#i love the rest of you beyond belief but for once i would like someone to think that maybe. maybe. there are some intracommunity issues

[synechd0che]

i cut my public health teeth on this, he said. this will be within my wheelhouse, he said. i might as well challenge myself a little, in the spirit of fairness, he said.

[yovrnewromantic]

WHAT ONCE WAS

Jacaerys Velaryon x Reader

At dinner with Jacaerys, your newly betrothed, the pair of you recount memories from your childhood. wc: 1.2k fluffy asf 💌

“We used to be friends once. Do you remember that?”

This wasn’t the conversation you were expecting to have nor wanted to have at the current moment. Sat with your newly betrothed and his family at the dinner table, you watched while your mother and father chugged down wine like it was their last night alive. From your seat, you could see your brothers’ dancing with women that were not their wives, lustful looks in each of their eyes.

You supposed your betroval could’ve been worse, a hundred times over. You could’ve been wed to someone like your brothers, promiscuous and irresponsible, or like your betrothed’s uncles, cold and cruel beyond belief.

No, Jacaerys was a proper gentleman which is why you almost felt bad sipping your wine and lying through your teeth. “Not particularly.”

Everything had changed since then, there was no point in admitting that your heart swelled at the memories of when you were young, harboring a crush on a boy you thought would never be yours. It was better to forget. To diminish the hope that he was still the lovely boy he once was.

“No?” Jacaerys repeated as if he didn’t believe you, leaning forward to rest his head in his palm. In the corner of your eye, you could see him looking at you underneath his eye lashes, his lips twitching as he fights a teasing smile. “Nothing at all?”

Sighing softly, you kept your eyes staring ahead, refusing to give him the even slightest affirmation to his question, yet he continued. His head fell off his hand as he spoke, tilting to meet his shoulder as he looked at you with endearment. “Do you remember when we played tag around the castle and you fell and scraped your knees?”

It’s like you can see it from an outsider’s perspective as he describes it, the edges of your mind blurred by nostalgia.

The sound of your laughter echoing the castle walls, the quick thumps of your feet padding the concrete floor, hands bracing against each corner to boost your momentum.

Sparing a glance behind you, you can visualize the bounces of his brown curls, baring his teeth with joy as his hands reach to grab you, but you push forward, the last of your energy— which you shouldn’t have done because it sent you tripping, missing the very last step and landing on your knees.

But you didn’t cry because of your scraped knees, even though you can remember the burn of your skin, the blood dripping down your shins as Jacaerys brought you to your mother. You sobbed into Jacaerys’ shoulder as the maidens rubbed ointments onto your cuts, your hands fumbling to grasp the mud covered edges of your dress so it wouldn’t interfere with their practice.

Your betrothed finishes your thought for you. “You started crying because you ruined your favorite dress. Although, I thought it still looked pretty.”

Jacaerys’ eyebrows jump, as if he was surprised when you turned to him. He must’ve been close to a heart attack when he saw a small smile on your lips. Nodding as you talked, you continued the memory, “It had grass stains from when we played outside. By the lake.”

He doesn’t chastise you for lying earlier, instead he just smirks at the memory. “You pushed me in.”

You suck in a small breath as you turn your body to him fully, your eyes wide— defenses ready on your tongue. He kept trying to get you to sit with him, to kick your legs in the water and reap the benefits of the cold water of the hot day. It was your brothers who waved you in, mischief dripping from the tongues as they pushed you back toward your friend. You braced your hands on his shoulders and just shoved.

Right after the deed had been done, you were overwhelmed with guilt, your brothers’ cackles ringing in your ears as your lips trembled watching Jace gasp for air.

“My brothers coerced me to! I would’ve never done that myself.”

Jacaerys shook his head, knees lightly knocking into yours as moved to match your position. He glared playfully. “You were a little devil.”

He forgave you immediately though. Pulling you into a hug, soaking your clothes, but you hadn’t mind. You were just happy he wasn’t mad at you.

Snorting at his accusation, eyes finding your dancing brothers in the crowd once more. They never did change. Still wild, crazy, and deceitful as the day they popped out your mother’s womb. The poor woman. You hope your children won’t turn out like your brothers. You hope Jacaerys hasn’t changed. In the midst of your reverie, you don’t notice how the man next to observes you. How his eyes memorize the colors in your eyes, the slope of your nose, the dip of your cupids bow. He hopes this all will become a memory one day— the quick shift between your awkwardness to your full encompassing love.

He knows he’ll love you, just as he had when you were children.

It’s Jacaerys’ voice that drawls you back from your thoughts, your eyes turned to his, but he’s focused on picking at the table cloth. “I remember, last time I saw you, I cried because I had to leave.”

Without meaning to, your smile deepens, something stirring in the pit of your stomach. Teasing, you whisper, “You cried?”

Jacaerys rolls his eyes, running a hand through his curls as he finally makes eye contact with you. “I fancied you. Of course, I got teary eyed when I was forced away.”

For a beat, it’s like your heart stopped, overwhelmed by the weight of the words he threw so nonchalantly. Like it didn’t matter. Like it didn’t make your stomach flutter and a heat to your cheeks. You’re in complete disbelief. “You fancied me?”

“Don’t rub it in,” he scoffed.

“No, it’s just…” I fancied you too.

The words are left unspoken, but it doesn’t stop you from spiraling. Throwing your head back in laughter, you sound close to ugly, but you’re happy. You haven’t been happy in a while.

“There’s the smile,” he says it like he missed it. In all fairness, he does. When he flew on his dragon and hadn’t been welcome by the familiar grin in your lips, a bit of his heart shattered in his chest. He was glad he got you smiling at him again because when he was seven years of age, that was all he wanted to do. It’s all he wants to do. For the rest of his life. “I can remember that.”

“Jacaerys—.”

“You used to call me Jace,” he says, growing the courage to connect your hands together, holding both of them just as he planned since he was child. “I liked it when you said it.”

“Would you like it if I called you Jace?”

He smiled sweetly. “Very much so.”

There’s no other way to describe it other than that it feels right; the two of you together again, smiling at each other like idiots while you reminisce, holding each other’s hands like you were already wed. Like this had been planned since the beginning.

Jace’s thumb caresses your ring finger— where his wedding ring would on the morrow.

Maybe, you two can make things the way they once were. Together. Happy. And in love.

i’ll edit and proof read later 💀 if this is shit i apologize

jacaerys velaryon, i will love you forever 💌

[suugarbabe]

drunken daydreams | s.b. x reader

word count: 2.5k

warnings: mentions of drinking, pining, fluff

a/n: little fun fact i found out, beer pong was invented in the 1950's?? also this is for week three of jinxed july for my wives <3

Hopeless. That is what it felt like to crush on Sirius Black. Hopeless because Sirius was, well…everything. He was charming beyond belief, even professors falling for his half turned smile and cheeky winks. He was absolutely gorgeous, unfairly so really, onyx hair that fell in messy tendrils no matter how many times he ran his ring glad fingers through it. His eyes were always playfully full of mischief, but if you truly paid attention to him (and you did) you could tell that they shifted just the slightest bit in shade depending on his mood. His mouth seemed to permanently be painted with a smirk unless someone was telling him ‘no’, then his powder pink lips would puff in a pout and who in their right mind could deny that look? (certainly not you). 

When Lily asked you to spend a week at James’s family cabin with her over summer holiday you had originally said no. James’s cabin meant Sirius’s cabin since the latter now lived with the former; that and they were attached at the hip with no hope of prying them apart. Lily had pouted, begging you to say yes, but going only seemed like torture. Torture because it’d be a week essentially alone with Sirius as Lily and James would likely frequently find couple things to do, Marlene and Dorcus would be hiking everyday and Remus would seclude himself with ‘peace and quite for once’. Alone time with Sirius made you nervous because you were nearly, practically, almost one hundred percent sure that your feelings toward Sirius were not reciprocated. 

But that did not stop Lily from employing the raven haired boy to get you to change your mind. Which is how you found yourself conveniently alone with Sirius in the train compartment on the ride back from Hogwarts. “Pretty please, you can’t not go, everyone’s going,” in classic fashion with his little pout and his eyes widened. You tried to avert your gaze from his, knowing if you looked too long you’d give in. But this tactic failed miserably as Sirius simply moved back into your view, “I’m literally begging here, love,” and oh how he looked so pretty begging. “Please say yes, I cannot hear James or Lils complain the whole week. I need you there.”

He needed you there. That’s what he had said. And that one phrase spun a slew of delusional scenarios in your mind that led you to agree to join the rest of the group for the week. 

It wasn’t as bad as you originally anticipated in the beginning. The lot of you gathered at the Potter’s manner, utilizing the floo system for their hike to the cabin, that experience going surprisingly swimmingly for it being your first time. The first night at the cabin you guys decided on a bonfire. “It’s like christening the place,” James had said, with much encouragement from Sirius and much to the eye roll of Remus. “We’ll go get drinks started!” Lily grabbed your arm, pulling you up from your chair and back towards the door of the cabin, “any requests or all we good with surprises?” 

James Dorcus and Remus laid out drink orders while Marlene said you could surprise her. You turned to Sirius as he spoke next, “You know my drink, don’t you love?” You bit the inside of your cheek, hoping the heat you felt wasn’t making itself prominent as a blush on your cheeks, “Firewhiskey with cola, right?” Sirius winked, nodding in confirmation and the swarm of butterflies in your stomach started humming. 

Back in the kitchen Lily was practically vibrating with excitement. You let out a long sigh, “Something got you worked up Lils? Wanna share with the class?” Lily wore a small grin as she filled all the glasses with ice, “I’m just thinking about what I saw and if you saw it too.” You halted in filling Sirius's glass, resting both hands on the counter in front of you, “What do you think you saw? Because James’s googly eyes over you is basically a daily occurrence, I didn’t think it’d have you this excited still.” Lily rolled her eyes at your statement, “I’m very clearly talking about Sirius and you.” 

You made a scrunched face at this, “There’s nothing between me and Sirius. Well, like we’re friends, obviously, but you know there’s nothing more.” Lily shrugged, a slight curl to her lips as she continued making drinks. “Lils, please. He doesn’t like me like that. It would never happen and honestly…” you grabbed a few glasses in your hands, “I’m coming to terms with that.” You were not coming to terms with it. But it would be far easier than having all your friends thinking you’re hopelessly pining after him. What doesn’t help is Lily’s next response, “I dunno, babes. I could see the two of you together.” She slid the back door open with her elbow before walking back onto the deck, calling out that drinks were ready.

That one comment had you reeling, overanalyzing every interaction and conversation you had ever had with Sirius. You barely even registered that he spoke to you when you handed him his drink before taking your seat in the lawn chair next to his. You glanced his way when you felt his stare after a moment, “Sorry, Siri, did you say something?” Sirius smiled sweetly at you, a hint of something you couldn’t read in his eyes, “Just a thanks for the drink, love.” The commonplace pet name had your cheeks aflame but you prayed to Merlin the light of the bonfire hid the evidence. 

As the night went on and the drinks flowed, everyone was eventually corralled inside for what James called a “mandatory game of beer pong” after Lily agreed to play (and be his partner) with the promise that everyone would play ‘the muggle way’, no use of magic for assistance. Everyone agreed and placed their wands on the counter and paired up, you finding yourself partnered with Sirius. Remus stated he would be the officiant to “help keep Sirius and James in line and following the rules” much to their promises to play cleanly. “Ready, partner?” Sirius called you up to the table, dropping the ping pong ball in one of the cups closest to him. You nodded, a tight lip smile on your lips to try and help hide the nerves that were brewing inside. 

You looked across the table at Lily and James, the red head trying to conceal her smirk as she looked from you to Sirius and back. You rolled your eyes with a slight smile before Sirius started smack talking James. “Oh you’re in for it now, Potter. You and your little Lilly flower are cute and all, but you’re no match for me and y/n/n here, isn’t that right, love?” Sirius held his hand out palm up, clearly waiting for you to slap it. You gave him a high five and a small nervous laugh, “Y-yeah, right.” 

To your surprise Sirius was actually correct; James and Lily were horrible at beer pong, but you and Sirius looked like seasoned champions. The game against them went rather quickly, James sulking against Lilly on the couch as Marlene and Dorcus re-racked the red cups. This game proved to be a little more difficult, the girls being able to really go toe to toe with you and Sirius, you were down to two cups left to sink, while Marlene and Dorcus only had three cups. Marlene stood tall at the end of the table, ping pong ball in hand. She closed one eye, Dorcus semi-slurring encouragements to her before Marlene gave the ball a light toss. 

You watched as the ball arched in the air coming down towards one of the last three cups. The ball began the swirl around the rim of the cup and your next actions were more on instinct than real knowledge or skill of the game. You bent down near the cup, giving a quick blow of air near the ball before watching the physics of the combination making the ball jump from the cup and land back onto the table. Sirius let out a gleeful noise of shock, whereas Marlene and Dorcas began protesting, “Hey! We said no magic! Remus, that’s a foul we get that cup right?!” Sirius, however, was quick to go to your defense, “Nuh-uh, there was no magic involved, that’s just how good y/n/n’s blowing abilities are!” 

Your eyes widened in shock at his words, Dorcas rattling off a teasing remark before Sirius could correct himself, “Oh? And how would you know about her blowing abilities, Black?” The drinks were getting to you slightly, a small giggle bubbling from your throat as Sirius tried his best to defend himself, “I, well…erm, that’s not what I meant…I-I mean,” he turned to face you, his eyes half lidded as they made contact with yours, “Don’t you look at me like that, love.” A lazy smile adorned your face, “I’m not looking at you any kind of way, Siri.” 

