#i took some liberties with the summaries because some of them were just too big

[lunarw0rks]

Hello! I just found your blog and I just started reading everything I saw 😅. Can I request 141 + König + Alejandro with a pregnant reader? They don't know yet and when the reader will break the news they are really stressed with work and end up taking it out on the reader, they end up getting into an argument and saying they hate the reader and that their life would be so much better without the reader in it (😈). The reader takes this seriously and leaves when they are asleep... Months later they meet again when the reader is on her way to the hospital to give birth (😈). Angst to fluff pls. If you don't feel good about writing or it's too big, that's fine. Have a nice day and thank you so much for all the time you spend writing to us.

The Things We Say // 141 Drabble

Summary: You're expecting, but it's not good news. To him, at least. Your relationship takes a hit, but once he meets your child, he's swallowed with regret for how he treated you.

Warning(s): angst to fluff, hurt/comfort, pregnancy, childbirth, mentions of premature birth/complications, mild injury/blood, strong language, established relationship, fem!Reader, no use of y/n

A/N: I was hurting my own feelings---but, there's fluff after the angst, so don't get too upset besties<3 Hope you don't mind anon, I took some creative liberty because I didn't want them all to have the same plotline. | Word Count: 5.9k

꒦꒷ MAIN MASTERLIST ꒷꒦ 141 MASTERLIST // have a request? ⋆ ⚘ 🕊 ˚✧ ₊˚ʚ ao3 ver.

SYNOPSIS; he had been in the thick of it lately, sometimes more overwrought when at home with you than in active combat, it seemed. Conversations were either abrupt, crude, or nonexistent—often just building on top of the tension building between the two of you. Relationships were supposed to be fifty-fifty, but you felt you were carrying the burden of the whole percentage. That’s why the news couldn’t have come at a worse time—you, staring at the two lines instead of one. No matter how long you stared, double-checked the diagram, the answer was the same. Pregnant. So, now you knew two things for certain, you were expecting, and most heartbreaking—the other one responsible was at his worst. To break the news to him, it took every fiber of your being.

⋘ » ☆ « ⋙

AFTERMATH; nine months of hell. That’s how you would answer if someone asked. Few people did though, even at work or out on the street. There was the occasional boy or girl, how are you feeling. But they were being polite, or taking pity on the pregnant woman without a ring on her finger. The pregnant woman with bags under her eyes, the one who winces with each step because she’s ready to pop. None of it meant anything to you, because the other half of this responsibility had been left in the dark, and not for much longer. You weren’t raising this child alone, no matter how irate he was going to be when you contacted him.

Price

One of John’s many talents; stewing on his feelings, keeping them suppressed for an unnatural amount of time.

Often so long that he forgot about the source of his anger once he had time to catch up to them. That is… Until his work was involved. Then he was an entirely different man, often spending his time deep in a bottle and with a nose deep in paperwork, with little regard for anyone else around him.

His control, it was typically so consistent, that he knew not to bring his professional problems home. But lately? It’s been anything but typical. He wasn’t what you would call mean, but there was definitely a negative word to describe it. Cold? Apathetic? Perhaps even unwelcoming?

The bickering, if you could call it that, had droned on for several minutes now. Though, it was mostly you venting your frustrations to an uninterested Price. ❝I know it’s not good timing, John. Why the fuck do you think I’m in here trying to reason with you? Are we just supposed to ignore this until we can’t anymore?❞ You hissed, tempted to rip the paperwork from his grip to get him to pay attention.

He always wanted children, but not right now. Naturally, that’s when it happened. He felt like he was drowning, at first only professionally, but now personally too. The funds weren’t a problem, the kid had two parents, but… you and him—nothing was working.

❝Sweetheart, I’m in the thick of it right now. Please.❞ He didn’t need to raise his voice for you to see how irritated he was. Perhaps at the baby, you, himself, or all the above. ❝I have a meeting.❞ He stood up from his workspace, steaming coffee in hand.

John walked away from you like you were a pestering soldier, not the mother of his child. Enough was enough.

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He thought he was slick, only giving you physical checks to see your face, to ensure that you were indeed alright. It was often the coffee shop within equal walking distance of your two separate homes. John would always slide the amount you needed across the table, a look of remorse on his face. Each monthly meeting, your stomach would grow in size, as did your drained expression.

But you wouldn’t talk to him. You would only text him the amount, nod when he asked questions. It was the worst torture you could put a man like John through—one that needed the approval of his loved ones. It just couldn’t happen, not yet. The wounds of how he treated you, they were too fresh, even after nine months of this routine.

To be truthful, you debated on even calling him when you went into labor. You could do it alone, right? With just the support of the delivery nurses, and most of all your baby girl as the reward? Perhaps you could wait until after, give him the respect to at least meet his daughter. For someone not carrying a child, he looked just as beat; sunken eyes, less tidy facial hair than usual, and somehow even more tobacco on his breath.

John was clawing himself from the inside out, begging for something other than a “yes” or “no” from your lips.

—

❝I can’t do this,❞ you repeated it about fifty times, tears streaming down your cheeks from both the pain and the distraught feelings. That plan you had to not call him, it was falling through quite quickly. This level of agony? You needed someone other than a doctor. You needed the father, as much as it pained you to admit.

❝Yes, you can dear, women have babies everyday.❞ Bless the nurse, she was trying her best to keep you calm, but it didn’t work.

What if something went wrong? If somehow you didn’t make it but your baby girl did, she would be alone until he got here… That couldn’t, no—wouldn’t happen. He needed to be there, right beside this bed to hold her in case you couldn’t.

In between your pained grunts, you finally spit out what you’d been trying to tell her, finding a split second of sensibility during all this distress. ❝Call… John. Please, call him!❞

—

The doors swung open faster than any of the personnel, his gaze softening when he saw you breathing in a patterned fashion. The nurse beside you gave him a nod, freeing your hand for him to take her place. John wasn’t going to miss this, and frankly, he was irked that he almost did. But he wasn’t irked at you; he was irked at himself for taking this for granted.

His soothing voice talks you through each contraction, a soothing hand dabbing away the sweat and tears streaming down your face.

❝I got you, sweetheart. You’re almost done pushing.❞ Though he looked gruff on the outside, inside he was distraught. You had maintained the cold shoulder throughout the pregnancy, but you still called him here? You were more than he deserved in his eyes.

The last round of pushing, and they were close together now. You had about thirty seconds to say this, before you were screaming again.❝I’m glad you’re here.❞ Despite all the pain you were in, you gave his hand a squeeze, staring at him with a glossy expression.

His eyes nearly watered; the first sentence you had uttered to him in months, and it was clear you meant every bit of it. You needed him and so did your daughter, right here right now. He pressed a kiss to your temple, a soothing massaging your shoulder.

John kept his tone firm on purpose, to emphasize how deeply he cared for you right now. ❝I’ll always be here for you, love. Always.❞ 

Simon

Simon loved deep; hated even deeper.

It was one of the features that drew you to him in the first place, how blunt he could be, how his broodiness contrasted your personality in more ways than one. His cynical behavior could be humorous, could be reassuring, but most of all—bitter. To add stress to the equation, to bring it home? He was an explosive disaster waiting to happen.

❝Simon,❞ you approached from behind, holding the test in your hands, because you knew the first question he would ask when you told him; is if you took one. Well, if he wasn’t actively cursing under his breath, he would’ve.

Instead, he merely flicked his eyes over for a brief moment, as if you were a stranger on the street that said excuse me. ❝Simon.❞ Your tone grew firmer, clutching the stick with more apprehension.

❝Bloody Christ, what?❞ He shifted in his seat, bloodshot and hooded eyes that only twisted the knife further. You couldn’t tell him now, not with the pressure of being on the spot. The right words just wouldn’t come out, prompting you to put the stick behind your back. ❝Goddamn nuisance.❞ He muttered under his breath as if it was only supposed to be an internal thought. 

Though, he didn’t look all that remorseful about it—at least on the outside.

He had never said anything like that before, at least not to your face. It seemed, all the weeks of tension and cold shoulder, it was enough. You were done and out the door the second he’d dozed.

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Simon made a few futile attempts to reach out, but his own stubbornness prevented him from ever being face-to-face. He beat himself up so badly, and from his side of things—he’d only lost one person, not two.

It pained you to ask the delivery nurse to call him. You wanted to shove the crowning newborn right back inside and hold off, to go find him yourself and smack sense into him for putting you through this agony. But you couldn’t. Quite literally couldn’t get up, and didn’t want to. Resulting in pettiness and venom would make you worse than him because you would be using this child as a pawn.

He said nothing, but his eyes said enough. The nurses put a sterile drape over his shoulders, but he paid them no mind. His amber eyes remained on you; a bulging belly and an expression of pure agony. Had he missed something, a crucial chapter of your new life post-breakup? Most of all, why did you call him?

❝Hold my hand.❞ Simon found the side of your bed, allowing you to dig your fingernails into his forearm until there were imprints. He had few words, but the countenance of concern and guilt said it all. If this wasn’t his… you would’ve done this alone, or the father would be here. Then it dawned on him; it was his.

—

Hours passed, and he still hadn’t mentioned the obvious. Nine months without his support—financial or moral. You needed rest, as did the baby girl—so you were getting it, first and foremost. The adult matters would be better talked about when you weren’t still freshly recovering.

Simon tapped his foot against the tile, sitting in the chair beside the bed. He was unsure of who to keep an eye on more; the newborn swaddled in her own crib, or you, exhaustedly sleeping in your hospital bed. Though he’d held the girl, it felt forbidden, like he was only a placeholder until your body recovered enough to do it yourself. It was shock preventing him from feeling, not cruelty.

You stirred awake, a sigh of contempt when you laid eyes on him. The labor was a blur your mind had already shut out, and you truly didn’t recall the nurses contacting him. Your eyes were glossy with dark circles underneath them. ❝I’m…❞ It was like the night you tried to tell him but couldn’t, the words wouldn’t come out.

Simon saw that look in your eyes; the fear that he would explode, or storm out and leave you with the child forever—but he wasn’t. All the years of trying to not relieve the same mistakes his own father made, it would be useless if he did that. And he couldn’t, seeing that look of desperation on your face, how you looked as if you were going to burst into tears at the sight of him. That look, it was the same one that gnawed at him during those months apart, how he found you and your belongings gone.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this. ❝Shh… Don’t apologize. Ever.❞ He was hovering now, a kiss pressed to your forehead. Whatever you decided when you were healed enough, he would take it like a man, because he had the audacity to speak to you like a man who wronged him.

Soap

Soap was… a complicated man to say the least. Usually, he was sweet, charming, with the right amount of cockiness. His ability to make you laugh drew you into him in the first place. But it was dwindling—at least during the past few weeks. Now, all that remained was smugness and bitter mutters under the breath.

