#i think i made her hair too long but it's fine

[heliosunny]

Hi! An idea I'd love to see - Fae!Phainon with a Reader that used to play with him where they were a child and visited the little village they grandma lived in. It's too bad they made a little promise to him long time ago without thinking through the consequences and now that they are back...

Yandere!Fae Phainon x Reader

You were only a child when you first met him, lost in the dense, whispering woods beyond your grandmother’s village. The elders always warned you about the Fae, about the creatures that watched from the shadows, their laughter mingling with the rustling leaves.

They said the Fae despised humans. That they could see through human nature, through the greed and the lies, and that no bond between mortal and fae could ever be genuine.

But you were young. You didn’t understand hatred. Not yet.

You found Phainon sitting in the roots of an old, gnarled tree, silver hair tangled and matted, his strange, sharp blue eyes narrowed in pain. Bruises marred his skin, dark against his pale complexion. His fine, delicate clothes were torn, though even in their ruined state, they were more elegant than anything you had ever seen.

It was clear that he was not human. He glared at you, his small hands curling into fists as you stepped closer.

“Go away!” His voice was sharp, like the cold bite of winter. “I don’t need your pity.”

You hesitated.

“I just want to help” you said.

Phainon bared his teeth at you, his pointed canines flashing in the dim light. “Help? Like a human could ever help me.”

Even at that young age, his hatred for humans ran deep. You should have listened. You should have left. But instead, you did something foolish. You took him back to your grandmother’s house.

It was not easy. He resisted at first, lashing out like a wounded animal, but he was too weak to fight you properly. The moment your grandmother saw him, her face paled, and she immediately started whispering old protection charms under her breath. But she did not turn him away.

“Fae or not, a child is a child” she murmured as she tended to his wounds.

Phainon never forgot that.

For days, he was silent. You would sit near him, chattering about the village, about the flowers that bloomed in spring, about how you wished you could fly like the birds. You never expected him to respond. Until one evening, when the fire crackled low, he finally spoke. “I hate humans” he whispered, staring into the flames. “They’re cruel. Selfish. Liars.” You were quiet for a moment. Then, you asked, “Do you hate me?” Phainon turned his head, and for the first time, he truly looked at you. “…I don’t know yet.”

Time passed, and Phainon became your only fae friend.

He showed you the hidden places in the woods where the fae danced under the moonlight. You brought him food from the village, and in return, he whispered the names of things humans had forgotten, the true names of the wind and the rivers, the secret paths that bent reality itself.

But the fae did not forget. Phainon was warned, again and again, that no good would come from caring for a human. And yet, he stayed.

When the time came for you to leave your grandmother’s village, you saw something you never expected in his eyes. Desperation.

“You’ll come back” he said.

You smiled. “Of course, I will. And when I do, we’ll be together. Forever.”

It was just a childhood promise. A silly thing. You meant it in the way children always do fleeting, thoughtless, without weight.

But words have power. And the fae never forget.

Years passed. The world changed. Fate pulled you back to that village, back to where Phainon waited, where your long-forgotten promise had never been forgotten at all.

Phainon had changed.

Once a wary, quiet fae, he had risen through the ranks, becoming one of the most revered among his kind. Where once his presence had been dismissed, now fae spoke of him in hushed admiration, their words laced with awe and devotion. He was no longer just Phainon, he was an elite, his power undeniable, his beauty otherworldly.

When you returned to your grandmother’s house, the air felt different. She was no longer there.

The fae had not forgotten you, nor had they forgiven. The moment you stepped into the village, whispers slithered through the wind, voices filled with contempt.

“The human has returned.”

“They dare come back after abandoning him?”

“Phainon will visit them. Let’s see if they still holds that promise.”

You barely had time to react before you felt it, an undeniable presence looming nearby. And then, from the shadows, he stepped forward.

Phainon stood before you, taller, sharper, his gaze piercing through you with unreadable intensity.

“You came back!” One evening, while wandering near the village, you stumbled upon a scene that made you pause. A beautiful fae woman, adorned in glistening silks and with eyes full of admiration, stood before Phainon, her voice carrying through the air.

“Phainon, you have become someone great. Would you consider taking me as your bonded one?”

A silence stretched between them before he replied, his tone cold and dismissive. “No.”

The fae woman's face twisted in disbelief. “Why? Is it because of the human?” Her gaze flickered in your direction before she turned on her heel and vanished into the night.

Later, you found Phainon sitting beneath the same ancient oak you used to share. Smirking, you teased “So, rejecting admirers now? You must be quite popular.”

He sighed, but the corner of his lips quirked slightly. “Their affections are meaningless.”

You nudged him playfully. “I dunno, she seemed quite taken with you.”

Phainon only looked at you, his gaze unreadable.

However, what you didn’t see was the seething anger lingering in the eyes of the rejected fae. She had seen the way Phainon looked at you, the way he reserved his softer moments for you alone. Her heart burned with jealousy, and she would not accept being cast aside so easily.

That night, something was slipped into your drink. A strange, shimmering liquid that clouded your vision and made your limbs feel weightless. Panic gripped you as the world spun, and before you could cry for help, only one name slipped from your lips.

“Phainon…”

He was there in an instant, catching you as you collapsed. His grip tightened as he caught the scent of foul magic laced within you.

“Who did this?” His voice was deathly quiet, but rage simmered beneath his words.

You barely managed to whisper “I... don't know.”

His expression turned lethal. Whoever dared to harm you would pay.

A flush spread across your cheeks, and your fingers instinctively gripped his cloak. "Phainon... I feel strange."

Realizing something was terribly wrong, he scooped you up effortlessly, carrying you inside your room as you buried your face against his chest, your breath ragged.

Laying you down on your bed, his fingers brushed your damp hair back, his gaze flickering with a mixture of worry and something deeper. "Focus on me." he whispered.

A strange, intoxicating need curled in your gut, making you shift restlessly. Your hand trailed up his arm, seeking warmth, grounding. He exhaled sharply, his resolve flickering. "Damn it" he muttered, reaching into his pouch with one hand while the other took out a dagger. He brought a bundle of crushed herbs to your lips. He used the dagger to cut his wrist, leaving blood flows upon your lips "Chew on this. Careful."

You obeyed, the bitterness jolting your senses. The fog clouding your mind slowly lifted, though your body still trembled with residual heat. Phainon's thumb brushed against your bottom lip as he ensured you swallowed the antidote, his eyes lingering on yours.

"Better?" His voice was quieter now, rough with restraint.

You nodded slowly, the frantic beating of your heart beginning to settle. "Phainon... thank you."

His fingers traced your cheek before he pulled away, visibly struggling with his emotions. "They won’t get away with this" he vowed. But the fae were relentless. The whispers started first, mocking murmurs whenever you walked through the village. "Pathetic human" one sneered. "Thinking you belong here just because Phainon protects you."

Another laughed cruelly. "He only pities you. Do you really think he’d ever choose a weak creature like you over his own kind?"

Shoves in the marketplace, stolen goods, malicious pranks that left bruises and cuts, each incident only added to the growing tension. When you confronted Phainon about it, he merely stared at you, his eyes unreadable. Then came the worst of it. You had been walking near the cliffs, taking in the salty air, when you felt an unnatural shove against your back. The world blurred as you teetered dangerously close to the edge. A voice whispered "Oops, did you slip?"

A shriek tore from your throat as you struggled to regain balance, the abyss below calling to you. Just as you began to fall, strong arms wrapped around you, yanking you back with inhuman speed. Phainon.

He turned to your attacker, his expression deathly cold. "You dare lay a hand on Y/n?" His voice was low, laced with a promise of suffering. The air crackled with an ominous energy, the fae responsible shrinking back in fear.

You clung to him. "Phainon, don't waste your energy on such matter."

But the damage was done. When you returned to the house, you made a firm decision. "I should leave" you said firmly. "If they keep coming after me, it’ll only put you at risk too."

"But... You promised me that we will be together forever." he whispered, brushing his fingers along your wrist, where your pulse trembled. "You said we'd never part. That no force in this world or the next could take you from me."

You didn't remember making such a promise. Forever? That word felt too large, too binding. Yet Phainon gazed at you with the certainty of someone who never forgot. His ethereal blue eyes shimmered in the dim light, holding you captive in their depths.

You tried to deny it, but a distant memory stirred, laughter echoing beneath the silver moon, hands clasped tight. Oh the naivety of youth. You hadn't thought it serious. But Phainon had.

"And now..." He raised your hand to his lips, pressing a kiss against your fingertips before turning your palm upward. A faint, sharp sting followed, his nail slicing just enough to draw a drop of crimson.

Your protest died on your lips when he did the same to himself, allowing a single droplet of his shimmering fae blood to meet yours. The moment they touched, the world shifted.

A searing warmth crawled through your veins, more intoxicating than fire, more binding than chains. Your breath hitched as unseen threads wove around your soul, pulling tight. You swayed, gripping Phainon's arm for balance, and he only smiled, his touch gentle, his eyes alight with triumph.

"It's done. I've been planning this for so long." He licked on your fresh wound, it healed almost immediately. His voice held no malice, only devotion "You are mine, as I am yours."

"Do you remember the night you drink my blood along with those herbs. I didn't expect them to act so careless. But lucky me, you didn't even doubt a thing. With this bond, you can never leave."

A chill ran through you, even as your senses sharpened. You could hear the whisper of leaves outside, feel the heartbeat of the forest in time with your own. You had changed.

The following days brought a drastic shift. Barriers of ancient magic wove around your grandmother’s house, binding you in an invisible cage. Phainon's voice carried over the wind "No matter what happens, you’re staying here. With me. Forever"

[saebyeokbliss]

ONCE MORE TO SEE YOU— PART XII.

synopsis: on a cold january day, you were worrying about the reason your girlfriend wasn’t texting back. when she finally does and asks to meet at your apartment, you’re met with heartbreak as she ends your relationship. no explanation. two years later, you run into her at a cafe with someone new. what are you to do?

warnings: violence, death, use of weapons, mild language

pairing: sae-byeok x fem!reader

The address from the photo led Sae-byeok to a run-down warehouse on the outskirts of the city, a place she knew all too well. It was where Deok-su and his gang used to operate when she was still part of their crew. The building hadn’t changed much—graffiti plastered the rusted metal walls, and the faint smell of oil and mildew lingered in the air. Memories she’d buried long ago clawed their way to the surface as she approached, but she shoved them down.

This wasn’t about her past. This was about you.

The faint sound of laughter echoed from inside as she pushed the heavy door open, her footsteps echoing on the concrete floor. A dim, flickering light illuminated the space, and in the center of the room was Deok-su. He lounged in a chair, his legs spread wide, the same smug grin plastered across his face as always. Behind him, you were tied to another chair, your head slumped forward, your hair hiding your face. The sight of you—bruised, bloodied, and so still—made Sae-byeok’s chest tighten with rage.

“Well, well,” Deok-su drawled, spreading his arms as he stood. “If it isn’t Kang Sae-byeok. I was wondering when you’d show up.”

Sae-byeok’s jaw tightened, her eyes flicking briefly to you before settling back on him. “Let her go.”

Deok-su laughed, the sound low and grating. “Now, where’s the fun in that? You think you can just walk in here and start giving orders? You must’ve forgotten how things work around here.”

“I remember,” Sae-byeok said coldly, taking another step forward. “You want your money. That’s all this is about, right?”

He smirked, tilting his head as if considering her words. “You’ve always been sharp. That’s what I liked about you. Shame you turned out to be such a traitorous little bitch.”

Her hands curled into fists at her sides, but she forced herself to stay calm. “How much?”

“Ten million won,” he said without hesitation, his grin widening. “You remember that job you bailed on? That’s how much it cost me. And now, I’m just here to collect what’s mine.”

Sae-byeok’s expression didn’t waver, though her mind was racing. Ten million won. That was a massive sum, but she’d prepared for this. She’d brought everything she had, emptied every account she’d managed to scrape together, even if it left her with nothing.

She reached into her bag and pulled out a thick envelope, tossing it onto the ground in front of him. “Take it and let her go.”

Deok-su raised an eyebrow, stepping forward to pick up the envelope. He thumbed through the bills, his grin faltering slightly as he counted. “Huh. I didn’t think you’d actually do it,” he muttered, slipping the money into his jacket. “Guess you’re still good for something after all.”

“Now let her go,” Sae-byeok demanded, her voice low and sharp.

Deok-su waved a hand lazily, and one of the men standing nearby moved to untie you. You slumped forward when the ropes loosened, and Sae-byeok was at your side in an instant, catching you before you hit the ground.

“Hey,” she said softly, her hands shaking slightly as she cupped your face. “Are you okay?”

You blinked up at her, your eyes glassy and unfocused, but the relief on your face when you recognized her was unmistakable. “S-Sae…” you mumbled, your voice hoarse.

She nodded, gently brushing your hair out of your face. “I’ve got you. You’re safe now.”

But before she could help you to your feet, a low chuckle from Deok-su made her freeze.

“You think this is over?” he said, his voice dripping with amusement. “You think you can just walk out of here with her and everything’s fine?”

Sae-byeok turned to glare at him, her body tense. “I gave you what you wanted. We’re done.”

“Oh, no, Kang,” he said, shaking his head. “We’re far from done.”

The sound of footsteps echoed around the warehouse as more of Deok-su’s men emerged from the shadows, surrounding you and Sae-byeok. There were at least six of them, their faces twisted with malice as they closed in.

Sae-byeok stood slowly, positioning herself between you and the approaching men. She pulled her pocketknife from her jacket, the blade gleaming faintly in the dim light.

“You really want to do this?” she asked, her voice icy.

Deok-su smirked. “Oh, I’ve been waiting for this.”

The first man lunged at her, but Sae-byeok was faster. She sidestepped his attack, slashing his arm with the knife before shoving him to the ground. Another came at her from the side, but she spun, driving her elbow into his face with a sickening crack.

“Stay down,” she barked, her voice cold and commanding.

Behind her, you managed to free your hands from the loosened ropes, your body trembling as you scrambled to your feet. Another man rushed toward Sae-byeok, but you grabbed a nearby metal pipe and swung it with all your strength, hitting him in the side. He crumpled to the ground with a groan, and you stared at the pipe in your hands, your chest heaving.

“Nice hit,” Sae-byeok muttered, glancing back at you briefly before turning her attention to the remaining men.

The fight was chaotic and brutal. Sae-byeok moved like a predator, her movements precise and calculated as she took down one man after another. You held your own as best you could, using the pipe to fend off anyone who got too close.

Finally, only Deok-su was left.

Deok-su grinned, pulling out a knife of his own as he stepped forward. “You’ve got some fight in you,” he said. “I’ll give you that. But you’re not walking out of here alive.”

“We’ll see about that,” Sae-byeok said, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins.

He lunged at her, his movements fast and brutal, but she was faster. She dodged his attack, slashing at his side with her knife. He grunted in pain but didn’t stop, swinging his blade wildly as he tried to overpower her.

The fight was messy, both of them landing blows as they grappled and fought. Blood dripped from a cut on Sae-byeok’s arm, but she didn’t let it slow her down. She ducked under one of his swings, driving her knee into his stomach before shoving him back.

“You always thought you were better than us,” Deok-su snarled, clutching his side as he glared at her. “But you’re just as dirty as the rest of us.”

“No,” Sae-byeok said, her voice cold. “I’m better because I don’t need people like you.”

With that, she surged forward, her knife plunging into his chest. His eyes widened in shock, a choked gasp escaping his lips as he staggered back. She twisted the blade, her expression hard and unrelenting as she watched the life drain from his eyes.

