#i met him once and it was when he walked into the store unannounced and then grabbed some stuff and tried walking right out

[rabbiteclair]

a while back my mom discovered that the owner of the company was stealing basically all of the money that he was supposed to submit for things like 'taxes' and 'health insurance' and 'court-mandated payments' for the employees, listing them on the pay stubs but then pocketing the money to help keep the company afloat

she then made sure that everybody in the company knew, submitted her resignation effective immediately, and spent about the next week calling government offices to report every crime, regulatory violation, and breach of employment contract that she could think of. and now it looks like the series of investigations that she kicked off might be the thing that finally destroys this man's company.

sometimes I'm proud of her

[fluffansmut-old]

Hi! I could do one where y/n is Eddie's girlfriend and y/n's neighbor has a huge crush on Eddie and she tries to get Eddie to be with her and not with y/n but obviously it doesn't work. I've been following you for a while and I love your imagines :)

A/N: Thank you so much for your request and for the kind words, I’m sorry for the wait!

Summary: Eddie decides to wait for you at your neighbour’s house, which he shouldn’t have.

Content warnings: Angst, misunderstandings, bit of hurt/comfort. OC character - Alice.

Word count: 1446

AO3 | master list

You and Alice had been neighbours since about second grade and you were close friends during elementary school. But as you both grew you found that you two had less and less in common and drifted apart. You always tried your hardest to be kind to her when you met her though.

That was why you introduced her to Eddie once you had dated him for about a month.

It had been a Friday afternoon and you and Eddie had pulled up outside of your house in his van.

She had been carrying in some heavy grocery bag when you and Eddie had gotten out of the car, and like the good people you two are, you offered to help.

Once the were all inside Eddie held his hand out towards her and said:

“I’m Eddie by the way”, He motioned towards you. “The boyfriend.”

She smiled at him.

And in the moment found it sweet, that he was so eager to introduce himself to anybody in your life as your boyfriend. But what you didn’t know was that the person he just had introduced himself to was the wrong one.

Since that day Alice always seemed to be outside when Eddie arrived to hang out with you or to pick you up. She ALWAYS managed to be outside.

Eddie usually stopped to talk to her, thinking friendliness was her only intention. But oh how wrong he was.

This particular day Eddie had decided to pop over to yours as a surprise, but unfortunately his timing was way off, because you just left to go to the store. But who happened to be outside right when he arrived? You guessed it. Alice.

“Ooo!” She exclaimed, waving towards him. “Eddie! What brings you here?”

Eddie, who’s sole focus was to get to you, was surprised to hear someone else call his name.

“Oh, hi Alice” He said when he noticed her.

She smiled widely and trotted on up to him.

“Can I do something for you today?” She asked and put a hand on his shoulder.

“Not really, I’m just dropping by to see my baby.” He said and motioned towards your house.

“I see” Alice said… “well I hate to be the bearer of bad news but she just drove off, not sure when she’ll be back”

“Oh, shit, well I can’t really expect her to be home when I swing by unannounced” Eddie said, and turned back towards his car.

“You could wait at my place?” She offered. “Surely she can be gone for that long?”

He hesitated, of course he wanted to stay to eventually get to hang out with you, but also he didn’t want to impose on your neighbour.

“I’m good, it was hit or miss and unfortunately I missed, I’ll just have to call her later and make plans or something” he explained, fiddling with his car keys in his hands.

“No, Cmon stay, otherwise you spent time driving here for nothing” Alice said, grabbing the leather-clad sleeve and pulled him towards her house.

“Uhm well, are you sure I’m not imposing?” He asked, now slowly walking with Alice towards her house.

Inside she offered him a can of coke and to sit on her sofa. He accepted the offer and sat down on the edge of the sofa.

He felt out of place. The house was way to neat, tidy and put together for him to even sit comfortably on the sofa, fearing that he would ruin it all.

Alice came out of the kitchen a few seconds later, coke can in hand.

She handed it to him and he grabbed it. As he took a sip his eyes flicked towards your place, hoping to see you in the driveway, but no such luck.

Alice shifted closer towards him, slowly and quietly she nudged her knee closer until it was touching his.

Eddie froze for a second. Gave her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she just accidentally brushed against him?

He moved his knee closer to himself and looked around the room trying to find something to make conversation about and his eyes landed on a record collection.

“Oh you like music?” He asked and she exclaimed an “oh my god yes” and bounced off the couch, walking over to the record player.

“Do you like the bangles? I LOVE the bangles” Alice said as she turned towards Eddie, record in hand.

Eddie hesitated for a moment, his eyes flicked down at himself before looking at the record in her hand again. Did it seem like he liked the fucking bangles?

“It’s not my favourite” he tried, but Alice didn’t hear him. She was too busy putting the record on.

Just as Alice put the record on and sat down impossibly closer to Eddie you got back and pulled up in your driveway.

Through your neighbours window you saw her leaning over your boyfriend. You really couldn’t believe what you saw, you locked eyes with Eddie but couldn’t hold eye contact for very long, your eyes filled with tears and you ran off, into your house and collapsed on your bed.

It all made sense then, that was why he always stopped and talked to her, that was why she always managed to be outside when he was around. He wanted her, not you.

It felt like pure shit and the only thing you could see when you closed your eyes, was Eddie and Alice, inches from each other.

In Alice’s house Eddie who hade just seen you tear up and run off was quick to push Alice off towards the other end of the couch, his heart was pounding hard in his chest, her advances had made him anxious and that combined with all the things you probably was thankful made him properly panicked.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Alice exclaimed as the back hit the pillows.

“What the fuck are you doing?!” He asked, already walking towards the door.

“Eddie, please stay, I’m better, we can be better together” Alice pleaded, holding onto him. “I promise I’m better than her”

“You just saying that sentence lets me know that you’re not, and you’ll never be” Eddie said and yanked his arm free.

He ran towards your house and thanked his lucky star when he noticed that you accidentally left your door unlocked.

“Baby?” He called out, talking off towards your bedroom as he heard you sniffling.

“Go away Eddie” you croaked out as he appeared in the doorway of your bedroom.

“I want to explain what’s going on” Eddie said, walking in and sitting down at the foot of your bed, he put a ringed hand on your calf.

“Don’t touch me” you snapped and Eddie obeyed immediately.

You regretted it instantly as you had said it, cause it had felt kinda nice to feel him there, but at the same time you were mad at him.

“Go on then” you said after you had sat in silence for a while.

“Oh right,” Eddie said and he started to explain, about how he wanted to surprise you today, about how Alice had just been there when he showed up, how she had offered to let him stay at hers whilst he waited for you, and how he agreed just because he really wanted see you today and the thought of going back home had felt so incredibly sad.

He explained that she made advances on him and that he in no way did anything to respond to them, he explained how he froze and panicked and how he know felt so dumb for not doing anything about it until you saw.

By the time he finished he had tear filled eyes that matched your own.

“I just love you so much baby and I dunno if any of this explains anything but I’m begging you, please believe me!” He pleaded.

You sighed, let out a sob and threw yourself towards Eddie who caught you and let his own tears disappear into your hair as he held you close.

“I thought I was gonna lose you, I thought that you were going to leave me” you cried as you held onto the leather jacket and dio-vest in bunched up fists to make sure he really was there.

“I’m not leaving baby, I love you so incredibly” he mumbled and kissed the top of your head.

“Good, I love you too, more than I can tell,”

The next time you and Eddie passed Alice’s house she tried to talk to you, to explain herself but the two of you only flipped her the bird and ran off laughing.

[nanuer]

‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡GODDESS [ arcade ]

synopsis: in the ethereal world of dance, the white swan glides with grace, her every movement a poem of longing. the human prince, a star on the court, finds solace in her delicate steps, a symphony amidst the chaos of his world. their love blossoms, a forbidden dance between two realms, but as the final act approaches, will their love defy the constraints of their reality, or will they be forever trapped in the melancholy of what could have been?

╰┈➤ pairing: basketball player gojo satoru x fem!ballerina reader

⋆·˚*genre: strangers to friends to more, college au, complicated situationship

˚ ༘⋆warnings: nsfw, suggestive, contains smut, sexual, excessive smoking details, getting high, self-destructive, mentions of bleeding, scars, fluff, angst, mentions of drowning, commitment issues

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･updates: ON HIATUS

chapter - ii.

↺go back ⊜ playlist next ≫

🎼chapter: i. ↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺

1 week later

“y/n~ just this once, please hang out with me will you?” you were currently kneeling down on the floor packing up your stuff from the dance studio to head home, when Shoko appeared in front of you pleadingly asking you to go to a new arcade store that opened nearby campus

“Shoko I would but, i still have a lot of scaffolds to work on” you said smiling sympathetically towards her, she pouted before sitting down in front of you

“you always say no anyways, just this once please? i really wanna check it out with you” she said staring at you with her puppy doe eyes, making you smile at her before taking a deep breathe

“i only say no, ‘cause you invite me whenever i have so much to do” you said zipping up your bag, before standing up and holding out your hand towards her

she grabbed your hand standing up as well, before flinging her bag over her shoulder and replying “and when do you never have something to do huh, you wound me you know” making you chuckle

“should i just memorize your life schedule so i’d know when's the best time to invite you out?” she asked before you both started walking towards the door, you smiled “alright, just this once then”

her eyes beamed about to hug you but you both were startled when the door was aggressively opened wide, making you both turn to the source

you were met with those bright blue eyes and white hair yet again, but this time he was accompanied by a guy with a man-bun trailing behind him

“oh, Shoko just the person we're looking for” he said, a wide grin plastered on his features as he started to approach you both

“Satoru, Suguru, what do you two want this time huh?” Shoko replied, placing both of her hands on her hips showing the two an annoyed expression at their unannounced visit

“we have a practice match later with a neighborhood school and we wanted to ask you if you wanted to come - in person by the way, so you wouldn't have any choice but to oblige” his grin impossibly got even wider as the black haired man stood beside him, smiling sweetly at Shoko

“it's against that one dickhead’s school too, so we thought you might want to see his stupid face getting beaten” Suguru added, making Shoko grin

“well that does sound tempting but, too bad me and my new friend have plans so maybe next time~” she said holding onto your elbows as she interlocked them, you turned to her before facing the two men again noticing Gojo’s widen eyes

“oh - y/n nice to see you here, you're actually friends with Shoko?” Satoru said, facing you as he waves his hand at you making both Shoko and the black haired gentleman send him a confused look

“hi Gojo, right we have computer class together I met him a week ago” you said facing Shoko, explaining to her why you knew of her other best friend, this made Shoko nod her head at you before mouthing the words ‘oh’

“mhm, that's right man - i didn't know you were friends with Shoko as well” he said, making you send him a toothless smile before noticing a lightbulb on top of his head

“how ‘bout you both watch our practice match then, it'll be quick really we'll only join the first quarter and you two can leave right after!” he said, placing his clenched right fist on top of his other hand's palm

Shoko faced you making you follow her “If you don't want to watch y/n we won't, but if you’d like then we can always go to that new arcade afterwards” she smiled at you before holding both of your hands, you turned to look at the two men holding their hands out in a pleading manner

“i guess i would like that, sure” you said returning your attention back to Shoko, you noticed the two was ecstatic and shared smug faces between each other

“alright then, you both can watch from the bleachers so you can avoid any flying balls” Suguru said, holding onto Satoru’s shoulder capturing your attention and facing him

“by the way, I'm Suguru Geto - please call me Suguru if you will” he said, smiling sweetly at you making you return the gesture mindlessly “alright, Suguru… you can call me y/n as well”

you and Shoko were currently going up the stairs towards the bleachers area as instructed by Gojo earlier, also this way you can see the game better in this angle - you’ve never watched a game this close in person before you usually were in the top bleachers or in plain tvs even

so to experience watching it this close made you quite excited, you don't really understood much about basketball considering how you've never played before but at the very least you do understand the point system

“you look quite excited this is a first for me, usually you only look like this when our ballet instructor tells us we'll be performing a new piece” Shoko said, sitting down on the very corner of the bleachers near the stairs - you sat right beside her before blinking a couple of times and turning back to the court “i guess it really is exciting to watch a game this close, don't you?”

you saw a hint of white hair jogging around the court approaching your school’s team, making you revert your attention towards them

currently Gojo was huddling along with his fellow teammates, as their coach were giving them reminders of their gameplay - Satoru who was barely paying attention let his eyes wander around the school gym before landing on you two

he waved grinning at you both, before Shoko returned the gesture with her hand waving back making the guy send you guys one last smile before being elbowed by Suguru and getting angry glances from their coach

as the call whistle blew, Satoru and Suguru approached the center of the court - Suguru right in front with the referee holding the ball facing off the opposing team, while Satoru is right behind him with a smug grin before placing his hand on his knee running his other hand through his hair

a few seconds of silence surrounded the court, before bustling whistle blew once again but this time signaling the players to start with the game as the referee tosses the ball up in the air making Suguru jump and tap the ball back giving Satoru possession

as the game began, Satoru effortlessly dribbled the ball down the court, weaving through defenders with grace - his opponents, who are well aware of his reputation, tried to keep their guard up against him

with a swift spin, he evaded a defender and made a pass to his teammate with the jersey number ‘9’ on his back who was avoiding the defenders of the opposing team before tossing the ball towards another player who was in the 2 point line

the player had the number ‘14’ on his back - he took the shot and successfully made the point against the other team

“you know, as much as I like to make fun of Satoru and Suguru they both are very valuable to their team - they're only second years but being able to be in the starting line is quite impressive” Shoko said as you turned to look at her, she was leaning against her chair with her hands in his pant’s pocket

“well of course they aren't the only second years in the starting line, but they're the only two who are in the front-lines in the beginning of the game” she said facing you, as you nod along her words and turning back to the game in front

“have they been playing basketball for a long time?” you asked, as Satoru had possession of the ball again dribbling it against the court before making a jump shot successfully giving their team another 2 points,

"well, they have been playing since freshman year of high school - that's when i met the two, so yeah, they have been playing a long time," she replied, causing you to form an 'oh' shape with your mouth

their team was currently trying to block off the opposing team’s players, who had managed to score a 3 point for their team before Suguru took the ball and started dribbling towards the other side of the court

Satoru, with his back turned to Suguru, positioned himself at the 3-point line, executing a fake-out to confuse the other player marking him, the player seeing through this spun around Satoru moving to block Suguru instead

Sensing the opening, Suguru swiftly passed the ball to Nanami, who dribbled it back to Satoru - with the ball back in his hands, Satoru wasted no time and took the shot, sinking a 3-pointer for their team

home: 42, visitor: 36

you took notice of how nice it was to see other people so focused in their element - you wondered how you looked when you're performing and thought if you looked as passionate as they are right now

which brought you to look at Satoru, he looked so focus yet so carefree at the same time - he never failed to express a smug or a annoyed look whenever the other players managed to block him off or stealing the ball off him, in fact it made you realize how effortlessly handsome he was

you weren't blind and you aren't denying it either, the white haired man was indeed easy in the eyes no one could argue with that - it was probably his own charm that made other people not tear their eyes away from him

you then heard the whistle blew again, seeing the timer the first quarter was officially done making the players return back to their respective benches resting as much as they can and wiping off sweat from their bodies

you heard Shoko stand up and started to gather her things making you do the same, “will you wait for me downstairs y/n, I'll be quick i’ll only inform the two idiots we'll be leaving is that alright?” Shoko asked you, motioning back towards Satoru and Suguru - you smiled and nodded “okay then, tell them my goodbyes too please”

as you waited outside the school gym after Shoko went inside, you stood next to a vending machine leaning against it - when you were suddenly startled by someone standing in front of the machine

you leaned away as you tried to walk towards the gym doors when a voice reached out “you were up in the bleachers earlier right?” you turned back to see a guy with green hair and was wearing the opposing team’s jersey with the number ‘11’

“oh, yea i was” you said raising your brow confusion plastered on your face, as the man bent down to take the drink out from the machine

“so, you go to school here?” he said turning to face you with smirk in his face, making you revert your eyes somewhere else

“yea, i guess i wouldn't be here if i didn't?” You replied, making the man chuckle, and leaned against the vending machine - not long after, you heard footsteps approaching from behind making you turn your head around and seeing Shoko with a displeased expression

“hey Shoko, how’ve you been?” Shoko approaches you holding onto your elbow, “still enjoy playing with balls huh zenin?”

“well aren't you as delightful as ever” the guy replied before walking away from the machine and towards the gym’s doors,

“just wanted to say hi that's all, anyways i'm guessing this is my cue to leave bye~” he said turning his face towards you both and smirking before walking back inside,

“geez, that guy needs a total reality check - oh right come on y/n let's get going as well!” Shoko smiled at you, making you return the gesture before you both started to walk towards the exit

“oh, you mean that guy from earlier? he has this beef against Satoru and at first I didn't hold any grudge against the guy ‘cause well - it's Satoru, but man for the first time I actually understood why Satoru hated that guy” Shoko said trying to shoot as many zombies as she can beside you, the curiosity was eating you up ever since you left the school earlier

“Really, why so?” you asked as you watched Shoko play, holding onto the gun with both of her hands the screen displayed the words next round

“he's misogynistic as hell, and not to mention he keeps sleeping with different women in spite of his ridiculously ugly looks AND personality” she said as she placed the fake gun down on the machine’s table, she then turned towards you

“what’d he say by the way, did he insult you or pester you with anything?” she asked displaying a angry look with her furrowed brows, and pouting lips

“he asked if i was watching the game earlier, and then proceed to ask if i go to our school” you said, sighing making Shoko giggle and raise the toy gun up pointing towards the screen

“he's an idiot isn't he, why would you be there in the first place if you didn't go to our school” she said shooting the zombies on the screen, you let out a giggle as well before agreeing with her

as you continued to wander around the arcade, your attention was suddenly drawn to a familiar sight: a flash of white hair - turning, you found yourself once again face-to-face with Satoru Gojo, standing on the other side of the store's glass window

his bright blue eyes locked onto yours, and a playful grin spread across his face as he waved his hand in greeting as he motioned for Suguru to join him, and together, they approached you

“hey y/n, wanna watch me beat Suguru’s ass out of that punching machine?” Satoru pointed towards the said machine, making Suguru roll his eyes

“you wish, anyways y/n where's Shoko?” Suguru asked, as he took noticed how you were wandering around alone you turned to face Shoko who was still busy with the zombie game, which was probably the reason why she dragged you here

“over there, she's been at it for a couple of minutes already - so i wanted to look around more” you said reverting your eyes towards the two males, the two shared a deep exhale as Suguru started to approach her

“do you wanna look around and see if we can find a claw machine?” Satoru asked you, as you nodded at him before remembering the claw machine you saw earlier

“oh, i saw one actually - i think it was around there” you said starting to approach the said location you pointed to, before finally finding it

“Oh, it has Sanrio characters! y/n pick a character for me real quick” Satoru dropping his bag on the floor before positioning himself right in front of the machine turned to you, making you scan the characters closely

“hm… i like cinnamonroll try catching him” you said, turning to meet his bright blue eyes again - this made the male grin widely before asking you for coins which you gave him all of yours

“thanks! I'll get him for you” he replied before inserting 2 coins in, and the machine started to light up “how many attempts do you think this will get me?”

he asked you as he failed in trying to get the plush doll in the first try, inserting another 2 coins again - you took a look at the remaining coins in his hand before replying

“probably 3 at best, but I'll guess you probably have to get more coins before you can get the doll” he pouted at this trying to angle the claw right above the plushie, and then turning towards you

“watch this-” he said pressing the ok button as the machine actually started to hold onto the doll before releasing it on the prize hole,

you widen your eyes as you watched him bend down to take the doll, wearing a smug look as he shook the plushie with one hand in front of you - taunting you of your doubts

“i’m too good at everything to miss that, and it only took me 2 tries” he said before handing you the plush doll, you smiles at the doll finding it adorable before meeting with Satoru’s eyes again

“you're too smug for your own good, but the doll is indeed adorable so I'll overlook that” you said, making the boy widen his smirk and raising his hand up in front of you

“please hold your applause, it was nothing~” he said shaking his head, making you smile at his playful gesture and sighing

"you know, cinnamonroll kinda looks like you now that I think about it," you said, turning back to the doll in your hands Satoru widened his eyes at you, clearly surprised by the comparison, before straightening up and bending down to pick his bag off the floor

"he does not," Satoru replied with mock indignation, walking back towards Shoko and Suguru "we may have the same color palette, but that's where the similarities end"

you couldn't help but giggle at his theatrics, amused by his playful reaction as Satoru rejoined the others, you returned your attention to the doll in your hands, a small smile tugged at the corners of your mouth

you couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and camaraderie

➥taglist:[OPEN] @sadmonke @purpleguk @kazoomasoo @ritsatoru @lzaj19 @bol0-de-morang0 @aechmea01 @pearlstiare @blognicole @reagan707 @cybrnaya @anthastudios @kareabtu @c0smouche @orphicarchive @misslovingpearl @a1hina @coloredsolos @fandomtrash5092 @bubera974 @gojonegs @kookap

➥names in bold cannot be tagged!

[author’s notes: i finished this in one setting btw... anyways! yay new update - missing my glorious blue eyed king rn:( ]

[shadowsshowdown]

Deus Ex: Human Revolution Shadow’s Showdown 37

The Rules.

Detroit. Adam's apartment.

Jensen regretted letting Connor fly to Uppsala. He regretted revealing where Laura was at all. On the other hand, he wouldn't have been able to go there himself anyway, so he didn't have much choice. He had come home early today because he had found the strength and a huge amount of self-denial to make up for yesterday's missed work as well as solve all of today's problems. Connor had sent him a message that he would be on his way to Sweden soon and assured him not to worry. But of course, why should he worry about Laura finding herself in the arms of another guy?

He spent half an hour making conjectures when he finally came to the conclusion that it was pointless and could only leave him with a headache and even more problems. Vanilla slept on her donut-shaped cushion so he left her food, changed his brown turtleneck sweater for a clean one, and while he was putting on his sports shoes he decided it was high time to change them for winter leather brogue boots. He put on his coat and immediately popped up the collar, then left the apartment.

As he walked down the street toward Crann Tara, he thought about what Christmas would have been like if Laura hadn't run away. Each successive thought squeezed his heart harder and harder. The woman was so carefree when she danced and sang. As carefree as a child. Adam immersed himself in the bustle and heavy air filled with the smell of tobacco. He intended to walk toward the stairs but was stopped by the familiar voice of the bartender.

"Mr. Jensen, I haven't seen Mr. MacKenzie here in a while if you’re looking for him. He always stopped by even at Christmas to wish me well and make a little toast," he informed, knowing that Jensen had always met the Scot here. "Anything to serve?" he asked. "I'm craving a good beer today," he said, though he didn't really feel like staying. Politeness kept him from refusing.

The bartender nodded, reached for a wooden mug, and poured a dark beer into it. Adam paid and immediately took several large sips. Instinctively he checked his phone but Connor hadn't sent any message, which heightened his concern. Over the next several minutes, Pritchard called more than ten times, but he didn't answer. He noticed that it was past seven o'clock so he emptied his pint, nodded goodbye to the bartender, and left.

The street greeted him with an icy gust of wind that brutally reminded him that winter was coming. He did not like the presence of snow in the city, because when it melted he always had wet trousers, and when it froze in some places it was terribly slippery. In fact, he did not like winter at all, but being in Uppsala changed that belief forever. The snowball fight still brings a smile to his face, and partnering Laura on the ice rink is something he would definitely like to do again someday. Adam stood for a moment outside the entrance wondering what to do. He decided to pay Rupert an unannounced visit. He knew it wasn't very polite, but he had no choice. It was imperative that he rectified his mistake. He should buy a gift, but just as he was about to head to the store he remembered that MacKenzie considered such gestures empty and guilt-ridden.

He slipped his hands into his coat pockets and rushed down the street straight to the subway stop. He was passed by busy pedestrians, children walking home, the crowd so thick that he had to forcefully pave his way. In the distance, an ambulance siren sounded, and right next to him a policeman was writing out a traffic ticket. Life went on in Detroit, and he felt like he was going in circles like a hamster in a hamster wheel. The subway ride condemned him to the sight of a couple in love bestowing affection on each other. Personally, he had never been a fan of public demonstration of his feelings, but for Laura, he could break his rule at least for once. A terrible sorrow squeezed his heart. He had a feeling that it would take his breath away and he would soon lose consciousness.

"Are you okay?" a woman asked, to which Adam nodded.

Embarrassment joined the grief. He didn't like arousing the interest of others. He had always managed perfectly well without anyone's help, after all, he was a man so he stubbornly believed he was the pillar of support, the beacon of hope, and the wall protecting from everything bad. If he fell, there would be nothing left. Meanwhile, Laura decided to change the rules and heroically protect him from trouble. He had never heard anything more idiotic in his life. As soon as he stepped out of the subway wagon, he lit a cigarette, followed immediately by another. His hands were shaking, and he couldn't tell it was because of the cold. A few minutes later he was already standing at the door of the MacKenzie house pressing the doorbell. It had been a moment before he heard Demelza's voice.

