#i missed him shaking his head the first 5 times i watched this scene

[stevenrogered]

Eddie keeping it together, except when Christopher can’t see his face

[clxja16]

Enough

Charles Leclerc X Wolff!Reader

Genre: betrayal (?)

Warnings: I think there's some swearing, angst

Word Count: 5K+

Author's Note: Okay you guys voted for this one, and honestly I thought that the fake dating trope was going to win but I guess not. also I kind of need help with the genre, because its not really forbidden lovers. Like is there a genre of your parents betraying your trust in the name of protecting you??? but anyway lmk what you guys think. Actually please tell me what you think, because I'm scared I made this too dramatic. enjoy though <3

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You lingered in one of the back halls before the start of qualifying.  It was the Austrian Grand Prix.  You looked around making sure that no one was in sight.  Charles started to giggle at your antics of keeping this under wraps.  You pulled at him, trying to push him right out the door. 

“Go back to your garage,” you say gently pushing Charles further out the back entry of the Mercedes garage. 

“After I get a good luck kiss?” Charles asks, as he holds his hands up in surrender.  

You shake your head at him, before saying, “quickly, before someone sees us,” pulling Charles into a kiss, by his race suit.  Charles grabs your face with both hands, pulling you closer, deepening the kiss further.  You pull away first, worried about who might catch you sneaking about the garage halls, “okay now go, I’ll see you tonight.” 

Charles doesn’t let go of your face, pulling you back in for a quick peck on the lips, “okay I’m going.”  Charles finally lets you go, and shoots you a quick wink before walking off.  

You turn back around to take your place in the garage next to your father, when you hear him calling out for you.  You look back to see Charles has walked just far enough away to be out of sight, as your father turns the corner to come face to face with you.  You let out a breath of relief that they missed each other.  “y/n,” your father calls to your attention, “let’s get settled, qualifying is about to start.” 

“Yes, daddy,” you answer, following after your father, to watch qualifying.  

You have just finished your degree, a Masters in Business Administration from HBS and a Masters of Science from Harvard John A. Paulson SEAS.  It took you nearly 5 and a half years to complete, but you did it regardless.  Now, you attend the races to better learn how to apply the knowledge learnt in school to running a formula one team.  This is all so that one day you will take over the formula one team from your father. 

As you watched George and Lewis set out to do their first few qualifying laps of the session, you longed for it to be you in those cars.  You really didn't dream of being behind the scenes, you dream of being up front and center, in the limelight, in the car.  You wanted to set the fastest lap, you wanted to be getting grand prix victories, you wanted to win championships.  However, you didn’t get a seat in formula 2, so your parents did the ‘reasonable’ thing and sent you off to school, instead of waiting around for the chance of a seat opening up.  

“Look here,” your father spoke to you, as he pointed at some data on one of the many monitors in front of him.  

“George is a tenth too early,” you say, trying your best to understand the data in front of you.  

“Yes, exactly, good,” your father praises, before speaking with a couple of the race engineers.  “Now we don’t want George to overly focus on what is going wrong, so we praise, advice and praise again.” You listen to the radio as the engineer, compliments George on his turn 3 and 4, critiques his turn 7, and compliments his turn 10 and 11.  “When you take over, you have to remember that you are going to have to manage the drivers' psyche as well as their driving.” 

“Father, I won’t be taking over for a long time, you’re gonna need to find someone in between you and me, to manage the team.” 

“No,” your father declares, like his decision is final, “I will retire late, and you will start early.” 

“Yes Father,” you say, no reason to start an argument now. 

-

“Congratulations on another podium,” you spoke sweetly to Charles at the end of the Austrian grand prix weekend. You and him were hiding out in his hotel room, trying your best to stay away from the cameras, from fans and most importantly from your father. 

“It’s only the second podium of the season,” Charles said as he dried his hair with the towel while walking out of the bathroom.  “We’re so far behind this season, it’s laughable.” 

“You could always make the move to Mercedes, Daddy would love to have you racing for him,” you say, as you wrap your arms around Charles, after he takes a seat on the edge of the bed.  

You can hear Charles chuckle a little, before turning around to face you. “Never,” he says with a smile, pushing you back down on the bed, kissing you deeply.  You can’t contain the laughter that spills from your lips.  

“We would make sure you win championships,” you argue, teasing Charles once again. 

“And who’s giving up a seat for me?” Charles asks, as he moves from your lips down your neck, spreading his kisses all around.  

“Lewis isn’t going to stay much longer,” you reveal.  

“What?” Charles asked, as he pulled away to look at you.  The seriousness setting in. 

“Don’t say anything to anyone,” you start off, as you sit up in the bed, looking at Charles deeply, “Daddy offered Lewis another four years, Lewis said he only wanted to sign on for two more right now.”  

“Why?” 

“I don’t know,” you say honestly, “believe it or not, Lewis does not reveal his intentions to me like you do.”  

Charles cracks a smile hearing you tease, “well, maybe I could do Mercedes silver,” he says as he goes back to kissing you. 

You and Charles spend the night together, as the two of you have done many times before.  The next morning, you try to sneak out early enough where no one notices your empty hotel room.  Charles makes your heart feel full, being around him makes you feel at peace, he wears your worries like his own.  He’s everything you ever wanted and needed, and more.  You know that there was no plausible way you could keep this a secret any longer.  You love him too much to pretend nothing is going on.  Although, you also know that your father would not be the happiest, he always said drivers weren’t the type of people you bring home.  However Charles is different, you know he’s what you need, you know that you can bring him home. 

When you did make it back to your own hotel room, you don’t think anyone checked in on the empty room.  You made quick work of packing up your belongings, your father was flying out of Vienna this afternoon, to get a jumpstart on Silverstone.  It being a home grand prix for both of your drivers, the entire week was packed with events.  All events in which you had to attend.  

-

After arriving in Silverstone, did you finally take a breather.  George and Lewis both went to visit their families for the first day.  This allowed you and your father to spend some time away from the race track.  Father instead just went to the factory, and spent some time in the office.  You on the other hand went out with Mamma, before she had to head down to Monza for the F1 Academy race.  

“Mamma,” you called out to Susie,  “do you think Daddy is serious about me taking over the team one day?” 

Your question was enough to stop Susie in her tracks, “yes, I do think he’s serious about it.”  She gave you a perplexed look.  Your father has been talking about you taking over the team since you went off to college.  He is determined that with his recommendation the board will approve for the team principal position. 

“I don’t know if that’s what I want to do though,” you say truthfully.  “I don’t know if I can handle being so close, but not being able to race.” As much as your mind was focused on being a team principal, your heart wanted to drive. 

Susie came up to you, pushing your hair behind your ear, holding your face. She had a gentle smile on her face, but there was a sadness behind her eyes that you couldn’t place.  “You are racing, if you take over the team, you are still a part of the race, but if you walk away, you will only be a spectator.” 

You sigh, you know she’s right, “you’re right, like you always are.” 

Susie laughs at your joke, “tell your Father because he never seems convinced that I’m always right.”  

You laugh, as you and Susie enter the restaurant for lunch.  “Mamma, can I ask you another question?” 

“Of course sweetheart,” Susie answers worryingly, you are not normally this ominous.  

“Would you be upset if I started seeing a driver?”  

Susie doesn’t hide the shock on her face, after your question, “who is it?”  She smirks at you, you weren’t the best at hiding your feelings from Susie.  She was the first to know about your first boyfriend in High school.  She was the first to know about the guy who cheated on you.  She was the first to know about the college boy you wanted to bring home.  And she was the first to know that none of them were enough to match you.  

“It’s no one, it's just a hypothetical, Mamma.” 

“Who, sweetheart?” 

You debate for a second about how to answer, but you know you can’t lie.  You gave away too much, and Susie knows you only use ‘hypothetical’ when it's real.  “Charles.” 

“Leclerc?”  Susie doesn’t mask her shock for a single second.  

“Mamma,” you whine at her reaction.  

“Sweetheart, your father is gonna have an aneurysm when he hears this.” 

“Mamma,” you whine again, this time more seriously, as you feel the water works coming on.  

“Sweetheart?” Susie questions, her face going from shock to stone cold serious as she sees how upset you are.  “This is serious.” 

You sigh, “I really like him, Mamma.  He makes me very happy.”  You look at Susie, and you don’t like the look she has even more.  

She looks very seriously at you, while also having the ‘its not good’ look.  “Your father is not going to like this,” she says honestly, “but,” you watch Susie as she begins to smile, “if you’re happy, that is what's important.” 

You begin to smile as well, “Daddy will get over it right?” 

“I hope so,” Susie says truthfully.  You were Toto’s oldest, nothing would ever be good enough for you.  You were his pride and joy, you were the first, and as the first, you are everything to your father.  Susie knows this, and she knows that no matter how much Charles tries, Toto still won’t think he’s good enough for you.  

-

Susie reminds you that the best way to handle this, is to inform your father sooner rather than later. You agree, but you want to make sure that you and Charles are on the same page as well.  Thursday night, once again you are hiding out in Charles' hotel room, instead of staying in your own room.  The two of you cuddle together on the bed as a movie plays on the TV. 

“Charles,” you start off softly, afraid to disturb the delicate peace that’s settled across the room, “where do you see this going?” 

“What do you mean by that?” Charles asked, as he glanced at you.  

“Us, our relationship, where do you see it going?”  You stared at Charles, while listening to his steady heartbeat. 

“I don’t know,” Charles answers, his answer holds a brutal truth that you don’t like, you sit up to look at Charles, “but, I hope it goes far and long.”  Charles continues to lay in bed while you stare at him, “ I hope that it gets out of hotel rooms, and garage halls, and private phone calls.  I hope it gets you into some red Ferrari gear,” you smile at Charles’ preposterous hope, “I hope that it gets further than this. I love you y/n.”

“I love you too,” you reassure.   

“Why do you ask me that ma chère?” 

“I’m going to tell my father about us,” you say, “and your plans to move to Mercedes.”  You just have to tease him a little bit.  

Charles laughs at you, “you mean your plans to be a Ferrari fan from now on.”  And he always knew how to handle your teasing. 

You laugh going to kiss Charles, “that’s so much work,” you say with another kiss, “you should just switch teams.” 

Charles laughs sarcastically, he loves the banter.  “y/n,” he calls.  It stops you, he never uses your name, “I really do love you.”  He’s probably told you this same sentiment over a thousand times, but each time, it still feels like the first time.  

Your cheeks hurt from how hard you’re smiling, “I love you too.”  Somehow these ‘I love you's' are different, they’re more significant, more meaningful, more genuine, more heartfelt, more profound.  They’re more serious, because they’re not just ‘I love you,’ they’re a promise, a commitment, a lifetime, together.  

-

“Daddy, please can you be rational about this?” You ask as you follow your father about the Monaco home.  Trying to get him to stop complaining about your choices in men.  

“Why couldn’t you date George, at least you would still be supporting Mercedes,” your Father says as the two of you make your way into the kitchen to see Mamma and Jack. 

“Mamma do you hear him?” You ask, indicating your father as ‘him.’ “George is very much in a relationship, Father” 

“And what’s wrong with Lewis?” Your father clearly is not thinking about the age difference between you and Lewis.  

You looked to Mamma to see if your father was serious, and even she was shocked with the suggestion, “you would be okay with me dating someone that is 14 years my senior?” you ask with a brow raised to your father, “you’ve convinced me Daddy, I will stop seeing Charles and start seeing Lewis.” 

Your father sighs, “that is not what I…” 

“Daddy, I invited Charles over for dinner, tomorrow night, that way you can properly meet him as my partner, instead of as a driver.” You tell your father, hoping that you're just imagining the steaming coming out of his ears, “one dinner, Daddy, that’s all.  He makes me really happy.” 

“Okay,” your Father says.  You don’t miss the slight eye roll he gives though.  

“Thank you Daddy,” you say, giving him a hug, before running off to your room like a teenage girl to call Charles and let him know about dinner tomorrow night.  

After your father hears your bedroom door shut, does he turn to his wife.  “Susie,” he calls out, still listening for you, to see if you were coming back out. “A word, privately.” 

“Okay,” Susie answers a bit confused about the request, she turns to Jack, “why don’t you go play for right now.”  Jack nods along excitedly, before running out the room.  “Toto, what is it?” 

“She can’t date Charles.” Toto says, turning his full attention to his wife. 

“What?” 

“Susie, I have seen the drivers in relationships.  They have their girlfriend one weekend, then they have a club girl the next weekend, and then some lucky fan the following weekend.  Charles is no different.” Toto doesn’t hold back in his recounting of the drivers stepping out on their partners, “y/n is gonna get hurt, and her entire image will be tainted by being cheated on by Charles.” 

“Toto don’t you think you’re being a little unfair.” Susie tries her best to defend Charles, but she knows Toto is telling the truth.  She’s seen it too, from a number of drivers amongst the ranks throughout the years.  

“Charles is a hell of a driver, but I'm not gonna allow him to ruin my daughter.”  Toto declares as final, “we need to find a way to stop them from seeing each other before the public catches wind of their relationship.” 

“Toto,” Susie takes a breath, if they do this, they would have to tread very carefully, or they could end more than just your relationship with Charles.  “If she ever finds out that we are interfering in her life like this, she won’t forgive us, she's not a kid anymore.” 

“She wasn’t a kid when we pulled her from racing,” Toto drags up a long forgotten and regretted moment, “we do what we have to, to protect our children, regardless of how it may look.” 

“We’ll need to play this close to the vest.” 

-

To say the evening was filled with tension and awkwardness would be an understatement.  Your father continuously gave Charles dirty looks throughout the night, and you wanted to slap him for being so childish.  Susie was pleasant throughout the evening.  Jack was just being Jack.  He probably talked the most, asking Charles about what it was like to be a real race car driver. 

“This is a very lovely meal,” Charles says to Susie.  You appreciate him trying his best to not ruffle your father’s feathers. 

“Thank you Charles,” Susie appreciates the compliments.  She doesn’t know what is best, because Toto is determined to stop you and Charles from seeing each other.  

“Charles, did you ever pee in the car?” Jack asks, as he shovels another pile of food in his mother.  

“Jack,” you say in a scolding manner, while Charles just laughs at the question.  

Charles has to take a sip of water before answering, “I try my best to make sure I use the bathroom before I get into the car.”  

“Enough questions Jack,” you say to your little brother, getting irritated with how much he was talking.  

“I just wanted to ask the racecar driver,” Jack pouts.  He makes that face with an exaggerated frown, that almost makes you feel guilty.  

“Jack, we’re all race car drivers.  Me, Mamma and Daddy have all raced cars before and you never ask us.” you argue back, you almost feel stupid that you have to argue with a five year old.  

“But you didn’t make it to formula 1,” Jack points out, and now you don’t feel guilty, you just feel sad that Jack had to point out one of your biggest regrets in life.  

“Jack,” Susie says, scolding your brother.  

“I didn’t know you raced,” Charles says, turning to look at you.  

You smile, thinking back to the time, “Yeah, I did karting for years, then I did formula renault, F4 and F3.” 

“Why did you stop?” Charles asks, wondering how you could give it up. 

“I didn’t get a seat in Formula two, and the agreement was if I could get a seat I could race, but I wouldn’t pass up opportunities to race. I got into college, so I gave up racing and went back to school.”  You reveal to Charles, he can hear the regret in your voice, but he chooses not to point it out.  You don’t see that look Susie and Toto exchange when they hear your retelling of events. 

“I see,” Charles says, “It’s a shame, I think you would’ve been a hell of a driver.” 

You chuckle at Charles, “I would definitely have more wins than you by now,” you tease.  

“Oh?” Charles smirks at you, “you would?” 

“Of course I would, because I would be driving for Mercedes, for sure.” You chuckle at your own joke.  

Charles shakes his head at you, his smile spreading far and wide.  Susie watches you and Charles, she's been watching you throughout the night and she knows Charles is enough for you.  She knows that this is your person, that they will never be another that will be able to compete with Charles.  It's him or nothing.  

-

You skip the Hungarian grand prix, especially as the media releases pictures of you and Charles, going back to the Monaco Grand Prix.  Your father thought it best that you stay home, he wasn’t sure how people would react to the relationship news.  You spent a few days before your father left for Hungary, arguing with him that it was unfair to bench you, because of the possibility that fans won’t like the news. 

Clearly, your father won that argument as you sat at home in Monaco, watching the sessions through the TV, instead of being there in person.  What Toto doesn’t tell you, is that he wants you home, so that he can meet with Fred without you getting suspicious. 

After the qualifying session, Toto asked Fred, the team principal of Ferrari, to join him for dinner.  As the two men met away from the paddock, away from the cameras, from the drivers, from the team.  They sat in a private dining room, in an elite restaurant.  Only here did Toto feel comfortable asking what he was about to ask.  

“What are we doing here Toto?” Fred asks, as he sips the beer he ordered.  Fred wouldn’t say it, betraying his French roots, but he always preferred a bottle of beer over a glass of wine.  

“Fred, I have a favor to ask,” Toto requests, he ignores his gut feeling telling him that this is wrong, and continues on, “I want you to delay Charles' contract signing.” 

“Why would I do that?” Fred asks, delaying a contract signing seems like it’s not a big deal, but there's many implications to what that could mean.  

“You would do it, because then I will be in debt to you,” Toto says, he's thought about this, he knows his way through a negotiation. 

“Okay,” Fred says, he has a reason to do so, but what is Toto’s reason for asking? “Now why do you need me to do this?”  

Toto sighs, “y/n.” 

“Your daughter, I saw the news about her Charles,” Fred pauses, taking another sip of the beer, “well actually Charles told me about the relationship back in Miami.” 

“Miami?” Toto questions, “she didn’t tell me until after silverstone.” 

“Charles said he wanted me to know before the public knew, would like to know what else he said?” 

“What?” Toto sighs, once more. 

“Charles said he wants to do this right, that he is serious about her,” Fred offers. 

“We’ve both heard drivers say one thing and do another,” Toto fixes his posture, sitting up in the chair, “I won’t allow my daughter’s image to be run through by Charles.” 

“So you want me to delay a contract signing, to do what?  So you can scare Charles into picking a seat over your daughter? And what happens when he picks your daughter over his seat?”  Fred sits up in his chair as well, looking Toto square in the eyes.  

“If he picks my daughter over his seat, then I know he’s serious about her,” Toto stands upm buttoning his jacket, “but we both know he won’t do that.”  Toto sticks out his hand for Fred to shake.  

Fred stands to shake Toto’s hand, “this doesn’t mean I agreed to anything.”  

“You will agree,” Toto smiles, a little amused at the situation, “we both know me in debt to you is too valuable to pass up.” 

-

Since the news of your relationship has been made public, you and Charles are seen together around the paddock during the Belgian Grand Prix a lot more.  Although you guys did try to keep it as professional as possible, there weren't any public displays of affection between the two of you.  However, that went straight out the window after the race podium celebration.  

Instead of watching the podium you stayed in the garage with your father, since there wasn’t a Mercedes on the podium.  As soon as Charles was done with the podium celebration, he ran straight into the Mercedes garage to collect a celebratory kiss from you.  His, sweaty, champagne-covered, sticky self, pulling you into a tight hug with a deep kiss.   He had one arm wrapped around your waist, while his other hand held onto his trophy.  You were taken aback by the initial kiss, but soon you cupped his cheek and held him close.  

Charles would’ve kissed you longer, but he could feel the cameras on the two of you.  When he finally did pull away, you were a giggling mess that you didn’t even notice the cameras at first.  “Let’s go,” Charles whispers to you, “let’s get out of here.” 

You wanted desperately to leave right then and there with Charles, “I can’t,” you say.  You watch his smile drop just a little, “I have work to finish,” you say while giving the side eye to where your father sat in the Mercedes garage, watching you and Charles.  “And you have a press conference.” 

“Okay, after that then.” Charles says, kissing you on the cheek this time.  

“After that.” 

-

That night, while you and Charles celebrated his podium finish, the picture of you and him making out in the Mercedes garage after his podium celebrations, hit social media. That photo is more talked about than Max’s 8th grand prix win in a row.  That photo is in all the group chats around the paddock.  That photo makes it to the official formula 1 social media pages.  And the biggest take away is your father’s face in the background of the photo.  Everytime you look at it, you laugh knowing that your father most likely made that face subconsciously.  

Since summer break has begun, you spend more time with Charles than at home with your family.  Today, you just so happen to need a few things from your closet, that you stopped in the Monaco home.  That is when you could overhear your parents talking in your father’s office.  

“We need to be more discreet about this now,” your father says to Mamma. 

“Toto, I don’t think this is right.  It’s not fair to y/n or Charles,” Susie says.  Normally you wouldn’t eavesdrop on your parents, but the mention of you and Charles caught your attention.  

“I am trying to protect our daughter,” Toto says, and you can’t help but think. What is your father trying to protect you from? 

“This isn’t protecting her, this is your fear about what could happen,” Susie says.  You can hear in your mamma voice, she’s getting defensive.  

“Like how your fear pulled her from racing,” Toto says in a raised voice.  You’re completely confused as to what your father could mean with that statement.  

There’s a pause.  It goes silent for a second, and you listen closer.  “I was saving her life, we weren’t sure what the FIA would do after Jules.”  There’s a pain in Susie’s voice.  

“Safety measures were put in place,” Toto argues.  

“After you pushed back on them.” 

“I have changed my position on the halo, you know that,” Toto says.  Even though the wood doors separate you from seeing your parents, you can clearly imagine what this fight is looking like. 

“After Lewis almost dies!”  Mamma never shouts, is your singular thought after hearing that statement.  “What if you had gotten your way and the halo was never placed?  What if it was our daughter in that car?  I pulled her from racing to save her life, because you sure as hell wasn’t going to do it.”  Susie pulls open the office door to see you standing on the other side.  You watch her face drop from anger to sadness quickly.  “Sweetheart…” 

“Mamma… you pulled me from racing?” You question as the tears begin to well in your eyes. 

“Sweetheart…” Susie repeats, shes at a complete loss for words.  

“You told me that I wasn’t picked up for a seat.” you take a breath before you start crying, “was that the truth?” 

“Darling,” Toto calls out to you.  

“Was it the truth?” You ask again, this time you make the hurt evident in your voice, “you told me a team didn’t want to pick me for F2, was that the truth?” 

“You weren’t anybody’s first choice,” Susie pauses, “but you were on the list.”  You feel your break, as you start to cry.  “We worked a few negotiations to ensure that you didn’t get picked.  We worked to pull you from racing.”  

You were a hyperventilating mess, you couldn’t stop the tears, the sobs, the heartbreak from happening. “You told me���You told me, if I earned my seat without you or daddy interfering I could keep racing.  You promised that you would let me race.” 

“We wanted to protect you, we didn’t want what happened to Jules.” 

“Don’t you dare,” you snap at Susie, “don’t use what happened to Jules as an excuse.”  You walked away, racing up the stairs.  Towards your bedroom, you could hear your parents rushed footsteps as they followed after you.  You began to shove clothes into a bag, as you tried to violently wipe away the tears.  

“Where are you going?” Your father asks in a calm voice.  

“I’m gonna stay with Charles for a while.”  When you mention Charles, you remembered the beginning of the conversation.  You stopped packing your clothes.  Slowly you turned to face your parents.  “What did you do?” 

“Excuse me?” your father questions. 

“What did you do to Charles?  Mamma said it wasn’t right, it wasn’t fair, whatever you were doing.  What did you do to Charles daddy?” You’re out of breath, you fear whatever your father has to say.   

You watch as your father sighs, he hangs his head.  “I asked Fred to delay his contract signing.  Ferrari wants to keep Charles, they’re going to give him whatever he wants.  I asked for Fred to just hold off on signing the contract.” 

You scoff at the revelation.  “Just long enough to scare Charles into picking a seat over me.  This is rich from the both of you.”  

“Sweetheart…” Susie calls out to you as she reaches to hold you.  

“Don’t touch me,” you snap once again.  You couldn’t tell if you were really angry or sad or shocked, but you did know you were just hurt.  Your parents had taken away your dreams, and they were trying to take away your love.  “You took away racing,” you take a breath, you strip away all the excess, you let them hear the hurt in your voice, “I won’t let you take Charles away too.”  

When you do make it Charles’ place.  When he opens the door for you, he sees you silently crying and shaking.  Your voice is hoarse already, that it’s only a whisper when you ask, “can I stay with you for a few days?” 

“Of course,” Charles says as he welcomes you inside.  When he finally closes the door, you drop your bag to the floor, and just hold onto Charles tightly.  He wraps his arms around you, providing you with the comfort you longed for.

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

Part II

[kittysarchive]

I have an idea. 6some if it’s even possible. I’ll read 5somes but not 6somes. I think that would be a fun challenge for you to write. :D

I'll take the challenge 😭 did TXT since there are 5 members

warnings- smut, 6some, sub reader, dom txt, cum play?, overstimulation, missionary, doggy, handjob, blowjob, lmk if i missed anything

Lying on the bed, you waited with butterflies in your stomach. Both anxious and excited to fuck your roommates.

"Who's first?" Your voice shakes as you eye out your roommates, all naked and fisting their cocks alongside the bed. All wanting to have a taste of you...they needed to have an order.

"I'll go first" Yeonjun confidently strolls onto the bed, pulling your legs down, forcing your body to slide towards him. Not wasting a moment, his cock slides into your wet and already prepped pussy.

"How are you so tight?" Yeonjun laughs, slowly moving in and out of your pussy, to the side Kai steps up. Leaning over the bed, he climbs behind your head.

"Need to feel you so bad" Kai whines, fisting his cock above your head, you open your moth ready to take his cock. Body rocking as Yeonjun thrusts into you, you struggle to place Kai's cock into your mouth.

"Slow down" Kai cries out, forcing his cock into your mouth. Feeling his shaft on your Toung, you close your mouth, wrapping your lips around his shaft.

"Dirty girl" Yeonjun speaks up again, thrusts slowing down. He didn't want to cum, not yet.

"Dibs next" Beomgyu stands behind Yeonjun, eyes burning your body. He stares at your form. Seeing how Yeonjun's cock glistened with your arousal as he pulled out, seeing how Kai furrowed his eyebrows as you tried to suck him off.

Nearly shoving Yeonjun out of the way, Beomgyu pushing his ember inside you. Hands finding home on your tits, he squeezes them hard. Not expected that, you choke around Kai.

"Oh fuck" Kai quickly pulls out. Feeling you choke around his cock nearly made Kai cum.

"How was it?" Taehyun asks, watching Kai's cock come out of your mouth. Kai only smiles as he back away from your body, letting Taehyun have a turn. Taking the chance, he hover over your body. Opening your mouth, he dives into your throat. Feeling you constrict around him, he forces himself not to cum.

"God you feel so good" Taehyun whines, looking away from your body, your beautiful fucked out body.

"I know right" Yeonjun chimes, fisting his cock off to the side as he watches the scene before him. Coming out of the shadows, Soobin's cock is within hands reach. Gripping his cock, he almost chokes out.

"Fuck what a grip" Continuing to fuck your pussy, his hands latch away from your tits, moving down your body as he rolls his hips against yours.

"She's too tight, thought she be stretched by now" Giving a hard thrust, your body lets go. With Taehyuns cock wedged in your throat, Beomgyu's hands on your body, his cock fucking you hard, you couldn't hold it any longer.

Pulling out of your heat quickly, Beomgyu doesn't cum with you.

"Fuck she came" Letting go of Soobins cock, you see him move in front of you.

"Let's try something else" Taehyun's cock slides out of your mouth. Having a breath of air, you feel Soobin gently lift you up, brining you onto all fours, his hands grip your ass as his cock slides in your pussy. From this new angle you cry. You just came, you didn't think you could do it again.

"Easy okay?" He slowly thrusts into you, slowly building up your pleasure. Sending a hard smack onto your ass, you feel weight on the bed. Looking to the side, Yeonjun was back.

"Need that mouth" He hums, stroking your hair while his tip pressed against your lips. Opening your mouth, he softly enters.

Seeing Yeonjun's cock in your mouth, Soobin spreads up, hips smacking into your ass, causing your body to lung forward. The lung causes more of Yeonjun's cock into your mouth.

"I need to cum so bad" Kai announces, watching the scene in front of him. Having limited time with you, watching was enough to make him cum.

"Same" Taehyuns eyes stay glued to your body. Soon Yeonjun pulls out of your mouth.

"C-can't do anymore" You cry out, your pussy becoming sore with the relentless thrusts.

"Nearly there" Beomgyu steps up to you, stroking your hair, your pussy was briming. Tears brimming your eyes, it felt too good, but you just couldn't cum anymore. How much did you cum, 1....2 times?

Holding onto Beomgyu's words, you soon feel Soobin exit your pussy. Have a small break, you see your roommates waiting to cum onto you. You nod your head, feeling warmness on your body.

"Need to do this again" Soobin laughs, cock spurting out cum over your ass. You didn't last long but you will next time. They'll all make you.

First time doing a 6some.

[spidermans-l-o-v-e-r]

Strawberries and Cream Presents:

✨Eddie Can’t Breathe✨

Pairing: Eddie x Reader

Word count: 3.4k

Masterlist

Notes: This is set sometime before Chapter 4 and meant to elude to Chapter 5… which teeny spoiler alert 🤣🤣🤣 I feel like I need to reread chapters before I make these mini-chapters but I like never do because once it's done its DONE okay. P.S Eddie knows how to Country line dance. I promise you he knows the entire Footloose 2011 scene

“You’re uh, hittin’ that bag a little hard don’t you think?” 

