#i should have added /j at the end of my sentence to make things clear lmao.

[incandescentia]

Just because I said I'm not feeling it to write replies and I want to just... transfer what's inside my mind to simply not type it manually, it doesn't mean I want to use generative AI to do it omg????? Internet communication is so hard it's sometimes difficult to tell if people are actually chiding me to assert their moral superiority or just also joking around. I do not advocate using generative AI in any kind, though; be it in drawing or writing! (it's even in my DNI!)

Obviously my intention is to joke about how writing can be a chore when your motivation hits the rock bottom (however, it still is ultimately an enjoyable thing to do for me as a hobbyist writer), but I suppose sometimes jokes can fly over people's heads so easily when it's done in written communication over social media and it ends up being so awkward when the other party (who is also a writer) actually doesn't get the joke. Then again, they could also be joking and I'm actually the one who doesn't understand the joke in return... Internet communication is so haaaaard...

[hyunsuks-beanie]

It'll Always Be You

Lee Felix × reader; angst, but with a fluffy ending; 2923 words; lovers to exes and back

A/N So Felix has me feeling all sorts of things today, bc of how good he looked during the performance. So here's a scenario for our Sunshine!

"Here's your order and have a nice day," you smile to the female customer in front of you, before handing a pack of cookies to her child. Once the leave, you let out a sigh and look at your best friend who's cleaning the counter next to you. "All done for today!," you exclaim, to which your friend looks up and smiles, before taking off and folding her apron. "So, what are your plans for tonight?," she asks, making you give her a knowing look. She to her eyes before saying, "How long are you gonna stay cooped up inside your house? The break up was two years ago for heaven's sake, you need to start living your life again." "Hey, I am living my life, it's just that, unlike you, I am not interested in going out and meeting new people every day. I meet enough strangers while working here, so there's no need to go clubbing daily," you shrug.

When all she does in reply is pout, you chuckle and say, "Okay, how about we go for a movie tomorrow? My treat." Her face lights up at that, and she gives you a tight hug before saying, "I really want to meet your ex once though, just so I can break his nose." You giggle "Oh he's dead and gone."

Oh, if only you knew.

Once you send your friend off, you start tidying up your little bakery up. This was the place that helped you get over your breakup, which had been messy to say the least. You had immersed yourself fully in your work, because you knew it was one thing that would never hurt you or break your trust.

You sigh lovingly at the memories of setting up and running your bakery, turning your back against the front door. And just as you are reminiscing you hear the door open, causing you to turn. The moment you do so, however, you regret it, because standing there, staring at you wide-eyed, is your ex, otherwise known as Stray Kids' Lee Felix. You both continue to stare at each other for a while, before he finally breaks the silence (and your trance) by whispering, "Y/N."

You clear your throat, and say, "I'm sorry, but we're closed for the day." He rushes to the and hurriedly replies, "Please, it's rather urgent. My friend Hyunjin is really craving some blueberry pie, and he refuses fo join practice before I bring him what he wants." "I told you, I'm sorry, but I can't help you today. You can come back tomorrow though," you say, not looking into his eyes. "Please Y/N, Chan hyung is getting really angry, he's gonna ground me along with Hyunjin," Felix reasons, and you find yourself giving in to his pleading eyes and pouty lips.

"Fine, wait a minute," you say, making him crack a smile. Boy have you missed that smile of his, you think, before mentally slapping yourself for still not being able to resist him, even though he broke your heart to pieces when he broke up with you over the phone two years ago, telling you that he could no longer do long distance with you being all the way in Australia. It wasn't the breakup that hurt you though, it was the fact that he had found someone better and closer to him, or so he said.

Little did you know, though, that the company had he had never really found anyone else, that he didn't want to find anyone else. The company had made him lie to you when they came to know he was secretly dating. He tried to put up a fight, but the company started threatening him about the group facing consequences. He knew you'd see right through him if he told you the truth, so he had to lie to you in order to make you hate him, just so you could move on in life. He meant well, but he never knew he hurt you so bad that you'd give up on dating and love altogether.

"Here you go," you say while handing him his parcel. He thanks you, while contemplating if he should make small talk. Mustering up the courage, he asks, "How have you been?", while looking down. "Fine," you reply, "Congrats on the comeback." His head snaps up at that, as he says, "I didn't know you knew I had a comeback," "It was all over the news, Felix. Stray Kids are really making it big," you swallow before adding, "Your partner must be really proud of you," complete with a fake smile plastered on your face.

Felix winces at your words, not knowing what to say. In the end, he settles with, "How long have you been running this bakery?" "Since about a month after we broke up." When he gives you a confused expression, you sigh and add, "I was kinda already about to move to Seoul when you told me that you had found someone else. I was gonna surprise you, but you ended up surprising me instead."

"Y/N, I-I never knew. I'm so sorry, I-," he says, but you cut him off. "I-I t-think you should leave," you say, with tears threatening to spill. "Let me explain, please. I swear I'll come clean, please, just give me a chance." "No Felix, I can't give you any chance, you blew it up when you hurt me so bad that it made scared of ever loving again. Please.....j-just go," you say, shutting your eyes close. Dejected, he turns around to leave, but not before saying, "I'm sorry," one more time. Once he leaves, you sink down to the floor, crying. "Why did you have to ruin me so bad?," You whisper.

You don't, however, notice that just outside the door, Felix too, is crying hysterically as he gets into his car.

Upon reaching the JYP building, Felix rushes to the washroom to try and dry his eyes and hide any signs that he's been crying. "I still love you. I never stopped, but gosh, why did I have to be such an idiot to let you go? And that too, in the worst way possible?," he says to his reflection in the mirror, thinking back to your broken expression. Slamming his fist against the sink, he curses at himself.

Once he's finally sobered up a little, Felix goes back to the practice room to give Hyunjin his pie. Though he has half a mind to just call in sick and go home and weep, he knows the group needs him. "Here you go, Hyun," he forces a smile onto his face when Hyunjin thanks him. Chan notices his slumped shoulders, but shrugs it off as tiredness. "Now that everyone is satisfied, can we get back to practice?," he asks. Once all the boys agree, rehearsals begin again, but Felix can't find it in himself to focus. He keeps making mistakes, which finally results in Chan stopping the music, grabbing his hand, and taking him out the practice room and to his studio.

"What is it, Lix? You've been distracted ever since you came back from the bakery. Come on, I know something is bothering you, it isn't like you to lose focus. Tell me what it is," Chan says, sternly but gently, his concern for the younger boy evident. "It's nothing, hyung. I'm just tired," Felix tries to evade the question, but Chan presses on. "I'm not buying that, and I'm not gonna have you distracted during performances or practices, either. I can't risk you injuring yourself or any of the boys, so I'm saying again. Spit. It. Out. Leader's orders."

Felix sighs, running a hand through his hair. After a pause, he finally says, "I saw Y/N today. The bakery, it is owned by them." Chan's eyes go wide at this, since he's the only one who knows the circumstances under which you both broke up, and is also the only one who knows about how much Felix regrets letting you go, in the worst possible way. "What happened? Were they....rude to you? Or did they do something?" "What? No hyung, they were nothing but nice to me. We made small talk, and they told me that they were planning to surprise me by moving to Seoul, when I broke up with them. I hurt them so bad that they are scared of ever loving again," Felix says, taking shaky breaths between sentences as tears welled up in his eyes again.

"I messed up so bad hyung, you know I still love them. They're the nicest, most perfect, most lovable person I've ever known, and I damaged them so badly, gosh I feel so guilty," he breaks down again, causing Chan to wrap his arms around him, giving him a shoulder to cry on. Once Felix calms down, Chan says, "You know what you have to do now, right?" "What do you mean?"

"You say you still love them. You say you're guilty. But instead of telling these things to me, you need to tell this to them. Apologize to them, tell them the whole story. Tell them there was never anyone else, and that it's always been them. You didn't fight for them back then, because you were worried for us. But you can fight for them now, because we got your back. Win them back, Lix. Make up for your mistake."

"B-but hyung, why would they ever want to take me back again? I've been nothing but a jerk to them." "Well, in that case, you can't blame them. But they deserve to at least know the truth. They deserve to know that your intentions were not wrong. If they choose to walk away after that, they will at least have had gotten closure. Who knows, it might help them muster the courage to go out and love again. You owe this to them, Lix."

Chan succeeded in knocking some sense into Felix, as the next day, the younger boy found himself in front of your bakery, preparing a long speech explaining why he did what he did to you. He's so engrossed in his thoughts that he doesn't notice your best friend walk out the bakery and stand next to him. "Uhm, are you okay?," she asks, surprising him. "O-oh, uh-uhm, yeah," says Felix, while noticing her uniform, that's identical to yours. "Do you work with Y/N?" "Yeah, we're friends and partners, and on most days, we work together. But they called in sick today, and told me they'd cover the evening shift. How do you know them though?"

To this, Felix finds himself at a loss for words, but he figures if he's gonna come clean to you, he needs an ally. And what better person than your best friend? So he takes down his mask slightly, making your friend gasp in response. "You Felix from Stray Kids! What are you doing here?" "I-I came here to meet Y/N. We broke up two years ago due to a mistake I made, but I need to explain things to them. They deserve to know the truth." He looks up to see your friend glaring at him, as she says, "That was you? You broke my best friend's heart? How could you? I'm not letting you anywhere near them, you jerk"

"Please, just give me 5 minutes, and I'll explain everything to you. Then you can decide if I deserve one more chance." When your friend doesn't say anything, Felix launches into his own version of things, explaining himself and his actions. Once he's done, your friend is still glaring at him, but he notices a smile tugging at her lips.

"You have been nothing but a complete and utter jerk to them. And honestly, you deserve to get your ass kicked by them. But I know that they still love you, and the way you are repenting what you did tells me that you love them too. So I give you my blessing. They'll be here in the evening at 6, be here before then." Felix hugs her super tight at that, with the biggest smile plastered on his face while thanking her. She adds, "But if you hurt them again, I swear I'm gonna murder you with my own two hands." "It won't come to that, I promise."

Felix arrives at the bakery at 10 minutes to six, and the moment he enters, your friend shoves him into the kitchen, asking him to stay there till you come. Once she leaves, he starts pacing up and down, raking his hand nervously through his hair. He tries to prepare what he is going to say, but gives up when he realizes that it would all go out the window when he sees you.

Meanwhile, the moment you step inside the bakery, your friend pretends to be busy setting stuff up on the counter, and asks you to bring in some things from the kitchen. Unassuming, you start walking towards the kitchen doors, when she notices your swollen eyes and exclaimed "Babe, have you been crying?" You muster up a fake smile and tell him that it's just you not feeling well, but unknown to you, Felix heard your friend, and guilt washes over him again. But he doesn't have time to wallow in it, as soon after, you step in.

The way your expression morphs into one of pure sadness breaks his heart into a million pieces, and when you say, "What more do you want from me?" while holding back tears, it takes everything in him to stop from falling to his knees and begging forgiveness. He tries to speak, but you hold up a finger, indicating you aren't finished. "Now that you've found me again, was it not enough for you to have me admit that what you did to me made me stop believing in love? Do you even want to rub it in my face by telling me how happy your are with your partner? If that is so, then please, just get lost, I'm begging you."

Tears are now streaming down your face, and Felix finds himself saying, "Just please. Let me explain. You deserve to know the truth and my feelings and intentions. If after that, you want me to leave, I swear, you will never have to see me again." You can't look at him, but when you don't reply, he says, "I promise that this is the real truth behind what I did. Please hear me out. I lied when I said I had found someone else. There is no 'someone else,' and there never will be one. The only person I've loved, the only person I still love, is you. It'll always be you."

"The company made me break up with you, and threatened me that the group will face consequences if I didn't do as they had asked. I that that if I outright told you the real reason, it would hurt you. And so, I decided to lie to you in order to make you hate me, even if it broke my heart. But never did I ever think that it would damage you so badly, and I know I've been stupid, but I can't help but ask for you to forgive me, and give me one last chance. I know I've been a total jerk to you, and even now, I'm being nothing but selfish, but I just want you to know that I still love you. I'll understand if you want nothing to do with me, and I'll walk away forever. But you deserved to get closure, and I hope that if you do choose to give up on me, you will now be able to love again, and trust again."

By the time he stops talking, the both of you are sobbing hard. You ask him, "Are you done?" When he nods, you say, "You say that you will walk away if I choose to give up on you. But do you really think I'll be able to give up on you? If I couldn't stop loving you even when you broke up with me in the cruelest way possible, what makes you think I'll stop loving you now that I know that you went through the same pain as me? You knew what the truth was, and you still had to hide it. I can only imagine how hurtful that must have been, Felix. I hate myself for believing your stupid lie, for ever doubting the love you had for me. I'm sorry, and I forgive you."

Felix looks up at you, surprised. It takes him some time to process your words, and when he does, he asks you, "What does that mean....for us?" To this, you shyly reply, "Well, I never stopped loving you, and if you didn't either, then should we give us another try?" Felix smiles the brightest he has in ages, as he slowly comes closer to you. Cupping your face, he wipes off your tears, as you proceed to do the same. "I promise I'll never let you go again," he says softly. You giggle and say, "You'd do well to keep that promise," before biting your lip.

"Is it okay if I kiss you?," he asks. You nod in response, causing him to gently place his lips on yours. And for the first time in a while, you feel like you're home.

[shemarmooresfedora]

Rebuilding Family

Summary: Y/N and Spencer were college sweethearts at Cal-Tech but once Spencer got accepted to the FBI Academy, he ended things deciding it was not fair to make Y/N wait for him. When they meet again years later, he discovers something unexpected.

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Fem! Reader

Masterlist

Chapter 14

“Crack it on the counter carefully, Baby J. Try to get no shells in the bowl please,” you handed her an egg.

Jo gently hit the egg on the edge of the counter as Spencer held up a bowl with vanilla and cinnamon already in it for her to place the egg into.

“Good job!” you praised.

Jo beamed, gesturing for you to hand her another egg.

“Sorry baby, the recipe only calls for one egg. You can help Daddy add the milk if you ask nicely though,” you kissed her on the head.

The three of you were making French toast on a lazy Sunday morning. You had felt better after a good night’s sleep and the medicine Spencer brought you so Jo and Spencer came back over on Saturday night. Yes, you already missed Spencer’s arms wrapped around you and he was more than happy to stay the night.

“Daddy, can I please help?” Jo looked up at him from where she was sitting on the counter with puppy dog eyes.

“Of course, you can, Princess. Thank you for using your manners,” he handed her the measuring cup.

“We need to fill the milk up to that line so you tell me when to stop,” he explained and began pouring.

“Stop!” Jo chirped.

“What a perfect little helper!” you smiled at Jo.

You and Spencer dipped the pieces of bread into the mixture as Jo watched curiously. You placed the bread into the skillet and it began to sizzle. Spencer cut up a watermelon into bite-sized pieces and placed it in a bowl in the center of the kitchen table.

Once breakfast was all ready, you all dug in. Everyone having a second piece.

“That was delicious,” Spencer stated, clearing your empty plates and giving you both kisses on the head.

“I think it was because the egg was perfectly cracked and there was the exact right amount of milk,” you smiled at Jo.

“I was thinking the same thing,” Spencer agreed as he loaded the dirty plates into the dishwasher.

“I have somewhere I want to stop before we go to the park today,” Spencer announced to you both.

“Okay, sure thing. Where?” you asked.

“It’s a surprise but I need both of your opinions on it,” he smiled.

-

Spencer pulled up to a gated area about ten minutes from your house with a condo complex inside.

“You’re moving?” you asked.

“Well, I figured I’m going to need more space if Jo ever needs to come to my place again. A one bedroom apartment on the second floor of an apartment complex isn’t really ideal for a kid. But, I’m not moving in anywhere until I have you and Jo’s approval,” he parked in front of one of the condos.

“The owner gave me a key to check it out,” he smiled, getting out of the car and unbuckling Jo.

He unlocked the front door and set Jo down to go explore inside.

“This would be your bedroom, Jo,” he pointed into a room down the hall from his.

“Cool!” Jo exclaimed, running inside it.

Spencer found you in the kitchen, staring into space rather than exploring the condo. You had been uncharacteristically quiet since you arrived at the complex.

“It has a little gated backyard and the park is only a short walk away,” he said, trying to sell you on the place.

“Mmh,” you gave a little hum of approval but it seemed half-hearted.

Spencer was going to have to figure out what wasn’t meeting your requirements so he could make sure the next place he looked at was more suitable for Jo.

-

After watching and singing along to Lion King again, you tucked a sleepy Jo into bed.

When you went back downstairs, Spencer was still seated on the couch with his hands folded in his lap, looking up at you expectedly.

“What?” you furrowed your brow.

“I could tell you didn’t actually like the condo which is fine but could you just make me a list of things you need so I can find a better place,” Spencer asked.

You took a deep breath and sat down on the couch.

“My list would narrow it down to only one place,” you spoke softly.

“That’s fine, sweetheart. You just tell me where,” he took your hands in his.

You looked at the man in front of you, so willing and eager to do anything for you and Jo.

“Here,” you whispered.

“Here?”

Spencer surely couldn’t be hearing this right. You wanted him to move into the house and be with you and Jo 24/7. It seemed too good to be true.

“I don’t want to have you and Jo in some condo down the street when we could all just live here. I have an office upstairs but I mainly do my grading on the couch or the kitchen table so I don’t mind clearing the stuff out of there for you to move in,” you explained.

“You’re sure?” he confirmed.

“If you want to move in, we would be more than happy to have you,” you smiled softly.

You barely got the sentence out before you were pulled in for a kiss by Spencer. You could practically feel his smile against your lips. When he finally pulled away, he rested his forehead against yours.

“I also have a question for you,” his warm breath fanned out across your face.

“I don’t think you ever officially answered my question but ask away, Dr. Reid,” you smiled.

He chuckled, “Yes, I’ll move in with you… and will you be my girlfriend?”

“I don’t think any relationship has ever asked those questions in that order,” you giggled, planting a kiss on his nose.

“Yes, Spence, I would love to be your girlfriend.”

-

It was lunchtime at the office and the whole BAU team was eating their lunch in the break room.

“Guys, my lease ends in two weeks but I want to get most of the moving done this weekend so any help would be appreciated. I will provide pizza,” Spencer announced to the group.

“Yay! Y/N and Jo liked the condo. I’ll be there, Boy Wonder,” Penelope chirped.

“Not quite,” he smiled softly.

Now, Spencer had their undivided attention. Hotch put down his sandwich and Prentiss stopped the sink faucet while in the middle of washing out a mug.

“I am moving in with my girlfriend and daughter,” he grinned, taking a sip of his coffee.

“My man!” Derek slapped his back.

“I think we will all be there to help,” JJ smiled.

-

“Josephine, please stop taking things out of boxes or Daddy will never be able to move and come live with us,” you chided, knowing how excited she was for Spencer to move into the house.

“Sorry, Mommy. I will help,” Jo put the random knick-knacks that she had taken out of the box back inside.

“If you don’t want to pack any more, you can go with Auntie Penelope to the house. Henry is going to be there shortly,” you added.

Jo nodded enthusiastically and you lifted her up, carrying her downstairs to where Derek, Hotch, Spencer, and Penelope were loading boxes into their cars.

“Jo wants to head home now,” you said.

“Perfect timing!” Penelope chirped, closing her car trunk, “She can ride with me.”

“I’ll grab the car seat out of my car,” Spencer said.

“We should be over soon. I think Rossi, Emily, and JJ with Henry and Jack are already there,” you transferred Jo into Penelope’s arms.

After you had finished packing all the boxes, it was just you and Spencer left in the empty apartment.

“Are you going to miss it?” you asked.

“Not really,” he said, looking around, “I am looking forward to the next chapter of my life way too much to be sad right now,” he smiled, wrapping his arm around you and pressing a kiss on your head.

“Me too and I can’t speak for Jo but she was practically buzzing with excitement this morning,” you giggled.

-

Spencer was officially all moved in. He returned his keys to the landlord and all of his belongings were now in the house. He still had some boxes left to unpack but he was grateful for everyone’s help.

He was unpacking his clothes when he heard a light knock at the door. He opened it to find you standing there, guiltily.

“I know I gave you your own room so you could have some space to yourself but I want to sleep with my boyfriend,” you smiled softly.

Spencer opened the door all the way.

“I was going to come to your room anyways once I finished this box,” he chuckled, “but I think I’m done unpacking for the night.”

He followed you to the bed, getting under the comforters.

“You make me the happiest man on Earth, you know that, right?” he asked, wrapping his arms around you and nuzzling his face into the top of your head, breathing in the faint scent of your eucalyptus shampoo.

“Thank you for being a great dad and boyfriend,” you whispered.

“The pleasure is all mine.”

There was another soft knock at the already open door.

You and Spencer both sat up to see Jo, standing there in her PJs with her stuffed stegosaurus in hand.

“Is something wrong, Baby J?” you asked, concerned.

“I want to sleep with Mommy and Daddy,” she said, walking towards the bed.

“Come up here, Princess,” Spencer lifted the girl up and placed her in between you both, “Just for tonight though, okay? You have to sleep in your big girl bed.”

“Night night. Love you,” Jo snuggled into her stegosaurus.

“Love you too,” you both replied, still looking at each other.

[etherealeeknow]

toxic

• rated m for mature, slight angst

• pairing: boyfriend!jisung x fem!reader

• wc: 1.434

• tw: toxic relationship, explicit language, mild rope play, fingering (f), oral (m&f)- i think that’s all, please do tell me if you find more c:

• note: inspired by true events, heh. this isn’t proofread so i’m sorry for any mistakes! i’ll get to it soon! and although i have mixed feelings about this fic, i hope you’ll enjoy it ;-; also, please kindly note that english isn’t my first language. therefore, i apologize for any mistakes. (psst, don’t be shy to drop by my ask!)

• song recommendation: bitter love - pia mia

—

your deep slumber was interrupted by jumbled sounds; they weren’t necessarily too loud, but the continuous groans that followed behind added them up, and you had to force your heavy eyelids to open while mumbling incoherent words that grabbed jisung’s attention. cursing under his breath, he instantly locked his phone, all the noises vanished in just a matter of seconds. “i’m sorry. i should’ve used my earphones,” he said as he laid down beside you, pulling the covers up to your chin and wrapped his arms around you, closing the distance. “you always say that then repeat the exact same thing the next day,” you sighed in annoyance and shimmied your way out of his embrace to turn your back against him. you could picture the bitter expression on his face when he wrapped his arms around you again and apologized for the second time, only to be replied with complete silence. 

it was undeniable that you got mad over such a small silly matter, but you couldn’t help it. jisung had always been like this—careless. time after time, you’d question him the same thing, which was whether or not his feelings for you were real. meanwhile, it was more or less the same on the other side. jisung just couldn’t wrap his head around how and where you got your energy to stay mad at him 24/7. everything he did seemed to be a crime to you, and it made him cuss at those teenage romcom movies, calling them a scam. despite all the cons and infinite bickers, none of you had ever called it quits.

this is toxic. i should end it.

“baby, look-” you didn’t let him finish the sentence and told him to shut up instead—that was when he withdrew his hand and let out a long sigh, then nothing. turning back, you saw him on his phone again and it made your blood boil so you snatched it away. “what the hell-” “no. it’s you,” you emphasized loud and clear, index finger poking his chest, “what the hell, jisung?” you added, still repeating the same gesture and you could see his expression growing more and more annoyed with each poke, but that didn’t stop you, even after he warned you. “what the fuck do you want? i told you i’m sorry!” scoffing, you ignored him and was about to get off bed when he clutched your hand and pinned you down on the mattress. “answer me, y/n. what the fuck do you want?” he hissed and it made you gulp; feeling small yet your anger was bigger. “fuck off.”

jisung laughed almost sinisterly with his head thrown back, and you trembled underneath him, both over anxiety and excitement as this was a side of him you had never encountered before. “sit,” he ordered as he undressed himself, letting his hardened cock bounced up, slapping against his abs before making his way up to you, resting right below your chest. the close up view of his pink, slightly covered with precum, tip made your eyes glistening. “suck.” like a trained puppy, you obeyed immediately—taking him whole and his mouth agape. although voiceless, pleasure was written all across his face.

your boy liked it slow; it made him feral. he lived for the feeling of having your pretty little plump lips around him; the way you could take him with ease wowed him, and he never got tired of seeing your pathetic state, especially out in public when you could barely open your mouth for days without whimpering in pain. just by imagining it made him shudder and close to release, but he didn’t want that, not yet. “s- stop- ah, fuck!” he yanked you by the hair, but that only made you go for more. you snuck your tongue out to lick his tip, sucking it, making him growl and curse before pushing you back down to the bed. “don’t you fucking move.”

he went to reach for something under the bed—a box which you never knew its existence until then. he opened it, revealing all sorts of his bizarre toy collection. you were taken aback by the surprise and got so immersed in them. jisung took the golden chance to tie your hands with a rope to the headboard. it was only until he let go and your hands got caught up above, that you snapped back in reality, yet still dazzled. this wasn’t the jisung you knew. sure, six months of being and living together couldn’t be considered as a long period, but you and jisung had fucked and talked about sex every single day, almost like it was your daily vitamin, yet such thing never came up.

another sinister laugh left his mouth upon seeing your terrorized expression. “what’s with the face, hmm?” he asked ever so sweetly, caressing your cheek, down to your neck, then to your pajamas, running his fingers up and down the little buttons before ripping them off, buttons scattered everywhere. so long, favorite pjs. your gasp only made it halfway as jisung was quick to smother himself with your bare breasts, sniffing, biting, kissing, licking, pinching, squeezing, marking, literally any possible thing he could do, he did, while you loved and whimpered over it.

you didn’t even have to beg. just your endless heavenly oh’s and ah’s were enough to get jisung down and pulled off your shorts and panties altogether. only taking a brief moment to enjoy the view of your freshly shaved cunt before diving in, and your breath hitched the moment his tongue met your pulsating core. you started grinding against his face, dying for more, and jisung understood, so he slipped in his finger, but that still wasn’t enough. “for fuck sake, ji, just fuck me already!” you cried desperately, not minding the burning pain on your wrists from pulling on the rope harshly.

but jisung didn’t give a damn. you already had a bigger control in the relationship and there was no way he was gonna let you take the lead in sex too. this was the only pride he had left, so he continued, thrusting in another finger easily into your hole, curling them to reach your sweet spot. your breathy moaned drove him over the edge and he just couldn’t take it anymore, he needed to release. jisung’s tongue left your nub and you nearly cried over the loss of contact, but it was all worth it when you saw him wrapping his other free hand onto his own throbbing cock, pumping it with all his might while still fingering you in ease. every inch of your body grew hotter over the sight, but no matter how hard you tried to keep your eyes open, the building knot in your abdomen kept causing your eyes to roll back. “so good, j- ji, shit! i’m cum-” 

you were unable to finish your sentence, but jisung knew. he could tell from your shaking legs and quickened breaths. “yes, yes, cum for me, baby, cum,” jisung choked out, nearing his own high, and right there and then, you came undone all over his fingers and on the bed, staining the white sheets with your juices. through his squinting eyes, jisung made sure to capture your expression—how pretty you looked with parted lips, rosy cheeks, and crossed eyes. he even slowed his thrust to prevent himself from coming; waiting for your bucking hips to came to a halt before he hurriedly approached you and jerked off right in front of your face, biting his lower lip when he saw you sticking your tongue out just on time when he ejaculated. 