❝Don’t be a child about this, we’ll figure it out,❞ He says, slamming his car door behind you. The first time you two had been out to dinner together in weeks, spoiled because you finally broke the news to him. You teared up in the restaurant because his reaction was anything but accepting, and frankly, he found it embarrassing.

He hadn’t meant it that way—that’s just how it came out.

He truly did want to figure this baby thing out, but it was the worst possible timing; an all-time high of stress at work, bickering with you constantly. And now, a third added to the dynamic with only months to prepare? It was too much. ❝Oh, I’m acting like a child?❞ You walked into the house, taking off the jewelry you had on to look nice for him.

The bickering that ensued—it was nothing nice, nothing you’d care to remember.

❝I don’t want you to go, lass. Don’t do this.❞ You had already made up your mind. Perhaps it was your emotions clouding your judgment, that instinct you felt being a few weeks along… It didn’t matter, you couldn’t be here. Not with him, not right now.

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You were about to pop, literally any day now. You knew that meant you would have to talk to the father, and interact with him for about eighteen years—at least be civil. But the rationality of it, how you would have to co-parent with him, didn’t ease your anxieties. Of course, he was adamant about checking up on you and being more of a parasite than the fetus taking half your energy.

You closed the car door with your hip, a slow waddle up the pavement. Where the hell your keys were, that was another story—something you would deal with once you rolled yourself up to the door.

❝What the hell are you doin’?❞ The voice nearly made you drop all the grocery bags in your grasp, a jumpy shriek coming out. When you whipped around, it was Soap, a look of upset on his very expressive face.

Once you started to recover from the scare of a lifetime, an unintentional one at that, a scowl formed on your face. It was like he had a sense of the absolute worst time to show up and annoy you, especially now that you were swollen and extra agitated. ❝A phone call would’ve worked, Johnny. Or, I don’t know, maybe a ‘hey I’m right behind you, lady’!❞ You attempted to mock his accent out of pure frustration, but he didn’t find the humor in it, at least not right away.

He yanked the bags out of your grip, stomping up the steps of your porch. ❝You shouldn’t be carryin’ these.❞ You really should not be doing that, he was right, but the thought of him being your grocery boy—showing up even more? ❝Keys.❞ He held out his free hand, the other one swimming in bags. It was ridiculous, apparently, you weren’t allowed to twist a key now, either.

You shove past him once he’s turned the key, squeezing past and joining him in the kitchen. Without a word, he starts putting away anything and everything you bought. Some are nutritious, others purely to feed your cravings. ❝Don’t start.❞ You pointed a finger at him when he picked up a family-sized bag of candy, a smart-ass comment daring to escape his lips.

❝God, I can’t believe you, Johnny. Sneaking up on me like that, I could’ve fallen.❞ You put an instinctive hand on your stomach, still irked by his presence.

❝No, you would’ve fallen carrying all those bags yourself. I have a right to be worried, it’s my bloody kid too.❞ He retorts, a hand on his hip. He’s done all he’s obligated to now; carrying and putting away your groceries.

You tighten your lips into a line, fighting the urge to start a full-blown argument. ❝Yeah, you remind me every day, so thanks for tha— Shit.❞ It seemed, raising your voice counted as exerting yourself because there was a sudden cramp in your stomach, a trickle down your pant leg.

Soap’s eyes widened, seeing you go from scolding him to hunched over and holding your stomach. You had forced yourself into labor, now standing on knees about to buckle. ❝I’ve got you, now get going woman, before I put you over my shoulder.❞ He felt he had never moved faster, a tight fist around your forearm to keep you standing as he led you through the door you had just walked in.

—

It seemed there was little time between being admitted to actively pushing. This kid wanted out, and right this second. You let out a shriek as the back of your head slammed against the pillow, sweat trickling down your brow as you cursed and wailed. ❝I know it hurts, love, but you got this.❞ He allowed you to clamp down on his hand, to dig your fingertips until they drew blood.

❝Oh, you know do you?!❞ You snapped at him, finding it hard to be nice when you felt like you were being ripped in half.

❝If I wasn’t,❞ you grunted in between words, face scrunched and labored breathing, ❝stuck in this damn bed, I would so… hurt you right now, Johnny.❞ He fought the urge to snicker just a little bit, masking it with his concern for you. Seeing you in agony, even when you were actively snapping at him, it didn’t please him one bit.

Well, you were arguing with him, so he knew you weren’t actively dying.

If you used enough of that anger, it would help you literally push through the pain, just like how it caused the kid to want to come out right this second. For once, his pestering and sarcasm were actually helping.

With one final wave of it, your back arched off the bed and finally, the loud cry of an infant filled the white-walled room. Soap nearly fainted, if he was being honest—he was awfully squeamish for someone who dealt with blood daily. But it was your blood and… fluids, things that made him shiver when he pictured how painful that could’ve been.

The doctors were speedy, cleaning off and checking vitals. All he could do was stare at the newborn—his baby boy. And then he looked at you, choked up and stared in awe at the baby set on your chest. ❝Jesus…❞ he leaned down, placing a gentle hand on yours as it held the child’s head.

All the fighting, all the bickering, even the late-night candy runs—they were well worth it. He had a second chance now, to make things right with you, and to be a decent father.

Gaz

Gaz could be hotheaded, sometimes downright blunt, especially when he’s passionate about something to do with his work. The night you were going to break the news, nothing was going right. He came home in a huff, not bothering to take off his boots before plopping on the sofa. Kyle had a right to be stressed; look at what he does all day. But he didn’t have a right to be cruel to you because of it.

You took a seat beside him and set the positive test down on his thigh. A silence followed by a scowl, and then he finally spoke. ❝You can’t be serious.❞ It nearly gutted you right then and there. His leg began to bounce anxiously the longer he glanced at the life-changing test results. 

❝Kyle, I—❞ you weren’t even sure what you were trying to say either, not that he gave you a chance. ❝I don’t have time for this, babe. I really can’t do this right now.❞ He put his head in his hands, a flustered groan escaping his lips.

❝Are you saying you don’t want this? That we shouldn’t have done this?❞ You were suddenly standing, eyes wide and watering. You felt like you had just been dumped on the street, despite his unclear tone.

He peered up, lips in a blunt line. ❝Maybe we shouldn’t have.❞ You could’ve crawled into a hole and died right then and there, but you merely nodded. Nodded and then left the room, leaving him to his moodiness. No, it wasn’t the best timing, but that didn’t give him the right to brush you off, to treat you like a distasteful afterthought.

It wasn’t just you anymore, it was you and the baby.

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It was one of his few days off—though he wasn’t feeling much relaxation. You were still hot and cold with him, now about halfway through your third trimester; thirty-two weeks to be exact. It was nearing that point, where he had prepared a spare room for the baby, began coordinating plans for labor, etc… 

But he still didn’t feel ready, or like he deserved you after how cruel he was that night. Kyle was only helping you to help you and the baby.

His phone buzzed, right when he had begun relaxing for the evening. 10:32 PM; and it was your number. The second he heard the voice of a nurse on the other line, not yours, his feet were halfway out the front door.

—

❝I’m fine, Kyle. I’m fine…❞ It seemed no matter how many times you repeated it, he didn’t seem to believe it. From the minute he entered your hospital room to now, he had at least one hand on you, a thumb grazing the cuts and bruises on your body. You had been in a car accident—mild for you, life-threatening for a preemie. ❝You’re not fine.❞ he said firmly, eyes darting towards your clothes bagged in the corner—bloodied and with windshield pieces still embedded.

Kyle was more worried about you at first, but you were solely concerned about your baby—left alone in the NICU being poked and prodded by personnel. You had to be induced, otherwise he wouldn’t have made it past the front doors. Now, he was too weak to be visited, too small and vulnerable to be held by his own mother yet. It was gut-wrenching; hours without a solid answer, because his chances depended solely on him making it through the night.

Now, there was nothing to do but wait, perhaps see your baby through a glass box if you got lucky.

—

❝He’s perfect,❞ Kyle peered down at the preemie in his hands, a baggy blue cap on his head. There were small babies, and he was somehow smaller. What once was the scare of a lifetime, it was now a passing memory to remind Gaz of what he could’ve lost. He would never make the mistake of talking to you like that again, even if the two events didn’t correlate.

What if the night you left, you got into an accident then, and it was much worse? He wouldn’t be able to live with himself, plain and simple. ❝It’s cheesy but, he does have your eyes.❞ You whispered from the nursing chair you were sitting in, still healing and fatigued from the ordeal. The picture in front of you; Kyle looking at your son with such love—it was irreplaceable and forever stuck in your memories.

❝Correct. But he has your scowl, babe.❞ Gaz flicked his eyes upwards, feeling you gently nudge his shin at the sound of the comment.

It didn’t matter the things he said months ago, as long as he cherished this new life with you as much as you planned to.

Alejandro

Alejandro always had passion for the things he cherished; you and his work, nothing else mattered more. Passion led to intense feelings, intense feelings turned into misplaced bitterness. It wasn’t your fault that you were expecting, no more than it was his, at least. He knew that and had he just taken a breath and thought more carefully about his phrasing, this whole mess could’ve been avoided.

❝Do you think I wanted to interrupt you, Alejandro?❞ You hissed, standing in the doorway of his office with the positive test in your hands. He had just looked at you with such distaste as if you were the root cause of his stress and not his work.

What better way to stir the pot, than to match his wrath? Well, it certainly did that, though seeing him rage was the last sight you wanted to see. Alejandro always had trouble with his anger, often finding himself with all these feelings he had no clue how to control.

❝You always do what you want!❞ There it was, him blowing his fuse. He’d thrown his hands in the air, face tightened into a scowl. He couldn’t leave it at that, either, not when his rage came in such intense waves. ❝You’ll do what you always do—bleed me dry!❞

You couldn’t speak, despite how vicious you felt only seconds before. It seemed too truthful for your liking like he had been waiting for an excuse to spill his guts. ❝As long as you have enough to amuse yourself, I’m nothing to you, right?❞ He wasn’t yelling anymore, but his mocking tone was enough to tear at your heartstrings.

Had he seriously played that card with you—the man always insistent on taking care of you, financially, physically, emotionally? Now, of all times? The argument ended with you slamming the front door behind you, something he would’ve done.

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You spent weeks ignoring him, and throughout the pregnancy, it was dry texts or brief calls. His only sign that you were even alive was the notification that you had used his account to purchase necessities. The irony of it made Alejandro nauseous, how awful he made it sound that you were doing what he told you to; to let him take care of you. The fact that you didn’t drain the funds, only bought what you needed, spoke volumes.

❝I’m not upset at you, amor—I wasn’t upset with you.❞

Alejandro reached a hand across the picnic table, a firm but loving grip on your forearm. You looked beat; hair a different length than before, exhausted eyes that were brimming with tears, and most of all a growing stomach. It was all his fault; the reason you didn’t want to face him like this, in fear that he would cut you and the baby off for good. Only, he was there to see your face, not for confrontation or another spat.