Bobby comes into the workout room, setting his towel and water bottle down. He crosses the black mat flooring to Eddie and holds the punching bag still for a moment 

“Am I?” He asks, spinning around and kicking it, sending Bobby stumbling backward a bit. 

“Because people normally do that,” He says, standing in front of the bag now. Eddie rolls his eyes and paces around, shaking out his arms 

“Can I help you?” He asks, sass dripping like venom

“What’s going on, you’ve been a bit on edge lately,” he asks straight out, crossing his arms over his chest 

“Nothing,” Eddie says just as firmly as Bobby asked. Bobby sighs a little, softening his stance

“Come on, you can talk to me if you need to. I’m here for you” 

“I don’t need to talk. I’m fine.” He dismisses him completely walks over to another freestanding bag and starts punching again. Bobby watches him for a bit, he knows Eddie can fight, he’s seen him boxing before. But he’s not being careful, he’s not aiming right. Not like he normally does 

“I think it’s time for you to hit the showers”

“I think it’s time for you to leave me alone” 

“Eddie-“

“Can you just leave me alone?? Can you kindly fuck off?” 

“Edmundo Diaz” 

“Don’t- don’t fucking full name me okay. I’m- I need space, can you give me some fucking space??” He looks like a caged animal as he paces again, shaking his arms out like he’s trying to shake off his nerves 

“Eddie this isn’t like you”

“This is like me! This is me, Bobby. All I’m doing is hitting a fucking bag! Would you rather I was hitting something else?”

“What if Y/N walks in? You know she comes to the station all the time”

“Don’t bring her into this don’t you dare say her fucking name”

“I’m just trying to help!”

“I don’t want your fucking help Bobby!” He stomps towards him, even when he’s seething he’s fast. He shoves Bobby backward into the bag and yanks his gloves off, throwing them to the ground. Bobby doesn’t miss his bloody knuckles. 

He leaves the gym, slamming the door so hard the glass shakes. 

“Hey, hey Eddie what’s-“ Buck tries to stop him but he just shoves him out of his way too. He needs a cold shower, a cold shower will fix things. 

The cool water flows over his body, he watches it swirl down the drain as he rests his head against his arm…just counting the tiles on the floor. The water isn’t helping as much as he’d like it to be but it’s something

He shouldn’t have yelled at Bobby like that, but he just doesn’t get it. No one gets it. No one’s ever gonna get it. Not even you. 

You. 

That’s a nice thought… a dream really. The beach was a dream, kissing you was a dream. There was just no way you could be real. He didn’t… he didn’t deserve you. Not with the things he was hiding, and even when you found out he had PTSD (No. He fucking doesn’t.) you gave him space to breathe and didn’t pry. 

He doesn’t know. Things are just…getting tight lately. The corners of his face are hot all the time, sometimes it feels like he’s not even breathing even if he is…fuck maybe he needs an inhaler or something… that’s probably it. An inhaler would be wonderful. 

It wouldn’t stop him from waking up in a cold sweat.

It wouldn’t stop the shaking hands. 

It wouldn’t… stop the recent nightmares. 

But you did. 

The night you slept in his bed was the first time in the last couple of weeks he’d gotten a good night's sleep and he wished you’d stay he just wished you’d move in already. 

Someone clears their throat behind him and he jumps nearly 10 feet in the air. He spins around, ready to deck whoever snuck up on him 

“Oh. Shit, god, really?!” He splashes Buck with water and turns back around, pouring shampoo into his hair 

“Apologize to Bobby” He crosses his arms over his chest 

“Hell no”

“Apologize to Dad right now” 

“First of all, You’re such a baby. Second of all, I’m literally in the shower” He rinses his hair out, before squirting some conditioner in, his hair wasn’t fluffy and perfect without a little hydration 

“He’s just trying to help Eddie you know that! Bobby loves us. And we love him…and…and you know I can’t stand to see any of us fighting.” 

“We aren’t fighting” He turns around, pouring soap onto his pink (from Buck) loofah. He methodically washes his body, avoiding certain areas while Buck is legitimately watching him shower. 

“I know what you said to him. And he’s right. Something’s off Eddie. And it’s okay to be off man it’s okay if something is wrong… but it’s not okay to take it out on your family. Especially when they’re just trying to love you”

“I don’t want-“ 

Buck shoves Eddie back against the wall and glares at him as he steps into the shower, his clothes are getting soaked 

“You say that sentence and I will literally drown you. I don’t know what’s happening but if you-“ He choked up a little and Eddie sighed, letting his head fall hard against the shower wall

“We love you, Eddie. I love you.” 

“I love you too Buck,” He says, pulling him into a hug. He pats his back firmly, and Buck hugs him back, rubbing his back. He sighs into his arms and shakes his head 

“We’re family Eddie…let us help you” 

“Uhhhhh” 

Eddie’s eyes pop open as he hears the click of a camera 

“Whaaat are you two doing? Isn’t he dating Y/N?!” 

Buck spins around, still holding Eddie. Chimney snaps another photo of Eddie’s bare ass 

“He is dating her! I’m just telling him we love him and support him! He needs to know that!”

“Oh that’s cute they finally got together… and you do need to remember that Eddie”

“I’m not!-“ He shoves Buck out of the shower and hides his body 

“I’m not dating her!!” 

Eddie lays on his couch just staring up at the ceiling, he’s kinda bored, kinda sleepy. Kinda lonely. He’d spaced out a while ago, he’s not sure how long, can’t even remember what he was thinking about, but eh oh well. Now he was just itching for attention, or at least something more stimulating than staring at the ceiling and finding little shapes in the popcorn 

“Hello?” 

You pick up on the second ring and it’s like everything slows down to a crawl. He takes a deep breath, like he can smell your sweet strawberries and vanilla through the phone instantly soothing his nerves. 

“Hey Sugar cube…Whatcha up to?” He picks at the hem of his boxers, just toying with the little strings from the old material 

“Just in bed playing games, kinda too lazy to get up. What about you?”

“On the couch, staring at the ceiling” 

You giggle and he hears you shuffle a little like you’re changing positions

“Well aren’t we a couple of party animals” 

“Oh yeah we go hard, what are you wearing to this party?” 

You snort “Some random old t-shirt and a pair of boxers I found. You?” 

He blushes a little when you ask “I know we were being playful but it just sounds dirty when I say just a pair of boxers” 

You start giggling and he hears you shift again, you’ve gotten off the bed “Wait-wait please send me a pic, let’s make this as awful as possible” 

His phone beeps and he puts you on speaker to look at the notification, it’s a photo from you, you’re standing in the mirror making the dumbest face he’s ever seen and doing a silly little pose it makes him laugh and he rolls off the couch 

“Okay yeah” he goes to the bathroom and thinks for a minute 

“I’m not sure how to do this” 

“Oh my god, you’re actually going to?” You gasp and he chuckles 

“Hell yes. Just call me Chadford” 

He sends you the picture and you burst out laughing. He’s totally flexing, his hand under his chin as he bites his lip

“Please!” You scream and he laughs with you, leaving the bathroom and going to his bedroom now 

“Wait I have one more” He gets in bed, sending you a picture of his bare torso, and his boxers. You’re supposed to see the outline of his cock and this is supposed to be a joke…but a teeny tiny little part of him hopes you actually like it just a little 

He knows you’ve opened it when you start cackling, it’s captioned “You up?” And that just makes you laugh harder. He decides to hit the FaceTime button and you answer immediately, all he can see is the ceiling for a minute but he can hear you absolutely wheezing and it just makes him laugh 

“You did not FaceTime me!” you gasp, trying to catch your breath as you finally turn the phone towards you, you’re laying on your side, your cheeks flushed from laughing, your hair all messy from the pillows 

“I thought it would be funnier”

“It was, it so was” both of your giggles slowly die out as you two calm down. Now you’re just lying in bed together, panting softly 

“I don’t remember the last time I laughed that hard,” Eddie says, smiling at you. You feel like that little light at the end of the tunnel right now… he just has to get there and he’ll be safe 

“With Buck around? That’s a surprise. Besides I’m pretty sure we died that hard at Athena’s party” you giggle, getting comfy with a pillow snuggled to your chest 

“Are you alone?” He’s not sure why he asked

“Yeah! I think Buck’s on a date or surfing. I don’t actually remember what he said” 

“Some cousin you are” He jokes and you scoff, setting up the phone so it’s on you and you can play your switch again 

“Some boyfriend you are, shouldn’t you know where he is?” 

You’ve got him there. 

“Shut up, brat” 

You flick off the camera and go back to playing your game and he smirks 

“You want some company?” 

You perk up a little, looking at the camera 

“You wanna come over?” 

“Yeah, why not? We can game together, or game together separately” 

“Okay, yeah!”You sit up, grabbing the phone “hurry up” 

“I’ll be over in a few minutes” He gets out of bed, pulling on a pair of sweatpants from the floor and a t-shirt. Picking up his phone off the bed, he grabs his keys and wallet from his dresser and goes into the kitchen, grabbing a package of popcorn and cookies 

“You never show up empty-handed,” you say and he smiles as he slips some shoes on and leaves the house

“I don’t make the rules I just follow them”

He sets his phone up on the stand and buckles in, you’re laid on your stomach now, looking up occasionally as he drives. He hums to himself, watching the road while you watch him. Is it weird to think he’s a sexy driver? He can’t drive for shit you both know that, Buck likes to tease him for it. But… he just looks so attractive, one hand on the wheel, the other holding his head with his elbow propped up in the window 

“You’re staring sugar cube”

His voice breaks through your little haze and you blink a couple of times 

“Oh” your cheeks flush “I kinda zoned out” 

“It’s fine, kinda cute when you’re staring anyway. Makes me feel all shy” He teases and you shake your head, ignoring him 

“Are you almost here?” 

“Why? You that eager to see me?” 

Kinda. 

“No, so I can open the door” you stick your tongue out at him 

“I have a key, brat. I’ll just let myself in” it makes him weak how playful you’re being with him, watching you lying in bed just playing games is so domestic. He would have had you come over and do it in his but he didn’t want to make you leave the house. 

Eddie hangs up a few minutes later and you whine, going to call him back when you hear the front door open 

“Just me sugar cube” He calls out while slipping off his shoes 

“You want the popcorn now or later?” 

“Now please” 

He comes upstairs a couple of minutes later, his hands full and you rush over to help him. You grab the popcorn bowl, set it down, and take one of the sodas he brought up. He tosses the package of cookies on the bed and lays down, stretching out and putting his soda on the nightstand 

“C’mere sugar cube” He holds his arms out and you blush, straddling his lap and leaning down to kiss him. He sighs into the kiss, his hands trailing up your sides gently. He looks at you as you pull away, admiring how pretty you look sitting on top of him 

“I missed you… haven’t seen you in like a week” He says, his hands sliding up under your T-shirt. He lifts it a little, tugging at the boxers you’re wearing 

“Can’t stay out of my clothes huh?” 

You lift the shirt, looking at them “What are you talking about?” 

“These are mine” 

Your mouth drops open and he snickers, smacking your thigh and pushing you off his lap gently so he can sit up “looks damn good on you too” your cheeks flush and you fall back on the bed 

“How am I only wearing your clothes?! Out of all the clothes Buck owns! I always pick yours!” 

“Kinda like it was meant to be huh?” He smirks and grabs his switch, pulling you back into his side 

“Maybe if you’re good I’ll give you my shirt” 

“I don’t want your stinky shirt” You say, cuddling into his side and continuing your game 

“Stinky? I literally just got this from the laundry, you saw me” 

“I’m pretty sure that’s not true” You mumble as you run after a cherry blossom petal 

“Oh, so that’s how you wanna play? Yeah okay” He takes your switch from you and before you can even protest he lays over you, rubbing his body on you 

“Eddie!!” You laugh and try to push at him, but he suddenly pins your hips with his, he takes your hands and pins those above your head too 

“Something wrong? Don’t like my delicious cologne?” He teases and you try to squirm out from underneath him 

“Quit it ya perv!” You tell him and he gasps dramatically, feigning hurt 

“Perv?? Oh I’ll show you perv-“ He holds your hands with one hand and starts to trail his other hand up your torso, he lifts your shirt with it, reveling in the way he’s revealing your body 

“Eddie! Quit it!” You buck your hips into him and he groans, feeling you brush against his cock. His lifts your shirt over your bra, it’s pretty and lacy… he leans forward, kissing the valley between your breasts before dragging his hips along yours. 

You let out a shuddering sigh and he looks up at you, licking a long stripe over your breast and placing wet kisses along the top

“Just so you know, Fanark is my safe word” 

You snort and look away from him, giggling into the pillow 

“You mean like from Garfield and friends??” 

“That’s exactly it” he laughs into your chest and lets your wrists go, your hands immediately find their way to his hair, tugging him up to your face. He pulls the boxers you’re wearing down some and smirks at your cute matching set.

“You’re such an idiot” You giggle as you kiss him, he grinds against you again and you both moan against each other's lips 

“Says the idiot who understood the reference” 

Sex in Buck’s bed is a complete no-go and that’s something you both know because honestly, it would probably be so awkward when he came home… but it’s so tempting, the tension rising tenfold between the two of you.

Though you both agree you’re not ready for that step, Eddie keeps rolling his hips against yours as you make out and you’re not stopping him. 

“It’s just messing around” He mumbles as he kisses your neck and you breathlessly agree with him. You feel his hard cock straining through his underwear, the size of him alone is enough to soak your panties. He toys with them a little before pulling them to the side and grinding on your clit like that. 

“Fuck, What I wouldn’t do for just the tip” He pants and you nod along, agreeing with him again… just the tip… that’s as far as you two would go…. 

Your hands slide over his shoulders and you drag your nails over his back, his hips stutter for a second and he thrusts against you this time, his hips snapping into yours a couple of times. 

“D-do that again” His voice sounds soft and broken and it’s hot. You do as he asks, whimpering his name while digging your nails in a little harder this time, he moans into your neck and you feel him start to pull his boxers down…

Suddenly the front door starts to unlock and you two jump apart. He gets up from the bed and slides down the railing, he’s in the bathroom before Buck even gets the door fully open and you’re left there, laid out on the bed wondering how the hell he moved that fast. 

“I’m home! Eddie are you here??” 

You rush to fix yourself and the bed up, setting everything up to hide any evidence of what you were doing 

“Just in the bathroom!” You hear him call out as you’re fighting your bra back in the proper place 

“Oh, Cousinkins” Buck says in a singsong voice and you come to the top of the stairs 

“Hi! What’s up?” You try to act as nonchalant as possible, watching Buck go into the kitchen and start getting ingredients for a smoothie. 

“I’ve got to go do a few errands, you and Eddie wanna join me? Or are you cool hanging here with him”

“We can just hang here, hey why don’t you bring home pizza, I’ll spend the night” Eddie walks out of the bathroom, answering for you.

“That sounds fun! What were you guys doing?” 

“Just animal crossing… he literally only just got here about 15 minutes ago,” you say, coming down the stairs and walking past Eddie, he watches as you walk, biting his lip at the sway of your hips. Buck flips him off as you’re bent over in the fridge and Eddie rolls his eyes playfully. 

“You seem… winded” He says to Eddie, who just shrugs in return 

“He literally ran downstairs to go to the bathroom” you pull out extra smoothie stuff for yourself before dumping Buck’s in a reusable cup and putting the lid on 

“Well don’t you two just have all the answers” he eyes you suspiciously and takes the cup, watching you wash out the blender and start your smoothie 

“You sound so suspicious” You giggle as he grabs his keys off the table, his eyes narrowed as he makes a little I’m watching you motion with his hand and leaves again. 

“Well that was freaking close” Eddie sighs loudly as he goes back up to the bed.

“Too close” you watch him walk up the stairs, staring at his ass and biting your lip. 

“Besides our first time needs to be at my house, in my bed” he teases you, practically already planning exactly how it’s gonna go. His phone pings from the bedside table and he picks it up

His head falls back as he busts out laughing, Buck has sent him a link to a new bed set and a picture from the cameras in his house that just capture Eddie on top of something from the corner of the room. 

Neither of them tell you, and the bedding comes a couple days later. 

Bobby receives a text later that night, a picture of you and Buck asleep on the couch together. He smiles and shakes his head at the two of you passed out. A couple of minutes later another text pops up and all it says is 

“I’m sorry, Dad”

[roanofarcc]

A Demi-God's Loyalty

Requested!

percy jackson & annabeth chase

percy jackson TV series episode 5: the missing scene of percy and annabeth walking back to the diner.

***

Ares’s shield was heavy, but Annabeth held onto it tightly in an attempt to stop her hands from shaking. Her clothes were still damp from her and Percy’s unplanned swim in Hephaestus’s Thrill Ride of Love, or whatever. 

The two Half-Bloods hadn’t spoken a word to each other since Percy was freed from his golden statue form and they booked it out of the tunnel with Ares’s shield in hand. Annabeth wasn’t sure what she was supposed to say. A part of her wanted to punch Percy for being so stupid, again.

First, he pushed her down the stairs at the St. Louis Arch to fight the Chimera alone, and then he sat on the golden throne trap so she could retrieve the shield. He could have died twice and he hardly seemed bothered by it. He would have died twice, and what for? Her? No way. 

Annabeth had dreamed of a quest forever. She wanted to leave camp and prove that she was a warrior to her mother, Athena. Before Percy’s quest, Annabeth would have done anything to please to Gods and prove that she deserved their praise. Then, the son of Poseidon showed up, and despite their differences, he risked his life to protect her and Gover. Sure, he wanted to complete the quest and prevent a Godly war, but he didn’t fight the Chimera or sit on the throne to please the Gods; Percy did those things because he was good. Percy was also different. He was stupid and reckless, but he was good and different from anyone Annabeth had met before. 

On the other hand, because of his infuriating self-sacrifice twice in a row, she wanted to hug him again. Maybe she’d hug him and then punch him, or vice-versa. 

“Do you want me to carry it for a while?” Percy asked, breaking the silence. 

Annabeth tightened her grip on the shield and shook her head. “I’ve got it.” The thing was nearly the size of her and heavy, but she needed her hands occupied and something to pull at least some of her focus so it wasn’t all on the blonde-haired boy beside her. 

Percy didn’t argue. He was still probably in shock from turning into a statute. His clothes were damp as well and his whole body shook slightly. At least he didn’t look as bad as when he was poisoned, but Annabeth was a little concerned that something was wrong. 

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“I mean, I’m a little hungry but-” 

“Percy,” she snapped, tossing him a glare that veiled some of her concern. 

He ran a hand through his wet curls, pushing them back from his forehead. “Oh, you mean from the whole turning-into-gold thing?” She nodded and rolled her eyes. “Totally! After falling from the arch, that was nothing.” Percy’s tone was light, and it was clear that he was trying to ease the mood, but it made Annabeth feel worse. She stopped walking in the middle of the empty road and turned to him, with most of her body hidden behind Ares’s shield. 

“We’ve gotta get back to Grover-” Percy started, but she cut him off.

“You’re wrong,” she said, simply. “I’m not better at this than you.” 

Percy let out a deep sigh, his shoulders slumping with it. “Annabeth-” 

“No. You’re wrong. And…” she hesitated, resting the heavy shield against the ground before she looked Percy right in his bright blue eyes. “And as your friend, I’m not gonna let you do something like that again. You’re going to retrieve the Master Bolt from Hades and get your mother back. I’ll make sure of it. No more sacrifices, got it? If we’re doing this, we’re doing it together, all of us.” A passion filled her voice so strong she startled herself -her emotions still ran high from watching Percy nearly be trapped forever as a statute- but she meant every word she said. 

Percy looked slightly relieved and slightly surprised at the same time. “So…we are friends?” 

Annabeth rolled her eyes again and resumed walking toward the diner. Percy grabbed a hold of her shoulder and forced her to stop. “What I mean is, I don’t care what the Oracle said. I want to be your friend. If you were going to betray me, you would have left me in that ride and taken the shield without a second thought. But you didn’t; you saved me from being some creepy statue for the rest of eternity. Thanks for that, by the way.” 

“I didn’t really get you out,” Annabeth confessed, shifting her gaze at the road under their feet. “I told Hephaestus the truth and he undid his trap.” 

“The truth about what?” 

A small smile tugged on Annabeth’s lips. “Maybe one day I’ll tell you, Seaweed brain.” They began walking again, side by side through the cool night toward the faint glow of the diner in the distance. 

“Seaweed brain,” Percy repeated the nickname. “That’s not gonna stick is it?” 

“We’ll see.” 

They continued to walk, and Annabeth found a new goal to aim for. She didn’t want to beg and grovel for her mother’s affection, not after Athena tried to kill her and her friends inside the arch. Annabeth still respected her mother, there was no way she could shake that childly ache to be noticed by a parent, but her loyalties began to shift. If getting her mother’s praise was impossible, then she’d do something more tangible for a demi-god. Annabeth Chase would follow Percy Jackson. She doubted she’d be able to stop him from doing anything else stupid, but she’d be there to either help him do the stupid thing or get him out of it. 

She could almost hear the gods, monsters, giants, titans, and her fellow half-bloods laughing at her. A child of Athena silently pledging her loyalties to a son of Poseidon; it was comical, but Annabeth was dead serious. If Percy was going to shove her down the stairs and sit on a godly trap, then Annabeth was going to be there to fight or fall with him, yell at the gods on his behalf, and fight tooth and nail to make sure they all get back to camp alive. It was a foolish plan, but if there was one thing Annabeth was good at, it was executing a plan to perfection. 

[midnightcreator12]

And We'll Keep Marching On Chapter 5 - Healing One Step at a Time

AO3 Link

(We got through Round 1 of the @tmntaucompetition so guess what's coming out early this week!)

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

Donnie had been in high hopes when he took Leo his meal. Leo had actually woken up! Sure, he’d been groggy and had flipped out for a little but they sorted that out! And yes, Leo was still hurt, but the fact he had managed to stay awake was huge and an excellent sign that he would pull through.

It took less than ten seconds for that hope to waver again.

Because when he’d stepped into the bedroom, food in hand, Raph had tried to shake Leo awake.

And Leo did wake up. With a hard startle and a hiss.

It made both Donnie and Raph jump in surprise.

“You said he’d be fine,” Raph hissed before whipping his head back towards Leo. “Hey, hey, it’s okay. It’s us, remember?”

Leo hissed again, arms stiffly moving and pushing at the bed, moving himself backwards.

Donnie jerked forward but Raph was closer and quicker. He caught Leo’s shell, stopping him from rolling off the bed. He opened his mouth to speak again but paused.

Donnie stared as Raph, instead of trying to talk to Leo again, started to churr.

And like before, the sound immediately made Leo pause. His head tilted, brow unfurrowing and features smoothing out as he listened to Raph’s churr.

Leo made an answering chip, wiggling until he was close to Raph again. He churred, the sound low in his chest, as he pressed his beak to Raph’s chest.

Donnie slowly turned to stare at Raph, mouthing, “What just happened?”

Raph shrugged but didn’t stop churring.

And Donnie could just stare at the scene because…Leo should be fine now. Some confusion and falling back on the turtle part of their brains was expected when he first woke up, Donnie theorized he’d fallen into some kind of mutant brumation and that was why he’d been so cold until they’d put him in the tub and that was quite a massive oversight on his own part, he should have factored in possible complications from their turtle genetics-

But Leo shouldn’t be confused anymore. He was fine, why had he still freaked out again? It didn’t make-

Unless the damage to his head was worse. He’d completely missed his knee injury, hadn’t even considered why he hadn’t started warming up sooner. He could have missed something else, a brain bleed or some form of regressive amnesia-

“Donnie.”

Raph’s voice snapped him out of his spiral. His head snapped up and he blinked hard. Raph was tilting his head very poignantly at the bowl of oatmeal he’d brought and Leo had his gaze fixed on it, eyes wide and unblinking.

Right, confusion or not, Leo would definitely be hungry.

Donnie started to approach but he stopped again when Leo’s eyes narrowed, second eyelids sliding down and beak scrunching as he bared his teeth.

Raph squeezed Leo’s shoulders, “I think he doesn’t know it’s you.”

“Why wouldn’t he know me?” Donnie whispered. 

“I don’t know, you’re the brain-y guy,” Raph muttered back, pausing to churr again. “But the turtle stuff seems to be the only thing he gets so just…just deal with it, okay?”

Donnie swallowed, feeling a pit open in his gut.

But…he also needed to check Leo over, find what he’d missed because he’d been too wrapped up in his own stupid head-

He was a little horrified with himself, how easy it was to start making the in-human sounds again. But when his whistling churr rumbled up his throat, Leo instantly calmed, eye going wide and blue again.

Donnie settled himself on the edge of the bed, now unsure of how to proceed.

Raph helped him a little on that, adjusting Leo to be leaning on one arm while he used the other to take the oatmeal from Donnie. He chirped, balancing the bowl on his leg before holding a spoonful up to Leo.

Donnie sat and watched as Leo ate, teeth snapping around the spoon as quickly as Raph got him more, “Don’t go too fast, he hasn’t eaten in a week.”

“I got ‘em,” Raph muttered back.

Donnie nodded, resigning himself to wait to examine Leo until he was done eating.

And mentally added research on brain injuries and head trauma to his list of tasks.

—--------------------------

As it turned out, chirping and churring at Leo were the only reliable ways to keep Leo calm. And anyone who couldn’t make said sounds was treated with extreme suspicion and would be hissed and growled at unless accompanied by someone who could make turtle vocalizations.

And Donnie hated every in-human sound that came out of his mouth. Not because it felt unnatural or anything…actually, the fact he was still able to make all those turtle-esk vocalizations and it had taken so little for his vocal cords to adapt made him feel worse.

Because normal people didn’t chirp and churr, they didn’t hiss or have deep growls or…anything like what Donatello and his brothers could do. And the fact that April, Casey, and this new girl had all seen and heard the odd vocalizations made something unpleasant squirm in Donnie’s stomach.

But between his personal discomfort and making sure Leo didn’t flip out and hurt himself or someone else…Donnie could put up with his own hang-ups. Even if it made his skin crawl and his mind to start spinning, a tiny voice telling him to use your words, use your words-

“So, how come we’ve never heard you make all those noises before?”

And put up with stupid questions via the local affront to nature and science, Casey Jones.

But honestly, considering it had been two days since Leo first woke up, Donnie was a little surprised the question hadn’t come sooner.

Both of them were in the barn. Donnie had been set up in the house but, between the seven of them, plus the two pets, there was hardly the space for a lab without posing a hazard. And since he needed space to work on a brace for Leo and do research uninterrupted, he’d happily taken the barn as his domain.

Sadly, Casey had taken an interest in the old truck stored in the barn and had leaped at the chance to fix it up. So while Donnie built Leo’s knee brace and things to fix up the house, Casey clanged away on the truck. They hadn’t talked for the first few days but, well, you share a space with someone long enough, conversation was inevitable.

And today, Casey's topic of choice seemed to be the Hamato’s inhuman vocalizations.

Donnie sighed, lowering his head and hunching his shoulders, knowing that just telling Casey to go away would result in more pestering, “We grew out of it, but, from my research I’ve surmised that Leo is suffering from some form of TBI, which is causing confusion, and likely messing with his vision and concentration, which is why he’s mentally fallen back on the most simple form of communication possible. It’s no different than a human babbling nonsense after having severe head injuries. Ergo, we are making an exception.”

“Really?” Casey said. “Because I’m pretty sure I’ve heard Mikey trill a few times before.”

“Mikey will still do a few when he’s excited,” Donnie explained. “But that’s a Mikey thing only.”

“And Raph growls sound like a dog more than a human growling.”

Donnie’s jaw started to tick, “Our vocal cords are vastly different from a human's, I hardly think it’s fair to compare something like growling, especially since you seem fond of doing the same.”

“Yeah, but like, why don’t you ever make any turtle-y sounds? I think the only time I hear you make any is when you wake up Leo for food and check-ups.”

“Like I said, we grew out of it. I happened to be the first of us who stopped.”

“‘Kay,” Casey was quiet for a few moments. “Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why’d you stop?”

Donnie sighed, “What part of ‘we grew out of it’ was unclear? I knew you were a few brain cells short of a fully functioning cerebrum but I thought you understood simple sentences.”

“Screw you dude! I’m just tryin’ to bond!”

“By prying into my business?”

Casey shrugged, abandoning the truck to lean on Donnie’s workbench, “Okay, fine, keep your secrets. You still making that cast for Leo?”

“Yes I am still working on it,” Donnie perked up a little, happy to switch to something else, especially something he was building. “I have done extensive research and the best arrangement is to have Leo wear a nonfunctional hinge brace until the fracture and tears heal and then do physical therapy with a functional hinge brace and then to a compression brace when he’s built up enough strength. The challenge is going to be making him keep the first one on.”

“Isn’t he, like, all on top of the rest of you about getting rest when you’re hurt?”

“Yes. And he is the embodiment of ‘do as I say, not as I do’.” Donnie huffed as he secured a leather strap into place. “As morbid as it sounds, I’m hoping the physical weakness and pain he’s currently experiencing will last long enough for his knee to heal more than the bare minimum.”