//

“i’m sorry. i love you, y/n,” jisung uttered, lying on your lap.

“i’m sorry too. i love you, jisung,” you replied, caressing his head.

it was undeniable that you often got mad over small silly matters, but you could still bear with it, although sometimes you’d question whether or not he paid attention to the things you said, but that was it. besides, it was normal for jisung to get lost in his own world. meanwhile, it was more or less the same on the other side. jisung found it a little difficult to understand your moodiness, especially since most of the things he did seemed to annoy you, yet he found your relationship just like how it was in those teenage romcom movies—youthful. so, despite some differences and bickers here and there, none of you had ever called it quits.

this is love. i should fight for it.

right?

—

gen’s masterlist

[expectingtofly]

What It Means to Love, 3k

established dean/cas, hurt/comfort, post 15x20, human!cas

day 2 of @thiscastielhasflown and i's follower celebration

prompt: hurt/comfort

“Dean, I am perfectly fine, I—” Cas paused, face scrunching up, then he sneezed before he could finish his sentence.

Dean took a step backwards. “Dude, gross! Seriously? Sneeze into your elbow. That’s like preschool 101.”

“Oh, then it’s so great that I went to preschool,” Cas said, managing to sound sarcastic even with his nose stuffed up. Dean winced as he wiped his nose on the sleeve of his trenchcoat. “It’s not like I haven’t been a human for only three months.”

Right. “Yeah, well, guess this is the perfect introduction." How the hell did Cas manage to still look so adorable slumped against the kitchen counter, clothes wrinkled and nose red? “Welcome to humanity, you have a cold. Here, stop that.” He couldn't watch Cas wipe his nose on his sleeve again. They didn’t have tissues in the kitchen, but he grabbed a napkin and handed it to him. Dutifully, Cas took it and blew his nose. “What you need is to get in some comfier clothes, lay down, and get some sleep.”

Violating the few feet he'd put between them to stay clear of the germs, he stepped closer to loosen Cas' tie. Cas let him, saying, "I can still help research—"

"No, no." Cas leveled him with a glare, but it had lost its bite now that Dean knew he couldn't strike him dead with his angel grace. Okay, it was still pretty menacing. "I'm trying to save your ass. Sam will kill you if you sneeze on his laptop or precious books. Come on, take off the coat, you gotta be burning up."

He was helping Cas slip it off when Sam walked into the kitchen. “Ew, gross," he complained, covering his eyes with his hand, and Dean realized he was essentially undressing Cas in front of the kitchen island. "Get a room."

"Grow up," Dean said, draping Cas' coat and tie over his arm. Okay, so maybe they’d given Sam a reason to be on-guard now, but, "It's not what it looks like."

Sam lowered his hand, then frowned at Cas. "Woah. What happened to you?"

"I'm sick," Cas answered, as if that wasn't obvious enough by his glassy eyes and disheveled appearance.

"Well, uh, wash your hands," Sam said, stepping back as Cas started for the door, Dean following. "Don't wanna spread any germs. And try to stay out of the library."

"Told you," Dean whispered to Cas as they went down the hallway. In their room, he gestured for Cas to sit on the bed as he rummaged through their dresser. “T-shirt and sweatpants,” he said, handing them over.

Cas unbuttoned his white button-down which was identical to the dress shirts he always wore as an angel. Apparently old habits died hard—in this case, an affinity for business casual. Actually, maybe Cas getting sick and out of his old clothes was a good thing. Dean didn't know the last time the trenchcoat had been washed.

Collecting Cas' shirt and pants, he said, “I’ll get rid of these disease-ridden clothes.” He thought he caught Cas rolling his eyes as he pulled Dean’s sweatshirt over his head. "You watch TV or something, I’ll go see if we have cold medicine.”

After starting a load of laundry and raiding the medicine cabinets in the bathroom and cabinets in the kitchen, he returned to the room to find Cas sitting cross-legged under the covers of the bed, remote in his hands.

“Here, you go,” Dean said, handing over a warm mug. Ancient Aliens played on the TV; one of Cas' favorite pastimes was refuting every crazy claim and theory the show presented with his own recollections of the ancient times. “Sam said this tea will help. He ran out to get some medicine.”

Eagerly, Cas took the mug from him and took a large gulp, then coughed. "Ow. It's hot."

"Drink it slowly, idiot."

Cas took a more hesitant sip, then squinted up at him. "This tea is incredibly flavorless."

Dean snorted. "’Cause your nose’s clogged up. And you probably burned your tongue. Another joy of being human."

Groaning, Cas dropped his head back on the pillows and stared at the ceiling. "Why is being human so difficult?"

Dean inwardly winced at that. Or thought he did so inwardly, but his expression must've revealed something because Cas glanced over at him, then straightened up, nearly spilling his tea. "Dean, I didn't mean anything by that."

Clearing his throat, Dean shrugged and sat down on the other side of the bed. "No, it's fine. You're right, being human sucks."

"And I wouldn't trade it for the world," Cas said.

"Yeah, yeah. I know."

Cas seemed about to say more, but then he sneezed. Into his elbow this time. Progress.

Ancient Aliens finished, and they got halfway through an episode of UFO Hunters before Cas started to nod off. Dean took the mug from him, and his eyes fluttered open, head jerking up. "I'm fine," he said.

"I know you're tired because you missed them saying aliens created the lost city of Atlantis."

Cas sniffled. "That's ridiculous. Everyone knows Atlantis was formed by—" He was interrupted by a yawn, and Dean made a mental note to return to that subject later.

“Come on, take a nap.”

“I am not a small child, Dean,” Cas protested, but he settled down anyway. Dean couldn’t resist adjusting the covers, essentially tucking him in. He wasn’t trying to baby him, but it was second nature seeing how miserable the guy looked. Turning off the lights, he went to the door. "You good? Need anything else?"

"No." Cas squinted one eye open to look at Dean over the blanket pulled up to his shoulders, and, fuck, if he wasn't still the most beautiful man Dean had ever seen, even sick as a dog. "Thank you."

A tiny alarm went off in Dean's brain about germs, but he returned to the bed to kiss Cas on the forehead anyway. True love, and all that. God, he was getting sappy in his old age.

Cas looked marginally better when he woke up from his nap. If marginally better meant pillow hair and pillow lines on his cheek. Well-rested, at least. He swallowed down the cold medicine Sam had brought home, complaining that he could taste enough to know the flavor was not, quote, "similar to anything occurring organically in nature."

"Whaddya wanna eat?" Dean asked him as he drained his glass of water. "And don't say PB and J," he added before Cas could speak.

Cas set his glass down on the nightstand and slid further down under the covers. "Anything that won't make my throat hurt more."

"My, uh, mom used to make me soup when I was sick."

"That sounds wonderful."

"Whatcha making?" Sam asked, coming into the kitchen. He lifted the lid of the pot on the stove and Dean snapped him with the towel.

"That's for Cas, back off."

"Wow," Sam said, leaning against the counter and crossing his arms. "Look at you."

"Look at me what?" Setting aside the pot lid, he scraped the celery he'd been dicing from the cutting board into the pot.

Sam shrugged. "Taking care of Cas, making dinner, you're almost domestic."

Dean turned red and scrambled furiously for a comeback. "Yeah, and you're, you're still a little shit." Nailed it.

Sam laughed. "Wasn't an insult. Just meant, I don't know. Different for you, I guess."

Dean eyed him, stirring the soup. "Don't have much of a choice. Poor guy just turned human and he's already going through it."

"I think he's dealt with worse than a cold before."

"Yeah, well, wish he didn't have to deal with any of it." Any of it meant plenty. Between Dean’s own fuckups, world apocalypses, and near-death and actual death experiences, Cas had been through the ringer several times over. And now he was human—which, by all counts, wasn’t the worst thing he’d been through, but it wasn’t ideal. It’d been a rough transition, anyway.

Cas seemed better recently, though, since getting somewhat used to being human. And things were going well between them. Getting sick was just one tiny wrinkle compared to everything they’d been through, right?

He stared at the soup and startled when Sam straightened off the counter with a comment that Jack was out with friends, he was leaving for Eileen’s, have fun giving Cas a sponge bath. Dean flipped him off as he headed out the door.

When the soup was finished, he ladled a bowl full and returned to the bedroom. Cas looked up from his phone when Dean entered with the bowl of steaming soup. “Hear from Claire?” Dean asked, nudging the door shut with his foot.

“She says she and Kaia have almost closed up the case." He set his phone aside. “They’ll be able to visit soon.”

“You tell her you’re sick?”

“She was incredibly non-sympathetic—thank you." Cas took the bowl from him. “She seemed to find it amusing that I once ruled garrisons and now can’t go five minutes without sneezing.”

Dean tensed, hoping Cas wasn’t hurt by the comparison, but Cas didn’t look offended. “Sounds like her.”

"Yes.” He breathed in the steam coming from the bowl. “This smells incredible.”

"Family recipe," Dean joked, sitting down next to him. "Well, someone's family. Straight from some blog online. Think it's pretty close to what my mom would make." He watched Cas pick up his spoon, and added, "Don't tell Sam." He'd never hear the end of it if Sam knew he was reading mommy blogs.

"Your secret is safe with me."

Dean picked up the remote as Cas ate, wondering if he should give Claire a piece of his mind. Sure, Cas was pretty easy-going about the whole giving up his grace thing, but no need to rub it in his face. Becoming human had to feel pretty pitiful after ages of being an angel.

He was trying to make it better where he could, though. “You wanna watch a movie tonight? I'll let you pick because you're bedridden."

"I am not," Cas protested, though he looked more than a little pleased at the idea of getting to choose. Dean braced himself for whatever ridiculous romance or musical Cas insisted on watching now—to date, he'd been subjected to La La Land , the ending of which had reduced Cas to tears for the rest of the night; Pride and Prejudice, okay not too bad, though he'd never admit it; and You’ve Got Mail, dammit not bad enough for him to hate either.

Instead of suggesting a movie, though, Cas said, "You're very caring, Dean."

"Uh." Dean turned from cycling through the movie options on the TV to look at Cas. He felt himself turn red under the look Cas was giving him, head tilted, that fond almost-smile he got. "Yeah, uh. What I do."

"Yes," Cas agreed. "It is what you do. You're very good at taking care of others."

"Oh, God, don't start that." By that, he meant the long compliments Cas so shamelessly gave him now, like he'd been storing them up for a long time and was finally able to hand them out. It was like the dam had broken that night when Billie and the Empty—

But he didn't want to think about that. Not when all the events since that day had led to Cas now sitting in bed blowing his nose, the trashcan by the bed overflowing with tissues. Poor bastard; he'd gone through one whole Kleenex box already.

"I'm only going to stop because talking hurts too much," Cas told him, tossing a tissue at the trashcan and missing sorely. Dean grimaced.

They nearly got through Mama Mia before Cas dozed off, head resting on Dean’s shoulder. It wasn’t the most comfortable position and Dean’s arm was half-asleep, but he refused to move. The mere fact that they were sitting together in bed, pressed against each other, was still enough to send him into shock anytime he thought about it too much. Cas—a literal former angel—had fallen in love with him. It was almost too good to be true.

But Cas was currently slumped against him, drooling on his shoulder, so he guessed it really was true.

As the credits rolled, he turned off the TV and touched Cas’ forehead with the back of his hand. Not as warm as before. At his touch, Cas blinked awake.

“It’s over already?”

“Whaddya mean, already? I just had to sit through two hours of singing and dancing.” It hadn’t been that torturous, but he couldn’t admit that—he had a reputation to uphold. Straightening, Cas rolled his eyes. “Feel any better?"

Cas’ expression turned thoughtful, as if taking stock of every physical sensation in his body, and Dean had to grin at his seriousness. He nodded. "Yes."

"Great.” He glanced at the time on the clock and realized it was later than he’d expected. “You probably wanna get some rest.”

Cas nodded with a yawn. "You don't have to sleep here if you don't want to."

Dean froze in the middle of pulling back the covers, mind immediately spinning out. "What?" They'd only started sharing a room a month ago, oh God, he'd known it was too good to be true, Cas was sick of him—

"I want you to," Cas said quickly, as if sensing Dean's downward spiraling. "I just don't want you to get sick."

Oh. Oh. Feeling a little sheepish for immediately jumping to the worst conclusions—one of his greatest talents, if he did say so himself—he shook his head. "Nah, I have a great immune system."

Cas' expression turned guilty and Dean narrowed his eyes. "What?"

"About that..." Cas started slowly. Dean gave him a look. "Well, uh... Your immune system isn't quite as healthy as you think. I've been giving it a boost for the past several years, every time you started to get sick."

"What?" Looking back, it was pretty remarkable that he'd never gotten even a common cold with all the other shit they dealt with. "Fuck."

"Sorry."

"No, don't apologize. I should be thanking you. So, uh. Thanks."

"You're welcome."

Of course Cas had been taking care of him for years, Dean thought, when they settled in bed and he turned off the lights. Cas told him he was caring, but it was Cas who was the caring one. He’d sacrificed his life for him, for Christ’s sake. Then gave up his grace to return to Earth because he wanted to be with Dean and Jack and Sam and everyone. The guy didn’t have a selfish bone in his body.

The thought should’ve been a comforting one, but instead he felt antsy, unable to stay still, shifting under the blankets.

Turning onto his side, he nudged Cas, whose eyes had fallen shut. With a grunt, Cas opened his eyes and looked over at him.

“You alright?” Dean asked, which wasn’t really what he wanted to say, but he wasn’t sure how to say it.

“I was when I was falling asleep,” Cas grumbled. But he shifted to face Dean. In the faint light coming from the bunker hallway, Dean could see the concern in his eyes. It sent a pang through him. Cas had given up so much, and Dean was doing all he could to make sure he never regretted it, and Cas told him all the time that he was content with his choice, but still the worry sat heavy in his stomach.

"Listen,” he started. “I just wanna let you know that being human isn’t all bad. I swear it won’t be miserable forever. I know you've been introduced to the bad shit first, but—"

"That's not true," Cas interrupted, touching Dean’s hand resting between them. Dean raised an eyebrow. "Dean, being human has been the single most rewarding experience in my entire life second only to raising Jack. It started with you rescuing me from the Empty and revealing my feelings weren't unreciprocated like I thought. I would say that's far from miserable.”

"Yeah, but you had to adjust to living without your grace, and eating food, and getting sick..."

"It's been difficult, yes. I won't lie and say I enjoy bodily functions or sneezing or headaches. But I do enjoy being with you and eating chicken soup and watching absurd TV shows. I wouldn't change this for anything. Whatever happened in our lives, it led us here. And I’m happy with where we are.” He studied Dean for a moment before asking, quieter, “Are you happy?”

“Yes, yeah, of course,” Dean hastened to say, because it was true. Fuck, it couldn’t be truer. “Of course. Just feel bad, I guess. That you gave up your grace and all that. Feel like I’ve hardly done anything.”

Castiel’s expression softened. “You’ve given me more than I could’ve ever dreamt of. And anyway, it’s not a competition, Dean. I take care of you, you take care of me. That’s what love is.”

Throwing that word around, love, still made Dean’s heart skip a beat. But it was true. He loved Cas and he’d do anything for him. The same, he knew, was true on Cas’ end.

Cas said it best, so he settled for lifting Cas’ hand and kissing his knuckles.

“I would kiss you," Cas said, smiling, "but I don’t want to get you sick.”

“Screw it," Dean said, and propped himself up on an elbow to kiss him. Then he shifted, turning over and pulling Cas’ arm to wrap around him. Even if the bastard was sick, Dean was making him be the big spoon.

"For the record,” he said, feeling Cas curl around him. “I wouldn't change anything either."

And he meant it. Even when he woke up the next morning with a sore throat and stuffed up nose. Cas—who seemed to have gotten over the worst of his cold—took only one look at him before declaring it was his turn to play doctor, throwing extra blankets at him and demanding the chicken soup recipe in a flurry of activity.

He’d take care of Cas, and Cas would take care of him. It sounded like a good life, Dean thought, settling back against the pillows with a smile. He wouldn't change a thing.

[halcyonstorm]

The Girl at the Library Chapter 2

Pairing: Levi Ackerman/Hange Zoe

Themes: College AU, Library, Fluff, Slow Burn, Falling in Love, Female Hange Zoe, Student!Levi

Word Count: 5870

Summary: Levi visits Hange in her dorm. He misses his family but is too busy to drive. Hange has a car.

Chapter: 2/3

Warning: Mild Language

Read on AO3 here

Levi went back to his dorm room after the encounter with Hange. He seemed to be walking a bit faster.

The skip in his step, unfortunately, quickly dissipated once he walked in his room. His roommate was hanging out with a few friends, two he recognized were the guys who fucked up his laptop. As soon as they saw Levi, their conversation came to a halt. The two brats nervously gathered their things and rushed out of the room. Levi shook his head in annoyance, shutting the door behind them. He placed his wet bag on the floor. Right. He was soaked from the rain. 

“Levi, good to see you,” Erwin --his roommate-- said, slightly annoyed. There was a card game set up on the small table in their dorm. Levi didn’t respond and walked past them. He always had friends over. Levi was always pissed about it. The least he could’ve done was ask. The room was small enough as it is. Also, Erwin and his friends always left a mess.  

Levi’s and Erwin’s dorm room was small. Would Hange’s room be this small? he asked himself. He felt himself get hot. He grabbed a fresh change of clothes, went to their bathroom and changed. He wore a pair of grey sweats and a white t-shirt. He hung up all his wet clothes in their shower. Levi took a deep breath, leaving the bathroom. He spent the rest of the night thinking of his new friend, and his mood was restored.

The next day couldn’t come fast enough. He woke up at 8am that morning to go on a run and to get some of his physical homework done. He also showered, spending an extra minute than usual. He wondered if he should bring something for Hange. 

“Erwin, what snacks do you have?” He asked, starting to dress in the bathroom. He put on a pair of black jeans and an olive green t-shirt.

“Uh,” he shuffled through his ‘secret’ stash. Levi knew where it was. “I’ve got chips, granola bars, ramen, peanut butter…”

What the fuck am I gonna do with peanut butter? He asked himself. 

Levi shook his head and rolled his eyes. He finished getting dressed and grabbed a few bags of chips and stuffed them in his bag. He made sure to pack his notes too.

It was finally 10:45 and he decided to leave to go to her dorm. He brought his phone, keys, wallet, and backpack with him.

“Be back later,” Levi called out before closing the door behind him. Levi began walking to her room. He had to take the elevator up four floors, making stops along the way, but he made it. 506… On his left side, there it was. On the door were two drawn cut-outs of the two residents. He recognized Hange’s drawing right away. It was colored in with colored pencils. The character had her same brown hairstyle; closed, happy eyes; oval glasses; and a big toothy smile. She wore a green long sleeve and brown pants. Her character was waving. Under her character, it has the name “Hange” in big green block letters. The other character was of a girl with short blonde hairstyle and blue eyes. Her character was smiling but had her eyes open. That must be her roommate. The name written underneath the drawing was “Nanaba” in blue bubble letters. Levi hesitantly knocked at the door after admiring the drawings.

Hange opened the door. “Hey!” “Hi.”

She invited him in. One half of the dorm room was messy and the other was averagely neat, at least in Levi’s eyes. She shut the door behind him. 

“Ehh, I’m sorry my side of the room is kinda messy,” She confessed. She had the messy side of the room. Her bed was made, but her desk was a mess. Papers, books, and food wrappers were spread out on the desk and migrated to her bed. There were at least four empty ramen containers on her desk, which she clumsily grabbed and tossed away. Hange grabbed the papers off her desk and moved them to the side, clearing the spot for him. She lazily crumpled some food wrappers and threw them in the trash, one wrapper missing and falling on the floor. Levi shuddered. How did she live like this? The foot of her bed met the left edge of the desk. Her desk was big; It had many drawers and an overhang where she had small knick knacks including small comic book figurines, plants, and books. She had a figurine of a character with a green hooded cape on who looked like a soldier. He really liked that one.

“Let me just log you on.” She bent over the chair to use the computer. Levi put his bag down next to the desk. “Thank you.” Levi said. 

“Oh, It’s nothing,” she said. After a few moments, she stood upright, backing away from the computer. “Alright! You’re good to go. If you need my help, I’m here. I have some work to do too.” He nodded, sitting down in the very comfortable desk chair. He let out a relieved sigh. Hange chuckled.

“Comfortable, right?” She asked, jumping on her bed and crossing her legs. Levi agreed. It was comfortable. It was one of those gaming-like chairs with cushions and lower back support. He noticed she had a bunch of bookmarks tabbed which were disorganized. He began to type in “Addison’s Disease” and as he did, he noticed it was recently searched. Before he could ask about it, Hange began to speak.

“I found some articles for your paper,” she explained, not looking away from her books. “I printed them out for you.” 

Levi was pleasantly surprised. He hid a smile. “You didn’t have to do that.” 

She shrugged. “Pfft. Shush. I wanted to.” There was a pause. “Oh! I made sandwiches for us. I know it’s kinda early for lunch, but I’ve been up since 6 this morning so I’m starving. I hope you like PB&J.”

Fuck! Levi thought. Erwin’s peanut butter. I could’ve made sandwiches. He mentally smacked his forehead.

“I brought some chips,” Levi added. “Take whatever you want.” He grabbed some bags from his backpack and placed them on her bed. He grabbed a blue bag of Doritos, she grabbed a bag of Fritos.

“Thanks,” she said, popping the bag open by squeezing it. Some chips flew out of the bag, falling on the bed. 

“What?” Levi asked, bewildered. Why did she open it like that?

“I’m not good with pulling the seal open…” she admitted, chuckling. Levi found it weird. Levi locked eyes with her and opened the bag by pulling the seal open with ease. Hange pouted.

“No fair.” She laughed. He was never going to get any work done if she kept distracting him. He grabbed a sandwich and ate it. He really enjoyed it, especially since she made it. 

“Thanks for lunch,” he said. He was kind of hungry anyways. 

“No problem!”

The two began to work.

-

About three hours passed before Levi finished his paper. He ended his final sentence with a loud tap of the period on the keyboard. He took a deep breath and looked Hange's way. She was prone, resting her chin in her left palm. Her feet were in the air, crossed at the ankles. She was reading a textbook and had a pen and paper on her right side, probably answering homework. She looked very studious and attractive. 

“I’m finished with my paper…” Levi said aloud. “Can I read it to you?” 

Hange quickly wrote something down on her paper, dropped the pen, and pushed herself up to sit criss-crossed.

“Yep! I’m all ears.”

He began to read through his paper. He realized during his speech that this was probably the most he’s said to Hange. He felt guilty in a way. He was bad with words, so he felt it was better if he kept his mouth shut. Hange didn’t mind, though. She enjoyed hearing him talk, as she found it very soothing. As he read, he felt her eyes on him. He finally finished reading his paper.

“I have a few suggestions on some wording, but besides that, I think it’s great,” Hange said, getting out of bed. She walked to Levi’s right, then squatted. Levi felt himself get nervous. She was really close. He thought she smelled good. 

“Scroll up a little…” she said, gesturing to him to scroll up. He did as she asked. “There. That sentence: ‘Medications used to treat Addison’s Disease include mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids, such as fludrocortisone and hydrocortisone.’ It is kinda wordy. They’re both corticosteroids, so I think you should shorten it. You can mention the classes of the drugs in the next sentence, if you wanted to. Also, ‘A big teaching point includes following the steroid regimen exactly as prescribed. Abruptly discontinuing this medication will result in adrenal suppression.’ I think there is a better word to use than ‘big’. What about ‘important’, or ‘essential’ or ‘paramount’...”

He turned his head to look at her. Hange’s sentence had trailed off the moment he looked at her. She was stunned by his eyes. She hadn’t been this close to him, so that moment was the first time she could admire his eyes up close. They were a beautiful, piercing steel blue. When she realized he was staring back at her, she stood up, shaking out her legs nervously. 

“‘Paramount’ will do,” Levi said after a moment passed. He typed it in.

“Good job, Levi. You’ll score well with your paper,” Hange said, trying not to stutter. She meant it. She was proud of what he wrote.

“Thanks. I couldn’t have done it without your help, though, four-eyes.” Hange liked the nickname. She smiled and patted his shoulder before going back to sit on her bed. She grabbed her phone and realized she didn’t have his phone number. Did he have a phone? He must have. She thinks she saw him use it once. 

“If you need my computer again, or just wanna text, I can give you my number,” Hange blurted out. When Levi looked at her, he realized she wasn’t looking at him when she asked. He agreed, handing his phone to her. 

“Go for it,” he said. He was attempting to sound ‘cool’ (and it worked). Hange reached to grab his unlocked phone. She found his contacts and put her name and number in. She sent herself a text message from his phone. She was hoping he would text her more. When she closed out to the home screen, she noticed his background was a photo of him and a small, dark haired lady.

“Is this your mother?” Hange asked, handing his phone back to him.

He looked down at his phone and nodded. “Yeah. This photo is from my first day at the university.” He had swiveled the chair to face the bed and her. “I remember she was sad to see me go, but happy too. She was proud of me.” Hange’s heart swelled. Levi seemed to remember her with a bittersweet smile. Hange frowned a bit.

“Is something wrong?” Hange asked.

“I just… haven’t seen her in a while. I’ve been so busy with assignments and exams that I haven’t had time to go visit her. Every time I have free time, I’m studying or catching up on sleep...”

“I can take you,” Hange offered instantaneously. She didn’t even have to think about it. She wanted to help her friend.

Levi’s eyes widened. “What?”

“You have to get stuff done and I have a car on campus and a license Let me take you.” She explained. Before he could bud in, she continued. “What day would you like to go? This weekend? I’m free this weekend.”

“I’d never get any studying done if we did that,” Levi said. We. 

“You didn’t say no,” Hange retorted with a smirk. “I’ll be good. I won’t distract you. Promise.”

Levi took a deep sigh. He really wanted to, more than he let on. “Saturday morning works for me.”

-

A few days passed by and now Friday came along. Levi’s paper was due in three days, so he wanted to go to the library to revise it before printing and submitting it. He knew Hange worked on Friday’s too, so he had another motive. 

His class had ended, then he was on his way to the library. When he entered, he heard laughter. Don’t people know they’re supposed to be quiet in the library? He wondered, but he didn’t pay much mind to it. There was a blonde woman standing at the front of the counter, leaning over it. He heard Hange’s voice and laugh and felt his heart skip a beat.

“I gotta see if the patron needs help,” Hange said to the girl without noticing who walked in.