Sirius shook his head in disagreement, “You’re giving me those eyes.” You batted your eyelashes a few times, “I’m not giving you any special eyes. Besides, if you’re wanting to know about my abilities, you can just tell me.” Sirius’s eyes widened before he let out a huff of air through his nose, “No, I don’t, I want to- I mean, you did the, the thing- and then Dorcus said what she said and so I just - I, erm, n-no I’m good.” While you laughed a little at his stumbling, you couldn’t deny the pit growing in your stomach the longer he tried to find nice ways to essentially reject your playful advance. 

Luckily you didn’t have to hide your dejection for long as you and Sirius lost to the girls and now your solemn look could be explained by the loss of the game instead of the loss of any chance you had with Sirius. You gave him a half-hearted smile before going to find a seat on one of the couches as James and Lily went to play against the winners. You only half paid attention the game, every interaction with Sirius from the night playing back over and over in your mind. Why did he have to be so bloody hard to read? 

To even get you on this trip in the first place he said he needed you there. But you don’t speak two each other in any capacity until everyone arrived at James’s manor. Even there it was only long glances, which could have been strictly initiated by you. Although you could have sworn he was already looking your way one or two times when you made eye contact. Here at the cabin you knew his drink, because of course you did. Was he teasing you earlier when he asked?

But he also winked at you. And he’s been calling you love, and made that comment about your ‘blowing skills’. But he does make dirty jokes a lot. You really would be a perfect couple though, all of your friends told you so whenever you talked about him, sometimes even when you didn’t talk about him. People wouldn’t say that to you just to be mean to you, I mean, these were your best friends. But he also essentially rejected your flirtatious advances. Why was this so hard to- 

A ring clad hand was waving in front of your face causing you to blink several times before refocusing on the object of your delusional thoughts. Sirius had his ever present charming grin, a special glint in his hooded eyes, “Caught you daydreaming about me again, didn’t I, love?” Maybe it was the liquid courage, but the words came tumbling out of your mouth before you could stop them, “Don’t be mean, Sirius.” 

Sirius quirked an eyebrow, “What do you-” Rather ungracefully, you cut him off, “Just because you know I have a crush on you doesn’t mean you can tease me like everyone else does. It’s honestly humiliating enough.” Sirius’s once smirking features changed to that of confusion, “It’s humiliating to have a crush on me?” You groaned in frustration, covering your face with your hands before looking down at your feet, “Yes, Sirius, it’s humiliating to have a raging crush on someone that clearly has no interest or feelings toward me beyond platonic friendship.” 

The cool metal of his rings felt like ice against your flamed skin as he forced you to look at him, “Who said my feelings were strictly platonic?” You opened your mouth to respond before quickly closing it again. You sat up straighter then, Sirius’s hand dropping from your chin, “Well, you did, you said that. Back during the game, when Dorcus was teasing us and I asked if that’s what you wanted. You basically stumbled over a way to tell me you were uninterested in my advances.” 

His melodic laugh filled your ears. You were ready to smack him for being so rude before he started giving you a viable response. “Sweetheart…I wasn’t trying to reject you,” you looked up to meet his eyes once more as he continued, “I responded that way because you had me flustered, you…kind of always make me feel that way.” He scratched the back of his head nervously, “I didn’t really know how to respond properly when Dorcus made that remark. And, erm, I didn’t want to make you feel uncomfortable by admitting I probably, erm, wouldn’t mind finding out how good your,” he gulped slightly, “abilities are.” 

Your gaze fell to his lips before meeting his eyes once more; Sirius bit his lip, trying to hold back what you were sure was a shit-eating smirk. His hand cupped your cheek gently, “Can I?” You gave a small nod as you leaned in, Sirius closing the remaining distance before capturing your lips with his. This was not a fiery, passionate, kiss. But soft, gentle and sweet. His lips slotted against yours as though they were always meant to be there. 

His fingers entangled slightly in your hair, pulling you closer to him. You braced yourself with a hand on his thigh. A small whimper drifted from Sirius’s throat at the extra physical contact, wanting to fuel you further. What felt like two small, solid objects pelted both you and Sirius, causing you both to pull away from each other in confusion. “Don’t partners usually only make out when they win a game, not when they lose?” Marlene teased lightly. You looked over at Lilly who gave you a wink. One thing was for sure, you were not going to doubt her again.

[lexirosewrites]

Not thought out but I've been thinking a lot about registered comfort Omegas this week.

In my imagining it would be fairly easy to register, you just have to pay the fee and take the month long training course and then bam, you're registered. It's fairly common, packs usually have one or two registered comfort Omegas, they classes are mostly about learning to regulate your scent without patched, best ways to use vocalizations, and grounding exercises for people experiencing a drop.

Steve registered not long after he presented. Between health class and the more advanced CPR/first aid classes he took as a lifeguard and swim captain he learns quite a bit about it and figures since he's the only presented Omega in the Unsidedown Pack and someone should be registered in case things go haywire again. The fact that none of them have had a drop yet by the end of season 2 is a miracle.

Being a comfort Omega is what really solidifies his bond with Robin. After everything with the Russians and the bathroom and the mindflayer they're already ride or die or each other but when the ambulance goes to drop Robin off at her house everything starts to hit her all at once and she starts to drop. They don't alert the EMTs, Steve just hops out and helps her inside explaining that he's registered to her and her frantic parents. Steve himself is beat to shit but he's instantly in Omega Mode making Robin a nest in her bed and helping her regulate. It comes with the added bonus of giving Steve a place that isn't his empty house to process everything that happened. It only takes a day and a half to get Robin back up from the drop but after that for all intents and purposes she's become his pack Alpha regardless of the lack of romance between them.

When the fourth go around with the Upsidedown happens and Eddie is mangled beyond belief but alive Steve volunteers to be his comfort Omega. The Alpha is is a serious drop, waking up panicked and unaware of his surroundings and in deep pain. He won't make it without a comfort Omega and no other Omega in Hawkins will touch him with a ten foot pool when they first bring him in so Steve might not know him all that well but like Steve will take care of him.

But opps, looks like this is actually going to be a long term situation because Eddie is going to need months of bed rest and his Alpha is all out of sorts and the pain will be intense for months before he can even attempt physical therapy at which point it will still be painful. The doctors estimate he'll need Steve for at least 5 months before Eddie is stable enough to get weaned off.

So Steve buckles down, had Robin take apart his nest at home and bring it in whole Wayne brings by some of the Munson's softest clothes and blankets for Steve to add to the best he builds around Eddie in the bonded pair bed the hospital moves Eddie too. Of course by the time 5 months is past and Eddie is walking with more ease and less pain with the assistants of forearm crutches Steve isn't going anywhere because they are both deeply in love.

this is so cute!!! i love when you guys come up with new world building stuff and we all just roll with it💛

[lazycats-stuff]

damian wayne x gn! mall goth reader who comes off a little intimidating because of their style n taste in music but end up being really sweet n the whole batfam ends up adoring reader

if not thats a okay!! sorry that i kinda didnt go into much description…

Okay, I have no idea what mall goth even is so to google it is. And don't worry with the lack of description I can conjure something up. And this GIF was the only one that was nice.

Summary: (Y/N) has a peculiar style and that puts the rest of the fam off. But soon they love him more than Damian.

Warnings: some goth stereotypes, mentions of self harm, but no one is doing it, it's in the context of stereotypes,

" Beloved, you don't have to meet them if you don't want to. We can cancel, " Damian said, worried about his partner. Why? Well, (Y/N) has a peculiar style known as Mall Goth and Damian found it really interesting, but people often think that goths are affiliated with Satanism or that they... Harm themselves to put it mildly. Or that they use drugs.

That they can't be happy, that they are all just cold and collected. (Y/N) once told Damian about someone asking if they are a vampire. While Damian wanted to laugh at that, but at the same time it was beyond stupid. Vampires aren't real, first and foremost. Secondly, why would someone say that? Like why?

Damian knew (Y/N) and (Y/N) is a happy person. Positive. Not affiliated with Satanism or Satan. They don't harm themselves or use any drugs. And no, they aren't a vampire. (Y/N) is a normal person who simply loves to express themselves via gothic style. Is that wrong? Absolutely not.

Does that mean that people can make fun of them? Absolutely not.

Damian wouldn't stand for that. He never did.

Because (Y/N) is an adorable soul, a gentle one at that and Damian loved that about them. Damian would often say that they were adorable and it was something that never failed to make (Y/N) blush. So of course, Damian weaponized that to make sure his beloved feels loved. And safe to say, he loves to see (Y/N) flustered. And (Y/N) tried fighting it, but Damian was charming when he needed to be.

And more often than not, Damian followed (Y/N) to the Hot Topic or Spencer's. Damian was always interested in his interests and often curious about those stores, since he was never in those stores... Safe to say, nothing can surprise him. Even though he was raised in the League of Assassins and nothing should surprise him. But Spencer's and Hot Topic did.

But everything for his beloved. And more often than not, Damian acted like a security guard for (Y/N), making sure that no one tried anything. (Y/N) deserves to express themselves in the manner that they want to and not being picked on. Bring goth isn't illegal. It's a subculture. A nice one at that.

Because many of them are nice people. And not Satanists.

The meeting of Damian's family came soon enough and he was nervous. His family wouldn't hate his partner, but (Y/N)'s style might put them all off. Bruce would always want his kids to be happy in their relationships. And if (Y/N) seems cold, Bruce might not like them. And since (Y/N) isn't cold and Damian knows it...

Safe to say, he's never been so nervous in his life. And' he's been trained by his infamous grandfather.

He didn't want (Y/N) to get rid from their gothic style and be something that they aren't and pretend to be something conventional. And besides, it's better for Bruce to know right away. It's better to be genuine and honest, especially in front of Batman. Although (Y/N) doesn't know about his... Night job. Safe to say, it's going to be nerve wrecking.

And Damian has never felt so nervous in his life. He picked (Y/N) up and drove him to the manor, nervous beyond belief. He shouldn't be nervous. He never felt so nervous anyway. Why is he feeling so damn nervous? Is this what fear feels like? Anxiety even? (Y/N) took Damian's into theirs and squeezed. They were parked in the car in front of the manor, trying to gather up the courage to get going.

" I don't know why, but I'm nervous beyond belief, " Damian confessed and (Y/N) nodded, feeling the same.

" I'm scared beyond belief. I don't want them to not like me because of the way I dress, " (Y/N) gave their own confession and Damian sighed, rubbing his forehead with his free hand.

" I've never felt so nervous in my life. Probably the only time I felt so was when I confessed my feelings to you. "

(Y/N) chuckled and nodded, remembering how Damian was nervous beyond belief when he has confessed. Damian huffed when he heard the huff.

" It's not funny. It was embarrassing to be so nervous when confessing. "

" But it showed you had feelings. And it meant that you have some really hard feelings for me. Which is nice. But... The more we worry, the worse it'll go. " (Y/N) turned their head to look at Damian who nodded.

" I agree beloved. But just be yourself. Don't try to be something you are not. Be yourself. They'll love you for it. " Damian leaned closer to his partner and kissed their cheek. (Y/N) smiled at that, squeezing back Damian's hand tightly.

" Are you ready beloved? "

" Ready as I'll ever be. " (Y/N) kissed Damian and Damian smiled into the kiss.

Both pulled back after a few seconds, still smiling. Damian cupped (Y/N)'s face, kissing their forehead.

" Now beloved, lets go. And I promise you, they'll love you. "

(Y/N) nodded and opened the car door, stepping out. Damian followed soon and walked next to (Y/N). (Y/N) rang the doorbell, waiting for someone to open up. And yes, Damian did warn them about (Y/N) being goth before this meeting.

Alfred opened the door, smiling at the two. " Ah, there is the person who captured your heart master Damian. I'm Alfred, nice to meet you. " Alfred extended his hand to (Y/N), who shook it with a tight grip.

" Nice to meet you, I'm (Y/N). "

" Please, come in you two, the rest are waiting in the dining room, already sitting since they are always hungry. " Alfred led them both to the dining room, where they were all sitting down at the table. They all turned to (Y/N) and Damian, eyes observing and analyzing (Y/N). Bruce stood up to shake hands with them and the rest followed.

(Y/N) smiled as hands were shook and soon they were all sitting down again.

" Damian, I didn't know you were into goths. " Jason lifted his cup of water, making Damian's eye twitch.

" Watch is Todd. "

" No violence at the table or threats of the violence, " Alfred and Bruce interjected at the same time and (Y/N) chuckled at that.

" So... How did you two meet? " Tim started, trying to ease the tension between his brothers.

" We met in a bookstore. I was looking for some mystery books, he gave recommendations and then later, went to get coffee. And then we exchanged numbers because we saw that we had good taste in books, " (Y/N) explained, giving them a short version.

" Oh yeah, he came home quite happy. We couldn't figure out why. " Dick poured himself some water and Damian glared at Dick. His brothers need to stop it.

" Really? " (Y/N) asked, turning to look at Damian, who seemingly decided to glare at Dick, rather than (Y/N).

" Yes, but we couldn't figure out why. And when he started going out more often, we thought he made a friend. We were close enough, " Dick added and (Y/N) smirked, Damian seemingly looked anywhere but at his partner.

" So (Y/N), " Bruce got into the conversation, " What do you do? Any hobbies? Interests? "

" I like to volunteer at the animal shelter, trying to not adopt anymore black cats. I already have two. Also working part time at my local bookstore to have some money during my college years, " Y/N) explained and Bruce nodded, impressed with it. He liked the sound of that.

A hardworking and loves animals? Damian's soulmate.

" Oh. And what do you study in college? " Bruce asked, curious about it.