He collapsed to the ground, his knife clattering beside him. For a moment, the warehouse was silent, the remaining gang members frozen in place as they stared at their fallen leader.

Then, one by one, they turned and ran, disappearing into the shadows.

Sae-byeok stood there for a moment, her chest heaving as she stared at Deok-su’s lifeless body. The weight of what she’d done settled over her, but instead of guilt, she felt… peace. Finally, he couldn’t hurt anyone else.

“Sae,” your voice broke through her thoughts, shaky and weak. She turned to see you leaning against the wall, the metal pipe still clutched in your hands.

She crossed the room in a few quick strides, pulling you into her arms. “It’s over,” she said softly, her voice steady despite the adrenaline still coursing through her veins. “You’re safe now.”

You nodded against her shoulder, your body trembling as the weight of everything crashed down on you. But for the first time in what felt like forever, you believed her.

The ride back to your apartment was quiet, the silence between you and Sae-byeok thick with unspoken words. She hadn’t let go of you since the warehouse—not when she helped you into the car, not when she wrapped her jacket around your trembling shoulders, and not when she guided you up the stairs to your apartment. Her grip was firm, steady, like she was afraid you might collapse or disappear if she let go.

When you reached your door, you fumbled with the keys, your hands still trembling from the ordeal. Sae-byeok took them from you gently, unlocking the door herself before pushing it open. She didn’t ask if she could come in; she just followed you inside, closing the door behind her.

“Sit down,” she said quietly, nodding toward the couch.

You hesitated, your body stiff with exhaustion and lingering fear, but the look in her eyes left no room for argument. You sat down, sinking into the cushions as she disappeared into the kitchen. A moment later, she returned with a damp cloth and a small first aid kit she must have found in one of your drawers.

“Let me see,” she said, kneeling in front of you and reaching for your arm.

You flinched slightly at her touch, the events of the night still fresh in your mind. But when you looked at her—at the way her brow furrowed in concentration, at the gentleness in her hands as she dabbed at the dried blood on your face—you let your guard down. You let her clean the cuts on your cheek and bandage the scrapes on your arms, her silence somehow more comforting than words ever could have been.

When she was done, she sat back on her heels, her eyes scanning your face as if to make sure she hadn’t missed anything. You stared at her for a long moment, the question that had been nagging at you since the warehouse finally spilling out.

“Why was Deok-su after you?” you asked, your voice quiet but firm.

Sae-byeok froze, her expression hardening slightly as she looked away. For a moment, you thought she wasn’t going to answer. But then she sighed, sitting back against the coffee table and running a hand through her hair.

“He wanted money,” she said finally, her voice low. “Ten million won. I owed him from… before.”

“Before what?” you pressed, leaning forward slightly. “Sae-byeok, what did you do?”

She hesitated, her jaw tightening as she stared at the floor. “When I first came to Korea, I fell in with the wrong people. Deok-su’s crew. They… helped me make ends meet. But it came with a price. I owed them for jobs I couldn’t finish, for money I couldn’t pay back. When I finally left, I thought I was free. But people like him—they don’t forget.”

Her words hung heavy in the air, and you felt a knot form in your stomach. “Is that why you left me?” you asked quietly, your voice trembling. “Because of him?”

“It was part of it,” she admitted, her eyes meeting yours for the first time. “But it wasn’t the whole reason.”

“Then what was the rest of it?” you demanded, your voice rising slightly despite yourself. “Why did you leave, Sae-byeok? Why didn’t you just tell me?”

She looked at you then, really looked at you, and for the first time, you saw a crack in the armor she always wore so carefully. Her eyes softened, her shoulders slumping slightly as if the weight of her secrets had finally become too much to bear.

“The games,” she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. “That’s where I met Ji-yeong and Gi-hun. I… I had to try. I needed the money for Cheol, to get him out of the orphanage, to get us to safety. But there was no guarantee I’d make it out alive. And if I didn’t… I didn’t want you to mourn me. I didn’t want you to carry that.”

You stared at her, your mind reeling. You’d heard whispers about the games—rumors of something underground, violent, and deadly—but you’d never imagined Sae-byeok could have been a part of something like that.

“And the money you gave me?” you asked, your voice shaking. “The money that saved my life—was that from the games too?”

She nodded slowly, her expression unreadable. “It was all I had left.”

A bitter laugh escaped your lips, and you shook your head, anger and disbelief bubbling to the surface. “You should have told me,” you said, your voice trembling with frustration. “You should have told me everything from the beginning, Sae-byeok. I could have helped you. We could have figured it out together. But instead, you just… left.”

“I couldn’t,” she said, her voice sharp and pained. “You don’t understand—”

“No, you’re right,” you interrupted, your voice rising. “I don’t understand. Because you never gave me the chance to.”

She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, you felt her grab your face and pull you toward her. Her lips crashed against yours in a kiss that was desperate, raw, and utterly consuming. It wasn’t gentle or tentative—it was the kind of kiss that carried everything she couldn’t say, every apology, every regret, every unspoken feeling she’d buried over the years.

For a moment, you were too stunned to react. But then you felt yourself melt into her, your hands gripping the front of her jacket as if you were afraid she might disappear again. The anger and frustration you’d felt just moments ago seemed to dissolve, replaced by something softer, something you’d thought you’d lost the day she walked out of your life.

When she finally pulled away, her forehead rested against yours, both of you breathing heavily. Her hands lingered on your face for a moment before she pulled back entirely, her expression unreadable once again.

“Sae-byeok—”

“I should go,” she said quietly, cutting you off. She stood, grabbing her jacket and heading for the door before you could stop her.

“Sae, wait—”

But she didn’t. She opened the door and stepped out into the hallway, closing it behind her without another word.

You sat there in stunned silence, your mind racing as you tried to process everything that had just happened. The kiss, her confession, the way she’d looked at you like she was breaking apart. And then the way she’d left, like she always did.

Like she didn’t know how to stay.

taglist: @monroesturnns@everly-summers-solace@holyshtimgay@knfthxv@delfinadolphin@madebysae@jetaimeeeee@m0rtifiedg0th@katieschry1@erika-mon2-blog@tcvazq

[requiemforthepoets]

the proposal ⟢ FA14

⟢ part four of this time, i’ll love you much better

𖤓 series masterlist ⟢ playlist ⟢ part five ☽

PAIRINGS: fernando alonso x ex-wife!reader

SUMMARY: the twins thought that they have all the time in the world to devise a plan on how they would get you and fernando back together. that is until fernando had told the news to jullianna, prompting to put their plan in motion.

REMINDERS: this is purely fiction, the way how the character is portrayed in my story does not reflect the person that is portraying my character in real life. always separate fiction from reality, and do not repost or copy my work in any way.

WARNINGS: no use of y/n, named character (except for reader), parent trap inspired fic + plot, google translated spanish and french, single dad!nando and single mom!reader (for the time being), evil fiancé, twin switching, inaccuracies with information, and minor typographical errors.

WORD COUNT: 5.1k

AUTHOR’S NOTE: part four of the series!! i have a lot of things going on, so that’s why it always takes a long time for me to update my series/post new parts to fics. as always, this series is open for taglist, so just comment or message me if you wanted to be tagged, and your comments/reblogs are highly appreciated, i hope you’ll enjoy this new part of the series! :)

The sunlight filtered through the curtains as Jullianna pulled her hair into a sleek ponytail, already dressed in a crisp white tennis outfit. She glanced at her reflection in the mirror, adjusting the collar of the polo shirt she wore. Jullianna’s focus, however, was more on the bubbling frustration in her chest. It was not just about the day ahead or the tennis session with Fernando—it was about everything Sofia had dropped into her lap without any warning.

As if on cue, Jullianna’s phone buzzed on the bedside table. She picked it up and saw Sofia’s caller ID flashed on the screen. Narrowing her eyes, she swiped to answer, voice immediately sharp.

“Well, it’s about damn time,” Jullianna began, tone clipped. “I’ve been waiting for you to call, and now you finally do.”

Sofia’s tone was light, almost too casual. “Why good morning to you too, Disney princess. How’s it going?”

“How’s it going? How’s it going?” Jullianna repeated incredulously. “Comment ça va? Vraiment? Tu es sérieusement en train de te moquer de moi?! Sofia, do you have any idea of what you’ve put me through?”

There was a pause on the other end. “What are you even talking about? You know how I can’t understand any of what you’re saying, right?”

“Oh don’t you play innocent with me,” Jullianna snapped. “Karting, Sofia. Karting! You didn’t even bother to tell me how to drive the freaking damn thing! I had to watch youtube videos just to figure out what I was supposed to do. Do you know how embarrassing that was?”

Sofia chuckled nervously. “Okay, okay, I’m sorry! I didn’t think it would be a big deal, papá would’ve helped you.”

“He did,” Jullianna admitted begrudgingly. “But that’s not the point! You could’ve warned me!”

“Fine, I’ll make it up to you,” Sofia said, tone placating. “But seriously, Jules, it’s only karting. You survived, right?”

“Barely,” Jullianna muttered, crossing her arms. “And you’re lucky I did, because I would’ve switched back and made you deal with the mess.”

The line went quiet for a moment, and then Sofia’s voice softened. “I’m sorry, Jules. I didn’t really mean to make things harder for you. I’ll give you all the details next time, okay?”

Jullianna exhaled, some of her frustration easing. “Fine. Alright. But that’s not all we need to talk about.”

“Oh?” Sofia sounded wary. “What now?”

“Stephanie.”

“Stepha-who now?”

“Exactly,” Jullianna said, dropping onto the edge of the bed. “She’s some woman papá had apparently been seeing, and she keeps on coming over to the house like she owns the place. I had to deal with her the other day, and let me tell you, she’s awful.”

Sofia’s voice hardened. “I haven’t heard of her before. When did this start?”

“Eh, probably while we're at camp,” Jullianna said bitterly. “Alejandra told me this woman had been coming around, and from what I’ve seen, she’s trouble. Fake, loud, annoying—you name it, she got it. The worst part? Papá seems completely oblivious to it.”

“Well that doesn’t sound good,” Sofia said. “Keep an eye on that woman. If she’s really as bad as you say, we’ll figure something out. But don’t let that woman get to you, okay? She’s not worth your energy.”

“Easier said than done,” Jullianna muttered.

The twins were so engrossed in their conversation that Jullianna barely registered Fernando calling out for her downstairs. “Sofia! ¡Vamos! It’s time to go!

Jullianna jumped up, glancing at the clock. “I’ve got to go, papá’s waiting for me. We’re going to play a few rounds of tennis.”

“Alrighty. Good luck, Sofia,” Sofia teased.

“Oh shut up.” Jullianna rolled her eyes.

“But seriously though, keep me updated about Stanley.”

“Fia, it’s Stephanie,” Jullianna replied, and Sofia just blew raspberries at her. “And will do. Talk to you later, ugly.”

“Hey! We look just th—” Jullianna ended the call before Sofia could even respond.

Jullianna stuffed her phone into the tennis bag and grabbed Sofia’s tennis racket from where it leaned against the wall, and headed downstairs. Fernando was waiting by the front door, dressed in an equally sporty outfit like Jullianna and holding his own tennis racket.

“Finally,” he said with a smile. “You ready?”

Jullianna nodded with a smile. “Ready.”

The sun was high overhead when Jullianna and Fernando stepped onto the private tennis court—air was warm but pleasant, with a light breeze that rustled the nearby trees. Jullianna adjusted the grip on the racket, movements fluid and confident. Playing tennis was her forté, and it was surely worlds away from the stress and confusion of karting or dealing with unwelcome houseguests like Stephanie.

Fernando took his place on the opposite side of the court, bouncing the tennis ball a couple of times before looking up at Jullianna with a grin. “You ready, chiquita?”

Jullianna smirked. “Yup!”

Fernando laughed, tossing the ball into the and served with precision. The ball zipped over the net, and Jullianna moved quickly, her racket connecting with a satisfying thwack! as she returned the shot.

The rally began, and for the first few minutes, the only sounds were the rhythmic hits of the ball against the racket, quick and hurried footsteps against the clay surface, and the occasional grunt of effort. Jullianna found herself smiling as she played, thoughts drifting briefly to when her and Sofia had shared a match back at camp walden. It was an intense match, filled with playful trash-talking and endless determination to outdo each other.

But then, Fernando broke the silence, tone casual yet curious. “So,” he began, returning a particularly fast shot, “what do you think of Stephanie?”

Jullianna hesitated, her focus briefly faltering before she sent the ball back over the net. “Stephanie?” she repeated, trying to buy herself some time.

“Yes, Stephanie,” Fernando said, voice light but persistent. “You’ve spent some time with her now. I just want to know what you think of her.”

Jullianna tightened her grip on the racket, her mind racing. She couldn’t very well tell him the truth—that she finds Stephanie insufferable, fake, and most certainly not the right woman for Fernando. Instead, she decided to tread carefully, masking her irritation with forced politeness.

“Well,” she began, returning another shot, “she’s…very put-together. Always dressed nicely, very stylish.” she paused, muttering just loudly enough for herself, not my style, though. Mamá’s much better.

Fernando chuckled, clearly amused by Jullianna’s side comment. “So, you think she’s stylish. That’s good to hear, and it seems like you two are getting along.”

“Mm-hmm,” Jullianna murmured, keeping her tone neutral. She didn’t elaborate further, focusing instead on the ball.

Just when Jullianna thought that the conversation about Stephanie is done, turns out that it’s not. Fernando wasn’t done. As the rally continued, his tone shifted slightly, becoming more serious.

“Sofia,” Fernando said, eyes following the ball as it sailed over the net, “I’ve been thinking about the future, and you know that I’m not getting any younger. Sooner or later I’m about to retire soon from Formula 1, and I want to know what you think about Stephanie joining the family.”

Jullianna froze for a split second, the racket nearly slipping from her hands. The words hung in the air, heavy and unmistakable. She knew exactly what he meant, but she decided to play dumb, her voice laced with forced confusion.

“Joining the family? What do you mean, papá? Are you planning to adopt her or something?” Jullianna said jokingly.

Fernando let out a hearty laugh, clearly amused by Jullianna’s sarcasm. “No, chiquita. Not adoption.” he hesitated for a moment before continuing, tone filled with quiet excitement. “What I mean is that I proposed to her.”

The words hit Jullianna like a freight train. For a brief moment, she stood frozen in place, staring at her father as if she had not heard him correctly. Then, as the reality of his statement sank in, something inside her snapped. Jullianna’s next hit was ferocious, with the ball rocketing past Fernando so fast that he barely had time to react. He turned to watch it bounce out of bounds, a look of surprise on his face.

“Wow,” Fernando said with a laugh, jogging to retrieve the ball. “That was quite the shot, eh?”

But Jullianna was not done. Her hits became more aggressive, each one more powerful than the last. She was not just playing tennis anymore, she was channeling all of her anger and frustration into every swing. Fernando was struggling to keep up, missing shot after shot as the intensity of the game escalated.

“Sofia, mi vida,” he called out, tone now tinged with concern. “What’s going on? Are you okay?”

Jullianna didn’t answer, her jaw clenched, and eyes burning with a mix of anger and betrayal. Finally, after one last blistering shot that Fernando couldn’t even attempt to return, she threw the racket with force—destroying it in the process and turned on her heel.

“Sofia!” Fernando called after her, voice filled with confusion as to why his daughter was acting up. “Where are you going?”