“Zoe, since when do you actually care about your job?” The blonde said playfully. Hange smiled and rolled her eyes. Zoe? Hange made her way around the desk and saw Levi standing, looking at some books in the entryway.

“Levi! Good to see you,” Hange said, pleasantly surprised. She held her hands behind her back. “Computer?”

“Yeah.”

“Very good, come here.” Hange walked towards the desk, then around it. Levi stayed on the opposing side. “Levi, this is Nanaba. Nanaba, this is Levi. Nanaba is my roommate.”

“Nice to meet you, Levi,” Nanaba said, smiling at him. He nodded, exchanging pleasantries. Hange wrote his name down on the paper. “Okay, Levi. You’re all set.” He muttered a “thanks'' and then set his stuff down by the computer. He heard Nanaba whispering something to Hange. She shook her head, waving at her to follow her towards the back. Hange didn’t want to disturb Levi, and she also didn’t want Levi to hear what they were talking about.

Hange and Nanaba sat down at the table in the break room. Hange sipped on a can of soda.

“That’s Levi?” Nanaba asked, punching Hange’s shoulder playfully.

“Yeah. He’s just my friend. I don’t know why you care so much.”

“You two were in our dorm… alone?! Do I need to clean the room again?”

“No! He just had to work on his project. My side of the room is messy, though.”

“Uh huh… I can tell by the way he looks at you that you two aren’t ‘just friends’ like you claim,” Nanaba concluded, leaning back and crossing her legs.

“I told you it’s nothing,” Hange reinforced, getting flustered and annoyed. “Besides, he wouldn’t even be attracted to someone like me anyways. I am extremely messy and clumsy. His shirts are never wrinkled, and he is always extremely clean and neat.”

Nanaba rolled her eyes. “Haven’t you heard of ‘opposites attract’?” Hange made a “pfft” sound.

“That’s such bullshit.” Hange felt like Nanaba was giving her false hope.

“Well you wouldn’t be asking me for advice on your crush then if you thought the whole ‘opposites attract’ thing was bullshit, would you? No.” 

The small bell above the entrance dinged, so Hange stood up. “Nanaba, I’ve got work to do, you know. That’s what you do at a job. Also, he is not my crush. ” Nanaba sighed and stood too. “I’ll see you at home.” She waved before walking ahead. “Bye, Levi. Nice to meet you.” She said in passing. Levi said “see you” to her. The patron who walked in was the same blonde guy with a big nose from last week. Levi recognized him.

“Mike!” Nanaba exclaimed, kissing his cheek. “Good to see you. Ready to go?” Mike nodded, taking her hand. “See you later, Zoe!” She called out before the couple left together. Hange and Levi were alone again. Hange came to the front of the library where Levi was. She sat down in the chair next to him. He turned to face her. Her cheeks were red.

“What time do you want to leave tomorrow?” Hange asked, crossing her legs. 

“Is 9 good? I wanna make sure I spend enough time with her.” Levi suggested. Hange smiled. 

“That’s fine. Just let me know when you want me to pick you up then. I can stay in the area, just send me the address.”

“You can stay, you know,” Levi offered. “You… don’t have to leave.” Hange looked shocked. She was very grateful for his offer.

“Are you sure? I mean, that’s very generous-”

“Don’t question me,” Levi said, looking back at the computer. That means ‘yes, I’m sure’.

“Thanks, Levi,” Hange said, standing up. “I’ll meet you at your dorm at 9 then we can get on the road.”

“Sounds good, Zoe.”

Hange woke up early the next day. She wanted to make sure everything went perfectly. She even got up early to clean out her car, which was a mess. It was full of junk. She had a pre-owned black four-seater that was well loved. She made it as clean as possible, making sure to wipe off the seats of any crumbs. It looked acceptable, and Hange went back inside. She realized at this point how long of a walk it was from her dorm to the parking lot. Nonetheless, she took the extra trip. She wanted to make a good impression. When she got back to her dorm, she packed a small backpack. Levi had texted her the address, and it was about an hour away. It was in the city, however, so it would probably take more time. She kept reminding herself to keep her mouth shut during the car ride to help him study.

She arrived at his dorm room a bit late, around 9:10. She felt really bad about this, but Levi didn’t seem to mind. Levi wore a grey university hoodie with black jeans. It was supposed to be cold today. Hange wore a black zip-up jacket with a pair of blue jeans and white sneakers. Her hair was half-up and half-down. Levi liked those colors on her. They headed for the elevator and walked to the parking lot. Hange omitted the part of her morning where she cleaned out her car as they talked about their mornings. They reached her car. She opened the trunk. He put his bag in the trunk and shut it.

“Don’t forget to keep your books in the front so you can study. I packed snacks. If you want any just let me know,” Hange said, unlocking the front door and getting in the car. 

“Thanks,” Levi said, getting in the car. He closed the door. Hange locked the car and opened her phone. She began searching his mom’s address on the GPS. It ‘dinged’ when it found her house, and she propped her phone up in the holder.

As Hange began to drive, she noticed how Levi murmurs to himself when he studies. She can hear him repeating medications to himself and reciting the cards. Hange smiled. She found it endearing. The roads were pretty busy. They had left by 9:30am. Hange enjoyed driving, however, she wasn’t the most safe driver. She would make sudden stops, jerking Levi and Hange forward in their seats. Levi was grateful his seatbelt worked. She would make sharp turns and didn’t allow the wheel to return when the turn was finished. With one of the stops, it threw the cards that were in his lap on the floor. Levi took a deep sigh, packing up his cards.

“Sorry, Levi.”

“I’m taking a break,” Levi said, closing his eyes. “I have this exam coming up and it’s all about antihypertensive medications. There are too many, I think I’m going to develop hypertension.”

Hange laughed out loud. “They aren’t that bad. You’ve gotta come up with songs and mnemonics to remember them, then it's easy!” Levi scoffed.

“Do I look like someone who comes up with songs to remember things?” Levi asked, crossing his arms.

“No,” Hange quickly replied. “But you happen to be sitting next to someone who does. Read some of the meds to me.”

“Oh, god. No,” Levi moaned, opening the window. The breeze made his hair blow in the wind. Hange was lucky enough to catch a glance. She caught a whiff of his shampoo.

“I will stop this car right now,” Hange threatened playfully, raising her voice. She made a jolting stop at a light. Levi jerked forward again and groaned.

“Fine.”

He pulled his cards out of his backpack again, finding the medication cards. “First are the ACE inhibitors. These medications include the -prils… Lisinopril, enalapril. These help lower the blood pressure by inhibiting the action of angiotension converting enzyme, which causes vasoconstriction. Adverse effects include high potassium, orthostatic hypotension, angioedema, persistent coughing…”

“Hmmm… ACE,” Hange said proudly. Levi shook his head in confusion. “What?”

“ACE: Angioedema, Cough, hypErkalemia.” Levi was shocked. “Thanks…” He murmured.

“Give me another one,” Hange challenged. Levi shuffled through his stack. “What about Beta blockers?”

“Ah…” Hange sighed. “Tell me about them. I only know so much, you know.” You can’t say you know then say I know that you only know so much. You are confusing, Levi thought.

“Beta blockers act on beta1 and beta2-adrenergic receptors, which can affect the heart, lungs, and bladder. These will lower blood pressure, as well as cause bradycardia, hypoglycemia, fatigue, and bronchospasms in patients with respiratory issues such as asthma and COPD,” Levi explained. Hange was so happy. She was helping him, and got to hear him talk. She decided at that moment that she loved his voice.

“Beta blockers seem to slow everything down,” Hange began. “Beta blockers make everything low and slow, right? They lower heart rate and blood pressure, they lower blood sugar, quote en quote ‘lower energy’ by causing fatigue… That’s what I would try to remember.”

Levi was impressed, and he isn’t impressed easily. She was extremely clever with her mnemonics, and she wasn’t even a pharmacology major.

“You are…” Levi began. Hange looked at him for a moment while they stopped at another light. He felt woozy, but in a good way. She looked nice. “Such a nerd.” Hange beamed.

“I’ll help you more later but I gotta focus on the road now. Levi smiled, putting his cards away. Hange noticed this, and turned the radio on. She got distracted trying to pick a channel, which made Levi frantic.

“I will pick a channel. Focus on the road, four-eyes,” He decided, shaking his head. His heart almost fell out of his chest. He made a mental note to never let her drive him anywhere again. Hange sighed, submissively agreeing, putting both hands on the wheel. They got into the city. Hange hadn’t been to the city often, even though it was not too far away. Levi disliked the city. It was too loud for him. Being out at the Uni didn’t make it as easy for him to sleep as he had originally thought. He was used to hearing the hustle and bustle of the city, that his ears buzzed with silence at night time on campus. Levi attempted to give Hange directions as they weaved their way through the busy roads. She almost got into two car accidents. She just laughed it off, but Levi was frazzled.

Finally, Levi thought. Out of the main city. Levi took a deep, deep breath. His mom lived on the outskirts of the city, which was very convenient. They were almost there. Hange finally found the house and pulled into the driveway. The house was small and a dark navy blue. Hange parked the car, and opened the trunk. She handed Levi his bag and they headed to the door. Hange was standing awfully close behind him which made him nervous. He knocked on the door.

A few moments later, the door opened. A beautiful lady opened the door. She had raven hair, steel blue eyes, and a beautiful smile.

“Levi!” She exclaimed, smiling wide. She hugged him. Levi patted her back, and Hange saw a smile creep on his face. “What a pleasant surprise!”

“Good to see you, mom. I wanted to visit.” They broke away and his mom peered over his shoulder. 

“Who’s this?”

“This is my friend, Hange,” Levi said, introducing Hange. She smiled and put out her hand. “It’s wonderful to meet you, Mrs. Ackerman.” His mom shook her hand.

“Call me Kuchel,” She insisted. She invited them in. 

“Hange actually drove me today,” Levi began, setting his bags down on the side. “I needed to study so she offered to drive…” He wasn’t sure why he told his mom this information. Maybe he felt he needed an excuse as to why he came with a girl.

“That’s so lovely! Well I’m glad the two of you decided to come down. Uncle Kenny will be stopping by later. I’m sure he’d be happy to see you. Miss Hange, are you staying for dinner?”

Hange blushed, scratching her head. “I’d love to, if that’s okay.”

“Great! Make yourself at home.”

Hange admired his house. It was very cozy and extremely neat. There was a big open living room area when they first walked in, a kitchen and dining room to their left, and other rooms to the right. It smelt of clean laundry. She liked it a lot. There were assorted pictures hung on the wall. She shoved her hands in her pockets as she admired the photos. Kuchel had a photo of Levi hanging, which Hange stared at for the longest. It was a photo of Levi with his mom at an event, most likely high school graduation. The photo was taken outside on a sunny day. He wore a blue cap and gown. Kuchel’s arm was around his shoulder, smiling wide. Levi wore a small smile. She saw another picture, which was of Kuchel and an older man with long hair. Hange suddenly felt a tug at her sleeve. Levi.

“Take your shoes off,” he said. Hange slipped her shoes off and put them on the rack. 

“Levi! Hange!” Kuchel called. “Would you like some tea?” They both agreed. They wandered into the small dining room and sat across from each other. Hange liked how Levi looked that day. He looked comfortable. His grey sweater made his eyes stand out. He almost caught her standing. Kuchel carefully brought over the steeped pot of tea and sat down at the head of the table.

“I boiled some earl grey tea, I hope that’s okay. That’s Levi’s favorite,” Kuchel said, cupping both her hands around the teacup. Levi picked his tea cup up by placing his fingers around the rim, taking a slow sip.

“Hange,” Kuchel said, smiling at the girl. “How do you guys meet?”

Oh great. Here she goes.

“Well, Levi happened to come to the library I work at to work on his project. I was able to help him out… Although I study botanicals, I read a lot so I know a lot about different topics. One of them happens to be drugs. Medications, I mean. So, anyways, he and I started talking and hanging out and whatnot. And here we are,” Hange explained. When she finished, she looked at Levi. He was staring at her. Her eyes lit up again, and Levi couldn’t look away. Doesn’t everyone know they shouldn’t stare into the sun?

“That’s lovely!” Kuchel exclaims. She sips her tea. “Levi usually doesn’t ask for help. But I’m glad you were able to help him. I remember back in elementary school, he would always insist on doing the projects himself. My stubborn boy. He gets that from me, you know. I can be so stubborn sometimes.” She took a pause, and Levi jumped in.

“Mom,” Levi intervened. Kuchel looked at her son. Kuchel could tell she may have been embarrassing him. “I’m gonna go study.” Come with me, Hange, he wanted to add. Hange finished her tea, and stood up. “Thank you for the tea, Kuchel. I’d love to hear more of your stories, but I offered to help Levi study.” Kuchel smiled, squeezing Hange’s shoulder.

“It’s okay, go on ahead.” The two nodded. Levi led her down the hall, and opened a door. It looked like Levi’s bedroom. It was extremely tidy. He also had a desk. It wasn’t too big, but did the job. He had some drawers with some photos on top. He kept the door open.

“You can take the desk chair. I’ll sit on the bed,” Levi concluded. He sat on the bed, pulling his knees up. He took out his drug flash cards.

“Levi, do you have a white board? Or poster board?” Hange asked. 

“Why?”

“You’ll see.” Levi remembered he had an easel in the back of his closet. He stood up to retrieve it. He finally set it up. It was wide, which was perfect. It’s spotless, Hange thought. It’s like he never used it.

“My mom got this for me but I have yet to use it,” Levi said. Did he hear me?

“Okay,” Hange began. “So, we talked about ACE inhibitors and Beta Blockers, right? So, let’s go through the rest and compare them all.” She took out a purple marker, beginning to write on the board. In the center, she wrote “Anti-HTN Meds”. She drew an arrow to the left corner, writing “ACE Inhibitors” and writing all its information. She did the same with Beta Blockers.

“What’s next?” Hange asked, looking at Levi.

“Thiazide diuretics,” Levi sighed. “This is HCTZ. It helps lower blood pressure by removing fluids from the body, resulting in diuresis. Side effects include hypokalemia and hyponatremia, orthostatic hypotension.” Hange wrote as he spoke. He was surprised she can write so fast. 

“Okay! So, it seems that a common theme is orthostatic hypotension, no?” She questioned, not facing him. She grabbed a red marker to write “orthostatic hypotension” and replaced the other one written. As Levi read off multiple classifications of medications, Hange created the web. She made a map that connected the similarities of the medications, while making it organized enough to understand the differences. Levi was impressed for the second time that day. Hange was sincerely helping him conceptualize and comprehend the information. Then, he realized Hange hadn’t sat down since they began studying. 

“Oi, don’t break your back,” Levi said. 

“Haha! I’m fine! I’ve only been standing since around 11 am...” She took her phone out of her pocket and turned it on for the time. “...it’s almost 3 now! Wow! We really pushed through for hours! That’s fantastic!” She smiled wide at him, but Levi could tell she was exhausted from standing.

Levi hopped off his bed. “Lay down,” He ordered. Hange furrowed her brows, but didn’t protest. She sprawled supine on his bed, sighing. “Thanks, Levi,” She exhaled, closing her eyes. His bed was still a bit warm from when he was occupying it. It was lower than her bed at her dorm, but she liked it. 

“Let’s take a break,” Levi decided. He had a small flatscreen TV mounted on the wall in his room. He walked to the TV to grab the remote, and turned it on. He admired Hange for a brief moment as he passed her to sit in the desk chair. She looked tired. He put on a crime documentary. Hange perked up automatically. Her eyes widened with interest.

“Honestly, I’m not surprised you like these,” Levi assumed. She chuckled and replied: “I guess we’re both freaks after all.” It made Hange’s heart happy that they had something in common. She was worried Levi wouldn’t like her since she was so different from him, but maybe she had a chance now. She was so absorbed in the show that she didn’t realize Levi left the room to grab something to eat. Levi greeted his mom.

“Hi, honey,” Kuchel responded. “How’s Hange?”

“She’s fine. I wanted to get us something to eat.”

“Oh! You’re in luck,” Kuchel cheered, opening a cabinet to grab two bowls. “I just heated up some soup for myself. Would you like some? It’s wild rice.”

“Sounds good,” Levi replied. Kuchel filled two bowls. 

“She’s pretty, your friend Hange,” Kuchel said. She wasn’t facing Levi when she spoke. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you two ended up dating. You seem to like her a lot.” Levi felt his face flush bright red.

“Thanks for the food,” He ignored her comment, taking the bowls to his room. He made sure to keep his face out of his mother’s sight. Kuchel giggled softly to herself. She knew he wouldn’t dare to reply to a comment that he knew was true.

He came back to the room with the two bowls. “Here’s lunch,” He said, handing her the bowl. Hange was sitting with her knees to her chest, intently staring at the screen. She looked toward him when he spoke, accepting the bowl in two cupped hands. “Thank you!” She smiled wide. He smiled too. He loved her smile. “When did you get this, anyways?”

“I left the room to get it. I said, ‘Hange, I’m getting us lunch.’ You didn’t hear me?”

Hange chuckled in embarrassment. “I guess I was too absorbed in the show. Sorry.” Levi shook his head lightly and sat down. He attempted to move the chair closer to the bed without her noticing. He was successful. Hange was sitting up on the bed with her legs criss-crossed, bowl in her lap. Levi was cross-legged in the desk chair, which was right next to the bed. Hange didn’t seem to mind or even notice until she had turned to look to her right, and she realized Levi was so close to her. His face was really close. He felt her staring, but couldn’t dare to look back. His heart would’ve exploded. 

“You’re staring is creeping me out, four-eyes,” Levi said, startling Hange.

“Oh, yeah?” Hange chuckled. She suddenly grabbed his chin and turned his head towards hers. His wide eyes were staring into hers now. He felt like his heart was about to explode. “What about now?”

“...Creep,” He murmured. The tone of his voice changed entirely compared to his previous statement. Hange noticed this. His voice was soft and nervous. Levi felt his whole body start to heat up. He felt his heart throbbing in his head. He felt his breath hitch in his throat. He gently placed his hand on her cheek. She accepted his touch. He leaned in hesitantly, closing his eyes. Hange did the same, and finally there was no space between them anymore. Their lips collided.  She kissed his lips softly, as if she was nervous to kiss too hard. Levi had kissed girls before, but it was never like this. Never so emotional. Never so breathtaking. Never so soft or warm or gentle. He never wanted it to end. He was smitten by her. Their lips parted. She wasn’t extremely close after they parted, but she kept her eyes focused on his. Hange felt her heart pulsating in her chest. He looked into her rich hazel eyes again. He swore he fell in love with her in that instant.

[jj-iz-bae]

Um,What are you wearing?

Y/n x JJ Maybank. Mentions of Rafe

Warnings: SMUT,Language, bad writing,bad grammar

Soooo I've had this in my head for a couple days so I wanted to write it. Sorry for my bad writing peeps ❤️

Word count: 1135

Y/n called in a few favors a couple months after John B and Sarah went missing. After seeing JJ covered in bruises and cuts from his dad, she had enough! A certain Cameron owed her one..actually he owed her several dozen for "calling of her dog" as Rafe put it. Rafe and Rose helped y/n get the chateau signed over to JJ. It took a bit of bribery on Rafe's part as far as the town administration and shit like that but it was finally his! Y/n and JJ have been happily living in the chateau for almost a month now. They didn't move anything tho. John B's room remained the same. Well the same except now it was clean. Y/n stress cleaned after he went missing so the chateau was pretty spotless. Their shared bedroom was the same it had always been too. The only thing that changed was the name on the house. It just felt right.

Y/n was in the kitchen, music cranked and dancing. She was making sandwiches for the starving blonde who was probably almost home from work by now. Y/n had a PJ day on the couch so she had one of JJ's t-shirts on and a pair of his boxers as sleep shorts. As she finished the sandwiches and reached for a bag of chips, JJ walked through the door. "Hey, Babe! How was your day?" Y/n asked as she placed the 2 plates of food on the counter and sat on a stool. "It was alright. Fixed a few cars. Didn't get into any fights. Overall good report for the day,Mom" JJ grinned as he picked up the sandwich and took a bite. Y/n laughed at the sass that man almost always had. "It's not my fault my boyfriend turns into the hulk. I have a right to worry." Y/n retorted while eating her sandwich. Jj just shrugged. " I've been on my best behavior,Doll Face, I promise." JJ raised his had like he was reciting the boy scout code. Y/n just laughed at his antics. They both sat in comfortable conversation while they finished dinner.

Y/n grabbed both plates when they were done and walked over to the sink to start cleaning them. As she was scrubbing the dishes, she heard JJ clear his throat a couple times. "Um, what are you wearing?" He smiled, scanning you up and down. Y/n smiled turning of the sink. "Well your T-shirt and my sleep shorts are in the wash so I borrowed your boxers." Y/n said as she dried off the dishes. Jj got up from the stool and walked over to her, snaking his arms around her. Y/n put the dishes and towel down and laced her fingers behind his neck. "I've said it before and I'll say it again: you look hot as fuck in my clothes,Baby." JJ said before he kissed her lips. Y/n smiled into the kiss, running her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck. JJ's hands slid down to cup her ass and gave it a squeeze, causing y/n to gasp and giving JJ the opportunity to slip his tongue past your lips. As the kiss got more passionate, y/n ended up sitting on the counter.

They broke apart briefly to breathe and JJ bit his lip staring at y/n. Jj traced shapes on her exposed thigh before cupping her face with the other hand, connecting their lips once more. Y/n grabbed at JJ's T-shirt and he pulled away quickly to discard it before quickly attaching his lips to hers again. Y/n traced her fingers across his collarbone and down his chest to his abs, before hooking her finger on the front of his cargo shorts. Jj pulled y/n's (his) t Shirt off and moaned at her bare chest, grabbing her hips and pulling her flush against his chest. "You gonna fuck me on the counter or what J?" Y/n teased, earning a growl from JJ as he kissed her neck. Jj quickly pulled off his cargo shorts and boxers before hooking a finger in your new sleep shorts ie his boxers. As he pulled them around her ass and down her legs, he swore under his breathe. "Fuck,Doll! Is that new?" JJ smirked as he threw the shorts across the room trailing his eyes over ever inch of her. Every item of clothing had been discarded except for one: y/n's mint green lace thong. "Yeah. It's new. Thought I'd surprise you" y/n moaned as JJ found the sweet spot on her neck.

After JJ was satisfied with the mark left on her neck, he pecked her lips. He traced his rough fingers down her chest and stomach. He finally reached her core and moved the thong to the side. "All this for me?" JJ smirked as he teased her entrance with the tip of his cock. "All for you and only you, love." JJ smiled at her response and suddenly rocked his hips into hers, y/n immediately grabbing on to his shoulders moaning. "Shit baby. You're alway so fucking perfect. Like you were made for me." JJ moaned as he quickened his pace. Y/n couldn't even formulate a sentence. Her nails dug into his back as JJ hooked her legs over his arms and thrusts hard into her throbbing core. "J..I...I'm so fucking close. Don't stop" y/n said barely above a whisper. At her words, JJ smashed his lips into hers. "Cum for me, doll. Fuck baby you're so perfect." JJ threw his head back, very close to his high as well. Y/n's core clenched around him as she hit her high with a load moan. That's all it took for JJ to follow right after her.

They were both breathing heavily, resting their foreheads together when JJ kissed y/n's nose. "You should get more thongs" He smiled, hooking his finger into the lace. "I have more than you think" y/n winked, as her breath finally started to calm down. JJ hugged her close, enjoying the intimate moment between them."I think this is my new favorite spot" JJ admitted making y/n giggle against his chest. "As fun as that was, I do cook on here baby." Y/n giggled while rubbing his shoulders. "I'll buy you some Clorox wipes. Problem solved." JJ stated so seriously that y/n just bursts out laughing. "What would I do with out you, blondie." Y/n smiled as she ran her fingers through his hair. "Probably wouldn't have to disinfect so many surfaces" JJ admitted between giggles. Well, he wasn't wrong.

Taglist:

@afterglowsb-tch13 @cherryobx @sunwardsss @yourlocalauthor @starkeymarkey @k-k0129 @royalpogue @ilovejjmaybank @beatement-l @miniatureauthorpartyspy @bxmaaa @allielozoya @shawnsthighs @i-love-scott-mccall @lilbabyharrys @dannii-li

Comment tag list on any of my writing to be added❤️

[poguesholland]

Restless | JJ Maybank

Where you and JJ are best friends but you can’t fall asleep because you’re frustrated. So he helps you relax before confesssing your feelings to each other.

Warnings: smut, cursing, fluff at the end.

A/N: first imagine, hope you enjoy <3

you couldn’t sleep. you were restless. everyone else was asleep on the other side of the boat, even jj was fast asleep next to you, but you were wide awake. no amount of shuffling or tossing and turning helped you get just a single minute of shut-eye. why? you were horny. you needed to release any of the tension that was built up in your lower region and you needed to release it fast before you lost your mind. why couldn’t you? because of your broken fucking wrist. and not just any wrist, your right hand. so you couldn’t help yourself even if you wanted to, which you really did.

you groan loudly, forgetting about the blonde boy next to you and sit up. “what? what’s wrong? is everyone okay? are you- you okay?” jj jumps up awake in his usual protective demeanor. the boy was sound asleep just seconds ago but wakes up at the sound of anything unusual or worrisome, wide awake and ready for anything. your eyes shoot towards him immediately, startled, and pout. you felt bad for waking him up because of your annoyance. “i’m sorry j, didn’t mean to wake you, ‘just couldn’t get any sleep” you apologized; leaning your head on his shoulder and you feel him lose the tension in his body, sighing. “it’s okay y/n, why can’t you sleep?”

why did he have to ask?

all you wanted to do was scream out that you were horny, that you needed any sort of relief, but you couldn’t. so instead you just said “not tired”.

“i call bullshit, you were falling asleep when we were swimming, what’s really going on?” he cocks an eyebrow up, making you huff at how attentive this boy is. “just something personal, j”. but of course he wouldn’t leave it at that, that hard headed boy is the most curious person you’ve ever met, there was no chance he would let this go. “c’mon what is it? really wanna know now.” jj whined which annoyed you to tell him.

“don’t laugh” you said while looking at him, dead serious. “i won’t! now tell me!” “i’m horny” you huff and cross your arms. there are a few seconds of silence before jj bursts out with laughter, not being able to keep it in and keep his promise to not laugh at you. “jj!” you gasp, hitting him on the shoulder. “sorry! ‘m sorry! i just-“ he wheezes while trying to stifle his laughter making you turn a deep red with embarrassment. “sorry i promise-“ he clears his throat. “why don’t you get yourself off then? i could use such a nice view” he winks which makes you mentally shake your head at yourself. “i can’t” you mumble. “why not?”. “because my wrist is fucking broken, j! are you stupid!” you spit and he laughs, resulting in you rolling your eyes.