“Dude,” Casey hissed out. “That’s a really messed up thing to say.”

“That’s what ‘morbid’ means lame-brain.”

“Whatever man. I’m just glad he actually woke up. Even if he’s being all bitey and feral.”

The statement was said flipantly but it still made Donnie cringe. Because, while it would be very helpful for Leo to be too out of it to hurt himself by pushing too far too fast, watching Leo be out of it was…not fun.

Even when they were kids, Leo had always seemed like an unmovable fortress. Sure, he had moments of anxiousness and he was a complete space geek but despite those things, Donnie had never even dreamed Leo could ever get knocked down for long, much less…to the current point he was at. Barely able to move, unable to do anything for himself, hurt so bad that he couldn’t even comprehend words-

While Leo was able to be roused for food and water, and on occasion he’d randomly manage to wake himself up. But he hadn’t managed to stay awake for very long. It was clear he was trying to, sometimes pretty much holding up his own head in an attempt to stay awake. But whether it was Leo’s injuries or the cold weather conditions, he was unable to keep himself awake longer than a few minutes at a time.

Donnie frowned and mentally bumped ‘fix the heating’ higher on his priority list. He hadn’t fully taken into account how Leo would fare when the temperature dropped even more but, with the possibility of his short coma being a form of brumation, the last this he wanted or needed was his brother slipping into another one. Doing so while injured or sick was dangerous for normal turtles and that was even without all the added complications of being a mutant-

Or maybe the cold was affecting Leo already? Donnie wondered if Leo’s new affinity for churrs and chirps were because he was slipping into a more turtle-like mindset. Could their brains do that if they were cold enough? Revert into a more animal-like mindset? Perhaso he had misdiagnosed Leo? Scrap’s scanners weren’t refined enough to positively identify traumatic brain injury. Had he made another mistake? Should he be focusing more on warming the house before the weather was well and truly into winter-?

Casey’s fingers snapped in his face, “Yo, Earth to Dumb-a-tello!”

Donnie glared at Casey, “I’m busy.”

“You’ve been staring into the void for, like, ten minutes bro.”

Donnie sighed through his nose and bent back over the workbench, “Don’t you have a car to tear apart?”

“Hey! This baby is gonna be the baddest ride from here to Mexico!”

“Uh-huh,” Donnie muttered. “If it doesn’t explode first.”

“Screw you man!” Casey shot back, along with a wrench.

Donnie might have been offended, but he knew Casey wasn’t so much an idiot that he’d throw something at Donnie that could actually hurt him.

They both knew Donnie would just snatch it out of the air without even having to look up.

And it worked out great for him, because he just so happened to have a nut that required tightening.

—---------------

Donnie slowly edged the bedroom door open and peered inside.

Raph was on Leo duty. Again. Even after Leo woke up, Raph refused to leave his side.

Not that Donnie blamed him.

He knew Raph heard him, even if the old door hadn’t creaked Raph would have known someone was there. Donnie still moved cautiously as he approached the bed, keeping his steps light and silent.

Leo was asleep, breathing much deeper and more even now, several blankets and a quilt tucked around him almost like a nest. Donnie raised an eyeridge at that, knowing that there had been no nest the last time he’d checked on Leo.

“Mikey?” he asked.

“Mikey,” Raph confirmed.

Donnie hummed, suddenly feeling awkward.

He glanced at Raph, who was staring at the contraption clutched in Donnie’s arms, “....that looks like a death trap.”

Donnie frowned, holding out the brace he’d built. He could admit, it was very clear it had been built with spare parts that weren’t the best quality even by Donnie’s standards. In the city, he’d had dozens of landfills, scrap yards, chop shops and electronic store dumpsters galore.

At the farmhouse? He had piles of random junk that had been sitting in the elements for years and most of it was unusable because of rust.

So, between a lot of internet research and many hours sifting through his resources, he’d taken some old bike parts, random sheets of metal and a few belts stolen from a closet and made a hinge brace that could be adjusted to be functional and non-fuctinal.

He had wanted to make two different braces but…he simply didn’t have enough useable parts at his disposal so he’d had to improvise and hope Leo didn’t try and unlock the brace when he didn’t need to.

And while he would give himself a pat on the shell for his ingenuity and adaptiveness that would make Master Splinter proud, he could also admit the improvised parts ended up pretty…bulky.

If Leo had been aware enough to look at the brace he would have definitely balked at it.

But he was currently not aware enough. He was sleeping on his shell, expression pinched in pain despite the fact he should be blissfully oblivious to the physical world, blankets covering almost all of him except for the temporarily splinted leg propped up by pillows.

Donnie heaved a sigh and looked back to Raph, “It’s what we have and if Leo’s going to walk again, he’s gonna have to wear it.”

Raph frowned, hand moving to lay on top of Leo’s, “...I know that.”

It still kind of threw Donnie, how calm Raph had been since the first night. 

No, calm wasn’t right. He was almost…apathetic about everything but Leo’s well-being.

Donnie had hoped, with Leo being able to wake up somewhat on his own, that Raph would start being himself. He never thought he’d ever want to have a Raphael blow up but the almost detached way he drifted around the house when he did leave Leo’s room was just freaky.

It was bad enough Leo was being so unlike himself, the fact that Raph wasn’t being normal either did nothing for Donnie’s nerves. But, as Donnie moved to the bed and moved a few blankets out of the way, he quietly hoped that, with a more permanent solution for Leo’s leg, Raph would bounce back to his normal self soon.

“Do you think he’ll be able to be Leo?”

Donnie paused at the question, “Huh?”

“You said there was a chance he wouldn’t walk again,” Raph explained “If…if there’s a chance of that…Donnie, it’ll kill him if he can’t do ninjisu anymore.”

Donnie’s lips thinned as he paused in his work, fingers absently tapping against the brace.

He’d considered the possibility, of Leo having permanent damage that they couldn’t manage well enough for him to keep training and patrolling as normal. He knew how much that would devastate Leo, uprooting something that had been a part of him since Splinter had started their training…

Because he had thought about that ever since he’d seen how bad Leo’s knee injury was. He’d done hours of research about injuries before the Invasion but, when he’d seen the first scan from Scrap, he’d dived headfirst into a proverbial rabbit hole of sever joint and bone injuries.

And what it told him boiled down to a few things. Every site and paper had strongly recommended seeing a medical professional, a licensed physical therapist, pain prescriptions from actual doctors…surgery in cases of severe breaks. Because knee injuries could be tricky and trying to handle them without a doctor overseeing recovery was tricky.

But it wasn’t like they had a choice. And if Donnie didn’t do everything right…Leo would stay like this. Small and fragile and never truly be himself again

Donnie’s hand moved, touching Leo’s leg before he could think about it. The contact made the muscles jump and Leo shifted, letting out a breathy hiss. Donnie drew away quickly, mentally slapping himself for forgetting that they couldn’t just touch Leo without warning.

Luckily, Raph was quick to compensate, hunching down and letting out a long, low churr that spoke of safety. It calmed Leo instantly, smoothed out some of the tension on the oldest’s face as his head tilted towards the sound. His eyes cracked open for a moment as he gave an answering churr, much weaker and airier than Raph’s but echoing the message that he was okay.

Donnie waited until Leo’s eyes fell shut again before reaching out again, letting Raph keep Leo calm while he worked. 

He was quiet as he fixed the brace into place, not uttering a word in reply to Raph until he was tightening the last strap, “That is going to depend heavily on Leo's cooperation with my medical advice. If we’re careful and don’t push too hard too fast, he should be able to get back to his normal amount of physical activity with the help of a compression brace and possibly pain medication.”

Raph’s eyes narrowed, beak scrunching, “We don’t exactly have a lot of time here.”

“I know,” Donnie sighed again, lowering himself to the floor and leaning against the bed. “But what other choice do we really have? We know trying to go in with any missing members of our team is idiotic. And if we rush Leo’s recovery then…we will permanently be down a member.”

“But the longer we stay here, the more the Kraang take over. And when they decide to expand outta the city?”

Donnie nodded, “There’s been…very little news about what’s going on. From what I can find, any unmutated humans were evacuated and the military has set up a barricade.”

“And how much time do you think that’s going to get us?”

Donnie hesitated, “...I have no idea.”

Raph let out a frustrated huff, “Too risky to go back, too risky to stay…maybe Mikey’s new friend has secret Kraang intel of how well they're doing against the military.”

Donnie started to say that that was unlikely but paused. Technically, he’d never asked Raven about Kraang stuff, far too busy focusing on getting the house functional and keeping Leo stable. He’d been more than happy to let Mikey give them everything he learned about Raven, seeing as how he pretty much gave a play-by-play of everything the two of them did to anyone who would listen.

But Donnie couldn’t recall Mikey ever mentioning her aforementioned ‘imprisonment’ beyond the minor breakdown Raven had had when she’d burned the white scrubs she had been wearing. And Raven had certainly not volunteered anything beyond the brief explanation she’d given Donnie on the first day.

Almost two weeks and all Donnie really knew was that she’d been with the Kraang for a length of unknown time and had escaped to the farmhouse shortly before they had arrived.

That was…probably something he should have addressed sooner.

“She has a robot,” Donnie muttered to himself absently. “If she had it with her when she was in a Kraang prison…if it was me, I would at least try to upload some intel onto the bot.”

“You think she might’ve?”

“No idea,” Donnie sighed. “And I’m not sure if she’d hand over any intel if she did have it. We haven’t really given her incentive to work with us.”

Raph hummed, hunching over to rest his head against the headboard, “...she likes Mikey.”

“Mikey enthusiastically drags her around the property. There is a very high chance she just tolerates him to stay on our good side.”

“Why would she care about that?”

Donnie paused, thinking back to that first day when he told Raven that she couldn’t leave, “...she asked if we were going to kill her to keep her quiet.”

Raph startled, eyes going wide and jaw dropping a bit, “...okay, wow, that’s a bit of a leap.”

“Yeah, well, one thing I’ve picked up is that she’s weird.”

“That checks out,” Raph dropped his head again, sliding further down until his head was on the pillow next to Leo’s, “She keeps calling the TV a ‘holoprojector’ and Mikey’s shows ‘holodramas’.”

“I heard her call my notepad a ‘flimsi-pad’. And I’ve heard her call Mikey’s shell-cell a ‘data transmitter’. She talks like the guys in Space Heroes.”

“You think she’s a fan?” Raph moved a hand to lightly nudge Leo. “Hear that? You better stay up next time and you can nerd out with her.”

“Or she spent a number of years on a Kraang ship and it affected her vocabulary.”

“Wouldn’t that mean she’d be talking like ‘the ones know as the turtles-’....No, I can’t finish that…god that was bad.”

Donnie huffed, head thumping back into the mattress, “Yeah…too soon bro.”

And it didn’t feel right when Raph did the dumb impression. It was funnier when Leo did it.

The floorboards in the hallway creaked and Donnie lifted his head.

Baby blue eyes peered back at him through the door.

“Hey Mikey,” Raph mumbled, not even turning his head.

“You’re getting scarily good at that,” Mikey said as he stepped into the room. “You’re almost as good as-”

The ‘as Leo’ hung heavily in the air.

Mikey cleared his throat, crossing the rest of the way to the bed. Donnie started to protest when Mikey climbed up, but Raph shot him a glare that clearly said ‘shut it’.

So Donnie bit his tongue and watched. He was surprised to see an unusual carefulness from Mikey as he settled in the nest of blankets with Leo, mindful of the still-healing injuries. He spared a glance at the brace before saying, “Leo’s gonna hate that when he wakes up.”

“He probably won’t notice,” Donnie let his head fall back again. “He barely notices anything that doesn’t move or is food.”

“He’ll notice that thing, trust me dude.”

“Why is everyone judging my stuff? I did the best I could with what I had and I wasn’t going to use rusty parts and give Leo tinnitus on top of everything-”

“Hey,” Raph’s gruff voice interrupted. “You did good Donnie. Leo’ll be back up and running in no time.”

Donnie huffed but let his tangent drop.

Instead, he turned so that he was leaning over the bed and could place a hand on Leo’s leg, right above the brace.

Mikey shifted in the blanket nest, snuggling closer to Leo and letting out a long, comforting churr. Leo responded to it, giving his own, raspy churr in reply. He wasn’t awake but he still managed to respond whenever one of them made the turtle sounds close to him.

After a few moments, a third rumbled joined. Raph’s churr was deep, the sound reminiscent of an engine slowly coming to life and filling the room.

Donnie listened to the sounds, shoulders slowly relaxing.

He’d forgotten how comforting it was. Just sitting and hearing the low purring sounds from his brothers. It was like a massive weighted blanket that tucked them all away from the outside world.

Maybe that was why Leo responded to them? Because it put him in a comforting and safe headspace? Perhaps he hadn’t mentally regressed in any way and was simply having issues processing complex input.

Donnie was going to have to do more research.

But…he didn’t want to move.

Slowly, reluctantly, Donnie added his own voice to his brothers. His churr was pitched higher than Raph’s and Leo’s but a few octaves lower than Mikey's, and the gap in his teeth also added a slight whistle to it that slipped out every few seconds.

Mikey head peeked up at the sound, smile stretching wider at Donnie for a moment before he settled back down. Raph didn’t move but Donnie saw the corner of his mouth turn up slightly and his eyes close, purr growing slightly louder.

Donnie huffed and closed his eyes.

The four brothers spent their afternoon like that, curled around their big brother and comforting one another like when they were just tots again, snuggled together in a pocket of warmth in the sewers of New York.

It almost felt like they were home, safe in their own Lair. No Kraang or Shredder, Master Splinter in the other room meditating or making tea-

Donnie’s churr jumped slightly and her wormed his way closer to Leo, almost enough that he could hug Leo’s leg if the brace wasn’t in the way. He didn’t want to shatter the little illusion he’d made for himself by pressing too much of his skin against the metal.

The churr jumped again, turning into a small whine.

Raph’s rumble grew louder in response, drowning out everything else except the turtle pile of brothers.

[eeunoia]

ENHYPEN Mini Series

E N H Y P E N in an Apocalypse

part one

pairings: park sunghoon x reader

summary: you got stuck in the outbreak with the person you hate the most, park sunghoon.

short background: before the outbreak happened, the spread of the infection happened when one of the student went to the science laboratory and got bitten by an infected animal.

THIS SERIES ARE INSPIRED BY THE SERIES: ALL OF US ARE DEAD.

warnings: blood, violence, abuse and everything about a zombie apocalypse.

word count: 8k

note📎: Hi I just want to give you heads up that some scenes may be similar from the series. I give full credits to them! I hope you guys liked it! it really means a lot to me whenever you let me know what you think about them, re-blogs and comments are well appreciated. btw, i love you guys and thank you for supporting me up until now. have a nice day/night! 🤍

permanent tag-list: @rubyanne @en-sun @studioreader @map-of-border @hwangjangmi @crjwon @love13tter @kako-chan @classicroyalty @angel-hyuckie @jun-malone @ncityy04 @bridgebridgebirdiebridge @fearlesskz @abdiitcryy @hime98 @moonsclover @hoonstrology @ddeonubaby @yeoungie @acciomylove @mymeloem19 @jvngw0n @dreamyenskz @minamoons @clar-iii @notmyselfbuttrying @herasalvatore @nyfwyeonjun @rcveribin @yizhoutv @person-standing @black-bread1230 @one16core @sleepyenhasasha @soobin-chois @rcveribin @kyutiepeachy @chareadingpurposes @hwalllllllelujah @solelyenha @90sni-ki @nourhan-8 @nyfwyeonjun @nikipedia07 @yangbreads @drunkjazed @kimmchijjajang @hoonbrry @axartia @all4haru @hiqhkey @sta-rie @niinjo @ssomsworld @purplepuppychild @iceeee​ @wtfhyuck​ @tobiosbbyghorl​ @edensgardenn​ @nikililmj​ @ayayiiie​ @moonlightisland​ (still working on my tag-list)

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© 2022 eeunoia — all rights reserved.

“Is my Dad downstairs?” your tone sounded lifeless as you asked that to one of your helpers and she just nodded her head at you.

“Yes, miss. He’s waiting for you to eat breakfast together.” you felt your heart fell at her answer.

This is your everyday routine. Your Father waits for you to have your meals with him, like as if your family is still whole, happy and perfect.

When he knew so well it isn’t... and it was all his fault.

You just hate him so much. All these bullshits that were happening to your life, you believe it was his fault. You hate him. But most of all, you’re scared of him.

You gulped and ran your hand over your skirt to flatten them a bit. Your fingers fidgeting in a nervous manner. You heaved a sigh before you try to gather all your courage to face him again. Every day, it’s always been like this.

“You’re 5 minutes late, y/n.” were the first words your father said when you entered the dining area.

You refused to look at him and just went straight to your chair. “S-Sorry, Father.” you mumbled, voice shaking a bit. Just by hearing his voice, you’re already terrified. He sounded so strict and intimidating.

He didn’t say another word and just watches how you lower your head, keeping your eyes fixed at your plate. The helpers around you started to serve food while you stay silent. You’re sure that his eyes are watching you from time to time but still, you refuse to make eye contact. The atmosphere was heavy, something inappropriate for breakfast.

As you start to eat breakfast, its very hard to swallow your food. The longer you stay in a room with your father, the more you feel suffocated. The dining area in your mansion sure is spacious but still you feel like it’s not enough. You wanted to be away from him as soon as possible.

“I heard your grades went down this grading.” he wasn’t asking, he was stating it. You hitched your breath for a while as your hand halted holding your spoon towards your mouth. It stopped mid air at the sudden question.

You gulped before calming yourself to answer your father properly. Slowly you lowered your shaking hand, “I’m s-sorry.” were the only words that came out from your lips.

His fierce and serious eyes settled at your direction. He looked at you with no remorse over his eyes, for you he doesn’t see you as his daughter but a puppet. A puppet that he can easily take control off. A puppet that he can hurt and won’t say a word about it. A puppet that can’t fight back. That’s you for him.

“Sorry? That’s not enough, y/n. Do you think I let you live with all these privileges just for you to fail like this?” his tone were calm but still you can’t help but to feel really intimidated by it.

You sighed continuously trying to calm down to prevent yourself from crying because you know how your father feel about crying. For him, shedding tears are sign of weakness. And he have no space for that. He hates whenever he see weakness towards someone.

You didn’t respond to what he said and just lowered your head even more. You bit your lip because it was shaking so much. Your hands rested over your lap and you fidget over it to divert your attention away from your father.

When he didn’t hear anything from you he heaved a disappointed sigh before you heard him continuing his meal. “I will talk to your professors to give you projects for extra credits so you can pull your grades up.” he said and you didn’t say anything or complained about it.

It’s not like you can do something about it. Once your father made his decision, you can’t do something to change it. His words are certain and firm. It is what it is.

The breakfast lasted for only twenty minutes, but you felt like it was hours long. When both of you went out of the mansion both of your vehicles are waiting just in front. He glanced at your direction, “Don’t disappoint me even more.” he seriously said before he went inside his car first.

You stood there and bowed a little while you watch his car drove off. When he finally left, the tears that you were stopping ever since you came down your room started to stream down. The helpers around you didn’t even bother to stop you or console you because it was almost a normal scene for them already.

You wiped them off and went inside the car. Your driver quickly went inside as well so he can start to drive towards the school. The whole drive, you were just silently looking out the window.

Other people may think that you have everything in the world. You’re pretty, came from a wealthy family, you’re smart and have talents. Well, that’s just what you show but there’s so much more to your life that you masked out so nobody else would see.

When your family car pulled over the school’s parking lot, your driver were saying something to you but you ignored it and just went out from the vehicle. You’re just in time and even have a little bit more time left before your first class. You started walking towards your building, chin raised and your resting bitch face greeting everyone who looks at you.

You rolled your eyes at everyone who met eyes with you. You don’t care if they got offended or what, if they’re old students, they'll probably used to it already. The hallways of the school are starting to get crowded but you don’t mind. You just went straight to the lockers area to go get some of your staff.

You can’t help but to roll your eyes when you remembered your Father’s words. Extra credits? Like as if all the schoolworks you have right now are not enough. But who are you to complain right? He won’t even listen to you so you’ll just waste time and energy if you try to argue with him. Besides, you don’t want to anger him again because he might hurt--

You yelped when someone suddenly bumped into you causing for you to trip down over the floor. Some of your textbooks fell out from your locker. You cursed at the pain you felt by your left wrist since you used that to support your weight when you fell.

“Oops, I’m sorry.” your eyes darted over to (random name) when you heard her unsincere apology. She’s standing a few feet away from you and flashing her smirk at you. She was the one who bumped to you.

Some students near you stopped what they were doing just to go watch what’s going on. Some that were passing by, slowed down to check it out too.

You rolled your eyes and stood up right away. You held your head high while staring straight at (random name)’s face. You smirked and walked closer to her before you pushed her with all your strength. The crowd gasps in shock at your sudden move. They all know you are pretty bitchy but they still get surprised whenever you pull things like this.

You tilted your head and crossed your arm at her that was glaring over you while sitting by the floor. “Oops, sorry not sorry.” you said full of sarcasm before you rolled your eyes then went to gather your things that were scattered all over the floor.

While you’re busy with that, you failed to notice that (random name) came closer to you and attacked you by pulling your hair. You shrieked in pain and lets go of your things to pull her hair as well. The people around have mixed reactions, some were worried, some even cheered and some doesn’t care at all.

“I hate you, you bitch!” she said while hardly pulling your hair and you grunted in pain but didn’t just let her get her way.

You pursed your lips and pulled harder. Satisfaction dawned you at the sound of her cries. You suddenly got separated when a strong arm snaked over your waist to pull you off from her.

When you looked over your shoulder to see who it was, you almost cursed him continuous. “Let go of me!” you screamed at him that made him close his eyes a bit, feeling his eardrums shaking at the loud sound. You wiggled over his hold but he was just too strong.

“Stop moving, fuck.” he murmured and even tighten his hold. He pulled you away from (random name) making sure you won’t be in reach of each other.

You shoved away some of your hair that was on your face when Sunghoon finally lets go of you. He stood in front of you, covering any view of her from you. With glaring eyes, you stared right at his smirking handsome face. You didn’t let it affect you.

“Fuck off! Mind your own business.” you seriously told him but he didn’t say anything that pissed you more.

“Ms. Lee and Ms. (l/n)! What is this? Monday morning and this is what will greet us?” your disciplinary coordinator suddenly pops into the picture and you couldn’t help but to start calming down.

Your Father just warned you that you shouldn’t make him disappointed. You’re sure a Monday cat fight won’t sound too pleasing for him.

Jungwon, the student council president was there as well, trying to talk to the disciplinary coordinator. Probably about your punishments but you couldn’t care less. You noticed that Jake was the one to hold (random name) back from you.

When your eyes met her, you smirked and raised your middle finger at her. Sunghoon snickered a laugh before grabbing your wrist to forcedly lower it. Your eyes shifted to him once again as you try to free your arm.

“Don’t touch me, Park.” your tone was so serious before you shove off his hold. Something flickered over his eyes when you did that but it was quickly covered by a teasing smile that annoyed you.

“You think I want to? I was just helping my friend. You’re such a pain in the ass, (l/n).” he said and leaned over the lockers behind him. He crossed his arms at you and you looked away because you felt your heart racing again.

You don’t know but whenever Sunghoon stares at you, your heart races, your throat feels like it’s dry, your stomach turns and other weird feelings. Maybe because he’s good-looking and you’re feeling conscious about it.

Right. Maybe that’s it. You hate Sunghoon since day one. He’s so full of himself, people in favors him all the time, he’s talented, he’s annoying and so many more. You hate it the most whenever you catch him staring at you with that smirk showing you that fangs of him. He’s so beautiful.

You were snapped back to reality when your disciplinary coordinator called your name. Sunghoon smirked at you and teasingly told you to go there. You rolled your eyes at him before going near without fear. The first one you saw was the disappointed look over his face.

“Ms. Y/n, this is the third time this month--”

“But I didn’t started it!”

“Don’t even reason out on me.” he said disregarding what you’re pointing out.

You sighed then shrugged your shoulders off before you shut your mouth and just tried listening to whatever lecture he about to spat for the both of you. Student’s who’s still busy eyeing your direction was soon dismissed by Jungwon. They followed him as expected, afraid that they’ll get involve.

You silently thanked all the saints that you can think of when you heard the school bell ringing. He sighed as he knows to himself he have to let you go because you still have a class.

“I’ll see you both in detentions later.” he said and even looked at you with his warning look.

You didn’t even tried changing the look on your face. After he said that, you turned your back and quickly gathered your things that was still over the floor then shoved them inside your locker. You just came up with the plan of cleaning it later, you don’t want to be late for class. You already have enough trouble this morning.

You head towards your class right away. The moment you stepped inside, some heads turned at your way watching how you walk inside holding your head up high. (random name) follows after you but you didn’t even care to look back at her and just went straight to your chair. You didn’t bother looking around the room so you failed to see a pair of eyes watching you carefully.

“What happened? Are you okay?” your friend asked you after you settled down. You glanced at her direction and saw how worry reflected over her face.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” you rudely responded. You saw how she looked embarrassed and a little sad but decided not to say anything about it.

You teared your gaze away from her to stop feeling things. A part of you wanted to take it back and say sorry to her but you just chose not to. The whole school already have this image of you built inside their minds and that is you are nothing but a rude, spoiled bitch. People aren’t that fond of you because you are rude most of the time. It is true so you don’t even bother to defend yourself.

Your day at school passes by very slowly. Like as if the clock was ticking a bit more slower than usual. You hated it and was really bored. Your mind soon started wandering completely towards somewhere, the discussion soon long forgotten.

You just snapped back to reality when the bell rang indicating the end to your first class. You let out a sigh and just leaned over your table. As the room started to be filled with your classmates chatting and goofing around, you shut your eyes trying to shut the whole world out. You were at peace for maybe ten good minutes when someone suddenly kicked your desk hardly causing for you to jolt.

You got up and furrowed your brows hardly, searching for the culprit. (random name)’s face was the first one to greet you. She have this annoying smirk over her face. A scratch is visible by her left cheek, probably from you.

“The fuck is your problem?” you raised an eyebrow at her and made sure she can hear your impatient tone.

She crossed her arm in front of you, “We got detention because of you.”

You scoffed at what she told you.

“Me? It was you dumbass. You wouldn’t get yourself pushed if you didn’t bumped into me purposely.”

She looked offended when you called her dumbass and started to get fired up once again. Your classmates near you are starting to look at your direction.

“It was unintentional!” she even tried to argue.

You smirked at her, “Unintentional my ass. I might be a bitch but I’m not stupid like you.”

That’s it. She clenched her jaw then raised her hand and was about to hit you when a hand stopped her from doing so.

“J-Jungwon.” your eyes moved towards the guy who held her arm.

You rolled your eyes and crossed your arm before glancing away.

“You two already have detention after class. I’m sure you don’t want any other punishments along with it, right?” he asked and you saw how (random name)’s nodding like a scared puppy in front of your class president.

Jungwon’s strict eyes soon darted at your direction. You didn’t looked scared of him and just remained staring back.

“Right, (l/n)?” he repeated it for you.

You stared at his eyes for a while before you flashes him your sweet fake smile.

“Of course. Oh how I love following school rules.” you said all sarcastic and you’re sure you can hear someone chuckling from across the room but you didn’t even bothered checking who.

Jungwon sighed and remain looking serious at you. “Don’t go sarcastic on me. You two stop fighting with each other.”

He said and (random name) once again nodded her head to him. You rolled your eyes and just decided to lean over your table once again. This is your daily life and honestly, even if a lot of people and a lot of things annoyed you here, it’s better to be at school than to be at that house.

You shut your eyes again and slightly furrowed your brows because the light from the sun were slightly a burden but you are also too lazy to even get up and move the curtains. After a while, suddenly it disappeared. Like something blocked it or moved the curtains to cover it.

Break time and you just didn’t have the appetite so you decided not to go buy snacks. Your eyes dropped over your pen that you were playing with for a while now. Only a few students were left since most of them went out to go buy something to eat.

You slowly smirked at the sudden thought of a fun thing to do. You stood up and started walking towards (random name)’s table. When you made sure it was hers, you opened your pen and smirked before stretching your arms towards her table. You were about to start writing something when a hand stopped you from doing so.

“And what do you think are you doing?” you almost rolled your eyes at the back of your head when you heard that familiar annoying voice.

His face suddenly came at your sight when he sitted at the table you were suppose to vandalize. You clenched your jaw while staring at his handsome face. It was so much easier because you’re now almost at the same height since he was sitting down.

“None of your business so fuck off.” and you flashed a sarcastic smile over him. He didn’t budge from his position and even held your arm tighter.

He kept his stares and you started to feel those weird things once again. You tried hard to mask it out by staring at him with furrowed brows.

“Did you not hear me? Move!” you spat at him with annoyance. Some of your classmates looked at your direction but you didn’t bother looking at them. You don’t care if they saw you vandalizing or if they see Sunghoon and you at this state. You don’t fucking care about anything.

When you realized he have no intention of complying and moving off from the table. You sighed frustratedly and shoved his grip off. You succeeded and turned your back at him then started walking at the back part of your classroom.

“You’re lucky I stopped you or else another punishment for you.” you abruptly turned to face him and you saw how he’s just steps behind you.