But Jullianna didn’t look back. She walked briskly off the court, chest heaving with unspoken words, and tears of frustration stinging her eyes. When Jullianna reached the front door of the house—still angry and frustrated, she grabbed the handle and turned it open, but in her haste and anger, she twisted it the wrong way. The door didn’t budge.

“¡Por favor!” she hissed, shaking the handle violently.

When it still refused to open, Jullianna growled in frustration, yanking the door with all her strength. Finally, it gave way, and she stumbled inside, muttering to herself. She glanced at the door handle, relieved to see it hadn’t broken. Once inside, she marched into the living room, pacing back and forth, her sneakers squeaking faintly against the floor.

“Comment peut-il penser que c’est une bonne idée?” she muttered, throwing her hands in the air. “Who even is she? Elle est insupportable!”

Jullianna’s rant alternated between languages—English, French, and Spanish, as her thoughts tumbled out uncontrollably. “He proposed? To her? ¡Dios mío, papá, estás loco!”

She stopped pacing momentarily, pressing her hands to her forehead. “This is not happening. This cannot be happening. I can’t handle this alone, I’m only one kid.”

Lost in her tirade, Alejandra peeks around the corner of the armchair she’s been sitting in with a cup of coffee in her hands. Alejandra initially assumed Sofia was in one of her usual moods, but the erratic pacing and the odd blend of languages caught Alejandra’s attention.

When Jullianna finally turned around, Alejandra cleared her throat gently. “¿Tienes algo que quieras compartir con la clase, mi chica?”

Jullianna froze mid-step, head snapping up—to which she immediately regretted because of the strain of her action. Her eyes widened in shock, the usually composed façade already slipping. Her heart was racing so fast, and quickly straightened her posture, smoothing her tennis skirt and forcing a smile.

“Alejandra! I didn’t see you there, you gave me a fright!” she said, tone overly bright.

Alejandra sat her coffee cup down at the side table, her eyes narrowing slightly as she stood up from the armchair and slowly approached Jullianna.

“You didn’t see me? Gave you a fright? I’ve been sitting here the whole time, chica. You were so lost in your own thoughts, or rather, in frustration, that you didn’t notice.” Alejandra folded her arms, studying Jullianna closely. “¿Qué está pasando? En serio.”

“Nothing, I swear!” Jullianna replied too quickly, smile tightening. “Just…a lot on my mind lately.”

Alejandra tilted her head, gaze sharpening. “¿Seguro que no hay nada de lo que quieras hablarme?” she asked for the second time. “You’ve been acting strange, mi niña.”

“Strange?” Jullianna echoed nervously, the forced smile on her face faltering. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Alejandra took a step closer, expression skeptical. “Sí, extraño. For one, you’re acting too proper—using expressions like you gave me a fright, the way you eat—you barely touch your food now, and even the way you speak sometimes, it’s different. I didn’t even know you speak French.”

Jullianna opened her mouth to respond but found herself at a loss for words. She tried to come up with some silly excuse, anything to divert Alejandra’s growing suspicion, but her mind went completely blank.

“Alejandra,” she trailed off, “I changed a lot over the summer, that’s all.”

Alejandra’s gaze softened, though her tone remained firm. “Si no lo supiera, diría que es casi como si estuvieras…” she paused for a little bit, “Ay dios mío, no importa, eso es demasiado imposible.”

Jullianna hesitated, the weight of the secret she had been carrying threatening to crush her. “Almost as if I were who, Alejandra?”

“Nadie, nadie. Chica tonta, olvida que lo mencioné.” Alejandra chuckled. “Why don’t I make your favorite food, huh? I think that tennis session with your papá had made you hungry.”

Finally, Jullianna sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat. She couldn’t take it any longer, so she’ll take the chance now. “¿Casi como si fuera Jullianna?”

Alejandra’s eyes widened. “What?” her breath hitched. “You know about Jullianna?”

“I am Jullianna.” Jullianna breathed out.

For a moment, silence hung heavy between them. Alejandra stared at her, mouth opening and closing as she’s trying to process what was happening. Then, tears welled up in Alejandra’s eyes.

“¿De verdad eres Jullianna?” Alejandra asked, voice trembling.

Jullianna nodded, her own eyes glistening. “Yes, it’s me.��

Alejandra’s hands flew to her mouth as a sob escaped her. “¡Mi niña!” she cried, rushing forward to embrace Jullianna.

The hug was tight, almost crushing, but Jullianna didn’t mind. She wrapped her arms around Alejandra, feeling an unexpected wave of comfort.

“No puedo creerlo!” Alejandra said through her tears. “The last time I saw and held you, you were just a baby—barely a year old. You and your mother left for France after the divorce. I thought that I would never see you again.”

Jullianna blinked back tears. “I’ve missed you too, Alejandra.”

Alejandra pulled back slightly, cupping Jullianna’s face in her hands. “¡Oh, mírate!” she said, voice filled with awe. “All grown up, but still the same little girl that I used to hold in my arms. But why are you here in Spain? Where is Sofí?”

Jullianna hesitated, unsure how much to more of her and Sofia’s plan she could reveal. “It’s…complicated,” she said finally.

Alejandra nodded, sensing that Jullianna wasn’t ready to share everything just yet. “Alright,” she said gently. “But you have to be careful, mi niña. If your papá finds out—”

“I know,” Jullianna interrupted, voice firm. “That’s why I need you to keep this between us. Please, Alejandra.”

“Of course,” Alejandra nodded. “Haría cualquier cosa por ti.”

Fernando stepped inside of the house, chest heaving as he called out, “Sofia! ¿Dónde estás?” his voice echoed through the house with urgency.

The sounds of Fernando’s footsteps grew louder as he entered the living room, and Jullianna stiffened, her arms instinctively crossing over her chest. Alejandra had sensed the tension, so she placed a comforting hand on Jullianna’s shoulder.

“Está bien,” Alejandra whispered gently. “I’ll leave you two to talk, I’ll be at the kitchen and prepare you some snacks.”

Jullianna nodded, watching as Alejandra quietly exited the living room and headed towards the kitchen. She barely had a moment to collect her thoughts before Fernando appeared in the doorway of the living room, looking left and right for Jullianna. When he saw her, he paused, hands on his hips, exhaling deeply as though trying to steady himself.

“Sofí,” he said softly, tone coaxing. “Come, sit with me, princesa.” Fernando gestured to the couch.

She hesitated but eventually walked over and perched on the edge of the couch, arms crossed defensively over her chest. Jullianna’s gaze stayed fixed on the floor, refusing to meet her father’s eyes.

Fernando sat beside her, leaving a careful distance between them. “Why did you run off like that mi vida?” he asked, voice gentler now.

Jullianna did not respond, jaw tightening.

“Sofía,” Fernando pressed, leaning forward slightly. “I proposed to Stephanie the other night. It was a very special moment for us—”

“Stop. I’m gonna stop you right there,” Jullianna cut in sharply, standing abruptly. The words struck a huge nerve within her, and she could not hold back any longer. “Just stop, papá, please.”

Fernando blinked, surprised by her sudden outburst. “¿Qué te pasa? Why are you acting like this?”

Jullianna turned to face Fernando, eyes blazing with nothing but anger. “Because it is outrageous!” she snapped, throwing her hands in the air. “You’re marrying her? That woman? Marrying Stephanie?”

He frowned. “And what is so outrageous about that?”

“Oh my god, papá! That woman’s practically young enough to be my sister!” Jullianna shot back, pacing back and forth as her emotions spilled over. “Do you not see how absurd this is? All of it!”

“I never knew you would be reacting like this,” Fernando stood, hands raised in a placating gesture. “Sofía, calm down, por favor. There’s no need to—”

“Je suis calme!” Jullianna shouted like a maniac, clearly not calm at all. She began to switch to French again without even realizing it, her words tumbling out in a torrent. “Comment peux-tu faire ça? As-tu même pensé à ce que cela signifierait pour nous? C’est insensé! Je ne peux pas croire que tu ferais ça. Elle n’est pas la bonne pour toi, papa. Pas du tout!”

Fernando furrowed his eyebrows, stepping in closer towards Jullianna. “What…French? Desde cuándo hablas francés?”

Jullianna stopped pacing, momentarily caught off guard. “I-I um, uh, learned it at camp,” she said quickly, brushing past the question. “But that’s not the point!”

She faced Fernando. Taking a deep breath, she began, voice softening slightly. “I’m sorry for my outburst,” she said, brushing her hair back from her face. “But we need to talk about this rationally.”

Fernando nodded, motioning for her to sit again, but Jullianna preferred standing. “Alright, alright,” he said. “Let’s talk. But in a language we can both understand, por favor mi vida.”

He sighed, patience already visibly thinning. “Sofía, I don’t understand why this is upsetting you so much. Stephanie has been kind to you, hasn’t she? She’s made every effort to—”

“Kind?” Jullianna scoffed, cutting him off. “That’s not the issue, papá. This isn’t about her being nice, this is about you thinking you can just bring someone into our lives and marry them without even considering how it affects everything!”

Feenando’s brows furrowed deeply. “I have considered it. Stephanie is someone I care about, and I thought you would—”

“Well you thought wrong!” Jullianna interrupted, voice rising again. She felt the heat of tears threatening to spill but blinked them back furiously. “You can’t do this, papa. You can’t marry her—or anyone else! It will ruin everything!”

He opened his mouth to respond, but before Fernando could even say a word, Jullianna already turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, her tennis shoes squeaking against the floor.

“Sofía!” Fernando called after her, voice tinged with frustration and confusion. But she didn’t stop despite how many times Fernando called out for her.

Jullianna slumped into the St. Anthony’s face-to-face swing, letting her head fall back against the smooth wood. She exhaled sharply, crossing her arms over her chest, still reeling from what she had just learned. Fernando had proposed to Stephanie. Proposed. The word itself made her stomach churn.

This was worse than she and Sofia had imagined. They had time, or so they thought. But now, with a ring on Stephanie’s finger, the entire course of action had been changed—everything was moving too fast. Jullianna and Sofia had to quickly put their plan into motion if they even want to stop this wedding from happening, they need to act now. But there was only one viable solution: they had to get you and Fernando back together.

Jullianna was deep in thought, brainstorming ways to subtly, but not-so-subtly, bring you to Spain or maybe one of his races so that she and Sofia can just push you both back towards each other, when a sudden knock against the wooden frame of the swing had startled Jullianna. Her head snapped up, and saw Stephanie.

“Mind if I join you?” Stephanie asked, voice light and airy, as if she had just wandered into the garden without a care in the world.

Before Jullianna could even answer, Stephanie lowered herself onto the vacant seat of the swing, facing her directly. Jullianna barely stopped herself from grimacing, just looking at Stephanie made her want to barf.

Stephanie clasped her hands together, tilting her head slightly. “I can imagine how surprised you must have been by the engagement news.”

Jullianna forced a tight-lipped smile, words laced with passive aggression. “Oh, shock doesn’t even begin to cover it, honestly.”

Stephanie just chuckled, completely oblivious to the sharp edge in Jullianna’s tone. She relaxed herself on the seat, movements elegant and poised, as if this were just another casual afternoon chat. Forcing herself not to groan, Jullianna braced herself for whatever nonsense Stephanie was about to spew.

“You know,” Stephanie began, leaning slightly forward, “eleven is such a very wonderful age.”

Jullianna arched an eyebrow. What in the actual world does that have to do with any of this?

Stephanie smiled wistfully, as if she was reminiscing about something so precious. “When I was eleven, I had my first beau.” She let out a soft laugh, eyes sparkling with nostalgia.

“It was the first time I really started to feel like a woman.” she sighed dramatically. “That’s when I realized love was this fantastic, exhilarating mystery, one that takes a man and a woman on the most magical journey.”

Jullianna’s hand was tightly gripping the armrest of the swing, jaw now clenched, and resisting the great force of rolling her eyes. Oh, for the love of all things holy. She kept her expression neutral, pretending to listen, but internally, Jullianna was already pulling her hair out and screaming.

Stephanie continued, completely unaware of Jullianna’s growing irritation. “And believe it or not, you’ll understand that feeling soon,” she said with a knowing smile.

Jullianna just stared at Stephanie, fingers curled slightly now against her arms. She was not sure what was more annoying—Stephanie’s patronizing tone, or the fact that she spoke as if she had somehow unlocked the secrets of the universe. She certainly did not want to sit there, listening to this woman yap on about love like she was some kind of modern day Aristotle.

Before Stephanie could continue her sickly sweet monologue about love and magical journeys, Jullianna lifted a hand slightly, cutting Stephanie off.

“You know, I don’t want to sound all jerky or anything, because, from what I can tell, you’re trying really hard to be all mushy and sentimental.” she tilted her head slightly, letting her eyes linger on Stephanie’s with something close to amusement. “And I think I finally got it.”

Stephanie blinked, caught slightly off guard. “Get what, exactly?”

Jullianna leaned forward slightly, lips curling into a knowing smile. “What my papá sees in you.” she continued, voice still laced with that same passive aggressiveness, but now there was something else woven into it—a challenge. “You’re a beautiful woman. Sexy, even, and my papá? Well, he’s only human, after all.”

Stephanie’s lips parted slightly, but no words came out just yet. Jullianna’s smile widened just a little, though her eyes were sharp.

“But if you ask me, marriage is supposed to be based on something more, don’t you agree?” Jullianna let the question hang in the air for a moment before her smile turned almost innocent. “Something more than just…fornication. If you don’t know what fornication is, it means sex.”

Stephanie’s entire expression shifted. Gone was the light, airy persona. Her posture stiffened just slightly, and the sweetness in her eyes dimmed, now replaced with something sharper, something calculated. Jullianna didn’t flinch though, in fact, she was thoroughly enjoying every bit of it.

She smiled, but it was a whole lot different now. “Oh boy, your papá really underestimates you, doesn’t he?”

Jullianna let out a small, breathy chuckle. “Oh?” she mused, cocking her head slightly, as if intrigued. “And you don’t?”

Stephanie studied her closely, lips still curved, but her eyes darkened. Jullianna could feel it now—she was starting to get on Stephanie’s nerves. It was a beautiful sight and symphony for Jullianna. Good. People always tend to overlook her, underestimated her. People would assume that she was just a kid who did not know any better. She liked it that way. Because nothing thrilled Jullianna more than a good challenge, and judging by the way Stephanie was staring her down, she had just found herself a new one.

She then let out a light laugh, though there was no real humor behind it. Stephanie tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing just a bit as she studied Jullianna with thinly veiled annoyance.

“So what if I’m young and beautiful?” Stephanie mused, voice airy but carrying an undertone of sharpness. “Last time I checked, being young and beautiful isn’t a crime.”

Jullianna simply raised an eyebrow, keeping her smirk firmly in place, which only seemed to annoy the hell out of Stephanie even more.

“And for the record, I know what fornication means, thank you very much. I love your father, I adore him. Your father is exactly the kind of man I’ve always envisioned myself marrying. This—” she gestured between herself and Jullianna as if making some kind of grand declaration, “is the real deal, honey. Nothing, and I say nothing, is going to come between us.”

Jullianna barely blinked at Stephanie’s words. She just leaned back against the wooden swing, one arm lazily draped over the armrest, completely unbothered, and yawning out of boredom to piss off Stephanie more.

While Stephanie, on the other hand, was growing impatient. She leaned forward slightly, gaze piercing as she said, “you need to understand something, sweetheart. This is the reality now, you have to accept the fact that you’re no longer the only girl in Fernando Alonso’s life. You need to get over it.”

