thumbs pressing in hard against the thick bands of muscle that ran all across his back.

“I always wanted a girlfriend so I could have somebody to rub my back,” he said, words a bit jumbled like he was about to fall asleep. Sure enough, when you leaned over slightly his eyes were closed, long eyelashes practically resting on the tops of his cheeks.

“Oh yeah? You just love me for my back rubs huh,” you teased, readjusting a bit so you could move further down. 

“No baby you know that’s no- shit,” he hissed, as your fingers found the knot you’d been looking for, just shy of his spine on the right, a few inches under his tattoo. His whole body tensed under you, shifting so quickly that you had to grab onto his hip so you didn’t lose your balance.

“Swear that wasn’t on purpose. Relax baby, I’ll work it out slow,” you coaxed, peppering kisses along his skin until he was sinking back into the mattress. You made your way back over to the spot, working around the edges of it gently, slowly but surely pressing and kneading it out little by little. You could tell it was the good kind of hurt, and Grayson did his best, finally melting like a puddle when it was finally gone and his tired muscles were relieved.

“You’re magic,” he hummed, starting to roll over a bit, giving you time to move with him until you were straddling his waist, looking down at him. “Come down here.” 

You obliged, shifting off your tired knees and settling against his chest. With the smell of the candles burning you were so relaxed that you were almost sleepy, and when his warm arms wrapped around you tightly you weren’t sure you were going to be able to stay awake.

“I owe you a good back rub, you just tell me when,” He pressed a kiss into your hair, the gratitude obvious in his voice.

“I’ll let you know.” He gave the best back rubs, especially because his hands were so big. “Were you just kinked up from the prank stress? Is there anything else going on?”

“Just the stupid prank. I shouldn’t have fallen for it, but the idea of not being able to be home for another 3 months had me so worked up.”

“I know you’re ready to get back there,” you sighed, smiling as his hands moved over your back lightly, fingers grazing over the fabric of your shirt. “S’not so bad here though.”

“It’s not, but I’m just ready for us to be home, because being home means you moving in full time, and us being in our room, with our bed and our stuff.” The excitement in his voice made your heart swell a bit.

“Don’t forget our bathroom. Designed for all the activities,” you grinned, the thought of the little shower bench that Grayson had designed racing through your head.

“Activities huh? I bet we could do some of those now. Get some good practice in.”

“Hmmm, I’m not sure. Wouldn’t want you to kink your back up again or anything, I’m a one-back-rub a day type of girl,” you feigned your innocence, sitting up to give him a wide grin. “Don’t think we have an ice pack here.”

Two seconds later and he had you pinned underneath him, eyes ablaze. 

“We’ll see whose needing the ice pack in a minute.” 

[tomsrebeleyebrow]

hi! i just wanted to say that i love ur writing! and quite a fan! can i request the reader asking peter to take care of her pet turtle bc she’s going out of town to visit some family? and peter hesitates bc of his spider-man duties but soon just falls in love the readers pet turtle and doesn’t wanna give him back. “peter, give him back” “no🥺”

A/N: okay. wait. CUTENESS LEVEL EXTREM! ABOART! ABOART I SAID!! 😱😱😱 alright jokes aside, this is the most adorable request i’ve ever had and it got me soft af 🥺💞🥺💞 so thank you so much for this but also for your kind support, my dear 😳❤️ stay safe, darling 💖💗

‘Stay safe, Cheer up’ blurb event

Peter was confused. And when Peter Parker was confused, you knew something was really going on in his head of his.

The boy was currently sitting on the couch in the living room, the apartment completely silent. His elbows resting on his knees, upper body slightly leaning forward, Peter’s eyes were glued on the rectangle terrarium on the coffee table right in front of him, not saying a single word. Just looking straight at it. Thinking.

Peter let a long sigh out.

“On all domestic animals possible, (Y/N) chose you.”

Silence.

“I’ll be honest, alright: I’ve seen more active and entertaining pets than you.”

Silence.

“... Why am I even talking to you, in the first place?”

The little animal stopped its “wild” parkour inside the glass terrarium to, somehow, look at Peter. Their eyes locked for a few seconds before the teenage boy exhaled once again, the muscles in his neck relaxing to let his head fall forward.

Yesterday evening, you hurriedly stumbled over yours and Peter’s shared apartment after your classes, your boyfriend already immersed in his homework, because your brother-in-law sent you a text explaining your sister went into labour. Frantically, you tried to gather some clothes and random toiletries’ essential in a travelling bag to leave right away and hopping to arrive in your hometown a few hours later that same night by car. While doing so, Peter couldn’t really place a word as he knew how much your older sister was so dear to you, also because you being an aunt got you all excited and so stressed at the same time. And right before you left, Peter kissing you goodbye by your car and telling you to drive safely, you remembered something at the last minute.

“Ah! Pete, please, don’t forget to take care of Dollie while I’m away!!”

Dollie. Your tiny tortoise. Your pet with who Peter was currently “having a chat” with.

Thanks the lords, Peter was relieved to have an organised girlfriend because you created a little list of things to do or not with Dollie on a daily basis, right after you bought her. At least, the boy kind of knew what he was supposed to do (or not) with that strange pet of yours.

It was not like Peter disliked Dollie. Well, he didn’t really like her either, as he was completely unaware that having a tortoise as a pet was even possible until the day you came back home with the said animal. You told Peter you grew up while having animals around since your youngest age, but still... a tortoise. And what about his Spider-Man’s duties? Even if recently, the neighbourhood was rather quiet and calm, Peter needed to do his regular patrols just in case.

Anyway, Peter didn’t really have a choice. He had to take care of Dollie, for you. Seems like Spider-Man will take a break.

“Okay, time for you to get some exercise done.”

Delicately - but still awkwardly, Peter took the tiny reptile in his hands to put it back on the ground, next to his feet.

“Come on, go explore the world that is the living room, I guess?”

As if understanding his words, Dollie started to move around at her own pace which was not the fastest of all. Peter kept an eye on her as he decided to watch some tv to get some better distraction.

Some time later, Peter felt something bumped on the side of his foot. And as he lifted his back from the couch to see what that was, he couldn’t help a light smile making its way at the corner of his mouth as Dollie just started bumping her tiny pointed head on Peter’s foot.

“What’s going on, there?” chuckled the teenage boy.

His eyes went to his left wrist where he read the hour on his digital watch.

“Damn, already past seven!? You must be hungry, right missy?” asked Peter while slowly standing, fists resting on his hips. “To the kitchen we go!”

* * * *

What a weird feeling it was to be an aunt for the first time. But still exciting and critically emotional in the best way possible.

After spending three days at your sister’s to finally meet the new addition to the family, your visit ended as fast as it started due to your exams approaching. But you still promised your sister to come visit again for your next holiday, probably with Peter this time.

Finally back, you locked your car and got up to yours and Peter’s apartment, climbing two stairs at the time as you still missed your boyfriend and was excited to show him all the pictures you took of your newborn niece.

Unlocking the door of the flat, your eyes instantly fell onto Peter’s brunette hair as he was sitting on the couch.

“Peter! I’m back!”

“Welcome back, dear! We’re here!” replied Peter, cheerfully.

You left your travel bag in the entrance to tidy later and walked towards the living room where your boyfriend was. When you arrived behind the couch to kiss him upside down, you noticed a tiny guest sitting on top of his thighs.

“Oh, hi Dollie! What is she doing here?”

“I was feeding her some apple before you arrived” said Peter, his attention going back to the little reptile.

You watched the two beings interact together for some seconds, not saying a word, but mostly surprised at Peter’s unexpected behaviour towards your tortoise.

“Looks like you became good friends in the end” you giggle, lightly bumping your head with Peter’s, still looking at Dollie enjoying her apple slice. “Come say hi to mama, Dollie doll!”

As you were about to take Dollie in your hands, Peter moved the tortoise away from your grasp. Surprised, you glanced at your boyfriend with raised eyebrows.

“First, let her slowly finish her apple or she’ll get awful later” noted Peter, quite seriously.

“Excuse me? Let me-”

“Nope.”

“Peter, what in the world-”

“Later, I said.”

“Peter Benjamin Parker, give me back MY tortoise now!”

“Nope.”

Later that same evening, you understood that your nerdy boyfriend definitely grew attached to that tiny reptile he used to avoid at the beginning.

The day ended with you and Peter laying on your bed, with snacks and fluffy covers, catching up with a series with little Dollie resting on top on you guys, resting after another eventful day of her tortoise’s life.

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[spiderneds]

I’m Gonna Love You (Stephen Strange x Reader) Tangled AU

requested by @melonpanbread

this IS a doctor strange themed tangled au BUT i am using a song from The Hunchback of Notre Dame II bc it is a total rapunzel and flynn song

songs used:

Healing Incantation / Tangled 

I’m Gonna Love You / The Hunchback of Notre Dame II

I See The Light / Tangled

Let Me Save Him - The Tear Saves / Tangled

You marked another day off your calendar and took in a deep breath.

One more day until your birthday. 