It didn’t matter what you said, if you screamed at him right now, or said nothing. Alejandro had made up his mind the night you left. ❝I’ll come to every appointment, parenting class, anything.❞

—

Of all the nights for you to be in labor, it had to be during a wicked storm. You had gone over to his house to make civil conversation over dinner, to at least attempt at repairing things. He had slaved over the stove, cooking his favorite for you. For most of the meal, things were… surprisingly tranquil; even romantic.

You were heavily pregnant, were you supposed to refuse a warm meal? Not a chance. You were too full, too swollen to get up out of the dining chair once the meal finished. And looking out the window? There was no way in hell Alejandro was going to let you drive home in this; droplets whipped down, trees and waste bins flew away from the force of it, and the rain was icy. Well, you were exhausted, and he had a bed he was willing to give up. Your back and feet practically sighed in relief when you laid back in his bed, the one you two once shared. It was a nice feeling, being there again and knowing Alejandro was trying his hardest to plead forgiveness.

About an hour into your much needed-slumber, you felt a pool in the sheets. Instinctually, you figured it was the fetus pressing on your bladder—a downright embarrassing thing you’d have to wake up and explain to him. But… it was clear it wasn’t that. You were in labor and stuck here.

The shriek you let out when you got a violent contraction; Alejandro dashed quicker than he ever did when dodging bullets. His fumbling fingers dialed 911, yanking the comforter off the bed to get a better view of your dilation. Fortunately, he was trained on how to deliver a baby when stranded, or in a country without medical support. But this was his baby and your life was in his hands. If he didn’t do this correctly, if something went wrong, he would never forgive himself.

The ambulance wouldn’t be there for an hour—you didn’t have an hour to spare, this baby was coming now. ❝You can do this, amor, we’re doing this together.❞ One hand clenched yours, the other kept an eye on the crowning baby. Just how you hadn’t woken up sooner, neither of you knew. Perhaps you had gotten so used to cramps and pains, that you thought it was just another sleepless night courtesy of the little one.

—

The moment your wails went silent as his baby girl finally came, Alejandro felt his heart drop. He had to make the worst decision; focusing on the newborn first. He wrapped her in one of his shirts, wiping the fluid and blood from her small face. As he cradled her, a quick hand fingered for a pulse, a loud sigh escaping his lips when he felt one. You had only passed out from the pain—probably doing you a service, considering he didn’t have the proper medication to numb your pain.

Your eyes fluttered open at the sound of the wailing child, still with gritted teeth. But your baby was there—and her lungs were very clearly working. Alejandro set her down on your chest, allowing you to hold your daughter for the first time. ❝You did so well, cariño. Look at her.❞ He was merely distracting you with the baby on your chest, to not divert your attention towards the state your body was in as he cleaned you up.

Somehow, he had pulled this off with both his girls safe, soon to be checked out properly at a hospital. When you first broke the news, he thought he knew the meaning of being so suddenly thrust into fatherhood, but that took on a whole new meaning after tonight.

König

There had once been a line he didn’t cross, but he did that night. König never yelled at you. He saved that stern side of him for his work because it was acceptable there. But in the weeks that his work had bled onto you, spoiling the relationship, his values seemed to loosen. Though he was a complicated man, a man uncertain of himself and his appearance, he maintained a hardness about him. Ruthless in the field and immensely protective of anyone that had come to love him. 

You approached him as he worked, placing the test on the desk he was sitting at. ❝König, I need to tell you something.❞

With his head facing the paperwork, he merely shrugged at you. Until he saw what you’d placed there, his eyes going wide. But it wasn’t shock or excitement; it was disdain for the fact that this baby was just another interruption—you were just another interruption. ❝I have no time for this, Schatz, you know that.❞

He didn’t need to raise his voice for his words to sting, his bitter tone was more than enough. But he surely hadn’t meant it like that, right? He’d meant he didn’t have time for this right now… right?

❝Why don’t you go rest, then?❞ He asks, picking up the folder that he was reading previously. It wasn’t a request made out of concern, König was patronizing you. His glare was typically enough to make a soldier scramble, but you just stood there for a few seconds, biting back the urge to choke.

How you left that night, it wasn’t dramatic or emotional, it was dry. König tells you to think clearly about this, to sleep on it. But you couldn’t—and you weren’t going to be a verbal punching bag.

➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶➴➵➶

König only called you weekly for appointment updates, or to let you know he had sent you a check. Other than that, words dripped with tension and the urge to say so much more. But you were too stubborn for your own good, and so was he. You were more concerned with hosting life than playing games with a father who treated you like a wimp.

He’d only seen you once, during the second trimester when he showed up at your apartment. You protested, but he showed up anyway, saying he needed “proof” that you and the fetus were safe. The voice on the phone wasn’t enough, in his eyes.

Of course, when you needed him most, screaming and keeling over in the kitchen, he wasn’t there. It was a neighbor that called an ambulance for you because they knew they had a pregnant tenant next door. In fact, it was such a close call, you nearly didn’t make it to the delivery room before the newborn came out wailing.

The only plus side? While the paramedics were deterring you from pushing, you’d sent a text—probably unintelligible—but a text, nonetheless. He knew your due date, how today was only a few days off, and he was in his car before he could grasp the severity of this new life stage.

—

❝I’m here, schätzchen. I’m not going to hurt you again, or him.❞ He hunched over the bed, eyes in a perpetual state of disbelief as he watched you soothe the whining newborn. Clarity hit him like a truck when he heard your screams during delivery, and then he was all in. Not that he had a choice, this was his doing too.

He had given you the financial support to get proper nutrition for you and the baby, to pay for the appointments, but that wasn’t enough—not in König’s eyes. He needed to snap out of his self-pity and be a support system. Whether you wanted to co-parent or work on repairing the relationship, you were not under any circumstances taking care of this newborn alone, at your apartment.

He placed a hand in your hair, threading his fingers through the strands. ❝We can clear out the spare room, hm? There’s more than enough room for the two of you.❞ He was already picturing it, how he was going to pull an all-nighter and get to work on the room, going to your apartment and moving the baby supplies from yours to his.

König didn’t need to state the obvious, that you weren’t bound to any type of relationship besides the one concerning the child. Whether you wanted to move out once the baby hit a certain age or not, he was going to keep an eye on the two of you.

Two of you, not just the newborn you were rocking. It was either both of you, or neither, and he was intent on it being the first option.

If you made it this far - THANK YOU!

[ttt-youngy]

Lollipop : S.JY

Summary : You please Jaeyun by using your mouth (for the first time).

Genre : smut, soft, romance

Warnings : Jake × F! reader (actress), established relationship, blowjob, titty fucking, nudity, mention of cum and genitals, almost a first time. MNDI

Count : 3,82k

You walk into your hotel room after escorting the spa girl out. As you enter, you pause for a moment to observe the three bodies spread out across the gigantic bed in the luxurious room your father had reserved for you. The bed was so big that everyone could fit in it without any problem.

-When did they fall asleep?-you protest, pointing at Jungwon and Heeseung’s girlfriend, addressing the only one awake in the room. You know that, under these circumstances, it will be harder to send them to their respective rooms.

-I have no idea, but the bed is incredibly comfortable, so I’m not judging them-, Sunoo answers, as he continues searching for something on Netflix. -You know? Aside from your mess, I don’t understand why you insisted that we use another room. This is clearly the best one out of all.

Sunoo adds as he gives you an inquisitive look and narrows his eyes.

-You were only going to share it with Jake, right?- Sunoo asks, catching on to the real reason you seemed so eager to empty your room. -What time were you planning on leaving us to go with him?

You roll your eyes, sliding down the bed to occupy the space that had been left for you, between Kim and Heeseung’s girlfriend.

-I haven't seen him since I set foot in this hotel. Obviously I had plans to meet him too- you say obviously, resting your head on the softness of the pillows and letting out a sigh as you feel your tired legs tingle at the incredible comfort.

-It's a shame, because this is officially a sleepover- announces Sunoo, selecting a movie after watching a few seconds of the trailer.

-It's a shame- repeats the girl next to you in a whisper, keeping her eyes closed, but with a mischievous smile appearing on her lips.

You part your lips, dismayed by the arbitrary liberties she just took.

-We never agreed that we would spend the whole night together. We were supposed to spend some time relaxing and then each of us would go to our corresponding room- you complain, although you also start to get interested in the movie that Sunoo has chosen.

-For how long? Until your boyfriend is available for u?-Sunoo retorts, taking a bite of the snacks resting on her chest. -I’m afraid you won’t get your way this time, little princess.-You huff, resigned, as you settle yourself into bed. However, you were beginning to reconsider your plans to see Jake. You muse on how even Nishimura Riki might get upset if Jake dared to leave their shared space until dawn to be with you. After all, Ni-Ki would probably want to spend time playing and relaxing with her hyung after finishing concerts in this foreign country. You didn’t want Ni-Ki to see you as an annoying intruder, nor did you want your new friends to feel used.

Your mind keeps spinning, remembering what Heeseung's girlfriend had told you when you went to find her in her room. Her comment had been direct and sharp, questioning you bluntly why you weren't with your boyfriend. But, the truth is, you were dying to see him too.

-Come on, don't be like that. I love you two so much, I even hired the skincare girl for us. You're not my second choice; I could be watching the game with him, but I also wanted to spend time with all of you-you say, trying to dispel the tension.

Sunoo watches you for a moment, and then his expression softens.

-It's okay, I was just joking- he answers, showing you his adorable smile. -But I'm afraid that pair really is asleep, and I won't dare wake them up. I'll leave that decision in your hands, or, you and hyung could agree on another meeting point.

You look at the pair to your left, and you feel absolutely self-conscious about waking them up, especially since they looked absolutely comfortable sleeping. Jungwon and Heeseung's girlfriend seemed to be in a deep, peaceful sleep, their breathing soft and synchronized, showing how comfortable they were at the moment.

You debate whether to wake them up or let them rest. In the end, you decide not to disturb their peace. They must be so exhausted, and guilt comes back to you when you remember that your friend had to extend her schedule for the contingencies of yours.

-Ash! I can't do it because they look so cute like this,- you murmur, turning your face towards the television. A small sign of indecision appears on your lips as you consider all your possibilities, except for the one of upsetting your friends.

Just then, the phone in your hand vibrates, announcing the arrival of a text. Curious, you unlock the screen and see a notification from Jake;

“I’ll be up to your room soon, the game is almost over.”

Your heart skips a beat as you read the message. You feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. You look at your friends, at the TV, and then back at Jake’s message. You have no idea what the right thing to do is at that moment.