That did it. Jullianna’s lips curled into an even bigger smirk, one that was almost too smug, too knowing. It made Stephanie’s fingers twitch slightly, as if she were resisting the urge to wipe the expression right off her face. She leaned in slightly as well, resting her elbows on her knees as she stared Stephanie down.

“Oh? That’s the reality, huh?” she drawled, voice dripping with amusement.

Jullianna continued, her smirk never wavering. “So, just to be clear that we’re on the same page here, papá’s money has nothing to do with any of this? No part of you thinks that marrying him just so happens to come with a very very comfortable lifestyle?”

Stephanie’s expressions had immediately tightened, but she quickly schooled her features back into something neutral. “Are you insinuating that I’m marrying your father for his money?” she asked, feigning offense, though her voice was just a little too even to be genuine.

Jullianna simply shrugged, the smirk on her face never fading. “I’m not insinuating anything, but if that’s what you think, then feel free to think of such things,” she said innocently, though her eyes were gleaming with mischief. “I’m just saying, I’ve seen this in a film before. I mean, come on, I’ve watched cinderella more times than I can count.”

Stephanie’s brows furrowed slightly, unsure of where this was going. Jullianna sighed dramatically and shook her head. “And if this whole shazam isn’t about money, then great! But personally? I’d rather not end up scrubbing the floors and befriending the neighborhood birds while you have breakfast in bed, smiling down at me from your throne in papá’s house.”

Her entire face stiffened at what Jullianna just said, lips pressing together tightly as the words settled between them. For the first time in their entire conversation, Stephanie had no response at all, and that? That brought nothing but pure, unadulterated joy.

However, Stephanie’s entire demeanor changed the moment Jullianna’s words sank in. Her perfectly poised expression faltered, just for a second, before her brows furrowed and her lips pressed into a thin, irritated line. It was the exact reaction that Jullianna had been hoping for. She had successfully gotten under Stephanie’s skin, and now? Now she was really starting to see the cracks in the woman her father wanted to marry.

Stephanie inhaled sharply, composing herself before leaning forward again, but this time, her face was mere inches from Jullianna’s. She locked eyes with her, the intensity of her gaze enough to make most people shrink under the pressure. But not Jullianna.

“You are unbelievably out of line, jovencita,” Stephanie said in a low voice, tone dripping with controlled frustration.

Jullianna simply blinked up at her, her smirk never faltering. Stephanie exhaled through her nose, clearly trying to keep herself from snapping. Then, with slow precision, she spoke, enunciating each word carefully.

“Listen to me, and you listen good,” she began, voice dangerously soft. “I’m marrying your father whether you like it or not. So if I were you, I’d quit playing whatever little game you think you’re playing and stay out of my way.”

Jullianna raised an eyebrow, tilting her head slightly as if contemplating Stephanie’s words, but said nothing. Stephanie leaned more closer, voice dropping even more lower.

“You are way in over your head, sweetheart,” she continued, tone carrying a hint of condescension. “So I suggest you don’t tangle yourself up in things you clearly don’t understand.”

There was a heavy pause. Stephanie studied Jullianna’s face, waiting for some kind of reaction, for her to look intimidated, or at least acknowledge the warning, and Stephanie took Jullianna’s silence as an agreement, she leaned back on the swing, arm draping over the armrest.

Instead, Jullianna just smiled. Not a polite smile, not a nervous smile. But a slow, teasing, infuriating smirk. Then, she shrugged, Stephanie’s eye twitching. Before the woman could say another word, Jullianna stood up, stretching slightly as if this whole conversation had been nothing more than a mild inconvenience for her. Without a warning, she bent down so that she was now the one at Stephanie’s eye level.

“Je comprends parfaitement, Cruella.” she said smoothly. Stephanie blinked, momentarily caught off guard.

Jullianna smiled again, that same mischievous, knowing grin that had been pushing all of Stephanie’s buttons. Then, because Jullianna was still eleven after all, and feeling particularly childish, she blew raspberries right in Stephanie’s face, wherein the woman recoiled, visibly appalled. Jullianna giggled, straightening up before giving her soon-to-be stepmother a playful wink.

“Au revoir, Stéphanie,” she said cheerfully.

Jullianna turned on her heel and walked away, leaving the woman completely dumbfounded.

taglist : @qghosty , @seonghwaexile , @linnygirl09 , @tallrock35 , @madnesstaking0ver , @akulici , @scopeiguess , @ferakillia , @exactlycoralfox , @iambored24601 , @mx13sworld , @tibadi , @chainsawangel

[onebadassunicorn]

Coffee and Cream

pairing: Azriel x Reader

content warnings: longing, regret, jealousy, some fluff

word count: 1.4K

Permanent Taglist: @motheroffae @tele86

********

The heavy oak doors of Rita’s creaked open, and the familiar pulse of music and laughter spilled out into the night. Azriel stepped inside, Cassian at his side, both of them still carrying the sharp edge of exhaustion from a week of relentless training. The bustling crowd seemed a world away from the battlefield, a refuge where stress melted into liquor and the sway of bodies under the low golden lights.

Cassian clapped Azriel on the shoulder, already scanning the room for trouble or, more likely, a pretty face.

"Come on, Shadowsinger. Let’s find you a drink before you brood yourself into the shadows."

Azriel managed a small, wry smile, though his eyes were already sweeping the room out of habit—taking in exits, gauging threats, noting the layout.

But then his gaze froze, and the air seemed to thin around him.

There you were.

It had been years since he’d seen you, though he had tried not to think of you in all that time.

And yet here you were, standing at the edge of the dance floor, laughing as another male twirled you beneath the soft glow of the lanterns. Your long black hair cascaded down your back in soft waves, shimmering like midnight silk under the golden lights. Your dark green eyes sparkled with mirth, framed by lashes that seemed to dance with every blink.

And your figure—curves in all the right places—moved effortlessly with the music, drawing every gaze in the room.

Including his.

And that dress—cobalt blue, one of his favorites on you—clung to your form in a way that made his chest tighten.

He remembered that dress, remembered how it looked when he had danced with you beneath the stars, and how it had pooled on the floor when he’d carefully undone the ties.

Azriel’s heart clenched painfully.

His shadows, ever his loyal companions, coiled tighter around him, as if sensing the storm building within.

He should look away, should turn his attention elsewhere, but he couldn’t.

He watched as the male’s hands settled lightly on your waist, guiding you closer. You laughed again, the sound cutting through the haze of music and chatter, and something sharp twisted in Azriel’s chest.

The faintest trace of your perfume reached him—soft, floral, and uniquely you.

It was the scent he’d memorized long ago, the one that haunted his dreams.

And now it was driving him mad.

All these memories of you together came rushing back.

Having dinner together, the way you’d always reached for his hand across the table without thinking.

Dancing on the balcony at 2 AM when neither of you could sleep, the city lights casting a silver glow over your faces.

Chasing each other in the rain, laughing so hard you could barely breathe.

And then, the most intimate memories—the way you had come undone beneath him, whispering his name like it was the only thing that mattered in the world.

"Az?" Cassian’s voice snapped him out of it, and Azriel turned his head sharply. Cassian followed his line of sight, his brow furrowing as he spotted you.

Recognition flickered in his eyes, followed by something wary as he glanced back at Azriel.

"You all right?" Cassian asked quietly, his usual teasing tone replaced with concern.

Azriel forced himself to nod, though his jaw was clenched tight enough to ache. "Fine."

Cassian didn’t buy it. "Fine? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost."

Azriel’s throat tightened, and he looked away, willing himself to breathe evenly. Cassian studied him for a moment longer, looked at you on the dance floor, then asked, "Why… why did you let her go?"

The question hit like a blow to the chest. Azriel’s shadows writhed around him, and for a moment, he couldn’t answer. Finally, he muttered, "I thought it was the right thing to do."

Cassian’s brows lifted. "The right thing?"

Azriel’s voice was low, almost too soft to hear over the music. "She deserved better."

Cassian snorted, though there was no humor in it. "Better? Az, you’re one of the best males I know. If you think anyone’s better than you for her, you’re a bigger idiot than I thought."

Azriel didn’t respond.

What could he say?

He’d believed it then, and part of him still did.

He’d thought he was sparing you a life overshadowed by his darkness, his scars.

But now, watching you with someone else, the bitterness of regret coated his tongue.

What if he’d been wrong?

What if he’d let go of the best thing he’d ever had, all because he hadn’t believed himself worthy of it?

Cassian gave him a nudge. "Go talk to her."

Azriel’s jaw tightened. "No."

"Why not?"

Because she looks happy, he thought.

Happier than she ever did with me.

He couldn’t bring himself to say it aloud. Instead, he shook his head. "It’s been years, Cass. She’s moved on. I’m not going to ruin that."

Cassian’s expression softened, but he didn’t push further. "Suit yourself. But don’t stand here and torture yourself all night. Either have a drink or… I don’t know, go brood in a corner like you usually do."

Azriel huffed a quiet laugh, though it lacked any real humor.

His eyes drifted back to you, just as you turned your head, your laughter faltering as your gaze swept the room.

Then, as if sensing something, your eyes locked on his.

For a moment, the world seemed to stop.

Your smile faded, your dark green eyes widening slightly as recognition flickered across your face. The male beside you noticed, leaning in to murmur something that made you laugh nervously, your attention shifting back to him.

But Azriel had seen the look in your eyes—that brief flicker of something unspoken, something unresolved.

It wasn’t much. But it was enough to make him wonder if maybe—just maybe—he hadn’t been the only one who’d never quite let go.

As you excused yourself from the male you were dancing with to head to the ladies' room, Azriel found himself moving towards you without conscious thought.

He didn't know what he was doing, only that he couldn't let you disappear from his sight again.

As you emerged from the ladies' room, you were surprised to see him waiting. Your brows lifted slightly as your lips parted.

"Azriel?" you asked, your voice softer than you intended. "What are you doing here?"

For a moment, he simply looked at you, the words caught in his throat. His shadows curled lazily at his back, restless, uncertain. Finally, he swallowed and spoke, his voice low and rough. "I— I just… I wanted to see how you were doing."

You studied him carefully, your expression unreadable. "I’m… I’m good. And you? How have you been?"

Azriel hesitated, his throat tightening.

The truth was, he hadn’t been the same since he let you go.

He had buried himself in duty, in training, in endless nights of exhaustion just to stop thinking about you.

And yet, here you were, standing before him, looking like every dream and every regret he had ever known.

"I’ve been… managing," he finally admitted, his gaze flickering over your face, searching for something he wasn’t sure he had the right to seek. "But seeing you again… it’s—different."

Your lips curved into a small, hesitant smile, something wistful lingering in your expression. "Yeah. It is."

He hesitated for a moment before saying, "Would you like to grab coffee tomorrow morning?"

You blinked, surprised, then a soft smile spread across your lips. "Sure. You know which cafe to find me."

Azriel's lips twitched into something softer, something almost hopeful. "If I get there first, I’ll grab us a table. And I’ll order your coffee for you."

You raised a brow, amused. "Oh? You remember how I take my coffee?"

His gaze darkened slightly, the intensity behind it nearly stealing your breath. "I’ve never forgotten. Black, with a little bit of cream. I remember everything about you."

Your breath caught for just a moment before you laughed, shaking your head. "I can’t believe we’re doing this. Why are we doing this?"

Azriel laughed, a genuine, hearty laugh and grinned, shadows curling lazily around his shoulders as he watched you. "I don’t know."

You shook your head again, still smiling as you moved to walk past him. You turned and glanced back.

"See you tomorrow morning, Shadowsinger." You murmured, disappearing back into the throng of people on the dance floor, leaving Azriel standing in the hallway, his heart lighter than it had felt in years.

[shadowybananabread]

Stay with Me (Kitty x Min Ho fic)

An imagined scenario during Joon Ho's summer tour

Tokyo, Japan

Minho sighed. “I should stop doing this,” he thought to himself. This was the second time on the tour that a girl he went out with asked if he’d be… open to something more than casually dating. It was all so predictable. He’d feel free and exhilarated with someone new, and then it would quickly fade away into dust once their emotions got involved. After being drained by someone like Stella, he wanted nothing more than to be selfish.

But selfishness never works out when there are two people.

He walked slowly, the gravel crunching under his shoes. Cicadas chirped in harmony with the peacefulness of the summer air, the humidity enveloping his entire being.

He stopped, arriving at his hotel.

Kitty was sitting on the front stoop, rocking back and forth, as she peered up at the night sky. Her long, curled hair and white dress blew gently with the wind. She hadn’t noticed Minho yet, and it made his heart swell. It was like some secret only he was privy too – seeing her when she was alone with just her thoughts was another kind of privilege. He wanted to know what that mind was thinking about.

As if on cue, she blinked and turned to meet his eyes. She smiled, jumping up to greet him.

“Back already?”

He chuckled. “Mm-hmm. What were you up to? Waiting for me?”

She rolled her eyes. “No. I went out to that teen vinyl bar across the street and had a drink. Was pretty cool.” She grinned. “It’s nice to be somewhere where I feel safe by myself. I had to listen to this one song they played on the walk back.”

Minho frowned. “Didn’t I tell you to call me on the way back? You shouldn’t be listening to music on any street in the world by yourself at night, regardless of where you are.”

“I was fine, come on. Clearly.” She spun around and laughed.

“How many drinks did you say you had?” he asked, amused. Of course, it wasn't like they could drink yet. But the humidity seemed to have the same effect as alcohol sometimes.

Kitty stepped closer to him, his breath hitching as she stared up into his eyes.

“Just one.” She tilted her head to the side, continuing to scan his face, peering into the windows of his heart that she tore open a year ago.

She spun around and started walking forward on the path they started taking every morning together after coffee.

“What are you doing?” he asked gently.

“Walking. Duh.”

Sure enough, she paced steadily, the streetlights illuminating her path. Her hands were behind her back as she looked up.

Minho walked behind her, a few feet behind, his hands in his pockets. Watching her and making sure she didn’t trip, the rollercoaster of the past year played like a film reel in his mind. She turned around and glared at him occasionally, and he knew why. But they weren’t ready to say that out loud. Not yet.

In all of his many missteps, Kitty never gave up on him. And ordinary nights like this, when it was just the two of them walking in the darkness together, were ones that would forever sear his mind, imprinting in his memory and blurring the line between dreams and reality.

Please stay with me.

[slippinninque]

😏Spat😤

Jatemme Manning x blackfemreader

In which you look for a get-back.

warnings: MINORS DNI, 18+, cursing, soft!dark!Jatemme, chaotic!reader, jealousy, light mentions of violence

When the last man you laid your eyes on ran away, it was then you decided another drink was in order.

All night you’ve been avoided. Men who took the chance of coming up to you quickly excused themselves once they got a good look at you.

The ones you approached were weather at first until they inevitably became spooked before hightailing it to the men’s room. There was only so much you could take and your ego was beginning to bruise.

Like, you get it but damn. Did they have to run like that?

You slunk back to the bar and ordered the stiffest cocktail on the menu.

The mirror back-wall of the spirits showed your pouty expression. All around you were smiles, dancing, and a good time for all. You were done up perfectly for the night, ready to be shown off around the club your man owned. A silky, mid length maroon dress with heels matching with the black flowers in your hair. It was a hit if any of the yearning looks caught from the corner of your eye were to go by.

Just not enough then? Again. Damn.

You were too busy checking the time on your phone to notice someone slipping into the seat next to yours, but you glared into the mirror once you felt a playful elbow to your arm.

“How are you doin’, beautiful?”

You snorted, looking away from the man who smelled as good as sin and looked even better under the low lighting. You turned further away, annoyed, when he used his shoulder this time to bump-bump-bump you some more to get your attention again.