You smiled to yourself, glancing out the single window that your tower had. Tomorrow night, the lights would appear in the sky, the same way they had for as long as you could remember. 

You had dreams of going to see them in person, with your mother. But she wouldn’t let you. She was terrified of you getting hurt, and even though you could handle yourself, were an adult, and tried to prove yourself time and time again, she would only get angry. 

She was gone, getting things for dinner. You were home alone, which you liked most. You would sit at your window, your hair (all seventy-five feet of it) hanging out of the window and almost touching the grass. That is the closest you ever got to touching the ground. You would try to take in as much of the warm, sweet smelling summer breeze as you could from your tower way above the ground.

Tired of looking at things you couldn’t ever be a part of, you sighed and turned away from the window, standing up and heading towards your bedroom. Your hair followed you as you went up the winding staircase, plopped on your bed, and shut your eyes.

You just wanted to be free.

A few minutes later, you woke up to the loud sound of the shutters being shut. You jumped in alarm, pulling your feet up on the bed. You leaned in close and heard two heavy footsteps.

Definitely not your mother’s.

You got up and quietly moved across the floor with bare feet. You eased yourself down the stairs and saw a man standing in your living room.

You struggled to hide your gasp of surprise. Your mother once told you that men had pointy teeth and none of them could be trusted.

Was that true?

You didn’t want to find out.

You grabbed a frying pan off the wall and snuck up behind him. He opened up a satchel and sighed. “Alone at last-”

You smacked him so hard in the back of the head that he tipped right over, unconscious. 

You dragged him to the closet and forced his body in there. To keep it shut, you pushed your mother’s favorite chair against the handles. You grinned triumphantly. Now all you had to do was wait for her to get home.

When she finally did ask you to throw your hair down and climb up it, you could barely contain your excitement. You pulled her up faster than normal, grinning with absolute delight.

“Hi, Mother,” you said, “welcome home.”

“Thank you,” she said. “I have a very big surprise for you!”

“So do I,” you gushed. “Look, I know you don’t think I’m strong enough to handle myself out there, Mom, but I have something that might change your mind.”

She laughed, swinging her legs over the window and stepping inside. “I hope you’re not still going on about the stars.”

You fought not to roll your eyes. “Astral projections. And, well, yeah, I’m leading up to that.” You walked over to the closet. 

“Because I thought we’d dropped the issue, dear...”

“I know, but I just wanted to say-”

She glared at you. “___,” she warned.

“Please?” you pressed.

“I mean it - no!”

“Oh, come on!” you whined. “I just think you should-”

“Enough with the lights, ___! You are not leaving this tower! Ever!”

You jumped. Never had she screamed at you like that.

Never had you been more frightened.

Seemingly exhausted, she dropped down in a chair. “Great. Now I’m the bad guy.”

You ducked your head so that your hair would fall around you like a curtain. You stepped in front of the closet. “All I was going to say, Mother... was... I finally know what I want for my birthday.”

“And what is that?” she asked grumpily. 

“New paints? Like the ones from the white shells you once brought me?” you lied. 

“Well that is a very long trip, ___. Almost three days time.”

“I know, I just... I thought it would be a better idea than the... the stars.” You faked a smile.

She nodded. “Alright. And you’ll be alright while I’m gone?” 

“I know that I’m safe so long as I’m here,” you said. 

She hugged you and kissed your hair. “I love you very much, dear.”

“I love you more,” you said.

“I love you most.”

She left a few minutes after, with a basket packed with food. You lowered her down and waved her off, and once she disappeared through the bushes, you were off to the closet, frying pan in hand, ready to face the guy in the closet.

But first, you grabbed the satchel that he was carrying and pulled out the thing inside. It was only one object - a pendent hanging from a gold chain. In the middle of the pendent was a glowing green stone.

You turned towards the mirror and slipped it on over your head. He hung off your neck and rested just below your chest. You touched it, eyes wide.

You took it off quickly, because you couldn’t keep wasting time. You hit it under the stairs the hurried back to the closet.

You opened the door and-

He fell out, unconscious. He landed right on his face. You winced. 

You managed to get him in a chair and tied him up with your hair. Then you cowered in the darkness, terrified, because he was starting to wake up.

When his eyes finally opened, he looked around. He yanked on the bounds and groaned. “Is this... hair?”

“Struggling...” you tried, then bit your lip. “Struggling is pointless!”

“Huh?” he asked, squinting into the darkness.

“I know why you’re here, and I am not afraid of you!” 

“What? Look, lady, I just came in here because I thought it was empty. I went up your tower, and-” He stopped and looked around. “Whoa - oh no! Where is my satchel?”

“I’m not answering questions until you answer mine!”

He frowned. “Fine.”

You stepped out of the darkness slowly. His eyes widened. “Who are you, and how did you find me?”

“What?” he whispered.

“Who are you... and how did you find me?” You pointed the frying pan at him.

“Are you serious?” he asked. “I wasn’t looking for you! Now where is my satchel?”

“If you’re not here to find me, then...” You crossed your arms. “I want to propose something to you.”

He sighed. “Which is...?”

“I’ll let you go with your satchel if, and only if, you take me to see the lights.”

He leaned in. “The lights?”

“Yeah,” you said. “The astral projections. Those streaks in the sky? They appear tomorrow.”

“Oh, yeah. That light thing they do for the Sorcerer Supreme’s daughter.” He nodded. “Why do you want to go see that?”

“Because it’s my dream,” you said simply.

“Oh, your dream. I get it.” He rolled his eyes. “I am gonna have to say no.”

Desperately, you gripped the arms of the chair he was on with both hands. You leaned in close. “Please,” you said, sounding incredibly desperate. “You are the only one that can take me.”

He stared at you for a long moment. Then his eyebrows furrowed together. “Are you trapped here?” he asked.

You swallowed. “Yes,” you said. “Please, Mr...”

“Uh, it’s Stephen Strange.” 

“Right. Please. I need... I need someone. It can’t be a mistake that you came across my tower.”

“Right, because there are so many around. I should have picked another,” he muttered.

“Stephen,” you whispered. “Please.”

He sighed and looked at you again. “Alright. Fine, I’ll do it. But get me out of this... this hair. Right now. And explain to me how the heck it is this long.”

“Got it.”

Not too long after, he was climbing down the side of your tower. You were standing up on the windowsill, frying pan tucked under your arm. You were looking down nervously.

This was your dream, yes, but - but could you do it?

“You coming?” he called up after you.

You bit your lip and nodded. You took in a deep breath. 

Here I go, you thought.

You jumped down, your hands forming around your hair to slide down it like a rope. You laughed in glee until you almost touched the grass - then you jerked to a stop, pulling your feet up. You were scared.

Hesitantly, you let your foot touch the soft, green blades. You gasped softly and dropped down. Then you fell to your knees, letting your palms run across the tops. You grinned. You had never smelled anything fresher, or felt any floor softer.

“I can’t believe I did this,” you breathed. You looked up to the sky, feeling the warm sun on your face. 

Oh gosh, this feeling.

“Hey, weirdo,” Stephen said. You looked at him. “Are we gonna go on and do this or what?”

“Yeah,” you said. You stood up and brushed the grass off your knees. “Sorry, I just... this is my first time outside.”

“Ever?” he asked. You nodded. “Jeez. That’s... crazy. So when am I going to hear this backstory of yours?”

“Uh... never,” you said. 

“What, really?”

“Really. I’ll only be with you two days, Stephen Strange. I can’t give my secrets up to everyone.”

But not only two hours later, you were running away from a group of police officers that were intent on arresting Stephen.

“What are they chasing us for?” you screamed.

“Uh... I may have stole some things.”

“Stole some things?” you asked.

“Yes. Like the necklace that you refuse to give back!”

You gasped. “That’s stolen?”

“Of course it is!” he said. “That is why I was hiding with it!”

“Oh my gosh.” You grabbed his arm and pulled him to a stop. You pointed to subway station that was abandoned - and, from the sign, partially unfinished. “In there?”

“Sounds better than getting arrested,” he said. He ran ahead, going down the stairs first. When he got to the bottom, he turned around to reach for you. You landed on the bottom step and gasped-

The cops were coming down fast.

You gripped the bottom of your hair, leaving about three feet dangling down. You tossed it up and let it wrap around an exposed pipe. When you yanked it down, it piled up a large mountain of rubble and broke one of the water pipes. Gushes of cold water filled the place, and the rubble on the staircase made a tight wall.

“Oh no,” Stephen whispered.

You ran to the other side, but the ceiling fell there, too. You were blocked in on either side, and the water was filling up.

You kept moving, hitting the walls. Stephen was trying to as well, but it wasn’t budging.

He sighed. “Stop, stop, ___. Stop!” He grabbed your shoulders. “It’s too late, okay?”

“It’s not...”

“It is.” He shook his head. “We’re trapped.”

The water was up to your knees now. You sat down in it, anyway, letting it pool around your waist. You dropped your face in your hands. “I am so... I am so sorry, Stephen.”

“Why are you sorry?” he asked.

“This is all my fault. I never should have left.” You shook your head and looked at him. “And now I am getting you killed.”