“My guests have no intentions of leaving, they overslept. So, I guess I’ll have to see you tomorrow before I leave.”

You reply to his message and lock your phone by resting it on your chest, almost instantly it vibrates in response.

“So, boo? Should I use my hyung card and send Ni-Ki to Sunghoon or Jay?”

You sigh, knowing that Jake would be willing to do anything to see you. You'd feel guilty if he were to take Ni-Ki out of his space just to be with you. You didn't want any more awkwardness to be created between you and the younger boy. Besides, you knew that Ni-Ki wanted that time with Jake as much as you did.

"No, Ikeu. Ni-Ki needs his time with you so he doesn't feel left out, my last wish is for him to feel insecure with me and our relationship. So, spend time with him tonight. We'll have our time later, sweetheart."

You send the text and put your phone aside, feeling helpless and calm. You sit up, looking for the chips you wanted to eat now that you felt so torn.

-Where are the fries I picked out?- you ask Kim, noticing that they are nowhere to be found.

Sunoo joins in the search with his gaze, but ends up shrugging.

-I think they were left in the bag I left in my room. Do you want me to go make sure and bring them back?

You smile slightly at his kindness, but shake your head.

-Okay, I'll go get them. Do you think Sunghoon is awake?- you say, getting out of bed to grab your robe and put it on.

-It's possible, but here you have it in case he doesn't answer- Sunoo takes the card out of his pocket and hands it to you-. Don't take too long, the movie is getting good.

-Don't worry, I'll be back soon- you reply, taking the card.

You leave the room and head towards one of the ones that his agency reserved for them. As you go down in the elevator, you take the opportunity to check the last message Jake sent.

"I miss you ."

The butterflies in your stomach are activated when you read those words. You get out of the elevator and take a deep breath, trying to contain your desire to go to his room, which was on that same floor, and throw yourself into his arms to accept him sending Nishimura with the others. You respond quickly, trying to keep your composure.

"I miss you too. See you tomorrow, I promise."

You put your phone in your robe pocket and continue towards Sunoo and Sunghoon's shared room. You knock on the door first, not wanting to invade the personal space of your boyfriend's best friend, who was probably still on the phone with his girlfriend. When you get no answer, you decide to use the card Sunoo offered you.

-Sunghoon?-you call upon entering, but you find the place empty.

Faced with this, you take the opportunity to rummage through Sunoo's things in search of the fries. Once you find them, you take them and head for the exit. Just as you are about to close the door, you are startled to hear the screams and exclamations coming from one of the adjoining rooms. Almost instantly, Jake, Sunghoon and Ni-Ki appear in your field of vision. Disoriented, you watch as Sunghoon grabs Ni-Ki by the shoulders and leads him on a celebratory run down the opposite hallway, while your boyfriend approaches you shouting, "Hey!"

In the blink of an eye, your feet lose contact with the ground and the fries fall from your hands as Jake effortlessly lifts you onto his shoulder, carrying you back to the bedroom. With a mischievous grin, he lightly slaps your butt, ignoring your protests.

-Jake, put me down!-you laugh, trying to sound annoyed, but the joy in your voice gives you away.

-Don't even dream about it. You think I'm going to let you go that easy?-he replies, as he gently places you on the bed and leans over you, his eyes shining brightly as he looks at you.

-I told you we'd see each other tomorrow,- you murmur against his lips at the proximity of them, your voice barely an intimate whisper.

-I couldn’t wait this long-he replies, caressing your hair with a tenderness that melts your heart. -Even if it’s just for a moment, I had to see you.

You feel his lips press softly against yours, a gesture that always makes you feel loved. You pull away a little to look into his eyes, and he focuses his attention on you, his fingers playing with a lock of your hair.

-You’re the best part of my days,-he whispers, his voice full of sincerity. -I’ve told you before. No matter how tiring the concerts are or how far away we are, I always want to be with you.

-And I’m with you,-you reply, your fingers gently tracing the line of his jaw. -But don’t you think Ni-Ki must be wondering about you?

Jake sighs, still with a smile on his lips.

-Probably- he admits-. But this moment with you is worth any claim. Besides, I have faith that Sunghoon will be able to distract him. He and Sunoo decided to lend us their room for as long as we want.

The idea of having a private moment with Jake in the middle of the hustle and bustle of their lives makes you feel a wave of happiness. You link your arms behind his neck, enjoying the warmth of his body on yours. His fingers continue to caress your hair as he looks at you with an intensity that makes your heart beat faster.

His familiar and warm scent envelops you, and you close your eyes, enjoying his caresses.

-I feel like at any moment he's going to come knocking on the door incessantly just to annoy us- you say, laughing at the simple imagination.

-He won't. Otherwise, Sunghoon won't get the Gucci jacket we negotiated- he confesses, making you open your eyes in shock.

-You're amazing- you say, admiring his dedication and love-. I don't know what I'd do without you.

-And you don't have to find out,-he replies with a smile. "Because I plan to be by your side forever."

Jake leans down and kisses you again, this time with a passion that makes you lose your breath. The kiss deepens, and you lose yourself in the warmth of his lips, at the same time, his hands, firm yet tender, run along the skin of your leg, firming it around his hip, bringing you even closer to him.

The brush of his fingers against your skin sends shivers of pleasure through your body, and you cling to him. You feel his breathing quicken, syncing with yours, creating a perfect, harmonious rhythm between the two of you. You moan against his lips, feeling his hardness pressing against your throbbing intimacy. You knew that if you didn't change the situation, you would want him inside you, and you definitely didn't want to abuse the last of your energy in his body. The temptation to keep going is strong, and you know that if you don't stop now, it will be hard to stop. Jake needed to rest.

With a conscious effort, you break away from the kiss, placing a hand on his chest to stop him.

-Jake, you're exhausted. I don't want you to push yourself any harder than necessary,-you murmur, looking at him with affection and concern.

He shakes his head, resting his forehead against yours. His caresses becoming more insistent.

-I would never be tired for you- he answers softly, his tone full of sincerity-. Your pleasure is the greatest of rewards. There is nothing that makes me feel more complete than seeing you shudder with pleasure because of me.

Biting your lower lip at his words, you feel a shudder that shakes your insides. You quickly remember that in all their encounters, Jake had always given you the lead without hesitation.

-Today I want to be the one who takes the lead. Relax and let me make you feel good, okay? - You say, while your hand descends towards his crotch, placing it on the bulge in his pants, making him hiss.

-No, sweetie. I will continue with you, you come first- He resists, trying to stop the movements of your hand.

-Don't you trust that I will do it right? Or... are you wearing your Thor boxers again? - you question, pausing and raising an eyebrow, although you suppress the laughter that your last question provokes. However, Jake does laugh at this.

-You're never going to forget that, right? - he says, slightly embarrassed, but the love in his gaze leaves you enthralled - What am I going to do with you?

You resume caressing his member trapped in his jeans, licking your lips as you feel it grow under your touch. Your mouth was already watering.

-Let it be me this time. Come on, love, I want to taste you- you say in a soft moan, clinging your teeth to your lip and bringing your eyebrows together in a pleading gesture.

-Oh, I definitely can't say no to you. You're my weakness,-Jaeyun admits, closing the distance with a kiss and clinging to your leg to spin with you, leaving you on top of him.-Do with me whatever you want.

You smile against his lips, sliding your hands under his shirt to feel the firmness of his abdomen. You waste no time and sit up a little to remove his shirt. Jake is cooperative, also sitting up to make the task easier for you. Then, you gently push him so that he is leaning on his elbows and you kiss him again, while your hand rests on one of his pecs.

-Just enjoy it,-you whisper in his ear, starting a trail of kisses that goes from his jaw to his neck. Then, you ascend again with your tongue, playing a little with him. This makes him gasp, while his fists clench taking the fabric of your robe in his hands.

In that instant, you move away from him, letting the garment fall. You prepare to tie your hair with the hair tie that you always wear on your wrist. All this happens under his watchful gaze, and you can see the exact moment when his Adam's apple lowers with difficulty, biting his lip in anticipation. Especially when you kneel in front of him, while he remains seated on the edge of the bed.

-You drive me crazy,- Jake confesses in a husky tone, his eyes shining with desire as his hands slide down the straps of your silk dress, causing the garment to fall and expose your breasts. He lets out a moan, evidencing his adoration for that area of your body.

With a seductive smile, you begin to unbutton his jeans. You feel his breathing quicken, and when you finally free him from his underwear, his member reveals itself in all its firmness. The sight of his erect penis makes you lick your lips in anticipation. Therefore, you take it in your hand, caressing it gently before leaning down and leaving a kiss on the tip, never once breaking the connection of your gazes. His gasps urge you to continue, and soon your tongue traces a slow and pleasurable path along his length.

-I don't know how much longer I can take it,-he lets out in a tight sigh, letting his head fall back as you finally cover his member with your mouth, continuing to pump his length with your hand as you slowly push in more of him each time.

Every moan that escapes his lips motivates you to continue, savoring every reaction you provoke in him. You take your time, enjoying the way his body responds to your touch. His moans and sighs make you feel powerful, finally understanding what he meant when he told you there was no better feeling than this; seeing your partner writhe in pleasure for you. You moan in response as you watch him almost scream in pleasure, trying hard not to hold on to your head, letting you do it at your own pace.

Your tongue and lips work in perfect harmony, causing his breathing to become erratic. Every time you take him deeper, his body tenses and his back arches.

His hands ball into fists at his sides, fighting to maintain control.

-Beautiful…-he murmurs between moans, his voice heavy with excitement.

Your pace increases, and his moans become louder and his breathing faster. You feel a surge of power and satisfaction, knowing that you are the cause of his pleasure. As you continue, your gaze meets his again, and the connection between you becomes palpable, electrifying. You are determined to take him to the edge, enjoying every second that he completely surrenders to you.

His body trembles slightly, on the verge of climax. You slow down a little playfully, enjoying the control you have over his pleasure.

-Please- he begs, his voice cracking with need.

But instead of continuing, you pull him out of your mouth. He looks at you in confusion, his bright eyes reflecting the lost orgasm.

-You’re having fun torturing me, aren’t you?- he says, gritting his teeth in pain.

-Maybe, or maybe I have something else in mind that you’re going to love,- you say, watching as he almost faints when you squeeze his cock between your breasts and begin to slide slowly, creating a new wave of pleasure that envelops him completely.

Each movement elicits a deep moan from his lips, and his body arches again, pushing his hips into the space between your tits.

-You look so beautiful like this,-you comment, enjoying the sight of his face contorted in pleasure.

With a few more thrusts, his body shakes hard as he climaxes, his release spilling over your jaw and onto your chest. You close your eyes at the sudden impact, feeling his seed dripping onto your skin.