"I'm coming!" she announced swinging the door open. "Adam?" she asked for the first time surprised to see him. "I'm sorry to disturb you, but Rupert hasn't been at Crann Tara for some time…" "Let's not stand here. It's a cold day," she interrupted inviting him inside. "He's angry with you," she said in a half-whisper. "Hard to say who more but probably you." "It's understandable, we spoiled your Christmas," Adam said with regret in his voice to which Demelza shook her head negatively. "He was counting on you showing more resolve and willingness to fight for someone you care about. Anyway, you two should talk, he's in his office."

Jensen took off his coat and, while hanging it on the coat rack, noticed that there was no vase on the cabinet to look out for. He made all his movements slower than usual wanting to delay this unpleasant moment of the meeting, after which perhaps the tension would subside. He felt as if his deep sigh echoed through the walls of the corridor. Slowly he pressed the handle and half-ajar the door. Rupert sat behind his desk studying some kind of document, probably a patient chart. Usually, he would interrupt this activity, raise his eyes and in a polite tone, invite him in. Now he was silent as if to punish Jensen.

"Are you proud of yourself, boy?" he heard instead of a greeting, and he already knew it was very bad. "No, I'm not the least bit proud," he replied in the tone of a frightened boy who was just getting a scold from his father. "At least that's a good thing," the Scot muttered, still focusing his attention on the patient's file. "You wanted to help me get Laura back at the best possible time, and I let her run away again."

Rupert didn't reply, gesturing with his hand he ordered Adam to come over and silently handed him the file. The man stood motionless, surprised by his behavior, after all, he was bound by doctor-patient confidentiality, but when he looked at who they concerned surprise gave way to a mixture of feelings similar to a drink made from random alcohol. MacKenzie had just handed him the entire file about Mexicantown.

"I'm sorry, but my skills have their limits and you've just reached them. I can't help you if you don't want it yourself and can't take the opportunity. It will be better if we stop seeing each other."

Adam felt as if someone had hit him on the head with something heavy and his legs broke under him like two matchsticks.

"That's why we should stay friends and no one else. It's better that way." "Stay friends." "And no one else." "It will be better that way." Powerlessness Helplessness Lost Sadness Grief Loneliness

Laura's words awakened by Rupert vibrated in his mind, buzzing like a flock of intrusive wasps. They struck at the deepest recesses of his consciousness, awakening emotions that he had long ago buried in an effort to forget. He saw himself standing in front of the glass wall. He saw Laura on the other side. He saw her walking away, diminishing and disappearing. He saw and couldn't bear it.

RULES

RULES

RULES!

FUCK THE RULES!!!

Adam pushed against the glass with all his might. Once, twice and a third time. With a savage shriek of an enraged bull, he slammed his whole body into it, not caring that the shards hurt his face. He ran after her, after the light she was leaving behind. He ran without looking back. It took a lot of effort, but he caught up with the woman in blue, catching her tightly in his arms.

Rupert leaned his elbows on the desktop intertwining the fingers of both hands together. He tilted his head, and Jensen's face was reflected in the glass of his glasses. His lips twitched in a smile, a winning kind of smile. He didn't speak just watched and waited. The Head of Security slowly walked over to the desk and threw a folder on it so that the paper cover flapped loudly.

"Did the lost boy just become a man?" he asked, and his voice was already the old Rupert voice he had known for a long time. "Yes, Mr. MacCoinnich," he replied shortly but firmly. "So now we can talk." The Scot stood up from behind his desk and led the way to that familiar part of the office.

Demelza brought them tea and cookies as usual, and Rupert poured whisky into glasses. Adam felt as if suddenly all the weight resting on his shoulders had become much lighter.

"How did Laura even get to you for Christmas?" asked the ex-SWAT crossing his legs. "She called me, but I don't know why. Perhaps I inspired confidence in her or reminded her of someone. We had talked at Crann Tara before, but I didn't have high hopes," he explained while taking a few sips of Earl Grey. "And you took a chance by inviting me," he muttered.

Rupert nodded slowly. "I wanted to see you two together and form some sort of picture of the situation, or at least an outline of it."

"And we spoiled everything," Jensen sighed, wrapping his hands tightly across his chest. "On the contrary! I saw more than I expected. Laura needs a great amount of warmth and understanding. She is like a flower that blooms in the sunshine but wilts in the drought," he tried to illustrate to Adam what he meant. "She's grown up and responsible, but deep down she's still a child, from whom those best years had been taken away. That's why she's unpredictable. You saw for yourself how carefree she was." "Until I came along," he muttered. "Yes, because she's afraid of you, and about you too but that's another story. You can be just as unpredictable as she is. One time you are the sunshine that warms her in a gentle and soft way and other times you scream. Once things have started to work out for you, you decide to explode with jealousy, anger, or all of the above. On top of that, you still sit astraddle on the fence and bear it very bravely." "I wanted to explain everything. I tried but..." "You lacked self-discipline. You yourself mentioned that Laura went through hell. If you don't learn patience and set a limit to it then you will be alone for the rest of your life. Do you want that?" "Of course..." Adam realized he was raising his voice and brought it under control at the last moment. "I don't want it, though it wasn't that long ago that I said otherwise." "Laura, of course, is guilty too but she's not here so I can only lecture you." "She's in Sweden now, at Gamla Uppsala," muttered the ex-SWAT chewing on a cookie and looking ahead at the wall. "And you're here, why?" Rupert set the cup down on the saucer crinkling his eyebrows in amazement. "Because I’m unable to fly there. Faridah is on a tight schedule, and Sarif won't give me time off so a normal flight isn't an option. There was still Connor and his pilot but even though I don't like him I had to admit he was right that at the mere sight of me Laura would go berserk and might run off somewhere again and then I wouldn't know where she was anymore." "Well..." The Scot rubbed his chin in thought. "Even if he is your rival, I can't deny his sanity." The man was silent for a moment, finishing his tea and cookie. "Only one thing puzzles me. Connor is a complete stranger, and his approach to what concerns Laura is quite unusual. She's introverted, confides in practically no one, and when she's around him she just acts ordinary, as if nothing ever happened. It is apparent this man either knows her from somewhere or has had contact with people like her." "His file doesn't say much. Maybe he was a volunteer? I doubt Laura knew Connor earlier and just now met him at the company," Jensen shook his head negatively. "It's probably just a coincidence." "I don't believe in coincidences. What if I was right and this is her ex?" "At the very thought of it, I get the shivers and feel like risking my position to fly to Sweden. However, I believe Laura is not stupid and even if Damien went through hundreds of surgeries she would still recognize that it was him." "I think so too, I just wanted to check you out," Rupert laughed for the first time since the beginning of their meeting. "You should rest, focus your thoughts on something else, gather your strength, and only then think about how to approach the conversation with Laura. Try calling, sending a message. At most, she won't answer." "Funny that I didn't think of that myself. It should be obvious, after all, I care," Adam looked towards the Scot, who was smiling again. "Did I say something stupid?" "On the contrary. You finally jumped over the fence." "We'll see if I break my legs in the process," he muttered sipping his whisky. "We need to work on your pessimistic attitude. You can't think the glass is half empty, there's still plenty left to drink.”

Adam twitched when the phone tucked in the back pocket of his trousers unexpectedly signaled an incoming message. The man looked apologetically at the Scot and read the message.

I'm landing in Gamla Uppsala in a quarter of an hour. C.

Jensen ran his eyes over the next words and put the smartphone back in his pocket. "Connor is almost there," he said quietly.

"You feel that uncertainty and nervousness, don't you?" He asked though he knew full well what the answer should be.

The Head of Security hesitated for a moment on what to answer. He always denied it in situations like this, he tried to act like a real man but he couldn't lie to himself any longer.

"Yes, Rupert. I can feel these feelings slowly taking away my strength, but I am a man. I must always be strong." "Each of us is weak and powerless at times. Each of us is afraid. That's completely normal. You can't punish yourself for those moments of weakness. For that, you should know when and to whom your strength is needed." "You're absolutely right. I've made too many mistakes, but you know best yourself why," he said quietly. "I know; you've been through hell. That's why it's so hard for me to accept you can't understand Laura. She lost her parents and her career. I don't know what happened over the years except that she was sexually abused by Damien." "He kept her in the basement or showed her to his friends. She was tortured and..."

Rupert interrupted him with a gesture of a raised hand. "I know what people like Damien are capable of so you don't need to go into details. If only out of respect for her dignity, which is already in tatters."

Adam nodded his head slowly. He had indeed spoken too many unnecessary words. "I'm sorry, I got carried away by my emotions. My lack of understanding stems from the fact that after what happened I decided to create my alter ego. This personality you see now."

"It's good you're telling me this yourself, but as you can see something didn't go the way you wanted." "Laura accomplished something I thought was impossible. I defended myself against it for a long time," "You're still doing it," the psychologist interrupted him. "You still don't allow yourself to change. You try, yes, but then you take a step back. Besides, you both do that. You said you wanted to be brave, that you wanted to be a man so don't act like a scared child hiding behind mom's skirt." "Unfortunately I figured out what I wanted but way too late," Adam muttered, finishing his whisky.

It was enough for MacKenzie to grunt and the ex-SWAT already knew what a mistake he had made so he decided to keep quiet.

Sweden. Gamla Uppsala.

Stalker quickly got used to the new place and luckily the receptionist didn't mind his stay. It was worse for Laura, who couldn't find a place for herself.

"I'll help you as much as I can. If I have to, I'll hire police, FBI, SWAT, CIA, and goddamn INTERPOL and I'll give your ex such hell that there won't be a wet stain left, but you have to trust me and you have to want it."

The hacker heard that declaration spoken by Adam in that husky tone of his whenever she sat on the sofa in the living room with a mug of coffee. She remembered the kiss and how she first saw him naked. She was beginning to regret that she didn’t go to Berlin, but many worse memories would await her there. She couldn't stand being at home anymore, so she quickly finished her coffee, dressed in a thick woolen sweater and jeans. Just as she was putting on her warm jacket and finishing wrapping scarf around her neck, Stalker trotted in, demanding food through his loud, unbearable meowing. Laura wheezed displeased, but she had no choice. In Detroit, she had happened to forget to feed the cat and when she returned from work the apartment looked like a tornado had passed through.

A quarter of an hour later she was walking around the neighborhood enjoying the winter scenery, which instead of making her happy, overwhelmed her with memories. Winter and Jul had always brought the whole family together in a unique way. As early as the beginning of December, she decorated the entire house with her parents. While her father put out adventsljus (Advent candles) all over the house, she hung julstjärna (stars) in the windows and her mother baked pepparkakans dag (gingerbread cookies). Every Sunday until Christmas they lit one candle on the adventsljusstake (Advent candlestick). In their spare time, they would go to the fair or admire the gingerbread houses made for the competition. In the evenings dad would play the guitar, and she would listen until she fell asleep. In the morning she didn't know how she got into bed cause she was sitting by the fireplace. Laura wished so much that this year Adam would be with her. At first, she wanted to clear up everything with him, and staying at Rupert's was the perfect place to do so. Unfortunately, Kratos changed her plans. Although nothing had happened for a long time, she had the feeling that it was just that kind of silence before the storm. Of course, she should trust the ex-SWAT as he wanted her to, but he knew nothing about Joe and Lemon - Lime. If someone well-trained, strong, and with enhancements couldn't defeat him then how would a normal person do it?

Earlier she promised herself not to eat in restaurants, but she didn't have the strength to cook anything so she went to Valhalla. There were quite a few people today, luckily she didn't meet the boy who stopped her last time. The woman noticed a group of several girls, there were also parents with a child, some students, and a man sitting against the wall. She knew she would have to wait for the waiter so, she took off her jacket, sat down, and pulled out her phone. Pritchard hadn't called even once, neither had Faridah, Adam was the last person she expected any interest from but even Connor had forgotten about her.

Half an hour later she was halfway through her meal, which she paid for right away so as not to wait. The door opened and a large group of guests walked in. Laura instinctively looked in their direction because she heard loud conversations and laughter. She calmed down and wanted to continue eating, but her gaze, as if attracted by a magnet, followed again in the newcomer's direction. She felt her throat suddenly tighten. She could not catch her breath, and her hands began to tremble. She blinked her eyes a few times, but the image remained the same.

"Kratos..." she whispered. "It's impossible to even for him to find her so quickly…"

Laura got up from her seat very slowly, managed to overcome this subconscious reflex to escape, put on her jacket, and went out. It was only when she was outside the door that she let the panic control her. She ran ahead, then immediately turned left. On the next straight she bumped into several people, she apologized in Swedish and ran towards the house. Laura could barely catch her breath, but as she saw the safe shelter was near, she sped up. She closed the door behind her, making sure she did it accurately, and sank to the floor. Her breathing was quick and uneven, knowing that Kratos would be here soon. She had wanted this herself, had shown him the way herself, but Laura wanted to do it on her own terms. The hacker hid her face in her hands feeling the whole body starts to shake. Just how had Kratos found her in Valhalla? He probably tracked her phone. She could have left it at home.

"Hello, Miss Werner. We finally meet."

The voice she suddenly heard made her press her back harder against the door as if that would help her to disappear. How had he managed to get here before her?

All  chapters can be found: [AO3], [dA], [Wattpad] and [Tumblr]

[ktheist]

lips? sealed. legs? spread.

premise. because of the pandemic, you’re forced to have your graduation online. but that’s not stopping you from driving down to the beach to celebrate with your friends. it just so happens that you’re the main attraction of the night.

muses. jimin x reader, taehyung x reader, jeongguk x reader, yoongi x reader, yoongi x jimin.

word. 3.6k

warnings. consensual gangbang. public sex. unprotected sex. sex on the beach. bigdick!tae, bigdick!jeongguk, thick dick!jimin

note. this is pure absolute filth. idek why i wrote this.

x

it started with truth or dare before the word “boring” comes out of park jimin’s mouth and a “strip” added to cure that boredom to get you through the night. lisa manoban ends up stripped down to her panties and bra and steps out of the game.

“nah, i’m out, you guys have fun though.” she waves her hand in surrender, picks up her clothes and slips away from the circle to emphasize on her withdrawal from the game.

a series of ‘aww’s and ‘boo’s follow from you and the rest before hoseok disappears five minutes later, saying something about needing to take a number 1 but never coming back and getting forgotten by everyone.

he’s probably left to check up on lisa who said she was going to grab some snacks from the convenience store that’s just three minutes away from the beach.

the flames of the custom made bonfire dance in the night, cackling and laughing when it’s your turn to discard your bra. the chilly air making your nipples stand. your cheeks are burning as you cross your arm over your exposed chest. the hesitant way you look down and bite your lip is enough indication that you’re thinking twice about being the sole winner of tonight’s strip truth or dare. kim taehyung attempts to place his jacket around you but is met by a series of protests.

“if you wanna put on a jacket, you gotta be prepared to admit defeat. that’s the rule.” or so jeon jeongguk announces.

“never heard of that rule before.” kim jennie looks at him with an elaborated twist of her eyebrows to show the utter confusion and absurdity she finds in his words.

“yeah, well, now you know,” jeongguk winks.

it’s either because of the man’s flirtatious advancements or because she really needs to go to the bathroom, that she stands up, pick up the shirt and the only piece of article she’s taken off and walks towards the cars. somewhere a few feet away, the lights of the convenience store and closed diner illuminates the area.

jisoo shoots you a look that you shoot back with another look of determination. if there’s anything you’d never be caught dead doing, it’s raising the white flag before jeon jeongguk does.

so she ends up chasing after jennie on her own.

“anyone else wanna be loser?” jeongguk asks, vanity apparent in his voice.

you wonder how it’s not shivering in the cold with how he’s stripped naked to his boxers.

“i need to get some water,” seokjin announces and struts towards the direction the girls were headed.

he’s one of the lucky few that managed to keep his clothes on throughout the game. 

it’s become an unspoken knowledge that the ones who backed out will go home in seokjin’s jeep.

there’s only you, taehyung, jimin, jeongguk and yoongi.

namjoon was the first to leave because his girlfriend called him crying for some reason and he’s the kind of man that would come running to his girl. somewhere in your heart, you feel a tinge of jealousy for chaeyoung for having such an amazing man who loves her to the moon and back.

“this is getting boring.” jimin confesses for the second time of the night, bringing the bottle to his plump lips.

“let’s play 7 minutes in heaven.” jeongguk suggests, “we’re all bored here.”

“but there’s just one girl...” jimin murmurs to himself.

“so? you can make out with one of us,” taehyung winks.

but jimin’s shyly looking down and smiling is the last thing you expect to see. he’d usually just brush off his best friend’s advancements by laughing or flirting back but never speechless.

“alright, here’s the bottle,” jeongguk says afer gulping down the whole content of the beer and lifting the opaque glass in the air, “game’s simple, it’s like spin the bottle but instead of making out, you spend 7 minutes in one of the cars.”

“no –not my car,” jimin complains, throwing his head back, probably recalling that time when he lent jeaongguk his car and in the morning, started blowing everyone’s phone up by spamming the group chat, sending death threats to jeongguk for those stains in the back seat.

“i’m out.” yoongi says simply, but doesn’t move from his spot which is sitting on the log between taehyung and jimin.

his porcelain skin is painted auburn from the fire in front of him. he raises the beer to his mouth and starts downing it.

“ugh okay, okay, how about just making out here for 7 minutes?” jeongguk mediates.

that receives a moderate response of ‘not-so-thrilled-but-not-against-it’ kind of nod.

jeongguk places the bottle down on the ground and yoongi plainly points, “that’s not how physics work.”

“shh,” the younger man shushes him up, “it’s gonna work.”

then he spins the bottle just a few centimeters above the sand. the opaque bottle spins in the air for the briefest moment before it lands on the grainy sand, it’s top pointed straight at you.

“okay, so me and ___ are the first pair.” he grins, excitement flashing across his eyes.

jimin goes next, mimicking jeongguk’s techniques and the bottle points at yoongi. all of a sudden, a strangled silence settles in.

the elder man makes an impressed nod –probably surprised at how things turned out.

“okay, tae, you spin the bottle and if falls on me or ___, you can join us and if it falls on jimin or yoongi, you can join them.” jeongguk says as if he’s done this plenty of times before.

you attempt to pick up your shirt when jeongguk clicks his tongue and wiggles his index finger in the air, “nu-uh, the game’s still going on, you put on any of the clothes you’re not supposed to have on, and you’re out.”

“that’s a dumb rule and i’m cold.” you roll your eyes and slip on your shirt anyway.

your nipples appear more protruded underneath that thin layer of material but it’s better than having to cover them with your arm.

jeongguk groans but doesn’t say anythng else as taehyung picks up the bottle and spins it.

in the end, you have a pair and a trio.

since taehyung is right next to you, crash your onto with his. it takes him a moment to register that the seven minutes start now before he swipes his tongue over your lower lip and you let him in, tasting the bitter beer in his mouth while he suckles on your tongue.

you expect taehyung to play along for the first few minutes and let jeongguk and you have a go at it. but the proactive advancements aren’t unwelcomed.

“hey! come on!” jeongguk whines somewhere in a distance –he’s sat across from you.

it doesn’t take long to make his way over and starts kissing your shoulder, sitting on the vacant end of the log. it’s the hand that snakes under your shirt and gropes your breast that makes you moan into taehyung’s mouth.

jeongguk pinches your nipple almost painfully, as if getting payback for starting without him.

when you don’t budge and wrap your arms around taehyung’s neck, he stops his assault on your sensitive buds and slips his hand under your panties. you gasp, body frozen from the unannounced intrusion and he takes that chance to turn your face to him, capturing your lips.

taehyung sighs softly, as if foreseeing that jeongguk would sweep you away from him. and you thought it the end of that.

but instead, you feel more slander fingers than jeongguk’s on your other breast that jeongguk didn’t touch. they’re gentle and handle you like you’re a delicate porcelain doll.

and like you said, taehyung’s touches aren’t unwelcomed.

that, paired with jeongguk’s careless fingers on your clit, easily makes you moan out in pleasure as sparks course through your veins, stars behind your eyes, your arm around jeongguk’s neck and your mouth tore away from his.

jeongguk lets out a low whistle as caresses your sensitive clit in a circular motion and stops when your hand grasps his wrist, telling him you need a break.

“wait, out here? dude, you can’t be serious,” taehyung lowly cautions as jeongguk shifts behind.

you barely get to focus your eyes after coming down from your high, noticing the two men making out behind taehyung where you last saw them. yoongi’s hand is in jimin’s pants.

“baby, can i put it in?” jeongguk’s voice is uncharacteristically silken and sweet.

it doesn’t take a genius why.

you throw a glance over your shoulder to see him pumping himself, his tip glistening with pre-cum.

“no, i want tae’s.” you say vindictively.

“what – “ the aforementioned man’s eyes widen, skin appearing olive gold next to the fire.

“may i, tae tae?” you smile, fluttering your lashes and smiling coquettishly as you caress him through his pants. just like jimin, he only lost his shirt in the earlier game.

his adam’s apple bobs as he contemplates your offer but spreads his legs open as though welcoming your touch.

“i...” he says thickly, “i don’t have a condom on me...”

“it’s fine, i’m on birth control,” you shrug, lips still curled into a suave, inviting smile.

then his head shakes in the smallest nod.

“yeah?” you ask, head tilted ever so slightly to the side in an innocent gesture.

“yeah,” he echoes your words, eyes screwing shut, “please.”

it takes you close to no difficulty to take him out. you ravel in his size –he’s possibly the biggest you’ve ever seen. taking him in your mouth, you let jeongguk pull you panties to the side and slip his tip past your entrance. he groans, appreciating your warmth while you coat taehyung’s length with your saliva.

once you’re sure taehyung’s all ready to take you, you lift yourself up, earning a whine from jeongguk whose closed eyes shoot open as if he just woke up from a  delightful dream and crashed into reality. you lower yourself onto taehyung, humming in appreciation like jeongguk did as the taller man stretches you out to fit his size.

once you’re sat on his lap and taking him to the hilt, only then do you pay attention to jeongguk who’s directing your hand to wrap around his length.

you start to move your hips, appreciating each delicious graze of taehyung’s length stretching and molding you to fit his size while pumping jeongguk’s shaft and lowering your mouth to wrap around his tip.

“i’m close,” taehyung murmurs breathily, his hand ghosting over your hips as though barely fighting against his primal urges to grab your hips and move you to his desirred tempo.

“you can come inside,” you say, tearing your mouth away from jeongguk for the briefest moment to throw your head to meet taehyung’s hooded gaze.

“please, can i cum inside you too? after tae?” jeongguk asks, knowing full well that he’s walking on thin ice with you.

“no.” you deny curtly, making sure to shoot him a glare to emphasize your disapproval.

“fuck,” taehyung’s voice cuts through the night as he’s pushed to his limit. those large hands dig into your skin as he bounces your ass on his lap the way he wants it.

and you let him. moaning against jeongguk’s tip as your brain shortcircuits. you barely notice the way jeongguk’s thrusting his length down your throat –much deeper than you’d allow him, just because you’re not a fan of his arrogance but also can’t completely resist it.

once you and taehyung stop moving, jeongguk easily lifts you up from taehyung’s lap and place you down on his.

“jeongguk,” you say warning, not at all pleased that he handled you like a ragdoll but can’t help the way you tighten around him –he’s winning in girth compared to taehyung.

“don’t move –i promise i won’t come inside you, just please let me feel you around me,” jeongguk’s basically begging as he hugs you close to him  –it’s probably to get you to stop any inch of movement but your stomach is fluttering and your cheeks are immeasurably hot.

you bite your lower lip from moaning.

while he’s holding you so tight, your clit is rubbing against him and you’ve got the fattest dick inside you.

there’s no way you can sit still.

you move your hip in a circular motion, the groan coming from jeongguk’s lips being music to your ears.

“fine,” you push the mated hair from his face when he pulls away from your shoulder and looks at you in the eye, they appear to be twinkling in the flicker of the flames, “you can come inside.”

the last thread of his sanity seems to snap. he lays you down on your back and because the log isn’t long enough for that, you end up having your head laid on taehyung’s thigh, his just-cummed dick still out in the open. every time jeongguk thrusts inside you, you end up brushing against it.

taehyung, having lost his reserves about sex in public, smiles down at you and places a hand underneath your head to support you while his friend is thrusting in and out of you like a mad man who’s never tasted a woman in his entire life.

eventually, taehyung, the moans and the squelching sounds disappear into a blurred mess. you don’t know where you start and where jeongguk ends. 

when you come to, you’re staring at the starless night sky, breathing heaving into steady breaths as you feel satisfaction tingles in between your legs. a mixture of jeongguk and taehyung’s cums pour out of you and onto your stained panties. 

and in the peaceful cackles of the bon fire and the sound of waves crashing, a shadow blocks your view.

“uh, ___,” jimin says hesitantly.

“hm?” you look up at the man with his length out –he’s probably the shortest compared to taehyung and jeongguk but his girth could give the latter a run for his money.

“we got turned on looking at you guys,” jimin stammers, cheeks flushed while yoongi stands next to him, stroking himself to the sight of your glistening and naked body.

“come here,” you giggle, pushing yourself up.