“i can help you, ‘f you want” he suggests and for a second there you think he’s joking but you turn around to face him and see no hint of laughter or amusement. is he serious right now? god, why am i even considering this? that’s so dumb. “jj-“ you start but he cuts you off. “i’m serious! what’s wrong with a friend helping a friend out? what pogues are for right?” he desperately adds and sees you considering it which excites him being the horn dog he is. “c’mon, s’not like it’s just gonna go away without you getting off. don’t worry y/n.” “fine.”

jj’s eyes meet yours as if he were doing a double take, giving you an area you sure’ look before you nod; he sits up against the boat and pats his lap. “sit on my lap, need to have good access don’t i?” jj sarcastically asks, turning you red again as you moved over to sit on him like he asked, legs on either side of his built body. his hands grip your hips lightly before toying with the knot of your shorts, “can i take them off?”. you look up at him with surprise. you never thought jj would be one to ask if a girl were comfortable or for her consent more than once. you nod shyly, lifting your hips and legs up so he could discard your shorts away next to you, leaving you in your bikini bottoms. they didn’t leave much to the imagination, jj’s imagination.

jj trails his fingers to your clothed core, fingers lightly tracing your clit and tight hole making you let out a breath. there was a wet spot on your bottoms from your arousal which jj felt, “so wet, huh? already?” he mumbled to you, eyes looking up at you. you were shocked, you didn’t expect him to dirty talk or didn’t expect to like it so much, that you whimpered. “yeah?” jj asked, beginning to lightly rub your clothed clit, already releasing some of your sexual frustration. “yeah” you breathe out, looking down at his hands.

“jj-” you whimpered when he began to rub you a bit harder. “tell me what you want” jj almost whispers to you creating goosebumps on your body, “please, j” you whine, bucking your hips against his hands but he stops and grips your thighs to stop you from shifting. “please what?” he teases you, letting you know that unless you told him what you wanted he wasn’t going to give it to you. “want you to touch me please, really need you to touch me jj” you surprised yourself by letting out breathily. jj immediately rid you of your bikini bottoms before cupping your pussy with his warm hands.

you let out a gasp once he does that, but he quickly shoves his thumb in your mouth before using the wetness to rub your clit slowly to torture you. “more please” you whimper, trying not to buck your hips as his other hand still gripped you. “well, since you asked so nicely.” jj mumbles to you, spreading your arousal before taking his fingers into his mouth to suck on them. his fingers leave his mouth with a pop and he groans at the taste of you on his tongue, “taste so good.” taking you by surprise, jj rubs your hole before sliding two of his long digits inside to drag out a loud moan from you. “shh baby, don’t wanna wake up the others do we?” he whispers in your ear with a rough and low voice, adding another digit before pumping them in and out of you at a medium pace.

“fuck! you’re so good at this j.” you moan pleadingly hands going to his chest, shirt almost fully unbuttoned so you rest your hands on his bare skin. your eyes meet his. his eyes were no longer crystal blue, they were much darker. you didn’t know if it’s just extreme lack of light in this boat or lust, that changed the color of his eyes. but it was safe to say they captivated you. jj moves his fingers faster, adding a fourth digit before pounding them in and out of you rapidly. “j! fuck! yes, ohh” you whine loudly, resting your head on his shoulder. wet noises and your heavy moans and breaths were the only thing to be heard. “d’you like that, pretty girl? like my fingers deep in your pretty little cunt?” jj grunts in your ears, the words making you clench around him before whimpering. “yes! yes love them j, so good”

jj’s lips attack to the skin behind your ear, leaving wet open mouthed kisses before his free thumb began to rub your clit rapidly. “ohh fuck, oh-“ you close your eyes and grip his shoulders, letting out heavy breaths in his ear. you begin to tighten more around him and clench, but that doesn’t stop jj from fingering you at an ungodly speed, the wet sounds becoming louder as your arousal dripping down your legs. “that’s it, yeah. gonna cum on my fingers? gonna make a mess on me?” jj taunts you, your moans like music in his ear only making his ego so big because he was the one making you feel this way.

“jj, ‘m so close, please wanna cum.” you ask him, making the bulge he was sporting even harder now. his fingers brush against your spot, unintentionally making you whine so loudly, jj shushed you. but you couldn’t control your moans, you were on the verge of cumming. your moans only increased until jj had no other option but to shut you up by kissing you so you wouldn’t wake the rest up, muting your moans against his lips. neither of you thought you were going to kiss, you’ve never kissed before. what you were doing wasn’t a typical best friends thursday but kissing made it more intimate.

“c’mon pretty girl, show me how good i make you feel. cum on my fingers, wanna see you cum” jj encourages you between your kiss making you moan against his lips. “jj, i’m gonna- mm!” you cry out into the kiss before cumming all over jj’s hand. “yeah that’s it, cum. good girl, such a good girl.” jj smirks, looking at you as you come down from your high. but he doesn’t give you the chance to rest once he takes his fingers out and vigorously rubs your clit with three fingers making you buck your hips to try and get away. “j! can’t take more- ah, please!” you plead, already feeling overstimulated and on the edge. “gonna cum, jj” you warm him before kissing him again, his tongue dominating yours.

your body goes numb as you rest your forehead against jj’s forehead, shaking as your squirt all over the blonde boy. “oh fuck!” you cry, while jj keeps rubbing you, milking more out of you. “that’s it, yeah” he praises you once more, helping you ride out your second orgasm in less than 30 seconds. your body gives out and you lean against jj, coming down from your high with deep breaths.

“fuck.” you pant, looking up at the grinning boy already looking at you. you both laugh, “thank you jj, that was-“ you struggle to find words. “-wow” he continues for you, hands resting on your waist. he realizes what he’s doing and thinks he should probably remove them but once he does, you hands place them back making him look at you with some determination in his eyes. you begin to gather the words to form a sentence when jj smashes his lips against yours in a passionate kiss, not because he was caught up in the moment but because he wanted to, and so did you.

your hands move up to the back of his neck, playing with his soft curls while his hands rests on your jaw. your lips move in sync and it felt so right to be kissing him, your bestfriend. his hands go down to grab your ass, squeezing it possessively earning a moan from you. he groans into your mouth before pulling away to catch his breath. jj helps your put on your bikini bottoms and shorts again, but you stay on his lap, resting your body on his while one arm wraps around you and the other rests on your ass. “jj?” you call, your voice muffled against his chest. “yeah?” “think i really like you” you mumble and he laughs, kissing your forehead “really like you too, y/n”.

[thehollowprince]

1.Hey just want to let you know that I am the first anon who asked about Jensen Ackles and Tyler Posey - I don't know which teen wolf anon you assumed I was, but that was the first time I send you an ask. I am a TP fan and check your blog for TP stuff and was surprised to see you reblogging jokes about Ackles being homophobic - since I see him facing the same issues that Posey did - a toxic fandom that bullies actors just because they don't subscribe to wanting two hot white men to get together.

2. Same anon. I don't think we should be throwing around words like homophobia lightly or based on rumors about how Ackles made a showrunner change the character based on his preferences etc. Ackles maybe homophobic - we don't know for sure. All I know is that from my experience, the Destiel fandom is as toxic as the Sterek fandom. Sure, Ackles shares part of the blame as he makes hundreds of thousands of dollars off these fans at the various cons - ( contd. in part 3)

3. But that does not mean that actors or their family should be subject to cyber bullying and online hate or that the showrunners should pander to this toxic fanbase. Scott would have been and was sidelined to pander to and queerbait Sterek fans and he was called homophobic when he pointed out how nonsensical the ship was. Destiel is the same and I don't mind Ackles not giving two shits about acting out a badly written scene pushed in to appease a toxic fanbase. Just my two cents.

Okay, first off, I want to say the only anon I've ever gotten that used Tyler Posey and "double-standards" in the same sentence has been the Asshole Anon I tagged. And given the fact that this anon was in my inbox within an hour of posting that ask, it stands to reason that my paranoia is well founded. This would not be the first time they've tried to trick anyone into a "Gotcha!" moment, and I was the next on the rotation of people they harass.

That being said and out of the way, let's get into this.

Starting off, you're right. Claims of homophobia shouldn't be a joke. Homophobia is a very real thing that affects many people around the world. And given the shipping fandoms that habe arisen in the past decade, along with thr use of social media by celebrities, it allows these fans to harass and belittle them from the comfort of their homes, no matter where said celebrity is. I would never make jokes regarding how fans treat the loved ones of their favorite celebrities, because I find it abhorrent. We saw something similar to his happen with the Star Wars fandom, particularly the R*ylos, when they doxxed and harassed Adam Driver's wife in the hopes that he and Daisy Ridley would get together, thus fulfilling the fantasy they have about their ship.

I don't keep up with the actors of Supernatural because I don't watch it anymore, but I imagine that's the case with Jensen's wife. Fans harassing her because she married him and they've based their entire personality and fandom experience around a ship between two fictional characters and the actor's personal life interferes with that fantasy. The fans that are harassing Jensen and his family aren't doing it out of any sense of morality in their efforts to fight homophobia, but because they want to see Dean and Cas together, and can't (or won't) accept that they're fictional characters played by two actors that have their own private lives.

Something similar happened with the Sherlock fandom, when they decided to cancel Martin Freeman and his wife because they asked fans to stop sending them NSFW fanart or J*hnl*ck, especially when they were with their children. I'll admit I'm a little fuzzy on that one, because I've never watched BBC Sherlock, but I did follow a few blogs that did so I remember the discourse. This all just feeds into the idea that shipping fandoms "own" the actors that play their favorite characters and has made for quite a toxic environment on most social media.

If the D*stiel fandom is anything like the St*r*k fandom or the J*hnl*ck fandom , than I applaud Jensen for standing his ground in the face of what I'm sure is countless inappropriate fics and art that are constantly thrown at him.

Now, there are a few differences between how Jensen is being accused of being homophobic and how Tyler was accused of being homophobic. The first major difference is something you said in this ask. They're jokes. Keeping in mind that, yes, I did say we shouldn't joke about homophobia, all the "discourse" around D*stiel has been jokes due to a variety of reasons. From how uncomfortable Jensen looked in that scene (leading some to think they were filmed separately and not told how the other was reacting) to the fact that it was happening during election week before the election was called. The fact that the rumors that Putin was stepping down came out at the same time and the whole situation took on this hysterical, otherworldly quality, like this was a collective fever dream we couldn't wake up from. The jokes came about, breaking the tension that had consumed Tumblr and uniting a large number of people in the absurdity of everything.

There's also the fact that the jokes about Jensen being homophobic were just that - jokes! I'll admit that I haven't gone looking, but I haven't seen anyone calling for Jensen to be cancelled or for his career to be derailed or his life to be ruined because of that scene. No, I've seen countless jokes about how Dean looked constipated or memes of random images found on people's phones used to "recreate" that scene. The fact that Jensen apparently wrote into his contract that his character in The Boys wasn't to have a gay sex scene just added to the satirical nature of everything.

Now let's compare that to Tyler Posey. When asked about a crack ship (that had nothing to do with his character) for the umpteenth time, he said that, if that's what fans were watching for, they're probably watching for the wrong reasons. It never condemned the ship or mocked its fans, he simply said that they were watching for the wrong reasons. And given how this interview took place after filming was done for that season, that could be interpreted as him saving people from wasting their time on something that wasn't going to happen. Personally, I just think he was fed up and frustrated about being asked about a crack ship that had nothing to do with him.

And for that one simple sentence, he was (and still is) deluged with hate. He received death threats and threats against his mother while she was battling cancer, all because he said something that wasn't a glowing appraisal of a ship that the fandom made up. To this day, there are people hell bent on proving how Scott was the true villain of the Teen Wolf series, and how Tyler Posey is just an awful human being.

Did any of those things happen to Jensen? No.

Would those things have probably happened to Jared if he'd said something negative about D*stiel? Probably.

Would the Teen Wolf fandom have acted the way it did if it had been Hoechlin or O'Brien who shot down St*r*k? Definitely not. We know that because they both did say something against St*r*k and the fandom at large likes to pretend that it never happened.

So, as we can see, there is a very clear difference between how Jensen was treated and how Tyler was treated. Could racism play a part in that treatment? Most likely, though, many would never admit to that. But, at the end of the day, its important to look at the differences between these two actors and how they were treated by their respective fandoms for what they said in regards to ships that fans have based their entire fandom experience around.

[98prilla]

Abductions, Past and Present

Next

Previous

AO3

...

“shit. Fuck.”  Remus curses, taking off, banging against the wall as he slides back into his room, instantly atop the bed and letting Roman cling to him, murmuring apologies and soft words, rubbing his back.

 “Shh, shhh, it’s ok, Ro, it’s ok, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, it’s alright roro.”

 “Ree…r-ree” He strokes his hand through Roman’s hair, rocking and humming quietly, slowly bring Roman out of whatever nightmare world he’d been in. He can feel Roman’s shaking stopping, his breath evening out.

 “you back, brobro?” He asks, smiling gently as he sees Roman’s clear brown eyes looking back up at him.

 “yeah. S-sorry. I j-just panicked.”

 “it’s ok, Ro. It’s alright. I’m sorry I was gone, I didn’t mean to scare you. I had… my own little breakdown last night.”

 “you did? Are, you ok?” He snorts out a laugh, kissing the top of Roman’s head.

 “me and Logan talked it out. Well, some of it. We’re…better. And they have coffee, so.” He shrugs, and Roman lets out a small laugh, eyes bright as he pulls away, rubbing his arm a bit self consciously.

“Kiddos? You two alright? I heard a scream.” Remus jumps at the voice from the doorway, Roman laughing at him. He replies by sticking out his tongue, slipping off the bed to his feet.

 “We’re fine, Feathers. Roman just had a nightmare, and I haven’t slept in… hm, twenty six and a half hours?”

 “What? That’s not healthy! Remus!” Patton scolds, and he just shrugs.

 “It’s not the longest I’ve gone. Just over three days is my record, I think. Though they did something to me that time.”

 “That was the thing that made your veins all orange. When you finally passed out, you slept for almost two straight days.” Roman answers.

 “Oh kiddos. I’m sorry.” Remus looks at him, a bit puzzled.

 “Why? It’s not like you did anything to us.” He replies simply, turning back to Roman. “You wanna go get something to eat?” Roman rolls his eyes.

 “I know you just want your coffee, Ree.”  

 “You don’t know! Maybe I just wanna take care of my baby brother!” Roman laughs, letting Remus wrap an arm around his shoulders to support him as he stands.

 “I’m only three years younger than you. That’s not that big a difference.” He points out, and Remus shrugs.

 “Still younger than me! And we do still need to eat.” He helps Roman settle on the couch, before practically skipping over to the counter, inhaling deeply the smell of roasted coffee. Oh, it’s music to his nose, and he picks up the steaming mug, barely restraining himself from chugging the whole thing immediately, instead taking a small sip, nearly moaning in pure indulgence as he sinks into a stool, lost in a world of beautiful bitterness with just a touch of cream.

 “enjoying yourself?” Virgil asks, and he can hear the smirk in the Wraith’s voice, as he flips him off, figuring that’s a pretty universal gesture. He’s proven right at Virgil’s sharp laugh, opening his eyes in time to see him slap a hand over his mouth to stifle the laughter.

 “Play nice kiddos.” Patton says lightly, starting to pull ingredients out of the cupboards. Remus scrunches his brows, trying to catalogue the ingredients. He gasps, legs kicking in excitement.

 “SHUT THE FUCK UP!” He yells, making Virgil jump and hiss, Roman peek over the top of the couch, and Patton let out a squeak.

 “Language, kiddo.”

 “ISTHATPANCAKEBATTERAREYOUMAKINGPANCAKES?” Rushes out of his mouth, as he rockets out of his seat, around the counter, bouncing on the balls of his feet. “Can I help?” He asks, excitedly, before flinching back, realizing what he’d just done, shouting, talking out of turn, asking for something, and he stills, bites his tongue, looking down and away. “sorry. I don’t… you don’t have to. I shouldn’t.”

 “It is pancakes, Remus. And you are definitely welcome to help. I have the recipe memorized, but you can pour and mix, if you want!” He steels a glance up. Patton’s face is soft and genuine, not a hint of anger or malice, and he relaxes slightly, though he doesn’t get as loud or bouncy as he was earlier.  

 Patton frowns slightly, at his sudden quietness, his concern growing as he measures out the ingredients then lets Remus dump them into a bowl. He’s careful and slow, frequently glancing at Patton to make sure he isn’t fucking anything up, containing his chaos and stirring carefully, making sure not to get a single drop of batter on the counter.

 He passes the bowl off to Patton, standing at the edge of the counter, hands folded behind him, trying to contain his need to sway, flinching back at the sizzle of the batter in the pan.

 For a moment he is somewhere else. For a moment that sizzling heat is against his palm, the smell of burning flesh filling the room, his own skin smelling like cooked meat, making him sick, nauseas with the searing, endless, burning, that continues even after they take his hand off the hot plate of metal. It’s still bubbling and burning, somehow hurting more as it’s exposed to air, though he only screams when they plunge it into ice water, blacking out from the violent clashing sensations of hot and cold.

 Then he feels something soft and snaps back to himself, realizing he was staring glassy eyed through Patton, and he rubs his hand as he winces, feeling the distant ache of old pain.

 “sorry, I’m sorry. I…” He stutters out, not entirely sure what he’s apologizing for.

 “hey, hey, hey. It’s ok, kiddo. Should we go sit down? I can have Virgil watch the batter, he’s surprisingly good at pancakes.” He shakes his head.

 “it’s fine. I’ll just go sit with Roman. You don’t have to stop, you don’t have to inconvenience yourself.” Patton frowns, and he winces again, because now he’s screwed everything up.

 “it’s not an inconvenience, Remus. I promise. I can show you how to preen my feathers, if you want.” He wants that. They look fluffy and soft and he wants to run his hands through them, but the mere thought scares him. He’ll be too rough, no matter how careful he is, and he’ll hurt Patton, and then Patton will hate him, and Logan will be mad, and Virgil will send him back into that dreamscape hell, and he’ll mess everything up. “remus. You’re not gonna hurt me, ok? I know it.” He shakes his head, stepping back, that strange electricity back in his bones.

 “N-no. I’m fine, thanks. I’m… I’m gonna go try and get some s-sleep actually. That ok, Ro?” He asks, eyes pleading with his brother to say yes, to not ask, to let him go. Roman responds with a ‘we’re talking about this later’ look, but nods, and he lets out a sigh of relief, as he flees back to his room, closing the door and sliding down against it, burying his head in his hands, unwilling to move as he feels himself shaking, losing control of his muscles as he curls tighter.

 It’s so hard. Why is being safe so fucking hard?

…

 He wakes up to the smell of pancakes wafting through his door. He groans, running a hand over his face before he forces himself out of bed, slumping to the living room and flopping face down onto a chair.

 “Good morning, Janus.” He groans in response to Logan’s greeting, not awake enough to summon words.

 “Drama queen. I’m literally a being of darkness. How is it I deal with mornings better than you?” Virgil asks, amusement in his voice.

 “because mornings are cold.” He mumbles.

 “Actually, the ship runs at a steady temperature of seventy five degrees, which is an  optimal temperature for all of our bodies to function at.” Logan answers.

 “Fiiine, then my body is biologically evolved to not fully wake until later in the morning when the sun would have warmed up the cold dessert, allowing for basking and removing the possibility of hypothermia, that Nagas are more susceptible to.” He answers, flipping himself over so he’s laying upside down in the chair, head resting against the floor, legs up the back. “That’s what I was told, anyway.” He grumbles under his breath, soft enough he’s certain no one else hears him, except maybe Roman, who glances at him with a startled look.

 Patton is in the kitchen, flipping pancakes, and Logan is sitting at the counter, flipping through his star atlas, no doubt reading up on distant galaxies and planets, adding his own notes and observations where applicable. Virgil is sipping a mug of coffee, and Roman is looking around at everyone, simply taking everything in, his gaze occasionally landing on the door at the end of the hall, a worried look on his face.

 “Where’s Remus?” He asks, as casually as he can, trying to get a read on the situation. Roman frowns, and Patton shoots him a glance as he flips the last of the pancakes onto a plate.

 “He said he went to get some rest. He hasn’t been sleeping.” Patton replies, in a way that lets Janus know Patton doesn’t fully believe Remus’s excuse, but didn’t want to push.

 “He’s never been good at sleeping. Even before. He went to a specialist, once, but they said he was too young to try any medication, and all the over the counter stuff either didn’t work or gave him nightmares. He used to keep a dream journal. That helped, until… well.” Roman doesn’t have to finish his sentence, they all know what he means.

 Before and After. That’s what life is divided into. Before he was taken, and the After of it all. Janus doesn’t have very much Before, but the brothers do, enough at least to properly mourn what they’d lost. Of course, he had more After than the two of them, though it hadn’t been as rough, as what they’d gone through.

 Still, he knows the fear, how the slightest, most unpredictable thing can send you right back to There, something that was fine one day sends you off the deep end the next, and he still has trouble sleeping, sometimes, though he’s too proud and standoffish, still, to ask for someone to stay.

 He still hasn’t found a word for After the After, for whatever this is, life cruising around on a spaceship with an oddball group of species, it hasn’t been long enough, to give this a name, to hope that it will last longer than the nearly eight years it has, he still can barely think past tomorrow. Still wakes up and forgets where he is, sometimes.

 “Alright. I’ll go bring him some food, see if he’s still up. He should probably eat something.” He gets to his feet, catching Roman’s grateful relief as he passes, and he squeezes his shoulder gently, before sweeping into the kitchen and grabbing a plate of pancakes, drizzling syrup on top, before ruffling the edge of Patton’s wing, ducking his attempt to catch him in a retaliatory hug as he darts around Logan, using him as a buffer.

 “Please do not include me in whatever game this is, I would prefer not to lose my place.” Logan says dryly, making Patton giggle. Janus doesn’t miss the slight twitch of Logan’s lips at the sound, and he grins too.

 “Virgil, make sure Logan doesn’t start anything on fire. You know how careless he likes to be around open flame.” He calls as he starts down the hall, Virgil snickering as Logan splutters indignantly about how he follows proper fire safety procedures, and the one time he makes a camp fire just happens to be when the winds rolled in and the camp went up in flames!

[wolfpawn]

Pride and Prejudice

Story Summary - Based on an idea I had that I submitted to Imagine Loki. Imagine Loki was raised on Jotunheim as Laufey’s son after the war, but an agreement was then made that he would wed Odin’s daughter so Odin could secure the alliance of Jotunheim through the marriage. Loki, in turn, was raised to be king of Jotunheim, but how he views Asgard is far different from how Odin’s daughter is raised leading to a clash of cultures as well as uncertainty between the pair of betrothed youths.

Chapter Summary - War discussions take place.

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Tags - @peppermint-j @damalseer @perpetual-fangirl @tinchentitri @inspired-snowflace @raphaelaisabella @alexakeyloveloki @caffiend-queen @devilbat @nonsensicalobsessions @skulliebythesea @majoringinlife @salempoe @lotus-eyedindiangoddess @rookienumber98 @ivytoh @agarwaeneth @rosierossette  @arch-venus25

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“You will be staying here.” The mere manner in which Loki spoke those words told all present there would be no negotiation with regards the matter. The fear and horror in his eyes only added to it. 

Thor looked between his sister and her husband, concerned by the manner in which Loki spoke, not as though he was making an order simply because she was a woman but because of the manner in which he said it showed genuine fear. Before anyone could say anything else, he decided to speak, noting the odd look in Ella’s eyes telling him that she needed to speak with him. “Ella, I must speak with you with regards to something Mother gave to me to give to you.” He eyed Loki as he stated it. "In private."

“Very well, but only for a moment, I need to speak with Loki before he goes too.” Ella indicated to a small side room. “Did she even give you something?”

“Yes, this letter.” Thor handed her the piece of paper, folded and sealed with his mother’s magic. “What is afoot here?” “Too much to explain now but the short version there has been a slight issue with the eldest Laufeyson, Byleistr, who has taken a mate that is socially, though not strictly, out of bounds and has been sent to a far corner of the realm to quell unrest there but if I am honest, this news seems more unsettling now.” “How is something like taking a mate socially but not strictly out of bounds?”

“Focus Thor, time is of the essence.” 

Thor forced his thoughts of the matter from the forefront of his mind. “Do you think him to be part of it?” “I don’t know but we cannot rule it out.” “He would hardly do something to his own brothers.” “He took the love of one, so I would not put much past him.” Ella wandered over to a table that had an ice vase on it and in it, some of her favourite ice flowers. “Jotunheim is at a delicate stage. It is growing well but the growth could so easily cease if the current path is altered. Loki is seen as integral to this growth, now he and Helbindi will be gone and I worry what this will mean. Most know that his part in the realm’s growth is through the arrangements made with Asgard, something that has its objectors, so with him on a battlefield, it would not be too hard to make his end seem so tragic and him to be nothing more than a tragic casualty of war, Helbindi too. They are not hardened and experienced soldiers, it would seem logical that come a large battle, they could be two to high status kills that could easily occur. That leaves me, here, on the realm of the now enemy of Asgard again. A bargaining chip at best, or a loose end in need to tidying up, guaranteeing Loki’s line is demolished, no contenders, no competition.” She toyed with one of the flowers as she spoke, feeling the petals as she explained to her brother the concerns that she now had. 

“Would the realm turn so easy?” “You came here, you demanded they come and fight by Asgard’s side. If they were to be slain, you would have cost the realm two of its princes. For Asgard’s actions, in their grief, even those who would rather Loki on the throne, who are happy with this alliance, they would see it as justice, until they mourn as one should and they realise it is wrong but my head and body would long have parted ways by then and there are a lot of spells for a lot of things but I never found one to reverse that.” She ceased toying with the flowers and turned to face Thor again. “Do I think that Byleistr is indeed doing this? No. But…” “There is a chance.” Thor finished her sentence for her. “Father always said it, to assume every scenario, especially the worst and prepare for it, so that should we be misfortunate enough to encounter it, we are prepared.” He looked at the vase his sister had been by, it’s flowers glistening in the bright sun. “So prepared we shall be.” 

“Protect them, Thor. They don’t know how to fight as you do. You court danger, to a foolish degree but they have not seen fighting as you have. I rarely fear for you now. You have seen war, it almost seems to be your element, they merely lived in the result of it. The training they do is practical but not moulded by experience,” Ella pleaded. Thor swore to her that he would. 

* Ella watched as Loki readied in his rooms, the etched skin of his back catching her attention as he did. 

Loki, sensing he was no longer alone, turned to see her behind him. “That letter needed a lot of explaining.” 

Ella could hear hurt in his voice. “I was catching Thor up on a few matters of importance.” “You thought it more important to tell him than to speak with me?” Loki growled. “Was there even a letter?” “Yes.” She held up the letter in question, her mother’s seal clear to see on it. “But it was more complex than that. I could not discuss this with only the two of you at once.” “Why?” “I am worried as to your reaction.”

“The reason I said that you were to stay in the hall…” Loki began. 