" I study history. My dream would be to teach in a school one day. "

Bruce nodded. He himself liked history and to teach in a school? In this day and age? More than impressive.

" That is a noble thing. Especially in this day and age, and in Gotham as well, " Dick jumped in, Tim nodding in agreement.

" I would rather die than teach in a school. Absolutely not. Good luck, " Tim said and (Y/N) chuckled.

" I know, but I would really want that. I'm really interested in that. "

Bruce glanced and Damian, nodding at him subtly. He approved of (Y/N) so far and if (Y/N) and Damian ever tied the knot, Bruce would be the happy. (Y/N) saw Damian for him. Not the rich connections and doors that his last name can open, but for Damian.

The other brothers shared the same sentiment. (Y/N) is the one and only for Damian. And they are going to give Damian the if you hurt him talk.

[happysparklingshadows]

𝙱𝙶𝟹 𝙻𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚎𝚜 ✿ 𝙿𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚜𝚎 ✿

Note: I am still writing A Certain Hunger but I have been very scared about publish it because it has taken so long to write because of some personal issues with my family and work! I hope you like my headcannons about Bg3 woman. They have infested my brain 😵‍💫

Lae’zel 

-Not one to really give or receive praise in a context outside of battle.

-She would compliment you in her husky tone occasionally if you did impressive work against an enemy. But praise for being around? No. 

-Lae’zel grew up in a culture that refuses kindness or praise. “It only makes us slower. We think of our greatness more than being great; I will not fall for that. I know my greatness in the screams of my enemies.” 

-However, over time, and after being introduced to Faeyan culture, she slowly learned that praise was judged as encouragement or care for others. Especially after staying with you to choose her future, she learns the importance of praise but uses it very sparingly. 

-“You did well.” She would say after you kill some goblins. Or the time she mentioned that she liked the “strength” you showed when you got beaten to your last hit point. 

-She was never good at taking praise. She didn’t like being called a good girl; it implied you were superior to her somehow, and she didn’t like being called anything other than Lae’zel. 

-“Champion, You were so strong tonight. It made me shiver.” You told her once as she was sharpening her sword. She stops abruptly and stares ahead of her momentarily, and she starts sharpening again. She got flustered very easily with those words.

-She does say in sex, though, “You take me so well, my scent still on you from last time. Screaming you are mine.” To you in sex. She likes to praise your good behavior as her mate, but she doesn’t think it is praise. She is stating a fact. You were good at taking her????

-She isn’t the best at giving or taking praise, but nothing is better for her when it is earned. She loves to hear your approval of her, and she tries her best to do the same for you because beneath the coldness was someone who couldn’t imagine a world without you. Didn’t want to. 

-I believe after the end of Act 3 in the game, she would call you “good girl” if you told her you liked it and explained how it made you feel. She won’t develop it independently, even with how well she knows you, but she wants to make you feel good. She isn’t above proving herself to you or changing small things, like what to call you in bed.

Karlach

-Fucking loves it and loves giving it both. 

-She calls you baby (girl or boy) whenever she is pleased with your behavior, and she kisses you whenever the urge comes over her, which is a lot. 

-Karlach has no shame or embarrassment to praise her beautiful Girlfriend. 

-Karlach had helped you once with her strength; you had asked them to hold you up as you wanted to grab a honeycomb. Her solid and big hands grabbed your waist gently and lifted you up like you were nothing; it made you feel flustered and turned on.

-“Gods, I don’t think I have ever met anyone as strong as you, Karlach! That was amazing!” You said without a filter when your feet met the ground again. You looked up to the now-flustered barbarian. “Seriously,” you say as you touch her bicep innocently to investigate your girlfriend's muscle, “What were you fed as a child? Rocks and nails?” 

-Which ended up with you pushed against that tree and fucked beyond belief. 

-The night came over you that night under the tree. You lay naked in the grass with Karlach. You hear the turning of mechanical parts in her chest as you look up at her, resting your chin on her breast, “You are so beautiful. It is just a privilege to love you, Karlach. Truly, I can’t believe we haven’t known each other longer for how much you have taken from my heart.”

-Karlach is a soft girl sometimes, and saying something like that to her would make her stare at you with tears in her eyes. She softly cries, not believing what you are saying. She chuckles at her own tears at such a nice thing. She sniffles and says, “Thank you, baby, I can’t- ah, I can’t find the words to tell you how much that makes me feel. I love you. You are the best love I have ever known.” 

-You kiss her skin softly as you cuddle closer to the tearful tiefling, “I love you too. So greatly… it’s good to know it is mutual.”

-“It is, baby, it really is. Tonight is such a beautiful night.”

Shadowheart 

-Shadowheart doesn’t admit it, but she has such a big praise kink. 

-It started when you two met when you noticed how she would look away when you thanked her for saving you, or she would blush when you told her how great she was beside you in a fight. 

-But she was slow with her love and couldn’t be won over with some simple praise. It takes time to win her trust, let alone her heart.

-She finds her need for your praise as something she needs to hide. It was a vulnerability to exploit if she let it show. It is how she is used to being. She tries to hide her happiness with praise, but it is hard. 

-But, when you two start seeing each other seriously, she takes that shit to the heart every time. 

-“Good girl.” You said in passing when she healed you without being asked. It caused her to blush and feel a heat wave through her.

-She was happy to make things easier for you when she was in love with you and away from Shar. She doesn’t need anyone's approval anymore, no more sacrifices to be enough. She was enough to you. It made her feel comfortable. 

-Shadow wasn’t scared to praise you back. She is similar to Karlach in that way. She has no shame when she is happy with you to tell you that or give you a look that communicates that she will treat you to something more. 

-One night after she had abandoned Shar, she was still very lost and felt not herself. Even her hair isn’t the same as what she remembered. She didn’t remember much. It killed her, and you came to your shared tent. 

-“Shadow, I want you to know I haven’t met someone with so much bravery before.” You say to her as she sits across from you, saddened and quiet, and you come closer to her. “You were scared and did what you thought was right, and it was right, without knowing how it would end up. You dared to do something that terrified you. It inspires me, my love.” You finish as you touch her hand, you move a hair out of her face that still looks at the ground. She had red cheeks, and her breath was hitched. She needed to hear that. But she couldn’t find words to speak. “My brave cleric.” You say as you touch her cheek tenderly with a finger, rubbing it up and down and moving it away. “I think you will find your nerve again. Give it some time.”

-She, of course, finds it again and is her typically goofy brooding self again. And she remembers those words when she is afraid. She reminds herself that you find her brave, so she must act bravely. 

-The praise you give her keeps her sane even if she will never admit it. 

Minthara 

-Praise is not something to take or give lightly to Minthara. 

-Minthara is 230 years old (45ish in human years), and you are way younger than her by a hundred(s) of years. She sees you as someone who has yet to mold into a fully well-rounded person, and she likes to see herself as some kind of mentor and lover. 

-Minthara smirked at you when you did something she liked in the company of your party; she would back you up on almost any decision you made. If you kill or attack someone without asking questions, she will give you a nod and a “Good kill.” 

-Minthara doesn’t hate when she is praised by you. It gave her a reasonable confidence boost that she needed right now. But she scoffs at it and doesn’t like overly affectional praise or one that doesn’t feel earned. 

-She thinks the best praise is in sex with your moans and begs to her. She worships you, eyes devouring you as much as her mouth did to your clit. Her fingers toying and occasionally pinching your nipples, she moans into your body as she tastes your essence. She loves hearing how good she is doing and how great you feel; she keeps her path of getting your cum on her lips. 

-Minthara kisses up your body when she is done. She links her hips with yours with firm thrusts against you, and she says down to you, “Good girl, that’s right, move with me.” 

[cinnbar-bun]

Hi. I hope you’re doing well at the moment. If not, feel free to push off writing this request or to ignore it altogether.

I’m curious to see what headcanons you have about Bruno and how he’d feel about receiving flower arrangements from a S/O.

Your wish is my command, nonnie!!!

Bruno Bucciarati Receiving a Flower Arrangement From his S/O

Rating: SFW

Word Count: ~1k

Notes: Just fluff, plus a minor mention of Bruno's backstory in a bullet point (nothing major). GN reader as always, and just lots of loving for our fave capo <3 As well as cameos from the rest of the gang.

One thing that’s for certain is that your capo adores the flowers. He was rather shocked to see the florist hand deliver him such a large bouquet. 

At first, he briefly thought it was from you- but, well, that’d be kind of selfish to assume, wouldn’t it? So he thinks it’s maybe a thank-you gift from one of the many citizens in Napoli he’s helped. 

However, once he reads the card with the message you put on it, the adoration on his face is clear. He’s touched beyond belief. 

He immediately puts the flowers in a vase as a centerpiece for the table of their room. He’s kind of hoping that the others ask about it so he can proudly gloat that his lovely, wonderful partner got them for him. 

Mista and Narancia will whine and then wonder if they can ever get flowers from their s/o one day, and Bruno teases them by saying that if they get their act together, they just might. 

Fugo acts like he doesn’t give a shit but he’s pretty happy that Bruno is happy and has you as his partner. The young boy is grateful that there’s someone who takes care of Bruno after all Bruno does for everyone else. 

Abbacchio complains about the smell of the flowers, citing them as being too strong or something while he’s drinking his wine or listening to his music. Despite that, he’ll be damned before he touches or does anything to them. Bruno knows Abbacchio would never throw them out despite his complaints, so he often jokes back that Abbacchio is just jealous he is not getting flowers. 

Trish is wide-eyed at the gift you got Bruno, thinking it’s romantic, and remarks that the bouquet has to be super expensive. She joins in with Mista and Narancia about wanting a nice bouquet of flowers from her future lover. 

Giorno thinks it’s a nice gift and feels it says a lot about you that you would gift Bruno them. Especially if you took the time to arrange the bouquet or choose specific flowers/colors, it makes Giorno appreciate and think higher of you. 

Bruno would love any kind of bouquet you’d get him. He adores them and always, always, always will appreciate them and do his best to keep them alive and fresh for as long as possible (including, but not limited to, enlisting Giorno’s help to freshen them up)

That said, he does have different (but positive) reactions to the flowers depending on what type you may have chosen for him! 

If you got him roses (any color): he’d be extra romantic and sappy to you. Roses are the flowers of love, aren’t they? And this was most certainly your way of trying to show him your desire for him, wasn’t it? So he’ll pay it back by using more Italian pet names with you or more romantic gestures as if he were a lovesick puppy. 

If you got him a bright, colorful bouquet: he’d be quick to think it stands out from the rest of the room, but frankly, it was a necessary one. He would do his best to make the flowers stand out even more by using a colorful vase/glass and putting it directly in front of everyone. Everyone has to see this. He smiles brightly when he sees them, too, and it makes him think about how much light you’ve given in his life. He becomes eager to pull you close. 

If you got him a white bouquet (any flowers): He’d be more solemn and deliberate in his movements and decisions. Quieter displays of his affection will ensue, with him taking your hand to his and pressing kisses on it, buying your favorite food/drink, and whispering the sweetest words of poetry known to man in your ear. Those flowers were what he saw often during funeral processions, but it’s also seen in weddings, too. It’s a sort of reminder to himself that his time with you is limited and that every moment with you is a precious thing to be savored. 

If you got him a pastel bouquet: He reacts in a way that’s a mixture of the bright flowers and the white flowers. He reacts more on the quieter end, but is less prone to the feelings of nostalgia he may have had with the white flowers. He finds these ones sweet and gentle, and it, in turn, makes him act pretty gentle with you. Tons of romantic words in your ear and kisses peppered all over your face are what awaits you.

If you got him a bouquet with darker flowers: At first, he’s taken aback by the colors. Not in a bad way, they’re flowers and they’re from you on top of that. He’s just a bit surprised that flowers could be arranged in such a way, but it’s so unique like you? Oh my gosh? It’s unconventional but makes him smile, and he is proud to have them as a centerpiece. He’s quick to thank you and he will get more specific in his praises and compliments for you. More affectionate and grateful here, but more teasing as well. 

Seriously, buy him flowers, it makes his day- nay, his week(s)- and gives him more motivation. He’s not used to being treated often, but with you, every day is a treat, and every gift you give him makes him practically melt. 

Plus, how could you resist the wide-eyed smile he does when he realizes that you were the one who sent the flowers?

[nqmonarch]

Good Boy/Girl

Characters: Dan Heng, Stelle

There's just something about being able to call someone a "Good Boy" or "Good Girl" that makes me so happy. And then for that to mean something to them? Even better.

Like, I don't mean the words in a patronizing way it's just a little symbol of approval like how you'd give a kid a sticker with the words 'Good job!'

Dan Heng

Imagine you're waiting for Dan Heng to come back from one of the trailblazing missions; more recently, the one on the Xianzhou Luofu. You're trying to escape Himeko's coffee, and relaxing with Pom Pom to cure your boredom. Then they return, tired beyond belief from their fight against an emanator, and from all of the emotional damage because there was a lot in that quest.

Dan Heng is trying to calm down from the whole ordeal, he just faced the person that haunts his nightmares, and what better way is there to calm down then spending time with his significant other? You're proud of him. For both facing his fears and doing a good job, so what better way to express that then a sweet

"Good Boy."

Dan Heng would melt into your body, allow himself to finally relax. He's safe here. And he can't help but smile, all of his efforts hadn't gone to waste in the end, everything turned out fine. It was all fine now, and the two of you can rest.

He'd take a moment after leaning against your chest and into your lap to realize what you said. And when he does realize it his eyes will widen a bit and he won't be able to hold back the slight blush. Those words mean so much coming from you.

Likewise, imagine doing so with Stelle after that same quest.