“C’mon, you still mad at me?”

“Is a frog’s ass water tight?”

You heard him laugh. When he laughed a little bit too long, you went to hop off the stool with the rooftop on your mind. A hand shot out, it’s held on your wrist firm enough to keep you in your seat. Your eyes narrowed as you were pulled closer by the stool-leg.

“Can I help you, Jatemme?”

“I said I was sorry, baby.”

“Not as sorry as I want you to be.”

“I am, listen, I should have thought about how it made you feel. If it’s not cool with you, it ain’t cool.”

Seriously? Just because he tucked all the condescending away doesn't mean you couldn't feel it in his tone. You raised your half-glass towards an eavesdropping bartender and gestured for another, “Oh no, it’s fine! You already told me, she’s so-and-so’s little sister, right? So no problem.”

Jatemme smacked his lips, looking over his shoulder when there was a rise in the normal ruckus of the lounge. You turned and scanned the crowd yourself, looking for a flash of a familiar blue jumpsuit. The same one you spotted lingering around Jatemme after your disagreement.

Henry was a connection Jatemme dealt with from time to time when he came into town from Philly. Apparently Henry’s little sister was the type to come up to men to talk about how big of a crush she has on them and ask to wear their chain for the night.

“It’ll be my birthday tomorrow–you can’t tell me no!”

So, you were the one to tell her grown ass ‘No’. Jatemme apparently thought the whole exchange was funny and even went as far as to pretend that he was lifting his chain over his head. That's when you turned around to look for a ‘tat’ to go with his ‘tit’.

Though, after that terrible hour of trying to attract anyone willing to take a wee little risk… it didn’t help your attitude.

Jatemme’s nose ran teasingly along your earlobe and you jerked away, narrowing your eyes at him. Jatemme signed and leaned back, utterly unfazed.

“So, when will this be over with, hm?”

“Once I get my lick back.”

Jatemme snorted and slapped the bartop. The eavesdropping bartender wandered a bit further down,“I thought you saw–ain’t no 'lick back'. Streets are too scared of you, baby.”

“You think Henry would be here since his sister is?”

Jatemme's smile was all teeth,“You know what, I hope he is…” Oop. Sorry to you, Henry.

The drink finally came but Jatemme claimed the first few sips first before pushing the glass over to you fully,

“Oh, so you're grown now? I thought you only drank brown at home?”

“Well, I am in a mood….”

You locked gazes with a nice looking, tall man further down the bar who gave you an appreciative nod. You smiled back and it nearly worked. Then, you watched this man nearly swallow his tongue as he doubled back away from whatever expression Jatemme was making over your shoulder.

A heavy hand spanned across your back, warm and possessive as he whispered into your ear.

“You really think any nigga in here is gonna risk his life for that pretty little smile?”

“Risker niggas–that’s what I need! You’re right, I’ll try leaving the city to see who’s feeling adventurous enough to try and get me to smile.”

“I wish you would–

You turned and met his eyes, your faces only inches apart. Jatemme’s jaw was tight and boo-hoo you didn’t care. The effects of your drink was making you bolder but your mind was set. You finished the drink in your hand and moved on to the next one. It was a bit warm, but it would do just fine.

Jatemme dropped a kiss onto your shoulder and pressed the tip of his nose behind your ear, “I let you have your fun, didn’t I?”

You shivered. One of his knuckles traced down your spine, lightly and you turned to face him finally, “You did,” you confirmed, “But are you as frustrated as I was, yet?”

Jatemme asked back, “You think I’m not going to bury every single last one of them niggas that you went up to tonight?”

“That’d be a waste. You know I barely got more than two words out of them.”

“Mmn. All the same, it’d make me feel better. You must have thought they were cute or some shit…”

Yes. While it was absolutely true that Jatemme loved you and would never hurt you, he still absolutely would threaten you with the wellbeing of others. A nasty form of play that you’ve gotten used to, that sort of doesn’t bother you as much anymore.

A chuckle slipped out but you fixed your face.

Since he found time to sound playful about it, Jatemme was only warning you. Maybe. You never doubted Jatemme’s ability to deliver, either, so you weren't too sure how the odds were evening in his head.

Still, you felt like you were owed justice from the situation with Lil’ Miss.Birthday Girl.

Were you really ready to carry on? Was it even worth it anymore with suddenly more than just your ass on the line? Sighing as you poked your lip out a bit, you looked into the vanishing ice of your drink.

“You hurt my feelings.” You told him. Jatemme said something you didn’t catch, but you did lean into him when he pressed a kiss to your cheek. A little.

“I see that now. I won’t play like that again,” he promised, “I forgot how much of a handful you can be when you get jealous.”

You scoffed and was ready to turn away again, only for Jatemme to be quicker. He pinched your cheeks together and kissed you. Heat flared across your body at the treatment, knowing that it was a display for those watching just as much as it was for you.

Your traitorous heart finally getting what it wanted, Jatemme’s attention, you felt your mood begin to settle.

Jatemme was right, afterall. Even if you were serious about finding someone dumb enough to take your hand, they wouldn’t have made it to the parking lot by the end of the night. Were you done?

While you were thinking, Jatemme helped himself with a hearty sip to your drink, “I especially had my eyes on the one that touched your shoulder, he thought he was slick.”

“I don’t even know who you’re talking about.”

You knew exactly which man he was talking about. The man claimed that there was a fruit fly coming for you and he waved at your shoulder, if his fingertips brushed your skin–you wouldn’t tell Jatemme that.

He had a pretty smile and drugged his feet as his friends came to collect him from your web. That one lingered for a while, catching sight of at least one of your other targets fleeing from you. You wondered where he was now…

“Here’s what’s going to happen. We’re going to go back over to our booth, you’re going to finish your drink and get some food in you. I want to see you dance a little, show off that pretty dress for me. After that…we’re going to go back home and I’m going to fuck that little attitude into a bigger, better one. How’s that sound?”

It sounded like a great time, is what it sounded like. You asked yourself again, Were you done? Now that you’ve had him wrapped around you, bold women and skittish men were far from your mind.

“Sounds fine, I guess.” You made a show of sighing and getting onto your feet. Delightfully, you felt the room sway a bit. Jatemme was taking your hand and everything was so solid.

“Why do I put up with this, I wonder?” You bit your lip at the feel of Jatemme’s hand running along your behind, his tone fonder than the words it was used on.

“Hm, probably ‘cause you don’t want to wonder how someone else will put up with me.” You skipped ahead to get out of his reach and threw over your shoulder,

“You’re going to keep this up all night, aren’t you?”

You squeaked when a mean pinch came to your left cheek, you swatted at his hand behind you but it only went and gave your other cheek the same. The pinches kept coming and then your giggles began spilling over, Jatemme pulling you close with an arm around your shoulders to lead you back to where you belong.

--------

✨Ending notes✨: A little something for our Love 😘 I've been missing messing with Jatemme for a little bit lmao! Tell me what you think of this little spat, thank you so much for reading!!! 💕💖✨

💕taglist💕: @megamindsecretlair @thadelightfulone @mag1calenchantr3ss @cocoeffects @wide-nose-and-wonderful

@miyuhpapayuh@mogul93 @kindofaintrovert @blowmymbackout @kindofanenigma

@8ttached @thadelightfulone @hobiesmain @thickeeparker @longpause-awkwardsmile

@ms-angiealsina @educatorsareslutstoo @mysterychick93 @sageispunk @hunnishive

@notapradagurl7 @harmshake

[365emotionlessfaces]

@schemmentits sorry for the spam! we’re nearing the end of this one. even now i’m thinking of possibly doing a sequel 😅

The Aspiring Teachers Program

Part 9 WC:~1.1k

‘Oh, unh-unh. No way,’ Ava thought, as she watched Melissa and Barb turn on their heels and start heading for one of the rooms down the hall. She immediately followed them. When she walked through the door, the two women were talking in hushed tones about something clearly important.

“I thought I told y’all that if you had any tea, you had to loop me in. How am I supposed to be the most beautiful principal with all the knowledge if y’all aren’t gonna inform me of the knowledge? Come on, y’all, spill.”

Barb looked to the redhead, waiting for Melissa to make the first move.

“Alright!” Melissa threw her hands up after a few moments of Ava staring into her soul. “I went to the Aspiring Teachers Program a long time ago, when I was goin’ through my divorce. I had a whirlwind romance with a nineteen year old, and gave her my stuffed Ronny Jaworski eagle on the off-chance that she might find me again.”

“Well, that’s stupid,” Ava remarked.

“Thanks, Ava,” Melissa muttered out through clenched teeth.

“No, I mean you got that fine young thing out in the hall practically throwing herself at you, and you worried about some girl you haven’t seen in a million years? Girl, please.”

“That’s the thing, Ava, she is the girl from the Program.” Barb pointed out, before turning to Melissa. “And you told me that you just hated the girl’s name, but you hated it because it reminded you of your young girl from Chicago,” Barb said with a few soft chuckles. The glare she got from the redhead made her smile disappear instantly.

“Oh! Well, go get her then! What are you waiting for?” Ava grabbed Melissa’s arm in an attempt to pull her out the door, but Melissa shook out of the principal’s grasp.

“I can’t.”

“Why not? She’s literally right out there, and clearly she’s still into you if she’s carrying around that weird little eagle thing,” Ava said.

“What if when she realizes who I am she hates me for breakin’ her heart? Then, she never talks to me again?”

Just as Ava was about to tell Melissa how silly she was being, Janine poked her head into the door. “Everything okay?” She asked.

“Janine! Tell Melissa that your little friend out there has it bad for her, and all she needs to do is admit her feelings and we’ll all go back to our regularly scheduled lives. Well, except her. She gonna be gettin’ nasty!” Ava did a little dance for emphasis.

Janine pulled the rest of her little self into the room, and gave Melissa a questioning look. When Melissa wouldn’t look up at Janine, the young girl put the pieces together. She, too, had witnessed the moment Melissa saw Ronny.

“Oh! My God! You’re Em! Of course, you are! The eagle and the red hair, and the fiery attitude, it makes so much sense now! But she-” Janine looked at the door, clearly thinking about you “-doesn’t… oh my god, she has no idea! You gotta tell her, Melissa. It’s like a fairytale come true. Star-crossed lovers. Destiny!”

Melissa groaned loudly after the girl practically shouted the last word. This day was not going anything like how she expected, or wanted! Somehow, Melissa had managed to fall in love with the same girl twice. In her defense, she didn’t know that you were the same girl. It had been so long since she had seen Parent Trap’s face, she hadn’t been sure if she could have picked the girl out of a lineup, but now all she could notice was every similarity between you and the girl from years ago.

The three women just stared at Melissa, waiting for her to say or do something. “Alright!” The redhead huffed. “I’ll do it, but I’m not doin’ it tonight, not with all youse guys around being nosy.”

True to her word, Melissa didn’t confess her feelings that night, much to the dismay of her friends and colleagues. She couldn’t bear it. She just knew the moment you found out that she was the one from the Program all those years ago, that you would never talk to her again. She figured she could try and enjoy one last night of being able to see your beautiful smile and your eyes that shined brighter than some of these kids’ futures. One last night to hear your sweet voice.

Over the following week, Melissa could tell that you could sense the growing tension in the break room growing, but had no idea what was going on, and when you asked, Melissa was increasingly thankful that no one was willing to spill the beans. Janine, Ava, and Barb were all getting increasingly frustrated with Melissa, but none of them would tell you why, and when you asked Melissa about their looks, she panicked and she acted like she had no idea that the women were giving her stranger and stranger looks as the week went on.

It all came to a head on that Thursday. The following day would be a non-contact day. The students wouldn’t be at school, but all of the teachers would. Everyone knew that Melissa would be taking the day off, she hated non-contact days, so the three women who had confronted Melissa last week were ready to cause some chaos.

You were the last to arrive in the break room for lunch, much to Melissa’s dismay. Melissa had already warmed your food, like always, so you took your seat and began eating, choosing to listen to the conversations around you, rather than contribute, definitely being quieter than Melissa had grown used to. Jacob and Janine were talking about a movie they were planning on seeing over the weekend, and Mr. Johnson was telling Ava about this underground casino he’s running.

No one in the room noticed as Ava and Barb made eye-contact and enacted a plan they had been preparing for days. Barb turned to her friend and asked loudly what her plans for the weekend were.

“Yeah, Em, got any special plans?” Ava asked innocently. Janine whipped her head to look at the older women after hearing a nickname that no one used for Melissa. The redhead then watched as Janine had a conversation with you across the room, just through your eyes. Before anyone could say anything else, they all watched as you stood quickly, the force of your chair sliding back causing an awful noise, drawing the attention from anyone who hadn’t already given it, grabbed your plate of food and left the room without a word.

Not a single soul left in the break room knew what to do. They didn’t dare say another word because Melissa already looked like she was going to tear Ava limb from limb.

Barb wondered for a moment if she had actually crossed the line this time. She worried that Ava’s life may truly be in danger. That feeling was not quelled when the redhead stood and glared at them. “I’ll deal with you two later,” Melissa said before stomping out of the room to finally face the music.

Part Ten

[satoruswifeyyyy]

lover, you should've come over (r. zoro x fem! reader)

chapter one: how to disappear completely

official playlist

masterlist

synopsis: reader and zoro are dating but it's not the same as before- something has changed.

the thousand sunny rocked gently on the waves, the sound of the ocean filling the gaps where laughter and teasing once thrived. the once lively and electric energy between zoro and you had faded into something quieter, heavier.

you sat on the deck, absentmindedly flipping through a book she had read a dozen times. you weren't really reading—your (your eye colour) eyes flickered towards the moss-headed swordsman at the other end of the deck, sharpening his swords like always. he hadn't spoken to you all day.

again.

it wasn't like you both were fighting. no. you both still kissed, still shared the same bed, still sat beside each other during meals. but something was… off. your banter had dulled, your playful arguments had disappeared. it was like they were just… there. existing beside each other instead of with each other.

and you hated it.

you sighed and shut your book.

"okay, spill," nami’s voice interrupted your thoughts as she sat down beside you.

you blinked at the navigator. "spill what?"

"oh, don't give me that," nami scoffed, crossing her arms. "you and zoro look like two ghosts haunting this ship. even luffy noticed, and you know that means something."

you bit your lip, hesitating. "it's just…" you sighed. "i don't know. things don’t feel the same anymore. it’s like he doesn’t look at me the same way."

"you sure?" robin suddenly joined in the conversation. "because from what i've seen, he still looks at you like a lost puppy when you're not looking."

nami nodded to that and you let out a small laugh, but it was hollow. "i just… i don’t know if he loves me the same way he used to."

"talk to him," nami said. "before you drive yourself crazy."

you nodded, but deep down, fear rooted you in place.

on the other side of the ship, zoro was sharpening his swords, pretending he wasn’t listening.

he knew something was wrong. he felt it in the way you hesitated before holding his hand, in the way you avoided his eyes when you laughed.

have you gotten tired of him?

zoro clenched his jaw, his grip tightening on wado ichimonji. the thought made his chest ache.

"oi, marimo," sanji’s voice broke through his thoughts. "what’s with that stormy look? thinking too hard? that’s dangerous for someone like you."

zoro glared at him. "shut it, curly-brow."

sanji smirked but then studied zoro’s face. the cocky grin faltered slightly.