-I’m so sorry, love,- Jake laments, his voice laden with remorse at the sight of the mess he’s made. Instead of felina disgusted, though, you bring a finger to your skin and then bring it to your lips, tasting his essence with a mischievous smile.

Jake gapes at the sight, adoration evident in his eyes. Then, with unexpected tenderness, he gently pushes you towards him, lifting you off the ground to drag you with him into a ravishing kiss. His lips meet yours, and light giggles escape from your throats without being able to understand it.

-You're fascinating,- he says between kisses. You smile against his lips, but instantly gasp at the warmth of their skin touching.

His hands run up and down your back, moving up and down with a caress that sends shivers down your spine. You pause for a moment to look into his eyes, seeing in them a deep and unconditional love.

-I love you so much,- Both say in unison, causing you to laugh against each other's lips again.

Gently, Jake lays you down on the bed, his gaze never leaving yours. Every touch is delicate, every kiss sweet and full of meaning. You feel his love envelop you, anticipating that this could finally be his first time.

Jake takes his time, exploring every inch of your body with reverent patience, as if he were memorizing every detail. His lips brush your neck, slowly descending to your breasts, where he pauses to worship them with kisses and caresses. A soft moan escapes your lips, and he smiles.

-You are perfect for me,- he professes against your skin.

-Jake…-you reply, lost in the sensation, your fingers tangling in his hair.

Time seems to stop as you both get lost in his bubble, his lips leaving tingles wherever they go. His tongue slides beneath your navel as you feel your pajamas stop covering you completely. Getting closer to it, him completely naked and you wearing only your panties.

His fingers intertwine with the elastic of your last garment, feeling his breath hitting your intimacy on the fabric. They would finally make love; after so many occasions without being able to move forward from the same point, always being interrupted by some inopportune person or situation.

-Jake! Sunghoon is being very boring!-Ni-Ki's voice is heard from the door, followed by insistent knocks.-Time out! It's time to go to sleep! Hyung!

Both freeze, their gazes full of frustration. Jake sighs defeated, moving to one side of the bed.

-I don't think it will ever happen-you say with feigned humor, observing him from your position. It seemed like he was about to lose his mind.

The Australian lets himself fall back on the bed, looking at the ceiling in exasperation.

-I'll take you away from everything and everyone, I swear- he decrees, and you smile, reaching out to caress his cheek.

-Okay, but for now, Riki has a point. You need to rest- you agree, trying to ignore the knocks on the door.

-That's not your room!- the younger shouts from the hallway, and then you hear the crunch of your fries being chewed.

-I can't believe he's eating my fries!- you exclaim, jumping out of bed and rushing to the bathroom to clean up and get dressed before facing Ni-Ki.- I'II not allowed it.

Jake watches you as you move forward with determination. His lips curve into a smile, feeling a warm tickle in his stomach as he witnesses all your facets and outbursts. There was no doubt that he loved every tiny atom that made you up.

[dustofthedailylife]

No Gift Greater Than Love

→ Masterlist || → Taglist

Pairing: Alhaitham, Ayato x (gn!) Reader

Summary: It's your birthday so he plans to spend some time with you.

Tags: Fluff, a teeny tiny bit of angst/uncertainty at the beginning if you squint, confessions, kissing, Ayato is being a smooth talker

A/N: I wanted to write a little self-indulgent fic for my birthday today, so here it is. Posting an HSR fic as well later! :3 I also can't add an animated header because tumblr hates me again so, sorry about that! ;_;

ALHAITHAM

You rarely ever took a day off work, not when you were sick, not when you were tired, and especially not when you had so many deadlines coming up. And knowing the perfectionist you are there was no way you’d even rest for a single day until everything was set and done. Only then you would allow yourself to rest. 

So you sat there, at your desk, on your birthday, with your head buried in your books and no other plans but to study all day long. But besides that, you still hoped your friends didn’t forget you and would at least come by to wish you a happy birthday or send you mail. 

Because despite not wanting to make a big deal out of your birthday and running around being like ‘Hey, did you know, today is my birthday?’, reminding people that it was your birthday and expecting gifts, you at least wanted some birthday wishes from your friends. That wasn’t too much to ask, right? Especially after your own brother forgot your birthday last year, which despite having a great day made you cry back then.

So you were positively surprised to find letters from your parents, your brother, Cyno and Tighnari in your mailbox on the morning of your birthday. Kaveh had stopped by before he visited another one of his clients as well to drop off his – quote: “magnum opus of birthday cakes”. Which was essentially just a one-by-one model of your house in cake form - with some additional tweaks he must’ve made out of artistic liberty here and there. It looked almost too good to eat.

Tighnari and Cyno both sent you a small gift and a letter with birthday wishes as well.

The only one who hadn’t yet sent anything or stopped by was Alhaitham. Not like you expected him to actually treat today any differently than any other day in the first place. Birthdays weren’t exactly something he cared about. Yet, despite knowing his attitude towards them, you felt disappointment welling up inside of you. You secretly hoped you would be his exception. But apparently not.

Swallowing the lump in your throat down you dove head first into your study materials to distract yourself. Successfully. Because before you realized the sun was barely just a thin line on the horizon and a knock could be heard on your door.

You peeled yourself away from your desk, stretching your exhausted limbs on the way, only for them to tense up again when you saw who was standing in front of your door. Alhaitham.

“You look tired.” He remarked monotonously.

“Good evening to you, too.” You rolled your eyes, but without being able to suppress a small smile. After all, you knew his antics by now and his blunt statement came out of a place of concern and care. He simply huffed in reply, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards in a barely noticeable manner.

However, you couldn’t help but wonder about his visit. Could it be that he stopped by because of your–

“Do you still want to go grab dinner?” He inquires, stopping your train of thought.

Right. It was Thursday. The day you usually meet up at the Tavern after work to get dinner with your other friends every week. It totally slipped your mind since you were so buried in your studies all day. Of course, he didn’t stop by just because it was your birthday, stupid.

You nod in reply to his question and quickly grab your keys before following outside into the still-warm and muggy fall air. It smelled like damp leaves that had begun to fall and spices that always seemed to hang into the Sumerian air. It had already gone dark and the moon was hanging high in the sky, framed by a myriad of little sparkling stars. You had always loved the night sky, especially on cloudless nights like tonight.

“Do you mind if we do a little detour?” Alhaitham questioned out of the blue.

“Uh…, no not at all.”

“Good.” He nodded his head to the side, urging you to follow him to wherever he planned to go.

He began walking up the ramp to the Akademiya again, which caused you to assume that he must’ve forgotten something in his office earlier. But when he walked right past his office door and led you outside again you were beginning to wonder.

You were now standing on a secluded balcony. On it stood a blue pavilion with a mosaic roof and a single stone bench that offered a perfect view over Sumeru and the beautifully illuminated night sky.

“Beautiful…”, you mutter in awe.

“Agreed.” Alhaitham mused contently. What you failed to notice at the moment however was, that, unlike you, he wasn’t referring to the view you were referring to. He was looking right at you out of the corners of his eyes.

“I didn’t know there was such a beautiful place up here.” You exclaimed in surprise, leaning on the railing of the balcony.

“I often come here to read. Not many people know of this place.”

You could definitely see why he loved this place so much. But one question began to push itself into the foreground of your mind more and more.

“Why… did you lead me here, though?” You questioned curiously but interrupted yourself when a shooting star appeared in your field of view. “Wait, was that–? Alhaitham, did you see that?”

You turned around excitedly gifting him a smile. And the shine in your eyes sparkled more intensely than the stars in the night sky ever could.

“Close your eyes.” He urged. “Make a wish.”

You grinned widely, turned around to face him, and closed your eyes.

“You have to make your wish too, though.” You reminded him teasingly.

“I already did.”

You tried to think of something to wish for. Especially after being led here you couldn’t think of anything you desired right now. 

Do you? Are you maybe not betraying your own thoughts again? 

No. You didn’t dare to think about what your heart really yearned for. What it truly desired. It would never come true anyway. Alhaitham would never feel the same for you. 

He didn’t even remember your birthday today.

You were just friends.

And yet you couldn’t get the image of kissing him out of your head, continuously replaying in front of your inner eye. No matter how hard you tried to push it away.

There was no way you could wish for–

You felt him inch closer to you. Leaning one hand against the railing behind you while the other hand brushed a strand of hair out of your face before he rested it against your cheek. Spearmint breath and the tangy smell of moss and pines from his aftershave ghosted over your face. He was so close by now that you could feel the heat that radiated off his skin and his breath fan over your lips.

For a moment you thought you could hear that his breath was shaky. Was he nervous?

Your mind was racing a thousand miles per hour at this point, and so was your heart. The irritated muscle was thumping against your chest with such ferocious intensity that you feared he may be able to hear it as well. Question after question and speculation after speculation popped into your mind, completely overwhelming your senses. 

What was he doing? Why was he so close? How long have you had your eyes closed already? What was his plan? All of these were questions you found no immediate answers to.

You slightly parted your lips in order to speak and were just about to open your eyes again when he muttered something. 

Happy Birthday.

Something that made your breath hitch and heart sing as your lips molded together, fulfilling what you had both wished for.

AYATO

You’ve been on your feet since roughly 4:30 a.m., running up and down the halls of the Kamisato Estate to help the Retainers with the preparation of the most important political meeting all year.

Much to your dismay it had to fall exactly on the day of your birthday and had to be held at the Kamisato Estate. Which meant you wouldn’t get to see Ayato for most of the day and had to spend it alone. Well, mostly. The staff, Ayaka and Thoma were still there, too, but just like you, they were busy helping as well. All hands were needed today.

Ayato woke up around the same time you had and wished you a happy birthday first thing before already having to rush out to run errands.

But you understood the importance of the ordeal and were not mad or disappointed. Which seemed to have not gotten through to Ayato yet, who seemed extra touchy today whenever you ran into him in the hallway this morning.

Just now as you were carrying some items into the huge room the conference was supposed to be held in, you walked past Ayato in the hall once again.

Gloved, slender fingers suddenly found a place around your waist and turned you around. One of his hands wandered to the back of your head, pulling your face against his chest while he pressed a kiss to the crown of your head.

He stayed quiet for a moment, soaking your presence in, and exhaling heavily before uttering yet another apology into your hair.

“My love, please forgive me. I’m so sorry we are not able to spend all of today together to celebrate.”

“How often do I need to reassure you that it is alright, Ayato? I’m not upset in the slightest. In fact, I understand the importance of this. It may be my birthday but at the bottom of it, it is just a day like any other.” You reassured, burying your face deeper into his chest and basking in his warmth for this fleeting moment while inhaling the familiar flowery scent that always seemed to linger around him.

You heard him sigh before you looked up at him. He pressed his lips together into a thin line, before kissing the crown of your head once more with a defeated look in his eyes. One that carried all his thoughts and emotions at once. You knew he was sorry, it was practically written on his face. 