You leaned your weight at one of your legs before you crossed your arms at him. “What? Do you want me to be thankful?”

“Do you even know how?” he fired back with that smirk of his. You quickly felt riled up because of it and with clenching jaw you glared at his annoying face.

“Fuck you!” you said and started walking away from him. Even before you can get out from your classroom, you heard his laugh and him saying something like ‘You wish’ but you just ignored about it.

“Why are you staring at me?” you raised your brows at Park Sunghoon when he suddenly asked you that question with his smug face.

You are grouped into a team school works and to your dismay, he’s on your group. You are circled up to start the discussion about it but you kind of spaced out in the middle of it and this guy, Sunghoon, decided he will be a little more assuming today and assumed that you are staring at his pretty face.

“You wish, Park Sunghoon.” you spat at him full of irritation. He just smirked that annoyed you even more. You stood up and started walking away. Your teacher asked you where you’re heading and you just quickly answered her that you need bathroom break.

Your classmates didn’t even said anything about your usual scene with Sunghoon. It was almost a routine for them. No day had passed that the two of you didn’t argued.

You and Sunghoon hates each other to bits. If there will be a human representation of tom and jerry in your school, it would be the two of you. Like you’ve said, he’s very full of himself, one reason why you hate him so much. You hate everything about him except his pretty face. He hates you too, or atleast that’s what you think. For him you’re nothing but a selfish brat who only thinks of herself.

Your day continued and you think it was pretty normal. Class discussions, small arguments with Sunghoon and people annoying you. At dismissal, you were so upset that you had to go to detention after class but there's no other choice. After detention, you were eager to leave this place right away so you didn’t waste any time and rush to fix your things.

“See you tomorrow, y/n!” your friend said. You glanced at her direction while you’re by the lockers. You quickly flashed her a small smile before waving and leaving that place immediately.

While heading towards the parking lot, you fished your phone and tried dialing your driver’s phone. Your brows furrowed in annoyance when in the third time he still hasn’t picked up yet.

“What took you so long?” your head snapped in front when you heard someone talked.

Your brows creased deeper as you stare at the person in front you. Both hands inside his pockets, damp hair, handsome face and annoying smirk. You tilted your head at your side and raised a brow at him.

“Why you here?”

He rolled his eyes before pushing the side of his cheeks using his tongue, “Didn’t your Dad inform you that we will have dinner together?” he asked you.

You pursed your lips and tried to go back at the scenes during your breakfast with your Father. You pouted unconsciously while trying so hard. It was quick to catch Sunghoon’s attention. His eyes darted at your pursed lips and gulped at the sight of it. He glanced away and cleared his throat before scratching the back of his neck.

“Why are you here then? Where’s our family driver? Can’t he take me there?” your questions were continuous.

Sunghoon sighed, not having it. He just finished hockey practice and honestly not in the mood to deal with you right now. You watch how he rudely turned his back and just head towards the side of their family car. You can see their driver already inside but you just remained standing at your position.

When he opened the door he glanced at your direction and raised a brow at you, “It’s either you get inside or you’ll commute your way there.” he deadpans with a monotone.

Your eyes grew a bit big. Commute? Public transport? Did he really think you can do it alone? You’ll be lost for God’s sake!

You hurried yourself towards their family car and to the door he opened. “I’m not getting inside because I want to ride with you. I just don’t know how to commute.” you said defensively.

Sunghoon scoffed but a smile plays over his lips before he entered the vehicle as well.

“I’m not even saying anything. Stop being defensive.” he commented that you just chose to ignore.

Along the way, you’re just facing the window to busy yourself looking outside at random views. Your mind is obviously spacing out once again so you didn’t notice how Sunghoon’s looked at you from time to time.

He was on his phone, playing, but he couldn’t help but to glance at your way. You are indeed beautiful, no one can even argue with that. But your attitude is what keeps him from being nice to you. The first time he did try, all he get from you was a rude remark. It somehow hurts his pride because he’s not used to it. After that, a war started between the two of you.

When you arrived the restaurant, you didn’t wait for Sunghoon to come out and you just opened the door beside you. The place was familiar to you because you already ate here a lot of times. As you walk in, staffs quickly greeted you that you didn’t even bothered responding too.

They soon looked behind you so you’re certain Sunghoon’s already standing close to you. You heard him greeting them back as usual but you didn’t bother looking at his direction.

You started walking towards the table reserved for your family. Even from a far, you already saw your Father and in front of him was Sunghoon’s parents. His Mom was the first one to notice you. She flashed you a wide smile that you just returned with a small smile.

“Finally. Come sit down.” his Father seemed to be happy seeing you both together.

You silently obliged and walked over the vacant chair beside your Dad. Sunghoon sat at the vacant chair at your other side. You heaved a sigh and tried calming yourself. Just by thinking that you’ll be close to your Dad makes you feel suffocated.

Sunghoon glanced at you when he saw how your expression changed a bit. His brows furrowed when he clearly saw fear flickering over your eyes but was distracted when his Mom reached over him for greetings. He flashed a smile and greeted her back. When he looked back at your direction, the emotion he saw moments ago were long gone. You are back on looking so arrogant and cold.

The dinner went smoothly. Your parents mostly do the talking. Sunghoon and you just talks whenever they ask you about things. You thought Sunghoon will be annoying and will tell your Dad about the catfight but he didn’t. He was glancing at your direction from time to time as well, you almost thought he was worried of you.

You can’t remember since when this kind of dinner started but it’s been a while and it already became a routine. Even if you hate it, you must admit you already got used to it.

After the dinner, the five of you started walking out. The three of them in front while the two of you walking behind them side by side. Both of you are silent. It wasn’t awkward at all. You’ve knew Sunghoon for quite a while now and you think even if you both argue so much, you don’t feel awkward around him anymore.

You just want to go home and went straight to your room and be all by yourself. The day is draining for you. The pressure from your Dad, your fear of him, the catfight, and the people around you. It was too much. You should be used to it already but you just can’t stop feeling tired over and over again. The worst part is, even if you get sick of it, you knew to yourself that you can’t do anything about it.

On the other hand, Sunghoon just can’t get the thought of your feared expression out of his mind. He’s not even sure if he really saw it but he just couldn’t shove it out of his head. It was bothering him.

“Hey,” he gently grabbed your wrist to catch your attention. You looked at him a bit surprised at how soft his tone was.

“Are you okay?” he asked. You are completely confused at his tone was like that and also a bit shaken up because finally, someone actually asked if you’re okay.

You stared at him and Sunghoon blushed because of it. He suddenly realized how it would probably weird for you because he’s not like this at all. He doesn’t treat you this way.

“I j-just think you’re--”

You cut his sentence off, “Don’t be weird.” you rudely told him that caught him a little off-guard. He should be used to it. He should knew you’ll respond like this but still he can’t help but to feel a little offended about it.

Here he is, trying to be nice and show you he cares but of course you have to ruin it and be rude towards him. He clenched his jaw, starting to feel annoyed because of embarrassment.

“Don’t suddenly act like you care.” you added and harshly pulled your arm away from his hold.

Sunghoon clenched his jaw and was about to say something but your Father interrupted and called out for you. Your stomach turns and heart raced when he called your name. You nodded and glanced back at Sunghoon before bowing a little. When you’re in front of his parents, you did the same thing. Sunghoon’s Mom even hugged you but you didn’t showed any emotions when she did that.

After the hug you didn’t say anything nor looked at her. You walked towards your family car and settled yourself in. You saw from the side mirror how your Dad was showing them his fake smiles before probably blubbering some nonsense excuse why I’m acting rude or coldly towards her.

Your eyes dropped at your hands that were resting at your lap. You started fidgeting with your fingers once again. The door opened and when your Father went inside, he slammed the car’s door a bit making you jolt. When you met eyes with him through the rearview mirror, the darkness of his eyes made you realize that you’ll get in serious trouble later back home. Just by thinking of it makes you scared and shake so much.

The next day, a tear left your eye as you try hard to cover up the bruise at the corner of your lips. You grunt softly when you felt it sting as you tap it light to cover it with concealer.

Last night, your Father was raging mad because of how you act in front of Sunghoon’s parents. He confronted you about it and since you feel a little pissed how he makes it such a big deal, you ended up reasoning out earning yourself a slap. Yes, you’re Father slapped you. It’s not much a surprise to you anymore because he already done it a lot of times.

You jolted when you heard a knock over your door. You sighed and stared at your reflection for a bit more before you decided to go out of your room to go to school, skipping breakfast. Your Dad left earlier a while ago to go to work. It’s already like this. Whenever he hurt you, the next morning expect that you won’t be having breakfast with him. You don’t why but you’re relieved you won’t be seeing him face to face the next day after he hurt you.

When you arrived the school, you were thankful that (random name) was not there to annoy and make a scene. You don’t know if you can deal with drama after what happened last night.

You were expecting a normal day at school so you didn’t even know what to feel while you watch one of your classmates covered with blood and accusing your science teacher. You blinked a couple of times as you can feel your breathing started to rapid. You are never good with this kind of scenes. You hated blood.

“Y/n? You okay?” your friend were quick to notice you and attended you. She did helped to calm you down which is you’re thankful for.

Sunghoon and some of your classmates helped your adviser to take Hana to the clinic. The whole class fell silent after that. No one dares to talk or anything.

You excused yourself for a quick bathroom break.

“Did you saw Hana’s face?” your brows furrowed when you heard a familiar voice talking just outside the cubicle.

“Yes. She looked so beat up.” one of them responded and even made some inaudible sound like as if she finds it disgusting.

“Yah. What if she’s sleeping with the science teacher and now he beats her up because she wanted to break up with---” she stopped talking when you flushed the toilet then they all yelled in unison when you slammed the door open of the cubicle you’re in.

They all looked at you with a surprised expression but (random name)’s face changed when she saw you. You smirked and walked towards the sink to wash your hands.

“Yah! Why are you eavesdropping?” she asked you rudely. Obviously, she was flustered to know that somebody else heard what they were talking about.

You scoffed, “I’m already here before you arrived and started talking badly about Hana. It’s not my fault you’re too stupid not to check the cubicles.”

She looked offended and was about to attack you but a teacher walks inside the bathroom. The two-faced bitch smiled and greeted her while you remained smirking. You gave her a smile before you leave them there with glaring eyes.

Even if you’re really bothered about Hana, you tried hard not to think about it too much. Ambulance arrived and somehow it made you feel at ease. Hana will be taken to a hospital and she will be treated properly there. Your class went normal after that and when the bell rang for breaktime, you went to cafeteria with your friend to get something to eat.

You didn’t have any breakfast so a quick snack sounds good for you. While having your snacks and wasting the remaining twenty minutes, you shrieked when someone ‘accidentally’ poured their drink over you.

Your friend gasps and stared at your ruined school polo. Your mouth gapped and was stunned while looking at the mess right in front of you. When you heard (random name)’s familiar chuckle, you quickly raised your head. She was mischievously smirking before she showed you a teasing face.

“Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there!” she said that obviously not true. She purposely did this to you.

You stepped forward didn’t mind your friend who’s trying to stop you. (random name) crossed her arm and waited for what you’re going to do.

You raised your right hand and was about to slap her when someone grabbed your wrist just in time. He went in between you and in front of her, shielding her from you. Sunghoon’s smirking face greeted you that only made you even annoyed. Why is he here protecting her? She started this.

“Let go of me!�� you shouted at him but like usual, he didn’t listen to you.

You clenched your jaw and kept your glaring eyes at him. He scoffed and shake his head from side to side like he’s disappointed at you or something. You were about to talk but he suddenly started pulling you towards somewhere.

You tried freeing yourself but it was no use, he was too strong for you. Sunghoon was just silent the whole time he continues dragging you. The people around were looking at your direction with curious eyes.

“Wait what the fuck? Why are you pulling me inside your shower room?” you panicked a bit but you tried to remain calm.

He sighed, probably starting to get annoyed with you. “Can you just shut up?”

You were offended at what he just said but you did shut your mouth. The boy’s shower room was vacant and it’s only the two of you now inside. He lets go of your arm before he head towards a locker. You assumed it was his.

While he was busy rummaging over his stuff, you stared down at your ruined uniform and groaned in annoyance. Now, you feel a little sticky everywhere. You don’t even know what drink she poured over you.

“Here.” you raised your head and met with Sunghoon handing you over some polo. You pouted and glared at him.

“Just because you’re bound to marry me someday out of business, doesn’t mean you have to be involved with me every time.” you spat at him.

Sunghoon was silent and just stared at you. It’s been months ever since that decision was made. They said it was for the benefit of both parties. To get the lineage going and for even more influence and power, a merging of company is needed to be done. Apparently, you and him will be the one that has to suffer for this stupid idea.

He sighed and scratched his brow, seems like he’s irritated about it too. He tilted his head before he stared right at your eyes.

“I don’t want to marry you--” you clenched your jaw and cut his words off. You don’t know if you want to listen to what he’s going to say.

“Great! Because I don’t want to marry you too!” you were quick to say that and turned your back at him after grabbing his polo that he was handing to you.

You gulped and tried pushing those tears back inside your eyes. You do know that people are not that fond of you but to actually hear it from Sunghoon, kind of stings.

On the other hand, Sunghoon clenched his jaw in annoyance. You didn’t even let him finish his sentence. He sighed trying to calm himself before he slowly head outside and wait for you. He knows its no use to argue with you so he just lets you for now.

After a couple of minutes, the bell rang and Sunghoon remained leaning over the wall while he waits for you.

“Finally, what took you so..” Sunghoon couldn’t even finish his sentence when he saw you fixing your necktie.

Your hair’s damp seems like you took a shower. His eyes then trailed over his polo that you are wearing. It was so obvious that it doesn’t belong to you but you looked so adorable.

He gulped and nervously eye you. When you raised your head after fixing your tie, you furrowed your brows at his expression. “What?”

He quickly snapped back to reality and tried clearing his throat to hide his embarrassment. He glanced away and you can see the little tint of red over his cheeks and ears. You smirked a little but quickly pull it off.

“Btw, I borrowed your soap and shampoo. That stuff got into my hair so I needed a shower.” you informed him and started walking away from him.

Sunghoon’s mind went blank the moment he smelled his own bodywash from you. He doesn’t exactly know what he should feel as you completely reeks his scent. A smirk grew over his lips in satisfaction while he follows behind you.

“Not even a thank you?” he asked.

You stopped for a while before you glanced at him. You rolled your eyes with your blushing cheeks, “T-Thank you.” you said then glanced away, clearly shy.

Sunghoon licked his lips as a playful smirk appears across his face. He was so ready to tease you when he noticed something. His brows furrowed as he carefully raised one of his hand to reach over your face. You were caught off-guard at the sudden affection. 

“What happened to this?” he softly asked. Just at the sight of his worried face, something had cares your heart but you quickly shut it out. You pushed his hand off of your face.

“N-Nothing.” and started walking inside the class.

Sunghoon was at dazed at what happened and was seriously bothered but he figured you wouldn’t like him meddling so he tried to just shrug it off.

Thankfully, your teacher is not yet there so you didn’t got scolded because of being late. Sunghoon was still on cloud nine when he went inside, got this smile over his lips like he just won over something. (random name) then went to talk to him that made him shift his expression.

“Thank you for saving me back there, Hoon!” his brows furrowed at what she said to him.

“What do you mean?” the girl in front of him smiled sweetly at him.

“From getting slapped by y/n. I don’t know why she blames me when I clearly didn’t do it on purpose. I guess she’s really mad at me.” she said and even tried hard to earn sympathy from Sunghoon.

He smiled awkwardly because the girl obviously misunderstood what just happened. He didn’t really mean to save her from your slap. It was you he saved because your uniform got drenched and he doesn’t want you to get more punishment.

He just dismissed her before he started going to his desk. The class soon started and you both went back to normal. You tried to listen at the lesson but you always gets distracted at your scent. All you can think of is Sunghoon because it was his. You blushed and quickly dismissed the thought.

After your classes, it was already lunch break. You and your friend went inside over the cafeteria to buy some food.

You glared at Sunghoon when he suddenly sat down at the chair you are about to occupy. He smirked at you, back to being annoying.

“Too slow.” he commented that pissed you more. You hit his head causing him to let out a grunt. He was cursing as he ask you to go back but you were already walking away from him.

You enjoyed the lunch with your friend without knowing that your lives will change after that.

Sunghoon was casually enjoying the lunch break with his friends. He was laughing and goofing around them because they still have a lot of time till the next class. After lunch break, it’s their vacant period.

“See you later dude!” Jake waved at them and they even teased their friend because he’s off to see his crush.

“He’ll probably just steal glances at her.” Jay commented while they walk their way back towards their building.

Sunghoon chuckled and jokingly nudge his friend, “Come on. He made a move earlier.” he tried standing up for his friend reminding Jay about the incident a while ago at the cafeteria.

The latter chuckled, “Whatever. Both of you are just the same.”

Sunghoon blushed, “Hey, s-shut up.” and this time, it was Jay who let out a mischievous smirk.

They were casually teasing each other when they both noticed an unusual happenings. Students chasing each other around with red stains over their uniforms. Sunghoon furrowed his brows slightly as he stopped from his tracks making Jay stopped too.

“What the..” he murmured still confused to what was happening.

He was too focused to watching those students running around that he didn’t notice the commotion happening at their building. Jay was the first one to notice. He taps Sunghoon’s shoulder continuously while looking at their building.

“Hey, watch out!” Jay shouted talking to the student that about to fall out of their building.

They both looked away when one fell. Slowly, they glanced back and couldn’t believe the next thing that happens. The student who fell from the fourth floor, slowly stood up.

“N-No way.” Sunghoon gulped still confused. Jay beside him was also at dazed at the situation.

When they noticed that the student looked odd and was starting to run their way, Jay hold his friend, “We have to run! Run!” and with that Sunghoon followed his friend and did run.

On their way back to your classroom, Sunghoon and Jay encountered some of your classmates and help them get inside. He was out of breath when he managed to get inside but still he tried roaming his eyes around. When he saw your terrified expression, he’s somehow relieved to know you are here and safe.

You were already shaking in fear while your friend was trying to calm you down. You have no idea what just happened. You are just trying to have a normal lunch break and then suddenly, students came running around and chasing each other off. You watch the scene in horror as you shake in fear.

“What’s happening?” one of your classmates asked and none of you got a definite answer. All you know is that these students aren’t normal anymore. Something is truly wrong and what’s worst is your classmates seemed to be ignorants and stupids for easily letting people inside when they already knew that it’s dangerous.

“Don’t open the door! You're not sure if they’re not like them!” you yelled with fear in your eyes. Sunghoon, who’s just a couple of feet away looked at your direction with a furrowed brows. His hair was disheveled, maybe from running. He rolled his eyes and just moved towards the door.

Your eyes glared at him while you watch how he let the students outside. It was his friends, but still he shouldn’t risk everyone inside. You slightly stepped closer to where he is.

“Why did you let them in?! What if they've been bitten?!” you angrily shouted at Sunghoon.

He rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed. “Why are you yelling at me? Will you shut your mouth and just sit the fuck down?” he spat at you.

You pursed your lips but eyes remained glaring at his direction. Sunghoon clenched his jaw, fighting the urge of going soft towards you. At the time like this, you shouldn’t be selfish and just care about yourself. We’re talking about human lives here, surviving together. He needs to look out for you and prevent you from acting like a brat.

His eyes silently roamed over you, trying to check if you’re alright. There’s no red stains on you so he assumed you were already inside even before the outbreak happened.

He teared his eyes off from you once he’s sure you’re okay before he walks towards his friends. You clenched your jaw in annoyance and just stomped back over your chair.

Soon, your classmates then came up in conclusions that those students are probably infected and the virus gets passed through biting. You let out a sarcastic scoff before you slam your hand at your table to catch their attention.

You walked towards them, “That’s mainly why you shouldn’t just let people in!” you tried to voice out your point again.

Sunghoon rolled his eyes, “Then go by the fucking door and guard it yourself.” he said catching your attention. Your chest tightens as you hear him again cursing. You don’t know but you hate him but you hate it even more when he talk like this at you.

You just clenched your fists and turned away from him, walking back towards your chair. Your friend tried comforting you and you ignored her. All you can think of was how Sunghoon was so rude towards you.

You balled your fist trying to make them stop from shaking too much. You hate how this are happening right now and scaring the shit out of you. The memories of those students with blood all over them flashes back through your mind and making you lose your mind. You just can’t deal with it. You are starting to panic, finding it hard to breath.

You may look like you’re being selfish but deep inside you are just very scared. Scared that everyone will just abandon you anytime since you know how they’re not really fond of you. It will be easy for them to just let you die here. Anxiety attacks you right away as tears started to stream down.

You are so scared and you have no one. You have nobody to protect---

You snapped back to reality when a hand gently grabbed your shaking hands. The first one you saw was Sunghoon’s furrowed brows. He kneeled right in front of you so he can see your face.

You were too taken aback that you didn’t even manage to change your expression and just let him see how vulnerable you look.

“Hey, you alright?” he asked in the softest tone. You stared at his worried eyes and slowly nodded your head.

He pursed his lips before he gently placed something over your table. When you looked at it, it was a p.e pants.

“That’s mine. Wear it so you’ll be more comfortable to move around.” he said and squeezed your hand for a while before walking back to his friends.

You wiped off your tears and shoved those negative thoughts off your mind. There’s no time to be like weak right now. You need to be strong for yourself.

As they try to come up with plans, you can’t help but to butt in and start arguments because you couldn’t deliver your words in a less aggressive way. You don’t know how and maybe the anxiety, fear and worries were started to get into your system. You are messed up.

“Y’all shut up. Clearly, you’re being out of your minds. You don’t take this seriously!” you said, mad. Your heart are starting to ache because you’re really starting to feel like nobody got your back. That you’re alone because they’re all going against you.

The boy that was by the door and guarding it huffed as he rolled his eyes. “Girls, stop fighting already. We might attract those zombies back!”

You turned towards him, “Shut up you shithead.” she spat rudely. You don’t know what got into you. You are rude most of the times but not like this. You’re just... lost, scared and worried.

“What did you said?” he asked, obviously offended. He slowly walked towards you but even before he can come near, Sunghoon blocked him and stopped him.

You two started arguing that you failed to notice one of your professors came inside. All of you fell silent as he stood there awkwardly. Sunghoon stood near you, shielding you incase something happens. Your eyes shifted towards him and you saw how serious he looks. Suddenly, you felt secured seeing him right in front.

But all of you panicked when one of your classmates pointed out that the teacher was bitten. You don’t know what to do and was just silent as they all screamed at him to leave.

When you heard him screamed and argue back, you started to step back in horror. You are starting to feel anxious about it. It was almost a familiar scene.

“You bitch!” he screamed and the memory of your own Father screaming that while he’s about to hit you flashes back to your mind.

You yelped and kneeled while shutting your eyes closed, both of your hands covering your ears. They all started to panic while you remain like that. Sunghoon turned and glanced at you. He’s surprised to see you like that and watch how your friend tried to comfort you.

He was starting to get worried of you. Ever since this happened, you started acting differently in an odd way. And Sunghoon can’t explain how he got so worried when he saw you spacing out while staring at your friend when she was bitten.

He quickly run closer to you and cupped your face. Your eyes met him and something in Sunghoon broke while he saw you at that state.

“S-Sunghoon..” you mutter.

He tried smiling, “It’s okay. Everything will be fine.” he tried assuring you.

You cried letting him see what you truly feel, “I’m s-scared...”

Sunghoon tried to make you stand up and cupped your face once again, “Hey, I’m here, okay? I will protect you, baby. Don’t worry.”

to be continued...

part two › here

main master-list

apocalypse teaser

[weirdstuffinthewoods]

Bride of Chucky

A Review

Ronny Yu made the correct choice working with the one and only father of Chucky, Don Mancini. I feel like Don's seamless continuing control over the Chucky franchise paired with Ronny Yu's absolute lack of knowledge of the Chucky franchise (and his love of the monster) made for a one-of-a-kind franchise installment.

Writing- 5/5

This entire script takes the snark we know Chucky for and dials it up by giving him a dominating sparring partner in Tiffany Valentine. There are some jokes that kinda feel needless (repeating the "what a crock" joke only got an "eeh" out of me), but Voodoo for Dummies?

And lines like:

"For God's sake Chucky, drag yourself into the 90s"

"Martha Stewart can kiss my shiny plastic butt!"

When Chucky tells Tiffany to "act natural" and this is her response

The entire weird sex scene conversation that 100% does happen in a film about two sentient dolls? It was only a matter of time before we got here, let's be honest.

The addition of Tiffany Valentine allows for a totally valid reason to shake things up- creative kills, high-speed freeway chases with two DOLLS holding two whole adult humans hostage, and the film's only gay character (spoiler but RIP David) getting absolutely blasted by an 18-wheeler for no reason other than Don probably just realized the cast needed to shrink real quick.

Special mention-

The honeymoon suite kill scene. Yeah, it looks a little cheesy, but you best believe before I was old enough to watch horror movies, my older cousin was telling me about this scene in vivid, terrifying detail (much scarier than reality, but what can you do?)

Soundtrack- 4.5/5

Living Dead Girl starts this movie off with a bang and a moment I haven't forgotten for one second of my spooky sapphic life. These are the moments in which horror icons are made.

The soundtrack is mostly upbeat drums and chugging guitar riffs which I loved (it especially added to the freeway chase) I just didn't go full 5 stars because I didn't notice it as much as I'd want to in a party movie like this (because yes, if I ever do host a halloween party I will be popping in this exact VHS to play on repeat).

Also shout out to my boy, Graeme Revell. Been a legend since The Crow in my eyes (but also for so much iconic 80s and 90s horror....and Sharkboy and Lavagirl) and I'll always get excited when I see that name in the credits!

Effects- 4.75/5

First let me say Chucky looks fantastic. Can he emote as well as Tiffany with those pencil-thin eyebrows? Maybe not but this is the opus version of Chucky, so.

The animatronics are still my favorite thing to watch in a Chucky film because you forget that these aren't sentient dolls almost constantly (except when Chucky's body double is crawling on all fours- that's some nightmare fuel). Their faces are so expressive (for rubber doll faces) and there's even a shot of Tiffany walking across the floor of a Winnebago (maybe?) without a wire in sight! Oh, how far we've come.

The effects in some scenes are a little cheesy (the honeymoon suite kill, the gross, fleshy title card, etc) but it's easily overlooked because Chucky and Tiffany are by far the main event of the sfx team.

Extra ratings?

Queerness-3/5

Written by an out gay man, HELLO!

Alexis Arquette!! Easily the second-hottest person in this movie, I loved seeing her camp it up (in a masc role, but goths love to play with androgyny so I'll take it) as the try-hard Damien.

This also unexpectedly features the gbff trope usually reserved for rom-coms in David, a guy whose queerness isn't painfully exaggerated like some portrayals were at the time, and who's probably the most level-headed of the bunch.

RIP, -2 because David got blasted by a big rig and not in the fun way.

Bride of Frankenstein retelling 5/5

It's pretty obvious on rewatch, but this is a whole Bride of Frankenstein retelling. It even follows the title convention (I tell my younger self who completely missed the comparison). I haven't read the dissections of the original that explain why the bride is a metaphor, but in a more literal sense, this Bride has the power unlike her predecessor. Even though she falls in with a toxic ex, she has autonomy and pushes back, eventually sort of kind of helping the two teens (who are not interesting enough to put in this review) stop Chucky. And she gives birth to a weird demon baby while mostly charred through a non-stretch plastic vagina so. That's pretty metal.

Tiffany Valentine 11/5

TIFFANY VALENTINE THE WOMAN THAT YOU ARE

THE COSTUMING

THE TRAILER SET DRESSING

But most of all the performance!!!

I may be looking through heart eyes, but I'm not wrong!

Overall, Bride of Chucky will never not be one of my favorites. The addition of Jennifer Tilly allowed the Child's Play series (and all future iterations), to have fun, but to also play with the tone of its installments. Seed of Chucky and the Chucky series tend to focus on Chucky (and friends)'s humanity and personalities, whereas Curse and Cult of Chucky take the franchise back to an exciting, sometimes scary, and eventually openly queer and complicatedly sapphic place. Ignoring the reboot (which he was thankfully not responsible for), Don Mancini's got quite a legacy going, and Ronny Yu had a key part in that.

[ask-a-w]

Micro-expressions between Leon & Ada in RE4R (Part 6)

Part 6 of the Aeon micro-expressions series. Same old disclaimer of this being an Aeon heavy post. If you don't like this ship, then skip it.

These are strictly my interpretations and opinions will definitely differ but I just wanna share.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 (this post)

He shakes his head as he watches her go.

Still looking a bit hurt as she enters the chopper but puts on a mask of confidence as they part.

Leon looks at her rather longingly before getting distracted by the explosion.

Also, Ada is so extra posing like that, pfft.

He is still looking at her wistfully the whole time.

Thanks for keeping the bear, Capcom.

"That Night" as referenced in the Damnation movie? ;)

Leon keeps looking at her that he doesn't notice Ashley behind him.

Still looking at the departing chopper even though the island is on fire…

He's still grateful to Ada.

Post-credits scene

She looks a little taken aback that Wesker is being snippy with her.

I wonder if she is looking out for Leon's jet ski here.

'Is he serious?'

I just like her look of determination over here.