Stelle

Stelle feels betrayed by Dan Heng, blind sighted from his past (we saw how Trailblazer distanced themself from Dan Heng after the reveal and didn't speak to them as much). She feels discouraged, Dan Heng was one of the first people she met. But she doesn't know who to go to for comfort, so she ends up back in your arms.

You run your hands through her soft hair, combing out all the tangles with your fingers. She leans into you, practically sitting in your lap, closing her eyes, and trying to relax. But it's hard. She trusted Dan Heng, and even if it's not his fault, she feels betrayed for not knowing such a large part of his life.

Her shoulders would quiver every once in a while and every time she showed unease, you'd lean a bit closer and whisper.

"Good Girl."

You'd tell her how good she did, how strong she was for taking on an emanator, how she persevered despite everything. She'd cry, turn around, and hold you close. The rest of the night would probably repeat this way, until the two of you fall asleep side by side.

You wake up a bit of a mess, you didn't change into your pajamas or do anything to get ready for bed. But there Stelle is, a small smile on her face and a gift in her hands-- wait, isn't that trash? Why is it golden???

You love your girlfriend anyway, despite her unusual habits.

I don't know maybe I just feel this way. Like it's a way to show someone you appreciate them, love them, think they did great. Or maybe I am just a very big simp.

Like I would die to make you smile, but I'd still want you to cry at my death.

Y'know what I mean?

[666writingcafe]

Strange Behavior

A Text Conversation Between MC and Solomon

MC: Asmo's acting weird.

Solomon: How so?

MC: Ever since Simeon and Luke arrived at the House, he's been spacing out frequently and looking rather sad, and yet whenever I ask him what's wrong, he brushes me off and quickly changes the topic, trying way too hard to seem upbeat.

Solomon: I see. Perhaps he's homesick.

MC: That's what I'm thinking. He probably doesn't feel right being here in the Devildom. Unfortunately, him returning to the Celestial Realm is out of the question.

Solomon: I can relate to Asmo on a certain level. While I miss the place where I was born sometimes, I've lived too long a life for it to still be recognizable to me. But unlike our demon friend, I'm not sure I want to go back even if it WAS the exact same place I left.

Solomon: The only reason I would is to witness the nature there one last time. It was the sort of place where the earth and the sky seemed to go on forever. The vast meadows, the deep blue sky, the shadows that fell over the valley...it was truly magical.

MC: If circumstances were different, I'd have liked to go visit it with you, but I understand if the memories are too painful to retread.

Solomon: *blushing crow sticker*

Solomon: The last time I was in my hometown was also when I first met Asmo. I'd come back home after being away for several decades, and I decided to pop in a local tavern to grab something to drink. Asmo was sitting at the bar, drunk beyond belief.

MC: Good or bad?

Solomon: ??

MC: Was he having a good time or not?

Solomon: OH!

Solomon: He was rather depressed. Apparently a human he'd been pursuing rejected him, and so he was sobbing uncontrollably. I couldn't help but feel sorry for him, so I tried talking to him. That was a choice I immediately regretted, because once he started talking, he just wouldn't stop, and I hadn't intended on staying at the tavern for very long.

MC: That sounds about right.

Solomon: The good news is that I was able to propose forging a pact with him, and the rest, as they say, is history.

MC: *shocked crow sticker*

Solomon: What?

MC: No wonder this version of Barbatos doesn't like you.

Solomon: Now what's THAT supposed to mean? *angry emoji*

MC: You LITERALLY took advantage of someone while they were drunk!

Solomon: It wasn't like I slept with him!

MC: It doesn't matter, Solomon. You shouldn't have made a pact with him while he was drunk and heartbroken.

Solomon: I didn't think I'd have another chance.

MC: Save your excuses.

Solomon: Well, OBVIOUSLY I wouldn't do that sort of thing now, MC.

MC: Really? *eye roll emoji*

Solomon: Yes, really.

MC: Prove it.

Solomon: What?

MC: I dare you to make a pact with Asmo without manipulating him into it.

Solomon: While we're here???

MC: YES

Solomon: I suppose that wouldn't interfere with the timeline TOO much...just as long as I still have my seventy-two pacts when we return, it shouldn't really matter what order they occur in.

MC: I'm being serious, Solomon.

Solomon: I know. You didn't exactly consent to all your pacts, so I can only imagine how Asmo might have felt when he sobered up and realized what he'd done.

Taglist: @lost-in-time-wanderer, @fuzztacular, @dianedancer18, @sweetbrier2908, @flare-love, @completelyshatteredbrokenmschf, @thunderlightning351, @l3v1chan, @anxious-chick, @5mary5, @expressionless-fr

[autumnvine]

If you ever need anything

Summary: Your boyfriend Max was less then a gentleman, you could never rely on him to be happy for you. But your best friend Tom was always there supporting you, and taking care of you

⚠️ Abusive boyfriend ⚠️

Even on your worst days you thought you could count on your boyfriend Max, obviously not. Max was never the boyfriend you had imagined for yourself, you thought yourself finding someone who loved you and was proud of you, supported you, cared fro you. But Max, no he wasn't much like you had imagined, almost total oposite. Max was always angry, never proud of you, was never excited for you, he never really cared about you.

When you left your job on a gamble Max couldn't bat an eyelid of excitment for you. This was a huge deal, it was a difficult and nerve wracking thing, it was your dream come true. For ten years you served coffees and sandwiches as the manager of the coffee house across the street from your home, taking orders, calls, communications, hiring and firing collegues. You needed a change, applying for an audition in the local theratre sounded like a good idea, it was a good idea, you got the part and many many more after that. Eventually you landed the role of a life time "Thor" playing the girlfriend of the mighty Thor, a scientist named Jane who ended up becoming the lovely girlfriend to the God of Thunder. The first movie was such a success, the directors called everyone back, including you, you were so excited, thrilled beyond belief. There was just once tiny small issue. Max. He wasn't happy with you going to movie star city as he called it the first time never mind doing it again, yet he came with you. You were just excited to see all your friends again, Tom , Chris, Kat, Nat, Jaimie everyone, it was going to be wonderful everyone together again you couldn't wait to see Tom once more.

You wished Tom was your boyfriend. Tom is exactly what you pictured for yourself, he was your friend, he cared for you, helped you, read lines w ith you. Max never read lines with you, the last time you asked him he threw it on the table picked up his phone and wouldn't speak to you for the rest of the afternoon, but Tom, he even helped you with your lines over the phone. Tom was a sweetheart he would call to make  sure you were okay, to make sure you were managing, to make sure you still had a roof over your head, he wanted to know what was new in your life, what was going on. You wished Tom liked you more then a friend, but a friendship was much much better then nothing.

Max had met Tom just for a brief period of time during the first shoot of filming Thor, Tom was polite, shook his hand intriduced himself as your co-worker and friend, he of course he introoduced himself as the only man in your life, the only reason agrred to fly across the world with you, was so he could keep anyone else from being with you. Which Tom already found ridiculous, you didn't need a baby sitter, you were your own paerson, you didn't need a keeper. Max was very overly cautious of you, very controlling over you. Tom made sure to always check in with you after that. 

-Time skip, Set of Thor-

After everyone was reacquainted and had there own skripts, highlighted, noted, changed slightly, you could feel your heart rush at the first table read,  you're part in this movie was significantly bigger then the last one, you had one of the main parts you could not screw this up, you wouldn't it would be amazing, you had an amazing team who supported eachother

"Thor: How is she?

Heimdall: She's quite clever, your mortal. She doesn't know it yet, but she studies the Convergence as well. Even...Heimdall stops

Thor: What?

Heimdall: I can't see her.

Darcy Lewis: Jane! Where the hell were you?

Jane Foster: Tell me you didn't call the police!

Darcy Lewis: What was I supposed to do?

Jane Foster: Not call the police!

Darcy Lewis: I was freaking out.

Jane Foster: You call the cops they tell the feds, the next thing you know we have SHIELD crawling all over area fifty-one-ing the place.

Darcy Lewis: Jane!

Jane Foster: We had a stable gratification anomaly, we had unheeded access. Our only competition was ten years old!

Darcy Lewis: Jane, you were gone for five hours!

Jane Foster: What?

Darcy Lewis: Appears Thor standing a few feet away from them, Jane hands her gadget to Darcy and walks towards Thor.

Thor: Jane. [as she reaches him suddenly she slaps him hard in the face]

Jane Foster: Sorry. I just needed to make sure you were real, it's been a very strange day.

Thor: Well, I am. Jane... [suddenly she slaps him again]

Jane Foster: Where were you?!

Thor: Where were you? Heimdall could not see you.

Jane Foster: I was right here where you left me. I was waiting and then I was crying and then I went out looking for you. You said you were coming back

Thor: I know, I know, but the Bifrost was destroyed. The Nine Realms erupted into chaos, wars were raging, marauding hordes were pillaging. I had to put an end to the slaughter.

Jane Foster: As excuses go, that's not terrible. But I saw you on TV, you were...you were in New York!

Thor: Jane, I fought to protect you from the dangers of my world, but I was wrong, I was a fool.

The first read was amazing, it went so well. You did so well, sure you had sweat flowing down your back like a river, your leg shaking uncontrollable under the table. Your breath tyring to keep up with your nerves.Everyone clapped and hugged. You had  few hours before your wardrobe fitting, heading straight for the coffee machine and grabbing a ham salad ovalbite "You done well darling" A beautiful english familiar accent came from behind you. Swallowing the coffee in your mouth, turningaround to see your Tom standing. He hugged you, kissed your forehead linked his arms in yours

"Darling you done so well, I'm very proud of you, how are you feeling, you seem nervous, is everything alright?"

"I'm great, this is my dream Tom, being here is my dream, I really never thought I'd get to do this again, I didn't think I'd be back. It's amazing seeing you Tom, how are things with you?"

"There good, very good. I am glad you are back. I missed seeing you. Perhaps we could catch dinner one evening, to properly catch up?"

"Awwh Tom I would love that" sudenly remembering about Max staying in the hotel with you.  "I....I'm sorry Tom I can't"

He tried to hide the disapointment and slight embarrisment "Tom it's not that I don't want to, oh my goodness I'd love to, I'd love nothing more then to go to dinner with you, but....Max is here, and I sill sort of need life to see you again"

"He's here? staying with you?"

"I know I'm sorry, He wouldn't let me come, if, well Tom he wouldn't let me come if he didn't come too, to aparently keep an eye on me, eventhough there's nothing wrong with me, sorry I'm rambling"

"Your not rambling darling, does he still make you happy?"

"It's complicated" you sighed, unable to answer a simple question about your boyfriend to your best friend.

"Forgive me darling  for asking, if I'm out of line feel no pressure, does he hurt you?"  

"Nothing I can't handle, anyways stop worrying, drink your coffee, we gotta be back in there soon and I still have alot of coffee to drink plus the other half of my sandwich, which is really good, want to try it? Also Chris will be sooo mad if I come back late on my first day, heck not even my first day, my first half of the day after the first break. You know we used to be happy, he used to be nice to me. Tom he was so sweet to me, he didn't always treat me bad you know, he never used to shout at me.  anyway, I'm sorry I'm rambling again.I'm so sorry Tom my head has just been everywhere. I feel like I'm on cloud nine but waiting for thunderstorm you know?"

Tom looked at you worry and confussion all over his face "Yn you know if you ever need anything, I mean it, anything, a place to stay, me, help, money, a ride, absolutely anything anythime, I am always here for you. You are never alone."

"Thank you Tom, I'm always here for you too."

A few weeks had passed Thor Dark World was really comming together, everyone had muktiple costume changes a day, hair and makeup bearly left your trailer, you were practicing and practicing reading over your lines, going to the gym six days a week to keep up with the physical aspect of your role, you were finally getting there with evevrything. Max had been his usual self throughout this whole movie, hated days you had to work late to run lines, hated the fact you worked with a cast of primarily men. He hated when you asked him to help you, or to come watch rehersal. Max was never going to let you do this again, you were sure of it.

It was now nearing eight when everyone was supposed to be finishing, however you called Max to explain you'll be late once more and not to wait up for you, you still had two more scenes to run, to his disamuse you stayed working until ten. Getting home everything was in darkness, none of the lights were on,  the doors were all closed, the window curtains were drawn, trying very quietly to take your boots off, and set your bag down, walking into the kitchen to wash your face from everything, popping the kettle on and some bread in the toaster. Toast wasn't an ideal dinner but you were hungry, it was late and definetly not up to cooking. Seeing a pile of dishes that had been left foor you you sighed in disapointment that Max hadn't even washed his plate from his dinner, or even made you anything for yours. Scrubbing the pots and pans, forgetting he was asleep just upstairs you were to tired to even hear the footsteps thud behind you. A cold hard grabbing your arm, spinning you round and holding you to the wall, both wrists being held above your head

"Let me go" you asked unfaised, Max was towering over you, his face right up at yours,

"I said let me go Max"

"I was sleeping. and you" slamming your arms against the wall as you tried to move "You woke me up,"

"Yeah well I was doing your dishes, that you left."

His grip tightenenig on your wrists, "That hurts, stop that Max let me go" trying to wriggle your arms a little. "STOP, YOU THINK YOU CAN  COME HOME AND TELL ME WHAT TO DO" he shouted, you weren't in the mood for his nonsence or his anger.

"Let's just go to bed I'm tired" you sighed dropping your gaze to the floor, not acknowledging your boyfriends fury. He let go of one wrist, and you thought he was letting you go, feeling the cold hand smack off your face, now a burning heat sensation across your cheek and under eye,

"DON'T YOU DISRESPECT ME!"