“Don’t... don’t worry about me. You saved my life from being arrested.” He snorted. “Ironic that now I am about to die instead, but...” He pressed his lips together. “I can see that I am not making you feel any better.”

You sniffed and wiped your face. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure,” he replied. 

“Why do you... why do you steal things?”

“Because... because I need to pay for surgeries. Of course, I ruined my chance by becoming wanted here in New York.” He raised his hands up so you could see how scarred they were. “A year ago, I got into an accident so bad that it paralyzed my hands. They healed, and I could move them, but... but they shake.” He hid them.

“And I ruined your chance to get that surgery,” you whispered. You shook your head. “I am so sorry.”

He nudged you. “Why don’t you just tell me something about you?”

“Okay, I, uh... have magic hair that glows when I sing.”

He narrowed his eyes. “You... what?” 

You grabbed your hair in realization. The water was rising to your neck and you stood up. Stephen did, too, wrapping his arms around you when you almost fell. You grabbed onto his arms and looked up at him. “I have... I have magic hair that glows when I sing!”

He shook his head, not understanding. But the water was filling up fast, and it was already to your shoulders. He tried to lift you up as you started to sing.

“Flower gleam and glow,” you gasped, and Stephen’s head was under. He was holding you up. “Let your...power shine! Make the clock rev-” You were under now.

Underwater was glowing bright with your hair. Stephen was watching with wide eyes. You grabbed his hand and swam to wear your glowing hair was leading you - to a part of the structure that was weak enough to break through.

He kicked through it for you, and you and him both got caught in the current that dragged you outside of the wall. 

You fell on the ground, first, and Stephen after. You both burst into harsh coughs as you rolled over, trying to get all of the water out of your lungs.

“Are you... okay?” he managed.

You nodded.

“Great. Now... now can you tell me how your hair glows?”

You looked at him and smiled. “It doesn’t just glow.”

You sat in front of him at the end of the subway. He was staring at you while you wrapped your hair around his entire hands, covering every inch of them.

“So can you tell me what you’re doing, or...?” he asked.

“I can,” you said, smiling. You glanced up at him. “You scared?”

“A little. I’ve seen a lot of doctors work on my hands, even studied the injuries myself, but never thought of wrapping magic hair around it,” he muttered. 

“That’s your loss,” you said. You cradled his hands in yours. “Okay, now... don’t freak out, okay?”

“Okay,” he said softly. He looked at you with an expression you couldn’t identify. 

You shut your eyes and began to sing. “Flower gleam and glow, let your powers shine, make the clock reverse, bring back what once was mine. Heal what has been hurt, change the fate’s design. Save what has been lost, bring back what once was mine. What once was mine.”

You opened your eyes and pulled your hair away. His hands weren’t even scarred. They didn’t shake. He turned them over again and again, his face nothing but shock.

“So?” you said, breaking the tension.

He looked at you and-

And he threw his arms around you, pulling you into a tight embrace.

“Thank you,” he whispered. “You... you fixed my hands. No surgeon anywhere could do that. I... I had given up hope. I didn’t... I can’t believe you...”

You laughed breathlessly. “It’s nothing.”

“That works for everything, doesn’t it?” he asked.

“I think so,” you said, “Until... it’s cut. Once it’s cut, it looses its power. Then... then I’m normal.”

“Huh.” He nodded, looking at his hand. “I don’t know how to thank you for this.”

“You don’t have to,” you said, waving your hand. “Really, it isn’t anything.”

“But it is,” he said. “I... thank you.”

“I was happy to do it.”

“It’s - it’s...” He finally pulled away. “Well, I guess... I guess we need to keep on moving if we want to make it to see those lights.”

You made it to the real part of the city. The real part where everything was awake and bright and real and loud and busy. You were overcome with emotion, and Stephen was right there with you, finding joy somehow in your reactions.

He took you to see everything. Every tourist attraction... he bought it with his own money. You were overcome with emotion and in awe of how intent he was on giving you your dream.

He took you to the top of a building just as the sky grew dark. On your way up the elevator, you looked at him. “Where are we going?”

“Best night of your life, I figured you might want a decent seat.” 

At the very top was a balcony. You gasped, seeing the bright lights of the city. “Oh my gosh,” you breathed. 

“Like it?” he asked.

You shook your head, unable to find the words. You were so in awe of the bright lights that were such a strong contrast against the black-blue of the sky. But even the feeling of witnessing all that was in front of you...

Was nothing compared to the feeling of getting to see Stephen right in front of you.

You stepped closer to him and he leaned against the railing. You did, too, reaching for his hand. He let you take it. For the first time in a long time, he wasn’t ashamed of himself.

“I want to thank you,” he said softly.

You looked at him. “For what?”

“For... everything.” He shook his head.

You smiled, eyes locked onto his.

Angel in disguise

Stories in his eyes

Love for every true heart that it sees Was it just a lucky day

That it turned to look my way

Or is it Heaven right before my very eyes. You flipped his hand over and traced your fingers across each line in his palm. He watched you happily, unable to tear his eyes away from you. You went up each of his fingers and back down, meeting at the center of his palm each time.

He showed me all new things

The shimmer of moonbeans

I was blind, but now he's helped me see. I was lost but now I'm found

His happiness surrounds

And now I find that my dreams can come true. 

“Hey,” he said softly. 

“What?” you mumbled.

“I want to ask you something,” he said.

You looked up at him.

“Do you have to go back?”

Cause I'm gonna love you for the rest of my life

I'm holding you safe here in this heart of mine

I can't live without you cause my soul would die

You know I'm telling the truth, I'll spend the rest of my life loving you

“Yes,” you whispered. He nodded. “But I don’t want to.”

“Then don’t,” he said.

It didn't start this way

It happened just one day

You smiled at me and I saw you, differently.

Now I'm a tremble just to be

A part of you as we

Begin a life that's sure to never end.

“I have to.”

“You don’t.” He closed his hand around your fingers. “You can be with me.”

Cause I’m gonna love you for the rest of my life

I’m holding you safe here in this heart of mine

I can’t live without you cause my soul would die

You know I’m telling the truth, 

I’ll spend the rest of my life loving you

“Whether I stay with you or not... “ You breathed. “I need you to know how much it means, having you be here with me.” His forehead touched yours.

“Do you know how much you’ve changed me?” he asked. 

You looked up at him, smiling. His eyes shifted and he nudged you, getting your attention on the sky.

Where shoots of electricity began to spread across the ebony sky.

You sucked in a breath, eyes widening at the sight. There it was, so up close, so real. If you reached up your hand, you were sure you could touch it. You tried to, stretching your hands out so that your fingertips might just graze the light...

All those days, watching from the windows. All those years outside, looking in. All that time, never even knowing just how blind I’ve been. Now I’m here, blinking in the starlight. Now I’m here, suddenly I see. Standing here, it’s all so clear, I’m where I’m meant to be. And at last I see the light, and it’s like the fog has lifted. And at last I see the light, and it’s like the sky is new. And it’s warm and real and bright... and the world has somehow shifted. All at once, everything looks different...

You looked back at Stephen, who was pointing to a different part of the sky. 

Now that I see you.

You grabbed his hand, getting his attention. “Stephen?”

“What is it?” he asked, ducking his head close to yours.

“I... want to give you something.” Out of the pocket of your dress, you handed him the necklace. “I was... afraid. But the thing is, I’m not afraid anymore. You know what I mean?” 

He pushed that hand away and grabbed your free one. He pulled it up to his cheek and let it lay there. “I’m starting to.”

He cupped your waist with his other hand and brought you close to him. He pulled you in against him, and slowly, began to sway.

All those days chasing down a daydream. All those years living in a blur. All that time never truly seeing things the way they were. Now she’s here, shining in the starlight. Now she’s here, suddenly I know. If she’s here, it’s crystal clear, I’m where I’m meant to go.

“And at last I see the light,” you both sang softly, looking into each others’ eyes.

“And it’s like the fog has lifted,” he sang.

“And at last I see the light...”

“And it’s like the sky is new,” you sang, and he spun you both around.

“And it’s warm and real and bright... and the world has somehow shifted. All at once, everything is different, now that I see you. Now that I... see you.”

He leaned in. His nose brushed yours. He pushed your hair out of your face. 

“Now that I... see... you...”

His lips brushed yours gently, then he pulled back. 

You kept your eyes shut, waiting for him to just kiss you.

“I need to know,” he said, thumbs stroking your cheeks, “are you going to stay with me?”

You opened your eyes. The lights were gone now. You were just looking at him, dim now.

“I don’t... I don’t know.”

He sighed and nodded. He dropped his hands and stepped away.

You reached for him. “Stephen, I-

“I should get you home,” he said.

“I wish you wouldn’t,” you said. “I want to be with you, okay? Forever.”

He looked at you. “You’re being serious?”

“Of course I’m being serious,” you breathed. You laughed. 

He took you in his arms, lifting you off of your feet. His face was buried in your neck and you were wrapping your arms around his shoulders. 

“I’ll go get a ride for us,” he offered.

“Okay.” You grinned, not knowing where you were going, but grateful that it wasn’t back to the tower.