There's the deadly, no-nonsense spy we miss.

She catches a glimpse of Leon's jetski.

And she tears her eyes away to get back to work.

Overall upon first watch, it looks like the Aeon relationship is frayed and bitter but if you look at the facial expressions, they both still harbour soft spots for each other.

Thanks for reading! I spent over 4 hours screencapping and drafting this mammoth series of posts.

[ageofbajabule]

Say My Name

Danny x F! Reader

Word Count: 6.2k

Enemies to Lovers

Warnings: language, angst, alcohol use, rough sex, unprotected sex (wrap it tf up), oral (m! ad f! receiving), name calling, and whatever else i may have missed. (please comment below if i miss anything)

Summary: “It’s a little too late for that…” He shook his head, “Danny! This can’t keep going on… This hate between us… Sammy wants us on good terms.” You tried reasoning with him, “Yeah well Sammy can’t always get what he wants darling…” He licked his bottom lip, biting it. “Well I’m not leaving here till we get this straightened out…” You stood in front of him with your arms crossed.

Author's Note: Hello!! Here is the douchebag Danny fic!! Just in time for his birthday! And on the best day of the week, Wagner Wednesday! I hope you all enjoy this just as much as I enjoyed writing it. <3

Masterlist: 🤍

If there was one person in the world you didn’t get along with, it would be Daniel Wagner. You both have had bad blood since you were first introduced to one another. You weren’t quite sure if it was because of how close you and Sam were or if he just boldly didn’t like you as a person. Either way that didn’t stop you from hanging out with the guys. In fact, you would hang out with them whenever you could to be spiteful. But Danny always made it known to you were only around because of Sam.

“Maybe you guys just need to have a one on one conversation. Sort things out…” Sam had sat next to you in your apartment. You snorted at his remark, “Oh yeah. Danny and I in a room alone… Do you want a crime scene to happen?” You shook your head, “No, but how can you figure out the issue if you don’t ask him about it?” Sam raised an eyebrow at you. “Sam, I know he’s your best friend. But that doesn’t mean he and I have to get along…” “But you’re my best friend too, and it would mean a lot to me if you guys could just move past whatever the fuck is going on… The tension when we’re all together is just insane.” 

Maybe Sam was right. Why does Danny hate you so much? It’s not like you fucked his best friend or did anything to hurt him. At least not to your knowledge considering when you first met it was at a party nonetheless. However you’ve known Sam for about five years, so Danny has been around that long and you still have this inability to like one another for the sake of Sam.

5 Years Ago

“Y/N this is Danny, Danny this is Y/N!” Sam had introduced you to his best friend. “It’s nice to meet you!” You smiled, putting a hand out to shake his, he nodded and shook yours. “Nice to meet you too.”

Throughout that night you had enough drinks that probably made you black out at some point. You hadn’t drank like this in a long time, in fact it had been so long you weren’t acting like your normal self…

Danny was sitting on the couch in the living room of whoever’s house it was. You started talking to a guy that was just as drunk as you were. You were needy and wanted attention. He started getting grabby with you and enjoying it for the time being considering you hadn’t really given a fuck at this point. 

Danny was watching you closely making sure you were okay. And seen how the guy started to get a little rough with you. “Hey you're gripping my wrists too tight…” You winced in pain, trying to break free. “Just dance with me…” You whined to the random stranger. He pulled you closer to him grinding on you, you giggled softly enjoying the moment a bit. 

You heard footsteps coming your way, “C’mon Y/N let’s go…” Daniel tried to grab you from the strangers arms. “No! I’m not going anywhere…” You fought back, “Y/N I’m just looking out for you.” He tried to pull you away again, “Danny I said I’m fine!” You smacked his hands away, “You’re not my fucking boyfriend. So stop acting like my protector…” The alcohol took over yourself, as you held onto the stranger. “Fine! Go fuck yourself. I was just trying to watch out for you from this fucking creep…” Danny stormed off and out of the house.

And you just continued the rest of your evening with the stranger you had been hanging with. Not too long after you were getting tired and wanting to go home, but the guy you had been hanging with was trying to take you with him. “No, I want to go home.” You struggled in his grip. “Just let me fucking go you prick.” You were struggling to get rid of the prick. “No, you’re coming with me…” He tried yanking your wrists, but before you knew it you had been knocked back to the ground and heard someone yelling. 

You sat up seeing Danny standing over the guy that was just bruising your wrists, the guy was holding his jaw. “Danny did you just fucking punch him?” You spat at him, “The dude was trying to take advantage of you…” He defended himself, “What did I tell you! I can take care of myself!” You pushed Daniel with whatever strength you had left. 

“You’re fucking plastered right now! And I’m trying to keep you safe! Fuck me for being a nice person… And looking out for my best friends, friends.” He threw his hands up, “You know what. Fuck this…” He got into his car and left, as you sat there completely out of it.

“I can’t make you any promises Sam… He’s just as stubborn as me. If not, more than me…” You looked over at him, Sam’s face lit up at your response, “If I have to kick his ass to suck it up I will…” He chuckled softly, you nodded. “Well then, I should get going… Jake wants to head out to the bars and Josh is tagging along as well. Just keep me posted?” He stood up giving you a hug before leaving your apartment.

You hadn’t really made any plans for tonight, except that your friend Rylee wanted you to come out for a party. Of course you couldn’t turn that down, if there was ever a place that involved free booze you were down. She insisted on picking you up to take you there, you agreed to her demands. 

After getting off the phone with Rylee you decided to take a shower to freshen up. You did your normal routine of exfoliating and doing everything to make yourself pretty much fuckable. It wasn’t often that you hooked up with guys at a party, but you just prepared yourself as if you had the intention of hooking up. 

Rylee: I’ll be over in about 15 mins to come and get you.

You: Alright, I’m just finishing up getting ready. :)

You had blown out your hair leaving it as is after blow drying it. And put on your normal day to day makeup. Grabbing a short skirt from your closet along with a tight fitting shirt. While wearing a thong and fishnets underneath the skirt, and one of your push up bras to make your boobs stand out more than they already did from the shirt you had picked out. You sprayed whatever nearest perfume you had, slipping your doc martens on. Rylee was already outside honking for you to come out. 

“Oh look at you! Fucking hot!” She giggled as you got into the car. “You’re the one that’s hot!” You smiled hugging her before putting your seatbelt on. “So are we just bouncing around to other parties or just chilling at this function?” You were questioning the plans of the night as she started to drive off. “I’m thinking of just hanging here, unless it gets boring we’ll go elsewhere.” 

It was about a 20 minute drive, and you guys happened to be driving down a road you’ve been down before. You felt your heart pounding in its place, “Rylee…” You looked over to her as she parked in front of ‘his’ house. “What?” She turned the car off looking over to you, “Is this Daniel FUCKING WAGNER’S HOUSE!?” Her face looked confused at your question, “Am I missing something?” 

Great, what are you supposed to tell her? It’s not like she knew the history between you two. You never really like to talk about it with anyone besides just the guys… Considering they were around him more than Rylee ever was. In fact Rylee had only ever encountered Danny at a party once, but they both were probably too shitfaced to remember. “No, no. I just hadn’t realized that this was the host is all…” You brushed it off, giving an awarding smile. “Lexi just said that this was one of the best places to party, so I figured why not?” 

After that whole moment, you just decided to suck it up and move on with it. You stepped out of the car, walking up to the house, you could hear the music blaring from outside and realized that it was going to be packed inside with how many vehicles were outside parked. Rylee and you walked into the house together, being greeted by one of Danny’s friends that you happened to have known from previous functions. You gave a smile and said your hello’s before making your way to the kitchen to grab your first of many drinks of the evening.

The kitchen was lined up with all sorts of liquor, mixers, and beer that you could name off. The music was loud, you could hear the chatter that was going on as well in the entire house, your nerves were getting to you hoping you wouldn’t bump into him tonight. But that’s not entirely promisable considering it's his house.

There were red solo cups stacked next to all of the booze, grabbing one you made your first drink of the night. Vodka and Cranberry, something simple but also something to get your buzz going. 

You had stayed close with Rylee for a good portion of the evening, downing almost everything that involved alcohol. Taking shots, and doing shotguns. The music was vibrating through your body, you couldn’t help but dance to the beat of the music blaring in the house. You were already probably shitfaced or just about near it, but you could care less.

 A guy had come up to you, dancing with you. He grabbed your hips as you swayed with him, you wrapped your one arm around his neck as your other hand held your drink. You were bantering with this stranger taking in the attention he was giving you. You guys were practically dry humping one another, but he wasn’t your eye candy. In hopes that you’d find another bachelor for the evening. 

Out of the corner of your eye you see him. Daniel was staring you down, you could feel as if his eyes were burning you right there on the spot. You felt your cheeks get hot and felt a heat between your legs. Danny never made you like this, was it just the alcohol talking or did his death stare just turn you on. You immediately left the room and got another drink if there was one thing you knew, it was to drink your problems away. 

Seeing Rylee out of the corner of your eye you called her over, “Danny was like eyeing me…” You looked her straight in the face, “Was it in a good way?” You shrugged, “I can’t tell if it was a fuck you face or a fuck me face…” You push your hair back to the side, “I mean, if you hook up with him. It wouldn’t be horrible… He’s a fucking god.” Rylee giggled softly, and then drifted away. 

Danny was good looking afterall. I mean sleeping with him wouldn’t solve the issue, or would it?

You shook your thoughts away and returned back to the party dancing with a group of girls and some guys but none of them really caught your eye. You actually looked at Danny more through the night, sometimes catching each other staring at one another. You couldn’t tell if he was mad that you were there or if he was just mad that you were all over the other guys.

Making your way over to Danny without it being visibly noticeable to anyone else. You spoke over your shoulder to him, “You know a picture lasts longer…” You smirked at him, “Oh… You think that I would want a picture of you? I would rather burn the picture than keep it.” He snapped back walking away from you.

It was about 1 in the morning everyone was leaving the party, you tried searching for Rylee but she was nowhere to be found. “Fuck…” You whispered to yourself, then tried calling her phone just for it to go to voicemail. “Oh no. No…” You went into the bathroom to throw some water on your face. You were still pretty fucked up from how much you drank, and unsure to call an uber.

After stumbling out of the bathroom you bump into someone. “Hey! Watch it!” They caught you, and you looked up. Your face turned a bright shade of red, “I’m s-sorry…” You giggled softly realizing who it was. Daniel Robert Wagner in the flesh. “Maybe if you opened your fucking eyes and paid attention you wouldn’t have bumped into me.”

Ouch, okay still a fucking asshole.

 “You know maybe you should watch where you’re going!” You crossed your arms, he had a smug look on his face. “This is my fucking house princess. Besides, shouldn't you have left by now with what's her face?” He stood against the wall not really showing interest in the conversation. “Pretty sure she left without me or left off with some guy… So I’m stuck here.” You threw your hands up in defeat.

“Well you sure as hell can’t stay here… I don’t even know who let you in here. The only time you’re allowed here is when you're with Sam, Jake and Josh.” He started to walk away, “Well I can’t drive because I didn’t come in my own car. And ubers are sketchy anymore…” You kept your head down. “Then fucking crash in the living room and in the morning have Sam pick you up.” He said coldly. Turning to go into his room he slammed his door shut. 

Goodnight to you too… You thought to yourself. After that whole encounterment you went downstairs to see it was a mess. Thinking to yourself if you should help clean up, or just leave the mess to the asshole upstairs. You decided that if you were gonna be stuck here for the rest of the night you’d just keep yourself busy. You rummaged in his kitchen finding trash bags to gather all the trash in the house, trying to keep the noise to a minimum. 

However you barely got sober, you stumbled around a bit. Tripping over one of the bags making a loud thud sound. “Shit…” You muttered to yourself hearing Daniel storm down the steps. “Can’t you be fucking quiet?” He looked at you, “I was trying to help around and just fell!” You snapped at him. “Well I don’t need your help. You being here is already bothering me…” He ripped the garbage bags from you. 

He threw the bags of trash into the trash can outside coming back in, he slammed the door shut. “In fact I don’t know why you think I would need your help…” He rolled his eyes at you, “You’re just a figment of my imagination.”

“Why are you so mean to me? What did I ever do…” You followed him. “Honestly.” You poked at him. “What did you do?” He turned around his face inches apart from yours. “Yes! What did I do Daniel that makes you hate me so fucking much!” 

Daniel sucked on his teeth, “You really don’t remember?” He laughed, clenching his jaw. “Were you really that fucked up when we first met?” He rolled his head before speaking again, “You were completely trashed on the night we first met. And some guy was creeping on you and I had bad vibes. But you were so adamant that you could handle it…” He clenched his fist together. 

“This is all new to me…” You were completely unaware of this. “Danny, are you making this up? Because if so this ain’t fucking funny.” You snickered at him, “No I’m not making this up. Would you shut up for once and let me finish!” He yelled so loud it would have woken up the neighbors. “You were so trashed that you got mad I beat the shit out of him. He was trying to get in your pants while you were blacked out drunk. I didn’t want anything bad happening to you, or you regretting your choices.” He snapped cockily. You stood against the wall, “Danny… I.” “I don’t want to hear it, you’re probably blacked out drunk right now and won’t remember this even happening.” He spat at you as he walked to the kitchen.

Knowing how pissed Danny was right now had you scared but the fire in your pants was saying something otherwise. “Daniel, please. Let me explain…” You followed him to the kitchen. “Y/N there is nothing to explain!” He looked at you clenching his jaw. “No there is, I hadn’t realized how much I drank that night, and in fact thank you for helping me that night…” You rubbed the back of your head.

“It’s a little too late for that…” He shook his head, “Danny! This can’t keep going on… This hate between us… Sammy wants us on good terms.” You tried reasoning with him, “Yeah well Sammy can’t always get what he wants darling…” He licked his bottom lip, biting it. “Well I’m not leaving here till we get this straightened out…” You stood in front of him with your arms crossed.

Standing there for a good few minutes, you looked at Danny head to toe. He was hot, there was no denying it. His height compared to you was insane. The way his curls laid and his jawline sharp enough to cut you. He was beautiful, yet he was still an asshole… Maybe you had to fuck the hate out of him. Get all the pent up anger out… You walked up to Danny slowly looking up at him with your best doe eyes.

 “Danny… I think I know the solution to fix our issues…”, he looked down at you, his eyes dark. Searching into your eyes, “You think you know the solution to solving our problems?”

He smirked, placing his hand on your cheek, cupping your face firmly. “I don’t think you do…” You felt yourself practically dripping him now, your thong was definitely soaked. “Well then, do you?” You bit your lip, placing a hand on his hip. He hissed, “I think you need to be punished for your actions…” You hummed, “Well then, I guess you better start.”

Daniel moved you to the side, “You’re not gonna be the one in control…” He smirked, chuckling softly, “So don’t be so cocky to me princess…” He went and poured himself a drink, you followed behind him. “Danny…” You purred his name out, running your hands along his back. His body flexed from your touch, then he turned around wrapping his one hand around your throat.

You had gotten goosebumps from it, he wasn’t hurting you. But he was holding it strong enough to take control of you. “You keep acting up, you’re just gonna make it harder on yourself…” He rubbed his thumb over your bottom lip. “Please…” You whined out to him. 

Danny clenched his jaw turning you to bend over the counter, you felt a swat across your ass. It didn’t even bother you, as you turned around to look at him he was smirking. “Was that not hard enough for you?” You shook your head at his response. “You’re going to have to use your words princess. Weren’t you taught manners?” You rolled your eyes at him, “No Sir.” He bit his lap smacking your ass again, harder this time leaving a little sting. You let out a little gasp, “Good girl.” 

You smirked looking back at him, “So how many do you think you deserve?” He raised an eyebrow at you, “Well if I’ve been such a pain then you tell me?” You giggled softly, he then pulled you up to his chest by your hair. “Keep getting cocky, I'm not gonna make it easy on you…” He said into your ear, making the hair on the back of your neck stand up. “Yes, Sir.” You breathed out as he let go of your hair.

 He cleared his throat, “Go to my room.” You felt your cheeks get hot and listened to his orders. “Yes, Sir.” You started walking, going up the stairs and down the hallway. His room was at the end of the hallway, you knew this because Sam had made a surprise birthday gift for him and he wanted your help. 

Once you entered his room, he came behind you closing his bedroom door. Not like anyone could walk in being it was just him who lived here. “Undress yourself.” He commanded, and sat down at the edge of his bed. You nodded and started to strip yourself. But he stopped you when you went to remove your thong. “Leave those on. And lay across my lap.” You laid across his lap, he then moved his hand to have one laying on your ass and the other by your back. “Can you count for me…” He started to rub your ass slowly, “Yes.” “Good…” He smirked.

After that confirmation you felt his hand leave your ass then come back down a second later. “O-one.” You gasped, you were expecting it to happen but were still caught off guard. He rubs it again before bringing it back harder this time, “Two.” you gritted through your teeth. Another smack, “Three.” You felt the goosebumps start to form on your body, he then grabbed your hair smacking your ass again. “F-four…” You moaned out, he chuckled softly as you felt his cock start to harden beneath you. 

“One more for good measure.” He smirked and smacked your ass one final time, there was definitely a print left there. “Five…” You felt his hard on pressed against your stomach. But soon you were pulled up by him, “See that wasn’t so hard.” He bit his lip, pulling you close to him. Your back was against his chest as he ran his hands up your stomach to your breasts, taking them into his hands squeezing them gently. You let a moan escape your lips, “Such pretty sounds coming out of a pretty slut…” You bit your lip, “Is that a compliment Wagner?” You smirked, “Don’t test me…” He gritted through his teeth.

You could feel his hard cock pressed against your ass, he was big but you could only imagine how it looked when it wasn’t in his pants. You moved your hand to palm him through his pants. He left out a moan and started to play with your nipples pinching them softly. “P-please…” You whined out to him, “Begging already, and I haven’t even done much to you yet…” He clicked his tongue.

Taking his hands off of you, he then put his hand at your core feeling you soaked through the fabric. “Soaked already princess?” He smirked, and teased you by rubbing his hand across. “Only for you…” You blushed, “For an asshole like me…” He chuckled and removed your thong, picking you up to lay you on the bed. He then removed his clothes only to leave him in his boxers. “Come here.” He motioned with his fingers, you sat up on your knees crawling over to him on the bed. He then pulled your face close to his, kissing your lips roughly. You were taken back a bit, but went with it. He bit your bottom lip running his tongue across, letting yours slip into his mouth.

For a good minute you shared the kiss, then he removed his boxers. His dick springing upward. You looked at it, your jaw dropped at the sight. He was long, girthy, just all around big. It was probably the prettiest cock you’ve ever seen. “You think you’re ready for this…” He smirked, pulling your face to his cock, “Open.” You took his cock into your hand, wiping the pre-cum from his slit over the tip before taking him into your mouth. He left out a moan, and held onto your hair tightly.

You placed your one hand on his hip to hold yourself up. You then lick the underside of his cock from the base up and closing your lips around the tip to suckle softly on it. He whines out, “Fuck…” Smirking around his cock, you start to bob your head up and down his shaft, but then go all the way down making tears welled up in your eyes. You could feel him twitch a little bit, making you pull away as you stroked him with your hand. “Cum in my mouth.” 

You smirked looking up at him, he grabbed your jaw. 

“No. I’m not ready yet, not until I taste that pretty cunt of yours.” He pushed you back to lay on your back, and crawled on top of you kissing your neck, collarbone, your chest, stomach and right above your clit. You moaned at each kiss he planted, “Since you’re being such a good girl…” He started to rub your clit slowly, “I’ll treat you nicely.” He licked a stripe through your folds making you moan again, “You want me so bad, huh?” He smirked watching you practically come undone. “Y-yes.” 

Within a second he slips his digit into you, as he pushes it in and out of you. He starts to kitty lick your clit, flicking it around slowly letting you enjoy this moment with him. Your hands reach down to grab ahold of his curls, once you had a hold of it you tugged gently at it. “Danny…” You moaned out as he kept his pace going, adding another digit. He smirked against your clit as he started to suck onto it, you started to feel a knot in your stomach. A couple more licks and you’d be over the edge. 

“Danny, I’m g-gonna cum…” You whined out as your legs started to twitch. “I’ll let you, since you're being so nice…” And with that he reattaches his lips to your cunt sucking and licking as his digits thrusted into you, sending you into overdrive. You came undone with his touch, “Fuck, fuck, yes!” You moaned out cumming onto his fingers. He stood up, looking at you he sucked his fingers clean. “You taste so sweet…” He smiled, kissing your lips softly letting you get a taste of yourself. 

He then moved his hands to your breasts, fondling them while taking your breast into his mouth, sucking and nibbling on your nipple. You moaned out again, running your hands in his hair again. He played with your other nipple with his hand, while still sucking and licking the other. You felt his cock poking at your stomach.

After a few more moments he breaks away from your breasts leaving marks around them, you blushed at how much of a mess he was making you. He then pressed you down onto the bed, taking his hands as he rubbed your clit again feeling how wet you still were. “Danny, just fuck me already…” You whined out wanting to feel him already. “But I like teasing you… You make pretty sounds for me…” He smirked, kissing your inner thigh. “You’re an ass, you know that.” You sat up on your elbows looking down at him, “Say that again…” He smirked at you, “You’re an ass…” You bit your lip not expecting what was to happen next. 

He looked into your eyes, they weren’t dark like before but instead they were soft and kind. Not the kind of Danny you knew before this all happened, he then crashed his lips to yours kissing you passionately. Wrapping your arms around his back you pull him closer to you, feeling his warm cock pressed against your thigh. 

He then reaches down to move your leg up onto his shoulder, breaking from the kiss he looks down at you with his length in his hand. “Are you sure you want to do this?” He smiled softly, rubbing the tip at your core. “Yes. Please… Fuck. Me.” You looked at him smiling, without wasting any time he slid into you slowly letting you adjust to him inch by inch as he stretched you out. You had both gasped when he was fully inside of you, he then started to thrust into you. 

“More…” You moaned out, he started to pick his pace up while still keeping it steady. He had one hand holding your leg while the other was on your waist. You reached out to grab his arm as he started to fuck you more. 

“Danny…” He moaned at his name leaving your lips, he picked the pace up now sliding in and out of you faster than before. He picked up your other leg to have both your legs on his shoulders now giving him more depth as he thrusted into you harder. You started moaning from how good he felt filling you up. 

“Say my name baby…” He grunted out as he fucked you. “Danny…” You moaned out holding on the bed sheets tightly. “Louder. I want you to let the world know who’s fucking you.” He started to thrust harder, making your skin clap together filling the room with the noises you made together. “Danny! You feel so g-good fucking me.” You screamed out as he fucked you deeper hitting your g-spot with each thrust he made. 

“You’re close, baby, I know. Come on…” He kept fucking you the way he was, taking his hand he started to rub your clit, which made you release into your second orgasm of the night. “Oh fuck…” You cried out from the overstimulation as he fucked you out of your high. After a moment he pulls out, turning you on all fours. “I’m not done yet…” He kissed the back of your neck softly, nibbling at your ear. You moaned at his actions, and turned your head to kiss his lips biting his lower lip. 

Immediately after that kiss, he rubbed his cock against your entrance. “You take me so good princess…” He smirked and entered you again making you gasp at the warmth you were missing from him. “Oh yes… Fill me up Danny…” You cried out holding yourself up. He grabbed your hips and started moving his thrusting into you at a steady pace. “M-more…” You whined out for him. 

Danny then picked up the pace adding a little more roughness to his thrusts. He smacked your ass as he fucked you harder. “You’ve been such a good girl Y/N… Maybe I should’ve fucked you a long time ago…” He smirked moaning out with each thrust he made. You cried out more compliments of him, making you literally fall apart beneath him.

Grabbing your arms he held you close to his chest as he pounded into you. “I know you’re almost there again princess. How many more times are you gonna cum for me…” He kissed your cheek sloppily, he held you close to him as went faster. “Danny, d-don’t stop.” You whined out for him, he listened to your words and didn’t stop in fact he was hitting your spot again. “Oh, my god…” You roared out as you felt another orgasm coming. “That’s it pretty girl, let go…” You couldn’t help but come undone again. The overstimulation took over your body. 

Danny smirked, kissing your back, “Now ride me.” He said sternly as he pulled out of you and laid against his head board. You nodded and crawled on top of him lining yourself up with him, once you were lined up you sank down. Making him groan out for you. “Fuck.” He moaned, holding your hips as you started to rotate your hips.You placed your hands on his chest for support, each time you went up his cock he would thrust into you. 

“Danny… I want to make you feel good.” You moaned out, “Let me take care of you…” You started to bounce on his cock, he nodded and let you take over. He kept his grip on your hips though, watching you as you took over. He moaned out cute little words as you rode him. “You, feel so good…” He moaned, lunging forward to kiss your breasts. You moaned out at his touch picking the pace up, you put your hands in his hair playing with it as you fucked him. 

“So. Good…” He moaned out as he took your breast into his mouth kissing and licking. You clenched yourself around his cock, riding him harder and faster. “Oh fuck… Keep doing that and I’ll cum in this pretty pussy.” He smirked, kissing your neck leaving marks. You smirked at the challenge he left you. You were determined to have him cum. “Come on Danny… I know you want to.” You cried out as you rotate your hips while bouncing on his cock faster. He gripped your hips slamming into you, 

“You’re close again.” He smirked, kissing your jaw, you moaned out. “I. Wanna. Cum. With you…” You moaned, wrapping your arms around you. “Come on then princess…” He grunted as his thrust started to lock up, you released at his words clenching around him as you shook violently from the orgasm. He then stalls and spills his warm load into you. 

You cried out his name again as you felt his warmth in you. After he was finished he pulled out slowly letting you lay on the bed, “Hold on a moment.” He smiled, getting up and grabbing a warm wet washcloth to clean you up. “Here princess…” He kissed your cheek, helping you clean up from the mess you both made.

Once you were both cleaned up, he pulled you under the covers with him. Wrapping his arm around you, pulling you close to his body. “Was that good for you?” He smiled looking down at you, you looked up at him smiling shyly. “Yes.” You whispered, “Oh shit… Are you on the pill?” He had a worried look on his face, “Yes I am. You’re fine.” You giggled at his reaction, “Okay… Good. Sorry I should’ve asked.” He smiled at you, “It’s okay. If I have to get a Plan-B I will.” 

“Do you want a pair of clothes to sleep in?” He smiled at you getting out of his bed. “You still want me to sleep here?” You giggled, as he nodded, putting a pair of boxers and sweatpants on. “Then I’d love to wear something.” You stood up grabbing the clothes from him. 

After you changed into them, he was already laying in his bed waiting for you. You crawled beside him, cuddling into his chest. “Are you okay with this?” He nodded, “I’m more than okay with it.” You smiled softly and laid against him. “I’m sorry for how I was to you that night Danny… I didn’t realize how awful I was to you.” You frowned, looking up at him. “And I’m sorry for not letting you know sooner. I could’ve sworn that you knew what happened… I guess I was just in my head.” He sighed, “I’m just glad we worked this out…” He hummed and kissed your forehead. 

“So uh, what do we tell Sam then.” You giggled thinking about what his reaction would be. “I guess we could just tell him we made up…” He chuckled softly, pulling your face close to his. He kissed you softly, “Get some rest sweet girl. We’ll tell Sam in the morning.” You nodded softly letting sleep take over you.

Later that morning you woke up to 5 missed calls from Rylee and a couple texts from Sam asking what happened. 

Danny had already been up and he came back into the room with a cup of tea for you. “Here you go my love.” He smiled sitting next to you. “So, we should probably call Sam.” He suggested, you nodded while taking a sip of the hot tea. Pulling your phone out to pull his number up and facetime him. “Hi Sammy.” You smiled, he had a questionable look on his face, “Are you at Danny’s?!” He yelled through the phone. “Uh. Yeah…” You smiled sheepishly. 

Then Danny turned the camera towards him, “Yeah she’s here. In bed with me.” He smirked and chuckled softly, “Things are more than okay between us.” He blushed which made you smile. “Are you guys like together, together?” Sam poked at the two of you, “Uh…” You looked at Danny raising an eyebrow, “Yeah… We are… Guess there were just some feelings we were keeping from one another.” Danny smiled, wrapping his arm around you. “Yes!” Sam yelled happily, “I finally don’t have to hear you two bicker anymore.” You and Danny both laughed saying your goodbyes to Sam and hung up.

“So I’m your girlfriend now?” You looked up at him blushing. “Only if you want to be…” He scratched the back of his head. You pulled his face close to yours, “Of course I want to be your girlfriend dummy.” You giggled, kissing his lips softly.

[flower1622]

What the future can hold?

Chapter 28

- So, how is this gonna work? - Percy asks looking at the water with toy fishes. 

- Well, a person pays to play the fishing game. They need to get one of those fishes. Who wins takes a prize and who doesn't...well, I made more cupcakes in case they want to eat them. 

- That's nice! - Percy says 

- Thanks! - Clarisse says and looks away

"I never thought Clarisse could be a nice person" - Percy thinks

After few minutes:

The people start coming to play the fishing game. Some won their prizes and others didn't, but Clarisse gave them some blue and red cupcakes. Percy looks admired at Clarisse while she cheers the kids up and gives people cupcakes. He was thinking so hard about Clarisse that he didn't nofice a little girl calling him until Clarisse nudges him and nods her head to the girl's direction.