“let me,” taehyung whispers, sending shivers down your spine as he holds out his hand for you to use as a support.

you don’t realize how spent you are until you decide to stand up but almost go tumbling into the ground again a second later. you would’ve faceplanted into the sand if taehyung hadn’t caught you. he helps you to sit on his lap and holds both your legs up.

your panties are now discarded on the ground while sticky, white cum drips out of you freely and park jimin’s got a front row view of that.

you should be embarrassed but the last of your braincell’s got fucked out of you by jeongguk who’s now passed out on the sand, snoring away like he’s got no care in th world.

jimin’s face is beat red as he slips right inside you. it would’ve taken more teasing if you were to take him without jeongguk and taehyung’s jizz dripping out of you.

“you mind if i give you head instead?” you ask the elder man.

“not at all,” yoongi shrugs but that unbothered facade comes crumbling down like sand castle as soon as you wrap your lips around him, hand covering where your mouth can’t reach.

well, you can, but deepthroating’s jeongguk’s made you too tired to take another man deeper than you do now.

you sigh softly when jimin starts moving. he’s gentle with his strokes, as if making sure you’re gradually getting used to him. probably because he knows he’s thicker than the average men. and jimin being jimin, will probably make sure all his partners are comfortable (how ever comfortable you can be butt naked in the open and with sand sticking to your soles and exposed flesh.

but all that easily melts away as jimin hits that one spot that gets you throwing your head back on taehyung’s shoulder. even when he goes faster, he’s still attentive of your reactions and actions. 

you’re not sure how he can read you when it’s covered in yoongi’s cum. he’s the fastest to cum out of all the four boys. somewhere in your mind, you thank the universe for giving you a fast and easy blow.

when yoongi steps away, you shift your focus to jimin, “i’m coming,” you murmur.

it takes a few strokes more for  you come at the same time, jimin throwing his head back, barely moaning out. it’s as though his reservations still cling onto him and stops him from losing himself.

jimin pulls out with a sigh, legs barely able to stand so he tumbles back to one of those empty logs and zips himself up.

just when you’re about to pull your legs together, all of a sudden, conscious of how exposed and naked you are –taehyung’s hand stops you.

“taehyung...” you murmur, cheeks burning at the way you’re spread and bare with multiple men’s cum dripping down your ass.

but he doesn’t seem to mind as he slides his fingers down your stomach and slips two of them past your entrance, coating those slender digits with the cum inside you.

his motion starts picking up and until he’s thrusting his fingers inside you like he would his dick. you’re grasping his arm and biting your lips at the sudden yet different rush of pressure you’ve had up until now. with the pleasure jimin left you, it doesn’t take long for it to built up in the pit of your stomach and spreads through your body likes the waves against the shore.

the rest that follows is a blur. you remember foregoing your undergarments and slipping on your jeans and shirt before having taehyung sweep you off your feet and carry you to the car.

“t-tae! i can walk!” you try to protest but he simple chuckles.

“you can barely stand.”

you can only cast your eyes to his collarbones –anywhere besides his eyes as you recall the throbbing sensation between your legs.

jeongguk, having been kicked to wake by yoongi, scampers to stand up and follow the three of you. he falls a step behind and complains the whole way to the car, saying something about “can do that too”.

whatever that is.

when you reach your home, the lights in the living room are still on and you’re quite literally screwed.

“come on, i’ll help you to the porch,” jeongguk says ever so casually as he undes the safety belt.

yet something instinctual makes you hurl out words of rejection right there and there despite your brain telling you that you’ll barely make it three steps out of the door without crashing against the ground.

“no, i’m good.” you huff, swigging the car door open yet you hear another car door open and the sound of feet hurriedly shuffling over and in no time, jeongguk’s arm is around yours.

“i don’t need your help,” you hiss under your breath despite the relief that floods your system from jeongguk’s support.

“what are the chances of your parents letting you coming back past curfew slide because the face they saw walking you up to the porch is mine?” he makes a compelling argument.

before you can even refute, the front door swings open to your father’s glum expression. though his face lights up like christmas light as soon as he sees the man next to you.

“jeongguk! well, i’ll be damned,” your father beams, hands on his hips, “i didn’t know you two made up.”

“evening, mr. ___,” jeongguk nods in greeting, pretending not to hear the last part.

“thanks for walking me,” you say, strained.

gathering all that’s left of your might you take a step forward and out of his arm to stand next to your dad, waiting for him to leave.

“did someone say jeongguk?” your mother comes running from the couch, “oh, how’s your mother? is she well?”

“yeah. too well, actually. she’s been into yoga lately, keeps saying she’ll be able to beat me in arm wrestling,” jeongguk chuckles, scuffing his sole against the ground, hands buried inside his pocket.

“yeah, it’s getting late, don’t you think?” you cut in.

your parents seem to take the hint, your mother wishing him a one last, “tell minhee i said hi, yeah, son?”

“will do,” he smiles, eyes travelling to yours only to have him drop his gaze. “have a good evening mr. ___, mrs. ___.”

then he’s walking back to the car where you can see taehyung waving his hand from the passenger seat. only then, does an actual smile curve on your lips as you wave back, pretending not to notice the slouch in jeongguk’s figure.

x

that’s the last you talk to jeongguk privately. sometimes, when you’re texting in the group chat, you can’t help but reply to his dumb memes. yoongi and you exchange music in private message while you and jimin are ‘best friends’ on snapchat and you occasionally reply to taehyung’s insta story.

no one spoke of that night.

it’s as if it never happened.

the girls asked about it but you simply brush it off, “oh we had some drinks and decide to go home because it wasn’t fun with half of the squad not around.”

they don’t believe it.

but they don’t push it either.

but they probably thought you made a mistake and that mistake having something to do with your summer fling slash childhood friend, jeon jeongguk.

part of it was true.

except you fucked half of the boys in your group of friends.

it’s a month later, did you get a text from jeongguk on one ordinary friday night, after coming home from work. after going back to seoul.

jk: hey

jk: me and taehyung are going out for a drink

jk: since we live ten minutes away do you wanna come?

[theladyofmanyfandomsfanfiction]

Telegrams & Teacups

Pairing: Sherlock x Reader (Enola Holmes)

Warnings: None.

Summary: Your morning was normal until you received a telegram from your friend Sherlock Holmes with a simple request: help him find Enola.

A/n: This tiny idea had me so obsessed that it’s all I’ve been writing for the last few hours! I have no regrets <3

You had just poured yourself a cup of tea and set it down on the small table by the armchair when there was a knock at the door.

How peculiar. You thought to yourself. 

Crossing the room, you turned the handle and propped open the panel of wood to see who your guest was and was met with a man from the post office holding in his hands a beige envelope.

“Telegram for (Y/n).” He explained. You confirmed your identity and were handed the papered item bidding the gentlemen a good day.

With a swift closing of the door, you leaned against it and opened the letter, recognising initials of S.H on the bottom right corner. Sherlock had told you that he was leaving to attend to a personal matter in the country yesterday morning so if he sent a priority telegram to you, then there must have been a development in the case.

Unfolding the paper, you read the message and learnt that he requested your assistance in locating his sister Enola Holmes who he suspected to be in London and that he would be back in the city later that afternoon. At the bottom of the letter there were the words ‘URGENT’ and a short series of words describing the girl scrawled rather messily, no doubt belonging to his brother Mycroft who was constantly teetering on the edge of patience.

You glanced over at the teacup still sending swirls of steam into the air and sighed - your drink would have to wait. Grabbing your coat from its stand, you hastily put it on and dashed out the door. 

When you stepped out onto the street, you remembered Sherlock once mentioned having a sister that he had not contacted in years. It was a simple remark that he let slip when he had his guard down around you - it didn’t happen often and he had caught himself before opening up to emotion. A trait that you had come to accept.

Focusing back on finding the youngest Holmes sister, Sherlock had told you of the station that she would have gotten off at. A station name was all you needed because as it turned out, you were rather gifted at getting into people’s minds and predicting the footsteps that they had taken and ones that they were likely to take next.

From the way Sherlock had explained the situation in the letter to Mycroft’s hasty emotion-driven description, you could tell that Enola was on the run to escape her brothers and a young girl out of place, who wanted to stay hidden, would have to blend into the crowd.

Your feet brought you to the first dress shop on the street from the station. Peering through the window, you noticed that the shop owner was counting a large wad of cash that seemed to be suspiciously ‘earned’ by an otherwise empty and ragged looking store. Your eye also caught the clothing rack of beautiful dresses and the empty hangers by the window. 

‘Unrefined’ was one of Mycroft’s choice words and it seemed that Enola was clever enough to use his descriptions to her advantage.

Stepping back from the shop, you looked around the busy and bustling streets. Dressed like a lady, the young girl would be in need of accommodation, therefore she would have asked the shopkeeper for suitable lodgings to avoid wandering the streets aimlessly.

As if on cue, the dressmaker walked out of her shop and made her way across the street. Letting your instincts lead, you followed at a safe distance with a casual stride so as to not arouse suspicion. In a matter of minutes after turning a few streets and across empty passages, you had tracked the shopkeeper to what looked like a lodging of some kind on the edge of a suburb.

It was not terrible but would definitely keep one out of sight. Walking in, you introduced yourself as an acquaintance of Sherlock Holmes and inquired about Enola. The bookkeep nodded and immediately led you up a narrow set of stairs before approaching a room and knocking on the door.

“Young Miss. You have a visitor.” They announced. You heard a small shuffle of feet from inside and the door creaked open to reveal and young girl with big brown eyes. She seemed to have recognised you, stepping to the side to let you in. She closed the door and turned around.

“I know who you are.” She said boldly with a fresh air of confidence that was not to be expected from someone so young. “You work for my brother, Sherlock.”

Looking around at the little space, newspapers scattered over the bed, you smiled at Enola’s phrasing.

“Actually I work with him - on the occasion.” You corrected wheeling back around to the girl who folded her arms.

“Why are you here?”

“A telegram from your brother.”

Enola frowned and shook her head. “Well, I won’t return home so they can ship me off to some home for girls to be oppressed into this world.” She looked at you and realised that you dressed in the typical London style like everyone else that she had come across and added a small, “No offence.”

“Believe me, I am not a person of societal rules. I wear no hat and no gloves, and my neighbour - your brother - usually has me wound up in one of his most outrageous cases.” You explained with a small laugh. “Mycroft only tolerates my so-called ‘embarrassing presence’ because Sherlock insists.”

Your words seemed to have reached the young girl from the way her posture fell more relaxed.

“So, you won’t take me to my brothers?” She asked and you couldn’t help but chuckle while shaking your head.

“No. Mycroft called you wild and unladylike in my telegram but as I stand here before you, I don’t see any of it. You’re remarkable and we’ve only met.”

Enola sighed with some relief that she was not going to be dragged away and smoothed out her dress before looking up at you. “Thank you.” She said politely.

You had completed the task of finding Enola Holmes as requested and bid your farewell to the young girl but not before reminding her to reach out to you if she needed assistance. While she appeared to be very bright and capable, the city had its dangers concealed as innocence.

Leaving the lodging, you trekked back home, picking up a loaf of bread from the wheat merchant for dinner. It had been a long day and you were ready to sit back and enjoy a fresh cup of tea given that the one you had made earlier would have likely gone cold.

At the door, you balanced the paper bag against your hip and turned the key to unlock your place of residence. This time when you walked in, you discovered that you weren’t alone - Mycroft was pacing by the fireplace while Sherlock had taken a seat in your armchair with a newspaper in his face.

“Has nobody told you that it’s incredibly rude to show up in a person’s home unannounced?” You wondered letting the door fall to a close behind you. Sherlock smirked behind the paper at your comment as he turned the page. Mycroft stepped in your direction and your eyes darted up to see the scowl beneath his moustache.

“What I find to be rude is that you took it upon yourself to be entertained with such trivial actions instead of carrying out the simple task of finding our sister.” He snapped, gesturing to the bread in your hands. His sharp tone of cold authority once intimidated you, but each encounter had you grow bold, refusing to be tread on by the man.

“A task so simple that she managed to elude your brilliant mind?” You questioned with a small purse of your lips and tilting your head ever so slightly to accentuate your sarcasm. “If that isn’t an embarrassment to the name of Holmes, I don’t know what is?”

It was like you had struck the man physically as his walking cane was suddenly pointed at you with warning.

“Watch your tone, (Y/n). I can make your life exceedingly difficult.”

You held your ground against the man and smiled back. “Just being in my presence is difficult enough.”

His jaw clenched; the eldest Holmes brother pulled his cane back to his side refusing to entangle in a pointless argument. Head high, he scoffed and grumbled about how disappointing you were and why Sherlock kept you around as he exited the apartment.

Thankful that he was gone, you walked over to the small table by the window and set the bread down before picking up scattered pieces of paper.

“I take it that you found her.” Sherlock inquired from where he sat.

“Of course. She’s quite well hidden.”

“You didn’t tell Mycroft.”

Turning around, you crossed the room to the fireplace to place a few stray envelopes on the mantelpiece. “I don’t believe I owe him an answer after he broke into my home like some common thief.”

Sherlock set the newspaper down and watched you, “And yet, you’ve let me stay.” He said curiously.

You dusted your hands and glanced over your shoulder, shooting him a playful, almost-teasing smile.

Taking that for your answer, the famed detective stood up and placed the newspaper back from where he first retrieved it. You had finished up and noticed that he was on the border of leaving too.

“I take it that you won’t tell me of her location either?” He surmised, tugging a little on his coat to straighten it out.

With a small laugh, you walked past him and patted his chest. “You might be more agreeable than your brother, but I have no desire to make your job easy, Sherlock.” You told him kindly. “I’ll keep Enola in my sights and hidden until you catch up.”

That’s when you saw it, sitting on the armchair table was your teacup from that morning except, instead of being filled with a cold liquid, it was hot and steaming. Frowning, you turned to Sherlock who was by the door, smiling at your bewildered expression.

“You’ve had a long day. I’ll give you some time to catch up.” He winked and stepped out, disappearing behind your front door.

Masterlist here

[tracybirds]

Paper Dreams

John receives a prestigious invite and he’s not sure how to respond.

Many thanks to @gumnut-logic for the encouragement because I am nerves!!

*                      *                      *

The crisp white envelope was heavy in his hands as he hurried from the room. Paper was a formality, a mark of distinction that would surely draw his brothers’ unwanted attention. Letters didn’t just arrive unannounced in this era of high-speed data connections and quantum supercomputers. In fact, they didn’t arrive at all.

So, John was more than a little apprehensive when Grandma Tracy silently handed him the sealed envelope and walked away.

It took only a few short minutes to read through the contents and he sat back against the window in his room, the words whirling in his mind.

Mars Colonisation Project. Distinguished candidate. Invited to apply.

An opportunity of a lifetime.

A way to prove for once and for all that he was more than his father’s famous name.

John clutched at the letter, the paper crinkling in his grasp. He mouthed the words as he read them, over and over.

He looked up at the sound of a loud yell calling his name, hurriedly shoving the letter into the envelope and dropping it at his side. Snatching up a nearby tablet, his flushed ears were the only hint of the letter that remained when Gordon shoved open the door.

“John, dinner, hurry up.”

His brother tore out of the room before he could respond.

*                      *                      *

John slipped into his seat, mouthing an apology to Grandma Tracy as he did.

“Finally!” cried Alan. He wriggled back in his seat, staring hopefully at the food. “Grandma said we had to wait for you, you took forever!”

“Is Dad not eating?” asked Virgil. “I heard him come in.”

“He’s taking it in the study tonight,” said Grandma Tracy, shaking her head slightly. “Brains dropped by and they’re holing up together on that project of theirs.”

John glanced over at the conspicuously empty seat at the head of table. They all knew what ‘that project’ meant.

In the heady rush of excitement, he’d all but forgotten the silent expectation that accompanied his studies and extra-curriculars for the past five years. A pet project alone wouldn’t have been enough to deter him from his own ambitions, but the Thunderbirds, they offered something different, something more than the office politics of academia, squabbling over research grants.

He’d never known anything that could compete.

Until now.

“Hey,” said Virgil in a low tone, nudging him from his thoughts. “You okay?”

John pulled himself back into the present with a slight grimace.

“Fine. Just thinking about an assignment.”

Virgil nodded slowly, looking him up and down with a critical eye.

“Are you going to eat anything, or just push it around?”

John automatically lifted his fork, blinking as the peas fell back to the plate and landed in a pile of mushy, grey potatoes.

“Actually, I’m not that hungry.”

“Can I have yours?” asked Alan, already reaching over to grab at his plate.

“Not hungry, John?” asked Grandma Tracy. “You’re not coming down with something, are you?”

She examined the pinched look in his face and the nervous twist of one hand inside the other.

“No,” said John, wishing he hadn’t said anything. The last thing he wanted was any level of scrutiny. “I’m fine, Grandma, honest.”

He let Alan scrape his leftovers from his plate, realising with a pang than he’d had another growth spurt over the previous semester at his boarding school.

If he left for Mars, he’d return to a brother he’d hardly recognise.

Colonisation was a long-term project, the result of years in planning and decades of dreams. Countless people would put their life’s work into its development and they had every right to expect the same of their astronauts. The application process alone was heavily involved and would severely limit time with his family, to say nothing of the many years ahead for him on Mars if he made it all the way into space. He’d be travelling millions of miles from home, only to find himself living with a group of strangers that he couldn’t escape without logging an external environment report.

He didn’t even like sharing a bathroom at the university housing that much.

Still the piece of paper called to him.

“Can I be excused?”

Grandma Tracy nodded and he hurried from the room, not noticing her troubled look.

The warmth of the room followed him into the hallway and he shut the door firmly behind him. He thrust his hand into his pocket, searching for the reassuring touch of cool paper.

It was real.

It was real and if he let the opportunity pass by, he might regret it for the rest of his life.

Or he might be wasting his time, pinning his hopes on something that would only serve to distract him in the long run. He could only imagine what Scott would say, who’d never once taken his eye off a prize once he’d decided to aim for it.

He didn’t know what to do, didn’t know what he wanted, and found himself climbing into the cramped space under the roof that had generously called a playroom, then a study, then an attic.

He blinked as the bare bulb overhead lit the small room, filling it with old memories and dust.

His first telescope was still standing in the corner, pointing high in the sky and he lifted the edge of his T-shirt to wipe the dust away. Surrounding it, lay stacks of books that his mom had picked up from the local thrift store, that Mrs Delaney, the owner, put them aside just for him.

John walked carefully among them, tugging the small window open and staring out into the night. The stars shone bright in the clear, crisp air.

Crouching down, he peered through the eye piece, adjusting the focus with a practiced hand. The little reflector was nothing like the giant telescopes available at the college department, and he had to hold his breath to stop the stand from wobbling. But the universe was still out there, the same as it was when he was a kid, still holding an infinite number of mysteries despite the years he had spent uncovering the rules that held it together.

He looked up, eyes darting through the familiar patterns, searching for the anomaly he knew was wandering between Gemini and Taurus.

And there it was.

Mars.

A planet with so much to offer the world they lived on. Where he could work with a team of people who loved space just like him, where he could devote his life to researching astronomy from a new perspective and developing technology for interplanetary life for generations to come.

Where he could leave his mark alongside all the heroes of his childhood. Alongside his dad.

“After all, why shouldn’t I go?” he said, scowling up at Mars.

“Go where?”

John spun around with a start.

“Kayo! When did you get in?”

She shrugged, propping up her head with her hand.

“Long enough to see you come up here,” she said. “I waited for you, but then Mrs Tracy said you hadn’t eaten. Figured something was wrong.”

She looked him up and down with a piercing eye. John tried not to squirm. He’d always felt Kayo had something of a sixth sense when it came to knowing things that should have been a secret.

“Seems like I was right,” she said, raising an eyebrow.

“Everything’s fine.”

“Then where are you planning on going?”

“Nowhere. I don’t think, that is…”

He flopped down and tilted his head back with a huff.

“Not right now, at any rate.”

Kayo pulled herself up onto the floor and drew the ladder upwards.

Neither spoke as the trapdoor shut with a small ‘click’.

The dust swirled in the air, dancing in the shafts of light above them.

“Is it a graduate program?”

“No.”

“An international program?”

“No.”

“A long-term space colonisation program for specially selected candidates who have already proven themselves in the fields of communications, astrophysics and astrotechnology?”

John stared at her.

She shrugged.

“It’s my job to know.”

“So, why even ask?”

“I’m trying to get you to lower your guard.”

She smiled at the dumbfounded look on his face.

“You’ve met Brains, right? He’s got some server tracker that flags your name. They asked your advisor for academic and personal references months ago.”

“Oh God,” said John, dropping his head in his ands and staring wildly at the floor. “Does Dad already know?”

Kayo shook her head.

“Dad and I do. Security details and all. But we don’t tell him that kind of stuff, you know, he’s not spying on you.”

“You’re right, that’s a real comfort,” said John, drily.

Kayo tossed her head.

“I’m just saying.”

Her eyes softened as she watched him draw his knees close to his chest.

“He doesn’t know.” She hesitated, still watching him. “Would it be all that bad if he did though?”

John huffed a little, still staring at his knees.

“International Rescue’s all we’ve ever talked about,” he said. “I didn’t think there’d be anything else I wanted. What if I let him down?”

“He’s already proud of you, John.”

“But we’ve been working towards it for so long now. This would change everything. Delay the full scope of the project for months, or years even.”

Kayo snorted.

“You really think Jeff Tracy, resident billionaire and with access to the best tech in the world, wouldn’t be able to find another genius astrotechnician and communication expert?”

John shot her a withering look.

“Okay, so maybe he’d have to find two super geniuses.”

She easily dodged the picture book he threw in her direction.

“Leave off,” he said, rolling his eyes.

Kayo spotted the slight smile though, and grinned broadly in return.

“Can I?” she asked, nodding at the space between him and the wall.

John nodded and shuffled over as best he could, trying not to topple the book stacks around them.

Kayo wriggled into the gap, and John paid her no mind.

He hadn’t thought of who would take his place because, of course, someone must. He’d been preparing for an International Rescue without him, one where his family diverted communications for a few years and focused their efforts on establishing themselves on land and sea until Alan stepped into his role on Thunderbird Five.

He hadn’t imagined an International Rescue where he wasn’t even needed.

Kayo seemed to sense the turn in his thoughts, nudging him gently to pull him from them.

“He wouldn’t trust them half as much as you, you know.”

John shrugged.

“I don’t want to disappoint him,” he said slowly, choosing his words carefully. “But I don’t want that to be the only reason I don’t go.”

He took a deep breath, and glanced back up at the slowly setting planet.

“And I want to go,” he admitted. “I do. I need to tell him.”

Kayo nodded, a sad look in her eyes. They sat in silence together, lost in their own thoughts. The bustle of the house downstairs filtered upwards. Muffled bangs and indistinct shouts of Gordon and Alan playing some ridiculous game, loud music from Virgil’s room – the kind he put on to drown out any interruption to his painting. Grandma Tracy seemed to be having some kind of one-sided conversation with herself, until John remembered, with a pang, that it was Saturday morning out in Guam and she was likely speaking to Scott at that very moment.

Kayo sighed and dropped her head on John’s shoulder.

“I’d miss you though.”

John swallowed carefully past the sudden lump in his throat.

“I’d miss you too.”

*                      *                      *

John was too old to be summoned to his father’s study, but somehow deliberately interrupting him felt worse. Nausea sat like a rock in his stomach, his voice box left in tatters as he knocked on the solid oak door.

“Who is it?”

He couldn’t reply.

His eyes flitted across the family photos that littered the hallway, landing finally on the image of his father and crewmates waving to the masses as they entered the Herschel-VI.

The photograph didn’t show the way his father was blind to the crowd, his farewell only for the woman who stood half a mile from the launchpad, proud, so proud, and sick with worry too. She held tight to her eldest son with one hand, and rested her other on the stroller she was rocking back and forth. She didn’t see the way he had wriggled out of his restraints nor how he was preparing to drop to the ground and run away, already intent on chasing after his father at three years old.

Jeff Tracy, first man on Mars, opened the door with a frown and a touch of impatience, and John knew there would be no escape this time.

“John.”

“Dad.”

His throat closed around his words and his hand closed around the letter in a fist.

Jeff looked down at the sound, and looked back at John, an assessing look in his eye. He stepped back wordlessly and John entered the severe room.

“What’s happened, son?” he asked, holding his hand out for the letter.

He smoothed down the crumpled edges as he read, his eyes leaping from phrase to phrase on the page.

“Well, it seems congratulations are in order. I assume you intend to accept?”

The knot in John’s chest loosened and he collapsed into the chair opposite Jeff.

“I intend to apply,” he corrected, staring down at the desk between them.

“John, they don’t reach out like this unless they want you onboard. They intend you to be on that shuttle, regardless of the formalities the bureaucrats put in place.”

“Yeah.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the blueprints, Brains’ small, neat handwriting annotating each design and his father’s looping comments scrawled liberally across them.

Jeff followed his line of sight and smiled.

“Five won’t be operational for a few more years, you know that. Don’t let her be what holds you back.”

“But this was always it, this is why I’m getting space rated. And the satellite network still needs to be launched, and the orbital mechanics calculated.”

“An opportunity like this doesn’t come your way twice, son.”

John stopped.

“You think I should accept. If they say yes.”

“Don’t you?”

There it was. His father’s blessing laid out in front of him, just waiting to be taken up like a pennant.

Everything they’d worked for, everything they’d sacrificed, gone. In its place, a single shining achievement, a global community on their sister planet. The first of its kind.