“You do not need to explain that to me, I know you think me unable to fight.” “It is not that.” Loki walked forward. “I am very much depending on you making good on your statements as to your ability.” Ella frowned. “Then, why?” “If we fail, as well we could, I need you to be here, to try and hold the palace long enough to make sure you do something for me.” “What?” Ella was fearful of what Loki was asking of her. 

Loki looked around for a moment. 

“I soundproofed this room, I told you that already.” 

Loki inhaled. “If we fail, if it happens that they take Jotunheim, I know you can escape, I trust you to, I want you to. But only if you do something for me first.” “What? I am not agreeing to it unless you tell me what it is,” She insisted.

Loki inhaled. “I need you to ensure my father’s death is painless.” Ella’s eyes widened. “You’re not stupid, you know what will happen if an enemy were to get to him.” 

Ella nodded as she felt an immense tightness in her throat. She knew what happened many monarchs on different realms that were overthrown. They suffered terrible deaths and their bodies used to mock them and their people. She knew that her parents would rather fight to their deaths but that age had taken their ability to do so with any sort of honour from at least her father, so she knew of the potion her mother had that would end it, should such a time come and set their bodies alight to join those in Valhalla. “I don’t want to but, yes.”

“I can assure you, I don’t want you to either but I know you would do it with honour.” “There is no honour in killing old sick men.” She paused, wondering if she should mention to Loki the conversation she had with Thor. 

Loki studied her. “You’re apprehensive.” “I worry as to how you will take what I wish to say.” 

“You never lie to me, please continue that tradition.” “I worry. You and Helbindi will go to this battle, Byleistr is not currently available, what occurs when he does become so and most importantly, is his loyal?” “You question his loyalty?” “You don’t?” 

Loki licked his teeth. “I do not think he would but I can see your reason for thinking so.” He sighed before leaning forward slightly. “If it comes to pass, if he returns here and is not our ally…” “I will have two blades ready for him and they will find purchase in him as they did in the ice statue,” She swore. 

“While I do not doubt that, know that I expect you to survive this. If all comes falling down, flee.” 

“Why, is there a place you think to meet me?” 

“Nowhere.” “That is an actual place.” 

“If they get to Jotunheim, it is only because I am dead and not a moment before,” Loki assured her. He could see her feel uncomfortable at such an idea. "It will surely be fine. I fully intend not to die." 

"Good, you have so much yet to achieve. Jotunheim needs you as its king. You will be the one to bring it into its prosperous future." 

Loki smiled at the confidence she had in his part in his realm. "Ella?" She gave him her full attention. "Is it wrong to admit I am fearful?"

"Of battle?" He nodded. "Wrong? Absolutely not, you would be mad were you to think anything other than fear. War is not a game. It's not some silly exercise after which all return home as though nothing happened. Many will not return and many more will return either without some part of body or mind and perhaps missing a bit of both." She walked over to him. "Please, please return."

"I will endeavour to do so." He gave a small smile. "If only to irk you further."

Ella scoffed playfully. "Well, we all have prices we are required to pay in this life." She smiled for a moment before becoming serious once more. "Promise me that if Thor goes berserk, you keep out of his way and never attempt to engage him."

"How…?"

"Do not look at him, whatever you do, stay behind him, encourage him towards the enemy and under no circumstances, do you or any of the Jotnar look him in the eye or engage him. He will not be reasoned with and you will not win such an altercation, do I make myself clear?" 

"Yes."

"Tell Helbindi and have all Jotnar informed. If he lands near them whilst in it, snorting like a bull or boar, simply keep looking at the ground and he should not see any as a threat. Don't do anything foolish. He's an idiot at the best of times, there's little difference between when he is fully cognitive and when he is Berserk but there is a difference, so don't risk it."

"I will relay the message," He promised. "Don't let any disrespect you in my absence."

Ella scoffed. "They will soon learn not to if they try." She gave a small smile. "Loki…"

The sharp knock on the door brought them out of their conversation and back into the harsh reality of what was occurring. A moment later, Arden entered. "I fear it is time to depart."

"Then we best do so. I fear I dallied speaking with my mate so my attire is…" He looked down to see light armour and regal trimmings in him, the last of Ella's seidr glowing away as he did so. He looked at her again as she eyed the armour, ensuring its strength. "Thank you."

"I just wish for you to be safe."

Loki nodded and turned to face the door. "We will be. This will be over soon. Asgard, Alfheim, what stands strong of it, Vanaheim, Jotunheim, it is a powerful alliance, we will persevere, wait and see."

"I know but I will fret regardless." Sadly Ella walked beside Loki as they left the room. 

They joined those gathered in the hall of the palace, Laufey, weary and worried looking. When he saw his middle son and his mate coming towards him, he gave a small nod. “War is not something I wish for you to experience, it is not something anyone should but it is the situation that is occurring now. I wish I could go in your stead and not subject either of you to the brutality of it but we need to protect Jotunheim, if Alfheim falls, we fall.” Loki nodded at his father’s words. “I am sorry.” Feeling weak and sorrowful, Laufey stumbled slightly. Luckily, Thor and Helbindi were close enough to steady him. 

“Father, we will be fine, go back to your rooms and rest,” Loki suggested. 

“No, I…”

“Ella,” Thor gave his sister a slight nod after calling her. 

Smiling slightly, she used her seidr to create a chair of an adequate size for Laufey. “My King, please.” 

Satisfied, Laufey nodded and place himself as best he could in the chair to see off his sons. “Better.” He sighed. 

“Just rest, Father. We will be home in very little time.” Helbindi promised, though there was a slight fear in his eyes. 

“Yes.” Laufey nodded solemnly. 

“Heimdall,” Thor bellowed out, startling many around him. “Five minutes.” 

“We best get to the army then,” Loki ordered. He turned to look at Ella one last time. “Be safe.” “You’re the one going into a war, I should be saying that to you.” She leant up and kissed his cheek. “Just come back.” 

She walked over to Thor and leant up slightly and did the same. “Don’t be too stupid.” 

“You always say that.” “And you always come back, so I am not changing it now.”

She stepped back to let them leave before noticing Helbindi standing to the side with a facial expression that made her laugh. “Are you feeling a little left out?” “I feel somewhat so, yes.” He confessed. 

Laughing slightly she walked over and he bent down enough for her to give him one as well. 

With that done, the men went towards where Heimdall would transport them. As soon as they left the hallway, Ella used her seidr to move herself and Laufey to a balcony overlooking them. 

“That is a very useful ability,” Laufey commented. 

“I thankfully use it more for convenience than anything but it can come in handy in many ways.” 

“Has my son made you promise to dispose of me if this all fails?” Ella looked at him solemnly. “Good, it saves time to have it arranged in advance.” There was genuine relief in his voice. 

“It will not come to that.” “I hope not, for all of us.” 

[tragedybunny]

The Blade’s Edge - A League of Legends Fanfiction - Chapter 13

They had a simple arrangement. She was the weapon to be used on his enemies. Things get more complicated when emotions bleed into what should simple. Now the two of them find themselves on the precipice of something that was entirely unexpected.

He’s already gone when I awake, of course, the sun indicating that it’s already near mid-day. How do I still feel tired? I roll over and stare at the canopy above me, reliving the feeling of him undressing me last night and pulling me into his arms before sleep overtook me. It’s maddening. No, I’ll continue in my resolve to see nothing in it, to not give meaning where there is none. I suppress the memory and pull myself from bed, heading to my room to dress for the day. A note waits for me on my dressing table, written in his measured script, exacting and precise, as would be expected from him. 

“I trust tonight the Guild will be meeting and you will take control of it with little resistance. Once you have that firmly in hand I require a task of you. Augustus Montrose must be eliminated tonight, he’s begun to realize the alliance between his sister and myself. As always, take care of yourself.  - J”

“PS. I was informed that you were almost out of that violet perfume you always wear.”  

  I finally notice the ornate glass bottle to the left of where the note was, full of the aforementioned scent. My reward for being a good little pet. I wonder what Augustus’s death will earn me. That poor little idiot, he tried so desperately to be important and powerful, he’s earned a death sentence instead. I’d almost feel bad for him, but getting in that deep with any faction in Noxian politics is basically asking to be struck down at any moment. 

After I’m dressed I ring for Gwen and she appears in short order, always eager to be of use. “Yes Madame.” She has a sober look to her face, as if she already has sensed why she’s here. 

I sit at the dressing table and examine the wide bruise that has bloomed on the right side of my face.  “I’ll need your kitchen boy to come through, I need to know where Montrose intends to be tonight.” 

In the mirror, I see her expression change to one of smug self-satisfaction. “As it turns out, I took the initiative to inquire after him this morning. He complained that tonight another elaborate dinner party has been planned, even after all the Solstice revels. Montrose is celebrating some new, powerful friends he’s made.”

I stop and turn towards her. “Did he mention a woman at all, unusually pale?” How deep is he in, what are we about to stir up?

She bites her lip and shakes her head. “No, just some of the usual nobility who rankle at the loss of privilege they’ve experienced. He’ll stay in the kitchens after dinner and the other servants have been dismissed. Knock if you see no movement inside.” 

Well, we won’t be taking a piece off the board that she’ll desperately miss. “Perfect, thank you, Gwen, that will be all.” I dismiss her with a gesture and turn my attention to readying myself for the Guild tonight. Augustus will be easy to find when I’m ready for him. 

Weapons sharpened and muscles stretched in case of confrontation, Inara, Lark, and I gather early in the Guild’s headquarters, finding it empty thanks to a generous bribe I supplied via Lark.  The unassuming building sits amidst a group of others housing various government functions. While most of High Command still functions from within the Immortal Bastion itself, bureaucracy has spread like a fungus to the area around it. It’s a reflection of the temple district in that way, both of them evolving over the years with Noxus itself, Old Town pressing up against them both and the Bastion as the nobility grappled for power.  In times past, the Grand General dwelt in the Immortal Bastion, making it the ultimate seat of power. Jericho is different, preferring the control he has over his own family home to the mysteries and hidden spaces where a plot could come to fruition at any time. Of course, he still has unfettered access to it anytime he wishes. The Guild’s place here would shock outsiders who don’t understand it’s place within Noxus. Assassination has never been a method that our government or military has considered off-limits. The position in Intelligence of a Guild Officer enables the government to make use of its services at will, effectively making the it an unofficial branch of High Command. 

I spent countless hours here as a child before our move to Shurima, and many more once we returned. I know all its twists and turns and nooks and crannies as well as that of my own family’s home. I even pass a small alcove I remember as a favorite of mine for spying, shrinking into the shadows as a child to listen to the adults around me. We clear the rambling structure room by room, including any hidden ones and secret passages that I know of, ensuring no one is lying in wait. Next, all secondary exits are secured, leaving only the main door as the way in or out. When I’m satisfied that everything is in place, Inara and I retreat to a side room off the main hall, to await or moment. 

They trickle in through the next couple of hours, Inara and I taking shifts pressed up against the door to listen, some voices we recognize, some are unknown. Someone opens a stored cask of ale, they drink and converse, some begin to openly mourn the fallen. There’s a rising tide among them, confirmed dead members, Marius among them, who is targeting them? For what reason? Suspicions are aimed everywhere, including the Grand General. When the time is right, Lark raps on the wall next our hiding space, three sharp knocks, it’s time. 

We emerge and push through the crowd to the very center, gasps and whispers following in our wake as recognition dawns on them. Time seems slow, this is it, the moment there’s no going back from. Now that I’ve come to it though, I know that every step I’ve taken has lead me here. Perhaps there is such a thing as destiny, and this is mine. Destiny or not, I am no longer General Du Couteau’s shamed daughter, and no longer the Grand General’s pet, I am Commander of the Assasin’s Guild, a force and entity in my own right. 

“Brothers and sisters, your leaders are dead. They were weak and have paid the price for that. I stand before you now to take my rightful place in their stead, as your Commander.” Raucous noise breaks out among them, the three we recruited before this passionately on my side in the debate. 

The din reaches its crescendo and a woman steps to the forefront. “You would deliver us into the hands of the Usurper, to be used as his weapon.” 

I snort, someone was bound to put this forth. “The Grand General is the rightful ruler of Noxus, along with the others of the Trifarix. The Guild will support High Command as it always has, nothing more, nothing less.”

“So says the Grand Whore. Do you believe you can deceive…” She’s cut off by the dagger that flies from my hand and buries in her chest. I’m weary of the same nonsense being spewed over and over again.

No other moves to challenge me, they’re undecided, for the moment. “As I was saying.” Inara covers the fallen in a cloak and moves her discreetly out of the crowd. “Our numbers have dwindled, our coffers are depleted, and those arrogant bastard ‘guilds’ take our potential recruits. Let us rectify this, and find our strength once again. We’ll scour the lessor guilds from Noxus, once and for all, and become the power we were meant to be.” 

Father made a grave error in his leadership, he finally succumbed to the Black Rose. His single-minded pursuit of their objectives took a toll on the Guild. I can see it in their faces, they hunger for a return to glory. The murmuring returns, this time it begins to swing in my favor. She took down Marius, we would have the Grand General’s support, she’s here and Marcus is not. Lark joins in, adding to the momentum, a vote is called for. I take note and the slim few who still dissent, they’ll have to be watched. When it finally ends, I’m officially Guild Commander Katarina Du Couteau, with Lark and Inara acting as seneschals. 

My first order of business is just as I promised, both the Guild and Jericho, I assign a few of our members to begin tracking our competition. My second act is far less exciting, Inara and I head to the archives to understand the degree of disorder things have fallen to, leaving Lark to monitor for any fresh discord. I have some time before it will be clear to go after Augustus. I had briefly considered assigning someone else to the task, but I’m familiar with the Montrose estate. I suppose it’s fitting, he once said I stole his heart, now I’ll steal his life. 

The Guild records are a shambles that reflect the last few years of leadership. I thumb through the latest records, noting the brazen embezzlement, and stare longingly at the fire. Inara laughs at me from behind a stack of loose papers belonging to gods know where. “Didn’t think this would be the hard part?” 

I lay my head down on the desk. “How did it get this bad? Is this a Guild of idiots?” 

“This is what happens when we rely on anyone who volunteers to do this. We only get thieves and idiots.” She sighs as she tosses the stack back down in front of her. 

“Nevermind, I resign my position.” That gets a small laugh from her and her eyes brighten a bit. I stand and stretch, time to get the blood flowing back into my limbs. “I’m done, I’ve got some other business to handle.” 

“Happy hunting, Commander.” For all that we have a mess ahead of us to deal with, there’s satisfaction about her. It makes me even more proud of what we’ve accomplished here tonight. 

The city is quiet, still wrapped in a snowy mantle from the other night. I move through the streets in welcome solitude, reaching the Montrose estate with ease. With my cloak tucked around me, I watch the kitchen from the garden, someone has left a lamp burning so I can see the vague shapes within. When I’m finally satisfied that no unwanted company is around, I approach, keeping my cloak tight, and tap lightly. It only takes a second before a scrawny young man with dirty blonde hair cracks the door, the corners of his mouth up turning into a vicious smile the second he sees me. “He’s saying a drunken farewell to his guests, a girl awaits him in the blue parlor upstairs.” With that he vanishes up the servant stairs, leaving me with free reign. 

With the other servants all withdrawn to their quarters the halls of the manor are as silent as the grave. I cautiously stalk through them, not making a sound, nearing the blue parlor.  My plan is to take the girl first and wait for him. Quick and clean, he won’t even know what happened. Then I hear it, from a room back near the main staircase, that ancient snarling voice. “Augustus, you spoiled little hedonist, where are you?” 

“Coming Grandmother!” His impatient reply comes from the bottom of the stairs. Life is good sometimes. 

The old woman is ensconced in an over-decorated bedroom that’s rotten with faded glory. I slip in and silently shut the door behind me. She scrambles to prop herself up in bed, she knows I’m not her grandson. Her eyes have begun to fail though, so that’s all she can make out. “Wh-who’s there?” She summons some power to her voice, she’s so used to being obeyed. She and many others are relics of old Noxus, a time when the nobility were parasites, feeding off the strength of the Empire. They are a vain, petty, self-absorbed, lot whose time has passed. 

I steal to her side and she makes a quiet gasp as her eyes finally reveal me. “Death Lady Montrose, death is among you tonight.” She makes to cry out but my hand slams down over her mouth. “This will be the fate of all who refuse to bend to the Empire’s new order.” I slide my blade between her ribs and down into her heart, a task made easy since she has no strength to struggle against me with. She slumps forward, her lifeblood draining into her fine bed covers. 

There are footsteps in the hall, Augustus finally decided to answer his grandmother’s summons, and I slip behind the door to await him. It's only a moment before he throws it open snarling. “What do you want, you old bat?”

Three steps in and he finally takes in the scene before him, coming to a dead stop. I softly shut the door once again. He sucks in a breath as if he wants to scream and then I’m right behind him, breathing down his neck quite literally. He laughs, a mirthless sound. “Two nights. I was allowed to live two nights after getting too close to you. He’s certainly possessive.” 

  “Don’t be dramatic. This is about something entirely beyond you and me.” He’s unnervingly pliant as I put the dagger to his throat. Poor, weak Augustus, he doesn’t even know how to resist me. He sniffles when he feels it against his skin, all his bravado evaporated. He’s not the first I’ve seen to shed tears at their end and I’m not inclined to be moved by it. 

“I would’ve done great things, you could have joined me at my side, Kat.” The words are marred by a strangled sobbing that he fights to keep from overtaking him. Back firm, but shoulders quaking, he struggles to meet his end with dignity. 

“I’m already doing great things.” I dig the edge of the blade into his flesh and a whimper escapes him. His knees buckle immediately and I step back from him as his life flows into the plush carpet. It’s not long before a shudder marks his last breath. 

Surveying the carnage around me I realize I may have gone a bit far with the old woman’s death. If Coraline faces repercussions from it Jericho will be furious. But then again, I smile to myself, it had been deeply satisfying putting an end to that bulwark of old Noxus. Either way, it is done and can’t be changed. I’ll need to slip out before that girl gets impatient and comes looking for Augustus. 

I find the kitchen door left slightly ajar after heading back down the servant stairs. I shut it fast behind me and return to the waiting darkness of the night. It’s been a long night and I feel it in the stitched wound in my leg and the aching bruise on my face, and it feels wondrous. Tonight I am triumphant. I finally have what my father once promised to me. I took it with strength and cunning, as a Noxian should. Would father be proud? Perhaps I should go ask mother, a cruel, petty voice inside whispers. No, forget it. I’m beyond her, she’s nothing, a ghost haunting the ruin of her own life. The rage I have toward her will not be so easily extinguished though.

I focus myself back on the Guild, that thundering sensation as the crowd declared for me. I feel pride welling up in me, my confidence soaring. I’m damned self-satisfied and achingly confident as I approach the house. I wonder if Jericho is awake. He shouldn’t be but he rarely sleeps as much as he ought to. If he is, we should celebrate tonight’s success. The thought of him whispering in my ear about how pleased he is with me sends a shiver through me. 

I’m broken out of my reverie by the sight of Dras shutting the gate. Odd that it’s open at this hour. He looks up at me and quickly looks away, but movement on the stairs has already drawn my attention. Jericho, he stops at the door when he hears me on the walk behind him. Breathing becomes difficult as I ascend the stairs to where he’s paused. I’ve always known I wasn’t the only one, I’ve just never had to viscerally confront it until this moment. 

“Kat.” He already sounds like he’s going to attempt some insincere apology. I brush past him, an ache spreading through my chest. Then it hits me, the cloying smell of decaying roses, the scent that always marks her presence. Her, why her?  Of course, it’s all another little power game to him. He puts a hand on my shoulder.

I shake it off with a violent shrug. “Don’t touch me.” I need to get away from him. I feel my eyes start to sting. No, I can’t do this in front of him. 

He cuts in front of me, blocking my way to the stairs. “Don’t be like this.” He’s so irritatingly calm compared to the storm exploding inside me. 

I put my hand up to ward him off. “It’s fine.” My voice somehow remains steady. “Exclusivity wasn’t part of our arrangement. I just want to be alone.” 

He steps forward, stubbornly ignoring everything I said, and reaches out to put his hand on my cheek. Gods, that normally has the power to melt me. “If it is fine, why are you being dramatic?” How typical of him.

“Fuck you.” I shove his hand away from me. “You always have to have the last word. You could’ve just let me walk away.”

He pinches the bridge of his nose, eyes shut for a second, as though I’m the one who’s offended him. “Fine go. I’d rather not put up with a childish tantrum.”

Childish, it stings in ways I can’t define. The pain of it all twists and transforms, becoming fury. I close the distance between us, tilting my head to glare up at him. “Maybe you’d prefer to not put up with me at all? I can arrange that.”

“Try it. What have you ever accomplished in your life without me.” He snaps back at me. 

Black washes over my vision, my thoughts vanishing into rage, and I lash out, striking him across the face. He catches my wrist with his left hand as I pull back. That roiling anger too quickly vanishes, replaced by a sudden dread as his eyes begin to smolder an unnatural crimson. I’ve never born witness to the demon truly unleashed. An aura of terrible power blazes around him, filling the hall with a haunting flickering red light. I quake slightly as I feel those unliving fingers dig into my wrist. “You ungrateful little bitch.” Another voice speaks along with his. Is it him or the demon in control now? 

Instead of the unnatural warmth of his touch that I know so well, a burning begins to singe my skin. “Let go!” I try to pull away and I flashback to that night that started all of this, a similar altercation between us,  how frighteningly strong he actually was. “Jericho, you’re hurting me.” In fear and desperation, I step forward and slam my shoulder into his chest.

He inhales sharply, backing up, and let’s go. His eyes close and that terrible power dissipates, coiling itself back inside him. I turn and flee, scared, humiliated, heartbroken. “Kat wait. I’m so sorry.” He calls after me, but I can’t even turn to face him. 

I slam the door to my room behind me and collapse into the window seat. Pulling my knees up to my chest, I try and steady my rapidly beating heart and panting breath. I should leave, just forget whatever this absurd arrangement has become and go. I look down at my wrist, a scarlet, irritated handprint wraps around it. I shift and a sheath digs into my back, causing me to recoil as though someone was behind me.  “Godsdamn it.” I pull out the dagger and send it across the room to embed in the wall. “Damn it all.” I rip the other blade from my back and toss it to the ground with a snarl before pulling my legs back up to my chest. Why can’t I find it in me to leave?

I stare apathetically out at the dark city until there’s a soft knock at the door. I’ll have to face him sooner or later anyway. “You wouldn’t go away if I told you to, so you might as well come in.” 

He doesn’t meet my eyes as he enters, genuine guilt for once written on his features. “I wanted to apologize. You told me that I should not wait to do so. So I am here. Peace offering?” He holds out a bottle of wine, Shuriman, dark and bitter, very fitting. 

Perhaps I am mad, but now that he’s here I don’t want him to leave me alone. I take the bottle and gesture to the seat next to me. As he sits I take a long pull from it. “Well, I’m listening.” 

He fixes his gaze on the floor. “That was...not entirely me. However, losing control, that was my fault. And I do beg your forgiveness. I will understand if you do not wish to give it.” 

After everything tonight I’ve grown numb and his words leave me oddly empty. But that lack of feeling brings some clarity, he’s not the only one who bears responsibility for what happened. “I shouldn’t have hit you. I’m sorry about that.” I take another pull off the bottle. “Interesting choice for an apology, what should I make of it?”

He shrugs. “I was sure you would be gone. I actually planned to drink myself to sleep.” 

I hand him back the bottle. “Would you really allow that?”

At last, he turns to look up at me, our eyes locking.  “I would not stop you if that is what you really wanted.” He passes the bottle back to me. 

I take another long pull. “And where would I go? What would I do?” Our fingers touch as he takes the bottle back from my hand and he brushes his thumb along mine.

“You would work something out. You don’t really need me. That’s the truth, despite what I said earlier. ” Is it? I stretch my legs out into his lap and hiss as pain shoots through my leg.  He looks at the floor again. “I forgot about your leg.” He sets the bottle to the side and takes my hand, looking pointedly at my wrist. “Should I go? Am I only making things worse?” 

I don’t think I could bear it if he did. “No, it’s fine, stay.” I leave my hand in his. He squeezes it ever so slightly as if he’s worried I’ll make him let go. 

Suddenly he leans over, arms around my waist and leaning his head against my chest. “I would prefer it if you didn’t leave though. I would miss you.” 

Why is it that the only mercy that exists in my soul is for him? I wrap my arms around his shoulders and return his embrace. “I’m not going to leave.” 

“Swear it?” he asks softly. 

“I swear I’m not leaving.” I kiss the top of his head and lean my cheek against it. 

He sighs as though he’s been relieved of a great burden. “And I swear to take more care from now on.” He pulls himself even tighter against me. “My Kitten.”  Does he really not know that oath or not, I can be nowhere but by his side?

[gaycrouton]

Sex Education

For: @xfpornbattle ‘s December/January 2019 Porn Battle and in honor of Sex Education coming out soon.

Prompt: AU where Mulder is a sex therapist helping Scully out using toys on her or more (I took liberties because I don’t like writing AU’s so I hope it’s still okay)

"You're lying," she balked at him, invigorated by the prospect of learning something new about the man she knew better than herself.

The new information was accompanied by a new facial expression; she couldn't remember ever seeing Mulder look half as shy as he did right now. Shifting his weight on the couch, he let out a wavering, breathy laugh as he sighed, "I wish I was."

He'd come over to her apartment for their weekly movie night, becoming weekly after that night all those months ago when he took her to the batting cages and they couldn't bring themselves to end their date. They didn't call it that of course, merely wishing to spend a little more time together. It resulted in her hanging out at his place while they watched whatever D-List movie was playing on TV. Now it was second nature for one of them to haphazardly clean their apartment while the other got food after work on Friday. The only thing that changed from week to week was whose apartment it was at and what movie they watched. Everything else stayed the exact same; the packs of beers, a box of his and hers pizza, her hawaiian, his meat lovers, the same ol' couches, the same rampant sexual tension they never seemed to fucking act on.

Maybe they sat closer than they would have a few years ago and maybe their hugs lasted a bit longer than what most would deem appropriate, but neither of them had made a move. Part of her was curious if this new bit of revealed information was some attempt to drunkenly flirt, test what her reaction would be, but based on the discoloration in his cheeks right now, it might have just been a tipsy slip of the tongue.

A slip she was not about to let slide.

Commercial breaks seemed to be far more important to them on these nights than the actual movies were. As soon as the screen faded from a film to an advertisement, one of them was inevitably already speaking, desperately wanting to capitalize on a moment where the only thing they could do was make small talk for an intermittent three to five minutes. It was a small intimacy, but one they both cherished.

However, this time as Die Hard faded out, her words got caught in her throat as she was distracted by the first commercial. A blonde british woman advertising her at home therapy. Sex therapy. As she proclaimed all the various sexual disorders she could help solve in graphic detail, Mulder chuckled lightly to himself.

"What's so funny?" she prompted, nudging his knee with her own.

"Oh, it's nothing. This just brings up some old memories." He must've read the implications of his words in the expression on her face because he quickly added. "No, no I didn't go to one. I was one."