He walked back to the elevator without you.

You stayed up there for several long minutes, tapping your fingers against the railing. You were eager just to go. You were looking down below, waiting, waiting, waiting-

And seeing Stephen getting dragged into a police cruiser.

“Stephen?” you cried. You gasped. “Stephen!” 

He didn’t hear you. He struggled and struggled-

And then he was shoved inside.

“Oh no,” you whispered. Your heart was in your throat. You didn’t know what you would do-

“___?”

You turned, gasping loudly. “Mother?”

Your mother was there, standing at the elevator. “Oh, you’re alright. My little girl.”

“Mother,” you breathed. You ran to her, throwing your arms around her body. 

She hugged you tight. “Don’t worry, that man will never touch you again.”

“Touch me?” you asked. You looked up. “Mother, he... he didn’t take me. I left on my own.” Your eyes widened. “That’s what you told the police, didn’t you? They’re taking him because they think he took me! We have to stop them, we have to-” You tried to run around her, but she stopped you by grabbing your wrist.

“No,” she said sternly. You froze in fear. “We are going home.”

Back in your tower, she cleared out every memory you had of Stephen. You even had the necklace still, and you hid it from her so she wouldn’t see.

You laid on your bed, staring at it. You sniffled, feeling tears streak your cheeks. Your heart was hurting so badly. 

You held up the necklace, at first by the chain, then by the pendant. You angled it, squinting your eyes. 

You realized something. 

The shape of the pendant, the designs inside... they matched every shape in between each of your paintings. You stood up, your heart thumping louder and louder. You stood up and spun in slow circles. 

They were everywhere.

You fell back against your dresser, shocked. 

The Sorcerer Supreme’s missing daughter. You were her.

“What was that noise?” your mother called. “___, what’s going on up there?”

You stumbled out of your bedroom. “I am the lost sorcerer,” you mumbled.

Your mother growled, “Speak up, ___.”

You glared at her. “I am the lost sorcerer. Aren’t I? Did I mumble, Mother?” You stepped out fully, hands curling into fists. “Or should I even call you that?”

“Do you even hear yourself?” she scoffed, walking up the rest of the stairs. 

You pushed her. “It was you! It was all you.” 

“Everything I did was to protect you,” she said.

You walked around her. “I have spent my entire life hiding from people who might use me for my powers, when I should have been hiding... from you!” You turned.

“Where will you go?” she asked. “He won’t be there for you.”

“What did you do to him?” you asked.

“That criminal is to be sentenced to death for his crimes.”

You gasped, hand on your heart. “No...”

“Now it’s all right, it’s all right,” she cooed. She reached out to touch your hair. “Everything is as it should be.”

You caught her hand. “No!” you shouted against clenched teeth. “You were wrong about the world. And you were wrong about me! And I will never let you use my hair again!” You pushed her out of the way.

She stumbled back, getting knocked into the mirror. It tipped over and shattered.

You glared at her, then hurried to the window.

“You want me to be the bad guy?” she mumbled. “Fine. Now I’m the bad guy.”

Just as you swung your leg over the tower, she dragged you back. “No!” you screamed, thrashing. You tried to hit her, but she grabbed your hand and pushed you to the floor. She dragged you to the wall, where she had chains - ready to lock you up. “No, get away from me!”

“Stop fighting me, ___,” she growled. “Stop. Fighting me!” 

She put a cloth over your mouth and chained you to the wall. You were helplessly stuck there.

Unknown to you, Stephen was outside of your tower. 

“___?” he cried. “___, let down your hair!”

You screamed against the cloth at your mother, who grabbed your hair and threw it down for him to climb up. You cried and pleaded, begging her not to do it. But she only smiled and did it, anyway.

A few minutes later, he appeared and fell through the window. “___, I thought I’d never see you again.” He looked up, smiling, and gasped.

“Stephen!” you screamed against the cloth.

A moment later, your mother appeared out of the shadows and stabbed him in the stomach. He fell to the ground in agony, and you cried out.

“Now look what you did, ___,” she said. “Oh, don’t worry. Our secret will die with him. And as for us? Well, we are going where no one will ever find you again!”

You kept fighting to get to him, even if it was impossible. You just wanted to touch him, to heal him...

She unchained you and opened up a door in the floor that you never knew existed. She dragged you towards it and you fought harder.

“Oh come on, ___! Enough already! Stop... fighting me!” 

“No!” you screamed, the cloth falling off your mouth. “I won’t stop! For every moment of the rest of my life, I will fight. I will never stop trying to get away from you.” You shook your head. “But... if you let me save him, I will go with you.”

“No,” Stephen gasped. “No, ___.”

You ignored him. “I’ll never run, I’ll never try to escape. Just let me heal him, and we can be together just like you want. Forever, just like you want! Everything will be the way it was. I promise! Just like you want. Just. Let. Me. Heal. Him.”

She let you go. She chained him up tight and you wasted no time to run to him. You helped him onto his back and he looked up at you in teary pain. 

“Oh, Stephen,” you whispered. He cried out your name and you hushed him, touching his face, his hair. “It’s alright, I’m here. I’m here.” You looked at his wound and tears filled your eyes. “Oh, I am so sorry. Everything is going to be okay though, just-” You picked up your hair.

He pushed your hand away, like he did with the necklace only a day before. “No, ___,” he grunted.

“I promise, you have to trust me!” you said.

“No,” he replied.

“Come on,” you pleaded. 

“I can’t let you do this,” he said, looking into your eyes. 

You shook your head, feeling absolutely broken. “And I can’t let you die.”

“But if you do this...” You cupped his cheek as he managed to spit out, “then you will die.”

“Hey,” you said softly, smiling. “It’s gonna be alright.”

You put your hair over the wound and closed your eyes, ready to sing.

“___?” he breathed. “Wait...”

You looked at him. He pushed your hair back, and you leaned in. Just as your lips brushed his, though, he grabbed all of your hair at the back of your neck and cut through it with a shard from the mirror your mother had knocked over earlier.

Your hair fell off of you, leaving a short cut left at the base of your neck.

“Stephen, what...” You looked at him in horror.

“No!” your mother screamed. She grabbed at your hair as it changed. She was starting to age quickly. As she fell apart, she stumbled towards the window. “What have you done? What have you done? No, no, no, no... no!” She fell out of it. 

You watched her fall, then, in the silence left, you wrapped your arms around Stephen. You pulled him into your lap and cried out his name. 

“Stephen, no, no, no, no... stay with me, Stephen! I’m right here, you have to stay with me-” you pleaded. He coughed and you stroked his face, then lifted his hand up and put it on what was left of your hair. “Flower gleam and glow, let your... powers shine, make the clock reverse, bring back what once was mine...”

“___,” he breathed. 

You looked at him, sobbing now. “What?”

“You are my new dream,” he breathed, not looking at you.

You shook your head. “And you are mine.”

He died in your arms not even a second later, and you were left all alone in the world.

His body laid limp in your lap, and you stroked his face as you softly sang.

“Heal what has been hurt, change the fate’s design. Save what has been lost... bring back what once was mine.” You dropped your head so your forehead touched his. “What once was... mine.” 

As you started to sob, your tears fell on his cheek. 

And in that single tear that you shed, a light of gold. 

You kept weeping over him, until you noticed a light coming out of the wound that took his life. You looked up and in shock. 

You remembered who you were the daughter of. If your real mother was full of magic, then you were, too. Not just your hair.

The light vanished and you leaned in to look at Stephen. His eyes partly opened, and a wash of breath ran out of his lips. 

“___?”

“Stephen?” you asked. 

He looked at you and smiled. “Did I ever tell you that I had a thing for (h/c)?”

You gasped in delight. “Stephen!” you cried. You threw your arms around him and pulled him close.

He embraced you back happily, You sobbed into his shoulder and he pressed his face into the skin of your neck, smiling happily. You pulled back to kiss him passionately, feeling the warmth of his lips on yours.

You were overjoyed to be with Stephen now. You both left your tower without looking back-

And he, being so supportive and head over heels in love with you, even insisted that you find your real mother.

Your mother was someone called the Ancient One, and she was overjoyed to see you. Your reunion was sweet, and she told you of all that she went through to find you. The lights were meant to call to you home to her, and they worked.

“I knew they would,” she said. “And now you can join me in your destiny of magic.” She looked at Stephen. “You too, Stephen Strange.”

You both joined your mother in Kamar Taj. Together, you both studied and practiced to become sorcerers. 

Stephen often told the story of how you both met again and again to Wong, who was less than enthusiastic about hearing it. But he listened, anyway, because he liked you. 

“No I know what you’re thinking,” Stephen said, “Did ___ and I ever get married? Well, I am pleased to tell you that after years of asking and asking and asking... I finally said yes.”

“Do people typically laugh at your jokes?” Wong asked, annoyed.

He didn’t answer. He was watching you for a response.

“Stephen,” you scolded from across the room, a book in your lap.

“Alright, alright. I asked her.” He crossed the room and you stood up, taking his hand in yours. “And we’re living happily ever after.”

“Yes,” he said. “Yes we are.” 