It had been a long time since John had allowed himself to dream his own dreams.

“Alright,” he said, a giddy rush spinning his head so that he hardly knew what he was saying. “I’m gonna do it.”

[splintergirl13]

So here is a little head cannon I thought of while reading your fan fic.

What if herobrine never had/celebrated his birthday so he forgot when it was, so Steve and Alex pick a day and celebrate his birthday with him. (P.s. sorry I have horrific grammer)

I liked this idea so much I made a little drabble under the read more :3 I hope it is worthy of such an great headcanon! Thank you so much for the ask! It fills me with joy to hear that people are thinking about my story lol <3. And don't worry. Grammar is hard and doesn't make any sense. I feel your pain

Before we dive in: this takes place pretty earlier into Steve and Brine becoming friends. So they are just starting to pine. Not in a relationship yet. Alex and Brine are still a little wary of each other but have come to accept that they are stuck with each other.

I'd say this is rated teen for just some small strong language lol

-

The Birthday Brine

-

It was a hot, lazy summer afternoon. Too nice to spend down in the mines. But a little too warm to do any strenuous activities.

So Alex and Steve decided to go on down to the small river they frequented on days like today. A secluded area where the water pooled deep enough to swim. And, of course, Herobrine tagged along. As was becoming more of the norm these days.

Steve was lying comfortably in the shade of a few trees on the bank of the river. Legs in the water; small waves lapped up to his knees as the water went by. Arms crossed behind his head. His shirt was off and laid over his eyes, shutting out any of the light that filtered through the leaves. Not really dozing off, but close to it.

Herobrine was similarly relaxing. He lay on his belly; balanced precariously on a nearby tree that had fallen over the river. Looking like a big cat lounging about in the direct sun. Soaking up the rays. One hand was draped down to the side, touching the cool water.

Alex was the only one fully in the river. She was a little upstream, floating on her back. She had taken off her pants, leaving them on the shore, and let her long green shirt cover her lower half. Every once in a while she would swim back to her original place as the current took her down towards Herobrine.

The trio had been chatting absentmindedly. Talking about anything, really. Steve ranted humorously about his pickaxe making a squeaking sound. Alex discussed way too many of the current happenings in town. Even Herobrine brought up that a dragonfly had landed on his shoulder. Which had the trio all staring for a bit before it flew off and they went back to their current positions.

It wasn't until a certain question came to Alex’s mind that the peace of the scene was disturbed.

"Hey Sparky." The adventurer asked. "...How old are you?"

Herobrine took a while to answer. Seeming to think through the question slowly. Finally he asked without opening his eyes. "Why?"

"Just curious." Alex shrugged, swimming a little.

The demon shifted. Now peaking over to look at Steve. It was like the miner could tell that he was being looked at because he lifted his shirt to look back questioningly.

Herobrine spoke up. "When was the last time I respawned? Four months ago?"

Steve frowned. "Yes. More like three. You fell through a roof, remember?"

"Right, right." Herobrine moved his hand up out of the water. "Terribly made and rusty old structure. Glad it forced a respawn. Tetanus is not fun even with healing powers."

"Why is this relevant?" Alex asked impatiently.

"I'm 28." Herobrine said immediately.

Alex sat up in the water. Causing a bit of a ruckus amongst some fish that had gotten close. "No you're not!"

"Yes I am." Herobrine turned his attention to her. She shuddered ever so slightly under his scrutinizing stare. "Every time I die, I respawn back to the same age at which I turned immortal."

Alex crossed her hands over her chest. "Okay, well that's only technically. I meant, like, if you count ALL the years you've been alive."

"I have no fucking clue, Alex." Herobrine rolled his head to the otherside of the tree to ignore her. Yet continued to talk. "Time loses all meaning when you're immortal. Not to mention I was trapped in the nether for most of that time. So it's even harder to tell."

"What's your best guess?" Steve asked, now curious as well.

And the head came back around. Looking at Steve. The demon wouldn't ignore the miner. He bit his lip, eyes trailing towards the water. "I dunno... maybe a few centuries... a millennia or so..."

"Old." Steve clarified. Seeing that the demon was struggling a little.

"Yeah... old." Herobrine scowled.

"So, what, do we have to, like, wait until you live a year to celebrate your birthday?" Alex giggled. "No wonder you don't remember it. It would never be your birthday based on that criteria."

Herobrine scoffed. "What are you talking about?"

"Yeah." Steve added, putting the shirt back over his eyes. "Come to think of it, when is your birthday, Brine?"

"You want to know the exact date I was born?" Herobrine sat up now, clearly confused. "Fuck... I don't know. I didn't even keep track of days back then. I just survived. It wasn't until I met... my brother that we talked about days. And he was able to do some weird 'code calculation' as he called it to figure out my true age. But we didn't really care about that. None of us counted in the aether. None of us wanted to count. When you have endless time you tend not to care. It's a depressing chore."

"So none of you celebrated your birthday?" Alex asked.

"Why would you celebrate your birth?" Herobrine growled. "Existence is a curse."

"That's why we have to celebrate!" Alex exclaimed. "It helps us mortals to forget about our fleeting existence."

"Yeah!" Steve enthusiastically raised a fist to the sky in agreement.

"Like the aether needed another reason to celebrate..." Herobrine grumbled, flopping back down on the tree. "The amount of bullshit dances I had to get dressed up for was astronomical."

"So you really have never had a birthday, huh?" Steve wasn't sure why he was surprised.

"Nope." Herobrine said, popping the p and settling back on the tree. Thinking that was the end of the conversation.

But Steve and Alex had other plans.

"Bro you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"You think we have enough time today?"

"Sure why not? We were already planning on going into town together."

"Then we better hurry."

"What are you two talking about?" Herobrine muttered. The siblings were getting out of the water and putting back on their clothes.

"We're going to throw you a birthday party!" Steve smiled over at him.

Herobrine almost fell off his branch.

"W-what? Why?"

Alex shrugged. "Well, if you don't know what day your birthday is, it might as well be any day. And since we are already all together and don't have any plans for the rest of the evening... why not?"

Herobrine teleported off his tree and stood next to the two. "You really don't need to-"

"Too late, it's happening." Alex smiled. Starting to walk off. Not putting on her shoes as she walked through the increasingly tall grass.

"Go wait in the nether and come back around sunset!" Steve pushed on his back excitedly. As if he could shove him through a portal that wasn't there.

"Why?"

"We are gonna surprise you!"

"Oh. Yippee. Surprise." Herobrine did not mask his unenthusiasm.

"It'll be fun, I promise." Steve said as he stopped pushing and went to go join Alex.

Herobrine was left alone and very confused as to what had just happened. He blinked up at the setting sun and winced. He wouldn't know the correct time in the nether. So he decided to go back to his tree branch and relax until the time came. He had no idea what was in store for him. But he didn't try to think too hard about it. If he didn't like it he could always teleport away.

All this talk of aether and age had his head buzzing with unpleasant thoughts. He tried to will them away and think of nothing instead. Watching as the river flowed beneath him. The dragonfly landed back on his hands.

-

It was just after sunset when Herobrine was walking up to Steve's small house and knocking on the door. Steve was adamant about him knocking. As Herobrine had the tendency to just teleport into a location, unannounced. There was the sound of muffled talking as well as a wonderful smell of something cooking in the furnace.

He heard the miner walk towards the door, he recognized his footsteps easily. Much different than Alex’s.

Steve cracked open the door. "Herobrine, you have perfect timing! We are just finishing up."

Herobrine tried to move forward but Steve closed the door more. He smiled, shyly. "Er. You gotta close your eyes."

"... Why?"

Steve smiled wider. "It's all part of the process."

So Herobrine huffed and closed his eyes. Steve took him by the hand. Leading him inside. Herobrine could feel his heartbeat where they connected. The miner was excited. So Herobrine was excited.

He was led into the house and then Steve stopped and walked over to join where he could sense Alex.

"Surprise!" They both yelled.

Herobrine stood there with his eyes closed. Face oozing confusion.

"Open your eyes now, Brine." Steve whispered loudly to him.

"Oh." And he did. He blinked and took in the sight.

The inside of the house was decorated with a few colored strings on the ceiling and what seemed to be little torches everywhere else. It was very simple and yet very pretty.

"Do you like it?" Alex asked.

"We didn't have too much time to decorate so we made due with what we had." Steve said. "Probably not as fancy as your aether parties."

"No." Herobrine smiled. "But I like this better." The aether parties were always decorated with too much. This was nice and made Herobrine feel cozy.

Alex gestured to the table, patting the chair to sit down. "Since it's pretty late we figured we'd just do a birthday dinner. Steve said you would eat if we made you food."

Herobrine nodded. Glad he hadn't had anything to eat for a while. He wasn't the biggest fan of eating. Steve had been reintroducing it to him slowly. The miner was an excellent cook.

"Good!" Alex smiled. Steve sat next to Herobrine at the table. "I handled dinner and Steve handled the most important part of a birthday, the dessert!"

"It all smells nice." Herobrine commented politely. It did. He was actually excited to eat.

Alex disappeared into the kitchen. Preparing plates for them all. Steve and Herobrine shared a look. Both smiling, somewhat uncomfortable and comfortable at the same time. It didn't last long as Alex came out with two plates, setting it down in front of them.

The meal consisted of roasted corn, slathered in butter, some sort of shredded pork on bread with some sweet sauce, and a cold potato salad. Steve instantly dug in. Probably hungry from all the work they had been doing. Herobrine waited for Alex to return with her own plate before starting to pick at the food. It wasn't long before he was eating more sloppily than Steve. Alex apologized, saying she wanted to make something more special like a smoked biscuit but Herobrine wasn't sure why she was sorry. It was all delicious. And Herobrine found himself wanting to eat the entire plate. It was the perfect meal on the warm night.

The house was filled with the delightful sounds of eating. None of them talked very much. Not needing to. Just enjoying each other’s company. And the food! They were all very invested in the food.

Once they were done, Herobrine was tempted to ask for more. But he remembered that there was still dessert to eat. He started to try to clean up his plate. But Steve stopped him immediately. "Ah, ah. No dishes when it's your birthday."

"Hmm. This birthday business keeps getting better." Herobrine smirked at him.

Steve disappeared into the kitchen and returned with two plates filled with two generous slices of homemade chocolate cake.

He set them down in front of Alex and his own seats. "We have a special slice for you, Herobrine. Hold on."

Steve rushed away and walked slowly back with a similar piece of cake. But this one had a very tiny torch stuck in the middle of it. Herobrine blinked. Huh. Strange.

"It's a candle." Steve explained. "It's a tradition to have some on your cake. We only had this old one." He set the on fire cake in front of him. Herobrine enjoyed the fire flare. "Usually you have a candle for every year you've been alive."

"But that would've set the house on fire." Alex snickered.

Herobrine rolled his eyes and tried to grab his fork. But Alex stopped him. "Wait! We have to sing to you!"

"Er, no thanks." That seemed silly. He did not want to be sung to.

Steve made a face. "I don't like that part either. I think we should skip it."

"We have to! It's tradition!" Alex wrapped her elbow around Steve’s neck. "Come on, Stevie. One time!"

"Alright. Alright." He caved easily. And they began.

Herobrine sat awkwardly as the two sang a little song. Saying his name. Herobrine had never heard Steve sing. It was nice. He had a pleasant voice. He thought the man should sing more. He hummed a lot but never truly sang.

Once they were done. Alex said. "Now you make a wish and blow out the candle."

"A wish? Wish for what?"

"For anything." Steve added. "But you have to wish in your head. And don't tell anyone or your wish won't come true."

"Like a curse?"

"Yeah kinda. But it's just for fun."

The demon chewed on his lip. Seeming to think about it. He nodded eventually. "Okay. I've made my wish."

"Now blow out the candle to complete the spell." Alex joked. Steve nudged her.

Herobrine looked at the small torch on the cake and willed the fire away. It went out.

Alex and Steve stared. Alex giggled. "Guess there's more than one way to skin an ocelot."

"Why would you-" Herobrine blinked.

"It's an expression." Steve laughed, sitting down and picking up his fork to eat his piece of cake. "Ignore her and dig in while the cake is still warm."

Herobrine did, setting the small torch- candle aside and picking up his fork to eat. The cake looked moist. Fresh. And smelled absolutely delicious. His mouth was watering before he even put the treat in his mouth.

When he took a bite he almost moaned. "H-holy fuck." He quickly took another bite.

Alex giggled. "Never had a Steve-made cake have you?"

"Steve, you should stop cooking everything and just make cake from now on." Herobrine had almost finished his piece already. It was just so damn good. He couldn't stop.

"Then it wouldn't be special." Steve chuckled. Looking happy that they both seemed to be enjoying his cake.

"Can I have more?" Herobrine asked, frosting definitely smeared all over his face, unabashedly.

Steve and Alex howled at that. The demon just looked so different from how they normally saw him. It was nice. And also hilarious.

Herobeine got a second slice and sat back, looking full. The demon didn't usually eat so it was a lot all at once. Totally worth it though.

"Present time!" Alex jumped up from the table as Steve moved the dishes into the kitchen.

"Present time?" Herobrine parroted.

"You get presents on your birthday!" Alex walked over to grab two things that had been set aside on a coffee table. "From everyone who comes to the party."

Alex handed Steve something and walked back to the table to give Herobrine a rectangle that looked like a book wrapped in paper. Herobrine took it confused. "Er, thanks?" He held it in his hands.

"You gotta open it dude!" Alex said excitedly.

"Open it?"

"Yeah tear open the paper!"

"Oh." Herobrine, a demon of destruction, ironically opened the book very carefully. Not wanting to damage it.

He held the book up once it was unwrapped. It was, indeed, a book. Not too hard to guess correctly.

"It's a book of modern day phrases." Alex explained. Tapping the cover. She smirked. "I know that you have some trouble with some of our more modern hip lingo."

Herobrine lifted an eyebrow at her. He flipped to a random page. "There's more than one way to skin an ocelot? Oh. I get your 'joke' now."

"See. You're learning already." She snickered. Steve smiled too.

Herobrine looked confused. But not unappreciative. He waved his hand, tucking the book away into his inventory. "Er, thanks. I will read the rest later."

"No problem!" She giggled. She then pushed Steve forward. "Go ahead, your turn."

Steve had a paper package tied up in butcher's twine behind his back. He coughed and walked forward, handing Herobrine the parcel.

The demon took it. Knowing what to do now, he tore into the paper. Revealing what was inside.

He paused when he realized what it was after pulling all the paper off and letting it float to the ground.

"It's... your cloak." Herobrine said. Not giving away any emotion. Steve seemed to droop a little. Expecting him to be a little happier. Alex nudged the miner. They shared a look. Steve rolled his eyes. He walked closer to the demon, touching the cloak in his hands.

"I knew it would already fit you. And there wasn't enough time to get you a new one made. I just know how much you like to borrow it from me when it gets colder." Steve ran his fingers along the cloak. Pointing out some stitching on the green material. "I sewed up all the holes so it won't be as drafty. And-" He tapped the button that held the cloak together. "I replaced the old latch with a golden one I got from town today. I know you said you like to wear a little gold in the nether for piglin respect or... whatever." The miner let go of the cloak and backed up, rubbing his head awkwardly.

Herobrine stared at the green gloak. Rubbing the material in his fingers.

"If... if you don't like-"

"I love it." Herobrine almost whispered. Sounding so genuine it made Steve blush and Alex smile. "It's perfect."

"O-oh." Steve scratched his head again. "Good. I'm glad." He smiled, looking away. Desperately trying to hide his blush. He had gone bright red. And Herobrine wasn't helping.

The demon stood instantly and put the cloak around his body. He had worn it before. But it looked different now. Like it was his now. It was truly his.

Herobrine looked up at Steve. "This is... the greatest gift I've ever been given." He didn't smile but his glowing eyes said it all. He was absolutely telling the truth. "Thank you, Steven."

The miner stared back. Smiling to the side and tilting his head. Embarrassed but screaming on the inside in happiness.

Alex had to butt in. Not liking the way the two were looking at each other and getting a little protective of Steve. "Pfft. Thanks a lot there, Briney boy. Glad my gift meant nothing."

Herobrine blinked. Processing the words. And then realized. "Oh, no, sorry Alex. Thank you as well."

"Yeah whatever." Alex nudged him with her fist, walking past him. She then let out a yawn. "Well. I think I'm all birthday partied out. Mind if I crash on your couch, Stevie? It's too late to walk home."

"Sure I'll get you some blankets." Steve mimicked the yawn. His eyes looked tired. They did do a lot to put the party together for him. They deserved a rest. "Happy Birthday, Brine."

"Thank you." Herobrine nodded. "Thank you both. This was... enjoyable."

"See our traditions aren't so bad." Alex said, flopping down on the couch.

"I do believe I've judged it too early." Herobrine nodded. "You do this every year?"

"Yep. And you get to do the planning and gift giving to us when it's our birthdays. No party is exactly the same." Alex nodded. "I think planning is actually more fun than celebrating your own birthday."

"Oh. Well I look forward to that. You will have to remind me when the time comes. Time is... difficult for me."

"Of course, dude." Steve produced some blankets from the closet. Herobrine sensed it was time to make his leave. He headed for the door.

"Thank you again." He said a little awkwardly. "I will uh, see you both tomorrow."

"Sounds good!" "Bye!" The siblings said.

And with Herobrine out the door. Steve and Alex looked at each other.

"I think that went well." Steve said.

"I think you owe me money for not making a single birthday suit joke." Alex said back. He threw the blankets over her head as she giggled.

"Goodnight Alex!" He went to his bedroom, trying to hide his blush. "Put out the candles before you sleep."

"I'm just saying, Stevie! That would've been a better gift if you-"

"Goodnight Alex!!"

Herobrine stood just outside the door. He wiggled his shoulders a little. Feeling the soft weight of the cloth around his shoulders. He smiled. Feeling warm inside and out. And teleported off.

[heyitsyn]

Forgive Me

a/n: this was a request and an angsty one

im so sad theyre banning tiktok!!! :(

anon request:  okok haikyuu hcs part 2: oikawa’s the reader’s best friend because their moms were also best friends but they went to different kindergarten + elementary schools so imagine how excited they were to go to kitaichi together,, anyway reader is the manager (again) but also functions as a really skilled medic,, (oh yea they start dating in second year) anyway they hit third year and reader protects bb kags,, so they break up. fast forward and reader is now in another school (either in miyagi/tokyo)

part 1.5

part 2

requests open!!!

oikawa torup in da house

so in this one,

yall are the iconic childhood friends

for the sake of this headcanon, hes an only child

so to explain

your mothers were actually college friends and became best friends and were so close that they decided to live next door to each other and have a child around the same time

also to mention, their husbands were also best friends and a few matchmaking rituals, they all got married

omg i want a friend to do this w me

it worked and they got pregnant and imagine their surprise when one was expecting a boy while the other was expecting a girl

they were already planning yall wedding before you were even born lmao

due to the closeness of your mothers, ofc yall would be best friends and you and oiks practically grew up w each other

every friday night was your night so sleepovers happened all the time

however, when yall were starting to go to school

you both ended up in different schools

dont ask me why ask your mom

oiks was throwing a tantrum and just crying bc you would be separated while you were just clinging on to him, thinking he would disappear

‘no! n/n-chan and me are going together! im not going if shes not!’

‘now, now, tooru, youre both going to be apart for only a few hours’

‘mommy i dont want to leave tooru-kun’

‘youll walk home together, baby’

i would cry too

so yall developed a routine that tooru would go to your school to pick you up and you guys would walk home together

again, explain to me how little 6 year olds are able to walk to and from school

he would always hold your hand to keep you beside him and you would swing your hands while humming a tune

‘ugh, i hate being so far away from you n/n-chan’

you sighed but gave him a bright grin

‘i do too. but we have to wait until we’re older so we can be together forever! mommy tells me that her and papa were not together for a long time but after school, they are now together forever. so once we finish school, i can be with you whenever i want!’

tooru nodded, a determined smile on his face

‘we’re going to be like mommy and papa. we will be together forever and we’ll have our own house and we’re going to die together!’

bls theyre like 6 and already practically thinking about marriage and they dont even know it

sometimes, if you both have leftover money, you would both go to a convenience store, Sakanoshita Market, and buy milk bread

‘mister, you dont have anymore?’

‘sorry, kid, now go on and have real dinner!’

you both lived in each other’s houses and sometimes, your parents would even wonder if they have a child bc you would disappear off to the oikawa’s house or the l/n’s

when he met iwa, ngl, you were jealous

even though you have the best friends rights due to being friends since day 1, you were still worried about being replaced

ofc oiks knew about that concern and kept you from being left out so he constantly dragged you to play with him and iwa

they developed an interest in volleyball and you wanted to hang out with them so you sometimes tossed the ball to tooru who would set it to iwa

whenever they wanted to do something else, you would always suggest going on an adventure

meaning going to the park

uwu kids are so cute

your little trio formed and soon, you three were the closest

despite going to different elementary schools, you still found ways to hang out together

however,

instead of you being jealous of being cast aside by oiks

it was him being worried that he was going to be replaced by iwa

it became apparent when iwa mentioned about going over to your house on friday to study something 

and tooru is petty so he was mad that you didnt invite him

there was no way he was going to let iwa take you from him bc he knew you first and he was the first one to announce his intention of getting married to you in the future

he was yours and you were his, plain and simple

he went to your house unannounced and used his key to enter the house

your mom peaked from the kitchen and greeted him

‘oh, hello, tooru-kun! y/n is upstairs studying’

he nodded and went up to your room where you were reading some notes while doing some homework

‘y/n-chan’

you looked up to him standing at your doorway

your eyes lit up and your cheeks flared to see him

bahahaha yes feelings

‘tooru-kun!’

his face crumpled up and he tackled you, hugging the life out of you tightly

‘y/n-chan! dont leave me! youre mine, not iwa-chans! im better than iwa-chan, okay?!’

ofc you were just confused but tooru was weird and youve learned to accept that over the years

‘tooru, we’ve been friends longer. i’ll always be yours and youre mine too so youre always going to be first’

he was all teary eyed when you said that and demanded cuddles and a movie after making him run all the way from iwa’s house

‘but i didnt ask you to, though’

‘you were still the reason i had to run so take responsibility!’

he might be a handful but he was oikawa tooru and you love him otherwise

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

as yall were settled and the beginning of e.t begins

baby oikawa was absolutely in love with that movie fite me

he asked you why you didnt invite him to study with iwa

you stopped and looked at him confusingly

‘tooru-kun, youre good at science aren’t you? iwa’s this 👌 close to failing just bc he mixes up solid, liquid, and gas’

this is a random fact that i made up so pls dont blast me about this !!!

oikawa stops then just doubles over laughing 

‘ohmygod! iwa-chan!’

yall know that arm wrestling video and his stage actor just yelling out iwa-chan? yes im imagining that

you looked at tooru weirdly

‘hm, laughing over your friend’s demise, okay’

needless to say, oiks called you during lunch and sounded like he was running and it was bc he was being chased by haji-kun after he made fun of him

‘ugh y/n! why did you tell him that!’

‘i mean,,,, its pretty embarrassing’

now comes middle school!!!

!!!!

yall are finally able to be in the same middle school as your friends!!!

you were so excited and you wouldnt shut up about it bc youve been looking forward to the day that yall get to be together everyday

not that you didnt have friends in your old school,

you just preferred being with the guys since you werent into the girly things yourself

and you get to see tooru everyday since he was in your class

oiks and iwa immediately wanted to join the volleyball club and they were soon accepted so it was only normal for you to be in practice a lot

you didnt join a club since none really interested you so it was okay for you to go the gym and do your homework while they practice

there was no choice on staying either since you usually walked home with them since oiks lived next door and iwa hung out at either your place or his

the current manager of the team noticed your friendship and frequent appearances so she asked you to be the manager rather than just being there

you didnt really have a choice bc oiks agreed for you and excitedly told you that you were going to be with them for the next 3 years

‘everyone! thank you for the past 3 years!’

hehe i just died inside

tooru was so happy that you would be in volleyball bc that was two favorite things lumped into the best 3 hours of his life: volleyball and you

so thus started your managerial duties

you became friends with the team but was closer to the first years

you quite literally watched them grow into amazing volleyball players and you sometimes cried along with them when they either got hurt or lost

specifically during the shiratorizawa match

it was then that you were sure of your feelings for your best friend

as he wept in the locker room, you stayed by the door, unsure if you should go in or not

but the others have gone to the bus already and iwa wanted you to go and get oiks ready so they could leave

so, you entered the room and your heart dropped, not even noticing the nasty smell of sweat in the boys locker room

he was hunched over the bench, a towel over his head

sure, he was just a first year and he has more opportunities to win

but it was the first time oiks experienced such a loss

and that smug look that ushijima gave him as he sat on the floor

you saw the defeated look as you stood with the coach at the bench

rushing forward and kneeling in front of him, you hugged him tightly

he cried, both defeated and embarrassed, but he didnt let go

it was then that you vowed to be there for him whenever this happens

every loss, every defeat, youll be there

it was painful and you had a feeling that this crush on him would make it harder in the future but you didnt care

bc tooru looked the most beautiful when he smiled

by now, second year has started

youve obviously noticed that your now second year friends are working much harder

and they were gaining more popularity

bc this was the age where puberty starts hitting everyone and lets just say god decided to bless the volleyball team

it shouldnt have surprised you that they were going to be known in the school or prefecture bc they were talented and handsome

perfect recipe for a dream boy

what was only a confession every few weeks or so, turned into nearly a dozen in a WEEK

dw you got some too!!

as a manager, you knew it was going to be a hard job being the only female in a team full of boys

but you didnt expect it to be this bad

girls would corner you in every hallway, outside or inside, to either give you their love letters to oikawa or to threaten you to stay away from their grand king

lmao king okay

and dw, you told them to catch you outside by chipotle after school but they didnt show up

that nickname seemed to get into oikawa’s ego as he told you about his love for that term

as you three walked home, oikawa was telling you about this one girl who called him her king and he giggled at the thought

‘she told me that she wanted to be my princess! but i told her i was a king so she should settle for a prince like iwa-chan’

you laughed at iwa’s angry face

‘shittykawa why am i downgraded?! you think youve above me or something?!’