Scully'd initially thought he was joking and she couldn't believe he was insisting he was serious. Now she was just sitting there watching Mulder try to change the subject. "No, no. I've read your file. I've seen your CV. Sex Therapist was never listed. I would have definitely remembered something like that."

"I did it when I was studying at Oxford to make extra money. It was an underground operation just to help some underclassmen with their problems or insecurities. I went under an alias so no one would know I wasn't licensed." He grabbed another beer out of their shared cartridge and she was internally encouraging him to drink more if it loosened up his tongue this much.

She didn't care that Bruce Willis had returned to the screen, she had her own mission to deal with. "What was your alias?"

"Jean," he admitted, "Spelled j-e-a-n, not j-o-h-n. I thought it would make me seem classy," he laughed.

"How long?" she asked, completely turning her body on the couch to face him, pleased when he did the same. They rarely talked in depths about themselves, especially not about something so revealing.

"Basically three quarters of my time there, I'd say. The latter three quarters." He clearly was taken by surprise at her complete and utter interest on the subject and was answering honestly to keep her undivided attention.

"What made you want to do that of all things?" She punctuated her question by finishing off her own beer and grabbing another.

"Oh, um," he bashfully started, playing with the rim of his beer bottle. Then he murmured something and she had to interrupt him.

"I didn't catch that last part. What'd you say?"

He bit his lip in that way she oh-so loved before continuing, as if debating saying the words at full volume. "I was told I'd be good at it."

"By wh-oh," she exclaimed realizing what he was implying.

"It was college," he shrugged, laughing off the fact he just told her he apparently excelled enough in bed to be asked advice. Excelled enough to get paid for said advice.

"I'm learning so much about you," she beamed, the liquor having loosened her inhibitions enough to flirt a little. "Were you good?"

"Well everyone I was with left satisfied. A few times over," he smiled in humble honesty.

She felt a gush of arousal seep onto her panties at this admission. Fox Mulder, giver of multiple orgasms. Good to know, though not what she had meant. "Good to know," she actually voice in a tone she didn't mean to be so husky. "But I meant were you good as a sex therapist?"

"Oh!" he proclaimed, an embarrassed laugh breaking apart his sentence. She could see the back of his neck being stained crimson from here. "Um, I guess. A lot of my clients told me I was a big help. It was really just me combining classroom experience with knowledge of, um, my own experience. But, I don't know, I'm not sure if I was really even giving the best advice."

"Let me be the judge." The words left her mouth before she even had a full chance to register what she even meant by them.

"What?" he squeaked, eyes widening.

With an uncharacteristic giggle, she adjusted herself so that her shoulders and neck were supported by the arm of the couch and her calves laid across his lap, laying in the perfect therapy pose. She laced her fingers across her abdomen and watched in amusement as he tried unsuccessfully to be subtle as his eyes appreciated her body. "Give me some therapy," she demanded.

"You want me to give you sex therapy?" he asked incredulously, amusement dancing in his expression.

"Yep," the beer answered.

"You're sure?" It was cute how nervous he was right now and it just added to her confidence.

"Come on Dr. Mulder," she all but purred, "Why not?"

He cleared his throat and reached over to her end table to pick up her reading glasses, putting them on for dramatic effect. "Okay, Ms. Scully. What brings you here today?" His baritone somehow seemed deeper than normal, resonating in her bones and she had to repress a shudder.

"Hmm," she pondered. She hadn't actually thought that far ahead. I'm here today because I'm so sexually frustrated because of my partner that he's all I can think of when I masturbate. That I come home every day soaking wet and desperate from being so close to him that I rip off my clothes and jack off. The right answer seemed a little too on the head. "I'm not sure. I guess just to hear your expertise on the subject," she shrugged coyly.

"Have you seen a Sex Therapist before?" he asked, lightly placing a hand on one nylon-clad calf. She shook her head against the fabric of the couch and watched him intently. "That's perfectly fine. We can start with some foundational questions."

"Okay."

His voice returned to it's prior shy state when he asked his next question, "And you want this session to be exactly how I would normally treat a session?"

"I want the full Jean experience," she confidently stated, smiling at him in encouragement.

"Okay," he drug out in a tone that implied she didn't know what she had in store for her.

She didn't

"Describe your first orgasm, in as much detail as you can." His smile widened at the same rate as her eyes. Clearly, he assumed she wasn't going to answer, but she was more than a few beers in and most of the blood in her body was in one area leading her decisions right now.

"I believe my first ever orgasm happened when I was twelve." She saw Mulder's eyebrows shoot up in surprise and she tried to conceal her pride in surprising him but continuing. "I don't fully remember the events leading up to it. It was a wet dream. I just woke up in the middle of, what I thought was, a really intense shudder and a weird, sticky feeling on my crotch." She started giggling at the memory and she shifted a little on the couch, "I-I also had my favorite teddy bear squeezed in between my thighs with a near-vice grip as I grinded his face into the pillow."

He laughed out loud along with her before asking, "Do you remember what you were dreaming about?"

"Oh god if I know. I don't even think I thought about boys back then. I truly have no idea."

He nodded in deep concentration and she presumed if they were in Oxford in 1984 he would have been taking diligent notes on her little teddy bear rendevouz. "When was the first time you brought yourself to orgasm?"

She let out a little laugh and, regardless of the fact she was a little tipsy, she couldn't believe she was actually divulging this in front of Mulder. Part of her thought she should stop to spare herself embarrassment in the morning, but there was something about the intensity of his eyes, the absolute curiosity about her answers, that made her keep going.

"Well, even though I didn't necessarily know that it was on orgasm I was having at that time, I knew it felt fucking fantastic, and I was desperate to have it happen again. For months after that, god this is so embarrassing," she laughed, covering her face with her hands. She felt a hand touch her elbow and she spread her fingers on her face to look at him.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want, but know I won't tease you for anything you say." Then, holding up that same arm in a mock boy-scout salute, added, "Doctor-Patient confidentiality."

She smiled at him and put her hands back on her ribs. "Well, for months after, when I was positive Missy was asleep I would try to recreate it. I would take that poor little bear and just squeeze my thighs together around his neck hoping it would do something."

"Did it?" he asked, trying to hold back laughter.

"No!" she explained through a chuckle. "So eventually, I walked myself to the library and went to the Human Anatomy section."

"Of course you did."

She rolled her eyes at him and nudged him in the stomach with her free foot. "And I eventually found some human sexuailty books. The female sections weren't very detailed, it was the seventies,-"

"Probably couldn't see anything through all the hair," he joked.

She snorted and continued through a laugh, "Anyway, I learned enough. Where the clit was, what it should do, the vaginal passage, you know all the good stuff." He nodded in affirmation of the good stuff and she resisted rolling her eyes again. "So I went home, took a hand mirror and looked at myself. I tried to put a finger inside but it hurt, so I just focused on the clit. For the first few minutes I didn't think it was doing anything, but then I felt something in my gut. Like I was running up a hill and I didn't know what would be at the top, but I just had to know. Soon the mirror was forgotten and I was giving myself tennis arm on my bedroom floor."

"Then what?" he asked, his eyes not having moved from her during her entire description.

He started smiling when he saw the look on her face, knowing something embarrassing was about to be revealed. "Well," she started, trying to ignore the way her face was undoubtedly flushing at the embarrassing memory. "I came. Hard. It was like every cell in by body had bloomed and was tingling in pleasure. It felt so incredible, and it was so sudden, that I screamed 'oh my god' at the top of my lungs."

"Don't tell me-"

"Yep, my entire family was home. I heard someone running down the hall so I put my shorts on as quickly as I possibly could. Then Missy barged in and I told her I saw a spider."

"Did she believe you?" he asked, fully engrossed in the story.

"Not even a little. I was flushed and sweaty, my legs were trembling, and my underwear was still lying on the floor. She told me not to do that when mom and dad were home before walking out and yelling that there was a huge spider in the room, but she took care of it."

"Did you stop masturbating after that?" He'd resumed his professional voice and somehow it made the confession less embarrassing.

"Of course not!" she exclaimed. He smiled and nodded appreciatively, taking more mental notes.

"When was the first time you achieved orgasm by someone else?" he asked.

Now she was reminded of why she didn't like therapy. They always seemed to discover what she'd been trying to hide. She'd come from thinking about other people, him, but in all honesty, no one else had made her come. She'd gotten off touching herself during sex, but the other participants really didn't really contribute. It was always her expertise and imagination that pushed her over the edge. "Um, like-"

"The first time someone else made you cum, could be by hand, mouth, dry humping-" he offered, noticing her struggle. She wondered if he'd be able to tell if she lied. Probably. She didn't have a chance to come up with something because he'd already figured her out. "No one else has made you come?" His professional voice couldn't mask his absolute shock.

"N-no."

"Were they not stimulating you?" he asked. He almost sounded like he wanted to enact revenge on her former lovers on behalf for her lack of pleasure.

"Well, they would try, but it just never worked. Usually I'd feel so bad for them that I'd fake it."

"Couldn't they tell?" he asked with the cute naivete of someone who's never slept with a man.

He was staring straight at her and, in another move that simply had to be fueled from the beers she downed, she pulled a Meg Ryan. Rolling her eyes to the back of her head she gasped loudly and arched her back. "Oh, fuck," she cried in a high breathy voice as she let her body tremble against him. Then as if she never did she fell back and deadpanned, "It's not that hard."

But he was. That much she could feel against the side of her calf. She wasn't about to look and confirm her suspicions though because that would mean missing out on the way his eyes were devouring her like she was sex personified. When she had fallen back he gasped lightly and licked his lips shifting his his upwards ever so slightly as if possessed.

"They never knew any different," she shrugged, shoulders heavy against the tension in the room.

"I could tell," he stated confidently.

"Oh really? How?" she prompted, curious as to where his conviction came from.

"From the very little I know about your sexual history, I think there would be more hip gyration, more focus on your clit." She didn't need to check to know she was soaking wet. Her arousal had probably started to seep onto her nylons and inner thighs, and she was suddenly second guessing her position, hoping Mulder couldn't smell her in the air.

"Besides, this is just speculation, but I've always imagined that during sex your voice would deepen. I don't think I've ever imagined a pitch so high."

"Imagined?" she repeated so softly it was almost a whisper. Was Mulder sitting here, hard on her sofa, confessing that he'd imagined her coming? Making her come?

"Hypothesized," he clarified as if that was any different. Before she had a chance to call him out on that, he continued "Are you comfortable with your body?"

Her brows furrowed at that, not quite sure where he was going. "More or less."

"More or less?" he repeated, looking confused.

"I mean, I guess," she shrugged.

"You guess?"

"Are you just going to parrot my answers back to me?" she laughed. She could be as self-assured as she wanted, but she had the same insecurities as any woman. Are my thighs too big? Are my boobs too small? Is my skin clear enough? Does this outfit flatter my body? She most certainly didn't hate her body, on a certain level she could find herself attractive, but she didn't know if she could consider herself hot or anything.

"Are you insecure?" he asked, his brow furrowed.

"I don't see how this pertains to my sex life?" She tried deflecting.

"If you aren't comfortable in your body, it might be distracting you during intimacy and preventing you from achieving orgasm. You might be too concerned what others think." She had to admit, interesting theory. No wonder people paid him for advice, that was pretty good. However she didn't really think that was the case. She wasn't really concerned about how her body looked during sex, she was more concerned about how her partners looked during sex, specifically within the past few years. Her lovers had an uncanny way of not being Fox Mulder and she found it distracting.

"I don't think that's it. I think I definitely don't think I'm ugly or repulsive. I'm not really concerned about how I look during sex."

He laughed and for a second she was offended until he incredulously stated. "Not ugly or repulsive? That's the best you can do?" She shrugged and the hand on her calf moved to her knee as he leaned forward slightly. "Scully, you are absolutely stunning, and I don't have to guess about that. If I had your body I'd walk around naked all the time," he joked though he was serious.

She averted her eyes as she bit back a smile. "That's sweet," she murmured appreciatively.

Easing back he stated, "But that's just my expert opinion." He cleared his throat and adjusted his sitting position slightly and she pretended like she didn't feel his erection rub against her. The only sign she did being the way her eyelids fluttered shut. When she opened them he was staring at her with a smirk, but she couldn't summon the will to be embarrassed.

"Do you currently consider yourself sexually satisfied?" he asked, not fully hiding the way his eyes flickered down her body.

"I take care of myself," she answered honestly. Satisfied was a qualifiable term and she didn't know what scale they were using. Did she come regularly? Yeah. The way she dreamed of? No.

"How often?"

She swallowed, as if it could take away any hesitance, before answering, "Daily."

"Are you sexually where you want to be right now?"

"Isn't that just another way of asking if I'm satisfied?"

"Let me rephrase. When you masturbate-" She still couldn't fully believe she was having an in-depth conversation about her sex life with Mulder. She didn't know if the shock would ever wear off. "-are you content, or are you fantasizing about getting off in a different way."

Rolling her eyes, she lamented, "Mulder. I have a vibrator under this very couch as we speak. I don't think that really screams 'content'. But who doesn't fantasize about something more? I achieve orgasm everyday though, so how much can I complain?"

His eyes lit up with this knowledge and a little hum resonated in the back of his throat. A sound of pleasure that she admitted she'd pleasured herself on the very place they sat. "So," she prompted, "What's your prognosis?"

"In my professional opinion?" he asked, earning a nod. "I think that you hold on tightly to control. Both in your professional and personal lives, you prefer to have a sense of control or at least knowledge about what happens. I think this translates into your sex life. It's easy for you to make yourself come, but harder to let other people because you don't like giving such a vulnerable part of yourself to someone else."

"Hmm," she pondered thoughtfully. Part of her felt exposed by his honest evaluation, but she couldn't dismiss it. She was nothing if not self-aware enough to recognize he was right. "What would you recommend?"

"Let go. Let someone else control you, sexually." The thought scared her a little bit, she'd been controlled enough in the past against her will to be wary. Pfaster, Duane Barry, her abduction, the list went on and on. The thought of letting someone else do what they wished with her was intimidating.

"So, I should just find someone that will do what they will, and I'll come if I don't try to regain control?"

He shook his head almost immediately and leaned infinitesimally closer to her. "I don't mean find some random guy. No. To accurately help you, I think you should be with someone you trust. Someone you know will respect your boundaries. It isn't about letting them do whatever they want to you, it's allowing them to take full responsibility for bringing you pleasure." She wasn't even sure he was conscious of the way his thumb was idly stroking her leg through her nylons right now.

"That sounds nice," she whispered, her voice quivering slightly.

"Do you have someone you trust enough?" She heard it in his voice. That strong combination of lust, hope, and fear. Putting himself out there and hoping she'd notice, but fearing she might possibly have some other man she trusted with her life stored away that he didn't know about.

"I do," she nodded. "I trust him more than anyone."

"Do you think you'll ask him?" he asked, moving his hand to rest above her knee, his pinky finger just barely slipping under the hem of her skirt.

"He's in the middle of a session right now," she teased lightly, deciding to be bold as she bent her knee so she could rub her stockinged foot against the bulge in the front of his pants. His hips involuntarily jumped as he thrust against her. "Would it be against the rules to ask my therapist?"

"Never," he proclaimed like a prayer. Before the last syllable even left his mouth, he'd moved himself in between her legs, grabbing her hip and neck as he pulled her flush against him in a searing kiss.

She couldn't help the guttural moan that ripped from her throat as she felt him draped over her. His erection was pressed to her lower belly like hot steel. She raised her knees so her legs were bent, inviting him closer and not caring how her skirt rode up her thighs to rest on her hips. She undulated her arousal against him causing him to moan, "Fuck, Scully," into her mouth, and she ate up every word greedily.

He pumped his hips into her gently, a rhythm matching a gentle nudge, but it was painfully erotic. Suddenly he shifted his weight onto his haunches and reached up her skirt, feeling around until he found the waistband of her nylons. He wasted no time slipping them down her legs, making sure to touch every inch of skin revealed. As he did this, she was eager to help, and she quickly untucked her cotton shirt and ripped it over her head, discarding it gracelessly against the ground. Before it even reached the ground, Mulder was groaning, "Oh my god."

Always a man for reciprocity, he took off his own shirt and threw it on top of hers, making a little pile. She didn't know what he was doing when he leaned over the side of the couch, easing his forearms on the wooden floor as he reached for something. She hadn't remembered him dropping anything, but then his intentions became clear when he resurfaced with her pink, oval shaped vibrator. She shot him a question in her stare and he was quick to reassure her, "I want to make you come with something you're familiar with first."

First. Implying the first of a series. A series of orgasms about to be brought upon her body by Mulder. Mulder. She gave him a toothy smile and he covered it with a kiss. She was a little too preoccupied with his body finally touching hers to enjoy the initial kiss, but now it was all her mind could focus on. She could taste the stale beer and pizza on his tongue that she was sure he could taste on hers. God, she'd imagined that pouty bottom lip could do wonders, but actually feeling the way it puckered, sucked, and nibbled on her lips was mind-blowing. His tongue slid against hers and it only added to the surrealism of all this.

They had to break away to gasp for breath and they took a moment just panting, looking into each other's eyes. "You sure you're okay with this?"

"More than you could ever know," she whispered, rubbing her leg against his straining erection. He moaned and lowered his head into the crook of her neck for a moment as he indulged himself, grinding himself into her.

Then, as if possessed, he leaned back again, this time hooking two fingers under her underwear, dragging the saturated scrap of fabric down her legs. "You are so beautiful," he praised, licking his lips while staring straight down at her exposed sex. She let out a little laugh as she watched him turn on her vibrator, the buzzing sound filling the room with noise that perfectly mirrored what she was feeling inside her body right now.

Instead of placing the toy on her immediately, he put it on her sternum, dragging it painfully slow down her skin, breaking off to rub it against her nipples, playing with them until they were hardened peaks straining against the cups of her bra. Then he descended lower, going in between her ribs, over her belly button, sliding over the bunched fabric around her waist, tickling the hairs of her pubic mound before oh god.

He placed a strong hand on her abdomen to prevent her from arching off the couch, which was her first instinct as soon as the silicone touched her clit. "Ugh, fuck," she growled, undulating her hips against him.

"What do you usually fantasize about when you do this to yourself?" he asked, his eyes so focused on her she was pretty sure the entire apartment could burn down around them and he wouldn't be able to look away.

He alternated between pushing the tip of the toy directly against her and dragging the flat edge back and forth over her. "You," she moaned as she raised one leg over the back of the couch. Mulder did her one better and grabbed the ankle, bringing it up to rest against his bare chest as he placed an open mouth kiss against the bone of her ankle. "What a coincidence. You're always at the forefront of my masturbatory fantasies."

She could feel a tight coiling in her gut and she was amazed he was able to do this to her in what felt like a matter of seconds, though seven years of foreplay was probably more than enough to her her to this state. "W-what am I usually doing?" she asked, still curious through her lust-riddled brain.

"This," he stated, pushing the vibrator down on her by thrusting his hips against it.

She couldn't believe how he'd timed that, nor the amount of self-assured confidence he had with that statement. As soon as the word left his mouth and his hips moved, she was sent into a body quaking orgasm. "Mulder!" she moaned, deep in her throat, her hips lurching upwards to meet him. The vibrations must've felt good for him too because she saw him bite his lip as he struggled to keep his eyes open, obviously wanting to enjoy the sight of her in the throes of a passion caused by him.

Her hands were grasping the couch with a deadly grip and she wouldn't be surprised if she left permanent marks. She ground her hips against his soaking wet hand, desperate to draw this out. Eventually, she became over sensitized and she grabbed his wrist lightly, grateful when he pulled the toy away, turning it off and setting it on the coffee table before returning to her. He placed kisses to her still humming body, and she could feel his pride through the upward curve of his lips on her skin. "I guessed right."

"About what?" she asked, trying to catch her breath.

"I accurately depicted the sound of your orgasm voice in my fantasies," he beamed. "Low." Kiss. "Husky." Kiss. "Smooth as honey." Kiss. "And insatiably arousing." She laughed breathly as she reached in between them and tugged at his belt.

"Wanna hear it again?" she teased in her most seductive voice.

Mulder actually moaned in response and quickly stood up, whipping his belt off as he disrobed the rest of the way. She followed suit, unfastening her bra and easing her skirt down her hips, laying bare on the couch admiring his impressive physique. "You're stunning too Mulder, do you know that."

Her comment seemed to hit past his lust riddled mind and he let out an adorably bashful laugh, rubbing his hand over the back of his neck where he was most certainly turning red again. "Oh, uh-thanks." For once the man she placed all her faith in stood in front of her with uncharacteristic uncertainty.

She opened her arms out to him. "Come 'ere."

He fell onto her gently and they both gasped as bare skin touched bare skin. Not wanting to get distracted from her mission, she kissed the tip of his nose before looking deep into his eyes. "I'm serious, Mulder. You're so attractive it drives me crazy. So crazy that I come home from work everyday aroused beyond belief and masturbate to the thought of you."

She must've gotten to him because he was fully smiling now, a toothy grin that she cherished. "You really know how to make a guy feel good, Scully."

She raised her hips so her wet arousal grazed against his swollen head and he grunted, resisting the urge to buck into her. "You have no idea, yet," she teased, rotating her hips to grind against him.

He laughed at her lame joke, but the traces of laughter on his face were replaced with ecstasy as he pushed into her. Inch by inch she couldn't believe how good he felt. Every centimeter deeper he went gave her new sensations and he seemed endless. Eventually, he was buried hilt deep and she could feel his balls pressing against the flesh of her ass. They stayed like that for a moment as she got used to being this filled.

He placed slow, languid kisses to her neck and she couldn't remember if she'd ever had such a thoughtful lover in her entire life. She was sure she didn't, none of her other lovers had been Fox Mulder. "I'm ready," she panted into the still air, and he complied immediately.

She moaned softly as she felt him ease out a few inches before plunging back in. His thrusts seemed exploratory, like he was trying to find what she responded to most. He didn't have to search for long, because one particularly good upward stroke had her gasping his name and clutching at his shoulders.

"You like that?" he asked, hitting the same spot again and getting an affirmative moan. He reached down and lifted her thighs higher on his own, allowing him to slip deeper into her. She hoped he didn't mind the crescent adornments she was leaving on his back, but figured he wouldn't since he was leaving matching ones on her hips. His thrusts started to pick up the pace and their breathing started to fill the room along with the sounds of their arousals meeting. A cacophony of sex.

She felt herself running up that familiar hill, pleasure building on pleasure, and it was burning white hot in her groin. "M-muhl-der, I-I'm so clos-se," she whimpered, writhing underneath him.

He let go of one side of her hip and brought it up to his mouth, licking the pads of his fingers before bringing it down to the apex of her thighs, swirling the saliva-coated digits around her swollen bud. She gasped and bit her lip, concentrating on the sensations brewing inside her.

"It's okay, Scully. Lose yourself. Come. It's just me and you." Her and him, she thought to herself. Mulder and Scully.

She came again, the intensity surpassing the last one and making her cry out Mulder's name, maybe God's, she didn't know the difference right now. Her body felt like it did the very first time, every cell blooming in pleasure, her whole body tingling with the waves of her orgasm. Mulder made her feel this way.

He threw his head back and his grip on her hip tightened as he came inside her, not relenting in her thrust in his final act of altruism to give her an unbelievable sexual experience. He'd already succeeded in that by just being here.

Slowly he adjusted her quivering body so he was laying next to her with his arms protectively wrapped around her, placing kisses to her sweaty forehead as she came down from her high. "You amaze me, Mulder," she praised through her sated sleepiness.

"As you amaze me," he returned, squeezing her tighter against him.

She raised her hands up and slid one around his waist and brought the other up to rest on his chest, feeling his thrumming heartbeat under her palm. "I'd like to have a few more sessions with you if you don't mind," she joked, using his arm as a pillow as she rested her eyes.

He placed a kiss to her forehead before laughing, "Anytime. Seriously."

Thank you @jodie-fosters-foster-child for telling me to do this prompt <3

[bangtann-bangdamn]

<BTS x OCs>

Day One

Part Two: Dive Right In

On this island paradise, YOU get to call the shots. Will you be happily coupled up? Or will you find yourself with a one-way ticket home?

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~♥~

Previously on the Isle of Love:

Ji-Ah entered the villa and met the girls; 19-year-old Jee, and 27-year-old Sookie. They discussed what they were looking for in their ideal partner and decided that girl-power was the best power to have.

They met the guys; 21-year-old Jungkook, 23-year-old Jimin, 25-year-old Hoseok, and 26-year-old Yoongi, and quickly split off into groups around the villa.

But who will Ji-Ah spend her time with?

~♥~

Ji-Ah walked over to the day bed. She hesitated, standing by the side of the bed as she stared down at the blond man. Yoongi was lying on his back with his right arm thrown over her face. Ji-Ah wondered if she should announce herself to him rather than stand there staring at him. But maybe he did not want to be disturbed? He had immediately strolled to the day bed and flopped down without trying to initiate a conversation with anyone.

Ji-Ah was contemplating leaving him alone and going to sit by the edge of the pool when he moved his arm and gazed up at her.

"Can I help you?" His deep voice sent shivers down her spine. There was no way to read the emotion on his face as he gazed up at her.

Ji-Ah cleared her throat. "May I join you?"

Yoongi grunted as he covered his eyes once more, and Ji-Ah took that as confirmation. She settled beside him, resting her back against the headboard.

It was silent for a couple of minutes. Ji-Ah took a moment to appreciate the view. The pool and ocean beyond were perfectly aligned to look like they were one. With the near-midday sun beating down on them, Ji-Ah could almost dream of the cold water against her skin, providing the well-needed relief to the humid air. But she remained on the day bed with Yoongi, knowing that she needed to at least get to know one of the guys. After all, how was she supposed to couple up with one of them if she spent the entire day following her gut and hiding from them all?

"So... Yoongi. What do you do for a living?" Ji-Ah asked softly.

"I'm a classical pianist," he replied without missing a beat.

"Oh... That's... Interesting." She waited for Yoongi to return the question, but after a long pause, she realised that he wasn't going to do so. "I'm a dancer," she provided, hoping that that would open him up a little bit.

Yoongi hummed, letting her know that he had heard her, but he offered her no response.

Was it supposed to be this hard, Ji-Ah found herself wondering as she turned her attention back to the man beside her. He still had his arm thrown across his face, and now he had propped his left leg up and was gently rocking it from side to side.

Maybe it was just the topic of conversation that was boring?

"What do you do in your free time? Personally, I love going out and having some fun with friends. Like before I came here, I was out with my best friend and-" Ji-Ah glanced over at Yoongi to find him looking up at her.

"And what?" He pressed.

"Well, we met some people while we were out dancing. We managed to convince them that we were foreigners, and they showed us all the 'hidden' gems in town. Except that all the places they showed us were places we go to all the time."

"And that's how you spend your weekends?" Yoongi said it with no ounce of tone, just one long monosyllabic sentence. Ji-Ah wasn't sure if his question was genuine or mocking, so she decided to play it safe and believe that he was teasing her.