- Hey, miss! What would you like? - Percy asks politely

- Hi! I would like to play the fishing game, please! - The little girl says

- Alright! It's 5 dollars! - Percy says and the little girl gives him the money. He gets the bamboo fishing rod and gives it to her. 

Clarisse organizes their money afforded and notices Percy with the little girl. He was cheering for her and movitaving the little girl who ended up winning a Teddy bear. He smiled at the little girl, who hugged him grateful. The girl walks away and Percy calls her saying he forgot to ask her name. She says it was Lana, waves at Percy and runs away to her family. 

Clarisse got distracted watching the scene and thinking about Percy with a small smile. She didn't notice when he came towards her and called her name. He puts a hand in front of her face, shaking it to get her attention and nothing happened, so he clapped hard with his hands and she looks at him.

- Finally! I called you a million times! What were you thinking about while smiling? - Percy teases making Clarisse a little embarassed.

- Nothing of your business... - Clarisse says and looks away. But Percy gets in front of her view with his arms crossed looking at Clarisse, staring hard at her. Clarisse only sighs.

- It's just that....we afforded enough money already to help with the charity - Clarisse says

- That's great! - Percy hugs Clarisse. But they get uncomfortable feeling a little strange, so they separate and look away from each other. They see Clarisse's mother arriving with the kids.

- Hey, guys! - Mary says 

- Hi! - Percy says with a smile

- Hey, mom... - Clarisse says

- I see that we have enough money for the charity. Congratulations, guys! Why don't you take a break? - Mary suggests

- Mom... - Clarisse says

- You could show Percy the other booths. It's his first time here. Give yourself a break, daughter - Mary says

- Mom, I don't think... - Clarisse tries to says

- Oh! Come on, Clarisse! Live a little. Please? I want to meet the other booths too... - Percy says and gives her the puppy dog eyes, just like Mary, Samantha and even Jack.

- Alright, fine! Let's go, pretty boy! I think It won't hurt to have a little fun... - Clarisse says and they cheer while she walks away, including Percy. Then, he follows after her.

[cockasinthebird]

So like I said earlier, I started writing the cyberpunk 2077 AU, and, well, here it is! 5 whole pages, not M nor E yet, but that will come, just you wait hehe ;)

The music of Afterlife beats like a heart, ironically enough, since the place used to be a morgue, the slaps now used as tables around the space, with a big, fancy bar in the middle. Oddly big for a morgue if you ask Billy, but he won't complain, got good booze, especially the Jackie Welles one, "with a splash of love" or some shit, whatever that is.

But tonight he's not here for the drinks or to watch the dancers in the water filled tubes, although he does give Claire a friendly nod as he passes by. No he's here to meet some fixer that gave him a short message asking to meet up and that was it.

"Come by Afterlife, got a job for you."

He's not even sure what they look like or where at the bar they'll be, so he's stuck wandering around in circles like some kind of lost gonk. 

And just as he grits his teeth with annoyance, ready to delta, someone approaches him.

"So you must be the merc everyone's always talking about. Even Rogue."

Billy turns around to face the prettiest fucker he's ever seen, slightly taller than himself, especially with that poofed up hair, and a pristine suit - awfully clean, like it hasn't ever seen a day of hard work before. Same goes for his clean skin, moles dotted across it as the only blemishes, no scars, no tech on him.

"Yeah, maybe so." He licks his lips that turn into a grin. "What's it to you?"

"Might be a lot, might be a little, really depends on you." The fixer smiles with a hand on his hip.

Billy gives him a quick scan, no affiliation. "Just give me the detes, don't got all night."

The brunette sucks his teeth and gives Billy a certain look from head to toe. "Shame you're in such a hurry… don't wanna get a drink, talk it over proper?"

"Why, you paying?" Billy crosses his arms but keeps his well amused smirk.

"Sure, first round's on me - last round? We'll see."

The merc very much enjoys the tone of his new fixer, and the way he near sensually watches him as they walk to the bar.

“A Johnny Silverhand, and…” The man in the snazzy suit looks to Billy as they order from Claire.

“A Jackie Welles.”

“Haven’t heard of that one before,” he admits and leans on his elbow on the countertop, whilst Claire quietly pours them their drinks.

“Yeah, well…” Billy avoids eye contact, looks away as he tries to forget Arasaka. “Trying to get it to catch on.”

They both bottom their glasses in one go, although he doesn’t miss how the fixer stares at him even when doing just that.

“You sure you don’t want a more… private setting?” he suggests and the other man huffs a laugh.

“Why, are we chooms all of a sudden? No I know you merc types well enough to want a more public scene, besides, this won’t take long.”

“Do I at least get a name?”

“Of who? Me or the client?” The brunette grins knowingly.

“Who do ya think?”

“Stephano Harrington, but you can call me Steve.” Steve extends his hand, and Billy shakes it firmly. “Manners, nice.”

“Yeah, well, my ma taught me right.”

“And your pa?”

Again Billy has nothing to say, nothing he wants to say at least. Spilling personal details to a stranger is a danger in Night City. “So what exactly does the client want from me?”

“It’s really very simple, there’s a van with some goods in it, and I need you to klep it for my client to an address that they have chosen for you two to meet at,”

“Nothing’s ever simple in NC, and this? Sounds too easy.”

“Well maybe I’m an easy guy, maybe I needed an easy merc, who’d take on an easy job.”

Billy can’t help but ponder if there’s a double entendre there or not, but there’ll be time to figure that out later, if the way this Steve Harrington looks at him has anything to say.

“Sure then, shoot me the detes and I’ll get to it.” Billy rises from his seat.

“You don’t want to know about the payment?”

Eyes bluer than the ocean ever was looks Steve up and down. “I’m sure a guy like you will pay more than what’s fair, and besides we’ll meet after - still owe you a last round.”

It was far too easy to find, down by the docks in Watson Northside, fresh off the boat. The workers there were easily paid off, something mr Harrington will have to reimburse of course, and the doors to the container creaked open like sesame. Inside he found a teal colored van, otherwise unmarked and would probably be a bit suspicious to drive around in, but hey, a job’s a job, and Billy is a professional, takes it all very seriously. He tries to be as non-lethal as possible when going anywhere in this city, but he won’t shy down from a brawl if need be; has helped the NCPD plenty of times with their psychos and gang bangers.

The ride is smooth, not a lot of hard work required, just from point a to b, Watson to some megabuilding in downtown city center. It isn’t till there’s a bump on the road and a few voices gasping behind him that he senses something is very very wrong.

He finds the closest alleyway to back into, parks there, then rushes behind to get a look at this precious cargo he’s transporting.

Seven women and two men all whine as the harsh daylight hits their eyes where they’ve gotten used to the darkness they’re caught in. 

“Oh shit.” Billy turns his back to them all, shoulders raised and tense, teeth gritting as he dials up Harrington.

“Billy,” he chimes as he picks up, “How’s it looking? Found the cargo alright?”

“Yeah I did, but you didn’t fucking tell me we were trafficking humans!”

“Oh look, a merc with a heart of gold, how quaint. So what does it matter? The client didn’t ask for a judge and jury for this job, they asked for someone to safely transport the goods.”

“This is not okay! Tell me who your client is and I’ll have a talk with them myself!”

“No that won’t do, but if you’re gonna be such a pussy about it, allow me to explain some, will you?”

Billy clenches his fists and turns to look at the very confused people who haven’t fled the scene yet for some reason. They’re not shackled or poorly dressed or anything, just… sitting there staring.

“Go on.”

“They’re fugitives.”

“What?”

“Yeah, fleeing from bad pasts all across the country, trying to come into Night City in hopes of a brighter future, all that bs that the advertisements sell us.”

“Is that the truth?”

“We may not know each other very well, Billy, but trust me, I don’t lie.”

“Excuse me, sir?” a timid and gentle voice asks as one of the women approaches Billy. “Is this where we get off?” she asks as if she’s on the bus.

“N-no, we still have a bit to go, so just sit down again, yeah?” he tries to speak as kindly as possible. “Harrington, we’re not done yet.”

“I didn’t assume so.” And without a goodbye, Steve hangs up the phone.

Billy stamps in past the bouncer and up to where Steve is spending another night drinking his Johnny Silverhand alone at the bar, eyeing up every piece of meat around him.

“Hello Billy-”

“Why didn’t you just fucking tell me?!” The blonde flares his nostrils and scowls at the other.

“Would it have saved us any questions and time?” Harrington asks almost politely and swirls his drink around in the square glass.

And the way he asks takes Billy off guard, making him take a step back to consider his answer. “Probably… probably not.”

“Exactly, and it was a time sensitive job clearly, so I didn’t think it prudent for you to know every single detail in the moment. Would you have said yes, then?”

The blonde sits down and waves for Claire to pour him his usual. He has calmed down considerably and a drink would take off that final edge. “I’d like to think so, yeah, again given you’re telling the truth.”

“And would you have believed me that they were willing participants if you hadn’t seen it for yourself?”

“No.”

“Then that’s that! Client was very happy, I’m happy, hopefully you’ll be happy with the payout.”

Just then, 2k eddies is transferred to Billy’s account, and he gapes. “Mr. Harrington, if you pay this well for something as simple as a transport op, this’ll be a very fruitful partnership.”

Billy gives a friendly slap to Steve’s back just as he takes a sip, making the finer man cough up a lung and spewing his drink all over the bar.

Claire pauses with her hands on her hips and a very displeased expression.

But Harrington still smiles all the same as usual, and turns to look Billy straight in the eye.

“Well Billy, I believe so too.”

Then he places his hand on Billy’s thigh.

[twdgkidsdeservebetter]

Ranking Scream VI Deaths

SPOILER WARNING AHEAD

10. Greg 

He died off screen and had his head stuck in the fridge. Boring tbh. 

9. Laura (Samara Weaving) First death of the movie. Not too bad but not as exciting compared to the rest.

8. Store clerk (don’t know the actor) Everyone already knows he dies, it was in the trailer. Still super cool to see Ghostface shoot a guy though. 

7. Jason (Tony Revolori) I thought his death was pretty average, since it was just a few stabs and he technically died off screen, cause of the title card. Only rating him higher than Laura because of Ghostfaces aggressive slash before the title card.

6. Brooks (Thomas Cadrot) Gale’s new boyfriend. Died off screen, only ranked higher because I thought it was funny how quick he got snatched and how he got thrown through the shelves.

5. Quinn (Liana Liberato) This is not based on her fake death! She got shot in the head, similar to how Liv died in Scream (2022). Ranking her higher compared to the others just because of how crazy she looked near the end.

4. Dr Christopher (Henry Czerny) His death was super gross, he got stabbed right through the nose. It was kind of like watching Wes’ death all over again. Still, it was pretty good. 

3. Anika (Devyn Nekoda) Mindy’s girlfriend. The entire ladder scene was so nerve wracking. The way Ghostface was shaking the ladder freaked me out so much. Her death was super sad but unique. 

2. Detective Bailey (Dermot Mulroney)  I loved his death scene! Sam was so quick with her stabs, wherever she could reach. Only ranked him number 2 cause he got stabbed in the eye. Disgusting. 

1. Ethan (Jack Champian) Ethan’s death was absolutely jaw dropping (no pun intended). The entire time I was just like :O. Super gross but definitely the most memorable out of all the deaths.

Hope I didn’t miss any deaths. 

[ireallylovepuppies101]

Inky Mystery Audrey AU 5

Part Five!!!!

After the three siblings manage to get on the train to get back to Toon Town despite how Bendy and Boris having a wanted criminal status made that a bit, difficult, and after they realized the weird doll was a voodoo doll that turned into a little version of Bendy (if Audrey was at all tempted to mess with it before then she certainly isn’t now) they decide to head back to the casino where it was probably the best option to stay without getting arrested asap. While there Audrey notices a poster advertising Alice singing at the casino and tugs on Bendy’s arm to get his attention and point it out to him. “Bendy! The pretty lady that helped me is going to be singing!”

Bendy would be rather surprised to see the poster, and decide to take his two younger siblings to get a fizz-wizz while getting the chance to see Alice and ask her about it. Though with the two thugs at the bar pissing off Bendy and giving him hard core warning vibes, he’d tell Boris to take Audrey with him to go get his wallet from their hotel room. As she holds Boris’s hand and looks over her shoulder back at Bendy and the two other men, she’d look up at Boris and ask. “Bendy’s going to beat the snot out of those weirdos isn’t he?”

Boris sighs and picks up the pace to get Bendy’s wallet faster so they can get back to their brother. Thankfully they miss out on the two thugs lashing out at the bar, but Boris would quickly herd Audrey away when they see those idiots making a scene at the doors of the casino as they’re getting thrown out. While Bendy and Boris bicker over Bendy getting into fights with people at bars, Audrey notices Alice and smiles and waves while pulling out her note book. “Hi Ms. Alice! I drew a picture of you! You wanna see?”

Takes a minute for Alice to snap out of her shock over learning Boris is the other brother she heard Bendy and Audrey talk about before and that they’re all not blood related, she’d be very flattered seeing the cute drawing Audrey made of her and lets her keep it. After spending a few hours chatting with the three, Alice has to go to prepare for her singing performance. The three siblings come to watch and enjoy the show, Audrey thinking her voice is very pretty, and also being pleasantly surprised when Dot and Yakko show up.

She’s not pleasantly surprised when the two thugs from earlier come back with their mean buddies looking for her and her brothers because their boss wants to meet them. Bendy and Boris quickly take Audrey and get the hell out of there as Alice tries getting the men to leave before Dot and Yakko intervene and Alice can help the three siblings. Then someone tries taking the doll and they all have to deal with THAT situation on top of everything else. Audrey spends most of that event glued by Bendy’s side and holding his hand as he’s hurting from someone having the doll. The whole thing is rather scary, but she does her best to be brave just like when they were in New Orleans and whenever Bendy has an attack.

She had to be brave for her brothers.

Little hard to stay brave when she officially meets Black Hat for the first time. Clinging on tightly to Boris as Bendy stands protectively in front of them, feeling Hat’s angry energy scaring the ever living daylights out of her. Boris does his best to soothe her when he feels her shaking against him.

With them getting kicked out of the casino and Alice losing her job, Yakko and Dot take them to meet Xedo and Wiston at their place where they all spend the night and spend the next morning talking and explaining things to Xedo and Alice. When that’s done with, they head to Oddswell house, meet Avery, and get reunited with Granny. Audrey giggling happily as Granny hugs and fusses over them before bringing them inside and all of them catching up.

But then Audrey asks where Steven is, and Granny has to break the news. It breaks Alice’s heart watching Audrey openly cry as Boris pulls her into his lap and Bendy tries comforting the two of them. The three siblings decide to visit the cemetery to pay their respects to Steven, leaving flowers at the grave as Boris hugs Audrey and Bendy rests his hands on their shoulders. When they eventually leave, they get unpleasantly surprised by Cuphead and Mugman waiting for them. 

Bendy runs for it as Cuphead chases him, while Boris protectively holds Audrey as the two watch Mugman carefully, before he pulls out a pack of cards and asks if they want to play. Boris plays go fish with him while Audrey sits in Boris’s lap and looks deep in thought. Mugman notices that as they’re playing, as well as her eyes look all teary. “Hey Little Lady, I don’t think I’ve seen you cry once since we first met. What’s wrong?”

Audrey glances back at the cemetery as Boris gives her a comforting squeeze while she’s in his arms. “We were visiting a friend…”

Understanding, Mugman offers his condolences, before asking Audrey if she has a blank piece of paper he can see real quick. A bit confused, she pulls out her notebook and takes out a blank sheet of paper to give to Mugman. After a minute of watching him mess with it, he gives it back to her, and she curiously looks it over as he speaks. “I only know how to make paper airplanes. Hope you like it.”

Boris would be grateful when that gets Audrey to smile a little as she thanks Mugman.

Then Cuphead comes back with ink covered unconscious Bendy, looking pissed off when he finds the three of them playing cards. Boris would be scared enough seeing Bendy in Cuphead’s arms, but he nearly has a stroke when Audrey runs forward and starts kicking at Cuphead’s legs and yelling at him to let her big brother go. Cuphead being caught off guard and frankly getting even more pissed off that this freaking rugrat has the guts to kick him (which surprisingly hurts). So he grabs her by the back of her sweater, throws her and Bendy at Boris, and leaves while dragging Mugman by his handle. Audrey later gets one hell of a scolding once they’re back safely at Xedo’s and stay hiding there for a few days.

None of them expect Holly to come looking for them since she lost her job at the college because of them, but Audrey certainly wouldn’t be complaining once they get to know her and she helps them figure out what to do with the magic outdated map. Holly even complimented her on her art skills when Audrey showed her a drawing of what the map looks like to her and her brothers. By the time Holly leaves Audrey right away tells her brothers that she likes her. Getting some chuckles out of them and a pat on the head.

Few days later, Bendy asks Boris and Audrey if they want to go see the circus, laughing when both of his younger siblings look ready to explode with excitement before they leave to go see the show. Both Boris and Audrey have a blast as Audrey sits on Bendy’s shoulders to see better over the crowd, and the two get VERY excited when Bendy manages to get them to meet the mouse. Though while Boris is nervously trying to talk to Mickey, Audrey would be a bit more bashful and overwhelmed meeting THE Mickey Mouse. Mickey notices her clinging to Boris’s leg as he slowly kneels down and says hi. Audrey doesn’t say hi back, but she does reach into her bag and pull out her notebook, pulls out one of her more colorful pictures she made and gives it to him. Mickey thanking her very much and saying he’ll treasure it always, Audrey smiling so much more as her yellow eyes twinkle.

Unfortunately, Bendy has an ink attack. Mickey quickly takes charge of the situation and helps Boris with Bendy while telling Donald to take Audrey with as he gets Oswald and the kids out of there. Audrey would be rather spooked by the bad attack her brother is having, and also confused by the very tired looking rabbit man looking even more spooked then she is. She respectfully keeps her distance from Oswald and the bunny kids as she patiently, and tensely, waits for the attack to end. She’d be caught a little off guard when some of the bunny kids around her age approach her with a carrot muffin and introduce themselves, saying their Uncle Mickey said a treat might help cheer her up.

Audrey appreciates that and chats a little with them until Mickey Mouse comes to get her and tells her the attack is over. As he walks her back to Bendy and Boris he’d tell her she’s an amazing brave little girl, and that he’s sure her brothers appreciate how strong she is. Audrey thanking him for his nice words, and clinging to Bendy once she’s back by his side while Mickey pulls Boris aside to talk to him.

Things, unfortunately don’t get much better when they leave. Cuphead and Mugman find them again as they head out, the three trying to run for it, and dodging when Cuphead shoots at them. Causing him to shoot Mugman instead. Boris firmly holds Audrey as he covers her eyes before she sees any of the blood, and Boris carries her when they run for it when Cup clearly snaps.

Bendy does his best to calm Boris and Audrey down after that traumatic situation, but getting surprised by detective Ringtail and Featherworth at the apartment doesn’t really help. Alice would quickly grab Audrey as she screams at the detectives not to arrest her brothers, she’d get so worked up that her eyes would turn red like Bendy’s does when he gets mad. Bendy quickly asks the detectives to let him and Boris calm her down, and thankfully they allow it. Bendy instructs Audrey to take deep breaths until she’s calm enough, and gently explains that she’s going to stay with Xedo and Wiston for a little bit while Holly and Alice check up on her for them. Until they can come back to her, she has to promise to be on her best behavior and be brave for them. Audrey promises with teary eyes.

It absolutely kills Bendy and Boris as they get dragged off hearing their little sister crying.

And on that oh so happy note, it’s time for the funfacts!

-Alice does her best to not act distant towards Audrey and Bendy, or shudder when Audrey tugs her hand and she gets hit with the cold feeling demons give off. Honestly she finds Audrey very sweet and enjoyed spending time with her as they all stayed at Xedo’s. Which is why she didn’t hesitate to pick up Audrey and comfort her as her brothers were arrested. Ignoring the cold feeling chilling her to the bone as she spends a long time soothing the crying little girl and promising her things will be okay. She’d be a shivering mess though once Audrey eventually falls asleep and Alice finally puts her down.

- Audrey doesn’t like Black Hat. He’s big, mean, and freaking SCARY, way scarier than Lady Facilier was. She was GLAD they left and she told her brothers she did NOT want to go back to that casino. Bendy and Boris would not argue with that.

-Xedo and Wiston are interesting. Audrey’s glad Xedo wants to help tell the truth about everything going on and clear her brothers’ names, but after watching Wiston try setting stuff on fire a few times, she decides she prefers not sitting next to him during meals and during quiet periods. She won’t hesitate to throw a cup of water at him if she has any reason to feel worried and she doubts Bendy and Boris would be mad if she did.

- She starts liking Mugman a bit more after he made her a paper airplane to cheer her up. She enjoys playing with it when she and her brothers are forced to hide at Xedo’s for a while. Bendy decides not to ask who made it for her.

- Cuphead at first gave Mugman a hard time over getting “beat up” by a little rugrat in New Orleans after he saw the bruise Audrey gave him when she kicked him. Mugman swears Audrey’s tougher than she looks, but Cuphead ignores that. Until Audrey kicks HIM when she tries defending Bendy from him. Cuphead would not look at Mugman who’s watching him trying to hide his limp with a smug look.

-Audrey laughing up a storm when Mickey hugged Boris and he BARKED because he was so overwhelmed. Though honestly she wasn’t much better when Mickey gives her a quick hug too before walking her back to her brothers after Bendy’s attack. She’d be BLUSHING from head to toe to the point that her white fur looks pink and she looks ready to just duck inside her sweater like a turtle hiding in its shell.

-She knows how Bendy feels over Cuphead and Mugman, so she’d try not to voice how upset she is over Mugman clearly being badly hurt because she started to like him (she may not have seen anything but everything she heard made a pretty clear picture) but it’s kinda hard to hide how shaken up she is even if Boris is being more open about how the whole thing upset him. Bendy takes Audrey into his arms as he does his best to sooth the two of them and carries her all the way back to Xedo’s apartment.

-After they officially meet and became friends with Holly, she helps out a lot with Audrey’s education whenever she has time. Bringing her books to read and teaching her some things that she learned while in school. Bendy and Boris appreciate her help since their education is a bit limited and they’ve been lacking in her lessons with the whole quest keeping them busy.

[youngpettyqueen]

hi! just saw your rb about the fanfic director's cut soooo I'll just drop a ⭐ (and thanks for writing the sick hawk fic, hope you're getting well, too!)

hiya!! and thanks so much, im doing leagues better, the covid's gone and im pretty much back to normal. it was brutal, but luckily for me it was short-lived

ill use the sickfic for rambling purposes, cause I love it a lot. specifically this section-

"Trapper huffs softly, unable to stop a crooked smile of his own from creeping up on his face. Hawkeye’s right- he’ll be fine in a couple days, back to bouncing around camp, terrorizing the Majors, and putting people back together like puzzles. Still… it’s hard not to worry when he’d worked himself to the point of collapse.

Hard not to worry when he can’t shake the feeling he should’ve done more.

“I’ll never stop worryin’ about you,” He tells him, getting close to a bit too sincere for the tone of the conversation they’re having, “That’s my job. Anything else I can get you, sweetheart? I’ve got post-OP duty in…” He checks his watch, “5 minutes, and you know how cranky Frankie gets when I’m late.” That’s a complete lie, seeing as he was due in post-OP 15 minutes ago, but Hawkeye doesn’t need to know that."

I went for a very soft tone with this fic specifically because I was feeling very unwell and wanted to keep things light and fluffy, but I still wanted some emotional element to this so I decided to keep it brief and contained to this section. the goal was to acknowledge that Trapper was worried, is still worried, without letting that worry dominate everything and make this into something angsty

I think there's just a lack of Trapper taking care of Hawkeye content overall, but really. I just love Trapper taking care of Hawkeye. this isnt my first time writing it, and it won't be my last, but I did specifically want to write it for Carry On, Hawkeye both because I just felt sick and miserable and wanted to project comfort to help with my mood, but also because its just one of my favourite episodes. there's that short scene where Trapper tries to get up out of bed so that he can help Hawkeye out when he knows he needs it, but he cant because he's too sick, and he has to just lie back down while Hawkeye has to go and, well, carry on. its a very short scene, but its a very good one for showing Trapper's protective/caring streak when it comes to Hawkeye, and its what I latched onto for this particular section

in my head here Trapper is worried, and he's upset that he couldn't do more, but for now he's just focusing on taking care of Hawkeye because that's the best he can do. he'd rather focus on what he can do rather than what he couldn't do. he's trying to avoid really thinking about how bad he feels about the whole thing, cause he knows that isnt going to help anybody right now, but some of it still slips through here. hence there's a brief moment of something very tender and sincere that doesnt quite match up with the rest of the conversation, because Trapper cant really help himself in the moment, and it quickly passes because he's still avoiding dealing with everything he's feeling

it didnt make it into the fic itself but there was a scene that explained that Hawkeye's in the Swamp because he refused to stay down in post-OP and kept trying to check on patients because he was really anxious about anything he might've missed in his sick state. there was gonna be a lot more Trapper reflecting on Hawkeye's resiliency and devotion to the point of detriment, with him thinking about how he had to carry Hawkeye out and to the Swamp after one of the nurses came to get him cause Hawkeye collapsed trying to check on a kid, but it felt so much like the other Hawkeye/Trapper fic ive posted (lay your weary head to rest) and clashed so much with the tone I was going for with the rest of the fic that I ultimately scrapped it

but yeah this fic was both to make me feel better and to find a way to write something fluffy and tender with a hint to more emotional depth underneath. I wanted it to be light and easy to read, but to hint at that worry I think Trapper felt, and some of that blame im sure he put on himself for how bad it got, without overpowering how soft and light the tone was supposed to be. overall im really pleased with the result, and im impressed that its even coherent cause again I was. very very sick when I wrote it

[rose-tinted-kalopsia]

≡;-꒰ 𝑿𝑨𝑽𝑰𝑬𝑹 ꒱₊˚ ପ⊹ I 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓

╰┈➤ ❝ xavier x afab!reader | smut nsfw 18+ mdni

tags : 5+1 trope, pwp (porn with plot), porn with feelings (a. LOT.), poetic descriptions, fluff, with slight angst undertones, references to cards “moment’s respite” “close feelings” “fragment of time” "lightseeking obsession",  unrequited but actually requited love, yearning, miscommunication, love confessions, reader is drunk in scene 5, slow dancing, kissing, heavy petting, grinding, fingering, clit play, slight nipple play, multiple orgasms, first time sex (with each other), vaginal sex (raw), needy sex, creampie, praise, dirty talk, use of pet names “angel” “my starlight”. lmk if i missed any tags !! ((slightly unedited))

wc : 13.4k (😭)

an : PHEW OK. i'm going back to my roots guys ... this is LONG, embarRASINGLY LONG but. if you want to skip to the Fun Part, that's in scene 6 (which is like. more than half of the entire thing really) !! also, play the song as you read i promise you won’t regret it <3

taglist : @spotted-salamander @darlingdummycassandra @milkandstarlight @thoupenguinman @valyvinny [sign up here!] / +tyty @unluckywisher for beta reading a part of this the other day 🥺

AO3 LINK 🔗

Five times he couldn't say “I love you”... And one time he actually did.

—ᴏɴᴇ.

“Do you think Lemonette will finally stop bothering us for a while?”

You stifled a yawn as you walked up to your apartment, Xavier’s own footsteps following not too far behind you. The yellow wanderer had been roaming the city causing trouble, and you thought you’d gotten rather sick of seeing its face around—especially now that it had kept you both awake, the threads of sleep having slipped from you both the instant your watch went off. In that moment, a glance at the time told you that it was well past midnight. The sky surrounding the building was darker than dark, light from neither the moon nor stars enough to bring you out of it, the only comfort being the dim gleam of the hallway lights.

“We gave it a good beating, at least…” came his reply, and you shouldn’t have been so surprised to hear the grogginess present in his voice—as if he hadn’t been a large part of the reason Lemonette was rather… annihilated, for lack of a better word.

You smiled.

“Yeah, and no less thanks to you for it,” you chuckled, stretching as the door to your apartment finally came into view. You realized that you’d never once thought you wanted to be in bed any more than you did in that moment.

A momentary silence fell, and you stood by the doorway, turning around to face him.

Xavier remained still.

He seemed contemplating, scanning over your figure, fingers reaching out tentatively… only to fall back to his sides.

“Xavier?”

The call of your voice prompted a shake of his head, and a hint of embarrassment flashed briefly in his eyes.

“It’s nothing,” he mumbled.

It wasn’t nothing.

“You’re not… injured, are you?”

A smile spread on your lips, then.

So he was worried.

“It’s just a scratch,” you shrugged. “You know how it is. Just the usual stuff, I don’t even need first aid for it. It’ll be fine.”

Still, he didn’t move.

“So… Will you be able to sleep okay?”

It was almost comical how he said it, what with how obviously sleepy his own gaze had turned. Eyelids heavy, slow blinks in your direction, as if everything he was doing in that moment was with the intention of conserving as much energy as he could… He was tired. Just as tired as you were. Just as jolted out of his sleep as you had been.

You nodded your head, and reached over to give his shoulder a pat.