‘PRINCE IWA-CHAN! HAIL PRINCE IWA-CHAN!’

you howled causing iwa to glare at you

‘not you too y/n!’

you were laughing so hard that your face was red and it got worse when iwa gave you a noogie

but little do you know, oikawa was looking at you at the side, trying to gauge your reaction

you didnt seem to be bothered at the fact that some girl wanted him to be theirs

that was why he frequently told you about his confessions

tooru wanted to know if you still felt the same about him being always yours by telling you stories about the girls and if you were jealous or not

but you remained indifferent and just laughed along

however, you WERE jealous but you didnt show it

youre like ‘im a bad bih you cant kill me’

with all these much prettier girls and talented girls than you, you were sure he would find somebody else

as long as he was happy and smiling, you were going to be just fine

again, another PSA! YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL NO MATTER WHAT BC YOU ARE THE KWEEN TO GRAND KING TOORU AND YOU RULE THE WORLD BC YOU ARE A BAD BIH AND YOU WILL NOT BE KILLED BY INSECURITIES!!

tooru was lowkey hurt about you blushing with iwa and not being bothered about the threat that was looming in the distance

so he practiced more, slightly regreting now that you were in the team

he was being an insecure little bean again and suddenly hes thinking that you and iwa seem to be interacting more (even though you werent) and he was being jealous and this caused him to be slightly more irritated

with all of his practicing, he ends up hurting himself more often like bruises and such

that worried you deeply bc he was practicing too much and pushing himself way too hard and you knew he would combust any moment now

this energy seeped into the others and theyve begun to be more intense during practice and you were sure they were wearing themselves out

youve expressed your concern to the coach about the bruises on their skin and their wincing at every movement

‘the solution to this, y/n-chan, is to study about this and be the medic that helps heal our soldiers’

with that request, youve started taking more trips to the library, staying up late reading medical articles, and buying pain relievants and medical tape

this was when you decided you wanted to be a sports therapist or an injury related profession in the future

so you were obviously prepared when you caught oiks practicing late again

you were actually stocking up some medical supplies when you were passing by the gym and found it still open with lights

he was practicing those damn service serves again and you were starting to get irritated when he didnt listen to you about not pushing himself too hard

‘tooru-kun, lets go home’

your voice resounded from the loud sounds of the balls hitting either the floor or wall

he gritted his teeth

‘i need to do this. i need to be strong enough to beat ushijima. i need-’

‘tooru-kun, let’s go home’

(reference)

but he didnt listen to you and spiked once more but he didnt land back on his feet

but on his knee

tooru made a sound of pain

your heart started beating really fast and you busted out your bag that had emergency supplies

tooru saw you kneeling beside him and for a second, the pain subsided and he was only focused on you

the way your stray hairs from your bun framed your face and the delicate eyes that were so focused on bunching up your kita jacket and using it to elevate the sprained knee

‘ice. i need ice’

you kept mumbling and was about to stand up but his hand flies to clutch your arm

‘y/n-chan, please dont leave me’

‘but its going to swell-’

‘i dont care. i need you right now so dont leave me alone’

you stared at each other, one slightly irritated while one was begging

‘i told you that you were going to hurt yourself if you push too far and look where you are’

‘but it hurts and i need affection to cool it down’

‘N O, tooru, what you need is proper treatment’

‘cuddles are considered treatment, you know’

‘we’re literally in the middle of the gym-’

‘i dont care’

he gave you those puppy eyes and you harshly looked away to the side

then you sighed before sitting down behind him and holding him in your arms

he was content with your affection and your familiar cherry blossom perfume engulfing his senses

his back was rested against your front uncomfortably while your arms were around his middle where his fingers played with your hands

it was silent for a moment except for his occasional hisses of pain but he decided this might be the time

at this point, he was hurt already so he doesnt care if youd reject him since the pain in his knee would cover the pain of his heart

hes like 14 what he poetic and deep for

‘ne, n/n-chan’

‘hm’

‘go out with me?’

your arms tensed and he squeezed his eyes shut, prepared for the rejection

‘only if you stop doing these late practices bc i want to have dates with you after school’

oml oikawa was so happy

like so happy that he just turns around excitedly and hugs you, competely forgeting about the pain in his knee

‘omg tooru your knee!’

‘ow! ugh!’

so thus began your relationship

anon, im very reluctant to make this fluff to angst

he stuck to his word of not going too far with his late practices and yall often had dates at the park, the convenience store, or just at home

ofc it wasnt everyday but it was close to it

everything was great in the world bc you had your best friend as your boyfriend and he made you so happy

during the summer, you began being an apprentice to your uncle’s clinic to further advance your knowledge in the medical field

that meant less time to spend with tooru which meant sulky tooru

this often caused arguments between you two since he always brought it up

‘n/n-chan, i miss you!’

‘i miss you too, tooru-kun. but i have to continue this so that i can be a better medic for the team!’

‘but i matter more than the team! n/n-chan!’

that was his problem. he thought that now you were dating, youd be revolving him 24/7 and he was everything you thought about

but you still had a life to live and prepare for

you sighed before sitting next to tooru on the floor

‘i finish at 2. then we can go get some milk bread and hike up that trail in time to see the sunset. sound good?’

that made him brighten up and you were dreading of repeating this same cycle again in a few days

but you actually liked this boy and even could say you love him despite his clingy and slightly obsessive personality

when your third year rolled around, oikawa was finally the captain of the team

you were now on the hunt of another manager to take over for next year but so far, its been hard

theyve all been fascinated by the boys, especially oikawa, making it a hard task

during the practice, you notice that tooru has been different

to the others, he was fine

but to this one student, kageyama tobio, he was cold

harsh, even

it wasnt like him to treat his kouhais like that so you were confused and obviously worried for a player on your team

you pulled him aside one day and you asked him what was going on

‘tooru, why are you being mean to kageyama?’

he just smiled, but it was much more different

like a whole different smile youve never seen

‘hes the first setter ive met who is an underclassman. im just trying to toughen him up and shape him to his potential’

but you crossed your arms, raising an eyebrow

‘by criticizing every single movement he makes like breathing? by constantly embarrassing him in front of the others? by isolating him from everyone else?’

his eyes twitched and his grin got wider as he gently held your hands

‘we’ll talk about this later, n/n-chan, kay? now, i need to get back to practice as captain and you can continue being the manager’

to be honest, you were kinda pissed

‘no, tooru. you need to stop-’

‘y/n? stop it. this is a stupid thing to argue about so drop it’

boi watch yo mouth

but you didnt push further to not make a scene so you went to kindaichi and gave him his bottle and a towel to kunimi

it was tense between you and oikawa for the next few days

the team could pick up on the weird energy but refused to say anything because hello you were their mom and oikawa was their captain

but iwa didnt care so he straight up asked yall as you were taking spiking notes

‘oi y/n, shittykawa, did you argue or something? its kinda tense in here’

the entire team froze and even the coach looked between you two

lmao i love the coach

‘hm, y/n-chan and i just disagreed on something, didn’t we, y/n-chan?’

oikawa turned and gave you a grin

to others, it wouldve looked real and so convincing

but to you, you knew it was fake

thinking back on it, you shouldve known that was the beginning of his new persona

whenever you pointed it out, he would deflect and you wouldnt stop until he told you what was going on resulting more fights bc he was not doing his vital share in this relationship: communicate

‘tooru, listen to me!’

‘no, y/n-chan. im busy so later’

then it became like that

‘later, y/n-chan’

‘after this spike’

soon after, it felt like you didnt even have a boyfriend anymore

even iwa was starting to notice something weird since oiks was doing this to him too

he was distant, focusing too much time on volleyball which took a toll on his health

and he was getting angrier at tobio for unknown reasons

but these reasons soon came to light when that unfortunate day came

you were waiting for oikawa to finish up his practice so you could also pack up the balls and go home

iwa was already packing up to leave so it was only you oikawa and tobio remaining in the gym

youve talked to kageyama about tooru before and you encouraged him to ask oiks how to serve bc he was really good at it

today he was asking again but you already knew that he was going to refuse him like he has before

but you didnt see this coming

you saw him start to raise his hand with this manic look in his eyes and your eyes widened, running full speed towards kageyama

nYOOM

we finna change this up so buckle up babes

instead of kageyama, you pushed him aside so you took the hit

the force and the intensity of the slap was equivalent to the ones he used to his serves causing you to fly to the floor

you were breathing heavy, tears threatening to fall from the throbbing pain on your face, yet you didnt move

then your head turned to look at kageyama before giving him a nod and a smile

‘g-go to iwaizumi, tobio. he’ll take you home, kay?’

he looked unsure, looking between you and oikawa but your long blink and small smile told him that you would be okay

he ran to the exit and disappeared from view

it was now just you and oikawa

on the other hand, he remained frozen

he didnt know if he should grovel on his knees or cry to forgive him

‘n/n-chan-’

‘dont’

in all the years youve known each other,

from the very beginning in your diapers,

youve never spoken to him in such anger, venom, and hurt

‘dont say another word to me. dont apologize to me. i did what a normal person would do and protect an innocent child from something he doesnt deserve. he was just a child, tooru’

you stood up, eyes still not meeting his, instead focusing on his taped fingers that used to hold your hands with such gentleness and touch you so softly

‘what happened to you, tooru?’

you whimpered, arms wrapping around yourself

he was lost

he didnt know what to do

he had his own tears falling and he stepped forward in instinct to go to your arms but you flinched and backed away

that caused him to sob before throwing himself on the floor in front of you

‘y/n, please. y/n forgive me. i didnt mean to! please, y/n!’

part of you wanted to think that he was just so stressed out for the incoming interhigh that he wasnt thinking straight

but you knew you were just making excuses

this relationship started falling apart the moment you started your third year and you were just trying to hold it together

it was like holding water on your palms yet ignoring the water that was spilling on the side

you can only ignore it for a short while until eventually, the water is not there anymore and youre suddenly asking yourself, ‘where did it go?’

and now youre asking yourself, where did you go wrong?

was it your fault?

‘tooru, for months, ive made excuses for you. many times ive tried to sort out our problems, yet you always made excuses to not talk about it. it takes two to dance in a relationship yet it feels like im just dragging you in circles. we’re going in circles, tooru!’

he looked up at you, slowly standing on his feet with hands hovering over your shoulders, afraid to touch you

‘i can make this right, y/n. forever, right? you promised me years ago that we’d be together forever! we would get married a-and live together and be like mom and papa, right?!’

you choked back a sob at his face

he looked like someone else

he wasnt your tooru

he was the oikawa tooru that held you as you tried to walk

the one that pulled you back up to bed when you rolled off

the one who purposely tripped himself during your first year when you slipped so that you wouldnt be embarrassed in front of everyone

this was a selfish, jealous, tooru

the same look he gave you when he found out that you were studying with iwa without him

‘you hated tobio because he was a good setter, right? you were jealous and scared that he would take your place? was that it, tooru?’

that was then he really realized that you were the only one who could read him like you were reading a book

a single glance and you knew right away

and you calling him out on it allowed him to figure out why he truly didnt like tobio

and it was embarrassing that you said it out loud

and when oikawa tooru was embarrassed or flustered, he deflects

and it usually ends up badly

‘jealous? dont make me laugh!’

he scoffed while you glared at him

‘then what was it, then tooru? why did you do that, huh? because by the way youre acting right now, youre nothing but a green-filled monster. man, you seriously their captain?’

‘shut up, y/n!’

his personality took a whole 360 and you stepped back, scared he would lash out again

‘you dont know anything! you dont know how its like to feel second place from that bastard ushijima. you dont know how its like to feel threatened that your own kouhai could possibly be better than you. you dont know how it feels like to not feel enough no matter how many hours you practice or serves you hit. you dont know anything, y/n-chan’

he hissed and you shook your head in disbelief

‘so to satisfy your own insecurities, you hurt and put down others just so you could feel better about yourself. that just proves you are no longer the tooru i know.’

‘well i dont need you, then!’

you were taken aback by his shouts, composure now broken

‘im not him anymore so you either take whats in front of you or leave!’

at his suggestion, you narrowed your eyes

‘dont make me say my choice because you already know what im going to say’

despite knowing youd say that, part of him still wanted you to at least stay

but he was hurt and he wanted to hurt you as much as you hurt him

‘then leave! i dont need a distraction in my life anymore! you no longer satisfy me! so go!’

the tears now fell and you opened your mouth to say something but you closed it, replacing it with a sob

you bit your lip to compose yourself and swallowed that lump on your throat

‘fine. we’re done, oikawa tooru. and im sorry if i was a distraction to you for the entire 15 years of life we spent together. i can assure you that you will no longer have to put up with me’

then you left

nyoom?

you tried not to think about it bc you were only 15 and you were young so this wouldnt be the last time youd feel love

but not only did you lose a boyfriend, but you lost your best friend

and this is when you realized that best friends are only meant to be best friends

nothing more, nothing less

your parents knew nothing of what transpired and blamed your bruise at running into something bc you didnt want to strain the friendship your mother and his had if they found out her son hit you

family dinners were awkward and your parents kept asking until theyve just figured out that you were fighting

for the rest of your lives

iwa didnt know either

you made kageyama swear to you that he wouldnt say anything and you were relieved that it wasnt his business to say anything to someone else anyways

it was a secret that remains between the three of you

all was known was that you and oikawa broke up and you acted like he wasnt even there

if you had a problem, you went to iwaizumi since he was the vice captain

other than that, you no longer interacted with oikawa

it was an obvious thing that you wouldnt go to seijoh and your families were confused, wondering what the heck happened

‘y/n? youve wanted to go with tooru to seijoh since you were younger so what changed?’

‘people change’

tooru changed

instead, you went to karasuno

it was a suggestion from the guy in the milk bread store after you expressed your dilemma of finding a high school

‘karasuno’s right up there, kid. it’s not that far of a walk, right?’

‘i guess youre right’

during your first day of high school, you were shutting the gate when you saw iwaizumi and oikawa by his door

iwaizumi raised a hand in greeting and you smiled at him before walking down the road

‘i still wont force you to tell me but just know, you either fix it or get over her’

iwaizumi cautions tooru who kept his eyes on your slowly getting smaller figure

‘but i cant fix it this time’

you disassociated yourself from volleyball for the rest of years until a good friend of yours, kiyoko, asked you to help her manage the boys

she asked you to just help her out during your last year and you agreed since shes done a lot of things for you over the years

‘we have a practice match with aoba johsai on tuesday so you think you can come then?’

you froze, not knowing what to say

but its been years and you no longer cared

besides, you still felt protective towards one of your former baby chicks kageyama and him being there with that guy worried you

so you agreed

on your way there, kageyama stuck close to you since you were the only one he trusted there

‘are you okay with this, y/n-san?’

you squeezed his arm with a smile

‘it’s okay, tobio. besides, iwa told me that kindaichi and kunimi are there and i miss them so’

the boys and you started unloading their bags and kiyoko asked you to go and fill their bottles in case

the gray-haired setter, you knew as sugawara koushi, accompanied you to carry them so you were filling them up as he held the container of empty bottles

‘the boys are going to be good, you know. and dont worry about kageyama. hes extremely talented and we could win easily’

you gave him a reassuring smile and he nodded

‘i have faith in our firs-’

‘y/n’

a voice from behind you made the hair on your arms stand and you saw him there

he was shocked to see you there bc last thing he knew from iwa, you no longer had anything to do with volleyball

but here you were, in his castle, with an unknown person beside you

suga noticed your tense form and placed the box on the floor

he put a hand on your shoulder and made you face him

‘you know him, y/n?’

but you only gave oikawa one more look

‘no. not anymore’

oikawa screamed

yall that one last line is not relevant to the story but i put it there since someone pointed out that oikawa was always screaming and i thought that was a funny comment

[nervousladytraveler]

The Alibi

Inspired by the kiss prompt: A + B are in an argument, then they stop, just stare at each other, and then crash their lips together, because, like i said... fuck this shit Ross and Demelza

Requested by the lovely @veryflowerobservation

---

“God damn it, Demelza! I told you not to follow me tonight!”

For the last eight miles, Ross had been looking over his shoulder while Demelza drove. No one was behind them on the dark road, and it was most likely they’d been unseen, yet he continued to anxiously watch. There was nothing that would quiet the churning adrenaline that came from such a close call.

“Well it's a good thing I did follow you, otherwise…” Demelza snapped back at him.

“Otherwise what?!” He cut her off before she continued in what sounded like another self-righteous justification. Her words rang empty to him--she’d acted impulsively and it was just dumb luck that she hadn’t made things worse.

“You seriously ask me that?”

“Demelza, I would have sorted it instead of both of us being in danger!”

“No, Ross. In case you didn't notice I just saved your skin before you had anythin’ to sort. And you can’t just sort a thing like this with the police, by the way. Not even you. But now that’s a moot point and no one is in danger. Of gettin’ hurt or bein’ arrested--precisely because I came.“

Without any warning, Demelza took a sharp left at the Blowinghouse Turn bus stop, then minutes later turned right on the B3284 towards Truro. This whole time she’d kept the tiny Kia Forte steady at 30 mph, a frustratingly slow pace that further agitated Ross--and she was well aware that it would, no doubt. But she was right in her refusal to drive any faster. The last thing they needed now was trouble for speeding.

“Why didn’t you stay on the…” he started but stopped once he caught the acid look she flashed him. “You seem to know what you’re doing,” he mumbled.

“Yes, Ross. Yes, I do.”

To their relief, the road ahead remained empty. Then again people didn't really tend to be out driving at 2AM on a Tuesday unless they had urgent business. Or shady business.

“So was this all your plan all along--that you’d come out tonight and spy on me?” he asked.

“Spy? You’re not very good at keepin’ secrets, you know,” she sputtered. “Besides, you already told me what you were up to, just not when or where…”

“For good reason! Because I didn’t want you involved. But you told me that you’d stay home--you lied to me!” Ross’s dark voice filled the little car.

“Lyin’? You’re really speakin’ to me about lyin’?” Her laugh, bitter and sarcastic, met his anger head on.

Demelza Carne had worked for Ross Poldark for years now--since she was a teenager really-- first as an all around office assistant and recently as his bookkeeper. And she’d shown him time and again that she wasn't cowed by his moods. She was one of the few people in his life who wasn’t. She was also one of the few people in his life who hadn’t abandoned him once his business prospects began to fail. He shouldn’t have expected anything different from her tonight.

“But no, Ross, I hadn’t planned on interferin’ with your business. I do have a life of my own you know...“

“Demelza--wait--are you claiming I lied to you?”

“When you omit somethin’ on purpose, that’s also a lie,” she said calmly, then a moment later her agitation boiled up again. “Jesus, Ross! What were you thinkin’?! Comin out here on your own to meet those smugglers? You didn't think it was a set up?”

Smugglers. It rankled him that she insisted on calling Trencrom and his men smugglers as though this were some 18th century French scheme or an Enid Blyton novel, rather than a simple business arrangement.

But no matter what term Ross preferred, tonight proved it remained a dangerous business. And while the charge of “improper importation of goods chargeable with a duty which has not been paid” certainly sounded less exciting than smuggling, it still carried a severe penalty.

Tonight would have been Ross’s third transaction with Robert Trencrom, a local businessman who had approached him last summer with a proposition. It seemed that from time to time Trencrom and his associates had in their possession certain goods acquired through less than proper channels. What Trencrom needed was an unassuming place to store these goods until such a time when they could be distributed without suspicion. Nampara, Ross’s derelict farm, might provide the perfect cover since there were so many unused outbuildings, several that still had solid walls and intact roofs. It had been decades since the farm produced anything that needed storing, so why not let the space to others whilst Ross made a little cash on the side?

The past two times it had been Belgian cigarettes--not massive quantities but enough that the whole endeavour still carried a risk. Yet Ross’s involvement had been truly minimal, just as Trencrom had assured him. In fact, Ross had not even been home when the goods were delivered. Trencrom’s men had tucked the plastic barrels behind some rusting mowing machines, and Ross was only made aware that the goods had been removed some weeks later when an envelope of cash was left for him in his car.

And since these were cash transactions, Ross considered hiding them altogether from Demelza, who minded his books for him. But in the end, he explained in vague details what he had done and asked her not to question him further. Clearly she hadn’t approved but she said nothing.

It wasn’t drugs or weapons--or people--so it could be worse, he’d told himself. And as soon as he just got a little more out of debt, he’d cut ties with the lot.

When Ross didn’t hear from Trencrom all winter, he’d assumed the connection had faded and sighed in relief. He’d miss the income but not the entanglement.

Then a few weeks into May, Trencrom reached out again.

This time Ross was to be more involved and actually take delivery of the cargo himself. Naturally there would be considerable compensation--a figure Ross didn’t think he could refuse considering his current financial status. Trencrom hinted he’d been worried about the loyalty of such a big crew and so for this job he wanted to keep his circle small. He’d instructed Ross to meet them at the Rugby Football Club carpark just after midnight.

In the hours leading up to the hand off, Ross was determined to pass a quiet evening at home. So when his friend Dwight stopped by unannounced for a drink and a game of cards, he’d welcomed the diversion. He was also relieved that Demelza, who lived in one of the tiny cottages adjacent to the main house, seemed to deliberately be giving him a wide berth that day. She knew about the “business” Ross had later, but having already made her objections clear, there was nothing left to say on the matter. Normally she would have stayed--she liked Dwight Enys and the two of them playfully teased Ross as only true friends could. But tonight she left Ross with Dwight and went home early.

It was around 11PM that Ross received another call--the exchange point had apparently changed. He was now to meet Trencrom’s men at the airfield at 1:30 and he was to come on foot--without his car. The barrels were already loaded in a van so there was no need to remove them to another vehicle.That last detail did seem odd to him at the time. But once Ross had left for the appointment, he found it was a mild night, and figured he’d park at the beach and enjoy the walk to the airfield.

He was still almost a mile away when the familiar black Kia pulled up next to him. His every muscle tightened and he could hear the blood pounding in his ears.

“Demelza,” he’d hissed. “Get out of here!’

“Get in the car now, Ross,” she’d said simply.

“Look, Demelza, I know you don’t approve of this...” There was something in her eyes that made him take notice. Like an animal being hunted, she was on high alert.

“Get in,” she’d said again. “It’s a trap.”

“What?!” he’d asked, shaking his head in disbelief but still he climbed into the car without waiting for a satisfactory explanation.

“Seatbelt,” was all she’d said. He could hear the tension in her voice but she concentrated on the road ahead of her and didn’t even offer him a glance. “There,” she said finally and bid him to look to the right.

She drove on without slowing down so it was only a flash to him, still the chilling sight registered in his brain. Just beyond the tall hedges at the entrance to the airfield were three police cars, and two others that looked unmarked, all waiting in a circle with their headlamps off.

Demelza had been right--it had been a trap. And one he would have literally walked right into had she not shown up when she did.

It was doubtful that Trencrom was the one cooperating with the cops--it must have been one of the others in his crew. So Trencrom did have good reason to want to draw his circle closer. Ross wondered if he’d actually known there was a rat amongst them or just suspected it.

Ross knew he should be grateful for Demelza’s timely rescue but he couldn’t help resenting that she’d been right. She may have had a right to be so smug, but he didn't have to enjoy listening to her rub it in.

“I knew this would happen…” she muttered and drove on.

“Oh, you most certainly did not,” he growled. “No one did.”

“No one?” she laughed. “Well let’s see, Ross...the cops knew and someone else most certainly knew--whoever grassed on you, that is…”

“I would have thought, knowing you as I do, that you’d understand why I had no choice…”

“No choice? What sort of bullshit is that, Ross? Have you run round in your head how that really sounds? You know that's not an actual legal defense?”

“I mean I needed the money. I have a mortgage payment due and…”

“Yes, I am aware of that, Ross. Knowin’ me as you think you do, you should have talked this over with me. I’m your bookkeeper, for fuck’s sake.”

He didn’t want to think about what he should have done and whether he’d pushed her away as she claimed. He had good reason not to involve her--he’d wanted to avoid just such an argument with her.

And he also wanted to protect her.

“Turn left up here then pull over at the top of the hill and let me drive,” Ross grumbled as she rolled into the sleeping town.

“You’re most certainly not drivin’ my car!” she huffed but nonetheless turned as he had directed and pulled into the car park at the back of the Star and Garter Inn.