Sorry, that he couldn’t spend your day with you, that he wasn’t able to give you all the attention to deserved, and that he had to waste his precious time away with some boring politicians.

The hand that rested on your waist gave you another reaffirming squeeze before he peeled himself away from you again with a slight frown on his beautiful features. The sadness and disappointment still lingered behind his lilac irises. He was definitely beating himself up over it way more than you did.

“Okay.” He nodded in defeat. “I will see you in the evening, yeah?”

“Alright!” You cheered, giving him an honest smile. “And stop beating yourself up over it, okay?”

He nodded, squeezing your hands with his for one last time before going back to work. 

You continued helping out around the Estate until all the guests arrived and the door to the room all of them vanished into stayed shut. You expected them to stay in there at least until the late afternoon, if not even the evening.

And you were right, the sun had already begun to set when you felt a familiar pair of arms snake around your waist from behind again. You had been sitting outside in the garden and reading your book, soaking in the soothing late summer breeze while eagerly awaiting the end of Ayato's meeting.

"There you are." You hummed contently carding through the soft pastel blue locks of your husband who had his head buried in the crook of your neck. "I missed you."

"And so did I. It's been a long and exhausting day." He spoke in a low voice, as if he was about to drift off to sleep any minute, and slung his arms impossibly tighter around your midriff.

"Let's go for a short stroll to the city, my love. Will you join me? It doesn't sit right with me that you had to spend your birthday in solitude." He proposed in an afflicted tone.

"Aren't you too tired for–"

"I will not hear any objections." He interrupted, lifting his finger against your lips with a smug grin. 

And so you found yourself strolling through Ritou hand in hand. By the time you had arrived, the sun had completely set and the paper lanterns illuminated the streets, draping a comfortable blanket of yellow light over the surrounding area.

It was a quiet night. Just how you preferred it. No massive crowds of people you had to squeeze through, no queues in front of restaurants, and no one who would stop you to talk to Ayato. Just you, him, and the cicadas in the trees that bemoaned the encroaching end of the summer.

"Do you want me to get us some milk tea? I saw that my vendor of choice is still open." He asked when you sat down on a bench underneath a tall maple tree just out of sight of potential prying eyes and not far from said vendor.

"I'd love to."

"Anything specific you’d like me to get?"

"You choose.” You smiled brightly. “Surprise me.”

“Alright. Stay right here, I’ll be right back.”

You watched as he made his way over to the stall, carefully studying the menu with squinted eyes and a hand on his chin. You bit your lip and laughed to yourself because, as always, he was taking this tea business way too seriously.

Eventually, he picked an item before going right back to studying the menu as if he wanted to burn the letters themselves, into his retina. The vendor was visually nervous to be serving the man in front of him in fear of messing anything up and was twirling a straw between his fingers to calm himself. Until your husband finally decided on the second drink he wanted to order.

The vendor carefully handed the drinks to Ayato and promptly refused when he was offered Mora in return. Ayato skillfully ignored the man and promptly put the coins inside the tray before walking back in your direction with two cups of tea in hand.

“So, what did you get for me?” You quizically raised your eyebrows at the drink he handed you.

“I guess there is only one way for you to find out.” He smirked, taking a sip out of his own cup.

You carefully did the same, subconsciously expecting something like salty algae tea with sea ganoderma pearls, because you knew your husband and his strange tastes. But alas, you had signed up for it.

But unlike what you were expecting, black milk tea with a tinge of honey and sunsettia pearls enveloped your tastebuds soon after. Your favorite.

You hummed and closed your eyes with a smile, raveling in the refreshing taste of the beverage, making you forget how lonely you had been most of the day.

“You chose well.” You contently stated after a brief moment of indulging in your tea and looked at Ayato with a smile.

He inched closer to you on the bench with a devilish smirk painted across his lips. He shifted your chin upwards, making eye contact with you for a fleeting moment before uniting his lips with yours in a tender, loving kiss. And after all this time, it never failed to make the butterflies in your stomach flutter about wildly.

He gently took your hand in his as he began to carefully twist the wedding band around your finger. He looked up into your eyes, a sly smile adorned his lips once more before he smugly whispered: “Of course. I always do.” 

Do not repost, copy, translate or edit - © dustofthedailylife || reblogs, comments, and asks about Genshin or my fics are always greatly appreciated and motivate me! Maple dividers are mine - do not copy.

[bloodibambiidoll]

See you again

(Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader x Fem!OC)

Summary: Your girlfriend surprises you with tickets to see your favorite band, Corroded Coffin for your birthday. You and her spent one magical night with the lead singer over a year ago before they made it big. Will he remember you? (He definitely will.)

Warnings: 18+MDNI M/F/F threesome, OC and reader are in an established queer relationship, spit kink, choking, Dom!OC, Switch!Eddie, Sub!reader, nipple play, unprotected sex, G/G, reader is described to be a bit more shy and has a few moments of self doubt, Oral (F & M receiving) and I think that’s it? If I missed any please let me know! WK: 6.2k

A/N: Okay this was based on a request by @melodymunson for a rockstar!eddie threesome, I know you said you wanted them to be besties but I kind of took some liberties and then it just got away from me and I made lore lol. Potentially might write a prequel about their first night together if anyone is interested in that! Also the top right photo is supposed to depict my OC. Reader has no descriptions besides the outfit she is wearing. Feedback is greatly appreciated!🖤 Read the prequel here.

You eagerly waited in the line to the venue to see your favorite band. You have been a fan since they were still pretty underground, only playing in small bars for a few 100 people and haven’t gotten the chance to see them…see him since they got a record deal and made it big. The first time you saw them the lead singer and guitarist had you transfixed. You felt like a creep because you only knew his name since he said it on stage and yet you couldn’t stop thinking about him when you had your hand between your thighs at night. You went to several shows after that, never having the nerve to talk to him but always making lingering eye contact that you couldn’t tell if you were imaging or not.

Eventually you met your girlfriend Chloe at one of their shows and you and her immediately bonded over your mutual crush on the frontman. It didn’t take you long to realize you also had massive crushes on each other and the rest was history. You weren’t like Chloe, you never would have talked to her if she hadn’t approached you first. She was bold and confident and you were more shy and reserved despite the way you dressed insinuating otherwise. So when she told you at the last show you guys had gone to that she was going to just walk up to Eddie and ask him if he wanted to fool around with you guys you felt like you were going to pass out.

“Come on baby, we have talked about and fantasized about this so much. You might not want to believe it but I see the way he looks at us, I don’t think he would turn us down and even if he did that’s the worst that could happen.”

But he didn’t turn you down, his voice squeaked when he answered her and it made you feel a little better knowing he was nervous too. The three of you spent what was one of the best nights of your life together in the back of his van right outside the bar. Afterwards he told you over breakfast at a local diner that they had gotten signed very recently and would be moving out to California in the next week. You congratulated him with a hug and a kiss on the cheek before you parted ways and you haven’t seen him since.

So when Chloe surprised you with the tickets for your birthday, making a whole big thing of it, driving to the city and going shopping for new outfits. You were both equally nervous as you were excited. It’s not like there was even a guarantee he would see you or even recognize you but the possibility had you clenching your thighs thinking back to that night.

You made sure to get there early so when the doors opened you were able to rush to be directly up front against the bar. As people flooded in, you really looked around and realized how big the place truly was.

“This is crazy, I can’t believe how popular they are now. It was only a year ago when we saw them in that tiny bar in town.”

Chloe looked over at you and smiled “I know, it’s like they blew up over night! I’m excited to hear them play some of their new shit live!” She put her hands on your hips and got close to whisper in your ear.

“Plus… I don’t hate the idea of seeing Eddie again…”

You put your arms around her neck and bit your lip, looking into her pretty crystal blue eyes “I know, I don’t either”

You giggled, twisting some strands of her dyed cherry red hair at the back of her neck around your fingers before your face fell. “He probably won’t even see us though, even if he did, who knows if he would even recognize us at this point? I’ve heard his songs on the radio and seen his pictures in magazines. He's probably been with tons of girls since then.”

•

Little did you know Eddie had already noticed you. He was standing off to the side of the stage absentmindedly watching the local band that was opening for them tonight when saw you standing right in front with your girlfriend's arms wrapped around your shoulders. He felt his pants getting tighter just knowing he was in the same room as you. With the venues and crowds getting bigger and bigger he wasn’t sure he would ever see you again. But there you were looking pretty as ever in a tiny little leopard print top and a tight leather skirt with studded belts layered on it and he suddenly felt extremely nervous to go on stage for the first time in a while.

He thought about you as much as you thought about him. He thought about Chloe too, but he thought about you just a tiny bit more. He had seen you at his shows several times, way before he ever saw her. But he was always too nervous to talk to you. You truly intimidated him with your sexy little outfits, the way the black make-up was always perfectly smoked around your eyes making them pop, those glossy lips he wanted so badly to feel on his skin. You always came alone until one day you didn’t, you showed up with this gorgeous girl that was almost as tall as him, with cherry red hair and beautiful blue eyes that sparkled as she looked down at you. When he saw her wrap his arms around you and kiss you he was so disappointed he felt like his heart was going to fall out of his ass.

But then your girlfriend started making eye contact with him when he was on stage, looking him dead in the eyes as you swayed your hips against hers and she placed innocent seeming kisses on your neck when the look in her eyes was anything but. She would wink at him over your shoulder while she grabbed your ass and at that point he knew she was definitely teasing him. Even though he was pretty much positive that was the case, the small chance that it wasn’t was enough to deter him from approaching you in fear of coming off as a creep.

That night when you both walked up to him and pretty much straight up asked him if he wanted to fuck even with all of the crazy new experiences he’s had in the last year that was still the best night of his life. It played on a loop in his mind more often than he’d like to admit so the fact that you were standing there front and center at his show felt like the universe was blessing him and there was no way he was going to pass that up.

•

After the opening band finished there were people all over the stage, switching out instruments and equipment to get ready for CC to come on. The lights lowered and you felt butterflies in your tummy at the prospect of seeing Eddie again. When he came out you felt like you would’ve dropped to the ground if Chloe didn’t have her arms around you. He was always beautiful but now? He was otherworldly. If the fact that he wasn’t wearing a shirt and had added several tattoos to his chest since you saw him last wasn’t enough already he was wearing fucking leather pants that looked like they were painted on his body, a bit of eyeliner smudged around his eyes and his hair was styled to perfection.

As soon as he stood center stage, directly in front of you he made eye contact with you and smiled a big goofy smile at you. You felt like the butterflies in your stomach were going to explode. You looked back at Chloe with a flustered look on your face.

“You saw that.. right?” You gulped.

“Oh yeah, I saw that. I knew he would remember us, how could he forget? Especially you baby, you’re just so pretty.”