“I’ll be okay. Really. Maybe it’s since I’m tired from all of that, but I feel like I could get some pretty good rest! I don’t want to keep bothering you with my sleeping problems, anyway…”

Your eyes met, then.

Xavier’s searched yours, as if trying to ascertain that you weren’t just brushing it off. And this time, he seemed to let impulsivity win—or, whatever it was that made him reach out, tucking a stray strand of hair behind your ear.

His touch was soft. Gentle. Much like it always was; much like he always was, especially when it came to you. It lingered, the feeling of his skin against your ear, settling to rest by your cheek—and perhaps that was what made it feel more intimate, and soothing, than it otherwise would have been.

You didn’t know it could be so comforting just to look at someone like this.

To share a pause in thought, to enjoy the presence of each other… to have a little bit of your worries melt away the way that they did…

The moment offered more solace than you thought it ever could.

But Xavier tended to have that effect on you.

He always made you feel safe.

“Xavier?” You mumbled, your hand reaching up to rest on his wrist.

“Mh?”

“Um… Thanks. It’s not so bad, even if Lemonette had to bother us tonight. Since… I have you, after all.”

And at that, you watched him smile.

Somehow, the dim lighting around his figure made him appear all the more ethereal than he usually did.

“I think the same,” he nodded.

His hand dropped back to his side, then. His mouth opened and closed for a moment, as if trying to weigh what to say next, before he took a prompt step backwards.

“...Goodnight.”

It was soft, the way he said it. You could have missed it if you weren’t paying attention, and something told you that it wasn’t quite… what he had meant to say.

Still, you smiled.

“Goodnight, Xavier.”

In the end, it wasn’t so bad, like this.

—ᴛᴡᴏ.

How many days was it, now, that you’d found yourself in such a situation?

You stood in his kitchen, hands on your hips, looking at the tray of cookies in front of you. Much to your dismay, they were mostly charred, or otherwise deformed, or otherwise… much too expanded to be considered presentable. Your gaze raised to meet a very expectant one, blue eyes nearly twinkling, and you thought—how could he be so confident?

“Xavier,” you started, and you crossed your arms for emphasis.

It was in an instant that you saw him deflate. If he had ears like a rabbit—a thought you’d had for quite some time now—you were certain they would be folding over his face in near-mortification.

Or guilt, perhaps.

You weren’t quite sure which one it was.

You were sure, however, that it was difficult to scold him properly with the kind of expression he was giving you.

You reached up to scratch your cheek; “It’s not terrible… I mean, you’re getting better…”

“...I followed your instructions, though…” You watched him lean over the counter to take a look at what had become of the cookies, and then he, too, found his nose wrinkling in distaste. “They don’t turn out very well, do they?”

“On the plus side… They don’t taste bad!”

To make a point, you held up a cookie and took a cheerful bite.

“...Well, you know. Aside from the burnt ones, I guess…”

A pout formed on his face with ease, and with the way he’d been leaning over, you were able to notice the slight flutter of his eyelashes with every blink.

For a moment, your heart skipped a beat.

“How are you so good at baking?” he sighed. “I know you’ve been trying to help… But is there something you’re not telling me?” His voice sounded a little dejected, more emotion seeping into it than usual, and you could see his desire to learn reflected cleanly in his gaze. Xavier wasn’t often this expressive. You knew he was genuine with all of this, and especially with all of the impromptu baking lessons that he’d dragged you into.

Not that you ever complained, of course.

To you, any moment you got to spend with him was one of comfort; an opportunity you could never bring yourself to pass up on. 

Even if these moments often ended up in…

You took another look at the cookies.

Well, burnt things.

You couldn’t help but laugh.

You knew you weren’t supposed to, and you watched his expression change from one of gloom to that of bewilderment. His eyebrows furrowed slightly as if trying to understand your sudden outburst—and with Xavier, you found, it was this expression that you so unabashedly adored. The confusion made him seem akin to a lost puppy, innocence in his eyes unveiled, a sincere glimpse into the person he didn’t often let you see.

This, with the way the sunlight streamed in through the window, the placement of his kitchen aptly weaved into the path of the sun, made the moment all the more heartwarming.

This was why you could never decline his invitations.

If only to see a little bit more of him the way that you were…

Your laughter settled into a grin, and you shook your head.

“Nothing, it’s just… Xavier, you’re so… So…” You made vague gestures with your hands, trying to find a suitable word. “So cute.”

The confusion in his face no less settled at that, but he crossed his arms. “...Well, so are you.”

You paused.

Your eyes widened.

In retrospect, it wasn’t as if this was anything new. Quips like this would often come out of nowhere; you’d learned to get a little bit used to it. That was the Xavier you were familiar with.

But there was something about the way he said it this time that made your heart skip another beat.

It had been doing that quite often in his presence, as of late.

The softness, perhaps; the directness, perhaps—or maybe it was the way the depth in his eyes made it seem a little more real. He met your gaze head-on, never wavering, never taking back what he’d said.

But in another split second, that moment was gone—and just as you had meant to tease him, now it didn’t seem like the words held much weight for him. There was an easy smile on his face, his eyes softened ever so slightly, but then he reached out for his own cookie to taste. And it was almost as if he hadn’t said anything at all. It was so typical of him to act so nonchalant about it.

Perhaps, part of you wished that he had said something more.

You cleared your throat.

“A- anyway,” you dusted some crumbs off of your clothes, “you can just—you know, try again later? You could follow along with a demonstration, or something… Maybe it was a little much just to recount the recipe to you. But, I really still think you’re improving! This’s a lot better than the last time we baked already, so with more practice I think you—”

Your words felt swallowed down in your throat, his eyes watching you with such intensity that you nearly had to take a step back.

“You’re amazing.”

Huh?

“You’re good at a lot of things. I don’t think I know what I’d be doing with all of this if you weren’t here.”

Again he spoke, with the follow of silent words that, to you, seemed like they never really made it out of his mouth. Like there was something more, something else he would have loved to say out loud, but he… didn’t.

As if he were holding back.

He took the tray from you, setting it aside, his eyes following the sunlight. You noticed him squinting slightly when he found its source, acting, as always, as if he didn’t just say something that could get the butterflies in your stomach acting up. As if the push and pull that had consumed most of the days you’d been spending together as of late didn’t… exist.

You almost didn’t know what to make of it, until he opened his mouth to speak again.

“Can we do this again, sometime?”

“I—huh?”

“I like baking with you.”

His head turned back to face you, and there was a small smile playing on his lips—one that mirrored the one you’d had just moments ago.

“Let’s do this again sometime.”

It wasn’t a question anymore, but a statement.

You swallowed down the fluster in your throat, feeling as if the implications of his words were a lot more than just… This.

But you offered a smile. “O…okay. Yeah. I… I would like that, too.”

It was so difficult to say no to him.

…Not that you’d ever want to say no, anyway.

—ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ.

He would do that quite often, you found.

Your eyebrows knitted together as you glanced up from your textbook, only to find him, chin in his hand, not at all paying attention to the book laid out in front of him. Blue eyes bore into your own, and though that selfsame flurry of butterflies whirled around in your chest, you only crossed your arms at him in response.

The library was quiet.

You were the only ones here at this hour, quite early into the morning, save for a few people scattered in their seats here and there. The only sounds were a few hushed whispers every now and then, the rustling of paper, perhaps the sound of a book closing, a chair scraping. Menial sounds, if only to add to the environment.

Sure, it was a perfect conduit for thoughts to wander, for sleeping to be induced, but—but he promised. He promised to help you study for this exam, or at the very least, that he would study with you so you wouldn't feel alone in it.

Yet here he was, not taking it as seriously as you'd hoped him to.

“What are you even looking at?” you nearly whined, your voice lower so as not to disturb the people around you that were reading. “A library is made for reading, you know…”

You didn't know how to feel at the expression he gave you, rather relaxed and unconcerned, head moving in a little nod. He gestured towards the open book before him; “I have a book,” he spoke matter-of-factly.

You gave him a pout.

“Yes, but you're not reading it…”

“I'm… doing more important things.”

“...Like what?”

“Studying.”

You couldn't tell if he was being serious, but his words definitely made it seem like he was playing around. In fact, had his tone not been so direct, you could have thought he was mocking you.

“Are you making fun of me?” you huffed. “If you didn't want to come here with me, you could've just said so, you know.” You made a face, and then promptly rolled your eyes. “You're not even looking at your book. What are you studying, then?”

And then he smiled. 

And it was less irritating to you than it was worrisome, for there was something about that smile that made you feel caught. 

Though in what, you weren't quite sure yet.

“Xavie—”

“You.”

You blinked, your words cut off, your brows furrowed in confusion. “...What?”

“You, I'm studying you.”

He reached over and brushed against your hair, knuckles just barely grazing over the side of your head, nearly akin to a slight flutter of the wind. In an instant, you felt a faint trace of dust fall down onto the table. Your eyes followed it, the moment passing in silence.

You bewilderedly blew it away.

You couldn’t bring yourself to speak just yet, only quite having the mental fortitude to look back up at him, the confusion on your face ever more evident.

“There was something in your hair,” he smiled.

Your face flushed, then, and you weren't unaware of the particular gleam in his eyes. He might have been stating the truth, but he was obviously still… teasing.

“Xavier—!”

A finger to your lips, this time, and there was no holding back the smile that formed on his own.

“Shhh,” he spoke quietly, “it's a library. You have to be quiet.”

You couldn't help the way your cheeks bloomed into shades of pink, and you lowered your head back to your book, defeated.

He didn't know the things he made you feel.

There was little sense left in you to find some kind of retort.

—ꜰᴏᴜʀ.

“You have kind of a funny interest in all of these legends,” you mused, following him with more careful footsteps.

Your eyes focused on the cone of ice cream in your hands, delighted at the appearance that you were promised. Though you had to plod through such a touristy place such as this for it, you were glad to have the bunny-shaped sundae cone finally right there in front of you. Holding it up a little, you tilted your head to compare the side-by-side image of the vanilla ears with Xavier, and smiled to yourself.

It kind of looked like him.

Little white ears matched the shade of his hair, and you figured it was maybe just missing those blue eyes you loved so much.

The person in question, on the other hand, seemed to have other ideas on his agenda.

He barely noticed your little self-satisfying antics, brows furrowed as he tried to make sense of the navigation app you’d installed on his phone. It was endearing how adamant he’d been on sticking with an old-fashioned map; this was a side to him you found that you adored dearly. Moving to circle around him, your eyes shone at his expression of concentration, his eyes narrowed, lips jutted out slightly into somewhat of a pout.

God, you really…

The thought remained uncompleted, and you cleared your throat.

“Xavier,” you reached up to lower his phone, shuffling closer to him to take a peek. “I really don’t think it’s that far… If you’re having trouble with it, just give it to me and—”

The phone screen shut as his finger moved over the lock button, and he promptly put it back into his pocket. A little smile, and a shake of his head, and then his arms were steering you forward as if nudging you along to continue walking.

“Nope,” he said, with a shake of his head to emphasize it. “I’ve studied it enough. We just have to walk a little bit in that direction. We’ll see the lovers’ bridge, then.”

Your eyebrows raised in amusement.

You let him steer you, felt the way his hand moved from over your shoulder to back by his sides, your hands brushing every so often. The only way you could distract yourself from it was to stare intensely at the ice cream in your other hand, one that had endured a few little kitten licks from you, but had its shape more obviously affected by the warmer temperature around you. You wondered, in the back of your mind, if it would last before you got to the bridge at all.

“Why do you want to go there, anyway?” You risked a glance back up at him as you spoke.

This little trip, in and of itself, had been planned on very much a whim—or, you supposed, not very planned, at all. But you could recount the few times you had been out with Xavier, and they had often been on your invite. This time, it was he who had insisted on dragging you out along with him, all to find the so-called Lovers’ Bridge that was infamous for its ‘good fortune’.

The white pedestrian bridge, stretching over the river in a sleek, sophisticated figure, had been used as a filming location for a number of romance movies. Of course, these were films that you had seen… But ones you knew Xavier had yet to, especially with the way he usually avoided all those sappy titles in the first place.

It was odd enough that he'd want to visit the bridge for such a reason… Yet there was more.

And you had found out about those reasons not more than a day before you’d left.

Because more than filming locations, was the superstition behind the bridge—a bridge that had completed its construction on Valentine’s Day, thus earning its name. And it had been swirling with promises and legends ever since, ones that reached the ears of even those outside the area. According to what had spread online, crossing the bridge with the one that you loved would ensure a long and happy life with them as a couple. And something churned in the pit of your stomach as you mulled over the thought, tongue darting out for another few licks on the treat that you held.

The taste of vanilla was cooling on your mouth, a welcoming rush of sugar that served as a means for you to ground yourself a little.

Because you and Xavier were not a couple.

In fact, you were far from it.

You were friends; yes, neighbors; yes, colleagues; yes.

Lovers?

The thought brought a blush to your cheeks, because you wished that you were. And you were aware that sometimes, the both of you tended to act like you were. You spent nearly every moment that you could together, the lingering warmth of his touches and his presence near you whenever he could be near you were burned into your memory.  The rumours at the Association didn’t fall on deaf ears, either. You knew what people were saying about the both of you, and you oftentimes wished them true—you did. The affections you held for him were undeniable.

But that was quite frankly not the reality you lived in.

Xavier had never been clear about it with his signals, nor direct about his feelings, nor—nor anything else. Nothing official had ever occurred between either of you, not in this oddly-structured game of tag, so shrouded in this push and pull, where the rules remained ambiguous, and where the outcomes presented just as vague.

And it was a terrifying thing to assume.

Yet, without properly explaining why… he had been adamant all day to walk straight into it—the bridge, its surrounding legend, all of it. 

“When good luck is involved, it’s better to believe they exist. You have nothing to lose.”

Those were words he was fond of saying, and the only words he would ever use to give you a reason.

The same could be said for this moment.

You found yourself being thoughtful as you fell into step with him, eyes scanning your surroundings, watching the couples that seemed to float in and out of your peripheral vision. There weren’t as many of them as you thought there would be—the bridge was now in your line of sight, its pearly-white structure jumping out against the backdrop of the setting sun. At the very front of its steps was a little bed of flowers; blue, you noted, tinted ever so slightly with the swirl of cotton candy from the clouds above.

The river below it rippled with a darkening pinkish hue.

The sun would be below the horizon in just a few moments.

And at the same time, in perhaps a minute or two, the bridge would be lit up in an equally captivating display of beautiful colors.

Even without the legend, you wouldn’t have minded getting to see something so pretty.

“...Your ice cream is melting.”

You blinked at his voice, your eyes drawing away from the scenery and back to him.

It could have been the shadows of the sunset that made him shine a little brighter in your eyes, now, that you couldn’t quite bring yourself to formulate any sort of response.

His eyes softened, the gentle breeze brushing through his hair.

Sometimes, you thought, there was something about him so inexplicably out of reach. Yet here he was, giving you attention, reaching for your hands, allowing for the heat from his skin to linger upon your own for even just a moment…

And then in these moments, you couldn’t help but think of how lucky you were.

“Aren’t you going to finish that?” he mumbled. There was a slight shift of his gaze towards the cone in your hand, before he looked at you again. “It might make your hand all sticky if we go and walk on the bridge right now…”

He was right, of course.

Your own gaze drifted down to the hand with your ice cream, now less of a rabbit, and more of the standard scoop of ice cream for all that it had melted. Parts of it had even begun to drip down onto your hand, but you had barely noticed the feeling.

“Oh, I… I mean, we can wait for the lights to turn on first, so…”

Blinking again as if to snap yourself out of your reverie, you lifted your hand—

Xavier beat you to it.

He had his thumb and index finger wrapped around your wrist, slowly pulling it towards him.

A smile.

You didn’t miss that smile, how could you? Slight, and perhaps, barely visible otherwise, but your breath caught in your throat—Something had you gravitating towards him, nearly entranced in the heat of his stare, sucking in a sharp intake of breath as his tongue darted out to lick at the stains of vanilla that ran over your palm.

You were blushing, probably.

You couldn’t even tell, at that point.

Soft, tiny little kitten clicks at your skin, almost as if to clean up the mess—you couldn’t really have bothered to focus on the expression you were making, feeling your own heart beat so loudly out of your chest that you were certain he could hear it.

“Xavier…” you mumbled.

His eyes twinkled, and he moved his mouth to the treat in your hand, taking a bite of his own.

“Can’t let it go to waste, right?” he licked at his lips.

The clusters of people, then, long-forgotten in the moment you had dared to share with each other, let out a resounding exclamation at amazement, as a click resounded in the air and the bridge before the both of you erupted into dazzling colors. Yet, your skin still tingled at the feeling of his touch, and you felt dazed as you turned your eyes back to him.

“I guess we, um… We should finish this before we go…?”

He chuckled, and then he nodded—“I… Think vanilla isn’t a bad flavor.”

—ꜰɪᴠᴇ.

The spin in your head made your vision hazy. You couldn’t remember, anymore, what time it was—only that your system had become intoxicated long past coherence, and the grass you sat on had a strangely soothing texture to it. And in front of you, right then, was that red, empty solo cup you’d brought with you outside.

You vaguely made out some loud music, and a voice in the background—Tara’s, probably. But you couldn’t be bothered to decipher what she was saying. You didn’t register that she was actually right beside you, trying to keep you engaged in conversation, a hand over your shoulder.

How long it had been like this?

You weren’t quite sure, either.

What you could remember was that Tara had planned a little girls’ party of her own, and it had gotten bigger than anticipated… And you supposed you’d ended up drinking more than you’d expected to. Eventually, you found yourself out in her front yard. It was the night breeze that felt comforting, despite the cold. There were stars out that night—a few of them shone brilliantly above you, and though you weren’t looking at them anymore, their presence made you smile.

It was only when a shadow passed over your figure that you looked up again, head lolled a little to the side, rapid blinks trying to steady on the person in front of you.

“There you are!” Tara stood up from beside you, dusting off some of the dirt from her pants. With a grunt, she managed to pull you up, though your weight naturally rested on her shoulders. Unbeknownst to you, she let out a pleading sigh. “Sorry, Xav… I didn’t notice how much she drank until she went wandering out here…”

Oh…

Xav.

The nickname registered in your head, and your vision, a little less blurry at the snap the information had given you, managed to form Xavier’s figure in front of you. His hair was a little unruly, the white hoodie so familiar on him a little more disheveled than you knew it to be—his eyes, too, held a certain level of concern that you were able to make out.

He had probably been sleeping.

There was a twinge of guilt that lapsed over your face, but it didn’t last—his presence brought on a giddiness you couldn’t have thought to control, and a lopsided grin easily came to prove it.

You slid off of Tara to fall straight into his arms; the scent of his laundry detergent had you sighing. It was almost by instinct that your arms wrapped around his waist.

“Xavier…”

A nuzzle against his chest had Tara clearing her throat then, and she made a pointed gesture.

“Well! She couldn’t stop talking about you, so I figured you were the person I should call! Sorry, really! I didn’t realize it would get this out of hand, but I do need to get to the other guests, too, so I hope I can leave her in your hands! Thanks, Xavier!”

You didn’t notice her leave, not until you felt a warm hand on your back, a familiar, soothing voice speaking softly into your ear.

“Hey… Let’s get you home. Let me just… Call a cab, and—”

“...But you’ll just leaveeee…”

He paused.

“I’m… Taking you home, so you can get some rest.”

“T’my place?”

“Yeah.”

“And you’ll stay w’me?”

The silence that followed only had you clinging to him tighter.

“Seeee…! You’re not answering! You’re gonna leave me ‘gain… N’I dunno when I’ll see you ‘gain, n’theenn…!”

Your voice trailed off on its own, resorting to nuzzling against him, feeling as if parting from him in this moment would never give you another to hold him so close like this.

But it didn’t last.

The fact was: Xavier was gentle with you; still.

Patient. 

Enough to pry you away from him, enough to get you to comply to get in the cab with him, enough to usher you up to your apartment and unlock the door… until the familiar warmth of your couch had you happily sprawling out, hugging the pillows close to you.

You barely had any recollection of what had happened; it was enough for you to know that he had been with you.

That he was still with you.

“Xavie…”

Your hands reached out for his, registering late that you’d been reaching for the glass of water he was holding rather than the hands themselves.

And you frowned.

“Huh? C’mere… Wan’ hold you…”

You made out the shake of his head, gentle gestures to sit you up properly on the couch.

“You have to drink water first,” came his reply.

His voice was so soft.

You could let it get to your head, the mere sound of it bringing a silly grin onto your face, a giggle bubbling past your throat. “Oooh… Can you say it again?”

It was clearly nonsensical, and you noted yet another shake of his head, the patience in his eyes ever evident despite all of your antics. It could only make you giggle even more, your hands falling to your lap, expression clearly very much out of it.

Until—

“Angel… You’re too drunk. You really need to drink this.”

Angel.

The giggles, the laughter, all stopped abruptly. You felt your expression shift into that of wonder, your eyes wide and blinking curiously. Somehow, the nickname sent all kinds of flutters into your stomach—ones you couldn’t bring yourself to understand, especially in the state that you were in.

You leaned forward:

“You’re right… You’re like an angel…”

Your voice was light and airy, nearly akin to a gasp, and perhaps you might have giggled it off again had Xavier not reacted with a sigh. Because before you could do anything else, he moved his hand to rest gently over the curve of your spine, bringing the glass up to your lips.

It registered, then.

Your response was immediate, as if nearly conditioned, allowing him to tilt the glass upwards. You found yourself eagerly gulping at the water as it flowed down your throat; you hadn’t realized how much you needed the water. You were suddenly all the more grateful he had given it to you, gasping for air once the glass had been drained empty, and then blinking to look at him through hazy eyes.

“Better?” he murmured.

The hand on your back gave you soft, gentle rubs as he set the glass down, and then he reached up to brush the strands of hair from out of your face.

Immediately, you stilled. All traces of your giggles seemingly washed away with the water you’d drunk. You certainly didn’t feel any less intoxicated than earlier, but his touch through your shirt, and the soft caress on your cheek, felt all the more heightened that this moment felt nearly surreal to you. It was then that you could notice those favorite blue eyes of yours, staring into your own, searching your own, soft, and full of worry, and—

And something else. 

Something you weren’t coherent enough to put a label to.

But something that caused tears to well up in your eyes.

“Xavie,” you pouted, though you kept relatively still nonetheless, if only to lean more into his touch. “Why’re you lookin’ a’me like that?”

You caught the faintest trace of a smile on his lips, but he didn’t move away.

“Like what, angel?”

That nickname again.

You groaned as you fell back against the couch, grabbing a pillow to bring it up to your face.

Something about that nickname was driving you insane.

You felt your cheeks flush a cherry red, not just from the alcohol, and more likely from whatever else he was making you feel. You couldn’t quite tell what expression you were making, hidden behind the pillow, fighting some sort of giddy urge to let out a squeal. You didn’t even know how you had the space to overanalyze it. But the questions swirled in your head before you could stop it—has he said it to anyone else before? Was it just… you? Was it supposed to be… Common, and you weren’t aware of it?

The possibilities that plagued you only allowed another groan to sneak past your lips;

“Wh- why’re you callin’ me that, too! A-an’ being all soft with me, s’like… like you mean something…”

You felt the couch shift beside you, and although you still refused to look at him, you felt yourself naturally gravitating into his warmth.

“Do you… want me to mean something?”

This time, you sniffled.

Saved from his gaze, you quickly moved to bury your face back into his hoodie, allowing yourself to focus on his scent, on the way he held you like this, on the way—for even just a moment—he felt… yours.

“Dunnoooo,” you whined. “I’unno what you’re thinking… I never knowww what you’re thinking! Always so nice to me n’then you leave me all alone the next, then I’unno where to find you anymore… Say all these things n’keep me all close t’you, then you act like nothin’ happened…”

You rambled into his chest, your voice slurred and muffled into the fabric, gripping at his hoodie as if he could disappear in any next second. They were similar words to what you’d said by Tara’s front yard, similar feelings of refusing to let him go. But speaking them out with more clarity—whatever clarity you could muster the way you were speaking now—felt like twisting a knife into your heart.

Because all your thoughts had been clouded with him.

They were all-consuming, deliberately buried down into the pit of your stomach only to resurface with an intensity you could barely fathom yourself. How he’d been treating you, the words that he’d say… For the past days, for the past weeks, just—just him. Him, and his eyes, and his hair, and his voice. His touch. His presence. His comfort.

The Xavier you knew you’d come to love.

A hiccup bubbled in your throat, and you let out a quiet whimper in attempts to quell it.

Love.

Was that the emotion you couldn’t pinpoint?

Was that what you were feeling?

The visceral grip that he had on everything that you were; was that what you could call… Love?

“This isn’t the kind of time we should be talking about this…” You felt him murmur into your hair, a soft kiss placed on the crown of your head. Yet he wasn’t pulling away. He kept his hand on your back, soft, gentle caresses, trying to soothe you from the outpour of emotions you had barely the consciousness to control. “You’re not going to remember this tomorrow. How about we talk about it then?”

“B-but… But you always make excuses!” 

“Angel…”

You looked up this time, sniffling in irregulated breaths, eyes watery with tears that were threatening to spill.

“You can’t call me that!” you insisted. Your hands balled into a fist. “D’you know what that means?! W-what if it’s making my heart all restless? N’you can act all calm like it’s nothing!”

“...I’m sorry…”

“An’—an’ you’re… You’re so warm… You’re like a fluffy cloud… N’what if you leave? What if you’re only here ‘cause m’like this, and then the rain passes n’you just leave me all alone again, an’... A-an’ then the sky won’t have any stars, either, n’I’ll be all alone—”

You could register the mix of confusion and concern on his face, your words barely making sense even to you, but your grip on his hoodie remained tight. You felt it, the way your tears rolled down your cheeks, your own expression a mix of desperation and a confusion that likely mirrored his own.

“Just… Just don’t… Don’t leave, Xavier…” you felt your lower lip tremble. “I’on wanna be left all alone… M’scared… I’on wan’ you t’leave…”

Your voice became smaller and smaller with each word, and you were left there, sniffling for a moment, looking up at him with a certain kind of hopelessness.

You were aware, at least, that you likely looked pathetic in his gaze like this.

“...M’sorry, Xav, I-I’unno what…”

Your words swallowed back into your throat when he reached out, brushing his thumb over your cheeks, over the corners of your eyes, wiping away your tears. His touch, as always, felt like a gentle caress. Patient, despite the incoherence of your thoughts and your actions; kind, despite the way you were keeping him here with you very likely against his will.

But he squeezed your hand.

You knew what that meant.

You gulped, looking up at him again, allowing his touch to lull you into a calm as it often did.

“It’s okay,” he mumbled. “I won’t leave. You have me. I’m not going anywhere.”

Through the haze of your eyes, half blurred from the alcohol and half from the tears, you caught the softening of his gaze. He moved closer, a little bit—slow, steady movements. And then he pulled your arm back over him, his own moving to rest in your hair… Until you were encased in the warmth of his embrace.

Almost just as earlier, except this time more… real.

He didn’t feel like an afterimage, not now.

Not in this moment.

His head dipped down, nuzzling against your neck, and he sighed.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I’m sorry I made you feel that way, I’ll… I’ll do better. I’ll stay with you. I’ll be right here.”

His breath tickled your skin when he spoke. And, to you, these were words that you felt were more genuine than you had heard from him in a while. It was enough to have you comfortably settling into his hold, eyes falling closed, breaths beginning to even you out.

Your head still throbbed.

It was a combination of everything; all of these feelings, and the alcohol that had planted itself into your system far past any level of sensibility.

Maybe he was right.

Maybe you wouldn’t recall any of this when you woke up the next day.

You tended not to remember things when you got like this, after all.

But still, your arms wrapped around him, returning the embrace.

“...I love you, Xavier,” you whispered.

Maybe he wouldn’t remember anything, either.

—ꜱɪx ... xᴀᴠɪᴇʀ.

The soft clinking of spoon against the mug was all he could hear.

It was late in the afternoon, leaves rustling gentle against the kitchen window. The atmosphere was quiet, and peaceful—enough for him to let out a little yawn, eyes blinking slowly in the golden rays of the light.

The tiredness was catching up to him.

Fluctuations had been far more unsteady than usual these past few days, and it only meant another morning full of missions for the both of you. Now, here, where in his apartment the both of you decided to relax in, was the first moment of pause the two of you had been granted in a while.

He recalled, too, the complaints you’d muttered on the way back. Though you’d done so on the premise he wouldn’t hear you, he did, anyway. It brought a little smile to his face thinking of the tone of voice you had taken.

For though headstrong and dedicated to your job as you were, you, like all Hunters in the Association, had the right to feel weary. You deserved moments of rest, such as now. Xavier couldn’t blame you for your complaints. He wouldn’t dare.

Like a distant whisper in his mind came words that were familiar to him; words that he wished he had another moment to comfort;

“I’m tired, Xavier… What if I can’t brandish my sword one day? What then?”

The memory made him close his eyes, jaw tightened in a grind of his teeth.

What he’d said, then, were words he had never gotten the chance to fulfil—words he could never take back. He could remember them, still. It was of the last few times that their conversations had been cordial.

And it was the moment he realized that words were not enough; they never would be. Not if he couldn’t live by them. Not with all the promises he had easily broken.

He wondered, then, how many things of the past he’d come to regret.