A few stray tears rolling down your cheek , purely just from the shock, it waasn't the first time he'd hit you, it wasn't the first time he'd shouted, at this point nothing could surprise you. Max threw you to the side, onto the floor "Sleep there, you're pathetic"

Waiting for him to leave and go back up stairs to what once was your shared bed, you sat on the floor, back against the wall, debating even standing up rubbing your wrists from where he hurt you, you let your tears run dripping down onto your clothes. It wasn't supposed to be like this,your boyfriend was supposed to take care of you, not hurt you. After sitting a little longer yoou dried hyour eyes, gathered yourself togeher, finished buttering your toast and drank some tea, you took the fluffy blanket from over the arm of the sofa wrapping it around you, scrooling through your phone trying to think of something better, anything better.

Remembering Tom's kind words from weeks ago:

"Yn you know if you ever need anything, I mean it, anything, a place to stay, me, help, money, a ride, absolutely anything anythime, I am always here for you. You are never alone."

You debated calling him but deciding against it, you weren't Tom's responsibility, he wasn't your saviour, he was your friend, besides if you called him, Max would propably kill you, or him. That was an unrestful night, not being able to get comfortable from your back pain after being thrown to the floor like a garbage bag.

The following morning you got up streatched out, trying to ignore the pain that overwhelmed your body, you couldn't call in sick it's simly not that type of job, people relied on you and counted on you being there. If you called in sick Tom would be worried about you and probably call or come over which was a really bad idea under the circumstances, and everyone else would be mad knowing you single handedly held up rehersal for the day, when the movie was so close to being finished. looking at your wrists blue and purple, each of them badly bruised you had to find a top long enough to cover it, as well as the cut across your cheek bone from last night. Getting ready, mentally preparing yourself and a silly enough reason that people would believe you hurt yourself. Walking onto set with a fake smile plastered on your face, coffee in hand, and painkillers settling nicely in your stomach working there magic, Chris was the first one to see you

"Morning Yn, how are you?"

"Chris good morning, I'm good thank you, a little tired I hadn't slept great last night, I couldn't get comfy"

"Get some coffee down you and if you need anythig give me a shout alright" Thanking him, he walked away, not noticing your face or wrists, this might be easier then you worried about. "Darling there you are I was looking for you" Tom kissed your forehead gently with a warming smile

"Sorry I know I'm a little late, I lost track of time, I didn't really sleep and then i couldn't find my clothes, one thing led to another and I'm here now, just a little later then I originally planned for."

"Not to worry darling your still here before we started." Tom smiled at you as if you had just made his d ay better by beinng there. Smiling back you noticed his eyebrown frowning and his smile falling, "Yn what happened to your face?"

"Oh" you lifted your hand to casually deflect it, "Nothing really I got home late, made some toast and forgot to close the kitchen cabinet behid me, turned around and bashed my face of it." You didn't enjoy lying but you were certaintly not telling him the truth. "Really Tom I'm alright" He didn't believe you for a second but respected you enought that you obviously didn't want to talk about it. Going through to wardrobe you nsisted upon noone helping you, afraid of them seeing the bruising, you struggled but eventually managed.

Today you shot the fight scene, Thor and Malekith were fighting you were getting taken up by the red ether, when Loki jumps arcoss catching you and holding you as you fall to the floor, Tom's arms around you felt nice, him being so close to you felt nice. You lay crouched on the floor with Tom dressed as Loki leaning over you, sheilding you from the fight, protecting you. A single tear managed to escape your eye, trying to fight it, crying was not apart of the scene, but more so because your already bruised and delicate body had just been slamed to the floor. Tom didn't notice your tear until one became two, two became three, three became awkward, almost trying desperately to controll yourself, controll your pain, you sucked it up and continued with the scene until the fighting was over, having to get up and run behind Loki was sheer agony but you did it. You could bearly hear the conversation between Thor and Loki, or Loki and Malekith. You didn't have any lines you had to speak for, you could just focus on not crying right now, that was enough for you. As the scene came to an end you got up and left, making a beline straight for the coffee, getting your phone off the table to call Max because you were going to be home late again.

"What do you want?" he asnwered abruptly

"You know its polite to answer your phone to start with hello, or hi"

"Noted, what do you want?"

"I'm going to be working late again, I got here late after last night and then filming never started until later so I just thought I'd call, you don't need to wait up for me or anything, or make dinner, you can do what you want tonight"

"Great thanks for the permission"

"Hey, you don't have to be so rude all the time you know. You could just say okay, or thanks for telling me or I hope you have a good day. It's always negative with you isn't it"

"Yeah yeah thanks for the lecture, you really are pathetic you know that, PATHETIC, you think I care if you come home late or at all for that matter, you think i honestly would worry if you didn't" his sacrasm and arrogance was getting to you a little,

"Would you not?" Tom came to get a quick cup of coffee beside you, you lowered your volume and smiled to Tom,

"Would I not what?" asked Max,

"Would you really not care?" asking him softly afriad of Tom overhearing

"Yn get it through that thick skull of yours I don't give a rats arse where you are, especially after last night, why would you think I give a damn about you, you do nothing but complain, or make things worse for me, you are stupid and irrelivant to my life, I want you for what I need and tonight I don't need you!"You felt your heart crumble, as if the world imloaded, Max treated you poorly that's why you couldn't justify the pain he was causing.

"If this is about waking you up last nigt I-"

"I THOUGHT I TAUGHT YOU ENOUGH OF LAST NIGHT, WHEN YOU GET HOME TONIGHT, LATE AGAIN I'LL --"

"You'll what?" what is it you will do because I have to work late?" compleately foggettinng where you were andwo was standing besdie you, but enough was eough.

""When you get home I'll make last night seem like a walk in the park, I'm going to hurt you and I will make it painful, you are pathetic and I shouldn't have let you off so easy last night"

A sob broke from your parted lips"Pathetic" Max laughed down the phone, unaware that Tom had been listening to the conversation, gently he placed his hand on your back, taking the phone off you"

"Now you listen to me I don't know where you get off speaking to a lady like that, but you will not threaten her, you will not hurt a singly hair on her head-" Tom abruptly shut off his sentance by listening to Max yelling

"She's mine, I'll do what I want with her"

"YOU will not harm her, you will not touch her, and you will not disrespect her. Yn is not yours, she is  a lady, a person, she is not your property, you will not controll her. And you will nnever get near her again" Tom shouting back at Max, you'r legs went from underneath you, falling to the floor, holding your legs just crying your heart out. Tom bent down beside you and wrapped his arm around you, pulling yoou into his chest.

"You will never see her again. You will never hurt her again." Tom told Max as he ended the call. Tom wrapped his other arm around you. gently shushing you and rubbing little circles on your back.

"He's going to kill  me Tom"

"He won't get near you darling"

"He did this to me, rolling your sleeves back to show Tom the bruises on your wrist, and pointing to the cut on your face

"Next time he will kill me"

Tom's eyes welling with tears seeing his best friend hurt by someone she loved.

"My darling, I'll take care of you. He will never hurt you again, I promise"

Taglist

@plutoispurplw

[1moreff-creator]

FF, considering that the end of Chapter 2 seems to be setting up the already prevalent theme of Fate and Choice to take centre stage in Chapter 3 (like how the theme of Trust was the focus of CH1, and the theme of Change was the focus of CH2), I wonder Do you have any predictions for Chapter 3? Where you think most of the characters will go from here, who you think might be the next to kick the bucket, and how you think it will tie into Teruko's own story (the next step of which, I predict, will be her making a decision on whether she's going to allow herself to make friendships with the rest of the cast even with the fear that they will abandon or die on her always in the back of her mind, or to let her fears control her and make her isolate herself further out of fear that she will result in them getting hurt because of her fated bad luck. But I'd also love to hear your thoughts on that :D)

Hey! Predictions, huh? Well, I'm not the best when it comes to guesswork, so this isn't going to be, like, my deepest post or anything, but it's still interesting to think about!

Spoilers for DRDT CH2

So now that we've made it past Read More: Yeah I have no idea.

You see, there's literally infinite ways for the story to progress past this point, and there comes a point where "what I think will happen" would be completely indistinguishable from "how I would write the rest of the story." And while that in itself is interesting to explore, I'm not the dev, so I'll save both your and my time by avoiding any completely unfounded predictions. That means that the fate of most characters, the arcs they will go through, the themes which will be explored, among many other things, are things that I have almost no genuine strong predictions, at least in regards to CH4 and beyond.

In terms of CH3, though, I do agree that the theme of fate is the most likely to be the centerpiece, though like with CH2 and CH1 there will probably be a whole lot of themes that get explored. Not to mention that what someone considers the "main theme" of a chapter is highly subjective; I'd argue the themes of belief ("all that glitters is not gold") and morality ("a good person") are just as important to CH2 as the theme of change. I can't tell which themes will actually be explored, though, because again, no idea where the story could go.

To give some ideas, though, some themes that are already on the table apart from fate and trust and change are memory (Elliot, Rose's photographic memory, Whit forgetting her mom is dead for a moment when Rose says it, etc), family (Elliot again, Rose's family, J's mom, Levi's situation, the hypothetical Diana Chiem, Teruko's brother, Whit's mom again, why does half this cast has family issues, etc), idolization (David->Xander, Hu->Nico, Whit->His mom ("We tend to idolize the dead" in his quote), everyone->Mai (once we actually start talking about her), etc), past and future (Xander & Min (check pinned comments in Bonus Episodes), Hu and Veronika moving on from their past, Charles forgetting his, Rose feeling hopeless in the future due to mistakes in her past, Levi not caring about his past, Arturo not being able to fully move on from his past, etc), and everything else under the Sun. You see why making predictions is hard? There's too much shit going on, the writing's just too good.

What I can theorize on a bit more comfortably is who's gonna die in CH3.

It's Charles.

Honestly I don't even feel comfortable predicting a double murder in CH3; other than "it's a trope," there's no reason for me to believe it atm. And "it's a trope" isn't evidence.

With Charles, though, we do have "Charles pronounced dead at 3" from the prologue, and given Whit's track record, yeah it's curtains for chemist boy. I know some people think Charles dying is "too obvious" because of this line, but it only feels obvious to freaks like me who spend way too much time looking at these guys and who've rewatched the series several times. In particular, I believe he'll be poisoned by strychnine, given it was omitted from the custom weapons list, meaning only him and Teruko know about it, which could lead to interesting developments in the trial. This also means that the Elliot mystery would be explored in more depth in CH3, which could also be inferred from Yoidore Shirazu... existing already.

Other things which will likely get brought up are Whit's secret, Teruko's secret (then again, I have zero fucking clue what David's gonna do next), Hu's treatment of Nico, Hu and Vero's secrets, Veronika's reactions to Levi almost dying and Ace's execution, the Nico-Rose situation, Arturo (just, like, in general), etc. I feel like J's family and Eden's guilty feelings about Arei and Min might still have to wait, though it could come up. Look these chapters are long we could genuinely cover all of that and still bring up new threads for CH4 to explore.

As for future killer predictions... again, zero clue. But, you know that theory/observation that's been going around about the objects that show up at the end of CH1 and CH2 and Mai? That Mai has a jacket kinda sorta like Min and gloves like Ace?

Although this is an insane metric and I fully expect it to go wrong probably as soon as CH3, it is practically the only semi-theory we have that could point to future culprits. And since I'm an evidence-based theorist at heart, here's who I believe the killers might be based on the only (and craziest) metric we have. Feel free to ignore the Hail Mary guesses, I have no reasoning for them beyond Vibes.

Arturo - Ribbon (Hail Mary guess - CH4 killer)

Hu: Flowers (Note: Her secret quote plays into why I believe she may be a killer. I fully expect to be wrong on her particularly, and even if she is a killer, I expect her to kill on accident, which is sort of possible with strychnine. I doubt Hu would kill someone on purpose). Hail Mary guess - CH3 killer, no double murder?

Veronika: Hair tie. Hail Mary guess - CH5 killer, double murder?

It could also be Vero's shoes btw, they look similar enough to Mai's.

Rose's stockings are actually also similar to Mai's, but I can't imagine the object for her being stockings instead of, like, her hat or apron.

In fact, that's sort of a counterargument to this entire theory. Even if Vero or Hu are killers, I would expect their objects to be the triangle earring and the butterfly hair accessory respectively. In fact, I see Vero in particular as a victim more than a killer, so that should tell you how confident I am in these things.

Keeping in mind my survivor predictions (Teruko - J - Whit - Levi - Rose), which haven't really changed other than me now considering Levi a more likely survivor than Rose, that would leave the victims as Charles (genuine prediction: CH3), Eden (Hail Mary - CH5), David (Hail Mary - CH5 or CH4), and Nico (Hail Mary - CH4 or CH3). Again, the Hail Marys are purely vibes only and have no attached reasoning.

Finally, for mastermind, there's three people in particular that I find genuine contenders for MM spot, but that will have to wait for a separate, more in-depth post, since this thing does actually have evidence attached.

I hope that was enough to satisfy you! Thanks for the ask, it was fun to think about!

[cherienymphe]

Amnesiac IV (Rafe Cameron x Reader)

WARNINGS: eventual NON-CON, eventual DUB-CON, dub-con kissing, violence, public sex, memory loss, underage drinking, drug use, non canon ages, kook!reader

➥ banner by @maysdigitalarts​​​ | divider by @firefly-graphics​

➥ series masterlist

summary: “There’s something wrong with your love story, baby…”

After a surfing accident leaves you with little to no memory of everything that happened before that day, you start to wonder if the blond in what little memories you do have is the same one who claims to be your boyfriend.

~

Rafe loved kissing you.