He leaned down and kissed you passionately.

You smiled and held onto your forever-dream a little tighter.

[an-upset-librarian]

Since you’re drunk can we have nessian while Cassian’s drunk and over affectionate and cute and I know it’s probably OOC but I need in my life. Feel free to let it get smut bc I live

Alright, it’s been a day since I got this since I had to recover from my whiskey induced hangover, but I wrote a little something for you! It doesn’t get smutty per say, I don’t usually write smut, but there’s a little somethin-somethin for ya. Thanks for the request!

             Cassianwas drunk. Very drunk. Plastered. Slammed. Completely and utterly out of hissenses. He always knew whenever he gave in to Mor’s whims and joined her atRita’s, there was too much alcohol involved but it had gotten more out of handthan usual tonight. His stress about the Illyrian conflict and a certainArcheron sister led him to drinking and drinking and drinking until he couldbarely walk.

             “Mor,what have we done,” he slurred, walking down the nighttime streets of Velariswith his arm around his equally drunken companion. Mor just laughed and mumbledsomething unintelligible. Cassian may be drunk out of his mind, but he knew-mostly- how to get back to the town home.

             Hopefully.

             Mor’sdesire to wander the streets topless weren’t helping matters, but they wouldmake it there eventually. He caught up to her, throwing her blouse at her witha bellowing laugh. Giggling, the two of them kept stumbling down the street,arm in arm.

             “I’m wayto drunk,” he said as they stilled, swaying in place instead of walking. Moragreed with him and echoed his sentiment. At this point, he didn’t care aboutgetting back home. He just wanted to count the stars and try not to think aboutthe female he couldn’t stop thinking about as of late.

             He lookedinto the dark starlit sky and tried not to see a mischievous sparkle in steelgray eyes as she teased him. He felt Mor’s warmth against him and couldn’t helpbut compare it to the more comforting presence Nesta had when she was near him.

             “Mor, I’mtotally fucked.” He groaned, lifting a hand to rub his temple.

             “Thehangover will suck, but we’ve dealt with worse,” she replied with anothergiggle. Cassian smiled. “No, I mean I’m fucked.Royally. I just can’t stop thinking about her.”

             “Ah, nowI see.” Mor nudged his shoulder with hers. “You just have to be patient. I seethe way she looks at you,” she said comfortingly. Cassian groaned.

             “But justhow much longer?” He complained. He lifted his hands and gestured hisfrustration to the heavens.

             They laughedand stumbled their way to the town house, crashing through the front door andfalling onto the entryway floor. Laughing, he heard Mor roll away and rise toher feet, then heard her crash up the stairs, bidding him a good night.

             Cassian roseto his knees and drew a hand through his unruly waves with a smile lighting hisface. His smile brightened when he heard an all to familiar tsk.

             Nesta wassitting in one of the large chaise lounges near the crackling fire place in thenext room, looking at him with a frown. He could see a sparkle of amusement inher eyes, as much as she tried to hide it from him. He could always see hertrue feelings.

             “Nes,sweetheart,” he slurred, rising to his feet. He slowly made his way to theparlor, keeping his gaze on her as he walked. He just wanted to curl up withher in his bed and soak in her presence. Nesta stayed seated where she was ashe approached, a simple raised brow her only movement.

             “Well aren’tyou extremely drunk.” She observed, carefully closing the book in her hand witha soft snap. Cassian gave her a crooked grin and leaned over her chair andbumped his head against hers. He heard her gasp and a wicked idea filled hishead. Was it smart? No, he was incredibly drunk and probably wouldn’t rememberanything in the morning, but nothing could stop him now.

             “Whatchareading?” He asked. She began to respond when he hopped over the end of thechair and pushed her forward, grabbing her by the armpits and lifting her up sohe could slide in underneath her and pull her onto his lap.

             Shrieking,she beat at his arms with her hands as he twined them around her waist andpulled her against him. Sighing, he nuzzled into the crook of her neck and felthis entire body relax. Nesta panted for a few moments, still recovering fromthe shock, but didn’t scream or beat at him to let her go. After another minute,she relaxed into his hold and let herself lean back against him. One handcovered his as it curled around her waist and the other opened her book.

             Cassianwas in heaven. Here he was, sitting with Nesta curled on his lap, and she wasn’trunning away. She was reading. Sincehe never figured on getting so far, he had absolutely no idea what to do with himself.

             They sat,content in the other’s presence, for a while. Cassian just breathed in herscent and nosed at the sensitive skin of her neck as she read, smirking whenher grip on his hand tightened. She had been reading that page for quite awhile, he mused. Cassian let his hands roam at her sides, running them up anddown her side and across her stomach and her hips.

             He felther heartbeat quicken as he pressed his lips gently against her neck. Shearched against him and leaned to expose more of her neck at his ministrations. MaybeCassian was dreaming. Maybe he was already passed out in his bed and all ofthis was just a dream, for how else would Nesta let him touch her like this?

             “Gods,Nesta. I’ve wanted to hold you like this for so long,” he kissed her neckagain, pleasure coiling in his gut when he heard a purr rumble from her chest. “Pleasetell me this isn’t a dream.”

             Nesta spunaround, twisting in his lap to straddle him. She dropped her book to the sideand cupped his face in her hands, her thumb gently stroking his cheek. Heleaned into her touch and gripped her hips. She leaned in and placed herforehead against his, their breath twining together. Cassian exhaled a shakingbreath as he stared into her heated gaze. She pressed a kiss to the tip of hisnose, her lips barely brushing against his skin. She turned and kissed each ofhis cheeks and then pressed her lips against the corner of his lips.

             Cassianknew his fingers were digging into her skin and felt his heart flutter inresponse to her affection. Her hands dropped to his neck and one curled in thehair at the nape of his neck sending a shudder of heat rolling through him.

             “This isn’ta dream,” she said just before lowering her lips to his and gently kissing him.Cassian preened and kissed her back with the passion building inside of him.His tongue slid against her lower lip and when she gasped at the contact he bitat her plush lower lip, relishing in the way she ground against him.

             Theykissed passionately, her hands rolling down his shoulders and across his chest.He slid his hands up her torso and cupped her breasts, smiling against her asshe pressed against him and groaned into his mouth. She ground her hips againsthis and he moaned, breaking away from her to kiss his way down her jaw andneck.

             “You’llbe the end of me,” he groaned, rolling his hips into the apex of her thighs. Moaning,Nesta gripped his chin and pulled his lips back to hers. She chastely kissedhim, letting her lips linger against his before pulling away with a sad sigh.Confused, Cassian paused, letting his hands fall back to her hips and staring ather with concern. Did he go to far?

             “You’redrunk,” she stated, sitting back against his thighs and blowing a stray lock ofhair from her face. Cassian pouted. He could tell what she was going to saynext.

             “You’redrunk and I’m not doing this now. I shouldn’t have even-” Nesta hissed. Sheleaned in and kissed him again before climbing off him and grabbing her bookfrom the floor. Her cheeks were flushed, and her lips swollen, and he swore hecould see an imprint of a bite on the skin of her neck. Her eyes were dark withlust, but she still stood walked away.

             “I’msorry, Cassian. Get some rest,” she said, pausing at the stairway to stare athim with a longing he felt echo in his heart. She climbed the stairs andCassian was left alone with only drunken confusion and regret.

[sippingchai]

You Should Have Known (Smut)

Request: “smut. smut. smut. love em. (😂) maybe something with needy!Shawn, coming back from tour (like a really long time) and you meet him at his parents house, and the boy just wants to fuck you there, but you say that you can’t bc hey “we’re at your parents house Shawn!” but the lil pervert is so damn needy and he ended up fucking u in his teenage bedroom (a lot of doggy style pls, thanks!)❤” 

“and with the needy!Shawn request : thigh riding please!!! thank you so much!”

Oookay I had to put my own spin on this, mostly because these types of fics have been done before, but I hope you still like it. 

So uh, enjoy the ride.

The anticipation kills you as you make the final turns on the way to Shawn’s parent’s house. Aaliyah wanted to see him when he got back to Toronto and to be honest you weren’t going to argue with her. You figured once you guys were finished with dinner, you and Shawn would head home and catch up. Lots and lots of catch up. 

You think you’d be used to this by now, the extended periods of time away from each other, but you’re not. And while phone calls and FaceTime make things manageable, there was always that one element that was missing. Him. 

The giddiness inside you sparks up as you pull into the driveway. Finally. You take one final look at yourself in the rearview mirror before making your way out of the Jeep. You’re not even halfway up the yard when the front door swings open and you’re greeted by the sight of your boyfriend rushing towards you. Without missing a beat his lips find their way to yours as he wraps his arms around your waist and pulls you into him. The familiar feeling of home washes over you as you stand there wrapped in each other. Eventually, you break the kiss and pull away to a dopey smile on his face and he takes in the sight of you.

“God, I missed you,” he breathes out.

“The feeling’s mutual,” you laugh as you lean in again to capture his lips in another kiss before you’re interrupted. 

“Are you guys done yet?” Aaliyah yells out from the door, clearly unamused. 