With a shake of his head, Xavier carried the mug carefully out the kitchen, sure not to let its contents spill. This was your favorite flavor of tea, and it always had been. If he couldn’t make up for lost hours and missed opportunities then, he would make up for it now.

He would try to.

“Hey, Xavier?” Your voice called out, getting steadily clearer to him as his footsteps padded the wooden flooring of his living room. It was his apartment, one he’d know the layout of like the back of his hand—yet he found, instead, that his path had moreso been mapped out by the sound of your voice. “I realize I never got to ask what these are. Is this… Are these what I’m thinking they are…?”

He blinked.

You weren’t where he’d left you, just earlier.

You’d stood up from the couch, the soft rabbit plushie now out of your hands and since left to the side, looking a little dazed. His own gaze flitted from the toy up to your figure, crouched beside a little wooden stand by the corner of the room. In a manner he’d always found familiar, your head was tilted to the side, pure evidence of your own curiosity. And on top of the stand lay a case, beige as most things in his home, raised slightly open to reveal the touches of a little turntable.

Immediately, his eyes softened in understanding.

“It’s a record player. And those are vinyls.”

He walked up behind you to tap on your shoulder, and the way your eyes lit up at the sight of the mug in his hands nearly made his heart skip a beat.

“Really?!” you exclaimed, taking the tea into your own hands. Your shoulders lifted, whether by the warmth of the drink or your own excitement, Xavier wasn’t quite sure. But he smiled, nonetheless.

“Really.”

“Aren’t those from… Incredibly long ago? I mean, I’ve always known you were old-fashioned by nature, but I didn’t expect you to have things like these, too… I don’t think I’ve ever seen them outside of those little antique shops we pass by sometimes.”

You were rambling, almost.

He knew you got like this when you were excited.

Your expression became more animated than usual as you spoke, leaning in to get a closer look, and he almost laughed.

For all the times you’d call him adorable, he almost wanted to say it back to you, this time.

He almost did.

But when you looked at him next, there was a certain plea to your gaze, the corners of your mouth then turned down into a little pout. “Please can we play something?” The hopefulness laced into your voice didn’t go unnoticed by him. “I’ve never heard you use it before! What’s the use of having it sit around if we don’t get to hear what it plays?”

It felt ironic, looking at the image presented before him. The stand the player rested on had two shelves lodged within it, the bottom hosting a set of vinyls, the one above it hosting none other than a stereo. And suffice to say, the stereo had been used a lot more. The case of the player was well-kept, cleaned and shined every now and then… But it was obvious it had barely been used. It might as well have been new. Xavier himself couldn’t recall the last time he’d used it.

But that you were asking him to, only meant that he would give in. It was difficult to say no to you.

He could hardly dream of it.

“Okay,” he said finally, nodding his head in the direction of the vinyls.

The both of you crouched down to look at the titles, Xavier watching intently as your fingers traced over the record sleeves. They were soft, slow, contemplating motions. You took each one out of its place to look at the cover, eyes skimming the title, before putting it back down—rinse, and repeat.

This time, he did laugh. There was a confused sort of wonder on your face; he was sure that these titles were anything but familiar to you.

“Are you having trouble choosing?” he offered, leaning in closer to look at the records themselves.

Here, sitting so close to you, he could feel the warmth from the tea that you had only taken a few sips of, the scent of your perfume equally as notable in the space between you. Part of him, perhaps, wanted to prolong the moment.

He liked being close to you.

“Mmh… I’m not sure what to expect from either of these,” you admitted, your face scrunched up in concentration. Still your hands trailed over the jackets, and without thinking, he reached over to rest his own hand over your wrist.

When you looked at him, he was pleasantly surprised to find the faint traces of a blush over your cheeks.

You truly were adorable.

But he shook his head.

“Well… They’re a lot different from what we’d be used to now,” he leaned in closer to you to give you a little nudge. “I could choose for you, but I want you to experience it for yourself, too. So, maybe… Choose something you feel drawn to?”

He stood up, then, willing his heart to calm enough for you not to notice how your proximity was affecting him. Instead, he busied himself with the case, lifting up the lid completely to reveal the knobs and switches not otherwise visible just earlier. He tried to remember the last time he’d cleaned it, but it seemed to be in a condition good enough to be able to work, anyway. There was a part of him that let out a sigh of relief at the confirmation; the last thing he wanted to do was disappoint you with it.

“Katharine McPhee…” you mumbled, then.

“It’s a pretty name. The cover looked interesting, too, and the song title is… Well…” Your voice trailed off with a shrug, and he looked back at you, blinking at the vinyl you held in your hands.

Slowly, his lips turned back into a little smile.

Oh. That song.

You handed it over to him, expression expectant, as you took another sip of your tea.

“I actually… Don’t really remember how to use it.”

The soft admission fell from his lips, an honest warning that only earned a scoff from you in reply. He didn’t look at you this time, as he gently slid the record out of its jacket and placed it on the turntable. He didn’t need to, after all. He’d memorized enough of your expressions—the mirth in your eyes, the tugging of a teasing smirk against your lips that would eventually spill into a grin… He was sure you had your head tilted in quiet observance, his own hands moving to push the needle flush against the record.

After he reached over to flip the power switch on, he straightened, arms crossed, a hope in his eyes that could have mirrored your own. In a similar manner, you peeked out from behind him.

And then the first notes of a song flouted out from the box.

Mellow tunes wafted around the living room, a different kind of fullness to it compared to the music that both of you were used to hearing from the speakers. The gentle strumming of the guitar, the soft hums that started off the song—he breathed out a sigh of relief, while you, on the other hand, let out an exclamation of amazement.

In his head, he would have likened your behavior to that of a puppy who’d gotten a new toy. The mere thought of it had him glancing away for a moment, the back of his hand covering his mouth to hide his smile.

Yet, he—couldn’t quite look away from you.

It was hard to look away.

It always has been, when you had since filled his heart with a song of its own, and he’d always been so vividly aware of your presence ever since.

As if you were the only thing that truly mattered to him.

And perhaps, you were.

He could think back to these past months, every little glance the two of you would share, every brush of your hands, every caress he dared to initiate, every hold on you he’d be greedy enough to take for his own.

One of the earlier nights he’d let his self-indulgence get the better of him, he almost said those words—always on the tip of his tongue, always surging through his heart with an intensity he had to fight back so as not to scare you. And I love you became goodnight; I love you became stay; I love you became come back; I love you became come with me.

It became a glance. It became a touch, it became the tug of your hand. It became gentle ruffles of your hair, it became smiles, it became laughs, it became—you.

Love became you.

And now, the crisp noise emanating from the player seemed to wrap you in its embrace, smoothly, as you began to sway. Your feet shifted side to side as you let your head bob in time with every step, every little shuffle. You’d tucked your hair behind your ear, and your eyes closed. And he couldn’t help but notice—admire—the warm cascade of sunlight over your hair, shrouding you with a glow more ethereal than he’d ever seen… even with you. You were brighter than the sun. Brighter than the stars. Brighter than anything else, brighter than whatever light his Evol could possibly conjure, and just enough to match the warmth that being here with you, unfiltered and peaceful… filled him with.

“You know… I really like this song!” Your voice echoed through the music then, more noticeable to him than any other sound in the room. You turned your head, eyes meeting his own—”You’re right, it doesn’t sound at all like the kind of music we’d listen to these days, but the melody is really catchy, and her voice is really smooth, and—”

“Dance with me?”

Xavier spoke before he could stop himself.

In the next second he felt a sudden surge of heat at his own statement, nearly retracting his words to look away in embarrassment…

But he didn’t.

Instead, he reached out his hand.

He was sure the tips of his ears were near-glowing red.

He tried again.

“May I… Have this dance?”

And for all that his heart rate had always been naturally slow, he could hear the steady thrum of it in his ears. Louder than usual, quicker than usual, more anticipating than usual. If there was anything that could get him nervous, it was you.

Always you.

But you took his hand.

Your palm in his was small, but just as warm as you always were to him. Just as beautiful, as you always were to him. And perhaps, the world began to fade away, then. It often did, when he was with you. Only, now, in the confines of his home, symphonies echoing in the background, he knew that he was free to hold you as close as he did.

Neither of you spoke for a while as he pulled you up against him, his arms wrapping around your waist, your head against his chest. This was the closest the two of you had ever been in a long, long while, and he realized, then, that the pulse of your heart seemed to beat readily in time to his.

“I didn’t peg you to be a collector type, huh,” you mumbled.

You weren’t looking at him, eyes focused on the shuffle of your feet. He took the opportunity to rest his chin on the top of your head.

“I’m not,” he said quietly. “It was… A gift from a friend, but I haven’t gotten to use it much. It’s… been sitting around.”

He felt you laugh softly against him.

“Yeah? But you’ve kept it around, anyway. Who knows just how old this thing is…”

“...But, it works.”

“Mmh… yeah, it does. Thankfully. And… You know how to use it.”

“I hoped that I would.”

This time, you raised your head, and his breath hitched in his throat. Seeing your eyes, so up close like this, brought on a wave of emotion that he found he had to choke back.

It didn’t stop him from speaking.

“I… thought it might be something you’d like. I’m glad that you do.”

The smile that spread across your face in response to that nearly made his heart jump out of his throat. And the tug of your body closer to him was all he could do to keep those words from spilling out of his mouth.

I love you.

He could say it with a look.

And, sure, you had said it.

He remembered that night.

He’d barely gotten a wink of sleep, holding you in his arms as he had, but you weren’t—You weren’t sober. 

And neither of you had talked about that night.

It was as if your relationship had meant to continue for as long as it could without addressing it, and it was driving him insane, and—

And if he could, he would have this moment drag on forever, just you in his arms, a slow dance to the music, as far as he could lie to himself that you were already his without either of you having to say it.

But he knew that was not the case. It couldn't be. And he knew that you knew it, too. He saw it in the way your expression flickered into one of apprehension, and your lips parted to speak.

“Xavier… What are we?”

Your voice came as a soft whisper, with a question he found that he had no immediate answer to. He searched your eyes, brows furrowing, trying to ascertain what it is you were expecting him to say. 

He knew what he wanted the two of you to be.

He didn’t know what you were. He didn’t know what… you wanted.

So that was what he said.

“What do you… want us to be?”

It was as if all he knew how to do in that moment was deflect the question back at you.

And you frowned.

“Xavier, that’s not… I don’t…”

The turmoil that made itself obvious in your voice had his heart dropping almost immediately.

Because that was it.

You weren’t sure.

Those words you’d uttered to him just that night were nothing more than a drunken ramble, and he was right—this wasn’t the same as all those years back. Here you were, in his arms, yet every time he’d think you wanted him just as much as he did you, you’d pull back.

How cruel that you would think the same of him, when you could barely be receptive to what advances he could make.

Then, perhaps, he realized there was a limit to how much he could take.

“I know what I want,” he mumbled, then.

His hands moved up to rest against your cheek, a gesture that had become familiar to you, despite the emotional charge behind it, despite the way he could only wish to hold more of you in exactly this way.

And there was so much of you that he held in his heart.

He didn’t even know how to place it anymore. So many years of feelings he’d harbored for you, always, all this time, yet he never knew how to explain it. Neither to you, nor to himself. Because he’d never felt this way with anyone else. To be so full of contentment in someone’s presence; to be so hopelessly enamored by every little thing—even after all this time, this was new to him. New, and profound, and—

And terrifying.

To love you so wholly, so insurmountably, so… so much.

It almost felt foolish how terrifying it was.

His heart felt as though it had lodged itself in his throat, and he was sure that his voice would falter as a result, but this—this was it.

How could he move forward any longer without letting you know?

And it was the way your eyes remained steely on his that allowed him to speak again, determined—

“I want you.”

The music had since been long forgotten. Familiar, yet faded within distant memory, as the world, once more, became filled with you. It had always been like that. In his mind, there were many things that had since receded into cloudiness; a grey abyss of things that once were. Now, the only thoughts that ever seemed to hold clarity to him were thoughts of you.

How much he wanted you.

How much he needed you.

How much he… loved you.

Perhaps, he couldn’t say those words just yet.

Instead, he swallowed them with a kiss.

A chance; a risk—an obvious display of the bounds of longing that he’d reached, that had filled to the precipice, that had tortured him beyond an anguish of waiting.

It was an anguish that only you could fill.

The touch of your lips against his, soft and supple, the way you craned your neck for more of it, the way your arms tugged him closer, closer, pressing him into you if he should dare pull away… 

“Again,” you whispered.

And he had his answer, then.

You wanted this just as much as he wanted you.

So he kissed you again.

And again.

And again.

“More,” you pleaded, and each and every time you parted with one another, he could only think, perhaps, that there was no place else he would rather be than here with you. The quiet, crackling tune faded into your heedy breaths against each others’ lips. Right then, the music came to its own end, bringing with it a different kind of symphony that now danced within the depths of your eyes.

He felt your hands slide down from his neck back to tug at his sweatshirt, and his forehead moved to rest against yours.

“Satisfied?” he smiled, his voice lighter than it had been today.

“When it comes to you? Never, really.” Your noses bumped together, the slightest nuzzle filled with an insurmountable kind of affection. ”Because I want you, too.”

Those were simple words—but a direct revelation of your feelings, a direct reciprocation of his own, and—naturally, they spoke volumes. Enough for his heart to fill with warmth. Enough for his shoulders to relax, with a sort of relief he wouldn’t be able to explain to you if you asked. And he held you in his embrace, arms still wrapped comfortably around your figure, knowing that he could let go, but… he didn’t quite want to. Not at all. Not when you felt so right with him here; not when the implication of your words settled deeply into his chest.

So instead, he let out a slow, heavy breath, and perhaps he couldn’t help it anymore. His lips gradually inched back impossibly closer to yours, his gaze straying down from your eyes, dizzying, almost, at the way you were barely touching—

“How much?” he mumbled, because an agony of waiting couldn’t possibly be resolved in a single moment.

You let out a soft laugh.

“For forever,” you rolled your eyes, but you smiled. “If having you forever could ever be enough.”

His breath hitched.

Forever.

Forever sounded like bliss with you. Forever sounded far more wondrous than whatever fantasies lived in the pages of those books on his shelves; far more than anything he had ever, ever wished for. And he had wished for this for a long, long time. For you had always been in his heart. He knew, now, that he was in yours.

And forever was as long of a time he was willing to spend with you.

“I’d like that.”

Then his hands gripped your waist tightly, desperately, as his lips came crashing down once more—and this time, the desperation that had coiled itself in the depths of his heart found freedom in the way that he kissed you. Like clawing; almost, as if afraid he could never get another moment like this, as if afraid you could disappear from right in front of him, right then and there.

As if he wouldn't let you. 

He couldn't. 

And the longer the kiss continued, the hungrier it became.

There was the scent of your perfume, the scent of your shampoo, the taste of your lipgloss… All-engulfing, more, and more, until all he could feel was you. All he could taste was you. You, and you—so warm, and so right, and—his.

All his.

All while he felt your hand tangle into the roots of his hair, and you panted hazily into his open mouth, desperately wanting to breathe, and yet—neither of you wanted this moment to ever end.

And the both of you had an inkling of exactly where this was intending to lead.

Feet shuffled against the floor, a few steps backwards, but neither of you got very far before Xavier was lifting you up into the air. His arms supported the weight of your body through your back and your knees, positioning you into a princess carry—he noted the squeal that you let out, your eyes finding his in search of confirmation. It was, perhaps, instinct the way you clung to his waist next.

But he had never been more grateful for the straightforward layout of his apartment, keen to lay you down on his bed with a promise of much, much, much more. The weight on the mattress shifted, and his figure crawled over your body, the faintest brush of his knuckles against your skin. From this angle, you caged between his arms, legs slotted between yours, his weight holding him up by his forearms—you were beautiful.

More beautiful than you always had been.

The redness that surrounded your lips, lipstick askew, swollen from your kisses… Your hair was splayed out against the pillows, disheveled than things had started with. And there was a certain longing in your eyes that, he was sure, quite vividly reflected in his own.

He could feel the way his hair had likely gotten just as unruly, the sting in his scalp still tingling from where you had tugged and scraped just moments before. Yet he made no attempts to fix it, the annoyance of his hair nearly in his eyes of no importance to him in this moment. Not when you were here. Not when the tension in the air left him feeling dizzy, the prospect of having you closer making his head spin.

“My starlight,” he whispered, then.

He watched, fondly, at the blush that covered your face—and he came to the realization that the midday glow had melted into skies of velvet. 

And this was different, now, from any past sunsets he had ever watched with you.

Now, it streamed in through the window in skyburst reds and yellows. vibrant hues painted over your face, your body… A skyward hearth reflecting the solace he could only ever find in you.

And you were his sky.

You were his home.

You were his… everything.

It was these words that were swallowed back as his lips descended past your cheek, past your jaw, down your neck. He would let actions speak louder than words, this time; the words uttered instead into your skin. His fingers worked deftly to undo the buttons of your blouse, hips rolling into you, a friction that had his breath tremble against your neck. And then a suckle over the soft flesh on your shoulder made you gasp—he’d do it again, and again, lips trailing your skin in search of every mark of you he could finally, finally make his.

His eyes closed.

He could savor the sensation—hot breaths against you, the drag of his hands across the smoothness of your skin, those slow, loving circles he rubbed into your waist before he could tug your clothing off of your body.

Not a word was spoken; not yet.

Only hushed gasps and shaky breaths, every roll of his hips, the friction of his erection against the outline of your sex nearly driving both of you into a quiet dance of insanity.

You broke the quiet first.

“Xavier.”

A shaky whisper as his fingers trailed downwards, pressing flush against your lips, feeling the desperate cling of the fabric against you.

Another stroke of his finger, lewdly accompanied with the wet, sticky sound of your arousal—

“Xavier.”

He looked at you, then. Dragged his gaze from over your figure to the haze in your own.

And he whispered; “Beautiful.”

His strokes against your cunt had your bottom lip quivering, hands slipping from over his back to the mattress below. Little taps against your clit, finger dipping the fabric nearly inside, your wetness seeping through with ease… He could feel every pulse of your pussy, your need for stimulation never more clear to him than in that moment.

And—

“Xavier… Xavier.”

You sounded so sweet.

Every utterance of his name had hip drawing in a breath; he had never before in his life heard it called out with so much… love. 

He wanted more of it.

Lips moved to mouth at your breast, as your panties were pushed aside. Slow, open-mouthed kisses, dangerously close to your nipples but not quite—

His finger, then, slid directly over your folds, and you caved.

“Xavier—!”

A louder, uninhibited moan of his name, your back arching into his touch.

And there, displayed in his eyes, was a look of wonder. A look of love.

Your legs spread in response, inviting, daring. You were baring yourself to him so willingly, that you didn’t need to say anything else. The plea in your eyes was enough.

The plea in your voice was enough.

“Xavier…” you spoke again, barely a whisper, your hands moving back to thread through his hair.

And how could he ever deny you? 

You shuddered immediately as his lips moved to wrap around your nipple, the heat of your skin against him pulling the corner of his lips up into a little smile. Every flick of his tongue had your body twitching beneath him, and he felt every little jerk with a certain sense of pride.

It was so easy, then, for his finger to push inside. 

You gasped, and he pushed deeper—the gentle probing of your hole had you pliant and starved for his touch, his name falling out from your lips in a chant.

“Xavier… Xav—Xavier— Xavier—!”

He groaned against your skin. Your sounds were like music to his ears, a jolt straight down to the tent in his boxers that was almost painful.

Yet still, his eyes never strayed from yours.

He let his teeth graze over your bud as his finger curled inside you, pressing against your gummy walls, just slow, easy thrusts to guide you into the rhythm. And he could see it in your eyes. He searched them, equally as lost in the swirl of haze that had you drowned in the pleasure he gave you—and it was beautiful. Almost heart-wrenchingly beautiful. How he had always wished, yearned, to belong to the inner world behind your irises, and now he—he could.

He only pulled away from your breasts to rest his head by your ear, a low chuckle resounding. He felt the effect of it almost instantly as you clenched over his finger, but he didn’t stop there—a second digit found its way in.

“Shh, I know, angel, I know.”

Quiet, soothing whispers against your ear, his other hand moving to brush the hair out of your face.

This time, the light from the window was bathed in twilight—

He smiled.

That even the moon and the stars would smile upon you, would cover you in their light… The sky itself would speak of love. Of you.

He watched, as your hips, illuminated by the evening glow, began to make more desperate motions. You drew his fingers in deeper, guiding them to rub against the spot that had you crying out another chant of his name. His thumb brushed up against your clit, then, and your hand reached out to grab his arm.

Another smile.

“Is it there, angel?” he murmured. His hair fell over your face as he moved to face you, lips ghosting over yours. And he caught every gasp, every moan, ever drone of his name and every shudder of pleasure he could elicit by repeating the same actions.

Again.

And again. 

And again.

Your arms wrapped around his neck, wanting him close, his ministrations unrelenting. Long fingers dipped in and out of the heat between your legs, sounds of slick and arousal emanating from your cunt in time with the murmurs you keened into the crook of his neck.

“Close?” he whispered.

Whimpers fell from your mouth as he kissed at the corners of your lips, gently coaxing you closer to your high. Each pump of his fingers had your body arching higher, higher off the mattress, the soft cooing of his voice a catalyst to the climax you were so close to.

“Please,” you begged. “Please, Xavier… Please!”

Your words nearly made his throat close up, eyes closing momentarily as his cock twitched in response to you.

“I know,” he mumbled, “I know, starlight. You can do it, just a little more. Focus on me. Does it feel good?”

He leaned up to kiss the little beads of tears that formed out of the corner of your eyes, whispering against the flutter of your eyelids as the only coherent response you could give was a feeble nod.

“Then cum for me, angel.”

You gasped, and he felt it. Your walls constricted, your body arched, and his words, his voice playing into the heat in your core, so much so that it was much, much easier for you to let go. The coil snapped, and your hips bucked upwards, his name mixing with curses upon your lips that he found… delightful to his ears enough to smile.

“That’s it. There we go. You’re so good, angel, look at you…” He let out a slow breath as he withdrew his fingers from you, watching as your body twitched in the aftermath of your orgasm. Slowly, he slid down your body, hands gripping your thighs to spread you apart, and he placed a soft, barely-there kiss against your clit.

Your body jerked at the contact, and he immediately rubbed soothing circles into your skin, cheek resting against your thigh as he looked up at you with a smile.

“I know,” he whispered, again, “I know. You’re sensitive. I won’t do too much.”

But you shook your head.

His eyes blinked slowly, carefully, as he felt your fingers in his hair, coaxing him back up to you.

“Angel?”

“You’re an angel.”

Your breathing had calmed enough for you to speak this time, the familiar words falling from your lips in a way that made his heart skip a beat.

“You…” he breathed out in disbelief as your foreheads touched, taking in the slightest hint of mirth that became visible in your eyes.

And after all this time—through all the doubts that swirled in his head, through all the desperation to get the timing perfect, in manner with the perfectionism that had been instilled so deeply into his heart—

It was you who spoke the words first.

“I love you.”

And the lump in his throat had prevented him from responding immediately, but you knew.

Your hand reached up to cup his cheek, and like all the years he had felt such a familiar gesture, he allowed himself to surrender. The weight of his head fell into your palm as he nuzzled closely into you, his own eyelids fluttering, as if savouring every bit of affection that you held in that caress.

“My starlight…”

A feeble rasp of the little nickname he’d made for you was all he could muster in the moment, and you, in return, could only chuckle.

Perhaps, it made the moment feel more real.

A soft sigh fell from your lips as he pressed back up against you, as your hands worked to pull down his boxers, as the throbbing of his cock pushed against folds.

“Starlight, I…”

His words melted into a groan as it was you who moved your hips against him, the slide of your sexes coating his member in your slick. And the quiet of the night could not have rang in his head any louder than the wetness between the both of you, evidence of the desire that rang true in your bodies as his hips seemed to move with a mind of their own. His eyes closed as he dragged his length along your folds, breath stuttering as the head of his cock would catch on your entrance with each withdrawal of his hips.

Your breaths were shaky as you hugged him closer, receptive of his slow grinds into you and against you, and he realized, then, that this was real.

Your words were real. There was no alcohol laced into your words this time. Instead, you nodded your head, and he noticed it—a different kind of intoxication, the reflection of his figure stirring in your eyes with unspoken need.

“Xavier…” You whispered again, and it was a plea.

Such a multitude of ways that you could say his name.

“Xavier… please, take me.”

And with one slow thrust, he was there.

Closer to you than ever; as close as the two of you could be.

A moan fell from his lips as the tight passage constricted around him, the thickness of him stretching your walls to accommodate the feeling of being so full. 

And it was enough.

“I love you…”

His head fell against your chest as he felt himself tremble, the sensation overwhelming. You were so snug and warm around him, so… perfect. There was no stopping the words from falling out of his lips. He would say it again.

“I love you.”

He felt your breath stutter against the crown of his head, and he buried himself deeper into you, nuzzling into your chest, his body alight with a heat that he could barely begin to fathom.

He loved you so much, it ached.

And you moaned as your head threw back, hands clawing into his back, as his hips began to move. Slowly, at first, the languid pacing of his hips allowing you to feel the drag of his length against your walls, allowing him to soak in the way your cunt would suck him right back into you.

“Xavier, Xavier, Xavier…”

Your sounds were soft from your lips, a melody that had him rhythmically moving in the tune of, only picking up the pace ever so slightly—because he could hardly get enough of you. You drank each other in shamelessly, savouring the taste of your skin, every inch of your bodies colliding with every movement, and it was—enthralling. Breathtaking. Every snap of his hips as he breathed heavily against you had you shuddering. You would meet his grinds with needy little humps of your own, and he—

He could lose himself in this.

And all he could focus on was the endless litany of his name upon your lips, the quiet sound of skin against skin, the near-filthy squelch of your cunt with each dance the two of you would play in.

Until he could barely breathe.

Until his lips were back on yours, and you would hold each other close, hold each other tight, never letting go because this—all of it—was exactly what the both of you needed.

Xavier felt it, then. The squeeze of your walls, the flutters, the pulses—he lifted his head.

His vision was hazy.

All he could think of was you; all he could feel was you; all he could see was you. The flush of your cheeks, the way your eyes looked back at him with a darkened, half-lidded gaze, the way your mouth held open in desperate pants for air.

And he moved harder, harder, faster—

“Angel,” he choked out, holding himself up by his elbows on either side of your body.

“D-don’t stop, Xavi, please, don’t—don’t—”

“M.. M’not stopping, angel… I know… I know, feels s’good, doesn’t it…”

He angled his hips, deliberately pushing his cock against the spots inside of you that he’d memorized, and—

“X- Xavier…!”

His teeth grit as you clenched around him, legs drawing over his hips and keeping him flush against you enough to trigger his own release.

“Take it… C’mon… take it, angel, take it, take—it—”

His head dipped to bury against your hair, tucking you under his chin, keeping you caged in his arms for as long as he could. His hips stuttered as he pumped inside of you, spilling his load with a wave of euphoria that had you both letting out a cry of pleasure. And he pulled out just the littlest bit before sliding in again, shallow thrusts making a mess of his cum, the throb of his cock pulsating against your walls…

Muffled groans turn into trembling breaths, heavy pants as the atmosphere gradually relaxed into contentment.

“I love you.”

He peeled off of your body only to gently stroke at your cheek, taking in the glow in your smile at his words.

So he said it again.

“I love you.”

And he leaned in to pepper kisses over the side of your face, like little specks of stardust, a gather of constellations that could only fill his universe full of you.

You laughed, softly, nuzzling your nose against his.

“You make my heart smile,” you sighed, and he placed a kiss at your eyelids in response.

“And you make mine. Always.” An honest reply. His hands found yours, fingers intertwined, a soft, gentle massage into your palm. “...I love you. I’m sorry I took so long.”

And you smiled.

“You did take long,” you hummed. “But now that you’re here… It’s worth it. Just... Make it up to me and cuddle for a little. Okay?"

His eyes fell closed.

This time, he felt—this was a promise he could make for you. This time, knowing he had you, he thought… Perhaps, he could. 

“...Mhm. Rest now,” he whispered. “And I’ll be by your side. Always.”

“You said it again, my heart's in motion; every word feels like a shooting star. I'm at the edge of my emotions, watching the shadows burning in the dark, and I'm in love—and I'm terrified."

[Terrified ; Katharine McPhee]

⁺₊ / an: first of all scene 4 was inspired by the tamsui bridge in taiwan, second of all can you believe this is the first time i used 3rd person pov limited (non-reader)?? and it was such ??? a challenge??? and third of all DID YOU NOTICE… that i used the slow dance trope in direct contrast to sylus’ "once upon a december" drabble hehe i’m smart sometimes <3

ANYWAY my thoughts on this is that writing this made me realize why xavier/mc has always felt so special to me, and why the 21 days card made me so emotional :'> this took reallyyy long to finish because i reaally wanted to convey the gentleness in their relationship (through a reader insert, no less!) while also keeping all that fear and desperation and uncertainties of falling in love still very much real and present 🙏 writing the outline and scenes 5+6 made me cry a little,,, i hope reading this fic has allowed you to feel the depth of their love, too <3

also : mention for @sadfragilegirl for that one request you sent a while back! since you requested "passionate loving smut" with xavier i'd think this fits in with that hehe

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