You didn’t think it was possible to love anything as much as Rafe loved to kiss you. Once you had crossed that line and loosened the boundary some, he was like a man starved. He liked to kiss you when you first woke up, waving off all concerns of morning breath as his lips chased yours. He made a habit of tasting your lips as soon as you both settled into his truck, like some ritual he had to partake in before he got on the road. Even during the most random of moments like during dinner, he’d lean over while Ward was mid conversation and would quickly touch his lips to yours.

It disgusted Sarah beyond belief.

“It just takes some getting used to,” she had mumbled one day.

You had caught her alone on the back deck, alternating between reading and texting John B. It bothered you that while you two were evidently close before, it didn’t exactly hold up after your accident. You suspected that it had something to do with Rafe, and you weren’t entirely wrong.

“It makes me happy to see that Rafe is treating you well. I mean it,” she’d honestly said. “…but who he is with you isn’t who he is with everyone else.”

She didn’t say it, but you could read between the lines. You picked up on what she was thinking about specifically.

“Like JJ…?”

She sighed, looking away.

“Do you still think Rafe said something or did something to provoke him?”

You still found that so hard to believe. You couldn’t imagine Rafe doing anything like that no matter how hard you tried. Sure, his anger and cruel words that day had shocked you, revealing a side to him that you didn’t know existed, but to be fair, he had been wearing the evidence of an assault at the time. To you, his anger was more than justified.

“It’s clear that Rafe would prefer to keep you in the dark about a lot of things,” she exhaled. “…and honestly? I guess I can’t blame him.”

She looked up at you then.

“There’s just so much shitty stuff that you’ve been given the opportunity to just forget, and I’d probably want to keep things as nice for you as long as I could too. I mean, it’s not like I’m giving you a play by play of everyone’s fuck ups either.”

She shrugged.

“Rafe seems to really like you, and as much as I can’t stand him, I don’t think it’d be fair of me to write a list of every bad thing he’s done when he’s actually doing right by you.”

If you didn’t know any better, she actually looked annoyed with herself as she said this.

“But with that being said, Rafe and JJ have a messy history that goes beyond your accident. Hell, it goes beyond when you and JJ started to become friends. Although that definitely made things worse.”

She mumbled that last part to herself, and with Rafe inside, you took this opportunity to sit down.

You knew what Kelce said about JJ, and while what happened to Rafe pretty much confirmed it for you, you wanted to hear from Sarah too. You wanted to know why you were ever friends with someone who was so obviously bad news. You wanted to know why she and the rest of her friends continued to do the same.

“Kelce said that JJ is…violent, troubled.”

Sarah scoffed at that, slamming her book shut as she shook her head.

“If you’re going to know anything about this island, know that there’s a certain side of the island that thinks they’re so much better than others and is happy to look down on anyone who doesn’t come from where they come from.”

You glanced down, recalling Kelce’s disgusting words about people from The Cut.

“If you asked Topper, he’d tell you that he genuinely thinks people from The Cut were bred to mow lawns,” she continued with a humorless smirk.

You deeply frowned at that, and just like you wondered about the company Sarah kept…you were now starting to wonder the same about Rafe.

“JJ,” she started, sighing. “JJ just didn’t grow up with the same opportunities that they did.”

Your eyes met hers again, and her smile was sad now.

“Yeah, he’s a little troubled, but considering the home he grew up in, the man who raised him, I’d say he turned out better than okay.”

You bit your lip.

“No, he’s not perfect, but neither is Rafe,” she sardonically chuckled. “Yeah, JJ held a gun to Topper’s head once, but I’m positive Rafe didn’t tell you that Topper was trying to drown John B.”

Your eyes widened at that.

“…and I know Rafe didn’t tell you that he jumped Pope in retaliation. He beat him up with a golf club,” she spat.

“Sarah…”

“You don’t remember any of this, and that’s fine, but Rafe and his asshat friends should have the decency to be honest instead of telling you half-truths. They should stop trying to turn you against the people you genuinely cared about and who genuinely care about you…”

You glanced over your shoulder towards the inside of the house where Rafe was.

“…because you never cared about the stupid feud going on between the two sides of the island, and as much as I hate to admit it because I was jealous, there came a point where I wasn’t your best friend anymore.”

You looked at her just as she continued.

“JJ was.”

Your head spun a bit at that, and she looked like she was remembering something that you couldn’t.

“…and if I hated it, then Rafe really hated it.”

“Rafe, please,” you sighed, pulling away from him.

You could feel his worried gaze on you as you stood up, the sound of muffled music reaching your ears.

What you thought was going to be a normal day actually turned into your attendance at another party. Only this time, it was your own. The slight mirth in Rafe’s face as he mentioned a party later on in this very Cameron residence should’ve been your first hint. The way he picked out your dress and spent literal minutes admiring you and praising you in the mirror should’ve been another.

“You had one hell of a near death experience, and you’re here to tell the tale,” he’d told you at the shock on your face as you looked around. “That deserves to be celebrated.”

He had whispered that into your ear before leaning in to press his lips to yours in front of everyone. Ward and Rose were gone for the night, some art convention in Charleston that Rose had been dying to get to. Wheezie was at a sleepover, and you had no doubt that Sarah was with John B. At least, that was what Rafe had told you when you asked.

“You know those two, babe. They can hardly stay away from each other,” he’d said, wrapping his arms around you from behind.

Even though it was days later, your conversation with Sarah was still on your mind, and so you weren’t really in the party mood. You tried to fake it for Rafe’s sake, he’d gone out of his way to do this, after all, but you couldn’t keep up the façade for long. You were alone with your thoughts in Rafe’s room for all of 10 minutes before he found you. He’d looked concerned, but upon confirming that you were indeed fine, he didn’t really waste much time before pressing his lips to yours.

The moment that you realized it was getting hot and heavy, you pulled away, not really up for that either.

“What’s wrong?” he asked you, voice dropping a bit.

You crossed your arms over your chest, holding his gaze.

“Did Topper really try to drown John B?”

Your question was evidently the last thing he expected, and Rafe huffed a sigh, looking away. You swore you heard him curse Sarah’s name.

“So, it’s true…”

Rafe opened and closed his mouth, opting instead to take a deep breath.

“Rafe, I know that there are things I don’t remember and will never understand until I do, if I do, but… If I was as close with Sarah and her friends as I think I was, then I want to explore that.”

His gaze snapped up to hold yours then.

“I want to decide for myself who I hang around, and you and Kelce made it seem like JJ was such a horrible guy, but by your own standards…isn’t Topper?”

You hesitated, swallowing.

“Aren’t you…?” you softly continued.

You watched as Rafe’s gaze darkened, jaw clenching.

“Sarah told me what you did to Pope.”

“She-.”

“Not because she has it out for you or anything, but to show me that it isn’t so black and white.”

You hurried to get near him, taking Rafe’s hands.

“I know that you’re just trying to look out for me, but…I had a whole entire life before my accident, and I want to know everything. I want to know who all of my friends were and all of my hobbies and the places I liked to hang out at.”

Rafe was quiet for a moment before slowly exhaling. You kept your eyes on him as he stood to his full height, face unreadable but eyes narrowed just a tad as he gazed at you.

“JJ punched me while I was trying to get food for my family. That’s the kind of guy you want to get to know…?”

You hesitated, and Rafe’s brows drew together.

“Unless you think I did something to have that coming,” he slowly said, and you furiously shook your head.

“Rafe, no- of course not!”

He lifted one perfect brow, and you could feel yourself deflating.

“I just don’t think it’s that simple. You and Topper have done some things too-.”

“Things you don’t even remember. You don’t even remember the full story or context but just what Sarah told you, but you saw what he did to me. You saw with your own eyes what I am talking about,” he slowly said, gesturing to you.

You didn’t respond, not quite sure how to.

“Do…do you know what it was like to see you in that water?”

His words made your heart drop, and you sharply inhaled. Rafe’s face had hardened now, jaw clenched and blue eyes icy as they gazed at you.

“To pull you out? To push against your chest until I was sure I’d break it because I was so desperate to see you breathing again?”

You blinked, vision blurring a bit as you exhaled.

“Rafe…”

“I almost lost you…for good,” he sneered. “…and now history is repeating itself.”

“No-!”

“It is. It is because…this…thing where Sarah and her friends, where JJ gets in between us is looking pretty familiar.”

You looked down with a frown.

“I promised myself and you that things would be different this time. When I handed you over to the doctors and nurses at the hospital, I made that promise only for this to start happening again,” he spat.

You reached out to him, apologies on your lips when he snatched his hands away. You blinked, a few tears escaping as he stared you down. He slowly held his hands up, chest heaving with deep breaths before brushing past you, telling you that he needed some air.

You knew that it probably wasn’t your first fight with Rafe, but it was the first that you could remember.

Once Rafe had left, you’d just sat in his room and cried. The more you thought on it, the more you could see things from his perspective, and it just made you feel worse. You didn’t even want to imagine what Rafe had gone through in saving you, and the pain and anger in his eyes spoke of a past that was probably much more tumultuous than you thought.

Sarah had said that you and Rafe used to be close, but she’d also said that you and JJ had become closer…and somehow, your supposed dislike of Rafe was thrown into the mix somewhere. Was it possible that Rafe’s version of things was the truth? After all, Sarah had admitted that she never knew why you had suddenly started hating Rafe one day. She couldn’t even tell you while Rafe on the other hand seemed to have an actual answer…and it was JJ.

You didn’t even know what time the party ended, nodding off to the faint sound of music.

When you woke up, it was morning, and you could hear Rafe’s shower running. You didn’t know what time he came back, but his side of the bed was warm, and that told you that he’d slept next to you. You were still wallowing in sorrow when he came out, blinking at the sight of his towel hanging low on his hips. Your heart raced as your eyes traced the droplets that danced down his skin, and when he looked at you, you didn’t have time to pretend like you weren’t admiring him.

“Morning,” he eventually said.

It came off as guarded, and you blamed yourself. Rafe didn’t know where he stood with you, and you didn’t like that.

“I’m sorry,” was your reply.

You pushed yourself to sit up, heaving a sigh.

“I’m really sorry…”

You continued when he didn’t reply, opting instead to lean against his dresser and stare at you.

“When Sarah told me what you and Topper did…it shocked me,” you admitted. “I felt like I was thrown a curveball because suddenly there was this much darker side to you that I didn’t even know existed.”

You watched as he swallowed.

“It made me doubt everything you told me. It made me doubt you.”

Rafe exhaled before moving to sit before you, his fingers brushing yours on the bed.

“Yes, I’ve done some messed up stuff…but…you have to understand that this thing between us and the Pogues? We all have,” he admitted before reaching up with his free hand to brush his thumb over your lip. “Except you.”

He held your gaze, a crooked smile on his pink lips.

“Never you,” Rafe murmured. “…and that’s why its so unfair that you’re the one that got hurt the most when all you’ve ever done was try to get along with everybody. It’s like you paid for my fuck ups.”

You tilted your head to the side, face falling.

“Rafe, don’t…don’t say that,” you whispered.

“It’s true,” he replied, blue eyes focused on his bedding now. “I hurt some people, but I never…”

His gaze slowly lifted to meet yours again, and his voice was steady with conviction.

“I never hurt you.”

You threaded your fingers through his.

“…and now I feel like I have. I feel like the accident was my fault.”

“Rafe-.”

“I should’ve tried harder to keep you away from him, to be less pushy about a lot of things-.”

“Rafe, stop!”

His face was in your hands, now, and you shook your head.

“Stop it, please,” you begged. “That’s too much to internalize, to take on.”

You both were quiet for a while, and you sighed.

“Rafe, I’m going to ask you a question, and I want you to be honest…”

He studied your face.

“…and whatever your answer is, I’ll respect that because I remember the love and trust that I had with you, and it is the only thing that I know for sure. That feeling.”

You brushed your thumbs over his skin.

“I don’t remember my supposed friendship with JJ or guns and murder attempts or even my friendship with Sarah. I don’t even remember hating you, but I do remember loving you,” you told him. “I remember that feeling, and I choose to trust that and you because it’s the only thing that has been certain, so…”

You licked your lips, and Rafe’s gaze followed the movement.

“Do you want me to be friends with JJ again? Do you want me to try and be friends with any of them again?”

Rafe took a long time to answer, and the emotions on his face changed so many times, the conflict within him evident. He eventually took a deep breath before his eyes met yours, holding your gaze with an intensity that made your skin hot.

“No.”

His voice didn’t waver, and he continued to hold your gaze.

“They’re bad for you, they always were, and…I don’t think I should be the bad guy for saying it,” he slowly told you.

His answer didn’t shock you, but your hands fell anyway, and you nodded.

“Okay,” you eventually replied. “Okay. If that’s what you want…”

Rafe’s eyes flitted between yours, searching your gaze for any uncertainty.

“Yeah…?”

You gave a nod, and he released a breath, reaching for you to rest his hand on the back of your neck before pulling you into a kiss.

Rafe always kissed you like his life depended on it. Desperate and hungry and feverish rolled into one. His hair was still damp, a few water droplets hitting your face as he moved his mouth over yours, and you’d almost forgotten that he wasn’t dressed until his chest brushed against you.

His other hand found your waist, fingers digging into the skin through your dress that you still had on from the night before. It was moments like this when you thought about that memory of the two of you on your bed. You’d wonder when this would progress into something more, and then you’d mentally smack yourself because you knew that was entirely dependent upon you.

You didn’t need to be a genius to know that Rafe wanted you.

Badly.

If the way he touched you wasn’t enough of a sign, then the way he looked at you definitely was. He always ran his eyes over you in a way like he was committing you to memory…or recalling one. It made you nervous in a good way, but then those thoughts would lead to insecure ones.