You pull away embarrassed that the two of you are caught, but Shawn’s more annoyed than anything else. “No, we’re not. Thank you.” He quips back as he lowers his hands to your ass and gives it a squeeze. 

“You guys are gross!” Aaliyah stomps off and Shawn throws his head back in laughter.

You stare at him in shock as you swat his hands away. “Seriously, Shawn! Pretty sure you just scarred her for life.” 

He quirks his brow and gives you a smirk. “She’ll live. Me, not so much.” And before you know it his hands are wandering again. Seriously. 

“Babe, we have plenty of time for that when we get home.” You reassure him as you still his hands. 

He sighs as he rests his forehead against yours and his hands find their way back to your waist. “I know, it’s just…I can’t help it. I missed you so much, y/n.” 

You can hear the need in his voice and it makes your knees go weak. You lean your head up to give him a peck on the lips and tuck your head into his chest as you hug him. “Look, I promise you I’m all yours later, okay? We just have to make it through dinner.” 

You should have known. You have known he wasn’t going to be able to keep his damn hands to himself. Whether it was rubbing circles on your thigh or slipping his hand under your shirt at the small of your back, he was doing everything he can to make you crack. But you weren’t going to crack. 

Aaliyah was in the middle of talking about the hockey game she had just played when you felt his hand creep up your thigh again. Karen and Manny were deeply engaged in the conversation when you turn your head around to look at Shawn. He was biting his lip as his gaze lingered on you, a slight flush starting to form across his cheeks. You silently laugh to yourself about this predicament because of course this would happen in the middle of dinner with his parents and sister at the other end of the table.

You take the hand creeping up your thigh into yours and run your thumb across his knuckles. There’s a curious look in his eyes as he brings his glass of water to his mouth to sip. With a sweet little smile on your face you lean closer to him and whisper quietly enough just for him to hear.

“If you can behave the rest of the night I’ll give you what you want.” He’s in the middle of taking a sip when he starts choking and almost drops the glass. You bite your cheek to stop the smile that wants to form. No one else notices. 

“Honey, are you okay?” Karen asks. She’s concerned and you almost feel bad. Almost. 

“Yeah.” Shawn croaks out. “It just went down the wrong way.” 

And just like that, he backs off for the rest of dinner. You, however, let your hand rest on his thigh, gently caressing it the way he caressed yours. You can feel the muscles clench as he shifts in his seat, sucking a breath in every now and then. 

“You don’t look so good, bud.” Manny says from across the table. You remove your hand from Shawn’s thigh and place your elbows on the table, letting your chin rest on top of your clasped hands.

“I’m actually really tired right now. It’s been a long day.” He speaks up. Liar.

“Why don’t you guys just stay the night? We can do breakfast in the morning before you drive home.” Manny offers. 

“That’s a really good idea.” You speak up, looking at Shawn. “Actually, I’ll help clean up if you wanna just call it a night, babe.” 

He swallows and licks his lips as he mumbles something incoherent. Then, he’s out of his seat and up the stairs so fast that you can’t help but let out a small chuckle. 

You take your time cleaning up after dinner catching up with his parents and sister. When you finally finish up, you wish them all good night and make your way up to his room. You quietly rap on the door but there’s no response, so you make your way in. The sight in front of you makes your breath hitch as you watch Shawn shirtless on his bed, hand down his pants as he touches himself through his boxer briefs. His eyes are shut and his lips are parted as small whimpers escape his mouth. You make sure to lock the door before making your way to the edge of the bed. 

“Mmm you’re starting without me?” You tease as you climb your way from the foot of the bed. His eyes fly open and he removes his hand from his pants and pulls you up to him to crash his lips into yours. 

He sucks harshly on your bottom lip before flipping you onto your back. His lips make their way to your neck and he drags them up to your ear. “I’ve been good. Can I have my reward now?” He’s so desperate and needy for you at this point but you don’t give in. Not yet.

There’s a giggle that comes out of your mouth as you push him off you, his face in your hands. “You don’t think I’m gonna make it that easy, do you?” You don’t give him time to respond as you bring your lips back to his and push him back down on the bed. 

You let your hands wander down his body, letting your finger tips trail down his stomach as you see and feel the muscle tense up and release under them. Your hands get to his jeans and you tug on them.

“Off.”

He lifts his hips up so you can pull the denim off his legs and toss it somewhere behind you. 

You turn back around and bite your lip seeing Shawn in the state that he’s in: back against the headboard, head leaned back, face full of want. You take a minute to admire him. It’s been two months since you’ve seen him and well, he’s filled out more. You realize you’re still fully dressed so you rid yourself of your top and shimmy out of the skirt you’re wearing. You crawl your way up his body to meet his lips again, your tongue making its way into his mouth causing him to moan. He sits up as you kiss him, making you straddle his thigh in the process as his hands grip your hips. 

You start to grind circles on to his thigh, gasping at the delicious sensation of your clit rubbing against him. Your panties are the only thing separating you from him and you soon grow frustrated they’re in the way. You pause briefly to remove them before lowering yourself back down to his thigh.

“God, you’re so wet” he manages to say, still gripping your hips as he stares in awe. You nod in agreement as you slide yourself over his thick thigh, eyes fluttering shut. The only sound in the room is both of your labored breaths and the wet sound of skin on skin as you continue to ride him. He brings his head down to your nipple and takes it into his mouth, causing you to throw your head back in pleasure as his mouth works over your nipple. You thread a hand up through his hair, pulling him closer to you. You can feel yourself getting closer and closer with each stroke of your hips. His hands soon run up and and down your back and you can hear him whispering words of encouragement to you.

“That’s it. That’s it. Get what you need, baby.” His hand soon makes its way down your stomach until his fingers press circles against your clit and you loose it right there. Your lips crash into his as you reach your peak and you do everything you can to not scream.

You collapse next to him as you regain your breath. His eyes are glued to you as his hands run up and down your back. You let your hand slide up his thigh to rub his hardness through his boxer briefs, a gasp escaping his lips as his head falls back.

“You’ve been so good,” you whisper as you lay on your stomach, slightly spreading your knees so there’s space for him. His eyes are closed as you continue stroking him. “What are you waiting for?”

His eyes shoot open again and he bites back a moan seeing you. You lift your hips off the bed, letting your ass raise in the air a bit hoping he would get the hint. He does.

His underwear is gone and he’s stroking himself as he lines up with your entrance. With one hand on your hip, the other guides his cock and rubs it up and down your slit. You know this is him getting back at you as he continues to only slide the head up and down your folds. You look over your shoulder to him as he continues to tease you. “I thought you couldn’t wait for this?” You question him.

He swallows as he looks at you. “I don’t think I’m gonna last long. You got me so fucking worked up.” He confesses.

“All the more reason to fuck me then.” You rasp out.

And with that he slips his cock inside you as both hands grip your hips. Moans slipping from each of you as he fills you up. “Fuck.” He gasps out, trying his hardest to gain his composure. He leans down, bringing his chest over your back as his mouth finds your shoulder and he slowly starts thrusting his hips. Your eyes close shut as he fucks you and your body feels like it’s on fire. It’s been so long since the two you have been intimate and that craving you’ve had is finally being satisfied.

His lips are all over your neck as he pounds into you. Small whimpers spill from your lips as you rock back against him meeting his thrusts.

“Fuck I missed you, y/n.” He whispers in your ear, voice uneven, almost broken. You turn your head and reach behind you to pull his face into a messy and desperate kiss. You missed him, too. 

He shifts his hips as he continues thrusting into you, the new angle hitting you in that spot that makes you unravel slowly. Shawn’s name is a prayer coming out of your lips and the answer was coming soon. 

“Please, please.” There’s desperation in you voice as you push back harder to meet his movement. You know he’s close to by how tight he’s gripping you and he slips his hand down your stomach to find your clit. His fingers work back and forth across it as he slams into you, biting back a strangled groan onto the back of your neck as he spasms and bucks his hips into you. It takes everything in you not to scream as you bury your face into the pillow, letting out a string of muffled curses as you convulse around Shawn. 

Slowly, he pulls out of you and gently eases you around. There’s a smile on his lips as he reaches a hand up to move the sweaty strands of hair covering your face and you lean into his touch. 

“I’m glad you’re home,” you mumble into his hand. He lays down next to you on the bed and pulls you almost on top of him, wrapping his arms around you. Your head is on his chest and you can hear how fast his heart beats. And it sounds like home. 

[amylillian22]

An Unexpected Surprise - Cody Christian Imagine

Request by Anon: Hey! May you do an imagine where Cody and (y/n) rarely fight but when they do it's a hell of a mess and the current situation is that he and the (y/n) are having a fight, a really big one bc he accused her of cheating on him, bc maybe she's coming home late and she's always on the phone, but what really is happeningis that the reader is organizing a surprise birthday party to him, so when he finds out he's really regretful for thinking she ever could do that to him and a happy and fluff ending? 

Warnings: Arguments, being accused of cheating, some curse words

Word Count: 4,056

Author’s Note: I couldn’t help myself with this prompt. I hope you like it. 