"you know," he said, lighting a cigarette, "if you’re this lost in thought, it’s probably about a certain (your hair colour) bookworm."

zoro stiffened.

sanji scoffed. "tch. Idiot. just talk to her before you screw it up."

zoro growled. "i don’t need your advice."

sanji shrugged. "fine. then keep moping around like a lovesick fool." he turned to walk away, then stopped. "just don’t take too long, marimo. you might regret it."

zoro clicked his tongue, annoyed, but the words stayed with him.

that night, zoro found you sitting at the bow of the ship, staring at the horizon. the moonlight made her your hair glow, but your (your eye colour) eyes looked duller than usual.

"y/n" zoro spoke first, voice gruff but hesitant.

you turned to him, surprised. "yeah?"

zoro took a deep breath, scratching the back of his head. "is there something wrong between us?"

her eyes widened slightly. you hadn't expected him to ask first.

your heart pounded. this was it. this was the moment you had been dreading.

"…yeah," you finally admitted, voice softer than usual. "i think there is."

silence.

you both stared at each other, the weight of your words sinking in.

a/n: i know i don't really write anything other than jjk but i couldn't stop myself from writing this mini series 😭 this is my first time writing something like this idk, this series will probably have less than even 10 chapters lmao :) hope you guys like it!!

[rebelliousstories]

Date Night

ValenFics

Relationship: Robert “Bob” Floyd x Reader

Fandom: Top Gun: Maverick

Request: No

Warnings: Fluff

Word Count: 823

Main Masterlist: Here

Top Gun: Maverick Masterlist: Here

Summary: Finally, coming home after a long day away, all Bob wants is the simple things in life.

Consider Donating: Here

“Goodnight, Phoenix. See you tomorrow.” The bespectacled man called to his front seater, waving vaguely behind him as he headed for the showers. He could hear her own farewell, but just barely. For now, he was focused on getting home to his lovely wife.

While the room temperature water rushed over him, all he could think about was going home. It had been a long, long day. Bob had been stuck in the cockpit of his jet with Phoenix for close to fifteen hours now. Sure they had breaks, but if they were not running drills, they were fixing it up. Tinkering away with the toggles or tightening up the engine. And then, they were back up in the air. Back and forth, back and forth the entire day.

Taking his ring off of his dog tags, Robert felt a wave of relief as he slipped it back onto its designated spot. He had contemplated getting a tattoo of her initial on his ring finger where the ring would sit, but doing the paperwork for a visible tattoo on his skin was a great deterrent.

Still, slinging his bag into the backseat of his truck, he was excited to finally be going home. The drive back was filled with the sounds of the radio. It was on some random vintage radio that played stuff from the 60’s and 70’s, but Bob was not paying too much attention. Not when he was just focused on getting home, eating whatever she made for dinner that he would have to reheat, and then slipping into bed next to her.

Drumming along to a mindless beat, Bob pulled into the driveway of his house just off base. But instead of seeing the lights off, they were on. It was already 8:45 at night. So why was she still up? Confused, he grabbed his duffle from the backseat and went to enter the home. The second he stepped in the door, Robert was blown away.

Instead of the lightbulbs overhead lighting up the space, the glow of dozens of candles illuminated the living room, the dining room, and down the hallway. However, he did not see his wife quite yet. Bob called her name out, only to hear a faint, “I’m here,” coming from their bedroom. His duffle bag was left by the front door, which he knew was going to get him a talking to later.

If he thought that the front of the house was stunning, that was nothing compared to the scene in the bedroom. A spotless bedroom, and candles everywhere. Smooth vintage jazz was coming from the bathroom. But still, no wife.

“Darling?” He called one more time, making sure he was in the right place.

“Bathroom, Bobby.” The pilot made his way through the door to see his wife smiling and giggling with excitement. More candles, to the point where Bob wondered where she was keeping all of these. There was a steaming hot bath drawn, low light and music; it was almost too much for him to take.

“What’s all this?” Bob asked, looking around the room but reaching his hands to grab her by the waist.

“Well, I figured you’d be tired by the time you came home from work. So, I thought I’d take care of you tonight instead.” Her hands came up and traced through the hairs at the back of his neck.

“Why? What brought this on?” Instead of getting upset that he did not remember, Mrs. Floyd just chuckled.

“It’s Valentine’s Day, silly. But-” Robert groaned. His head fell forward as he thought about it.

“I’m sorry, honey. I just… we’e been running drills and I totally forgot to get you your gift-” he rambled, but a kiss to his lips silenced him.

“It’s fine, Bobby. There’s a reason I said I’m taking care of you. I know what your schedule has been lately. So we’re going to take a bath, then I’m gonna feed you. And then, we’re going to bed.”

With a sigh of relief, Bob dropped his head to her chest. “That sounds lovely, honey.”

Before he knew it, Robert was inside the warmth of the water. His wife was behind him, massaging his shoulders and making him feel like he was in heaven. She massaged his scalp, scrubbing the shampoo in. He did not really know what the point was of double cleansing his scalp, or putting a deep conditioning mask on while she turned her attention back to his body, but there was no way in hell Bob was going to say anything to make her stop.

“Thank you. I’m sorry I forgot,” came his whisper, pressing a kiss to her wrist.

“Don’t need to thank me, Bobby,” she replied. A kiss was left on the back of his neck, right at the top near his spine. “You take care of me, and now I need to take care of you.”

“Goodnight, Phoenix. See you tomorrow.” The bespectacled man called to his front seater, waving vaguely behind him as he headed for the showers. He could hear her own farewell, but just barely. For now, he was focused on getting home to his lovely wife.

While the room temperature water rushed over him, all he could think about was going home. It had been a long, long day. Bob had been stuck in the cockpit of his jet with Phoenix for close to fifteen hours now. Sure they had breaks, but if they were not running drills, they were fixing it up. Tinkering away with the toggles or tightening up the engine. And then, they were back up in the air. Back and forth, back and forth the entire day.

Taking his ring off of his dog tags, Robert felt a wave of relief as he slipped it back onto its designated spot. He had contemplated getting a tattoo of her initial on his ring finger where the ring would sit, but doing the paperwork for a visible tattoo on his skin was a great deterrent.

Still, slinging his bag into the backseat of his truck, he was excited to finally be going home. The drive back was filled with the sounds of the radio. It was on some random vintage radio that played stuff from the 60’s and 70’s, but Bob was not paying too much attention. Not when he was just focused on getting home, eating whatever she made for dinner that he would have to reheat, and then slipping into bed next to her.

Drumming along to a mindless beat, Bob pulled into the driveway of his house just off base. But instead of seeing the lights off, they were on. It was already 8:45 at night. So why was she still up? Confused, he grabbed his duffle from the backseat and went to enter the home. The second he stepped in the door, Robert was blown away.

Instead of the lightbulbs overhead lighting up the space, the glow of dozens of candles illuminated the living room, the dining room, and down the hallway. However, he did not see his wife quite yet. Bob called her name out, only to hear a faint, “I’m here,” coming from their bedroom. His duffle bag was left by the front door, which he knew was going to get him a talking to later.

If he thought that the front of the house was stunning, that was nothing compared to the scene in the bedroom. A spotless bedroom, and candles everywhere. Smooth vintage jazz was coming from the bathroom. But still, no wife.

“Darling?” He called one more time, making sure he was in the right place.

“Bathroom, Bobby.” The pilot made his way through the door to see his wife smiling and giggling with excitement. More candles, to the point where Bob wondered where she was keeping all of these. There was a steaming hot bath drawn, low light and music; it was almost too much for him to take.

“What’s all this?” Bob asked, looking around the room but reaching his hands to grab her by the waist.

“Well, I figured you’d be tired by the time you came home from work. So, I thought I’d take care of you tonight instead.” Her hands came up and traced through the hairs at the back of his neck.

“Why? What brought this on?” Instead of getting upset that he did not remember, Mrs. Floyd just chuckled.

“It’s Valentine’s Day, silly. But-” Robert groaned. His head fell forward as he thought about it.

“I’m sorry, honey. I just… we’e been running drills and I totally forgot to get you your gift-” he rambled, but a kiss to his lips silenced him.

“It’s fine, Bobby. There’s a reason I said I’m taking care of you. I know what your schedule has been lately. So we’re going to take a bath, then I’m gonna feed you. And then, we’re going to bed.”

With a sigh of relief, Bob dropped his head to her chest. “That sounds lovely, honey.”

Before he knew it, Robert was inside the warmth of the water. His wife was behind him, massaging his shoulders and making him feel like he was in heaven. She massaged his scalp, scrubbing the shampoo in. He did not really know what the point was of double cleansing his scalp, or putting a deep conditioning mask on while she turned her attention back to his body, but there was no way in hell Bob was going to say anything to make her stop.

“Thank you. I’m sorry I forgot,” came his whisper, pressing a kiss to her wrist.

“Don’t need to thank me, Bobby,” she replied. A kiss was left on the back of his neck, right at the top near his spine. “You take care of me, and now I need to take care of you.”

[katharine1994-blog1]

Aaron Hotchner xBAUreader!

I Will Find You Part3

CW; adult themes, violence and sexual references and sexual violence

Its a late night in February, the sun sets early as you all set to greet the cold air to head home, the team had found out through Morgan and Penelope that it was actually your birthday today, Hotch had insisted on all of us going for dinner to celebrate, not wanting a big fuss you had protested, saying everyone must be tired after the case and it could be done another time, but they all pushed telling you how much they wanted to go, Emily took your arm linked with hers out the front door, marching you round the block until you realise your heading to your favourite Asian restaurant not far from the office, you hadn't realised anyone knew how much you loved this place, did someone pay that much attention to you? you think maybe Morgan had guessed seeing empty takeaway containers at your place when he's came over, when you arrive through the doors Hotch is at the front desk and enquired about a booking he had made, Hotch booked this place?

"when did this get planned? I know the waiting list is quite long for tables here?" you whisper to Emily

"Weeks ago Hotch sorted everything, didn't he ask where you would like to go?"

"no he didn't" you grim to yourself, so clearly he did notice things about you. Of course he knew when your birthday was, he does have your file, this place is so close maybe it was just out of coincidence, you chastise yourself for thinking he did it for any other reason

"I love this place, always wanted to try inside rather than always getting take out, but booking is a nightmare" you say smiling to Emily as you're all lead to your large round table as you arrive, Hotch pulls out a chair and tilts his head for you to take the seat, you do and swing round to thank him, as you begin taking off your coat you feel his hands slowly take it away and carefully hang it on the back of your chair before removing his own jacket

"I remember you saying the exact same thing a while back so I figured no better time then your birthday" he says with a smug grin taking the seat next to you

"Really? you remembered that? thank you" you look at him bashfully tucking a stray hair behind your ear, you stare for far too long at his kind face before clearing you throat and turning away

Hotch didn't always smile, never at work anyways, not like this, but when he did you felt as if the room was warmer and you were the centre of his attention, outside of work he was a calmer person, more at ease, you always felt he was warmest with you, but it was likely just because he's protective of you being the youngest of the team. Morgan took the seat on the other side after winning a fight with Emily who rolled her eyes and giggled as she sat next to him, lightly punching his arm, he made a dramatic fall against you and you laugh with them, everyone else settles into there seats with Rossi to Hotch's left signalling for a waitress

"I don't know about you guys but I need a drink and I think this birthday girl needs a cocktail" Rossi says shooting you a wink

"oh yes please, a Cosmo for me, in fact make it two" Penelope craned over to the waitress and immediately going back into her deep conversation with Reid

"ah I will join you with that, make that two more will you" Emily said a full smile across her face

"a scotch for me please, just one is fine" Hotch chuckled, turning to you "what would you like Y/N?" he reached his arm around the back of your chair and gazed at you sombrely, you felt your face redden as you smile coyly towards him, catching Morgan in the corner of your eye look at you knowingly, he knew about your stupid crush but had also said how he felt like Hotch might feel the same, you shook your head giggling

"I will have two of your Sake Mojitos please" you say confidently gesturing towards the drinks menu, your answer gains a cheer from your team with a few claps of excitement and teasing, everyone's drinks arrive as you are all deciding what to get for dinner, mouths practically watering with hunger

"before we get started" Hotch begins pulling a gift bag from under the table "happy birthday Y/N, this is from all of us, we are so happy you're apart of our team, lets raise a glass"

You blush and hold your hands to your face smiling so flustered by all the attention from everyone, you feel so overwhelmed as you watch them all wish you a happy birthday and drink to you, you pick up your glass and thank them, you turn to Hotch who hands you the gift bag

"you might want to save it till you're home, there's a few bits in here" you nod and store it next to you on the floor, your grin is beginning to hurt your face and you mouth to him "thank you so much", this is really the best birthday you've had in a while.

After the meal you all sit round the table with your empty desert plates laughing and chatting lowly, you cant remember the last time you felt so comfortable with a group of people, you smile towards them all looking at them one by one, listening to Reid going off on a factual tangent, JJ shoving him and rolling her eyes playfully as Morgan throws small pieces of ripped up napkin at him, Penelope grabbing them and hurling them back at him, Emily asking him why he knows this useless piece of information, as Rossi laughs and claps his hands, you turn and see Hotch has a smirk on his face, his cheeks lightly red from the warm room and scotch he's had, you've lost count of the cocktails you've drank as you rest your head on your hand as you lean against the table, you head feeling light and fuzzy, you still feel Hotch's arm rested on the back of your chair and you lean back fanning yourself with a napkin as you come over all warm blowing out making a your lips trill, you feel his fingers caress your shoulder playing with your hair, you stomach does flips and you try to seem unbothered by this contact but you feel heat pool in your stomach as you cross your legs, he leans closer to you slightly not being too loud

"are you feeling ok, you look a little flustered?"

at the question you turn your head to see his face, he's quite close to you, you can feel his warm breath on your neck, his eyes are almost sparkling, his soft expression is always hard to get used to out of the office, it almost takes your breath away feeling lost in his hazel eyes, you suddenly remember he asked you a question and clear your throat trying to focus, wow maybe you've had too much to drink

"yeah I'm good, I'm having the best night" you sigh and whisper "should probably head home though, otherwise my park run is going to be rough in the morning, I cant keep up with this bunch"

"you plan on making it out of bed tomorrow? you're braver than me" he chuckles as you feel him look you up subtly "how's about I take you home? believe me when I say these guys are just getting started" he arches a brow towards the others

"gosh really? yes that sounds like a good idea" you both laugh together and begin untucking your chairs

"ok guys birthday girl is wanting to make tracks, I will take her home, make sure gets there in one piece"

there's a chorus of boos and pleads to get you to stay, Morgan takes your hand and plants a kiss on your knuckles

"get home safely sweetness, I hope you've had the best night" his words are slow and almost sultry, he's so handsome and so knows it, you take his hand to your lips and plant a kiss on his knuckles, you both laugh

"good night handsome, and good night everyone thank you so much for this, its honestly been the best night I've had in a while" you smile to your friends as you rise, Hotch has beaten you and is already holding your coat out ready to put on, you chuckle softy and roll your eyes to the others, he leans down for your gift bag and begins ushering you towards the door, he then stops and puts his hand into his jacket pocket taking a black card out his wallet, and popping it on the table

"meals on me guys, Dave can I trust you to bring it back to me on Monday with the bill?" he raises his brow at the team almost like he knows what they are like once they get going

"of course, now get that young lady home, another round everyone, its on Hotch?!" Rossi smirks and waves you both off.