She smoothed some of your hair that was out of place and cupped your jaw. You leaned into her hand, she had this way of making you feel all fuzzy and warm with just her words and a simple touch and you felt your nerves calm slightly. It was short lived though, Eddie’s voice came through the speakers and flooded your senses.

“Hey everyone! You ready to fucking rock this bitch?!” As he played the first few chords of the first song everyone cheered, including you. As he played through the first songs of the set you were in absolute awe of him. You felt so proud of him, of all of them, seeing them in this environment. The way he worked the crowd, looking so natural up there, dominating the room with his presence. You couldn’t keep your eyes off him, bouncing between the way his fingers were working the guitar to the way his lips looked when he sang, wet with a mixture of spit and sweat. It made you think about how his hands and mouth felt in other places.

It didn’t help that he couldn’t keep his eyes off you either. He kept making eye contact with you and winking, standing directly in front of you with those fucking leather pants that left absolutely nothing to the imagination. His cock looked so big you literally wanted to pull his pants down right there and suck him off in front of everyone.

“He looks so fucking hot” Chloe whispered in your ear while leaving a few warm wet kisses along your pulse point causing you to subconsciously lean your head back on her shoulder grinding back against her and letting out a little whimper.

“Yeah…” you sighed “He fucking does” you looked back up at him and he was looking directly at you with a lust filled gaze as he sang. Chloe was still kissing your neck and knowing her she was staring back at him with the same intensity.

She was whispering dirty things in your ear while her hands roamed your body, leaving small wet kisses on your cheek and jaw. Eddie was up there, unable to take his eyes off the two of you, thrusting into his guitar and practically making out with the microphone. All through the show they continued their back and forth teasing, with you caught in the middle of it, just trying to stay standing upright at this point.

After the current song ended he bent down to whisper to one of the security guards, you watched him tilt his head towards you, and he sent you a wink before standing back at the center of the stage.

“Alright guys, this is gonna be our last song of the night!! You guys have been so awesome, thank you for coming out!!”

Halfway through the song the security guard Eddie whispered to approached you. “He wants to see you backstage.”

He opened the gate just enough for you both to slip through it. You heard a few girls making jealous comments and throwing insults your way but you genuinely couldn't care less at this moment.

You followed the guard backstage, with Chloe behind you as they finished up their final song. You stood off to the side as he thanked everyone and wished them a good night when he noticed you. He immediately started walking towards you, time felt like it was going in slow motion and your head was spinning the closer he got.

He walked right up to you, placing his hands on your shoulders and beaming at you.

“Hi princess” He pulled you into his arms and enveloped you in everything Eddie. His sweaty bare chest was pressed up against your cheek and he smelled so fucking good. Like sweat, cigarettes, a hint of weed, and a cologne that smells more expensive than the one he wore last time you saw him.

“Hi Eddie” you wrapped your arms around his waist and sighed, slightly muffled by the way your face was shoved into him. Wrapping his arms around your shoulders and locking you close to him, he rests his chin on your head so he can look past you at Chloe.

“Hey pretty boy” you heard her say as you felt her come up behind you and reach past you to run a finger along Eddie’s jaw before cupping it in her hand. “Did you miss us?”

He bit his lip and nodded, but Chloe wasn’t having any of that. She shoved her hand into his hair and pulled hard, causing him to let out a sexy groan that made you have to hold back a whimper of your own.

“Words babe, I wanna hear you say it” The way she was talking to him had you already feeling fuzzy and you knew it wasn’t going to take much for you to be in that fucked out headspace she always puts you in.

“Y-yeah I wasn’t sure if I’d ever see you after last time… we didn’t exchange numbers or anything so when I saw you two standing out there I thought I was dreaming again.”

“Again?” She cocked her eyebrow at him “Have you been dreaming of us honey?” She was fully pressed up against your backside now, with Eddie still caging you in from the front.

“Fuck yes I have” He groaned “How could I not?” He tilted his head so he was looking down at you “You’re the prettiest girls I’ve ever seen…”

You looked up at him through your lashes and brought your bottom lip between your teeth, feeling a lot less nervous now that you know he’s been thinking of you.

You got up on your tiptoes so you could whisper directly in his ear.

“We want you Eddie… take us to your dressing room, please?” You flicked your tongue out and licked behind his ear, sucking a little while you rubbed your hands down his chest.

“Fuck. You guys are going to kill me. I’ll do you one better though, take you to my way too fancy for me to comprehend hotel room and fuck you on the big king sized bed… All. Night. Long.” His hand came up to the nape of your neck and squeezed, this time you couldn’t hold it back, you let out a little whimper.

“Oh yeah? All night pretty boy? You think you can keep up with us?” She grabbed his chin, squishing his cheeks together and shaking his head from side to side a little. Seeing the way Eddie submitted to her was driving you insane, thinking back to how dominant he was with YOU it was so sexy how easily she could turn him into putty in her hands.

She brought her lips back to your neck, kissing and licking while she looked over you into Eddie’s eyes in that way that drove him absolutely crazy.

“Fuck. Alright. Let’s fucking go before I lose my mind start fucking you right here.” He let go of you and you immediately missed his embrace, but he grabbed your hand, dragging toward the back exit and to the car he had waiting, pulling Chloe along behind you. 

The short drive to his hotel was a blur, you were sandwiched between them in the backseat, two sets of hands and lips roaming your body. They were grabbing at your chest, your thighs, kissing and licking on your neck leaving marks and love bites, you were completely at their mercy. When the car started coming to a stop you all practically jumped out, giggling and smiling at each other as you started running hand in hand towards his room.

•

As soon as the door was shut Eddie was on you, he grabbed your face in his big hands and ran his thumbs over your cheeks, his rings were cool and it felt nice on your heated skin “You are so beautiful.” He smiled down at you and then kissed you way more gently than he had in the car, he kissed you like you meant something to him and it was confusing and a little scary but it made your insides feel like they were on fire.

“Okay I get it, you guys are obsessed with each other and that’s very cute and all but I want you both on your fucking knees. Now.” Chloe was standing a few feet away from you, with her hands on her hips and a fire in her eyes that went straight to your core. You kicked off your boots and slid down to your knees without hesitation. It took Eddie’s brain a second to compute not only that this was actually happening right now but how hot your dynamic was. The way you immediately submitted to your girlfriend made his cock even harder than it already was and he wasn’t even sure how that was possible at this point.

He stood there dumbfounded for a second before she walked over to him and grabbed his jaw in her hand, pulling his face close to hers. “I told you to Get. On. Your. Fucking. Knees.”

He stared at her with wide brown eyes before kneeling down next to you.

“Good. You gonna be a good boy for me? I’ll only let you touch my girl if you’re good.” She was bent down to look him directly in the eyes, seeming even taller than she already was and he kind of felt like he was going to bust in his pants right now.

“Yes, I’ll be good. Promise.” He was looking up at her with those pretty doe eyes, driving her crazy.

“Good boy.” She ran her thumb over his bottom lip and he lapped his tongue over it before taking it into his mouth. “Very good boy.”

You squirmed in place, shoving your hands between your legs and squeezing as you watched them. You were honestly so horny at this point you needed one of them to touch you before you exploded. The way Chloe was talking to him was so fucking hot.

“Mmm and we have my good girl too” she said as she looked over at you. “Are you gonna be a good girl for me and Eddie tonight honey?”

“Yes I wanna be good” you bit your lip and nodded eagerly.

“Good. You can start by getting those hands from between your thighs, I didn’t give you permission to do that.” You stuttered out an apology and rested your hands on your lap.

“I’ll let it slide just this once, because my baby is just so eager huh? Want us both to fuck you so bad don’t you?”

“Yes, I want it so bad, been wanting it so bad. I need it.”

“Look how pretty you both look on your knees for me.” She brought a hand to each of your throats and applied just the right amount of pressure. “Take each other's clothes off.”

She didn’t have to tell Eddie twice he practically ripped off the leather jacket he put on in the car and then turned to you and undid the tie at the front of your top.

“Fuck, no bra sweetheart? Are you trying to kill me?”

You bit your lip and nodded “I was hoping that maaaaybe we might see you, I didn’t see any point in wearing it if you were just going to take it off.”

He groaned as he pushed your shirt off your shoulders before leaning in to kiss your neck, making his way down to your chest. But before he can get very far he’s yanked back abruptly by hair.

Chloe towered over him, blue eyes boring down into his.

“I said to undress her, I didn’t give you permission to kiss her, did I?” She gave his hair another tug, causing him to let out a pornographic sounding moan.

“Naughty boy. Open.” He obeyed immediately, sticking out his tongue and looking up at her through his lashes. She let some drool slide off her tongue and onto his and he swallowed without hesitation.

“Now stop being a brat and take her clothes off like I fucking told you to. You can play with her when I say you can.”

“Shit, fuck, yeah okay.” Eddie felt like he died and went to heaven and even more so when his eyes wandered back to you. Your bare chest rising up and down with every breath you take, leaning back on your hands and stretching your legs out in front of you, you bend your knees slightly so he could see up your skirt. There was a little wet patch on your red lace thong and he wanted nothing more than to just bury his face there. You could see the look in his eyes shift then, the entire night he’s looked at you in awe but now he’s looking at you like he wants to destroy you and you want nothing more.

He leans forward, not taking his eyes off yours and starts unbuckling the belts layered on top of your skirt. He’s doing it slowly, like he’s playing with you already despite Chloe’s protests. When the final belt comes off he pulls down the zipper on your skirt before taking it off entirely, leaving you in just your thong.

“God damn baby, look at you.” He smirked at you, running his hands down your calves, the touch sending electric shockwaves up your legs and straight to your pussy. He brought his hands all the way up your legs before looping his fingers in the band of your underwear and pulling them down your ankles.

“Fuck. Look at that pretty pussy, I can see how wet you are from here.”

You couldn’t take it anymore. “Your turn, lean back.”

He assumes your previous position, legs outstretched, weight supported on the palms of his hands as he leans back. You don’t waste any time leaning forward and undoing his belt before hastily undoing his pants and pulling them down his legs. You could see the outline of his cock in his boxers, leaving nothing to the imagination. Long and thick and so fucking hard, a little wet patch forming on the gray fabric. Your mouth watered at the sight. You ran your hands down his chest to his hips before pulling his boxers off. His dick bouncing out and landing on his stomach.

“Fuck. God.” You groaned. “I want you in my mouth so bad.” You looked over to Chloe with pleading eyes, who was now sitting on the edge of the bed completely naked, legs spread.

“You wanna suck him off baby? How about this, since you’ve been such a good obedient little girl for me tonight you can suck his dick while I eat your pussy. How’s that sound?”

“Yes. Please.” You whimpered, she knew exactly how that sounded to you, fucking amazing.

“Okay baby girl, get on the bed, hands and knees.”