Had you been good in bed? Had Rafe been satisfied with you? It seemed like the obvious answer was ‘yes’. After all, why would he stay? And why would he constantly undress you with his eyes if he hadn’t been? When Rafe’s hand slid to the front of your neck, something deep in your gut flipped…and you didn’t know why.

His fingers brushed over your skin, and they curled around your throat ever so gently, and you jerked. Rafe didn’t seem to notice, and you blinked your eyes open, reaching up to touch his hand. Your heart was beating wildly in your chest for some reason, and you squeezed your eyes shut just as a sharp pain burst through your temple.

Deep in the crevices of your mind, you felt a hand wrapped tightly around your throat, choking you and jerking you. You could see your own hand on the strange wrist, desperate and shaky. You couldn’t breathe and wind whipped against your face and there was a wall at your back.

You ripped yourself away from Rafe, eyes wide now as you stared past him.

You could feel Rafe looking at you strangely, and you couldn’t find the words to reassure him. You couldn’t even find the words to reassure yourself. Was that a memory? It had to be because God knows it certainly felt like one. You slowly reached up to touch your neck, and you heard Rafe call your name.

“Are you okay…?”

You slowly lifted your gaze, eventually nodding.

“Yeah. Yeah, I’m…I’m fine. I think…”

That last part sounded more like a question, and Rafe rested his hand on your shoulder.

“Um…I need to shower,” you told him, slowly standing.

You practically stumbled to the bathroom, fearful and confused by the strangest sense of déjà vu you’d gotten just then.

[propertyofwicked]

never have i ever... | rafe cameron

not my gif

warnings: none that i can think of :)

had a troll pt1 

“rafe isnt who you think he is. you need to leave before he turns on you too” 

the text wasn’t what you were expecting to receive from an anonymous number on your way to work at the country club. you were used to getting dirty looks from kook girls at the club who would sell their souls to spend one night with your boyfriend, but texting you was a new level of obsessed. did it worry you? not really. you’d heard things about rafe and what he was capable of - mainly from your brother. john b and rafe had a long standing history of hatred for each other, which had only gotten more extreme when he had caught rafe climbing out of your bedroom window at 3am a week ago. since then rafe had been walking around town with a busted lip and a black eye and your brother had been ignoring you since. 

“what’s up with you darlin’“ the voice of your boyfriend softens the furrowed grimace you hadn’t realised you’d been holding for the duration of your shift. he’d been walking back from the toilets when he saw you walking towards the kitchens. 

“nothing really. grumpy kooks clicking their fingers at me thinking they’re going to be served quicker, oh and a text i got earlier.”

“a text? from who?”

“dunno, anonymous number. just said that you weren’t who you say you are and i should leave now. it’s probably just some girl you looked in the general direction of once.”

“sounds about right,” he gives you a small nod, “have they sent anything else?”

“not yet.”

“good. if they do, ignore it,” he ended, his jaw tightening slightly at the thought of someone trying to mess with his girl. his hands sneak around your waist, pulling you to his chest, and his lips pressing a short kiss to yours, and your forehead before pulling away and letting you return to your shift. 

upon finishing your shift you check your phone again. a text from your manager with you schedule for next week, one from rafe letting you know he’ll be at topper’s if you wanted to join, and another one from the anonymous number. 

“he’s not good for you y/n. he’ll turn against you soon enough. leave him before he hurts you.”

rafe used to be a bad guy, you’ll admit that - hell, he’d admit that. but since meeting you, he was off the drugs, not getting in as many fights, and when he said he loved you, you genuinely believed him. nothing had ever made you doubt it till now. maybe this person knew him? an ex maybe? he’d been with girls before, he’d had girlfriends but it never lasted long. will he leave you when it gets too serious, like he had with the others? you quickly responded to rafe, telling him you were just going to go home and get in bed. should you respond to the troll? rafe told you not to but maybe if you could find out who it was you’d be able to see if there was any truth to the matter.

“who are you? what do you know?” you type out in response, putting your phone in your pocket and beginning the walk to the chateau. when you got home, the lights were on, and the pogues sat on the porch, beers in hand.

“hey y/n,” your brother says, making you double take - he’d been ignoring you all week and now he greets you with a smile? 

“hey bird, hey guys,” you greet him and the others, “any beers for me?” 

jj throws a can in your direction, that you open immediately and down half the can.

“thirsty y/n?” kie asks, chuckling slightly as you finish the rest and toss the can to the side.

“parches beyond belief, the club was so busy i haven’t managed to have a drop of water all day,” you respond, laughing lightly, “i’m also tired beyond belief, so i’m gonna head to bed. see you all in the morning.” the group wishes you a good night and you head into the house and straight into your room, and opening your phone up to a new text.

“it doesn’t matter who i am. ive seen him with other girls. do you know what he gets up to when you’re not around?”

[daydreaming-in-letters]

Special

11/16/2022

Pairing: Andrew (Hozier) x fem!reader

Word Count: 3,500

Warnings: rpf, language, mentions of alcohol, slightly smutty daydreaming, mentions of online dating disasters, slander, pining, mentions of past heartbreak, fluff

Summary: Andrew has been secretly in love for a long time. Will he finally find it in himself to confess his feelings to his beloved?

A/N: It took me quite a while to finish this, but it was important to me that I did. I've been struggling with my writing for some time now and maybe it shows. Still, this one is special to me and one of the most personal stories I have ever written.

Picture by Joshua Newton via Unsplash (edited)

If you like my story, you are very welcome to like, comment or reblog. No permission is given to copy, repost or share my work on other platforms.

Andrew could feel the cold creeping up on him from behind his back. What had been supposed to be the last night of summer had turned out to be the first night of autumn instead. Probably sensing the crisp bite of nightfall approach, someone had lit a fire hours ago, back when the sun had still been powerful enough to deceive the rest of them for a little longer. The oak logs, now turned into embers of glowing red, still gave off enough heat to keep the whole group outside way past midnight. Not that he would have needed the fire to keep him warm though. Her sight was more than sufficient to drive away the chill in an instant and provide him with enough heat to turn his cheeks pink whenever his eyes lingered for too long and his thoughts began to wander. 

He could have easily sat through the night without their bonfire if only she was there with him. He had to admit though that the fire suited her well, unveiling her full beauty to him once again in all its splendour, like the day he had finally realised he was in love with her. 

Dark shadows and golden lights danced across her face, caressing her soft skin with the tenderness of a lover’s touch. With every flicker of the flames, the glossy sheen of her painted lips twinkled enticingly, as if he would have needed the sight to remind him of the countless times he had yearned to taste them. What drew him in most though were her eyes, they always did. But it was here, in the glow of the fire, that they shone like they did only in the rarest of moments, when she allowed her feelings to breach the surface of her usually so reserved demeanour. 

The fact that he hadn’t seen her in quite a while only added to the effect she had on him. It must have been a good year ago, but the memory was still as vivid as if it had only been a few days. Andrew would never forget the darkness he had seen in her eyes that day. And he would never forgive the one who had put it there. The one she had called her lover back when lightning had first pierced Andrew’s defenceless heart. The one that sat right here by the fire among all their friends, like Judas among the apostels. Maybe even worse. 

With the heed of each and every single one of Argos’ ninety-nine waking eyes, Andrew had watched them all night, searching for even the slightest signs of discomfort on her side, or worse, of phoenix rising from the ashes, but so far nothing alarming had passed between them.

Andrew had always admired former lovers who were able to turn failed romance into friendship, but seeing these two on friendly terms, watching her laugh about his witless jokes as if he hadn’t almost broken her heart beyond repair, made him seriously reconsider the veracity of that belief.

“Oh come on, not again,” someone broke his train of thought with their whiny complaint about the empty cooling bag. “I’m not going all the way up into the kitchen again to fetch you lazy fuckers more booze.”

Immediately more and more voices joined in, eager not to leave their comfortable spots by the fire and walk through the cold and dark of the garden—all but one, and he knew even before her lips had parted that she would take it upon herself to get the supplies from inside the empty house.

“All right,” she uttered with a soft sigh as she stood, “someone hand me the bag. I’ll go.”

Too quick for his brain to catch up on the movement, Andrew found himself on his feet as well and lunged towards the bag, beating her to it without any effort thanks to his long legs.

“I’ll come with you.”

He had feared she would protest, fastening his grip on the handle just in case she would try to yank it out of his hand while telling him she was plenty able to find the way to the fridge by herself. But she didn’t. Instead she just smiled up at him before her lips formed a silent thank you and Andrew was very grateful that his feet somehow remembered how to move on their own.

All evening a thousand questions he wanted to ask her had spiralled through his head. How was she doing? Had life treated her kindly since he had last seen her? God, he hoped it had. Still a part of him wished that didn’t extend to her love life as well and even though he knew it was childish to hope that her heart was still unclaimed because he wanted to make a home in it himself, he did. 

But he probably never would. Especially not since telling her about the feelings he had nursed for so long seemed impossible if he wasn’t even able to start a simple conversation now that they were alone. Maybe it was for the best though, seeing that she obviously wasn’t too keen on starting a conversation either.

It hadn’t always been like this, awkward and unfamiliar, as if they had never talked whole nights through, deeply lost in their own tiny universe where everything orbited around music, poetry, literature, mythology, politics, philosophy and all the other topics the rest of the gang found too profound for a night of drinking and light entertainment. He had lived for those moments, loved to pick her marvellous brain until, if only for a brief point in time, he was able to see the world through her eyes. 

And now he was standing here like a bloody fool, holding the bag for her in silence while she loaded bottle after bottle of cold brew into it. She was so close to him, her unique fragrance filling his senses every time she stirred the air between them when she turned. It was almost completely blanketed by the sharp stench of smoke. Almost. But not to him. He had memorised her scent like his favourite song, ready to recall every single note of it from memory even after all this time. Yet he seldomly allowed himself to do so. It made him careless, made his mind wander off to a place in which he imagined how she would feel, skin on skin. He wondered if she would taste just as good, her salty-sweet aroma still fresh on his tongue as their bodies became one in heated passion. He longed to feel her breath crawling up his neck as she moaned his name in pleasure, yearned to be wrapped tightly in the warmth of her—

“Andrew?”

The touch of her fingers gently pulled him from his fantasy, away from her and still back to her, back into the bleak reality of the kitchen with its buzzing fridge and cold neon lights.

“Huh?” he muttered sheepishly, his brain still unable to form a coherent sentence after what it had just dreamed up.

His irritation seemed to amuse her, a soft giggle breaking through her concern for a split second before she became serious again.

“Are you all right?”

“Yeah. Sure.” He tried his best to sound convincing, but he knew she could read him like a book and so he was quick to add, “How about you?”

“Me? I’m not the one who zoned out for a moment.”

“True.” He smiled down at her, warm and soft. “But that’s not what I meant.”

“Oh.” For the blink of an eye the smile she had shot him in return faltered, and when it steadied on her lips again, it wasn’t quite the same anymore. “I’m good. Fine, actually. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Well, I just thought…you know…with him being here and all…”

“Ah, I see.” Her hand found his arm and gave it a gentle squeeze before gliding down the length of it and Andrew thought he could feel her touch in his very bones. “It’s very sweet of you to worry about me, but there’s really no need to. After all it was a mutual split.”

Actually, he remembered their breakup a little differently, but if this was the narrative she had chosen to hold onto, he wouldn’t be the one to crush it for her. But when she pulled her hand away from his, it was her who felt the need to correct that statement. 

“Okay, maybe the split itself wasn’t that mutual, but I know now that we had it coming for a long time. And I’ve made my peace with it.”

“That’s good to hear.” Andrew felt the awkward silence lure in the darkness that awaited outside the kitchen and still he needed another moment to gather the courage to ask the one question his heart feared the most and was still desperate to find the answer to. “So…um…are you…is there someone new in your life?”

“God no!” He hadn’t expected that reaction at all and even though he didn’t find his fears confirmed, there was something about her eyes and the tone of her voice that made his heart heavy for her. “I put that hope to rest rather quickly after I started online dating.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Part of him truly was because no matter how much he had wished for her to be single, he would never have wanted it to come at the cost of more hurt.

“No, don’t be. Some of the shit I’ve been through is actually quite amusing in retrospect. Come on, I’ll tell you a few stories on the way back.”

It had taken them quite a while before they could hear the laughter from the fireplace drift over to them again. They had stopped a few times on the way, mostly because he had temporarily forgotten how to walk in the face of the things she had told him. But no matter how he looked at it, amusing was far from the word he would use to describe most of the things she had endured. Disbelief had alternated with rage up to a point that he himself felt awful for even sharing the same sex with this scum. 

After what he had just learned, Andrew couldn’t blame her for losing faith in love, not in the least. If anything, he was surprised how well she seemed to handle everything she had been through. In his eyes it was more than admirable. Of course he had known before that dating was seldomly an easy thing, but until now he had never realised what risks it held for women in a world almost entirely shaped by men.

“Promise me you won’t tell the others, okay? I wouldn’t want them to know. Especially not…”

Despite the darkness he could see her eyes shimmer with embarrassment. What for, he didn’t know. She had nothing to blame herself for. 

“Of course. I promise. Cross my heart.” 

A slender finger moved across his chest in two strokes to support his words and his childlike gesture made her smile. He had hoped it would. What he hadn’t anticipated however was her next move, and as her palm found the very spot he had just marked with a cross, his heart sank into his feet. There was nothing he could do to prevent it from speeding up, forced to stand and watch her catch on to it any second now while he felt its powerful drum underneath the thin layer of skin that covered his neck. 

“So, you still seem to get along with Y/N exceptionally well. Any chances for a reunion then?”