It was a clever move. They hadn’t spoken it but they both knew their friend Jinny Martin would be working the desk tonight. Perhaps she could get them a room and they could wait it out there until morning.

Demelza switched off the headlamps and then after a moment’s hesitation, the engine as well.

Ross heard her take in a sharp breath--more like a hiss--and waited for the tempest to continue.

“Well, yes,” he said just a beat before she opened her mouth to speak. “When the pick-up location changed last minute, I might have seen it was a set up.” It wasn't an apology but he hoped he could buy himself some time before her next eruption. “But I never imagined anyone involved in this arrangement would ever inform on me…”

“Oh Ross! I would have guessed it, and am surprised it didn't happen sooner. Honour amongst thieves and all that.”

“They aren’t--we aren’t--thieves.”

“Ok, not thieves per se but it’s still criminal activity to take delivery of smuggled cargo. Ross, you think you’re such a great judge of character but that lot...they’re greedy bastards and they just aren't your friends.”

“And you are?”

She stared at him, wide eyed and open-mouthed, unbelieving that he’d actually questioned her loyalty when she’d just saved him from a possible seven year prison sentence.

“Demelza, that came out wrong,” he said. Again it wasn’t an apology. At least not in its tone.

“Everythin’ you say comes out wrong, Ross. Or do you actually mean to be such an absolute arsehole?”

“Can’t you just admit that you could have put yourself in danger back there? With both Trencrom’s crew and the cops?” He put his hand on her arm and was surprised at how strong her muscles felt as she gripped the steering wheel. Instinctively he pulled away.

“Can’t you just admit how stubborn and stupid you can be?” Usually so bright and reassuring, her voice was hoarse from such rough use tonight.

“I’m stubborn?” he asked.

“No one saw me, Ross. And the important thing is that the police didn't see you. So you’re safe.”

“Well…”

“I suppose even if the cops had your name as someone possibly involved, since they didn't actually catch you doin’ any illegal activity, they can’t arrest you. Besides I’m your allibi for this evenin’. We can stay here overnight in case they’re watchin’ the house, and I’ll take you back to to pick up your car in the mornin’.“

“Wait! What if there’s CCTV here?” Ross felt a renewed jolt of panic tear through him.

“All the cameras are on the front of the building and the side where the guests park. This section is for employees.” She pointed to the few other cars around them. Older, tatty, bought second hand on the cheap but still at a cost as they most likely required constant maintenance. These were the cars of service workers--night clerks, cleaners, cooks. He recognised Jinny’s old Skoda with it’s Leicester City FC sticker on the rear. That car had been in the Martin family for almost two decades now and somehow, through mechanical expertise or through sheer will, her resourceful father had managed to keep it running. No one would bother these cars with the shiny new BMWs and Audis on the other side of the hotel.

“What about traffic cameras? Back along the road?” Ross asked, not sure if he was being cautious or paranoid.

“Maybe, but Ross, there’s no law against bein’ out with a woman.”

“Who happened to pick me up on the side of the road in the middle of the night…”

“Well, let’s assume we had to meet up in the cover of dark to avoid gossip since you’re my boss...and because of your jealous girlfriend.”

“Demelza, you know I don’t have a girlfriend,” he grumbled. “This is ridiculous…”

“I know that, but the police wouldn’t. A clandestine affair--a fake one of course--is a perfect cover for sketchy behaviour. But if you’d prefer I not be your alibi…”

“This isn’t a game!” he snapped again. He couldn’t stand that she’d laughed just now. Then a thought hit him and he had to ask. “How did you even know where I was going? That I’d be heading from the beach towards the airfield on foot?”

“Dr. Enys told me.”

“What? This just gets more unbelievable! Dwight knew this was top secret--why the hell did he tell you?”

“Top secret but still you told him?” she snorted. “Well, I’m glad you did, I suppose. He couldn’t follow you himself--he’d a call from one of his ‘patients’, which I think was actually code for Caroline wanted him to come round’--so he thought I might be able to stop you. At least he has some faith in me.”

“Oh come on, this isn’t about what I think of you…”

“Isn’t it though? You clearly don’t trust me and you don’t think I can handle myself and you think I’m silly.”

“Silly?”

“Oh sorry--ridiculous was the word you just used. Anyway Dwight was wary of the whole arrangement and thought it stank to high heaven.”

“Why didn’t he tell me that himself?!”

“He said he did--did you actually listen? And before you get angry at him, you should thank your lucky stars that he was still at Nampara when Trencrom sent word of the ‘new’ meetin’ point...”

“It wasn’t Trencrom who rang me,” he corrected her. “It was Charlie who told me the meet up was moved to the airfield.”

“Charlie Kempthorne? That tosser? Are you shitting me? And you didn’t think it was suspicious that Charlie would be privy to some secret revised plan and you wouldn’t?” she scoffed. “But really, Ross, you should be fucking grateful to have Dwight as a mate. He’s a real friend, you know.”

“I never said he wasn't.”

“No, you just said I wasn't,” she snorted.

“Oh come on, Demelza. You know I didn't mean that. What are you going on about?”

“In case it isn’t clear, Ross,” she hissed, “I am still so angry at you.” She spoke through clenched teeth. “That you got involved with those weasels in the first place, that you shut me out, that you almost...”

“It’s none of your business!” he shouted. “Why are you being this way?”

“Okay, it’s not my business and I’m not your friend, just some stupid girl who works for you and is used to clearin’ up your messes--and who knows she’ll be out of that job if--no, sorry--when you get nicked. Fuck this shit. And fuck you, Ross!” Without looking at him, she stepped out of the car and slammed the door.

Ross immediately followed her, afraid that she’d keep shouting and wake the hotel. She stopped in her tracks a few yards away and stood silently. It might have been the first time in nearly thirty minutes that she’d stopped yelling at him. Ross leaned against the still-warm bonnet of the car and exhaled.

Perhaps she’d known what she was doing, parking the car in a farthest corner of the lot, under a broken street lamp. They were completely hidden in shadow, still Ross could make out her face--her narrowed, feral eyes, her gnashing teeth that gleamed in the faint moonlight. For a moment he thought she might bite him.

He cautiously took a step forward then paused to read her posture.

The chill in the air--and in the words they’d just thrown at each other--was causing her shoulders to shake. He noticed she was wearing a blue jumper just a shade darker than her brilliant eyes. The sleeves were too long, and she’d had to repeatedly push them up, but they wouldn't cooperate and now hung past her fingertips.

It was his, he then realised, the old one he usually left hanging on the peg by the front door.

He almost asked her what she was wearing--or rather why she was wearing it--but instead, aware that he’d been moved and not all sure of the reason, he did something else. He made two broad strides towards her.

Startled, she looked up at him. Her shining eyes lit the night.

“Yes, like you said...fuck this shit…” he laughed and put his hand on her elbow, pulling her towards him. He expected resistance, but he found none.

It was only a moment that they just stared at each other but it felt eternal, and then at some unspoken signal, they crashed together.

It was an untidy and urgent kiss--almost violent in its clumsiness had it not been fueled by such sincere desperation. Then, as they both found their breath, their arms found each other. A great weight had been lifted--one that neither Ross nor Demelza even realised they were shouldering until that moment.

He wove his hands through her hair and kissed her again. This time their lips worked together, carried by the flood of surging desire and long-sought release.

“Demelza, I’m so sorry I got you in this.” His voice was low but soft. Now his hands framed her face, afraid she might slip away like sand through his fingers.

“Ross, I was just so scared for you.”

He could hear the tears she was trying to hold back and understood why she’d been so angry with him. He’d been such a spectacular idiot, and in more ways than one.

“Me too. When you turned up, Demelza...my blood ran cold at the thought that I'd lured you into danger. I would never let anyone hurt you…” He ran the backs of his fingers gently down her cheek then kissed her pulsing temple.

“I couldn't leave you Ross, I just couldn't,” she cried into his neck.

“Thank you for caring for me even though I don’t deserve it. Come, you’re shivering. Let's go inside. We can talk more…” But instead of letting her go, he pressed her closer until he was certain he could feel her heart beating against his.

“I don't want to talk anymore,” she sniffled.

“Me neither. I just want to touch you and know you are safe.”

“Will you, Ross?”

Good god, I’ll never let you go, he thought.

“And can you trust me?” When she looked up at him, the hunted, defensive animal was gone. Now she was raw, vulnerable. She was softly opening herself to him, and doing so completely.

Ross understood what would happen next, what was happening now. He felt it in his gut and knew things would never be the same.

“Of course I do,” he whispered. “More than anyone.”

The darkness of the night--their secret accomplice--wrapped herself protectively around them.

Demelza lifted her face towards him and Ross kissed her once more.

[official-weasley]

Meant to Be (Charlie Weasley x OC)

What happens when Bill brings home a girl and Charlie is completely awestruck by her?

Dear reader,

what's the number one bro code? Never steal your brother's girl. Ever. Just don't do it. It's wrong!

But what if- No.

Just forget about it. It's too much work. And the drama that comes after. And then the whole family is involved. It's just not worth it. Leave it alone. Walk away. End of story.

But what if she is the most beautiful girl you have ever seen? And you have a lot in common? And you have a connection? Not the cheesy kind. The real kind. The one that everybody dreams about but never wants to admit it. What if you feel something you never did before and somehow, without knowing how, you know that she feels the same? What if she is everything you ever wanted? And is the first girl that you can see yourself having a future with?

What do you do then? Do you tell your brother?

Is it going to be easy? No. It's going to be hell but you ride through it anyway.

Love, Charlie

CHAPTER 1

Bill

“Bill.” I lifted my head, hearing my name. My boss was standing in the doorway, his expression telling me I will not like what he is about to say. I nodded my head, inviting him in.

“I am sorry to barge in on you like this and trust me if I could, I would ask anyone else, but…” He sighed and stopped avoiding my eyes. “This must get into the right hands and I trust you the most.” My eyes went from his to the pile in his hands.

“You want me to go to Gringotts and deliver these papers?” I smiled. It really wasn’t a big deal. I did it all the time and I had an excuse to see her.

“I know you’re supposed to go home tomorrow for the Christmas holidays and I always do this to you and…”

Derek was an amazing boss. He was strict and knew how to be harsh but deep inside he was the nicest person you can meet.

“Derek, it’s not a problem, really.” I reassured him. I could see relief in his expression. “I wanted to go there before I leave to the Burrow anyway.”

“You’re finally going to do it?” He smirked at me. I felt my cheeks turn pink and I sucked in a breath. I had to keep it together in front of him even though he was the only one who knew I had a thing for Rhylee.

“I’m just inviting her to spend the holidays with my family. Nothing big.” I lied.

“Oh, c’mon! Ask her out already!” Derek rolled his eyes. “I don’t have enough paperwork for you to apparate from Egypt to London once per week to see her.” He laughed.

“Ha-ha. Very funny. I’ll ask her once we get back.” I took the papers from his hands. “If she’ll say yes, of course.”

“You have been friends with her for almost 3 years and you fancy her for more than half of that, what’s with the stalling?” He crossed his arms on his chest.

“Give me a break, it’s complicated.” I sighed.

“That’s an excuse and you know it.” He tapped my shoulder and started towards the door. “Just do it before you get even deeper into the friendzone.” He said and walked out.

—

He was right. I was stalling and at this point, I didn’t even know why I was doing it.

I met Rhylee almost 3 years ago when I was bringing a treasure chest to Gringotts. Because it was really valuable, I had to take it all the way down to the most secured vault. That was the first time I saw a dragon. I heard a rumor that the Bank had them guarding the most secured vaults in the entire facility but I thought it wasn’t true.

I wasn’t as big on dragons as my brother Charlie, but even I thought it wasn’t fair to them. They were keeping them in the damp, dark corners of the cave systems. No sunlight, no freedom. And they were keeping them a secret. Only people who worked at Gringotts and a few others, Curse Breakers like me, knew about them.

I wasn’t careful when I approached the vault I had to store the chest in. They forgot to tell me that I was supposed to announce myself to one of the dragon tamers so that they would hold off the creature. The dragon launched at me, almost roasting me with its flames. It was Rhylee who saved me. I was lucky she was there to feed it.

She came out of nowhere and handled that dragon like it was nobody’s business and she still managed to look absolutely beautiful while doing so. She asked me if I was insane and what I was doing so deep down, her wand ready to duel me.

She thought I was trying to break into one of the vaults. I didn’t blame her. I was probably the only idiot who went so deep under the Bank without an escort. I explained my business and she started laughing when she realized that nobody told me about the procedure of getting to the high-security vaults.

After telling me that I can’t come down here unannounced, badge or no badge and that I always have to have one of the Dragonologists with me if I don’t want to be eaten, she accompanied me to the vault.

I encountered her a few more times after that and we always ended up chatting. Her determination and love for her job grew on me and I invited her for launch. We quickly became really good friends and I visited her every time I happened to be at the Bank.

My boss, Derek, accompanied me a few months ago when I was supposed to deliver another chest. I introduced him to Rhylee and he quickly caught on that I fancy her and I haven’t heard the end of it since.

Because we discovered a new tomb, there was a lot of paperwork that needed to be delivered to Gringotts lately. Derek, knowing that I would be able to see her and because he trusted me the most, gave the job to me almost every time. I went from visiting Diagon Alley a couple of times per month to a couple of times per week. I felt like a mailman but I didn’t mind. I could see and talk to Rhylee and I could have launch with her.

We became such good friends and I had trouble reading her that's why I was so hesitant to ask her out. I didn't want to ruin our friendship or make her uncomfortable but it was getting quite hard being just her friend. We are both single and at this point, I have nothing to lose.

She once told me that she is not that close with her family and wrote in one of her letters that she will probably work for Christmas. I think it's the perfect opportunity to finally ask her out.

I had everything planned out. I would visit her at her work before I leave for the Burrow. Or, since I have to go to Gringotts anyway when I take the papers I will visit her then. I will invite her to spend Christmas with me and my family. Even if I didn't fancy her, I wouldn't want a friend spending Christmas at work or alone. I will introduce her to my family and when we return I will ask her out before we part ways once we get back.

To say that I was nervous was an understatement. I had no idea what to expect. I don't know how she will react or what her answer will be. Rhylee puts animals above everything else. She loves her job more than anything and those two dragons in the vaults were more family to her than all her relatives combined.

She was very talkative but never told you more than you needed to know. I know all about her family and how annoyed she is that her co-workers don't care about the creatures as much as she does. I know she owns a Kneazle and lives with a roommate in a small apartment in London. She graduated from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic a year after I graduated from Hogwarts and she was sorted into Bellefeuille.

She never talked about any of her friends besides her roommate Lyla. I wouldn't even know she was single if I haven't met Lyla one day when Rhylee and I were having coffee in Diagon Alley and she teased her about one of her co-workers.

She didn't seem particularly interested in dating and never gave any signs that she might fancy me back.

That was probably the reason I was so hesitant to ask her out. I was afraid she would reject me, simply seeing me as a friend, and then it would get awkward between us. But as I said, my feelings for her are growing and I am willing to take the risk. If I can't gather up the courage to ask a girl out then I was sorted into the wrong house at school!

—

I took my jacket, grabbed the papers Derek left on my desk, and apparated to London. Firstly, I took the papers to the goblin, which probably found me suspicious that I was always there.

“What is this?” The goblin bowed his head, looking at the papers I laid in front of him.

“Mr. Boweman said these need to be filed right away.” I answered.

“And this is concerning?” The goblin continued, his eyes still on the pile.

“The new tomb in Luxor.” I dreaded talking to him. He always looked at me as if I was up to something and it was making me uncomfortable.

“Right.” He nodded. “Is there a reason he is always sending you?” He narrowed his eyes at me.

“He told me that he trusts me the most.” I swallowed hard. This was worse than when mum was mad.

“Isn’t he aware of the rule that the messenger should always be a different person?” He questioned.

I simply shook my head. I had no idea if Derek knew this or not but I made a mental note to mention it to him. I didn’t want him to get in trouble and I definitely didn’t want to be interrogated by a goblin again.

“I don’t know. I will make sure to ask him when I get back.” I said quietly.

“Very well.” The goblin sighed and swung his hand, indicating that I should leave.

I took a step backward before turning on my heel and leaving his office. I closed the door and leaned on the wall next to it. I waited for my breath to steady and for my heart to get back to normal. I don’t know why but I was always intimidated by goblins. I would rather spend a week in a tomb fighting mummies in the dark than repeat that conversation.

Since I was at the office section of Gringotts I decided to check if Rhylee was at her desk before I go looking for her down at the vaults.

I made my way across the corridor and one floor up. I stopped in front of Rhylee’s office and knocked on the door.

“Rhylee, you in there?” I checked my watch. A quarter to five. Of course, she wasn’t. It was feeding time. “Damn it.” I didn’t like going down there.

“Bill!” I turned around and saw Lizzie, one of Rhylee’s co-workers. “Are you looking for Rhylee?”

“Yes. She’s with the dragons, isn’t she?” I tried to smile.

“Yeah. She and the rest of the team are preparing for our new arrival.” She grinned.

“A new arrival?” I asked puzzled.

“Didn’t she tell you? We’re getting a new dragon after the holidays.” I wish I could look as excited as she sounded.

“Another thing to fear when I take the treasure down.” I sighed.

“Don’t worry, we’ll protect you.” Lizzie chuckled and tapped my shoulder. “Come on, I’ll take you to her.”

We made our way down to the vaults and I was relieved that we didn’t encounter either of the dragons. It was a rare occasion and when I brought chests down here, I was always happy when it was feeding time. It was the only time I didn’t fear for my life. Once you get attacked by the biggest species of dragons, you don’t get over your fear so easily.

“Rhylee, Bill’s here to see you.” Lizzie shouted when we came to her group and took over for her.

“Bill! I thought you were supposed to travel home today.” She beamed at me. Her smile was priceless and I couldn’t stop my lips from spreading into one too.

“Paperwork, what can you do.” I shrugged my shoulders.

“Derek can’t let you go, huh.” She chuckled. “Want to feed Kyan?” Her question sent shivers down my spine.

Kyan was the Ukranian Ironbelly that almost turned me into dinner the day I’ve met Rhylee. She always did this to me if I came to see her during feeding time. She acted like the dragons weren’t one of the most dangerous creatures on the planet and wanted to help me get over my fear.

“No, thank you.” My voice barely audible, my eyes on the dragon.

“So what are you going to do for the holidays?” I decided to change the topic.

“As I wrote to you, I’ll be working.” Her eyes turning from me to Kyan.

“Why don’t you come with me?” I was proud of myself for how confident I sounded.

“What?” Rhylee looked back at me.

“I’m inviting you to spend Christmas with my family.” My heart started beating faster.

I hated that I couldn’t read her expression at all. This is why I didn’t ask her out yet. I could never figure out what was happening inside her head.

“Oh, Bill.” A smile spread over her lips.

That was a good sign, right?

“That is so kind of you.” She looked back at the dragon. “But I can’t. Lizzie is taking time off and she is the only one I really trust around here. You know that.” She whispered, careful not to be overheard.

“Come on. When was the last time you had a day off?” I tried convincing her.

I liked the confidence boost I got all of a sudden.

“True.” She sighed and bit her lip, thinking. “But I don’t know how long it will take to prepare everything today. We are getting a new dragon.” She jumped, clapping her hands.

“I heard. Lizzie told me.” I smiled.

Seeing her so excited fluttered the butterflies in my stomach.

“I am sorry that I have to turn you down, Bill.” She shook her head after a moment of silence. “I would love to meet your family but it’s really a bad time.”

I tried hiding the disappointment for which I was sure could be seen on my face. This was not what I’ve planned. I didn’t know they were getting a new dragon and I didn’t know Lizzie wouldn’t be here during the holidays. I was sure she would say yes and now I was without a plan.

“Listen.” Rhylee’s hand around my lower arm snapped me out of my thoughts as I was thinking of anything that could convince her to come with me. “Let me see how things go today. Perhaps I can take a few days off if we finish preparing everything. Merlin knows I could use some free time.” She said softly.

That made my day. There was still hope!

“Okay. I’m leaving tomorrow after work. Owl me?” I smiled and she nodded.

I told her that I will go back myself. I didn’t want to disturb her work and the sooner she gets back to it, the sooner they can finish. I apparated back to Egypt and entered my tent. I didn’t even have the time to take off my shoes when Derek entered.

“So, how did it go?” A smirk on his face.

“She’ll owl me tomorrow. They are getting a new dragon, so I don’t think she’ll be able to get time off.” I didn’t want to get my hopes up.

It was better to think that she will have to decline my offer.

“A bunch of rubbish.” Derek scoffed. “Why does she even have a team if she has to do everything on her own?”

“The only person she really trusts is visiting family for the holidays.” I answered.

“Then she needs a better team.” Derek said.

I don’t think that would help. Rhylee cared for those dragons more than I have seen anyone care for any animal. They were like her children and there was nobody good enough to trust them with except Lizzie. It was a miracle she even let her in charge from time to time.

“The goblins are getting suspicious.” I changed the subject.

I really didn’t want to talk about Rhylee anymore. It was enough that nothing went according to my plan.

“What about?” Derek frowned.

“Apparently, there is a rule that the paperwork needs to be delivered by a different person every time.” I raised my eyebrows.

“They’re joking!” He laughed. He disliked the goblins as much as I did. “I’ll send my grandmother next time, will that be better?” We both laughed.

—

The next morning I woke up to fluttering.

“What the…” I opened my eyes and saw an owl staring at me, its head tilted, with a letter in its beak.

“Thank you.” I said sleepily and gently took the envelope. I got up and reached for owl food on the top shelf in my kitchen. “Here you go. For your journey back.” I smiled.

I wish all creatures would be as lovely as owls.

I looked at the letter that I left on my bed and took a deep breath. I knew it was from Rhylee and I wasn’t sure I was ready to read the answer. I wanted to tell her how I feel. I was ready.

I wanted to do it after the holidays and yesterday when I couldn’t sleep I made up my mind that even if she would say no to going with me I would tell her when I get back. I had to at this point. I never had such problems with girls, not that I had many but I never hesitated so much to ask a girl out.

There was just something about Rhylee that made her stand out from all the rest. It wasn’t just that she was the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. It was the way she laughed. She never did if she didn’t find something funny. She never faked it.

It was the way she spoke about animals. With sparks in her eyes. It was how she made you belong and how honest she was no matter what you asked her. It was her positivity. She always made me feel like everything was going to be alright no matter what problems I had.

If there was anyone I saw spending the rest of my life with it was her.

I sighed and opened the envelope. “Come on, Bill. Don’t be such a coward.” I said to myself and spread open her letter.

Dear Bill,

I couldn’t stop thinking about your invitation yesterday. I don’t care much for the holidays but even I can’t deny that Christmas at the Burrow, your home about which you told me so much about, sounds so enticing.

We managed to prepare most of the things for our new arrival and I hope I didn’t make a mistake trusting Erica and Simon with Dash and Kyan. I told them that if anything happens to my babies I will do much worse to them than just fire them!

So I guess I am saying yes to your invitation. I hope this letter gets to you before you leave. Apparate to my apartment before you go home so we can go together, if your invitation still stands, of course.

Love, Rhylee

PS. I might bring some paperwork with me. I have to fill out about 20 forms for the Norwegian Ridgeback we are getting. I might get a few days off but unfortunately, I can’t avoid that! But you’re right. I do need some time off. I would probably work 365 days a year if it wasn’t for you.

I couldn’t believe it. I looked up from the letter, my mouth open. I started reading it again just in case I missed her saying no. She said yes! She’s coming with me. We’re spending the holidays together!

This means so much more than just her going to meet my family. Even though she was quite a private person, I knew I was one of her closest friends and I knew how hard it had to be for her to leave her work and leave the dragons with her team.

They were good at their job but they didn’t care as much as she did. They did what had to be done and left the second they could. She never did that. She always stayed. Always checked everything twice, three times even. She always made sure everything was okay before she went home. Made sure the dragons were as comfortable as they could be down there.

This was a big deal, leaving them behind. Leaving them with Erica and Simon, to not only take some time off, but to spend that time with me and my family. She could’ve easily stayed behind and said that she couldn’t leave the dragons alone. But she did it for me and she was excited to meet my family.

I had to sit down, my heart was beating so fast as I read the letter for what seemed like the fourth time. I sucked in a breath and exhaled slowly. I must keep it together.

I was now completely awake and I finally stopped thinking about her. A thought came to mind as if I was forgetting something. What was I forgetting? Was there something I had to do?

PACK!

I didn’t pack yet! I was so tired yesterday as I got late from work and I was going on and on in my head what would I do if Rhylee said no to my invitation that I completely forgot. I finally put the letter down, grabbed my wand, and started levitating clothes from my closet to my bag.

“So?” Derek barged into my tent as if he was living here. “I saw an owl flying out of your tent. What’s her answer?”

“She’s coming with me.” I buried my head into my sock drawer, pretending to look for something so that I could hide my red cheeks.

“I knew it!” He jumped. “I knew she fancied you back!”

“Slow down!” I laughed. “She only said yes to spending Christmas with me, I didn’t ask her out yet.”

“Right.” Derek said slowly. “Spending the most family-like holiday with you and your family in your cozy and loving home, as if you even need to ask her.” He winked at me.