"Well, not every weekend," she clarified softly, brushing a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. "Anyway, what do you do?"

Yoongi turned away from her, arm settling back across his face. "Sleep."

Ji-Ah sighed. She was right in her original assumption: he was not interested in having a conversation with her.

She contemplated joining Sookie and Hoseok on the sofa when Hoseok walked past her and headed into the villa. A second later, Sookie sat down beside Ji-Ah.

She rubbed her forehead in mock pain. "Remind me why I thought talking to him was a good idea?"

"What happened?" Ji-Ah crossed her legs, allowing Sookie more room to sit on the day bed.

Sookie turned to face Ji-Ah, crossing her own legs as she leant forward. She glanced around to make sure no one else was around before she began speaking.

"Well, I was asking him the standard questions. You know, what do you do and whatever. He came across alright, but he's just so..." She shook her hands in front of her, lost for words.

"Bright?" Yoongi provided from beside Ji-Ah. His arm was still covering his face, so it would have been easy to assume that he was not listening to their conversation.

"Exactly" Sookie clapped her hands. "He just has so much energy. I don't think I'd be able to keep up with him."

"But isn't that a good thing?" Ji-Ah asked. "He seemed happy."

Sookie looked at her like she was crazy. "How old are you again?" Sookie raised her brow.

"Twenty-five." Ji-Ah tried to keep eye contact with Sookie, but the startling shade of blue was hard to stare at. It looked unnatural. Ji-Ah wondered if they were contacts as she turned her gaze to her hands.

Sookie hummed. "Maybe you should try talking to him. You'll see what I mean." She turned to Yoongi. "And what about you, hot-stuff? What do you do?" Sookie slapped his thigh playfully, although Ji-Ah thought she had done it mostly to get his attention.

Yoongi silently leaned against his elbow as he squinted at Sookie. "I play the piano."

"He's a classical pianist," Ji-Ah added with a smile.

"Huh, no wonder why there's a piano in the lounge. Does that mean you're our dedicated piano man?" Sookie smirked at him.

Yoongi adjusted his position, following Ji-Ah in leaning against the headboard. "I hope not. I'm sick of playing classical music."

"Oh, really? Then what do you want to be playing?"

As Yoongi thought about his answer, Sookie shot Ji-Ah a look. One that screamed 'he could be interesting'. Sookie had made it seem easy, getting Yoongi to talk about himself. But maybe the trick was in the questions.

Finally, Yoongi said, "I like hip-hop. Rap." He shrugged as if to diminish this little fact; to play it off like it was meaningless.

"Then why are you playing classical music? Can you even play hip-hop or rap on the piano?" Sookie asked with a laugh.

"It was what my parents wanted me to train in. Plus it pays the bills." He looked down at his fingers and Ji-Ah couldn't help but wonder if this little truth that he had revealed had made him embarrassed.

"But that doesn't answer my second question - can you even play it on the piano?"

Yoongi smiled, and Ji-Ah noted that it was a charming smile, if not a little reserved.

"Maybe I'll show you sometime."

"You better be a man of your word, Yoongi, because I will take you up on that." Sookie smiled.

Before Ji-Ah could assert herself into the conversation, the door to the lounge slammed open, and Jimin and Jungkook came running out screaming. They dive-bombed into the pool, fully clothed, the splash coating the pavement around the pool with water.

Sookie turned away from them with a roll of her eyes before inspecting her nails. But Ji-Ah saw it as an opportunity to move away. So, she slowly climbed off the bed, figuring that she could start up a conversation with one of the other boys. Sookie quickly took Ji-Ah's position and sat beside Yoongi, lowering her voice to continue talking to him.

Jungkook was the first to resurface, lifting his head from the water in such a way that water whipped backwards in an arc. Jimin resurfaced a second later with a laugh, pushing the water away from his forehead. Ji-Ah leant against the end of the day bed, opening her mouth to ask them why they had decided to jump into the pool with their clothes still on but stopped when another scream caught her attention.

This time, Ji-Ah only managed to catch the sight of Jee thrown over Hoseok's shoulder before they disappeared beneath the water.

Ji-Ah was impressed. Whatever had happened in the house had meant Jee had found herself a man that could bench press her, given the ease of which Hoseok had carried her. Even though Ji-Ah was yet to have a one on one conversation with Hoseok, she couldn't help but feel like Jee and Hoseok would make a good couple. They both seemed to radiate positive energy.

Jee resurfaced, instantly splashing Hosoek when he reappeared beside her with a laugh.

"No fair! I told you I wanted to get dressed!" Jee pouted, but she couldn't quite contain her smile.

"Fun waits for no one," Hoseok countered, splashing Jee.

As the two quickly started a splash-off, Jimin turned in the water towards the day bed.

"Hey, come on in! The water's refreshing." He smiled, brushing his grey hair backwards with his fingers.

Ji-Ah was entranced by the way his features transformed with his hair away from his face. When she had looked at him earlier, she would have said he had soft features; everything about him had screamed gentle to her with his large, plush lips, and brown eyes. But as she gazed at him now, water running down his face, she couldn't help but notice just how striking he was. His high-cheek bones and defined jaw made him look like a model. She wondered why such a good-looking guy was in a place like this. Surely, he would be able to find love in the real world? With looks like his, girls were likely queueing up for the chance of him taking them on a date.

"No thanks, I don't want to ruin my make-up." Sookie looked to Yoongi, who simply shook his head.

Jimin's gaze turned to Ji-Ah. She could feel the heat already burning her cheeks as she shook her head. "I couldn't" she confessed gently.

Jimin climbed out of the pool and padded his way over to Ji-Ah. He stopped just before her and took her hand. He was taller than Ji-Ah, which meant that he blocked the sun from her view. But in doing so, the sun and created a halo around his profile, making him look even more angelic than he already was.

"Jump in with me?" He asked softly, a smile playing on his lips. He gently tugged her hands, leading her to the edge of the pool.

"No, I really shouldn't." She protested gently but made no move to stop him from leading her. Once they were standing at the edge of the pool, Jimin wrapped one of his arms around her waist.

"On three," he said, gazing directly into her eyes. "One, two-" On two, he pushed Ji-Ah into the water.

As she had expected, the water was refreshing against her skin. It was cool enough to be a shock, but not cool enough to be unpleasant. She resurfaced, coughing the water out from her lungs. She wished that Jimin had warned her before plunging her into the water so she could have at least closed her mouth before hitting the water.

Jungkook laughed, turning his body away from her in the pool to cling to the pool ladder. Even Jee and Hoseok had stopped in their splash war to watch for a second. But it was Jimin who caught her attention. The same man who had come across as sweet and caring was now hunched over in a full-body laugh. He was laughing so hard that his eyes were practically closed. Despite seeing the funny side, Ji-Ah decided to get her own back.

She pouted, screwing her face up enough to look like she was about to cry.

"Ji-Ah, are you okay?" Jee called, her own face clouded with concern.

Ji-Ah shook her head as she waded her way to the side of the pool.

At Jee's words, Jimin had stopped laughing. As Ji-Ah reached the side of the pool, Jimin knelt.

"I'm sorry. Here." He offered his hand towards her, an apologetic smile ghosting his lips. Ji-Ah took his hand and, as he moved to steady himself, Ji-Ah tugged, pulling him into the water. She laughed as he crashed into the water face first, taking pride when Jee squealed in delight from the other side of the pool.

"Nice one, Ji-Ah!" Sookie called from the day bed.

When Jimin resurfaced, he did so with a laugh. He turned to face Ji-Ah with a smile. "Okay, okay. We're even." He shrugged,

"We are so not even," Ji-Ah countered, using her hands to splash him.

Jimin dared to look indignant as he wiped the water away from his face. "What do you mean! I pushed you in, you pulled me in - that makes us even!" He pouted, and Ji-Ah couldn't help but laugh at him. It wasn't that he looked ridiculous with his bottom lip poking out. It was the fact that the look suited him that made her laugh.

Ji-Ah splashed him again, mostly to get him to stop pouting at her. "You forget the fact that you were already wet when I pulled you in." She tried to hold her laughter, but she couldn't stop the smile.

"That doesn't matter!" Jimin argued as he splashed Ji-Ah back.

"I mean, she's not wrong, Hyung. You got her wet. She just pulled you back in." Jungkook giggled from where he now sat at the edge of the pool. His .... top clung to his lean form as he pushed his hair away from his eyes.

"That's what she said," Jee giggled before Hoseok tackled her under the water.

Ji-Ah turned back to look at Jimin with a smug smile. "See, we're not even." She splashed him again.

Jimin tried to contain his laughter as he looked to the sky for a second. When his gaze returned to Ji-Ah, she noted the fire that burned in his eyes. "You are so on." He splashed Ji-Ah, and she immediately returned the gesture.

Jee and Hoseok joined in on the fun. Slowly it became a splash war between the four of them.

It was only when Jimin wrapped his arms around Ji-Ah and lifted her up that she stopped splashing. It felt like the whole world had stopped as she felt his breath on her shoulder. She could hear Jee's squeal and Jungkook's whoops from somewhere beyond, but her mind refused to focus on anything other than the chest her back was pressed against.

She turned her head to look at Jimin. Only, he was already looking down at her with a smile.

"Call it a day?" He asked, playfully.

"Never." Ji-Ah tried to wiggle out of his grasp, giggling when his fingers began to lightly dance over her hips as he tickled her.

"Stop, stop!" She gasped, finally pulling away with a laugh. "Okay, you win!"

"Yes!" Jimin raised his arms in victory, jumping and splashing back down in the water.

"Finally," Sookie called out.

Ji-Ah turned to find that Sookie was now alone on the bed. Yoongi had gone inside, along with Jungkook, who was no longer seated at the edge of the pool.

"Now children, can you climb out of the pool and go get dressed. Yoongi is going to make us some lunch."

One by one, they all climbed out of the pool. Ji-Ah was the last. As she climbed the ladder, Jimin held out his hand to assist her. He smiled as she took it.

"You know, I didn't really need help getting out of the pool." She smiled, letting go of his hand the moment her feet touched the sun-soaked pavement.

"I know, but then I wouldn't have got to see that pretty smile of yours." He nudged his shoulder to Ji-Ah's before walking towards the house.

Ji-Ah followed, catching up with Jee and linking arms with her.

"Mind giving me a tour?"

"Of course, hun!" Jee smiled brightly as she led the way into the house.

"You already know that this is the lounge," she announced as they stepped back inside. She led Ji-Ah through to the foyer and pointed to the door opposite where Ji-Ah could now hear the tell-tale signs of pots and pans banging together. "Through those doors are the kitchen and dining. We'll go in there after we've changed."

Jee continued to lead Ji-Ah up one of the staircases. At the top, she pointed to the left "We tried going down there, but there was just a gym and a locked room so." She shrugged before leading Ji-Ah down the right corridor. The first door they passed was open, and when Ji-Ah peered in, she saw that it was the boys changing room - mostly because Jungkook was standing front and centre while changing his shirt. Ji-Ah was right in her observations that Jungkook was lean, but she hadn't realised just how fit he was. He could certainly give some of the male dancers she worked with a run for their money.

Jee let out a loud scoff as she stepped into the room. "Come on, have some decency." She scolded, but Ji-Ah knew she was only playing from the smile she had on her face as she closed the door. The moment it was closed, Jee turned to Ji-Ah and let out an exaggerated breath. "They are going to be the death of me."

With their arms no longer linked, Ji-Ah followed behind Jee as she led them to the next door. "This is our changing room. Jimin and Jungkook carried our luggage up earlier. I hope you don't mind, but I put yours at the bottom of one of the wardrobes. I'll show you which one in a second." She opened the door, letting Ji-Ah peer inside. But before Ji-Ah could fully take in the room, Jee was taking her hand and turning her to face the door opposite.

"Now, are you ready for the real surprise?" Jee wiggled her eyebrows as she slowly opened the door behind her.

This time, Jee let Ji-Ah enter the room entirely. It was a large room with three double beds nicely spread out against one wall, with ceiling to floor windows spanning the wall opposite, giving the perfect view of the ocean beyond.

"Wow," Ji-Ah sighed.

"I know! Shame there's only three beds."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, we'll be sharing with whoever we couple up with tonight." Jee shrugged as she sat down on the bed closest to the door. "And FYI, this is my bed." She grinned as she laid down, stretching her hands above her head.

"Aren't you getting the covers wet?" Ji-Ah giggled.

Jee bolted off the bed and stared at it for a second with shock, before relaxing and shrugging her shoulders. "Eh, it can be Sookie's bed now. I'll take the one furthest away from her." She shot Ji-Ah a cheeky smile as she skipped back out of the room.

Ji-Ah quickly followed, waving at Hoseok and Jungkook as they exited the boys changing room before entering the girls.

Jee was already half-naked when Ji-Ah walked in. It was a simple room with the wall to the right being made up of wardrobes and a small round dressing table in the centre of the room with three large mirrors and seats evenly spaced out.

"I put your stuff in that one." Jee pointed to the wardrobe closest to the door.

Ji-Ah nodded, closing the door behind her before she made her way to the wardrobe Jee had pointed to. She pulled out her suitcase and, knowing that she would be here for at least the night, decided to unpack her clothes before putting on a floral dress that stopped just above her knees. Ji-Ah was making some final adjustments to her dress when the door opened.

Sookie poked her head in. "Are we decent?"

"Isn't that the kind of question you ask before poking your head in?" Ji-Ah teased.

Sookie rolled her eyes, but she smiled. "Fine. I just wanted to let you know that me and the boys have decided-"

"Oh la la, Sookie and the boys." Jee wiggled her eyebrows as she danced around the room.

Ji-Ah giggled before noting the displeased look Sookie was sending Jee. Ji-Ah cleared her throat and attempted to compose her face before asking "You were saying?"

"We thought we would play a game during lunch," Sookie said to Ji-Ah.

"Oh, fun! What game were you thinking?" Jee asked as she put on her flip-flops.

"Never have I ever."

"Isn't that a drinking game?" Ji-Ah crossed her arms.

"Normally, but we thought we would just play it while we had lunch to get to know each other."

"I mean, there's no better way to get to know each other than to play Never Have I Ever." Jee shrugged.

Ji-Ah hesitated as Jee and Sookie started to make their way back downstairs, talking amicably amongst themselves. Finally alone for the first time since she entered the villa, Ji-Ah took a moment to compose herself.

What harm could a game of Never Have I Ever be, anyway?

~♥~

Voting now closed!

Q&A is always open for Isle of Love, so feel free to send me an ask!

[aivaehdaevis]

The More Things Change: Ch 4

The More Things Change

by Aivaeh

Disclaimer: Familiar characters, plot elements, and settings belong to L.J. Smith, Julie Plec, and the CW. The author of this work of fanfiction has made no money from it. Summary: I have no idea how it happened, but one morning I woke up in the world of The Vampire Diaries. Which, aside from the insanity of waking up inside a television show made real, might not be so bad—if I weren't stuck in the body of vampire magnet and doppelgänger herself, Elena Gilbert. Pairing(s): OFC x Damon, OFC x Stefan, OFC x Elijah, OFC x Klaus Rating: M Warning(s): Graphic descriptions of violence on par with the show itself. References to sex and drug use. Mind control and all the issues of consent that go along with it. Character death. Master List External Links: AO3 | FF.Net | Wattpad

Chapter Four

Forehead resting against my knees, arms hugging my legs, I rocked back and forth even after the tears had stopped. Sinuses stuffed, I focused on the aftermath of my sob fest rather than the life I had no idea how to get back to. Thoughts of home and the grim conclusion that I had no idea how to leave Monster Falls did nothing but bring me to tears.

I couldn't afford that. I had to survive until I could find a way out.

The forest had left its mark on me. Apart from my mysterious scratches and bruises, there was dirt and sweat clinging to my skin. Given what had happened after skipping the cemetery, there was no way I wasn't going to show up at the Grill. Which meant another shower.

It was slower going than the first that morning. The hot water was soothing and helped clear my clogged sinuses. I ended up leaning halfway out of the spray to spare the bite marks. Not that they were huge, I was surprised by how small they appeared in the mirror compared to how much blood he'd gotten from me, but both punctures were fresh and still sore.

Part of me hoped Damon switched to blood bags soon, but the idea of being fed from again aroused feelings that frightened me. Maybe it was Elena. I hadn't ever been that turned on by the thought of being bit before. Now I had to avoid the memory, because this wasn't my body and I really wasn't in a head space for dealing with new and potentially dangerous kinks.

I rooted through Elena's closet while I dried. I found t-shirts and jeans, but most of her clothes were much nicer. Since the Grill was a casual get together, I picked out a sky-blue sweater that matched a lightweight patterned scarf and dark pair of jeans. From her twenty pair of shoes, I grabbed a pair of sneakers, because this was Mystic Falls. I wanted to be ready to run.

Not that it'd help, not with teleporting vampires, but it made me feel minutely better to know I was ready to sprint if I had to.

I was finishing up with the scarf when I heard the rumble of a garage door. The sun was low enough that golden light poured in through all the windows. Downstairs the side door in the kitchen opened.

Jenna had several take-out bags spread across the counter by the time I arrived. "Hey, Elena," she greeted, grabbing a stack of plates from the cabinet.

"Jeremy isn't here." I hadn't heard him come in, anyway.

Jenna frowned but replaced the bottom dish.

"And I'm going to the Grill."

Another plate joined it. "Guess it's just me and Basilico's then."

"Sorry."

Placing the remaining plate on the counter, Jenna flipped the kitchen lights on before opening the sacks. "No problem. Means more leftovers. Which means less of my cooking." The box she pulled out smelled divine. Savory tomato sauce, buttery cheese and herbs. "I think we can all agree that's cause for celebration."

Since I had no idea what Jenna's cooking tasted like, I answered with a noncommittal hum.

The lid lifted to reveal a pan of lasagna that looked amazing and made me regret waiting to get to the Grill. "When's Bonnie picking you up?"

Crap. In the show Elena had gone with Stefan. But he had no reason to come over. Had she driven? Had he? "Actually, I thought I'd drive."

Jenna's brows rose so high they'd practically summited her hairline. "Saywhatnow?"

"Unless that's not okay."

"Nonono. I mean, yes, of course it's okay! Elena!" Smiling, she grabbed my hand. I stiffened, but she didn't notice. "This is great!" She squeezed. "I'm so proud of you!"

I stared, flummoxed, but managed to return the squeeze before letting go. "Oh, um. Thanks Jenna."

She beamed as she unpacked the rest of her dinner. I distracted her by asking how her day had gone. She launched into an excited recitation about her meeting and her plans for her dissertation. Given all the practice I'd had today, I'd gotten excellent at mhmm-ing and adding the occasional nod or sympathetic noise where required.

Jenna was halfway through her meal, getting into something to do with childhood regression, when a doorbell chimed.

Pausing mid-sentence, Jenna pointed a fork with a bit of cheese hanging off it towards the archway. "Mind getting that?"

"Nope."

The sun had set while Jenna and I had talked. Except for a weak stripe of light leaking from the kitchen, the hallway between the dining room and front door was a long stretch of darkness. I found and pushed the light switch, but nothing happened. Since all I had to do was walk straight to avoid the walls, I crossed to the entryway anyway. Fishing for the handle, I pulled the door open as soon as I found it.

The porch was a little better lit from the streetlight. I could tell it was a man. One dressed in dark colors. "Hold on a sec." I felt around the wall for a switch to the either the hall, entryway, or the porch. One of them had to work.

Sure enough my fingers soon traced a series of flat switches. I went down the line, pressing each of them in turn. Half the bulbs in the house must've needed changing because the only one that would turn on was the porch light.

"There—oh!"

Stefan Salvatore blinked against the sudden burst of brightness. Once his eyes readjusted, he smiled. "Hi."

"Hi," I replied, when what I really wanted to ask him what he was doing there. I hadn't gone to the cemetery. Elena's diary was upstairs on her desk.

As if he could read my mind—could he?—he said, "We haven't met. I'm Stefan. Stefan—"

"Salvatore." I opened the door a tad wider. "We have history together."

His eyes lightened. "And English. Sorry to show up out of nowhere. I thought you might like this," his hand rose, lifting a familiar leather bag in its grip, "back."

"My bag." What. The. Hell. He handed it over to me. "I thought I forgot it at school."

There must've been enough doubt in my tone that he was able to pick up on it. "I found it on the ground not too far from here."

A chill that had nothing to do with the evening air fell over me. My suspicions that Damon had done something to my memory were confirmed. Not that I'd had much cause to doubt, but here was proof. I struggled to keep the dismay off my face and stay calm. "Weird." I smiled up at Stefan, whose stare was intense. Was he gauging my reaction? The idea made me even more anxious. I squeezed the strap, and the responding creak of leather reassured me that at least something today had turned out alright. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." He tucked his hands into his pockets. "You might want to check inside. Make sure everything's there. Some books and folders fell out. I think I got them all, but…" Stefan trailed off with a shrug.

"Oh." I opened my mouth, an invitation to come inside on the tip of my tongue, but I remembered Stefan was a vampire. I should never, ever let him in. "Just a second."

"Okay." If he was disappointed by the lack of invite, he hid it well. He just leaned a shoulder up against the door frame.

I carried the bag to the stairs. Light from the open door spilled across the floor and crept up part of the steps. I set the bag down at the bottom. I hadn't taken a complete inventory of everything that had been inside it earlier. Even so, all the folders and books from today were there, along with a few notebooks I hadn't had a chance to use. "I think everything's there."

"Good."

My thumb ran along the leather strap before I returned to the threshold. "Can I ask where, exactly, you found it?"

Stefan straightened. "You know the woods west of here?" My stomach churned, but I nodded. "About a ten-minute hike from King street."

"Oh." I stared down at my free hand where a few scratches stood out on my palm. "Well," I cleared my throat as I lifted my head again, "I'm glad you found it."

"So am I." Stefan's superhero chin jutted at the bag. "I'd be worried about losing that many textbooks."

"I hadn't even thought about that," I confessed. Elena's classes had been the last thing on my mind.

"And now you won't have to."

Relief widened my answering smile. "Yeah. Thank you. Really."

He shook his head. "I was in the area. Least I could do."

We watched one another. The silence stretched.

Stefan was the one to break it. "Well. I should," he stuck a thumb out behind him.

"Okay. Right." I lifted my hand in farewell. "See you tomorrow."

"Yeah."

We shared tentative smiles, and then I moved to shut the door. Stefan turned, walking back across the porch towards the stairs. He'd almost reached first step when I remembered—The Grill! He was supposed to go with Elena!

After everything that happened when I skipped the cemetery, I was leery of messing up anything else I'd seen on the show. "Stefan?"

The porch creaked underfoot as he turned about. "Yeah?"

I opened the door all the way. "My friends are having a little get together at the Grill tonight. Would you like to go?"

His brows arched in surprise. "I—yes. Absolutely."

Relief brightened my smile to something genuine. "Great. I'm just going to get my purse and jacket. I'll be right out."

"Alright." His answering grin was smaller, but sincere. "I'll be here."

"Good."

I slid the door shut and hurried up the stairs to Elena's room. I dropped the bag back by the desk where I'd found it that morning and grabbed the purse sitting at the top. Snatching her jacket from the bed, I headed back downstairs.

"Jenna?" I called, leaning over the railing.

"Yea—why's it dark in here?" The hall light flicked on. Jenna looked up. "What's up?"

"Where're the keys?"

"Aren't they still on key holder by the side door?"

I pressed my lips together, waving a hand. "Right. 'Course." I 'hah'ed. "Guess I'm spacey today."

"I'll grab them."

I reached the bottom step as she disappeared back into the dining room. "Key holder. Duh." I rifled through the purse's contents as I crossed the hall. Wallet. Makeup. Pens. Small notepad. Kleenex. Lip balm.

Hold on. Where'd I put her phone?

Her school bag. "Dammit," I muttered. The phone hadn't been inside when I'd checked. It must have fallen out and was now wherever Stefan had found the bag.

"Here you go." I looked up in time to hold out my hand as Jenna passed along the keys. "You'll be careful?"

"Course."

She smiled. Beamed really. "Okay. Have fun!"

"I'm sure I will." Provided I didn't screw up and let everyone know I was a body snatcher.

I rounded back towards the front door when Jenna called out. "Elena? Where are you going? SUV's in the garage."

I paused. "Yeah. I left a friend waiting for me on the porch. I was going to let him know I'd be pulling around."

Jenna's brows furrowed. "Why didn't you invite him in?"

"He's… shy."

Jenna's brows furrowed further. They were almost one.

I gave a firm nod and a grin. "So. I'll be… right back." I pointed back towards the dining room. "To go to the garage."

"O-kay."

I cringed as I turned around. I was careful to smooth my expression before opening the front door.

Stefan was leaning against a post, arms crossed. He was also sporting furrowed brows, but they relaxed as soon as he saw me.

"Hey. I'm just going to pull the SUV out." I stretched out to search the street in front of the house and then the driveway. "Where's your car?"

"I walked."

"Oh." I bit my bottom lip before offering, "You can ride with me." Elena must have driven them both in the episode. I'd be fine.

Stefan wasn't Damon.

He uncrossed his arms and straightened up. "Alright."

"Just," I held up a finger, "one more minute."

Stefan nodded and I smiled as I shut the door.

I blew out a breath. This was ridiculous. If this had been on television, Benny Hill music would've been playing.

I was about to head back when I heard a low buzzing. Suddenly, the light blew out with a pop, drenching the hall in darkness again. "Dammit."

Fortunately, the dining room and kitchen were still lit. Jenna looked up from the fridge, most of the takeout gone from the countertop. I was almost out the door when, "Wait!"

I stopped. Jenna shut the refrigerator and stood up, pointing. "Don't stay out late. It's a school night." The smirk that followed was smug with accomplishment.

I nodded, said a rushed, "Okay," and sped out the door.

Fortunately, once I was in the SUV the garage door opener was on the visor. I didn't have to waste time hunting it up. It occurred to me that if I was stuck in this mad world, I'd better become familiar with more than Elena's kitchen drawers.

Stefan was waiting beside the driveway, hands again stuffed in his pocket, slouching. He really had the seventeen-year-old act down. He came around the front to the passenger side and slid in.

He fastened his seat belt. We stared for several moments before I cleared my throat and finished backing out of the driveway.

I remembered Bonnie had gone left. What I wouldn't have given for GPS. I figured that if I kept heading west, I was bound to get to the center of town at some point.

Stefan sat quietly in the passenger seat. After a few minutes of the heater blowing, the low hum of the engine, and several turns, I remembered to ask where he found Elena's things. "Oh, I was missing something from my bag."

Stefan turned toward me and frowned. "What?"

"My phone."

"You're sure?"

"Yeah."

"I'll go back in the morning before school. See if I can find it."

"You don't have to go to the trouble. I just thought you could let me know where—"

"It's no trouble. I go hiking at sunup. I'll be out in the woods anyway."

Right. Breakfast.