Her hand fell away, his fear of getting caught forgotten immediately, when she turned towards the voices. The little group that sat around the fire was still veiled from view by a few thick bushes, but the teasing tone was enough to imagine the grin on the talker’s face. Andrew and the woman by his side were far from grinning though.

“Not in a million years. We split for a reason, you know.”

“Yeah, I totally understand. She’s kind of…special.”

“You can say that again.”

Even in the dim light that reached their hiding spot from the fire, Andrew could see her face fall. Fascinated and petrified alike by the myriad of emotions that flickered in the treacherous gleam of her eyes, he wished he could do anything but watch disaster unfold right in front of him. He might have thought of something, anything, had he known that they were far from finished with their humiliating ordeal.

“Might be the reason online dating isn’t going too well for her.”

“Honestly, I can’t say that comes as a real surprise.”

The conversation was far from over, but Andrew didn’t care anymore. All he cared about was the pair of wide eyes that seemed to stare right into the darkness of the cosmos as her body stumbled back a few steps.

“Y/N?”

The bag fell into the grass with a thud, the bottles inside clinking dangerously, but all he heard was her trembling voice that mumbled an absentminded excuse.

“I…I’m really tired. I should probably head home.”

And with that she just turned, the hint of an apologetic smile on her face, and let the shadows swallow her. For a second he just stood there, frozen in place by the rising panic inside of him, until the faint noise of a shaky breath carried over to him on the breeze.

“Wait.”

But she didn’t. Of course she didn’t. And why would she? He had done nothing to stop those eejits from their slander and he couldn’t blame her for assuming it was because he secretly agreed with them. 

“Y/N, stop.”

His feet had begun to move at last, hurrying after her as fast as the slippery grass allowed until he could make out her silhouette only an arms-length away and reached for her. 

“Please stop.” 

His voice was soft, but his hold on her wrist wasn’t. He couldn’t let her walk away from him, not like this. Not before he had told her—

But the moment she turned to face him, the words died away in his throat as he took her in in the faint moonlight, two watery lines cascading down her cheeks like streams of stars. Words would not be enough to make them stop. It was foolish, a gesture born from sheer helplessness in the face of his beloved’s despair, but there was no falter in his hands when he pulled her in and sealed her lips with his own. 

It wasn’t at all what he had hoped their first kiss to be like. But at least for a second he could feel her return it, her hands coming up to his chest, fisting the thick denim of his jacket, before she pushed him away.

“Don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

His honest bewilderment seemed to be completely lost on her. Instead her chin began to tremble dangerously.

“Don’t be kind to me because I’m sad. Your pity just confirms they are right.”

“Pity? You think this was a gesture of pity?”

Her silence was answer enough and Andrew could see her retreat into her shell again. Soon, she would once more shoot him that apologetic smile and flee the scene, without ever knowing that in this very moment, pity was the last thing he felt for her. 

“What about this then?”

This time, he knew exactly what he was doing. Fully prepared to be pushed away again, to be yelled at or be slapped in the face, he leaned down. Gentle fingers cupped her cheek and he took it as a good sign that she didn’t shy away from his touch. He waited, one last moment for her to stop him, but she didn’t, and so he closed the last gap between them. 

This was what it should have been like the first time. Soft and tender, full of affection, every fibre of his being filled with her until he didn’t know anymore where he ended and she began. Through the haze of his rapture he faintly noticed the soft press of her body against his, unwavering arms wrapping around his neck, and he pulled her closer, securing her in his arms while she moaned her sweet approval into his mouth. 

He could have kissed her like this forever, but he still had a point to prove, a statement to make, and so he pulled away.

“Still think this was a pity kiss?” he panted against her lips and when her answer didn’t come, he pulled away further to look at her. He had hoped to be met with the familiar warmth of her eyes, but he found her gaze fixed on his jacket instead, where she watched her own hands adjust his collar.

“Even if it was—”

“It wasn’t.”

“Still,” she paused for a second, “what they say is true.”

“So? What’s wrong with being special?”

“I think we both know they didn’t mean special in a good way.”

Andrew sighed as his palm found her cheek again. “Maybe they didn’t.” He gently tilted her head and waited patiently until she finally decided to look at him. “But I do. I mean it in the best way possible when I say you’re special to me, Y/N. They may be right, you are complicated. But aren’t we all in our own way? That’s how nature has created us, as absolutely unique individuals, beautifully complicated. None of them may understand this, measuring you by society’s grotesque norms instead, but to me you are easy to love.”

“Andy, I…”

“It’s okay, love. It’s okay if you don’t feel the same about me. I just wanted you to know.”

This was it. He had said what he had wanted to say. Now she would try her best to be gentle in her rejection, thank him for his honesty and leave. He would probably not see her again after tonight. 

“Fuck,” he mumbled as his forehead sank against hers, “I should have told you a long time ago.”

“Maybe, yes. Then again, I don’t think you could have chosen a better moment to tell me than this exact one.”

His brain had no time to process what she had just said, distracted by the hands that found his trembling form again, one gliding into the warm space between his shirt and jacket, the other smoothing along his cheek and into his hair to hold him in place. As if he would ever even consider parting from her in a moment like this. And then he could feel it again for a heartbeat, the feathery touch of her lips on his, ethereal and unreal like a fleeting daydream. 

His next words came in a whisper against her own, anxious if he lost their touch, he might wake from this dream after all. “Do you still want to get out of here?”

“Desperately.”

“Will you let me walk with you then? Just to make sure my special girl gets home safe and sound.”

“I think,” she said quietly, her breath leaving a honeyed due on his lips, “that’s the best idea you had tonight.” Slowly he moved, still reluctant to part from her, and it was only when he had secured her hand safely in his own that he dared to pull away and began walking. “Your best idea apart from that pity kiss, maybe.”

“I told you, woman, it wasn’t a pity kiss.” 

It was too dark to see her now, the moonlight shielded from them by the thick branches of a fir tree that hung above. And so, there was nothing he could do but squeeze her hand to make his protest known. 

“Bollocks,” she huffed teasingly as she squeezed back, causing Andrew to stop in his tracks.

“Do I need to show you again?”

“It surely won’t hurt.”

She squealed in surprise as he wrapped his arm around her middle and manoeuvred her backwards. With a soft groan, her spine was pressed into the gnarly bark of the tree while her head landed securely against the back of a large hand that shielded it from impact. 

“Kiss me, Andrew,” she breathed into the expectant silence, her fingers finding his lush curls again and guiding him towards the source of her heady whisper. And he did. Until he could feel the world around him starting to spin. He could have blamed it on the lack of oxygen or the darkness around them that heightened his senses, maybe even on the mere fact that this kiss had seemed so utterly unthinkable by the beginning of this evening, but he knew too well that it was the woman in his arms who made this kiss the most special he had ever shared. A kind of special he vowed to always cherish and never take for granted.

[classic-maya]

When do you think Brian fell in love with Justin?

Omg, a QaF fan??? In my DMs??? It’s more likely than you think. Ok I have many a thought and I’m going to work backwards. It might be controversial b/c I think it happened early on in season 1 because…

By 1x10 Brian is so whipped he drives all night to New York to find Justin and even though he is beyond pissed the second Justin gives him puppy dog eyes Brian is falling over himself to get inside him.

Look at Justin’s smug little face! He knows that he has Brian wrapped around his little finger. He starts stripping and Brian doesn’t do anything but Justin is so confident he teases him and asks if he needs help taking his clothes off. Justin is the king.

Before that in 1x08 after Craig beats Brian up outside of Babylon and gives Justin the ultimatum to go home now or never again; Brian storms off yelling an emphatic “fuck!” He thought Justin would go home and in that moment he was mourning the relationship. I think Brian was already in love. It hurt him to see Justin being asked to choose between his family and Brian but really between his true self and being accepted by his family. Brian knows this pain and it’s why he had not yet come out by this point in the show and it tears him up to see Justin go through that.

Two episodes before, 1x06, we see Brian looking at Justin’s drawing while someone under the covers is giving him head. This scene is the first time we see Brian have sex with someone else while actively imagining they are Justin instead. Also he goes to the art show at the center in this ep and he would not have done that just for Lindsay. He is there for Justin and he is sooo in love.

In 1x05 Brian kicks a trick out because the guy was rude to Justin. At this point Justin is already much more meaningful to him than a one night stand. After this Brian tells Justin not to rely on anyone else and the only person you can trust is yourself. I think this scene is so telling because ostensibly Brian is talking to Justin but really he is desperately trying to remind himself of this belief. He is already in love but he is also afraid of what that means.

I think Brian fell in love as early as 1x03 when Justin had the gall to steal two tricks from him. It was a like-recognizes-like moment. Brian for the very first time respected Justin and saw him as more than just some kid. In a scene at Woody’s in this ep Brian defends Justin to Michael and says “Leave him alone…he’s actually kind of sweet.” Justin’s move at the end of the ep was far from sweet and it not only turned Brian on, it had him head over heels. The way he smiles while kissing him on the dancefloor that night and holds him up in his arms like a trophy. I’m certain Brian took him home and couldn’t keep his hands off him the rest of the night.

For the rest of the season we see the tension between Brian’s love for Justin and Brian’s love for his lifestyle. Falling in love with someone is entirely discordant with Brian’s idea of himself and as we know he feels he can’t be trusted to love someone and have them love him in turn. He is terrified of that vulnerability and he doesn’t want to be hurt especially by someone he has allowed to get this close to him.

This follows them until season 5 when Brian finally allows himself to tell Justin that he loves him. He says it’s because of the bomb, but Brian already had to consider losing Justin once before, and instead of telling Justin that he loved him after the bashing he instead pretends that he didn’t even show up to the hospital despite visiting him every day and watching him sleep. Brian loved Justin from the beginning but he had so much work to do healing from his childhood and the walls he built up before he could even consider letting himself be vulnerable enough to admit it to Justin.

Finally, I just want to say that Justin is god’s strongest soldier. Was he perfect? No. Did he leave Brian and misunderstand him a few times? Yes. But jesus Brian did not make it easy on him. It takes a lot to love someone unconditionally even when they refuse to tell you what you both know is true.

Ok, stepping off my soapbox.

[bigassmoonchild]

Now I'm curious on how you planned to off Simon like non Canon maple syrup can we get his death or HC on How everyone deals with fucker dying

(i never actually wrote out his death, but i sat for close to ten minutes debating on going thru with it. also MEDICAL INACCURACIES as well as DEATH)

you had helped sedate simon, ensuring the doctors could check on him and make him comfortable. you sat next to him, watching his peaceful face while waiting for the doctors to return with the news.

god, you’d missed simon. he was your alpha, your mate and now the father of your child. these last few months without him hurt beyond belief. the knock on the door brought you from your thoughts, turning to watch the doctor walk in.

she had a rough look on her face, brows slightly furrowed and she wasn’t making eye contact with you. clearing her throat, she gave you a quick glance before opening the file she had in hand. 

‘ma’am, we’ve got the brain scan results back,’ she whispered and your heart sunk. you knew the way she was speaking, you understood why she was talking so softly. you’d done this before, but you could never have assumed it hurt this much.

she gave you a frail smile. ‘i’m so sorry, but his brain is shutting down. he doesn’t have long left,’ she whispered, finally making eye contact with you. you had thought you’d felt nothing when you were told he was possibly dead, but now you truly felt nothing.

a strange sense of numbness spread through your body and your eyes shut. you could feel the tears, hot and wet, dripping down your cheeks. there was nothing left of simon, but a shell of the man he had once been.

your lover was gone, even if his body was still breathing right there. you were alone.

the doctor stood there as you blinked back into it. ‘could you bring his pack, please?’ you whispered hoarsely, feeling the burning of your nose with more tears to come.

how could you love a man who had continuously hurt you, someone who couldn’t even decipher his own emotions? because he was all you had.

you knew nothing you said or did would bring back your mate, but you could feel the pit in your stomach with the realization you’d have to inform them. price and soap, gaz and everyone he’d ever made a connection with.

the knock on the door jostled you from these thoughts and you saw them come in, moving around simons bed. ‘is he gonna be alright?’ price whispered and you shook your head.

‘we were too late,’ you whispered to the group, dropping your head down into your lap and letting the sobs out.

and for weeks you lay in your nest, surrounded by the slowly fading scent of simon. surrounded by all the memories you would never have with him, left alone to raise the pup.

the pack left you alone to grieve. all of you were grieving in your own way. price buried his sorrow with simon, leaving barely enough to get by with his own omega and pups.

gaz found himself training harder and harder. he wanted to be better, faster. make sure he knew exactly what to do in any scenario. he worked himself thin trying to just be better.

soap was hit almost as hard as you, trying to find ways to have corrected what happened. he worked himself to the bone trying to figure out what he could’ve done different to save simon. he spent countless days and nights trying to fix his wrongs but he couldn’t.

he never would’ve been able to do anything different, he hadn’t even been on the mission.

it was raining when his funeral was held. price and the rest of the pack stood around you as you watched your lover, your mate be lowered into the ground. you’d bought a beautiful headstone, it stood tall, with just the same amount of broodiness that simon would carry himself with.

you’d brought flowers of all kind, laying them around his now covered casket as a final goodbye. kissing his headstone, you stood and allowed price and the others to help you home.

for some time after his death, you’d wished for a boy. hoping without hope that he would grow to be similar to his father, but without the same level of emotional constipation his father had.

and it was soap who took to helping you as the months wore on, soap who took you just after your birth to introduce your pup to simon. feeling the love wash over you, even through the pain when you’d realized alpha wasn’t there.

he would never see any of the firsts or lasts.

that grave plot was where your pup introduced you to their own, laying fresh flowers where they had died. and lying just under the newest member of the family, you and simon laid together.