Your apartment block isn't far from the restaurant, you even often walked to the office rather than drive and Hotch only lives 10 blocks away, him taking you home wasn't unheard of, so it didn't shock you he was willing to leave with you, besides Morgan was having a great time you didn't want to force him to leave early as he had already offered to take you home when you were ready. The cold air hit your flushed cheeks and you took in a breath as you fastened your jacket, its a frosty night, you could see a few stars in the sky, or were they satellites? you stood for a moment looking up at the sky smiling, Hotch moved in front of you and mimicked your gaze upwards, he then looked down to your face, his eyes resting onto your lips, you caught his eyes in your own and you could've sworn he was- no he wouldn't want to kiss you, he hovers for a moment and you really wonder, will he? but instead he steps back and offers you his arm to link, you take it happily, your feet not 100% straight and you did not want to face plant to ground, not tonight

"come on star gazer, lets get you home, don't want to miss that run do we?"

you begin walking huddling into his arm to keep warm, you don't know whether its the drinks or the cold making you feel bold but you huddle even tighter to him, wrapping both arms around his resting your head on his strong arm, your a bit smaller so you head doesn't even reach the top of his shoulder, you make a deep sigh and he looks down to you, trying to read what little he can see of your face

"you doing okay down there?" he says smirking and taking your hands in his other hand while gripping your gift bag gently between his fingers as you wrap tighter around him

"hmm, yeah I- I've had the best time, the best night" you smile wistfully to yourself "tonight's been - so great, I honestly can't remember the last time I've been out with people like that, i don't think I ever have"

you moved to DC for your job with the BAU but even at home your old colleagues often didn't ask to go for drinks after work, you didn't like admitting it but you were a bit of a loner, it took time before you ever really let people in and by that point they would lose interest, you've had a few boyfriends since school but it never felt right, before they ever got too close you pushed them back, it felt safer after a while, those who did get close would either hurt you or get hurt so why risk change right? that's what you told yourself, until this team, until the BAU taught you that actually its good to have friends, until he showed you, you were worth getting to know. Hotch had always pushed you to give more of yourself away, even when at first you pushed right back, but he noticed something in you even you didn't see, even he didn't at first know what knowing you might mean.

"Well you better get used to it, the team loves you and we can't imagine you not being here" Hotch says gently, you wonder did he mean the team or just himself?

you stop suddenly wanting to say something feeling brave maybe even reckless, but as soon as he looks at you its as if all words have lost meaning, you cant figure out how to piece a sentence together, damn cocktails! he waits for you to speak keeping a tight hold of your hands still clinging to his arm, like he knows you're panicking and just need a second to gather your thoughts, he does know you well

"I wanted to thank you, you've always supported me and helped me, since I arrived, I- I felt as if I was a fish out of water here, being apart of the BAU was my dream and you helped me realise I do deserve to be here, you make me feel seen, the team is amazing and I love working with them, so thank you, for giving me that chance, Aaron, for seeing me"

you blurt out, not stopping for breath you begin panting slightly tears prick the corner of your eyes as the panic rises again in your chest and you feel even warmer than when you were in the restaurant, you should've just kept quiet, what is he going think of you, was saying his first name too much? He stands looking at you for a moment, his expression is so hard to read, like he's building up courage to speak himself.

"Y/N, I hope you realise, you belong in this team and you- you are very special to me, I cant imagine my life now without you in it" now its Hotch's turn to look flustered, you both look at each other, your breaths in sink when he steps closer to you, you cant help but close your eyes, he bends down to your ear, his words tickle at your ear

"its freezing I think we should finish this upstairs, if you want me to stay?" he whispers in your ear, your faces are so close your cheeks touch and he lingers there for a moment taking in a deep breath, you feel his cheek rise into a smile before pulling away from you to look into your eyes, you realise you've not took a breath since he spoke and you let you breath out slowly while looking through your lashes to him, you realise you're actually just outside your building and you grin to him "night cap?"

"I thought you'd never ask"

you both make your way to your apartment building heading for the 12th floor, you step into the elevator with your fingers tangled into Hotch's hand as he holds on to you tightly pulling you close, you're both alone in the box as it begins to move up, you watch the numbers 2,3,4,5,6, tapping your foot impatiently, Hotch chuckles and pulls you closer to him wrapping his arm around your waist, your gift bag bouncing off your hip, he pulls his other hand up to your face and brushes your hair behind your ear, you fall into his touch, he cups your chin in his palm and leans his forehead to yours as your noses touch you bring your hand to his hanging on to his wrist, you smell the whiskey on his breath and the sweet ice-cream from his desert, your desperate for his lips to be on yours but before you inch closer the door ping's open onto your floor, you both giggle and step out and head to your apartment door.

You riffle through your pocket for your keys and fumble with all the key rings trying to find your front door key, his begins boxing you in as you feel his tall frame right behind you resting his arm on the door frame, you hear him place the bag on the floor as he begins gently running his hand through your hair, you sigh and let out a small moan you hope he doesn't catch, you feel a deep rumble from his chest as he steps even closer to you, his hard body pushing against yours as his hand travels down your back and around your waist to the soft of your stomach pulling you even closer against him

"that's very distracting you know" you say confidently, still intently searching for your keys, you need to get him in there now!

suddenly your being spun around as he pushes you against the door, taking his arm from the frame and resting in behind your head so you don't bang your head, he slides his knee between your legs still holding onto your waist, you gasp

"what about this?" he says breathlessly as his lips collide with yours, this kiss is hungry, it takes you a moment to take in what's happening, as you drop your keys to the floor you bring your hands to his face and through his hair pushing back hard into the kiss, your mouth opening allowing both your tongues to explore. his free hand runs around your back and untucks your shirt, feeling is strong callused hand on your bare skin drives you crazy with heat pooling between your legs as another moan escapes your mouth wrapping your arms tighter around his neck, you feel his knee pushing higher as you feel him lifting you off your feet and pressing your whole body into his, at that moment you hear a noise, a click from down the corridor, as you turn to look you swear you see a small red light, he pulls away from you panting seeing your distracted face he places you back down and removes his knee still holding you tightly

"are you alright?" he asks with a concerned frown

"I thought I just saw... never mind, lets get inside, I don't want to disturb my neighbours" you whisper to him

He smirks and nods leaning down and picking up the bag and your keys, and handing them to you

"my apologies, I just couldn't wait anymore" he says licking his lips and readjusting his jacket, you blink in disbelief, is this the same Hotch?

You finally open your door, throwing your keys into a bowl on a small table by the door, switching on the lights and removing your coat, Hotch steps in closing the door behind him, surveying the area, its a small apartment with a living area and adjoining kitchen, down the hall is your room, the guest room and main bathroom, your kitchen is a box with a breakfast bar, he places your gift bag on the bar, your living room is well furnished with artwork, fun and playful ornaments on the walls and shelves with bold colours on the woodwork, with 2 large bookshelves filled with books all well organised, framing the TV, he takes his jacket off and heads over to the books, neatly folding his jacket in his arms

"this is a lovely place, and I have to say exactly what I expected"

"oh really, you been profiling what my home would look like?" you smirk walking over taking his jacket and hanging it up with your own, you head over the the breakfast bar which has a drinks trolley in front, you grab too glasses and a bottle of brandy, and begin kicking off your small cat heels and lounge of the couch, placing everything on the coffee table, you watch him study your books smiling, he looks so at home here.

"you're a reader, even at work, and even though your clothes are sometimes a muted colour I've often thought you're a lot bolder behind closed doors, less profiling more trying to figure you out"

"am I that hard to read?"

"yes and I think its how you like to be"

for a moment your feel almost bare, like he knows things about you most don't or don't care to, you push the uncomfortable feeling down, you want him to know you.

he turns seeing you seated and joins you, you face each other with his arm up resting on the back of the couch, he gently starts playing with your hair again looking into your eyes softly, he leans closer and kisses you again, this time its gentle, soft and slow, you bring your hand to his chest and rest your hand there pulling yourself closer to him, his other hand gently strokes down your arm before resting on your leg you've brought up onto the couch, he pulls away with a wistful sigh smiling

"this wasn't what I was expecting to happen, not tonight anyways, I had hoped... that what I felt, you felt too" he confessed rubbing his hair

"I didn't even think your liked me, not in this way anyways"

"really? I thought I was being obvious, I suppose I am very much out of practice, I do like you, very much, and I would-"

but suddenly you feel like something catches his eye, he shifts away from you, his brow begins to furrow, he starts turning away and clears his throat

"you've dreamt of the BAU, and working in this team, its what you've always wanted" he says very matter-a-fact

taken aback you sit straight with a puzzled look "yes"

"if you also want this" he says gesturing to you both "you have to realise you would be over looked for other promotions, opportunities within the FBI" he turns back to you "basically being with me, will effect your career, I know how driven you are, is this what you want? am I what you want?" his stern face has became unreadable, what's happened, what did he see? you look around you not seeing anything obvious, sitting up straighter

"where is this coming from, a second ago I thought... yes I want you"

"are you sure, there's no one else? you can tell me, you're young and beautiful, part of me didn't want to believe you had feelings for me, I am way older, I have Jack-"

"I love Jack you know that, please stop this, I do, I do really like you and I want to try this, if you do, do you?" you wait for him to answer, still confused as to where this self doubt seems to of come from

"who is sending you roses?" he says suddenly looking at the ground avoiding your eyes

stunned you slowly turn seeing the last roses sent in your living room bin, petals scattering the floor, you had forgotten to take them out with the last trash run, you clear your throat and try to calm yourself

"they are nothing, please forget about them, can we just-"

"you've been getting them for months, he - he must like you a lot, and I don't want to stand in the way of someone whose better suited to you than me" he begins to rise from the couch making his way to the door

you stand with him in shock still, how is this happening, how is this guy ruining everything right now, fuck, you need to think!

"please Aaron believe me, its no one, there is no one"

Just tell him!! you think, how to say, these flowers, letters he doesn't know about, you've been getting from a total stranger, you've never met, Morgan's been taking you home trying to figure out who it is and has no new ideas! he'll probably think you're crazy, or in love with yourself, come on just say something, he will understand right?

"is it Morgan? I know you two have gotten pretty close and I-"

"Derek? no, no its not him we are just friends, no wait please let me explain, there is someone but-"

"that's all I needed to know, I am sorry for pushing myself on you tonight, we've been drinking, this was- this cannot happen again, we need to- I can't ruin your career Y/N, over something you aren't sure of" he begins putting his jacket back on, his face beat red looking at the ground still

"Aaron please just let me explain this isn't-"

"this was a mistake!" he blurts out, looking at you finally, and you see it, in his eyes, the resolve, the embarrassment, his words cut you deep in your chest, you press your lips together, he needs to know you understand and you will be professional about this, you take a deep breath and bring you eyes back to his after a moment passes, show nothing, you cannot let him see

"you're right, please don't be sorry, you're right, we've been drinking, its late and- lets pretend this didn't happen" the words feel cold and final from your lips, but he needs this, he didn't want you, not really, everything in you body screams for you to grab him and hold him, but you can't, you cannot be that girl

"you should go"

you gesture to the door and take a step away from him, your legs feeling like led, his eyes are filled with pain but you know he agrees.

he turns to leave opening the door, without looking he steps out, slightly turning his head back to you still refusing to look you in the eye

"I hope he makes you happy, you deserve to be happy" his voice catches and he walks out slowly closing the door with a click.

you stand for a moment, wondering what the hell just happened, what kind of fever dream or nightmare did you just have play out on your birthday, you turn and look at the roses still in your bin wilting, was that really what set him off? you know he hadn't been too happy with the roses appearing at the office, was he jealous? or was he just looking for an excuse, he wanted you sure, but did he want more? maybe? maybe not? you slowly make your way to your bed room and curl up under the covers, not even changing out of your shirt and black trousers, you need sleep, you'll wake up and this will all be over, fuck doing that run in the morning.

Your head thrums as you lay on the ground, you see stars, you feel your legs being pulled dragging you along the ground, the gravel catching your skin, you try to move but nothing happens, then you're being lifted, you land on something hard and metal with a thud, your hear another thud like car doors slamming, you try to open your eyes, wincing with the pain another thud and an engine being turned on? you see red in your right eye, is that blood? you see small tv screens, CCTV? you feel the ground beneath you moving, is the ground moving? no its a van, you begin to hear voices, Hotch's voice in your ear

"R/N I will find you, please don't give up! sweetheart do you hear me?"

you begin to realise what's happened, he's got you, you go to look at the driver, your breathing becomes rapid, tears stream down your face, you try to concentrate on where you are, you need to help them know where he's taking you, your pushed close to the back of the drivers seat, when a gloved hand reaches down to you and pulls at your shirt, he taking your comms, your phone is pulled using the wires as he rips it from you, you cant move you feel yourself whimpering but you cant cry out, he lifts it to his ear, he's wearing a black hoodie you cant see his face

"I wouldn't count on it" you hear him say, as you watch him toss your comms and phone out the window

your heart drops in your chest, you begin panicking you breath coming out faster, when the gloved hand appears again holding a white piece of cloth, he places it over your mouth and nose, you smell ether as everything goes blank again, before you fall unconscious you think you should've ran after Hotch that night.

part 4 to follow

[sturniololuvz]

I was wondering if you could do one where the triplets little sister has pots or something similar and it's about them helping her when she passes out. she's about highschool age and maybe it happens when their out or when their doing something tg?

i hope i did okay with this ???? not my best work ☺️

“Keeping Up with You”

Sturniolos x sister reader

warnings: POTS, passing out , i think that’s it

The Sturniolo triplets had been meaning to make a grocery run for a while, and today was finally the day. Y/N, their 16-year-old sister, had come along, despite her usual reluctance when it came to outings that involved walking around for long periods. Having POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) made even something as simple as shopping a challenge, but she refused to let it stop her.

Chris pushed the cart, Nick scrolled through the shopping list on his phone, and Matt walked beside Y/N, keeping a careful eye on her.

“Alright,” Nick said, “we need eggs, bread, milk, and—Chris, put the Oreos back. They weren’t on the list.”

Chris frowned, looking between the package in his hand and Nick. “Yeah, and? Some things in life aren’t planned, Nick.”

Matt snorted while Y/N rolled her eyes. She wasn’t in the mood for their usual bickering—not because it annoyed her, but because she was already starting to feel off. Her legs felt weak, her head was light, and the familiar wave of dizziness was creeping in. She clenched her jaw, willing herself to push through it.

Chris glanced over at her. “Hey, you good?”

“I’m fine,” Y/N answered quickly, avoiding eye contact.

Nick gave her a look. “Are you sure? You look kinda—”

“I said I’m fine,” she snapped, crossing her arms.

Matt sighed, already sensing where this was going. “Y/N, we’re just asking because we care. No need to get snappy.”

“I wouldn’t be snappy if you guys didn’t treat me like a glass doll all the time,” she muttered, walking ahead.

Chris exchanged a glance with his brothers before hurrying to catch up. “It’s not about treating you like a doll. It’s about making sure you don’t end up on the floor in aisle five.”

Y/N groaned, frustration bubbling up inside her. “Can you guys just stop? I can handle myself!”

Matt held his hands up in surrender. “Okay, okay. But if you start feeling worse, tell us, alright?”

She didn’t answer, just kept walking. The fluorescent lights above her suddenly felt too bright, the air too thick. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears. She clenched the shopping cart handle as her vision blurred at the edges.

Chris was the first to notice. “Y/N—”

“I’m fine,” she muttered. But her body had other plans.

The last thing she registered was a wave of nausea and dizziness before everything went black.

Panic in Aisle Five

“Shit—Y/N!” Matt’s voice was the first thing she heard when she came to.

Her eyes fluttered open, and she realized she was on the floor, her head resting against Chris’s lap while Nick knelt beside her, his face pale with concern.