I rolled my eyes at him. He might be right but I didn’t want to get my hopes up. She could still just see me as a friend and just want to escape her work for a few days. This didn’t mean anything.

“Can you get out so I can pack? You’re worse than my mum!” I narrowed my eyes at him, my hands on my hips.

“I can’t be. I love your mum but she can be scary.” Derek took a step back.

He met my family twice and seen my parents a few times when they visited me. He was my boss and I respected him. He was one of the best Curse Breakers I have ever met and I was humbled that he was my friend.

But it was the funniest thing ever to see him afraid of my mum. Not only did I tell him stories of her rage when my siblings and I were younger but he experienced it first-hand when he visited the Burrow with me last Summer and my mum lost it when Fred and George set an entire box of fireworks loose in the bathroom while she was in the shower.

“Stop nagging me and let me pack in peace!” I tried imitating my mum but I don’t think there was a person in the world who could do an impersonation of her.

“Alright, alright!” He laughed. “Say hi to Rhylee for me, will you!” He hurried out of the tent before I could throw a pair of socks at him.

I regret ever admitting to him I had a thing for her.

Now, where was I?

Packing, right!

[izzabeean]

Chapter 2 : Denial

SUMMARY

You didn’t expect your first week of university to end with a break-up… Especially when your ex decides to visit you in your dreams. You need a distraction and are quite surprised with what awaits you.

pairing : ushjima x f!reader / oikawa x f!reader / iwaizumi x f!reader

genre : angst + fluff

word count : 1,533

tags :  alternate universe - college/university, post-break up, friends to lovers, pining, slow burn

cw : mentions of alcohol, smoking

a/n :  This is so silly and I’m not quite sure how realistic this is but it’s all a learning process.

masterlist

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The campus library becomes the calm safe haven you’ve been longing for after a busy morning. You spent most of your time after classes hovering between bookshelves, browsing the vast volumes, but today you were on the hunt for a very specific book. 

Whispers among other students float above your head as you tune into the hushed environment narrowing your eyes at the row of literature. 

When you near the end of the aisle, you look up to see the desired novel sitting on the top shelf. 

You sigh and attempt to reach for it while standing on your tippy-toes, but it barely grazes your fingertips.

A scoff huffs under your breath. 

It’s almost like it’s taunting you, the way it’s just out of reach and looming over you, casually sitting on the shelf without a care in the world. No, you weren’t about to ask for any help and most definitely too stubborn to grab a stool- you treasure your pride. Instead, you take a deep breath and jump trying to inch the spine off the shelf. 

But you’re still not close enough.

“Let me get that for you,” a voice chimes from behind.

Your heart hammers in your chest from the sudden remark. Sometimes the smallest things can easily scare you, for instance, when a stranger sneaks up behind you in a quiet library. But you try to suppress the shiver as you turn your head to take a look at the culprit. 

The tips of your ears start to burn up as you are faced with a stern man. His tall, solid body towers over immediately causing you to freeze and feel a lot smaller in his presence. 

Perhaps it’s wrong to judge anyone at first glance, but he is scary as hell.

He reaches over your head and you catch a glimpse of his well-built physique as his shirt rides up. You blink registering what’s going on and before you can the book is in front of you. Then you take the novel smiling while trying to suppress the build-up of nerves coursing through you. 

The exchange is awkward and silent, but as you stare at each other his eyes almost feast on you with their cold expression. The look sends your gut in a twist. You cannot deny that he looks intimidating, but observing him now, a sliver of you finds him attractive. 

“A thanks would suffice,” he utters, his eyes fixated on you.

The sound of his voice is deep and serious but there’s just something about it that makes your heart flutter. 

“Sorry,” you utter, biting the corner of your lip. “Thanks.”

You feel your face burn up under his gaze searching for something else to say. It takes every ounce of you to contain the embarrassment taking over your entire body, but before you can even stop yourself… 

------

You wake.

The room is dark except a tinge of light seeps through the closed curtains. Your brain is trying to piece together the strangely realistic dream that was practically identical to your first moments of meeting Ushijima. 

The night is still, nearly silent except for a subdued tone of sirens in the background. You shift a little in your bed, suddenly aware of how awake you are after tossing and turning trying to slip back to sleep. You know you need to get some rest, but your anxiety grows as morning nears. 

Upon the realization that you probably won’t get any more sleep, you climb out of bed and throw on a jacket, hopeful the fresh air will clear your thoughts.

You lock up your apartment and stroll down to a 24/7 corner store a couple of blocks away. It’s late enough that the walkover makes you a bit paranoid of your surroundings-- it’s not often that you go on a late-night stroll, or go to a shop this late, especially by yourself. 

The store's door chime greets you as you walk up to the front counter spotting an employee whose face is hiding behind a newspaper. 

“Excuse me,” you sigh. 

He looks up from his newspaper with a scowl plastered on his face. 

“A pack of smokes, please,” you squeal, conscious of the fact you do not appear to look like an avid smoker, but the habit returns in times of stress and right now you are exceedingly stressed.

“ID, please,” he responds.

Your face pales at the request as you pull out your ID and he analyzes it. “What do you want?”

You blink, “Anything.”

The man clicks his tongue.

You ignore the judging stare from the cashier, retrieve the random pack of smokes with a “thanks” then stroll through the sliding doors to take a seat outside on the curb.

You light up a cigarette. Breathing in the burning toxins, the rich smoke burns your throat. Your lungs scream from the unknown substance and you quickly exhale the cloud with a cough. 

Fuck, it hurts, you think. But you take another drag and this time it burns a bit less. 

As you alleviate your heartbreak with the smoke, the emptiness sets in. You pause looking up at the dark sky cast above you. Your cheeks feel a bit numb from the cold, and your eyes begin to gloss over as you think back to Ushijima’s words from earlier.

The sudden sound of your phone startles you. Pulling it out of your pocket, an image of Oikawa illuminates the screen and an irritated groan escapes your lips as you take another hit. 

You didn’t expect a call this late at night from Oikawa, but he never seems to know his boundaries according to the fact that it’s 2 o’clock in the morning. It’s a mix of loneliness and desperation that causes you to answer. 

“Hello,” your voice is thick, placing the cold phone to your ear.

“Y/N-chan,” there’s a hint of slur in his voice, as he hiccups heavily into the receiver.

You roll your eyes. “Tōru, how drunk are you?”

“I’m not drunk! I--” he stumbles on his words. “I just want to see how dinner....” He trails off, unable to finish his sentence. 

The question really took a knife to the heart as you try to hold back the emotions that are bursting at the seams. It wasn’t Oikawa’s fault, you hadn’t told him yet. 

“I’ll tell you about it tomorrow,” you sigh.

“Y/N,” Oikawa breathes. There’s a bit of neediness in his voice. “I hope he makes you happy...”

The sentiment is there and you can tell he means well but you squeeze your eyes shut at the comment. Your heart hinges and you try to breathe slowly avoiding any staggering gasps that can be heard.

“Y/N?”

“Yeah, I’m still here,” your throat tightens as you choke on your words. 

Before you have the chance to say anything more, you hear the phone being pulled away from Oikawa, and an unfamiliar voice answers on the other end. 

“Sorry about that. Oikawa’s a bit drunk. Didn’t mean to disturb you. Have a goodnight.”

The line cuts.

Once again you’re met with the dead of night. 

It was difficult to process tonight's earlier events, even as you sit outside having a smoke. You never thought you would ever get to this moment, especially when it’s been so long since you last really cared for someone like Ushijima. You’d only known him for a year, but right now it feels like he’s the only thing you’ve ever known your whole life.

------

Morning arrives too soon.

The horrible taste of nicotine coats your mouth and the smell of smoke engulfs your hair making you gag. It’s 8 AM on a Saturday and you’re sure you only got a couple of solid hours of sleep upon returning from your late-night adventure. You’re a little less hysterical and a bit more numb compared to six hours ago.

You didn’t expect to wake up until later in that afternoon, but your head is pounding making it so much harder to sleep off the break-up. You get up to take a painkiller hoping it helps subside the chronic unpleasant sensation.

It crosses your mind that you need to get out and be somewhere else, not within the confines of your apartment or your mind. So after a substantial amount of self-care and priming, you head out to Oikawa’s apartment.

It’s not uncommon for you to drop by unannounced, in fact, this was a lot better than stirring in your thoughts alone at home. Somehow it feels more comforting to spend time with Oikawa than you’ve ever imagined-- despite the fact you didn’t have many friends. But he always gave you the attention you desired at any given moment and the thought of that eases you as you knock at the front door.

It takes a moment for Oikawa to answer, undoubtedly after a night out drinking. 

But as the door opens, you are met with a tall muscular tanned man. He cocks his head looking at you quizzically, and subsequently opens the door a bit more, enough that you can peer past him into the apartment.

You don’t know who he is, but he’s hot.

[silence-burns]

Please Hate Me //part 47

Fandom: Marvel

Summary: Based on: “Imagine having a love/hate relationship with Loki.” by @thefandomimagine​ Who would have thought that babysitting a god could be so much fun?

Genre: slow-burn, enemies to lovers, banter

There are few things better suited to following a great summoning ritual than stalking a kindergartener and, quite literally, taking the candy out of his chubby little hand.

"Hey, that's mine!" the brat, Timmy, screamed, but had to watch Loki unwrap the popsicle and munch on it.

"Oh, Timmy," you sighed. "I thought a tough kid like you would handle this better."

"Who the hell even are you weirdos?" Timmy considered ending his question with a kick to the shins of one of you, but decided otherwise under the unnerving gaze of the strange man in a green suit. There was something off about him, that much was certain, but little Timmy couldn't wrap his mind around how otherworldly he actually felt.

He looked around, but none of his friends were around yet, and neither were any adults. 

You smiled your beautiful, wicked smile. "Don't fret, Timmy. We've heard all about your deeds, and boy, did we actually love them."

Timmy frowned. His chubby cheeks puffed up just in case it was time to scream. You didn't look like parents of whatever kid he might've recently offended. The pocket money he was getting ;ately from his schoolmates was nothing to worry about. A few bucks here and there weren't a reason for such a direct approach. Okay, those glitter pens he took from that girl last week might cause some bigger stirrup, but she certainly had a different set of parents last time he saw her.

"The hell are you talking about?" the boy settled on a safe approach.

Loki chuckled and leaned down to look him in the eyes. The features of his face started to blur. Timmy frowned, but blinking didn't clear it up. The harder he looked, the more they melted, and molded, and reformed-

"We know what you've been doing, child," the creature's horns grew and curled, just as more and more sets of eyes popped open. "We have our eyes on you."

The shadows deepened, and the world turned colder and eerily quiet. It was the absolute stillness of something deeply unnatural moving right past you.

But Timmy, despite what his teachers might say, was a smart kid. Being a bully and a petty little thief for years without facing actual repercussions of his actions could not be achieved if one didn't know when was the time to run. Timmy knew that time had come and didn't wait for things to unravel any further. His short legs took him surprisingly far in just a few seconds. Loki and you could only watch him go.

"Do you think it'll be enough?" you asked, taking the lollipop from Loki. It was the strawberry flavor. "I certainly wouldn't want to fail our first commission."

"I guess we'll see," Loki shrugged off the spell. "But I'm pretty sure we gave him something to think about. I can send one of the shadows after him to make sure he doesn't pick on our 'client' at school tomorrow. It'll be awhile before they disperse after summoning, so we can make use of them."

"Will they still lead us to the stolen pin though?"

"Without any problem."

And that closed the case. It was a little satisfying, Loki had to admit. 

He was still unsure about the pin, though. There was something off about the type of magic he sensed in the box. Faint as it was, the tang of death and rot was still unmistakable and didn't fit in the mental image of SHIELD's safehouse it was supposed to be stored in. It made the chase after the truth more thrilling.

Loki fixed his suit. It was not the type of fashion he usually preferred, but the way you looked at him in it made it worth it. There was nothing as confidence-boosting as being aware that you’re the eye candy for anyone lucky enough to pass.

"Shall we?" Loki offered you his elbow as the shadows gathered and formed a rough doorway. Beyond it, only darkness swelled. 

Stepping through it was a fight against condensed mist, but at least it had none of the flesh-shredding quality of Bifrost. 

The shadows Loki had called followed the invisible trail of magic the pin left behind after it was stolen. There was little chance of them being wrong or simply misled, Loki had assured you earlier. As beings stuck in a state of half-existence, there was not in the physical realm so often that it could affect their judgement and cover the tracks. Still, even Loki had a moment of doubt when he took in the place the two of you had been led to.

"I think we should've used that chicken," you said, looking around what was unmistakably a forest. A thick, dark, and very old forest. Definitely the type of forest unwelcome to unannounced travelers. 

It did not mean you were scared. You were just aware of a certain, thick atmosphere hanging low in the cold, winter air. Somehow, it was darker than it should've been at that hour. The trees loomed over you, their branches twisted and hanging low enough to strangle. 

Loki kept on patting your arm while your terror grew, and despite ignoring him for a while, you finally decided to turn.

A thick wall of a hedge, painted in a rotting green and sprinkled with half-melted snow, stood tall and guarded whatever was behind it. The branches were woven too tightly together to take even a peek between them.

"Is that a house? In the middle of a forest?" You asked, but no answer came. There was no road leading to the house. The trees encircled the hedge, but didn't interrupt its space, as if that particular spot had been chopped out of the forest. As if the usual rules of logic and nature didn't apply there.

"Strange," Loki muttered to himself as he walked closer. The hedge ran far in both directions, and from the point you approached it, no gateway could be seen. High above your heads, thin swirls of smoke rose into the air. 

"We should walk around and see how to get in." You gestured to the left.

Loki looked up. The hedge loomed a few heads above him. Even if Loki jumped, he wouldn't see above it. He jumped anyway.

And was swallowed by the hedge.

You knew there was something wrong with that forest, and the strange house especially, even before the branches shot out and wrapped around Loki. He only managed a yelp of surprise before he was pulled in towards the impenetrable depth of the bushes. As much as it was reassuring to know that your senses and intuition were as sharp as ever, the time to brag would come later. Using the ace up your sleeve, or rather sword in your pocket, you made quick work of all the choppable branches. 

Loki dropped to the ground. 

"You could've cut off my hand!" He looked in horror at the cleanly cut piece of his sleeve. It had been a close call indeed.

"Couldn't you regrow it?"

Loki stopped shaking off the twigs for a moment. "I'd prefer not to find out, honestly."

The hedge, despite your trimming, was as impenetrable as before. The only thing that changed was the distance you kept away from it. After not a long discussion, you decided to look for a way in.

The little gate looked suspiciously ordinary. The metal rusted in a few spots, mercilessly beaten by years of rain and humidity. The path beyond it winded between neat rows of herbs and vegetables and occasionally flowers you couldn't name. The scent of fresh soil hung in the air as you walked through them. The house itself was neither big or new, but was most definitely haunted. There was no doubt about it. It was obvious in the way the windows watched you approach. In the way the smoke curled lazily through a draft you couldn't feel. In the doorknob in a shape of a hissing bat.

"Do we… knock?" you whispered. For reasons you couldn't explain, you had a feeling the house was listening to every word.

"That's usually how it goes," Loki's reply was equally quiet. He made no move to knock, though.

A hollow hooting was the only warning before a dark shape swooped by your heads and landed over the door. The owl was big, even once it settled and closed the wings. The feathers, in various shades of grey and muddy brown, hid it almost perfectly against the wooden planks of the house.

It was a nice owl, one might think without looking closely. Because under further scrutiny, one would notice the deep gash only partially hidden by the puffed up feathers, and the bones peeking out underneath them. 

You stared at the dead owl and it stared back.

It hooted.

"I know, I said I'm coming!" the voice from inside the house shouted. The footsteps neared. Loki and you braced against whatever you'd have to face.

The door creaked open. 

Many thoughts had passed through your mind, but one thing you didn't expect to see was a spotty-faced, alarmingly skinny young man in jeans and a cloud of smoke surrounding him. You got a facefull of an aroma that reminded you of college dorms. You wondered if Loki thought he’d met the wrong end of a skunk. 

"Listen," he said, gesticulating wildly. "I know that y'all always want shit, but my grandma is still on her vacation, and I'm currently busy. She'll surely contact you once she's done, but nothing has changed since last time, and I still don't know when she'll be back."

The owl descended majestically and sat on his still raised hand. The man blinked in mild confusion. 

"I fed you already, don't give me that look, Barbara."

Loki looked at you. You looked at Loki. The owl turned her head backward and noticed both.

"I might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure this is the first time we're meeting," Loki forced himself to say after your not-so-subtle nudge to his ribs. "Could we bother you for just a moment?"

"I'm busy, I've got a shift tomorrow and—"

Loki barged in anyway, not interested much in whatever the man had to say. 

The little house turned out to be more of a cottage. Even though some work had been done to restore it and make use of modern inventions, the very core of the cottage stayed the same as it possibly had been for decades, if not longer. 

The herbs hanging from the ceiling to dry filled the air with a pleasant, if a little heavy smell that clung to skin and clothes alike. The huge chimney was full of wooden planks and blasting enough heat from the other end of the large working space to make you regret wearing winter clothing. Whatever was boiling in the huge iron pot hanging over the blazing fire was unlikely to be edible judging by the consistency and color. Or at least you hoped it was not supposed to be edible.

The owl flew in and perched on a chair. 

"Listen, I'd really appreciate it if you could leave me alone," the man groaned, following you. 

He took another drag and exhaled a cloud of smoke, eyes red-rimmed. The owl hissed and moved over the chimney, where she sat with as close to an angry expression as a half-dead owl was capable of. 

To your left, a rather familiar and highly surprising uniform laid along with medical equipment. 

"We'll leave as soon as we get the answers we need," you promised. "And our first question is - who the hell are you, exactly?"

The man blinked. "Are you joking? I thought you were clients."

"What would you sell if we were?"

"I mean," he gestured around. "It's my grandma who deals with potions, but I suppose I could give you a medical check up if you need one? And don't worry if you're dying, that's even better, I've got that covered too. Just make sure to come to me before the decay starts, and I'll put you back on your feet in no time."

"Wait, I'm confused," Loki frowned. "Are you a doctor or a necromancer?"

"My dude, I have no idea where you've been the past few decades, but if you think med staff is capable of making a living from just one job, you honestly should get a reality check. Look around - I literally still live with my grandma and don't even get me started on how much debt I still have to pay off with those stupid side jobs."

"You mean, resurrecting pets?" You looked at the owl. Barbara was not blinking.

"Listen, I'm at the point of my life where I don't ask questions. I just need the money. I want to move out. Have you any idea what it is like to live with your 260 year old grandma who has a better social life than you?"

The silence was a little awkward. 

"Precisely."

Loki wanted to take a deep, steadying breath, but whatever the young man had been smoking didn't sit well with Loki's lungs.

"I must ask though, are you raising the dead because you're such a terrible doctor, or is—"

"Paperwork."

Loki blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Have you any idea how much paperwork follows every death? I'd rather bite off my hand than do any more extra unpaid time than I absolutely have to." The man sat at the table and produced a stash of pot from somewhere. With slow, precise movements he started to roll another blunt. You bent your knees to see under the table, but couldn't find any hidden drawers.

Loki nodded at the man’s comment, although he was nowhere near possessing that kind of knowledge. Deaths that he usually participated in involved little to no paperwork.

"Was this involved in one of your recent side-jobs?" Loki put the little wooden box on the table.

The man shook it before opening. Only after sniffing it did the look on his face change to recognition. "Yeah, I think it was. I was paid to get a pin from it. I don't know what happened to it afterward, though. The client just paid and disappeared."

"How did you get it?"

"Mice."

"What?" Loki asked. You looked around, just in case. 

"No one cares about mice, especially in huge warehouses. That makes them perfect for the job, especially if they're controlled properly."

The dead owl hooted in agreement. Loki had an idea how the mice had been initially caught.

"That complicates our case," he whispered to you.

"Who paid you?" you asked, hoping that the answer wouldn't be...

"I don't know," the young man shrugged. "Some guy in a trenchcoat and lots of shiny money. My favorite kind of a client."

The man suddenly had a few golden coins out and in his hand. You hadn’t even seen his hands go under the table that time. The coins were heavy and most definitely not fake, although you didn't recognize any of the symbols they bore.

Loki did. 

"Do you think that agent of yours will cover any extraterrestrial expenses?" he asked, watching the reflexes shine on the golden surface.

"Where are we going?"

"To the biggest black-market-turned-casino-turned-complete-mess of a planet in the universe."

"How lovely," you said.

Barbara agreed, hooting happily as she hopped off the chimney and landed on Loki's shoulder. 

"Take her." The young necromancer yawned sleepily. "She hates me anyway. Just remember not to give her any pickles. She's got terrible gas."

[jinkicake]

Seeing Them After A Breakup

Running into Oikawa/Tendou/Kuroo/Ushijima after a breakup.

I am president of the post-breakup company, the amount of iwaoi fics I have read with this trope is more than all of my current textbooks combined. 