My Teen Wolf Master List

Cody's POV

The first sign

It's funny how time flies by when you're not looking at the clock, but when you do watch the clock, time seems to move slower. I drummed my fingers against the kitchen table as I slowly watched the second hand take its sweet time to move around the clock. Y/N was 29 minutes late. She's never late and I was beginning to get worried something might have happened. If she was working late, she would have called or texted me to let me know. But tonight, she didn't and I couldn't help but think of the worst.

Just give her one more minute, I thought to myself as I pulled out my phone. Instead of looking at the clock on the wall, I looked at the time on the phone. Why must the last minute take the longest?

The second the clock read 8pm, my thumbs quickly moved to dial her number. Before I could press the call button, the front door opened. Y/N walked in, quickly put her bags by the door, and rushed over to the kitchen while taking off her heels. "I'm so sorry I'm late." She leaned in and pressed a soft kiss on my cheek before I could get up from the chair. 

"Babe, I was getting worried. Why didn't you call?" I asked.

"Baby, I'm sorry," she apologized as she leaned over from behind and wrapped her arms around my neck. "Something came up last minute at work and I just got so caught up with it. I completely lost track of time."

I turned around and looked at her. Her eyes were so bright and her lips formed my favorite smile in the whole world. I could never be mad at her. I smiled back at her as she leaned in and kissed me. I kissed her back as I cupped her cheek. She smiled into the kiss before pulling back. "It smells amazing in here."

"That's because I made your favorite. Let me heat it up and we'll eat," I stood up and walked over to the stove.

"Seriously, you're the best. I don't know what I've done to deserve you." 

Before I could respond, her phone rang. She looked at the screen and quickly pulled it to her chest, trying to shield it from me. "Baby, I gotta take this phone call. It's work. I'm gonna change and I'll be right back."

She quickly rushed out of the kitchen with her heels in her hand. That was unusual for her to do. Anytime someone called from work when she was home, she'd let it go to voicemail and deal with it later as she is off the clock. I shook it off thinking maybe it had to do with whatever she was swamped with that caused her to be late for dinner.

 The second sign

I rinsed off the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. Y/N hadn't come down for breakfast and I was beginning to wonder what was talking her so long. She was going to be late for work if she didn't get out of the bedroom within the next five minutes. Before going up to check on her, I quickly grabbed a bottle of orange juice and a protein bar from the pantry.

I walked up the stairs and noticed the door was slightly open. I heard her feet pacing back and forth on the wooden floor. As I got closer to the door, I heard her speaking low. "No, Cody can't find out about this."

My eyebrows furrowed together. We never hid anything from one another. We'd been together for 2 years and we always told each other the truth, no matter what. I was hurt by her words, but a bigger part of me was more curious as to what she had to say. I leaned in closer to the door to hear the rest of the conversation. 

"That sounds perfect. We can discuss that at lunch." She paused for a second before speaking quietly again. "Yes. Same place as usual. Your office... Okay I have to go before Cody suspects or finds out about this. Bye."

I quickly backed away from the door and ran down the stairs quietly. A couple of minutes later, she walked into the kitchen.

"I got you an orange juice and a bar for you to have on the way to work. I don't want you to be anymore late than you already are," I smiled at her.

"Seriously, you're the best," she leaned in and kissed my cheek, which was unusual. She'd always kiss me on the lips in the morning before leaving for work.

"Babe, do you want to go to lunch today?" I asked, semi-hating myself for testing her if she would lie to me.

"Don't you work today?" She asked.

"Oh shoot," I pretended I forgot. "That's right. I'm filming all afternoon today." 

"That's fine," she grabbed her keys and purse. "I have a meeting today so I have to take an early lunch."

Lying straight to my face. 

"Maybe another day," she smiled and leaned in to quickly peck my lips. "I gotta go. I'm late. Love ya! Bye!" She quickly said as she rushed out of the house.

I watched her back out of our driveway and I hated this new feeling I’ve never felt before, a mixture of hurt and betrayal. She had never lied to me nor hid things from me. The worst part was a part of me felt like following her during lunch just to see what she was really doing. I felt so sick and ashamed of myself for even thinking that, but how else does one react and respond to what she just did? How does one approach this situation without making accusations?

 The third sign

I quietly opened the back door and locked it behind me, hoping I wouldn't wake up Y/N. I had to film on location tonight and I was expected to finish working around 4am. However, due to the lighting, production sent us home early and told us we'd finish filming tomorrow night.

I made sure to be as quiet as possible as I made my way to the bedroom. I made sure I didn't bump into anything or knock something down with the lights off. I walked lightly on my feet and slowly opened the bedroom door; only to find out she's not in bed.

I flip the light switch on and noticed the room was how it was before I left work. She hadn't come home. She mentioned she was going to go for drinks with her friends after work, but her work clothes weren't thrown in the hamper and her heels weren't thrown in the floor of her walk-in closet with the rest of them. She never made it home.

"No, everything is fine," I heard Y/N's voice as the front door opened and closed. "Cody won't be home until after 4. He'll never know I just got home. Trust me, he'll never suspect a thing."

I sighed as I sat on the bed while I overheard her tell whoever she was talking with ‘goodbye’.

I watched the door and waited until she walked in. When she did, she froze in place with her hand still on the doorknob, her smile faltered, and her eyes widened a bit in complete surprise.

"Baby, what are you doing home?" She asked, surprise evident in her voice.

"I didn't think you'd get home this late," I pointed at the clock on our nightstand, knowing all the bars and clubs close at 2am. "It's 3am."

She let out a tired sigh as she walked towards her closet to get out of her clothes. "I know. I had to work late."

"I thought you went out with the girls tonight?" I asked. 

I heard her mumble something as she walked into her walk in closet to undress. I couldn't catch exactly what she said, but she knew I had caught her.

"No. I had to work late instead." She lied. 

I sighed as I pinched the bridge of my nose. She walked out of the closet and towards me. She climbed into bed, sat behind me and started rubbing my shoulders, no doubt feeling how stressed and tense I've been lately. "Rough day at work tonight?" I slowly pushed her hands away from me and got up. I turned around and faced her. Her eyes locked with mine and I immediately noticed the hint of worry in her brown eyes. "Baby, what's wrong?"

"Are you cheating on me?" I bluntly asked.

"What? No!" She quickly stood up on her knees.

"Don't lie to me. Are you having an affair?" I said sharply.

"No," she said sternly as her eyes narrowed at me. "How could you even think that?" 

"Oh geez... I don't know," I said sarcastically. "Maybe because you keep coming home late, having these hushed phone calls, and lying to me about where you've been. That pretty much tells me you're sleeping with someone else."

"I can't believe you," she crossed her arms. "Have you been spying on me?" 

My jaw dropped. "Don't you dare turn this around and make me the bad guy in this situation." I curled my hand into a tight fist as the blood began to boil in my veins. "I did not spy on you, but believe me, after hearing you whispering around the house and making plans to meet God knows who, I've thought about spying on you." Y/N opened her mouth to say something but I continued before I could lose my train of thought. "But I didn't! The thought of having to spy on my girlfriend made me sick to my stomach because that would mean you gave me a reason not to trust you! But I told myself I was stupid for even thinking of doing such a thing because I know I have an amazing girl that I love and I'm so damn lucky she loves me back. There's no way she'd do this to me."

Tears had formed in her eyes, and I didn't even know tears had fallen down my cheeks until I stopped talking and tasted the salt on my lips. I sniffled as she slowly got out of bed. She sat back down when I shook my head at her and took a step back away from her. 

"Cody... I never met to make you feel that way-"

"I'm sorry, but I can't. I can't do this right now," I turned around and walked away, something I had never done in our relationship. I left my phone behind, grabbed my keys, and drove away before Y/N even had the chance to stop me.

 The next day 

"Bro," Dylan Sprayberry kicked the sofa cushion near my head, waking me up. "I don't mind you crashing, but it's almost 7pm. Don't you think some fresh air will do you some good?"

"No," I groaned as I grabbed the pillow and covered my face. I turned around and gave Dylan my back.

"Dude, I think you're being a little over dramatic," he said.

I quickly turned back threw the pillow at his face. "Dyl, you're telling me you wouldn't be over dramatic if you found out the love of your life of two years was cheating on you for God knows how long?"

He rolled his eyes at me. "Okay, You're my bro and I got your back, but this is Y/N were talking about. She's not cheating on you. She loves you!"

"You are no help. I know she's having an affair." 

Dylan threw the pillow back at me. "Get dressed. We're going out."

"I don't want-"

"No excuses! And wear something nice! We're going to a bar," he called out before going to his bedroom to change.

I sat up and noticed my phone on the coffee table. I didn't know how it got there. I didn't know if she stopped by or if Dylan picked it up, but it was there. I reached for it and turned it on. After a few seconds, my phone vibrated nonstop. I had text messages and voicemails from Y/N. The intense and sickening feeling I had in the pit of my stomach returned. The thought of her being with another man in ways I only thought she did with me made me sick. I honestly didn't know how to get rid of it and I knew it was something I couldn't get rid of so easily. I needed some space. I needed some time to figure things out.