“You passed out,” Chris informed her, his voice laced with both worry and frustration. “Again.”

Y/N groaned, closing her eyes. “Great.”

Nick sighed, brushing her hair out of her face. “You good now? Need anything?”

“A different set of brothers,” she mumbled, making Matt huff out a laugh despite the tension.

Chris, however, was not amused. “This isn’t funny, Y/N. You literally just collapsed in the middle of the store, and you still wanna act like we’re the problem?”

Y/N sighed. “I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it.”

“Too late,” Matt muttered.

Nick shook his head. “You have to let us help you. Pretending you’re fine when you’re not isn’t strong, Y/N. It’s dangerous.”

Chris nodded. “Exactly. You don’t have to like that we check on you, but you do have to accept that we’re gonna keep doing it. No negotiation.”

Y/N bit her lip, glancing at each of them. As much as she hated being watched all the time, she couldn’t deny that they were right.

“…Fine,” she finally muttered.

Chris narrowed his eyes. “Fine, like, ‘I’ll actually take care of myself’ fine, or fine, like, ‘I’ll just say this so you’ll shut up’ fine?”

Y/N exhaled sharply. “Fine as in I’ll try, okay?”

Nick smiled softly. “That’s all we’re asking for.”

Matt clapped his hands together. “Alright, let’s get you home before Chris has an aneurysm.”

Chris shot him a glare, but instead of arguing, he simply helped Y/N sit up. “Think you can walk, or do we need to carry you out in the shopping cart?”

Y/N groaned. “Oh my God, never say that again.”

Nick grinned. “Noted. But if you pull this again, we’re definitely carrying you out princess-style.”

“Please don’t,” Y/N muttered, leaning on Matt as they helped her up.

With that, they abandoned their half-finished shopping trip, leaving the store together—because at the end of the day, no matter how much Y/N hated their hovering, the triplets weren’t going anywhere.

[k1mbe3rly]

Umm soo na yeon request ! 😓

Can you do a dom!fem!reader x sub!nayeon where shes acting bratty or picking on gyeongsu (again🙄) but the reader had enough bc gyeongsu is her brother so she punishes her or wtv??

Rough sex w/ strap , Rough fingering , eating her out????

HATE TO SAY IT BUT SHE'S KINDA FINEE

She’s all yours hunni

Quit that

warnings: smut, strap on, rough fingering, eating out

You hate to say but you were dating Nayeon, you did like and love her, and you weren’t embarrassed of her you just hated the way she acts and picks on Gyeong su.

Another day another watching her scream at Gyeong su, insulting eachother, sometimes when Gyeong su calls her a name she expects you to stand up for her which you dont, you just look at her and shrug

You were at your desk a bit frustrated and rubbing your forehead a bit, hearing the bickering between them both was so annoying and you were getting fed up

You couldn’t take it anymore as you stood up facing her “Nayeon thats enough.” You told her as she stared at you “Just leave him alone already why are you so obsessed huh?” you told her again

“What?! i’m not obsessed he’s just a piece of shit! he’s so annoying and he’s always talking!” she told you defending herself, “Ay! you little-!” gyeong su quickly speaking up

“And you aren’t? what makes you so special? he’s just the same as you” you told her harshly

She was stunned as she got silent for a moment, i guess she thinks that just because yall are dating you would take her side.

“Why are you defending him?!” she quickly blurted out “Why do you care so much! he’s just another welfie!” she yelled out, you glared at her as you grabbed her wrist pulling her away, you stormed out the classroom with her and into another room

You shoved her in as you grunt softly in shock, “I’m getting so tired of your attitude.” you told her quickly wrapping your hands around her neck not too tight

She looked at you almost as if she was enjoying it, “Do something about it than.”

You stared at her for a moment before slamming your lips on to hers, you quickly tangled your hands into her hair as she was quick to kiss you back, her hands going behind your neck

She let out soft moans into your mouth as your lips traveled down to her neck, you moved one of your hand to her skirt flipping it up, your hands quickly found her panties as you shoved them down, she gasped a bit as you rubbed her clit softly

Your lips quickly went back to her lips as you begin kissing again, she kissed you back quickly as you kept rubbing in her folds, you found her entrance as you shoved two fingers in without hesitation, she whined and moaned out her eyes squeezing shut as your fingers curled into her g spot

You continued making out with her as you fingered her at the same time, you pulled away and kneeled down, you quickly sucked onto her clit as your fingers slide in and out of her, she moaned out throwing her head back as she gripped onto a shelf, her hips bucked up a bit signaling she was on edge

You made out with her clit roughly as you kept curling inside of her, finally she came all over your fingers as you pulled out quickly with a loud pop, you got up shoving your fingers into her mouth making her suck on them and taste herself, “Strap?” she questioned as you nodded

You had your strap and quickly placed it on as you sat her on a counter, you spread her legs and lined it up against her hole, you looked at her for a moment and slowly shoved inside, she let out a low but long moan

She it was now fully in her you quickly started thrusting in and out of her, she moaned out faster as her hands felt to your back pulling you closer, her chin on your shoulder as you continued fucking her

She wrapped her legs around your waist slightly as you were deep in her, the strap hitting all the right places making her eyes roll back, her moans we’re a bit loud as you raised your hand quickly placing it over her mouth, she moaned into your hand as she gripped onto your back

You continued your movements as she moaned even louder into your hand, your other hand went down rubbing her clit aggressively as she threw her head back, your hand following along quickly to her mouth making her moans muffled “M’ gonna cum!!” she muffled into your hand loud enough to understand

Your thrust when faster, as her eyes begin stinging with tears of pleasure, you kept on rubbing her clit and finally she cummed all over the strap, dirtying it a bit, you slowed down and pulled out, you put your hand away from her mouth letting her catch her breath as you panted

You helped her cleaner up and thankfully let’s just say that was her last time ever disrespecting Gyeong su.

[alittlegiraffe]

Title: Whispers in the Studio

Chapter 6: The Quiet Before the Storm

The days after your quiet conversation felt both peaceful and uncertain. You and Marshall had agreed, without saying much, that you wouldn’t rush things. You would take it one step at a time, allowing your connection to unfold naturally. But sometimes, even the most well-intentioned decisions have a way of testing your resolve.

It was a Wednesday when everything changed.

The studio was once again quieter than during recording days, the usual chaos of mixing and brainstorming replaced by an eerie stillness. Marshall had been holed up in the sound booth for hours, working on a track that, from what you could gather, was hauntingly personal. You hadn’t heard him this quiet in a long time. Usually, he was immersed in his work, but today, he seemed distant, lost in a world only he understood.

You had long ago learned to respect his space, but as the hours ticked on, you couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. You stood in the doorway of the sound booth, watching him for a moment, unsure if you should approach.

“Marshall?” you called softly, not wanting to startle him.

His head snapped up, and for the briefest moment, there was a flicker of something—guilt, maybe?—in his eyes. He quickly masked it with a half-smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“Hey,” he said, his voice a little rough, but not unwelcoming. “You need something?”

You hesitated, stepping closer to the booth. “I was just wondering if you were okay. You’ve been in here for hours.”

Marshall’s gaze dropped back to the desk, his fingers idly tapping against the console. “I’m fine,” he said, but it didn’t sound convincing. “Just... working through some stuff.”

You frowned. You knew him better than that. You could feel the tension, the unease in the air. “What kind of ‘stuff’?”

He didn’t answer right away, the words seemingly stuck in his throat. Finally, he turned to you, running a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. “I’ve got a lot going on, Y/N/N. You wouldn’t understand.”

The words hit you harder than you expected. Marshall had never been the type to push you away, especially when it came to his struggles. But now, there was something in his tone that made you feel like you were being shut out.

“I do understand,” you said, your voice gentle but firm. “You’re not alone in this. You don’t have to carry it all by yourself.”

Marshall met your gaze, and for a moment, the walls between you seemed to crack, his vulnerability seeping through. But just as quickly as it had appeared, it was gone, replaced by that familiar mask of indifference.

“Not everything is for you to understand, Y/N” he muttered, his tone colder now. “Maybe it’s better if you don’t.”

The words hit like a slap, and you recoiled slightly, hurt flashing across your face. You had always been there for him, always understood his silence, his moods, his battles. You thought you knew him—knew the parts of him that no one else did. But in that moment, it felt like the distance between you had grown wider than ever.

“You think I’m not capable of understanding?” you asked quietly, trying to keep her voice steady. “You’ve never given me a reason to think that.”

Marshall’s eyes darkened, and he quickly stood from his chair, running a frustrated hand through his hair. He didn’t look at you, instead focusing on the equipment in front of him as if he could find an escape there. “I’m just... I don’t know, okay? I’m not in the mood for this. I’m trying to make this album work, and there’s just too much going on. I don’t have time for... whatever this is.”

You felt your chest tighten at his words. Whatever this is. You had spent years supporting him, making sure he was okay, making sure everything around him ran smoothly. And now, it felt like everything was falling apart.

“Is that really what you think?” you asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “That this is just... nothing?”

Marshall froze at your words, his back to you now. He could feel the weight of your disappointment even without looking at you. But it didn’t matter. He was afraid. Afraid that if he let you in completely, he would lose himself—lose the one part of his life that had always been his own.

“I don’t know what I think anymore, Y/N,” he admitted, his voice thick with frustration. “I don’t know if I can keep doing this. Whatever this is. You feel it too; you don't even want to put a name to it.”

The silence between them felt suffocating. Your heart ached, and for a moment, you thought you might cry, but you refused to break in front of him. You couldn’t. You had to be strong—if not for yourself, then for him.

“I know what I feel, and that is something. Maybe you need to figure out what it is you feel,” you said softly, your voice steady despite the knot forming in her throat. “But I can’t be part of something that doesn’t exist, Marshall. I can’t keep waiting around for you to decide if you want me in your life or not. Wanting things to be slow doesn't mean I'm not all in, but I can't be all in and have you looking for your out.”

It was the hardest thing you’d ever said. But it was true. You couldn’t keep sacrificing pieces of yourself to a relationship that he wasn’t ready to fully invest in. Your own heart having seal itself in the moment his wavered.

You turned to leave, but as your hand touched the doorframe, Marshall’s voice stopped her.

“Wait.”

You turned back, meeting his gaze. The look on his face was different now. The mask was gone, replaced by something that looked almost... vulnerable.

“I don’t want to lose you, Y/N/N,” he said quietly, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m just... scared.”

The words hung in the air between them, heavy and raw. You swallowed hard, the pain in Your chest not quite dissipating. But you understood. He had been running from this, running from his feelings, from the fear of losing everything he had built. But in doing so, he had been pushing away the one person who had always been there for him.

“I’m not going anywhere,” you whispered, stepping back toward him. “But I need to know that you want this too. That you want me.”

Marshall looked at you, his eyes searching hers for a sign that you weren’t just saying the words to make him feel better. That you weren’t going to walk away, not now. Not after everything.

“I do,” he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I just... I don’t know how to make it work. I don’t know how to let you in.”

You took a step closer, closing the distance between the two of you. You reached out, your hand gently brushing his arm. “One step at a time, Marshall. We’ll figure it out together. But you have to let me in.”

For a long moment, you stood there, the silence between you heavy with unspoken truths. But there was a shift in the air—something that suggested you had finally found a way to meet each other halfway. You were no longer two separate pieces; you were starting to fit together.

And when Marshall's hands cupped your face, as he brought you in for a gentle kiss, you knew not only did he believe you but you believed him too.

[karikitdemonrp]

Kagome watched the interaction with a small smile. It was nice to see the half demon trying to help Kari accept help, in his own way of course.

Kari listened, crossing her arms a bit, clearly stubborn about this whole situation. "I've been fine alone for this long. I-I'm clearly able to take care of myself." The child retorted only for Kagome to groan.

"Zip it Kari." The young priestess grumbled. "You're a kid. You're hurt. You're getting help." The teen's voice was firm, carrying a tone of finality to it. Kari eventually gave in and gave a slight whimper.

"F-fine." She muttered, tensing a bit when Inuyasha finally picked her up. She gave a tiny giggle when he said he didn't trust any of the others with picking her up, as if it was some super difficult task only he could do. She knew otherwise but the thought made her oddly happy.

When she was securely on the half demon's back, Kari blinked. His hair was smooth. Oddly relaxing to the touch, to her anyway. The child hesitantly relaxed. The Inuyasha started running, causing Kari to instinctively cling to the half demon with a chirp. Kagome followed along on the back of Kirara, wanting to take notes about the tree.

Once there Kagome slid off of Kirara's back and shivered, feeling something off when it came to that tree. "This is weird..." She muttered. "The tree is giving off some kind of aura. Whatever was sealing it has broken or weakened at least." She muttered, walking closer to said tree. "It's faint... But it's there." She informed with a hum, being careful with her steps incase they weren't the only ones there.

Whenever Inuyasha, and subsequently Kari, got closer to the tree that aura Kagome was feeling grew stronger. It wasn't demonic, she couldn't exactly pinpoint what she was feeling. She just knew it was there. "Inuyasha, don't get too close." She said once she was closer to the tree, taking out a small notebook and a pencil, writing down the symbols that were on the talismans and the markings carved into the tree's trunk. "It's reacting to Kari. The closer you got while holding her, the stronger that aura gets. Her and this tree are connected somehow." She informed while getting a better look at the tree, inching closer to it to get a better look at everything, though she dared not touch the tree with her bare skin. She simply looked over everything.

Kari laid her head down on Inuyasha's shoulder, watching Kagome take notes. The child sighed, trying her best to think of anything that could be helpful. But her mind was drawing a blank right now. "I'm not sure why this is happening. It's really frustrating." She puffed out her cheeks a bit in a pouting manner. It wasn't fair to be thrown into the past like this.

Inuyasha scoffed, crossing his arms and giving Kari a pointed look. “Feh, independent my ass,” he muttered. “You can’t even stand up without fallin’ flat on your face.” Despite his gruff words, his tone lacked its usual bite. He could tell she was struggling to accept the help, but he wasn’t about to let her stubbornness make things worse.

At Kagome’s question, he let out an exaggerated sigh, as if carrying a tiny, injured kid was some huge burden. “Yeah, yeah, I got it,” he grumbled, crouching down near Kari. “Not like I trust any of these other weaklings to carry ya right.”

He glanced at Kari, his golden eyes narrowing slightly. “But listen up, kid—” His tone shifted, a little softer but still firm. “Ain’t nothin’ wrong with needin’ help. Doesn’t mean you’re weak. Means you’re smart enough to know when to take it.” He reached out and, with barely any effort, scooped her up onto his back, making sure she was secure before standing up.

“Hold on tight, ‘cause I ain’t slowin’ down just ‘cause you’re nervous,” he warned, glancing over his shoulder. Then, with a quick nod to Kagome, he took off toward the sealed tree, moving fast but steady, making sure Kari wasn’t jostled too much.

[shapeshiftinterest]

present for @faithissmol

princess rosalina and princess daisy from mario

daisy's a witch and rosalina's her familiar

art reference used some colors from this comic

art reference i based rosalina's outfit on her cat power up version but with different ears (black with her star earrings as the inners) and added a collar

art reference i based daisy's outfit on rin kagamine's from the phantom thieves peter and jenny vocaloid song and added a witch hat

art reference the candy in the background is a square version from daisy's pumpkin outfit

[keikobubs]

Would you draw transfem!Abed perhaps?

this has been sitting in my inbox for a while because school has been kicking me repeatedly, but YES absolutely!! these were quite fun to draw ^_^