Also. Please stay safe wherever you are! I hope you’re alright! </3

WC - 2,213

~~~

“Oikawa?” A soft voice Oikawa keeps hearing in his dreams calls out to him and he nearly trips on his face as he turns around to face you. His light eyes nearly pop out of his head when he sees you actually standing in front of him, looking as timid as the day he met you. The sour thought that it shouldn’t be like this runs through his brain and he smiles at you to try and hide the hurt he is facing. 

“What are you doing here?” You ask quietly, gripping the bags in your hands tightly. Oikawa looks down and notices the grocery bags in your hands, making the realization you must’ve come back from shopping after school, it truly is a small town.

“Just dropping Takeru off at practice.” His voice comes out hard and you slightly flinch. Oikawa mentally slaps himself at how cold his tone sounds and he notices you twirl a strand of hair around your finger, something you always did when you were nervous. It shouldn’t be like this.

“Oh, you’re not watching his practice today?” Your voice keeps drawing Oikawa back from his thoughts and he reaches to take the heavy bags out of your hands, surprised that you actually let him. 

“No, I was going to go and practice by myself.” Oikawa has had the problem of pushing himself lately, he puts his all into volleyball practice and when he’s not actually practicing he’s thinking about practice. If he stops to think about anything else then his thoughts will drift back to you and that won’t end well for the setter. Guilt fills his chest when he hears your disappointed sigh and he notices your stare on his knee, his injured one. He can tell by your irritated expression that you want to tell him off and he is internally begging you to do so, one last time for his sake. 

“Y-you shouldn’t push yourself so hard To-“ Your eyes fall to the ground and you quickly correct yourself. “You shouldn’t push yourself so hard Oikawa.” Crossing your arms over your chest you look away from him, embarrassed at your slip up. Even at the utter of his name the boy nearly collapses begging you to take him back, if only he could be so selfish. Baby steps, he tells himself. 

“(Y/N) can I walk you home?” The handsome boy asks you and you feel your heart flutter in your chest, holding onto hope that something will rekindle between the two of you. That idea is stupid and you keep telling yourself that but, with a bright smile you nod and take Oikawa’s extended hand in yours. 

~

Tendou drags himself into the convenience store, looking for something to fill his after-practice monster appetite. His eyes lower to the shelf of hot meals and his long taped fingers reach out to place two different meals in his basket before turning around to the ice cream cooler. He fails to notice the girl on the other side of the cooler, just as she fails to notice him. 

Tendou reaches out to grab the last chocolate ice cream and instead of grabbing the cool plastic he meets a smaller hand. With an annoyed sigh, the middle-blocker rolls his shoulders back, standing up to his true height to try and scare whoever is in front of him into giving him the treat. When his red eyes finally lay on your shocked face they widen and he has the same level of shock twinkling in his eyes. A deep pang settles in his chest when you shyly laugh at the ground, clutching your skirt in your fist before holding the ice cream out for him.

“Here, it’s your favorite anyway. I was only getting it because-“ Confusion etches onto the boy's face when he notices your smile falling and your eyes dropping back to the ground. Because I was thinking of you, you wanted to say but, how weird is that to say to your ex-boyfriend.

“Oh, thanks.” You visibly flinch when his taped fingers brush against yours to take the now, probably, unfrozen ice cream cone. 

“Volleyball isn’t treating you any better huh?” You finally look back up at the redhead and give him a smile, hoping to hear his laugh one more time. 

Tendou only looks at his fingers before looking back at your face as he lets out a shaky laugh. God he is pathetic, the boy scolds himself. Despite all the negative thoughts flooding into his mind just telling him to leave, to leave you alone, he can’t help but need to have you in his arms again. 

“You can’t get any more injured, it’ll be a pretty boring game if you’re not on the court.” You tell him, trying to mask the pride you feel for him during his matches, as you wave and walk towards the counter. Tendou only stands frozen as you walk away from him and he feels his mind slowing down as he can only focus on one thing. He notices the rice ball and drink in your hands and his eyes shine bright. 

“Do you want to eat together?” His voice surprised you and you can’t help the smile that breaks onto your face when you notice him holding up his basket way too high. With a more than necessary nod you finish paying and wait for him to do the same. 

~

The warm spring air kisses Kuroo’s bare skin as he walks towards the train station. How he got roped into hanging out with Yamamoto in the city, he doesn’t know. The night is still young and the stars are starting to brighten as the moon lifts higher into the sky. Kuroo releases a breath he didn’t know he was holding as he looks up at the night sky, something you used to make him do all the time. He lets out a low laugh because once again for the umpth time that day you stormed into his mind unannounced. It's been like this for two weeks, he just can’t get you off his mind. 

“Yes, mom I’ll be home in like thirty minutes.” Kuroo saw you before he heard you, your small frame brushing past him like he was another stranger amongst the crowd. “Yes, I was hanging out after school with friends. What were we doing? Mom we were studying.” Kuroo can hear the irritation in your voice, your mom always had to ask more questions than necessary. “No mom he was not there.” He watches with curious eyes as your shoulders fall and you practically slouch over. 

“No mom I am not going to invite him over because you want to see him, we broke up!” Kuroo knows for a fact you’re talking about him, he almost feels bad for eavesdropping but that doesn’t stop him from blending into the busy train station. “Huh? Yes, mom, I do miss him but,” You let out a sigh and shake your head. “Whatever it doesn’t matter, I’ll be home in thirty.” 

Kuroo can’t help the laugh slip out as he watches you violently hang up and throw your phone into your bag. The small smile etches onto his face as he stares at your back and thinks about the relationship the two of you shared. It seems impossible but every day Kuroo knows he falls in love with you more and more, even broken up. Despite his cool head, he can practically feel his heart jumping in his throat as the train approaches. Remain cool, remain cool. He tells himself over and over as the crowd moves into the packed train. 

An elbow is shoved into his side and he lets out an annoyed sigh to glance down at the drunk old man jumping off the train at the last minute. Kuroo looks around the train car again to try and find you but he loses you, if he doesn’t feel like a complete idiot right now. Rolling his eyes the tall boy leans against the door of the train, failing to notice your small frame already there. 

“Hey!” You squeak out pushing away his side that is crushing you against the door. Your glare falls when you meet Kuroo’s eyes and a blush paints over your cheeks. Nervously you drop your gaze to the floor and grimace at your shoes. 

“Sorry you’re so small I didn’t even see you.” The teasing tone causes your eyes to narrow as you try to hide the smile on your face. Kuroo nearly kicks himself but your smile is worth it, it will always be. You cross your arms over your chest and let out a sigh, knowing that your eyes show the exhaustion you’re facing. “Rough day?” Kuroo has to ask, drag the conversation along no matter how stupid he will look. His shoulders drop in relief when you laugh and shake your head.

“One like you wouldn’t believe.” You run your fingers through your messy hair, freezing when your fingers get caught in the knots. Subtly you try to release your hand from your hair but it doesn’t go unnoticed by Kuroo. He tries to mask his laughter as he gingerly untangles your fingers out of your hair and you give him a pointed look. “Don’t say anything when your hair looks like that.” The teasing nature surrounds the two of you in a close bubble, and your heart starts to relax at the comfort. Kuroo wraps his hand around your own and you raise an eyebrow at him.

“Do you wanna, maybe, look at the stars?” His question causes an embarrassed flush to spread across your face as you recall your first efforts to try and ask him out. Instead of instantly hitting his arm like you normally would, all you can do is smile and nod.

“I’d like that Kuroo.” 

~

With an annoyed sigh, you drop the heavy bag to the floor, ignoring the empty water bottles clashing around inside of it. Sakunami comes up beside you and grabs the bag, hiking it over his own shoulder.

“Sakunami, it’s okay, give it to me.” You try to get the bag back from the first year but he only shakes his head. Sakunami was always helping you out whenever you needed it, he picked up on most things the other players didn’t when it came to you since you were closest to him on the team. 

“Manager let me help.” He stubbornly yanks the bag from your reach causing a sigh to drop from your mouth as you let out a soft ‘fine’. Sakunami wanted to press and ask if the reason you were upset today was because of your ex-boyfriend. Before he gets the chance to ask you, a tall figure looms over both of you. The tiny first-year instantly steps in front of you protectively and looks completely stupid trying to take on Ushijima. The ace only stares down at you, waiting for you to look back at him but your eyes remain glued to the ground. “Manager I can-“ Sakunami tries to stand up for you but is instantly shot down by the bigger player. 

“Leave.” Ushijima wasn’t going to ask twice and his glare pierced the first year on the spot. The tone of his voice causes you to look up at him, an anger in your eyes that is rivaling his own.

“Don’t be such an ass Ushiwaka.” You practically spit before lightly placing your hand on Sakunami’s elbow. “It’s okay, I’ll meet you out front in a few minutes.” The first year looks between the older pair and his eyes filled with worry. “Don’t worry.” You softly consult him and he walks away, but not without another glance back at the two of you. 

“What do you want, Ushijima?” Crossing your arms over your chest you stand defensively, not wanting to hear anything come out of his mouth. It’s hard looking him in the eye so you resort to looking back down at the ground.  

“I’m sorry.” His apology is crystal clear and your eyes widen in shock slightly but remain to stare at the floor. “I never meant to neglect you the way I did. I let you down.” Disappointment is heavy in his voice and you bite the inside of your cheek, slowly raising your gaze to look up at him. Ushijima has the same rest face full of intimidation but his eyes hold regret, hurt swirling around his olive eyes. 

It’d be a lie to say that Ushijima treated you as his top priority last month, things began to slip and he treated you like a background figure. When you finally dumped his ass he took it hard. “I hate having you mad at me.” His low voice turns soft and your frown deepens, itching to reach out and grab his hand. 

“Ushijima.” The sigh leaves your mouth and you’re biting the inside of your cheek, wondering what to say next. “I accept your apology. I miss you.” His eyes widen as a flush paints over your cheeks. Gently his hand scoops up your own and you smile softly at the action of his skin brushing against yours. “You should call me later tonight Wakatoshi.”

[maybe-your-left]

ASK FRIDAY?! OKAY BITCH. FMK: KYLO, CHARLIE AND CLYDE.

I WANT DETAIL. I WANT GRAPHS AND I WANT POINT, EVIDENCE AND AN EXPLANATION.

Before you start a riot, remember you asked for this. And of course, I’m going to walk you through every moment of it. 

1. Fuck.... Charlie Barber. 

Your front door open and shut, the sound of shoes being shucked off filling the air. Trudging down the hallway was Charlie, looking exhausted from his day at the theater. Normally he would call before showing up, you both had a deal that you had to inform the other of your presence. In case the other had company, which you frequently did, you knew Charlie didn’t have any other lovers. But he never expressed wanting you to be monogamous as well. You knew that he was in a bad mood, he would only show up unannounced if he was. 

He began to hurriedly rip off his clothes, eyeing you perched on the bed. “You need to be naked, on all fours, and ass sticking out in 30 seconds.” 

You nodded, tearing off your clothes. Positioning yourself in the center of the bed, your knees spread apart enough for him to slot inside them. You steadied yourself on your shoulder, looking at him from the side and letting your fingers play with yourself. Dancing them between your folds, lighting pulling on your clit as Charlie began to fist his cock. 

He took his place behind you, rubbing his tip up and down your pussy. Swirling it around your hole, dipping it in and out. Letting you try and trap him inside, “My my, aren’t you wet today. Did you have some fun while I was gone?” 

You giggled, pressing your hips back into him. 

He smacked his tip on your ass, “Is that why you didn’t answer my calls? Were you getting your whore pussy fucked by someone?”

“I might’ve been…” 

“Ah,” he cooed, pressing his cock inside you. Pulling out over and over, not giving you his full length. “Is that why you’re so wet? Do you have another man’s cum inside you?” 

You didn’t answer, knowing that your silence would speak volumes to him. Just rocking your hips back onto his length. Charlie hmmed once again, “I know you do, I can see it seeping out of your slutty hole. Do you want me to fuck it out of you? Replace it with my cum?” 

You moaned, chanting yes over and over. 

“Do you want daddy to fill you up with his hot cum? Let that other man see how full I can make you?” 

“Yes, fuck Charlie,” you groaned. Now fully rocking your hips into his, working his cock and out of you, squeezing out the leftover cum from your earlier tryst. Charlie growled, placing his hands on your hips and keeping you steady, completely flush with his cock. “I think I’ll fill you 4 times tonight.” 

----- 

2. Marry….Kylo Ren. (please imagine our wedding dress in black.)

“Get up.” 

“Wha?” you groggily reply, the sheets being torn off your body. Exposing you to the cold of the room. At the foot of the bed stands your very loving boyfriend, balling the sheets in his fists. Glaring at you with his deep auburn eyes, he barked again, “Get up. We’re going somewhere.” 

You sat up, angrily crossing your arms and huffing at him. “Why? You never said anything abou-.” 

“Is that how you talk to me?” 

You grit your teeth, “Yes.” 

Kylo hmmed, putting his hands behind his back and slowly walking towards your side of the bed. Stopping directly in front of you and bending at the waist, leaving the two of you nose to nose. “Angel, I don’t really want to have a bad day today.” He placed a gentle kiss on the tip of your nose before gripping your cheeks with his thumb and forefinger. “Now get up, get dressed, and get your ass to the hanger in 15 minutes, or else I’m leaving without you.” 

You nodded, eyes wide at his authoritative tone. He gave you a small smile, kissing you softly on the lips before pulling away. 

-----

Kylo refused to tell you where you were going, just telling you to stop fidgeting and relax. You weren’t a big fan of surprises, especially Kylo’s surprises because they usually were sexual, violent, or disgusting. After about 4 hours of flying the two of you landed on a heavily wooded planet, much like Endor but without the wookies. Everything was covered in a blanket of snow, lightly falling in small snowflakes to the crunching ground under your boots. Kylo had stormtroopers carry your bags, along with his own. Signaling you to follow him down a ramp towards a hidden city. 

Twinkling lights littered the skyline, street lamps glowing in the light snowfall. The streets were bare, all the people probably hiding because the Supreme Leader of the Galaxy had landed in their quaint town. Kylo stopped abruptly, causing you to bump into him, he let out a sigh through his mask. Opening a front door and gesturing for you to enter first. 

Inside was a beautifully decorated store. Lined with gorgeous dresses that ranged in color and length, you were awestruck. Lightly running your fingers on fabric that hung on the racks near the front entrance. The store had everything, anything you could’ve ever wanted. Kylo swatted your hand away from a gown, encasing your fingers in his leather paws. 

Around the corner came a small, elderly woman. Her eyes bright and shining, a small pair of glasses perched on her nose. She smiled at the two of you, “What can I do for you Supreme Leader?” 

“We are here for a wedding dress.” 

Your eyes popped out of your head, fully flipping around to face him. The woman nodded, “Right this way,” her hands grasping your free arm. You resisted slightly, “What are you talking about? Why am I getting a wedding dress?!” 

She brought you to a podium, having you stand in the center, and began measuring you for the dresses. Kylo stood behind you, his arms crossed behind his back as he spoke to the lady, “We would prefer it be black, I’ll be wearing a complete suit that is in that color.” 

“Of course Supreme Leader.” She spoke, maneuvering you around. “Anything else for the two of you?” 

“A matching bridal lingerie set as well, please.” 

She nodded, giving you a smile before walking towards the back of the store. Once she was gone up ran at Kylo, grasping his robes and yanking him down to your level. “What do you think you’re doing? Taking me here and demanding to get a wedding dress?!” 

Kylo hummed, pulling back slightly, “We are here because we are getting married.” 

You let go of him, waving your arms around like a maniac. “Oh are we? I don’t think I remember having this conversation with you!” He didn’t move, mask staying focused on your agitated form. 

“We aren’t even engaged yet Kylo!” 

“That’s been handled.” 

“By whom?” you scoffed, “I’m pretty sure you’re supposed to ask me, not have one of your knights do it for you.” 

Kylo grabbed you, spinning you around and pinning your back to his chest. Forcing you to stare at him in the mirror across the podium. His large, imposing form encasing you in his arms. You could feel his deep breaths, chest rising and falling as he stood in silence. 

“You do love me, don’t you?” he asked, breath barely a whisper out of his vocoder. 

You gulped, eyes slightly tearing at him. “Yes, of course, I love you Kylo.” 

“Then marry me.” 

Your eyes squeezed shut, a small sob breaking through. Kylo tightened his arms around you, cooing through his helmet. You began hiccuping between your sobs, managing to spin in his arms and grab his shoulders. “Please,” you took a breath, “please can you take off the mask?” 

Kylo sighed, releasing you and doing as you wish. Tossing it onto the nearby viewing couch. When he faced you, you began sobbing again. His own cheeks stained with tears, eyes bloodshot, and nose slightly running. He let out a small sob, “Will you be my wife?” 

You nodded furiously, “Yes, yes I will.” 

———

The day had come, you were standing at the end of a walkway. Snow falling down all around you, the chairs lined with people, everyone was eager to see the Supreme Leader marry. You would become the Empress of the galaxy, it was a big deal. There were photographers scattered all around, capturing the first moment you rounded the corner to see Kylo. 

He stood on the altar, in a full black suit. His hair was cut slightly shorter, his cheeks rosy from the crisp winter air. Behind him stood the knights, all out of uniform and flanking his sides, except for Vicrul. He was the one who was giving you away, meeting you at the beginning of the chairs. 

The music began to softly play, tune in rhythm with your steps as you approached Kylo. From behind your sheer black veil, you could see his normally stony exterior melt away. Beaming with pure happiness and unbridled love. The closer you moved, the more you teared up. Taking in deep breaths as you clung to Vicrul. Each step you took crunched on the freshly fallen snow. 

Kylo met you at the foot of the altar, giving Vicrul a small nod. You turned and embraced the knight, whispering thank you. Kylo grasped your hand, walking you up towards the officiant. Phasma was standing in a smart-looking black suit, towering over the two of you and your blissful union. 

“You may be seated,” she spoke to the crowds. “We are gathered here today, to witness the most sacred of unions. One of pure and unrelenting passion and love, one that puts even the famed Romeo and Juliet to shame. I do know that these two profess their mind body and souls to one another,” she turned to you. “Will you please slide the ring onto the Supreme Leaders finger?” 

You nodded, shakily taking the ring from Vicrul behind you. Holding Kylo’s large hand in your own, tears falling from your eyes as you barely got it on his finger. Behind you, Phasma spoke again, “You may now recite your vows.” 

“Kylo,” you choked. Unable to look into his eyes, as his own tears would cause you to weep more. “I never thought I would be here, to find someone who truly understands and loves me as much as you do. Not one moment in my life has brought me to believe that I deserve this, or you. But here I stand. Pledging my loyalty, fidelity, passion, and undying love to you. Even after death.” 

You both took in a deep breath, preparing for Kylo to speak. Phasma repeated the command to him, producing the ring from his pocket. He almost dropped it from how much he was shaking, letting out a small laugh as he wrangled it onto your finger. The ring was a gold and white diamond, mounted with a red kyber crystal. Gleaming in the soft daylight, swarming with the force Kylo embedded into it. 

“My love,” he hiccuped, brushing his cheek with his free hand. “There is nothing in the galaxy that can compare to my love for you. The heavens themselves would weep if you were not to walk on this earth, and I cannot imagine what I would be without you.” He paused, taking in a deep breath as he ran his thumb over your knuckles, “You are my life, my savior, my light at the end of the tunnel. I would have no direction if I was without you, like a ship lost at sea. I wouldn’t be able to be the person I am today without your constant love and devotion. I know that I can never match the kindness, caring, and undying love you have given me, but I will spend the rest of eternity showing you how much I love you.” 

You let out a sob, clutching onto his hands as you openly wept at his words. Fully knowing that your bridal makeup was ruined, mascara would be staining your cheeks while your eyes would be bloodshot. Phasma looked at the two of you, taking in a shaky breath, “I now pronounce you man and wife, Supreme Leader you may now kiss your Empress.” 

Kylo turned to you, bringing his hands to the hem of your veil. Softly lifting it over your head and revealing your face. The moment your eyes met you smiled, a true smile. Showcasing your ruined makeup, rosy cheeks, and dimples. Kylo looked no better, his crooked teeth breaking through his mask. His lips pink and quivering from the anticipation, Kylo brought his hands to your cheeks. Whispering just as your lips met, “You look more beautiful than I ever imagined.” 

-----

3. Kill….Clyde Logan.

I know. I’m upset about it too, it would be like the death in Old Yeller, I would shoot him for his own good. Like a mercy killing, he would understand, saying “I know darlin’.”. We would share one last kiss before I shot him with a double-barrel shotgun. I have to be authentic to the book, and that’s what Clyde’s wishes were. 

I cannot go into detail because it will break me, so instead I’m focusing on my wedding night with Kylo. 

I’m literally crying in the club rn. 

@finn-ray-nal-beads you wanted to be tagged

[satendou]

uwu my queen,, my light, my goddess of all things- may i pls request some how they  met/relationship headcanons for suga/reader/akaashi? u don’t need to add smut if u don’t wanna but if u do pls know that i’ll do anything for u (jk id already do anything for u) hemingway ilu and please remember to drink water especially since i know that ur extra extra thirsty ;) 

thank you woml @keijiskitten​ for the self indulgent poly req sksks so bc you love my florist!akaashi au and so do i, he’s a florist in this too! i’m taking hella liberties with reader too fight me.

༶•┈┈⛧┈♛ ♛┈⛧┈┈•༶  

↠  requests open | rules

↠ includes: akaashi and sugawara

❀ུ۪   so suga and akaashi meet again when suga goes into his shop to buy congratulatory flowers for one of his coworkers who just had a baby. all of the teachers pitched in for a bouquet and he was recommended akaashi’s flower shop. ❀ུ۪   of course they recognize each other and start chatting about volleyball and how the other team members are doing. amidst chatting about what they’re doing now, they trade numbers and agree to meet up at x time on x day at akaashi’s favorite coffee shop. ❀ུ۪   enter you, a barista at said shop. you know akaashi’s order by heart and as soon as he walks in, are already making it. but you’re surprised to see his pretty new grey haired friend. he’s soft spoken and gentle, and your heart skips a whole beat standing before the two pretty men.

❀ུ۪   suga asks about you, continually glancing at the counter to find you staring back at him, and something in akaashi flares up. he recognizes it as jealousy, but what’s confusing is that it isn’t aimed solely at suga. not that it would be fair anyway, he’s never worked up the nerve to ask for your number or anything. ❀ུ۪   they start meeting up regularly, and you can never guess suga’s order because he bounces between coffee in the morning and tea in the evening, never the same-- sometimes it’s just an espresso, sometimes iced coffee, sometimes soothing chamomile, or sometimes just black. ❀ུ۪   behind the scenes, the friendship that blooms between them is based on quiet nights in, chatting about highschool at first then segueing into what they did during college and so on, and they’re more than capable of getting rowdy but after a long day at work, they just want to relax. ❀ུ۪   the attraction is there right off the bat-- how could it not be? look at them, come on-- and the feelings follow soon after when suga shows up at akaashi’s apartment unannounced with takeout and a fresh cup of his favorite tea in a to-go cup, a little message from you written on the receipt. and when suga comes down with the flu, courtesy of the children he takes care of throughout the day, akaashi takes it upon himself to check up on him throughout the week, making sure he’s cared for regardless of the risk. ❀ུ۪   maybe he falls asleep on suga’s couch more than once, maybe he doesn’t. ❀ུ۪   at some point, suga asks for your number and akaashi asks as well. both men are blushing as you hand it to them and your instant thought is oh no because you’ve come to like them both and if the looks on their faces is anything to go by, they both like you too. ❀ུ۪   cue some slight panic on all your parts. ❀ུ۪   of course they sit down and talk it out because they’re both rational adults and it naturally comes down to who would get to ask you out. akaashi concedes mostly because he “had his chance” before suga came along. suga is a little hesitant because his feelings for akaashi friendship with akaashi is important so while he does* ask you on a date there’s a lingering feeling of guilt. ❀ུ۪   and then at the end of said date he walks you home and you tell him you had a lot* of fun but confess that you like akaashi as well and are too confused right now and don’t want to lead him on. it’s like a weight was lifted off his shoulders and he tentatively confesses that he likes akaashi as well and he’s never seen someone’s eyes go so wide. ❀ུ۪   akaashi’s face when he comes into the coffee shop the next day at an invitation from suga is priceless because you’re sitting next to him at their usual table instead of behind the counter like normal. he’s positive you’re going to let him down easy and tell him the two of you’ve decided to date, and he’s already preparing to tell you how happy he is for the two of you. ❀ུ۪   “so, we have a confession--” ❀ུ۪   he cuts suga off, saying, “i’m really happy for the two of you,” and is then confused when you giggle and give him an exasperated look. ❀ུ۪   “we did go on a date and will again,” you said, holding your finger up when he goes to interrupt you again. “but we’d really like it if you went with us. if you want.” ❀ུ۪   akaashi is Confused™ and looking between the two of you waiting for an explanation, and suga picks up by explaining the conversation last night. of course, there’s some trepidation because akaashi hasn’t been overt about his feelings for suga, but the friday nights spent at their houses, watching their friends volleyball games has given suga at least some indication, so he’s pretty secure. ❀ུ۪   mostly. ❀ུ۪   the relief on akaashi’s face is adorable and the smile he gives you is bright. he agrees and, since you’re already together, you decide to go on your first official date. it isn’t too special, going to the botanical garden in the park because you and suga have been curious for a while and, well, who better to go with than a florist? ❀ུ۪   he spends a lot of time telling you about all the flowers and their meanings and suga has a surprising amount of knowledge as well, just because he’s a teacher and from spending time with akaashi. you get dinner together and talk a little more about how this might work before deciding to just let it be. ❀ུ۪   there’s not a lot of jealousy between the three of you because you’re always together. they show up at the coffee shop after your shift ends-- if they can, it depends-- and you’ll go get dinner together. or if your shift is at a strange time, they’ll still stop by and spend a bit of time before going home. ❀ུ۪   you also twist akaashi’s arm-- you don’t have to twist very hard, mind you-- into showing you how to make the bouquets he’s so well known for. after the shop closes, he helps you pick out the flowers for the bouquets you want to make and spend a few hours together in the little workshop in the back of the store. it’s how he confesses his love to you, actually. he won’t tell you what his flowers mean, teasing that you’ll just have to look it up, so suga picks up the book on the counter while akaashi conveniently goes to attend to something in the main area and after pouring over the book, you both turn bright red before tackling him in hugs. ❀ུ۪   sometimes, after the three of you start spending the nights together, suga ends up staying up late to grade papers. akaashi is naturally a night owl, so it’s no surprise he stays up to help him on those nights. he supplies the coffee, and there’s quiet conversation between the two of them about whatever. sometimes you join them, sometimes you go to bed, and sometimes you fall asleep on the couch waiting for them, and one of them will carry you to bed. ❀ུ۪   being with them is pretty easy. they’re both good at communicating so, so long as you remember to tell them when something is wrong, it’s rare to have an actual fight. there are the usual temper flare ups and tiffs that come with long nights or bad days or when someone says the wrong thing, of course, but actual arguments aren’t common. ❀ུ۪   so when it comes around that it’s been almost a year of being together, it’s kind of a surprise. ❀ུ۪   “our anniversary is coming up soon,” akaashi says one night while you’re laying in suga’s bed together. he’s in between the two of you, his head on your chest while suga is curled against his back. ❀ུ۪  “what’s it been, four months?” you tease, knowing full well it’s been a lot longer than that. ❀ུ۪   suga snorts in amusement, reaching out to lace his fingers with akaashi’s, which is tracing patterns on your stomach. “very funny. try a year. i can’t believe it’s been so long. what should we do?” ❀ུ۪   so you decide to return to the botanical garden, since it was the place you went for your first date. they happen to be having a special exhibit for some rare plants, and afterwards you go to dinner at a more upscale restaurant. it’s there you casually mention that you have to renew your lease on your apartment in a few months, and that starts some thoughts. ❀ུ۪   they talk about it amongst themselves first, later on while you’re at work, just so that if one of them isn’t ready, you aren’t hurt. of course they are ready, with a sly comment from suga about how he was ready after the first date just to watch akaashi turn bright red, and bring it up to you when they next see you. which is later that night because none of you spend the night alone at that point. ❀ུ۪   it’s just a matter of where and since akaashi lives above his shop alone and it’s a whole apartment by itself, it’s already decided that that’s where you’ll move into. the look on your face is hysterical when they bring it up to you because as soon as you walked through the door they said, “we have to talk, ____,” and of course you were afraid that they were going to break up with you. ❀ུ۪   no one likes those words, seriously. ❀ུ۪   but of course they just tell you they were talking about moving in together and whether you would be alright with it and are surprised when you knock suga off his chair and to the floor-- he was the one closest to you, rip suga-- with a laugh. ❀ུ۪   since everyone’s stuff is interspersed amongst your apartments at that point, you spend a lot of time gathering that stuff up and moving it to akaashi’s apartment. suga cheerfully expresses how easy it’s going to be to move out of his apartment when his lease is up and enjoys the glowing smiles he receives. ❀ུ۪   a bigger bed is in order, for sure, and you and suga insist on upgrading his coffeepot. when suga’s lease is finally up is when the move in is complete and, even though he’s come home to it countless times before, there’s a different feeling when he comes in that night to the sound of your laughter, the tv on in the background, and the smell of cooking food all filling the air. ❀ུ۪   now, he thinks, it feels like home.

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