I sighed as I opened a new text message to Y/N. 

Can't do this right now. If you don't leave the house, that's fine. I'll stay with Sprayberry until things get better... if things can be fixed.

I hesitated before pressing the send button. I took a deep breath and turned off my phone. I tossed it back on the coffee table and decided to go out with Dylan. Maybe having a few drinks tonight would be the best way to start numbing the pain.

I let out a deep sigh as Dylan parked in front of a building I didn't recognize. I turned around to face him. "I thought we were going to a bar?" I asked confused.

"I know but-"

"You know what? I don't even care," I shrugged as I leaned my head back on the headrest and closed my eyes. "I told Y/N that I wasn't coming home if she didn't leave the house."

"You did what?!" He yelled as he punched my arm. 

My hand instantly rubbed the pain Dylan caused as I narrowed my eyes at him. "Dude, what the hell is your problem?"

"You! You're my problem, asshole! How could you do that to Y/N when you have no idea what's she been doing for you or feeling lately!" He snapped back.

"Why are you defending her?! Aren't you supposed to be my bro and have my back?!" I raised my voice to match his.

"Right now I have her back because you're an asshole for actually thinking she would cheat on you! She's been calling and texting me all day to make sure you're okay, to see how you are, and if you needed anything even though you left her last night."

"She has?"

"Yes! She even brought your phone to my place. Not so she can call you nonstop, which she did, but incase you needed it for work or something."

As Dylan spoke, the horrible feeling of being betrayed I had before left as a new feeling settled in, guilt.

"I know you have been so on edge the past few days, and given everything that happened within the past 24 hours, I'm sure you've had nothing else on your mind but her and your stupid assumptions of her cheating on you, but do you even remember what today is?"

"What?" I asked him, confused. I began to think of all the anniversaries I have with Y/N but nothing rang a bell. It wasn’t the anniversary of our first date, first kiss, or when I asked her to be my girlfriend. 

"Your birthday," Dylan finally answered when I couldn't come up with anything.

My eyes widened as I completely forgot today is my birthday. I quickly looked at the building in front of me. It was completely dark, not a single light shining from inside of the building. Suddenly, everything that happened this week started making sense. The coming home late, the hushed phone calls, and the secret meetings, she was planning a surprise birthday party for me.

"No, no, no," I repeated as I closed my eyes and rubbed my hand over my tired face. "Fuck!"

"Darn right 'fuck'. You fucked up bad," Dylan said, not helping at all.

"I hope she's in there," I opened the door and got out as I turned on my phone, only to notice I hadn't received anything from Y/N. "When was the last time you heard from her?" I asked Dylan as he walked in front of his car.

"I don't know... about over an hour ago?"

"That's about the same time I texted her. Fuck!" I yelled before slamming my hands on the hood of his car. 

"Dude! You need to calm down! There’s a bunch of people inside waiting for you. Let's just go in real quick, and get the 'Surprise!' over with so you can fix things with Y/N," he said, trying to calm me down.

"That's if she's there. Dyl, I have to leave and find her if she's not there."

"That's fine, you can take my car, just don't hurt it, okay?" He handed me the keys before leading the way to the front door. 

I waked in first as Dylan flipped the light switch on. Everyone yelled 'surprise!' as confetti and balloons dropped from the ceiling. The place looked amazing as tables against the walls were decorated with pictures of my previous birthdays. In the center of the building was a huge dance floor with the DJ on the stage already playing a song. Everyone was there, my family, my friends, and my coworkers, except for one person, the one I knew I had to find before this turned out to be the worst birthday ever.

People started walking towards me, to wish me a happy birthday, but I quickly took a step back with my hands up. "I'm sorry, guys. I do appreciate you coming out here and celebrating my birthday, but right now I have some place to go if it's not too late. So please enjoy yourself!" I waved goodbye and rushed out the door before anyone could stop me or ask me questions.

I flung the bedroom door open and immediately saw Y/N curled up in bed with her arms wrapped around a pillow and her cheeks wet. I sighed, feeling relieved she was still here and not packing her bags. I slowly walked across the room and sat down on the bed next to her. "Why aren't you at the party?"

She quickly sat up and wiped the tears away with the back of her hands. "I could ask you the same thing," she sniffled.

"I didn't want to be at a party where my girl wasn't there to celebrate with me."

"I thought I wasn't your girl anymore," her eyes filled with more tears as she sniffled again. I could see how much pain she was in and it was all because of me, and I hated myself for it.

"I'm sorry," my chin trembled as tears were now forming in my eyes. The guilt, the pain, and hurt were all starting to flood in all at once. "I am the worst boyfriend ever. I should have never accused you of having an affair."

"See... that's what I don't understand, Cody. You know how much I love you. I moved across the country to be with you, and you know I can't imagine my life without and yet..." She said with a shaky breath. She took a second to gather herself without trying to lose her confidence in what she wanted to say. "Yet, you doubted my love for you and you actually made me live my worst fear for a few hours... You kicked me out of the house, already making me imagine life without you."

She finally broke. She didn't bother to stop the tears from falling down her cheeks as she sobbed. The scene in front of me made me feel like a complete asshole, rather a bigger one than before.

I immediately wrapped my arms around her and pulled her closer to me, rocking our bodies together as we cried together. She didn't hesitate to let me hold her; instead she clung on to me like I was her lifeline. I buried my head in her neck as I whispered a bunch of sorry's.

I peppered her neck with countless small wet butterflies kisses before moving my lips across her jaw and her cheek. I rested my head against her forehead, our noses brushing against one another. "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry I'm an asshole. I'm sorry I accused you for cheating on me. I'm sorry I kicked you out. I'm sorry for telling you I needed a break from you. I'm sorry... I'm so sorry," I repeated until she cupped my cheeks, silencing me as she wiped my tears away.

"Cody, look at me."

I opened my eyes and immediately locked mine with hers. "I would never cheat on you-" 

"I know and I don't know why I thought you would. I'm sor-" 

"I don't know where this is coming from. You never had any trust issues with me before," she said sadly. "Do you not trust me anymore?"

I shook my head immediately as I spoke. "That's not it. It's just..." I sighed. "You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me and I know some guy is going to see that and notice all the things I love about you too... I'm afraid someone else is going to steal you away from me."

"Oh, baby," she sniffled as she wrapped her arms around me and held me tight. I had never felt safer than in her arms. There is nowhere else I'd rather be than in her loving embrace. "I could never leave you. You're the only one I want and I hope you still want me too."

I sniffled as I tightened my grip around her. “Of course I do."

"I love you, Cody."

I sighed at her words, which I never got tired of hearing. "I love you, too, Y/N," I said before I finally captured her lips with mine. It was deep, loving, tender, and passionate. When we pulled apart, we just held each other tight, scared to let go of the other.

"Cody?" She finally spoke. I hummed in response. "I'm sorry you had a shitty birthday. I never met for you to spend your birthday like this."

“You don’t get to apologize. You did nothing wrong.” I kissed her forehead before I let out a small chuckle. "It certainly didn't go as planned but that's the bad thing about unexpected surprises... they never go as planned. But you know what?"

"What?" She asked as she traced random shapes on my chest.

"The night is still young and it’s still my birthday. I want to spend it with you at the surprise party you worked so hard on for the past week. What do you say?"

"Oh, I don't know. I'll have to cancel my plans with my other boyfriend first," she teased with a small smirk.

I fake gasped, pretending to feel hurt as I began to tickle her. She let out a scream before I pinned her down on the bed. She laughed so hard as I tickled her more. She wiggled and squirmed underneath me, trying anything to escape from my fingers tickling her sides. "Too soon to joke about, babe."

"CODY!!!" She laughed so hard tears were starting to fall down her cheeks. "Oh my God! I'm going to pee my pants!"

I laughed as I quickly pulled my fingers back. Her chest heaved heavily as she tried to catch her breath. Her cheeks were flushed and her hair was a tangled mess from squirming so hard. She was a mess... a beautiful mess. 

"What?" She asked, suddenly feeling self-conscious as she tamed her hair with her fingers.

I grabbed her hands, stopping her actions. I locked my eyes with hers before slowly leaning down towards her. "You're beautiful and I love you," I said before kissing her.

Her hands cupped cheeks as she kissed me back before pulling me back. She let out a content sigh. "I love you too, baby."

"Let's never fight like this again."

"I promise... especially on our birthdays."

I chuckled as I sat up and pulled her up with me. "Now, please get out of those sweats and wear something super sexy that would make it hard to keep my hands off of you during the party. And something else that drives me even more crazy the second I take off your dress when we get home after the party."

Her lips formed a huge smirk before she leaned in to whisper seductively in my ear. "I was planning on going in my birthday suit underneath the new tight black dress I bought for tonight..."

I groaned at the thought of her not wearing a bra or underwear. I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her back into bed, immediately lying down between her legs. She giggled as she wrapped her legs around my waist, pulling me against her body as her hands slid underneath my shirt, tracing my muscles with her feather light touch, making me unravel by the second.

"On second thought... everyone can party without us for a few more minutes."