He reached into his pocket. "If I could have your number," he said, lifting out a flip phone, "it'd make finding it a lot easier."

Shit.

Sitting in the turning lane at a red light, the blinker clicked as I hunted for some excuse. Stefan watched me, phone open, thumb hovering over the dial pad, waiting. As the clicking went from a few seconds to a minute, he glanced down at the screen. "I'll delete your number as soon as I've found it."

Crap. "No, it's… it's not that." I squeezed the steering wheel. "It's um, just." I blew out a breath. "You'll think I'm stupid—"

"I won't."

He was so earnest I couldn't help but crack a smile. "I'm… really bad with numbers."

To Stefan's credit, his expression didn't shift a millimeter. "You don't know your phone number?"

The wheel creaked under my hands. "…No."

His phone's lid snapped shut. "I'll do my best, but I'm not sure I'll see it."

Damn. Then I realized Elena couldn't be the only one who knew it. "Bonnie! Or Caroline. They'll have it in their phones and their both going to be at the Grill."

"I'll ask—"

"Bonnie."

Stefan glanced at me before sliding his phone back into his pocket, "Bonnie for your number."

The signal turned green. I glanced at the street sign before pressing the gas.

Washington Street.

Holy crap. I actually made it. Turning onto Mystic Falls' main street with a grin, I could see the clocktower in the distance and headed for it. The Grill hadn't been that far from City Hall.

I remembered that Washington drew a square around the historic building from my walk. Passing the clocktower, I wondered if it had been there when Stefan was born. Fortunately, I remembered right about the Grill being visible from the town center. The restaurant and bar were down a street which fed into Washington. There was no parking left around the Grill, and the nearest alley had stairs leading down. I passed the building, and Stefan didn't make any comment, so I supposed there must have been parking elsewhere.

I was right. A small lot filled with cars was a short distance away. We got a poor space in the back, narrow and far from the street or the lights. I didn't mind when Stefan kept close as we made our way to the sidewalk.

It was cool but not cold, and the night was clear. The city's lights dimmed the stars, but the few that were visible dotted the black sky. "The comet must pass pretty close to see it without a telescope."

Stefan glanced at me. "Are you going to the festival?"

If I didn't wake up. "Caroline, Bonnie, and I volunteered to help out."

"Do you do a lot of volunteer work?"

"Caroline makes certain of it."

The soft murmur of music filled the street as we passed beneath the Grill's awning. Light shone from the windows. Approaching the door, Stefan reached out and held it open. I thanked him with a gentle smile.

The murmur of people, the tumble of ice clacking together, and the distant crack of pool balls greeted us. I smelled cooked food and a fainter hint of citrus. The lighting was soft on the eyes, and the largest impression was of wood. Wooden floors, tables, booths—all polished and shining.

We walked by the greeting counters, beyond which I could see the bar and wall to wall mirror. I half expected the song from the episode to be playing as we walked in. Everyone I recognized had their eyes on us. "Fashionably late," I said quietly, nodding towards the table holding Matt and Bonnie as I shucked off my jacket.

Folding it over my arm, we both slowed as Matt slid out of his seat to greet us. Soon as he was within reach, he held out a hand. "Hey. I'm Matt. Nice to meet you."

"Hi," Stefan said as he accepted. "Stefan."

Letting go, Matt's attention shifted to me. There was strain in the tense lines of his face. I offered a small smile. "Hey."

His blue eyes gentled. "Hey. Glad you came."

"Me too." When the emotion in his stare became too much, I glanced away and caught sight of Vicki carrying a tray of food and drinks to a back table. Unease bloomed in my gut and climbed my neck as I watched her, very much alive.

Damon was going to kill her, and then Stefan would have to stake her.

A touch on my elbow startled me back to Stefan and Matt. Stefan's hand dropped back to his side. I pulled my lips into something resembling a smile. "Let's sit."

Matt led the way back to the table he shared with Bonnie.

Grinning as we neared, Bonnie said, "Hey. You made it."

"Yep."

I turned, about to grab a chair when Stefan pulled one out for me. I glanced down, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear as I thanked him. I draped my jacket over the back and sat. Bonnie arched a brow, mouth edging upward.

Stefan sat beside me as Caroline and Tyler left their game of pool to join us. There were introductions all around. Caroline wasted no time, starting right in with the interrogation. "So tell us everything."

Tyler pressed his lips together and cast a flat look at Caroline. She either didn't notice or chose to ignore it.

Stefan spread his hands across the tabletop. "There's not much to tell."

Caroline glanced Bonnie's way before smirking. "I highly doubt that."

His eyes sought mine, though not to plead for help, like I would've expected. Instead, they glinted with amusement. Stefan turned back to Caroline. "I was born here."

"No one would live here who wasn't," Tyler declared as he leaned back into his seat, grabbing a glass slick with condensation.

Stefan shrugged. With everyone's chairs packed together, his jacket rubbed against my sleeve. My arm tingled.

"So you were born in Mystic Falls..." Caroline prompted after sending a warning glare Tyler's way. Tyler made a 'what?' face before rolling his eyes and turning away.

Stefan followed the exchange. "And moved when I was still young." Not necessarily a lie. Seventeen would be young to a hundred and sixty-year-old.

I wondered if he'd spin his answers from the frayed threads of truth the whole night.

Bonnie decided to join in the impromptu grilling. "Parents?"

"They… passed away."

A moment of discomfort passed as all eyes shifted unerringly towards me. Subtle. Remembering what I'd seen of his father, and how that ended, I thought of the little boy who'd lost his mother. "I'm sorry."

Unlike the others, Stefan's steady stare held an unspoken understanding that made me feel like a fraud.

Thankfully, Caroline was eager to throw out bait and try to reel his attention back to her. "Sisters? Brothers?"

In an instant, the gentle warmth his eyes had shone with all evening was swallowed by a darkness that, ironically, made him resemble his brother. "None that I speak to." He left that bomb on the table as he turned back to Caroline. "I live with my Uncle."

The first lie.

Caroline looked disappointed by the lack of elaboration in his answers. Not that she was prepared to give up. "Are you going to the party tomorrow?"

"He's new, Care. He might not know," Bonnie said. "It's a back to school thing at the falls."

Stefan turned to me. "Are you going?"

Never let it be said Stefan Salvatore was ambiguous about his interest. The guy had serious tunnel vision. Caroline's forehead crinkled as her brows tightened. Even Matt frowned. Bonnie beamed as she said, "Of course she is." She ignored Caroline's sharp glance.

But I was again thinking about a certain attack. My gaze drifted back to Vicki, now standing near the bar.

The last time I tried to avoid an encounter, I ended up making everything worse. I'd given Damon the opening he'd lacked with the real Elena. The party would have lots of people, which arguably made it safer than Elena's house. So long as I stayed among them, Damon couldn't do anything. I met Stefan's waiting stare, wishing I could ask for the vervain necklace early. "Guess I'm drafted."

Stefan's lips quirked. "Then I guess I'll see you there."

Our eyes held, the green within his bright and shining like sun dappled leaves.

"So," Caroline said, sharp and demanding. "Likes? Hobbies?"

Back slouching into his chair, Tyler scoffed. "You writing up the guy's profile or something?"

"Shut up, Tyler." Her lips barely moved, but a frosty Forbes glare did more than enough talking. Tyler huffed before settling back, acting as if he hadn't just been chastised.

"I like to read. Hike." Stefan said before turning to regard the rest of the table. "The woods around here are beautiful."

"And dangerous," Matt said, frowning. "With all the attacks lately."

"I heard." Stefan's expression never changed. Not even so much as twitch. "Predators don't stick around in one place for very long. I'm sure the animal responsible will move on."

I couldn't help but glance to the window overlooking main street. With the sun down, traffic was a trickle. The night pressed in around the slender yellow glow of the streetlamps. I looked for the shadow of a man, or a bird, but found neither.

"Hey, Elena." Vicki's voice drew my attention back inside the Grill. Pad out, she stood beside our table, eying Stefan before focusing on me. "Usual?"

I had no idea what that would be. "Actually, could I have chicken and some juice?"

"What? Like chicken tenders?" she asked, scribbling. "And we got orange, apple, cranberry—"

"Orange is good. And yeah, tenders sound fine."

"Okay." Vicki smiled at Stefan. Caroline rolled her eyes while Tyler tensed. "And—"

"Stefan," he said. "I'll have the same, but with a coke."

"Alright." Vicki's pen scraped along her pad. "Be back with your drinks."

"Thanks, Vic," Matt added.

"My job, ain't it?" she replied before moving off.

"My sister," Matt said.

Stefan nodded.

Caroline kept the conversation focused on Stefan for another ten minutes before Tyler had enough and dragged Matt off to a game of pool. Bonnie then redirected talk to their classes. Caroline contributed something other than a hundred questions for Stefan by sharing the latest gossip already going around.

I didn't say much aside from commenting on my classes. Bonnie and Caroline didn't seem to expect me to talk. Bonnie kept soliciting my opinion anyway, which was sweet of her, if inconvenient. I didn't know what the real Elena would say. I kept my answers brief, smiled and nodded a lot.

Stefan watched me. Not in a way that made me uncomfortable, surprisingly. He just gazed every so often, catching my eye and holding it until I had to grin and look away. He'd have a little smile on his face when I'd glance at him again.

Vicki brought out our food. I wasn't blown away by it, but finished most of the basket. I kept peeking at Stefan eating from beneath my lashes. It was both odd and not, knowing what he was, and yet it was such a normal thing for someone to do.

When I finished my glass of orange juice, he offered to go up to the bar to get me another. "I can wait for Vicki."

"I'd like a refill too," Stefan replied as he stood. He smiled. "I'll be right back."

"Okay."

I was impressed that Bonnie waited for him to get a whole five feet away before pouncing. "Elena," she demanded, leaned over the table on folded arms, "what happened?"

"Yeah." Caroline stirred at her iced tea with a straw before quirking a brow at me. "What are you two doing together?"

Bonnie shot her a look that Caroline returned with an arched brow. I shrugged. "I lost my bag on the way home. Stefan found it and brought it over." I picked up a napkin and wiped at my fingers. "So I invited him."

"You lost your bag?" Bonnie frowned. "How'd that happen?"

"I must have set it down for a minute, spaced and forgot it." Crumpling up the napkin, I dropped it in the empty basket. "That reminds me, he needs to get my number from you, Bonnie."

"Okay, but," she added her own napkin to my basket, "why not just give it to him yourself?"

"I forgot it."

"You forgot it," Caroline repeated, incredulous.

"It's not like I used it a lot, Caroline," I replied defensively.

Bonnie looked as if she regretted asking. "Sure, Elena," she interjected. "I'll tell him."

"Thanks," I smiled.

"So what's he drive?" Caroline asked.

"What, you don't already know?" Bonnie smirked.

Caroline rolled her eyes.

"I don't know." Which I didn't. I honestly couldn't remember from the show. "He walked."

Bonnie asked, "So how'd you get here? Did Jenna drop you off?"

"No. I drove."

Both girls stared.

"Elena!" Bonnie beamed at me like Jenna had. "That's great!"

Caroline fiddled with her straw. "So you won't need rides to school?"

I blinked. "Um. No?"

Before anyone could say anything else, Stefan was back with the drinks.

"Here you go," he said, setting another orange juice in front of me before sitting with his own soda.

"Thank you." I smiled at him before taking a sip.

His gave a little smile back. "My pleasure."

The conversation continued. By the end of the evening, as we were all leaving and saying our goodbyes, I felt much better, buoyed by Caroline and Bonnie's company and Stefan's flattering attention. The concern for the doppelgänger's draw to each other had mostly disappeared to the back of my mind, along with the fact he was a vampire.

That didn't stop me from checking the parking lot as we crossed it.

Unlocking the SUV, I realized it would be strange if I just drove us both back to Elena's. If Stefan had really walked, and wasn't a vampire, Elena would be rude not to offer to drop him off at home.

But would Damon be there?

Settling inside, I debated with myself the whole time. My fingers had gone cold, and I missed the ignition the first time I tried to insert the key. When I finally got the engine turned on, I sucked down a breath and cleared my throat. "Do you want me to drop you off at your place?"

Stefan was quiet for a moment. "I can walk from yours."

The knot in my stomach began to unwind. Still, anyone else would probably find it odd and worrisome. They'd make sure. "It's late."

His answering grin was more than a little self-deprecating. "I'll be alright."

The ride was quiet. It wasn't awkward, though. A Black Eyed Peas song filled the car. Between the food, the bloodloss, and all the stress of the day, the headlights were pulling my attention like a moth to a flame. Rolling up to a red light, I stared into the other cars' lights until spots danced in front of my eyes. The mechanical chords of the music started to sound like a horn. And the lights got bigger and bigger until they were filling my vision as the horn blared—

"Elena?"

Stefan's hand on my shoulder snapped me back to my senses. The light was green. The car behind us was honking. Spots floated around my vision like psychedelic fireflies.

I took a breath, working on getting my head on straight as I accelerated through the intersection. "Sorry."

"It's alright." Stefan frowned.

"I guess I'm more tired than I realized." I blinked, as if that might clear the afterimages from my retinas. "I didn't mean to space off."

"It's fine." The warmth in his voice was lulling. "It's been a long day."

I cracked the window to stir in some fresh, chilled air. It helped keep my mind focused despite the weariness that crept around the edges of my thoughts. Leaning forward, I hit the search button on the radio and let chance pick the next station. It landed on country.

As if he could sense the fight I was waging with my own exhaustion, Stefan said, "I had a really nice time tonight."

Like the cool breeze, his words helped keep the weariness at bay. "Me too."

"Your friends seem nice."

"Once you get past Inquisitor Caroline, you mean."

He chuckled.

The sound made me feel stupid and drunk and happy. No. Murderous vampire. Eater of small woodland creatures. It wouldn't do. I tried to remember what happened when I let the last one in. Except that brought up thoughts of Damon's mouth pressed against my neck and his body curved over mine. I concentrated on the road to give myself time to arrange my expression into something less fawning and glow-y. Once I was properly composed, or at least less obviously besotted, I said, "You realize she's going to tell the whole school everything about you."

One glimpse of Stefan's slight smile and the ridiculous feelings were back. Worse, they'd brought friends. "I'm new. They'll lose interest soon enough."

"You have seen you, right?" I was pretty sure he had a reflection. A glanced at the passenger window as we passed under a streetlight and… yep. Reflection.

Stefan kept his eyes on the road, but the corner of his mouth turned up again. "Once or twice."

"Once or twice," I mimicked as best I could. Which wasn't very well, not in Elena's voice. Not that I'd do much better in mine. "Sorry to break it to you, Stefan, but they're not going to lose interest anytime soon."

He gave a doubtful hum. "I'm not very interesting." I scoffed at the idea. He shrugged. "I mostly keep to myself. I'd rather stay home and read then go to a party." He glanced over. "They'll find something or someone more exciting to talk about."

"You're going to the Falls."

Stefan smiled. "You're going to the Falls."

Oh, that little shit. I had to purse my lips to ward off the stupid smile that was determined to break through. Why did everything vaguely complimentary send me into a tizzy? It had to be the pull of the doppelgänger.

That and he was far too handsome. It really wasn't fair.

Big fluffy bunnies. Being eaten.

"You don't have to."

"I know."

"I mean if you want to spend time with me." What was I saying? This was a bad idea, but my stupid mouth kept going. "You could call. Make plans." Why couldn't I shut up?

We pulled up to another red light. I took the opportunity to look over. His eyes somehow shone, even in the heavy shadows cast by the dim dashboard lights of the car. "Plans."

I gripped the wheel and nodded. Ugh. I hate myself. No self-control.

"What kind of plans?"

"I don't know. Like tonight."

"Hang out. Have dinner."

He was doing this on purpose. I would have angled an unamused look his way, but the light had gone green and I needed my sights back on the road. "Yes, like hang out."

He answered with a grave nod, as if this was important information. Like I'd shared the solution to some complex mathematical equation. Or the secret to the cure for cancer. "Okay."

"Okay?" My eyes narrowed. There was a trick here.

"Okay," he reiterated.

I waited for the follow up. The dreaded 'date' word. It was an obvious opening, and anyone would have taken it. Except he didn't. As if some tentative accord had been reached, a soft and easy silence fell between us. One only the soft croon of Love Story filled, until the tension bled out of my body and I settled back into the seat. I was never going to be able to listen to Taylor Swift the same way again. My shoulders relaxed as we passed out of the business district and into the still and soft lit neighborhood streets.

How could Stefan be dangerous? He felt safe. So unlike his brother, who made every primal instinct in my body scream at his nearness. Stefan was calm and steady. Cautious of boundaries. Respectful.

It stayed comfortably quiet all the way to Elena's house. Shaking myself from the lull the rest of the drive had lured me into, I turned to thank Stefan.

Whose eyes were fixed on my neck.

I stilled, but my heartbeat rabbited as I held my breath.

Gritting his teeth, Stefan's jaw flared. He turned his head away and stared out at the garage. After a moment, he opened his door and slid out into the night air. When it shut behind him, I was finally able to breathe.

Okay. So there was the fear I'd been waiting for. My hands tightened into fists as I struggled to keep my breathing even and calm my racing heart. The last thing I wanted to do was tempt him.

I guided the SUV back into the garage. What was I doing? Wasn't one vampire's attention enough?

But Stefan had himself under control. For now. And if I was stuck in this world, and events started happening, I'd need to have him around.

Wow. Not to be selfish about it.

Given everything that happens to him, it'd probably be better for Stefan to run for the hills and get far away from Elena. She'd bring the Originals into his life. Lure Katherine back.

But no. He'd already proven his fascination with her. He wasn't going to take off.

Feeling calmer, I let out a long breath and got out of the car. I left the garage door up, figuring I'd close it once I went back inside. Stefan was waiting just beyond, hands tucked back into his jeans.

"Thanks again for inviting me," he said as I exited the garage.

"Thanks for coming." I fiddled with a key, winding it around the ring.

He smiled, and it eased more of the fear lingering in my chest. "I better get going."

"Yeah. It's late."

He nodded. "Good night, Elena."

"Night Stefan."

I watched as he strode off, until I lost him to the darkness between the houselights further down the street. For all I knew, he had sped off.

The house was dark once again as I walked into the kitchen, Jenna and Jeremy nowhere to be seen. I went to flip the switch and—

"Son of a bitch."

The lights wouldn't turn on. Frowning, I made a note to myself to check for spare bulbs the first chance I had to do some snooping. Until then, I had to feel my way around the counter and through the rest of the first floor.

The light under Jeremy's door was on, and I could hear him speaking to someone, though the exact words were lost. I moved on to Elena's room. And promptly discovered the light in here was out, too. I let out a disbelieving huff. "You gotta be kidding me."

What was going on with all the lights? I flipped the switch a few more times, but it remained dark except for a mix of moon and streetlights seeping in through the thin curtains.

I tossed the purse onto the desk and decided to deal with it later.

I'd had reading to do for class tomorrow. But between the bloodloss, the turmoil of emotions, and now the lights being dead, I wasn't going to be able to concentrate. And it wasn't as if I hadn't done all this before. I'd be fine leaving it tonight.

Besides, what if I woke up?

It was with that hopeful thought that I went to bed.

[snake-eyes-11]

The Christmas Fiasco || Part 5 || The Boogie Kids

As the mystery begins to unfold further, the Boogie children come to a chilling conclusion, but can their father finally put their minds at rest?

The sound of heavy footsteps echoed across the square, alarming a few of the residents who were wandering around and talking to one another. From the Town Gates, Thorn, Storm and Shadow came tearing into view, while at the Residential Area Gates, Icelyn skidded in.

"Ice!" panted Thorn, sitting at the edge of the fountain to catch his breath. "You're never gonna believe what we found!" "You're never gonna believe what I found!" she cried. "Y-You first!" decided Shadow courteously, placing his hands on his hips.

"The writing on the plans was Uncle Jack's!" she exclaimed. "The Mayor told me that he once took over Christmas and became Santa Claus!"

"What?" blurted Storm. "Holy shit!" laughed Thorn. "Great minds think sorta alike, I guess?" Icelyn frowned. "What? Why?" "D-Dad once took over C-Christmas Town!" explained Shadow. "Shut up! No way!" Icelyn covered her mouth with her hands. "You think it was the same year?"

The twins both looked at Shadow who was scuffing his shoes against the cobblestones. "I-I don't think so…" he admitted awkwardly, scratching his neck. "I r-remember it only b-being Dad in Christmas T-Town, and when J-Jack came, he wasn’t dressed as Santa Claus."

Icelyn responded with a slow nod. Shadow’s body language suggested that they were still enemies at the time that this event occurred, which only added to her initial feeling of unease.

“We found some plans!” prompted Storm, cutting the tension short before it could manifest. “Show her, Shad!”

Blinking out of his daze, Shadow smiled sheepishly. “O-Oh, right!” He placed his hand out of his side, dragging a blueprint from Thorn’s shadow as if it was a magic trick. Even if it wasn’t intended as a stunt, Thorn looked suitably impressed. Catching the plan in his hand, he passed it to Icelyn.

Unravelling the plans, she squinted over the scribbled letters and sat on the edge of the fountain. “Is this a train?”

“Not just any train!” Thorn leaned over and pointed to the diagram on the page. “It’s a replica of the Christmas Town train, but more...Halloween Towny.” “Still can’t think of a word to describe it, huh?” chuckled Storm, folding his arms. Thorn glared at him.

“Wait...the writing there-” She pointed to her father’s smudged scrawl. “- does that say Present Winch?” Thorn squinted, practically pressing his face into the paper. “Huh...I thought it said Pretend Witch, but that makes more sense.” he muttered.

“Hold on a sec…” Storm drew up and sat at her other side, tilting his head to read the page. “Present winch...cutting a rope? You don’t think-!”

Icelyn swallowed thickly. “Yup,” she exhaled. “If this plan is right...Dad was hoping to tie Santa to the present winch in Christmas Town-”

“And the t-train would c-cut him d-down…” Shadow’s arms slowly unfolded, the whites of his eyes glimmering in the flickering candlelight. “...so he’d f-fall and-”

“Holy shit!” exclaimed Thorn, jumping to his feet with his hands clamped to either side of his face. “Dad tried to kill Santa?” “G-Guys, I really t-think we should s-stop, now.” advised Shadow warily, tugging at his sleeve. “I say w-we should put the p-plan back where we f-found it and just ask Dad the r-rest.”

“Are you kidding? We’re so close to solving the mystery!” whined Thorn, pushing his beanie back to comb sprigs of his hair out of his eyes. “What if we ask Uncle Bone Man next? Or one of the other citizens?”

“I-I’m serious, Thorn!” Shadow’s voice cracked as he tried to raise it, clearing his throat. Storm looked up at his older brother. “What is it, Shadow?” he asked carefully.

Shadow scratched the side of his nose with his thumb, looking around with restless yellow eyes. “N-Nothing…” he stammered. “I-I just don’t think i-it’s a good idea.” Thorn’s stance relaxed ever so slightly. “Do you...remember something about Christmas Town?”

There were a few moments of silence, the howling wind whipping through the square and rattling the skeletal leaves into spirals in the frozen air. Shadow shifted on his feet, looking anywhere but at his siblings sitting at the edge of the fountain, his mouth dry with words he couldn’t vocalise.

Icelyn felt her chest clench. The twins exchanged a brief glance of concern, momentarily wondering if they’d pushed their brother too far; just as they’d done during their heated argument in the forest cabin after Halloween.

Shadow clenched his eyes shut and took a breath. “A-All I remember...is that D-Dad took over Christmas T-Town because he had an...old debt to...repay S-Sandy- I mean, Santa Claus.” confessed Shadow disjointedly. “And I think it h-had something to do with the f-first Christmas.”

“The one where Jack became Santa Claus?” prompted Icelyn gently. Shadow nodded, swallowing thickly. Icelyn looked at her older brother for half a moment before she got to her feet and wrapped her arms around him in a hug.

Thorn hung his head, taking his beanie off and running his fingers through his hair. “Okay, that’s enough...we can leave it there for now.” he conceded. “I’m sorry, Shadow.” “I’m sorry, too…” Icelyn pulled away, looking up at her brother and then turning to face the twins. “Me too.” agreed Storm, looking between Shadow, Icelyn and Thorn. “Me too.” added Shadow, lifting his chin. “B-But, we can’t give up yet. We g-gotta help Dad. If we c-can get to the bottom of this, m-maybe we can have a r-real holiday together.”

“Kids?” Oogie was standing at the top of the stairs leading out of the town hall, an expression of confusion etched on his brow. Icelyn’s eyes flew to the plan in her hands. Shadow grabbed the end of it, letting it dissolve into darkness between her fingers. She shot him a thankful look.

“Pops!” exclaimed Thorn, throwing his beanie back on and immediately reverting back to his usual bravado. “Fancy seeing you here!” Oogie’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “I know that look...” he said, jogging down the steps and striding across to them. “What are you up to?”

Storm tutted and folded his arms. “Our own father suspecting we’re up to no good!” “Shameful, really.” sighed Thorn, shaking his head. “First, he can’t tell us apart and now this?”

Oogie raised a skeptical eyebrow at the twins, placing his hands on his hips. “Shadow? You keepin’ ‘em outta trouble?” Shadow nodded firmly. “Y-Yeah, of course! We were j-just looking for...decorations!” Oogie tore his gaze away from the twins to look over at Shadow in confusion. “Decorations? For what?”

“For the Christmas Tree!” Icelyn chimed in, placing her hand on her hip. “See?” the twins chorused. “W-We wondered if J-Jack would have any?” tried Shadow, tilting his head. Oogie hopped between his feet. “Your Uncle Jack might have a couple things, but why don’t ya just get ‘em from Christmas Town?”

“We wanted more Halloween Towny decorations this year.” Thorn gave Storm a cold look out of the corner of his eye. “Y’know, like the way they decorate it in the town square here, rather than the way they do it in Christmas Town.” Oogie sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Okay, what’s really goin’ on here?”

“What do you me-?” “It’s okay, Storm…” sighed Icelyn, taking a step forward. She bit her lip and looked up at her father. “...it was my idea.” “What was your idea?” asked Oogie dejectedly, running his hand through his curls. “To ask about the first Christmas in Halloween Town.”

Oogie’s tired expression receded into one of shock, standing to the side to look at his daughter better. “You...what?” “Don’t be mad at her!” implored Thorn, jumping in front of him. “We helped, too!” “Yeah! We all got involved!” insisted Storm, sidestepping to stand beside his twin. “W-We just wanted to k-know why you d-don’t like Christmas.” Shadow sighed, looking at his feet.

Oogie paused, looking between his children with a stationary expression of shock parked on his face. The siblings all looked horrified, awaiting his next sentence with bated breath and hammering heartbeats. Oogie exhaled sharply through his nose.

“Meet me back at the Lair in five minutes,” he advised them. “You ain’t in trouble...I promise.” Thorn blinked. “Boogie promise or-?” “Boogie promise. Now, get goin’! I’ll be right with ya!” he encouraged, shooing them away from the square.