You stood immediately, walking over to the bed and getting into the position she asked. You faced them with your back arched so your ass was in the air and stuck your tongue out. A little bit of drool dripping onto the bed. Like a toy, waiting and ready to be played with. Eddie was the first to approach you, cupping your face in his hand gently before grabbing your chin roughly between his pointer finger and thumb and squishing your lips together.

“Look at you, such a good girl, you just want us to treat you like a little fuck doll, huh?” Your eyes rolled back and you moaned, this is what you fucking wanted.

“Yes, please please.” You weren’t above begging at this point. The tension has been building since you saw him on stage and you can’t take much more of them not touching you in some capacity.

“No need to beg doll, I’m gonna give you exactly what you want.” He let go of your chin and held his palm out in front of your mouth. “Spit.”

You grab his hand in both of yours, looking him straight in the eyes as you lick across his palm before spitting on it. He groans, bringing his hand to his cock and stroking it a few times. You felt the bed dip behind you, familiar hands running along your ass before placing a rough smack there causing you to yelp. You looked over your shoulder to see your girlfriend sucking her fingers into her mouth. Her tits on full display, big and full with the prettiest pink nipples you loved to suck.

She brought the fingers in her mouth to your dripping folds, running them up and down your slit. You sighed in relief at the feeling of finally being touched. She inserted two fingers deep into you while making eye contact with you in that way she did that made you feel like you were going to melt. You felt a large hand grab onto your hair, pulling it to turn your head. Eddie was looking down at you with equal intensity, still lazily stroking his cock.

“Eyes on me baby. Stick your tongue out.”

You stuck your tongue out and he slapped his cock against it a few times, but it wasn’t enough, you were tired of the teasing so you took matters into your own hands and wrapped your lips around his head. You swirl your tongue around it a few times before taking as much as him as you could down your throat.

“Holy fuck! O-oh my god, your mouth is so fucking good.” He grabbed onto your hair and tugged, looking down at you with hungry eyes as you began to bob your head up and down on his cock. Chloe continued to move her fingers in and out of you, bringing her thumb to your clit causing you to moan around Eddie.

She suddenly removed her fingers and you whined in protest but you didn’t have to feel the loss of her touch for long because suddenly her tongue was licking a stripe from your hole to your clit before circling it with her tongue and sucking it into her mouth. You pulled off Eddie’s cock to moan loudly at the feeling.

You looked back at her for a moment, she was on her back, one arm wrapped around your thigh, her other arm is out of sight but you can tell by the way it’s moving that she’s touching herself. Fucking god, they’re going to be the death of you.

You turned back to the naked metal head standing over you and looked up at him through your lashes. “Fuck my mouth Eddie, use me.”

“Jesus fucking Christ.” He mumbled before grabbing back onto your hair, shoving his cock all the way down your throat. He pulled back almost all the way then repeated the action before he started thrusting in and out of your mouth, using your throat just like you asked.

Chloe was still devouring you from behind, circling two fingers around your hole before inserting them, curling them and hitting that perfect spongy spot inside you. Between that and the way Eddie was looking at you while he abused your throat you felt yourself getting close already.

“You gonna cum already baby?” She mumbled against your pussy. “I can feel you tightening around my fingers.”

“You’re already gonna cum? You like us using you like this huh? Getting your pussy eaten while I abuse this little throat of yours.” Eddie started thrusting faster and Chloe sucked harder on your clit and that’s all it took. His words and the feeling of them all over you sent you over the edge. Rubbing back against Chloe’s mouth and moaning loudly around Eddie’s cock you felt white hot pleasure run through your entire body.

He releases his grip on your hair, letting his cock slip out of your mouth while Chloe kisses up your spine before flipping you over onto your back, straddling you and kissing you roughly. She tasted like you, the cinnamon gum she always chews, and you could slightly taste the strawberry chapstick she put on earlier that night. It was intoxicating. She lifted one of your legs and sat between them so she could rub her pussy against yours. She started slowly grinding on you but quickly picked up the pace, humping against you hard and fast. Both of your tits bounced with each thrust and you reached up to grab onto hers, squeezing her nipples between your fingers. The room was filled with the sound of your moans and the slick noises of you rubbing against each other.

“God damn, you guys are so fucking sexy.” You tilt your head to look over at Eddie, he’s standing there naked and tattooed, his dick hard and throbbing while he strokes it.

“Get over here pretty boy, come fuck our girl while I sit on her face” our girl, you liked the sound of that.

She rolled off of you and pulled your head into her naked lap, reaching down to take both your tits in her hands before roughly pinching your nipples.

Eddie came over and got on the bed between your legs, looking down at you like prey. “I’m going to fucking destroy this pussy princess.”

He leaned down and kissed you rough and hard before sitting up and grabbing his cock to position it at your entrance. The stretch of him pushing inside you was delicious, he thrust in and out a few times before pushing himself all the way in, his hips against yours and his balls touching your ass.

“God damn you are so fucking tight.” He started fucking into you hard and fast, unable to pace himself. “You feel s-so fucking good, being such a good girl for us.”

Chloe positions herself so her legs are on either side of your head and her pussy is directly above your mouth and you take the hint right away. Grabbing onto her thighs to pull her to your mouth and licking a stripe up her pussy before shoving your tongue inside her, fucking her with it.

“Mmm fuck baby, your mouth always feels so good.” She moaned as you wrapped your lips around her clit. Leaning forward she resumed playing with your boobs, tweaking and pinching your nipples, landing a slap on them here in there causing you to yelp and moan into her each time. She started riding your face, and you let her decide the pace, just holding onto her thighs while you let her use your tongue.

Eddie brought his thumb to your clit and started rubbing circles on it while he continued to pound into you, letting out moans that you wanted to record and listen to over and over again like your favorite song. You felt him lean forward and you couldn’t see but you could hear them making out above you. Chloe’s pace picked up and so did Eddie’s. The circles on your clit got faster and you could hear them moaning against each other's mouths. You were close. So so close.

“Oh god baby, I’m gonna need you to come soon because I’m not going to last much longer between how tight you’re squeezing me and the view I’m looking at I’m going to fucking explode any second.” He grabbed your legs and held onto them by your thighs so he could change his rhythm and hit the exact right spot that had you seeing stars. You writhed underneath them both, moaning and meeting Eddie’s thrusts best you could with your limited movement. Seconds later you felt him spilling inside of you just as Chloe’s movements in your tongue increased in speed. You leaned up slightly to wrap your lips around her clit, sending her over the edge. She moaned loudly, throwing her head back, as she continued to rub against your mouth while she rode out her high.

Eddie was completely fucked out, he pulled out of you and watched his cum drip out of your pussy down your ass and when he looked up he felt like he was about to get hard again already. Chloe was riding your face, her head thrown back, hand in her hair, skin flushed. She looked absolutely mesmerizing.

Once she came down scooted off your face to come lay down beside you. “Fuck. That was so hot.” She was panting as she wrapped her arm around your shoulders and placed a kiss on your cheek. “You are such a good girl.”

Eddie came and laid on the opposite side of you and wrapped his arm around your waist nuzzling his face into your neck. “The best girl.” He said.

You sighed in content and giggled at the praise.

“Happy Birthday, sweet girl.” Chloe leaned over and kissed you softly.

Eddie sat up abruptly next to you. “WHAT!? It’s your birthday!? Why didn’t you tell me!? We could’ve done something to celebrate!”

You looked over at the clock, it read 2:37AM “I mean it’s not my birthday anymore, and I’m pretty sure we just celebrated, several times.” You laughed.

“Okay technically we kinda celebrated. But you know that’s not what I meant, I meant actual birthday stuff. Like cake and singing happy birthday and all that. You deserve that.” He pouted.

“Eddie! It’s fine, this is all I wanted. Chloe surprised me with this trip and this is more than I could’ve ever asked for on my birthday.” You smiled at him and ran a reassuring hand down his arm. “Plus you didn’t even know it was my birthday, how could you? Don’t feel bad silly.”

“Okay well still!! I want to do something for you. This is the last stop on tour and we are playing two more shows here in town. Let me take you to dinner tomorrow.” He put his hand over yours, smiling hopefully at you.

“Eddie… I- We-“ you struggled to find what to say.

“Eddie, baby, we would love that. But, we spent all of our cash on this trip and we only have money for gas and food on the way home. We weren’t even going to stay tonight since we couldn’t afford a hotel and you so graciously let us stay here. But we really can’t afford to stay here another night. I’m sorry.” Chloe spoke up for you, not in a controlling way, she just knows sometimes you have a hard time telling people no. Especially when you don’t want to.

“No, I mean stay here with me in my hotel. We can do whatever you want tomorrow, and then I’ll take you out to a nice fancy dinner.” Fuck, did he really want that? It honestly sounded amazing, but you didn’t even have extra clothes. There was no way you were going to go to a nice dinner with a newly famous rockstar in the clothes you wore all night.

“Eddie I’d really love that, and it’s so sweet that you want to do that for me but we don’t have extra clothes, and I’d feel bad just imposing on your space and having you spend your money on us.” It hurts you to say no to him, you can see his face fall a bit before it lights back up in a smile.

“Sweetheart, listen… I have so much money now I don’t know what to do with it. I’ll take you guys shopping, you can get clothes for the next few days and something pretty to wear to dinner. Pleeeeease??” He sticks his lip out and puts his hands together like a kid on Halloween begging for one more piece of candy.

“That sounds fucking amazing honestly, I’m in. Let him do this for you baby, he wants to and you deserve it.” Chloe looked over at you both with a Cheshire Cat smile before placing a kiss on your forehead. “I know it’s hard for you to let people do things for you, but if you can’t do it for you, do it for me? Because I really fucking want the rockstar Eddie treatment for a day.”

She wasn’t wrong, he’s practically begging to spoil you, it wouldn’t hurt to let him, would it?

“Fuck it. Okay. You can take us shopping and to dinner but I’m going to suck your dick so good and fuck your brains out after. As a thank you.”

His dick twitched at the thought. “Fuck princess, you can’t talk like that you’re going fo get me going again.”

“Who said I wasn’t trying to do exactly that?” You bit your lip and moved your hand to palm his now semi hard cock.

“Yeah? You wanna go again?” He looked like he just won the lottery.

“Hell yeah we do pretty boy, I specifically remember you saying something about ‘fucking us all night long’” Chloe was climbing over you, straddling your lap as she reached out to grab Eddie’s throat. “Did you not?”

“Fuck yeah I did.” He grabbed her face and pulled her into a rough kiss.

Yeah, this was definitely the best birthday of your life, the best day of your life in general honestly and tomorrow was probably going to be even better.

Tagging the bbs who seemed like they wanted to read this: @eddiemunson95 @rip-quizilla @the-unforgivenn 🤭🖤

[nhl-stories]

Rue – Clayton Keller

Summary: Ines has a bit of a dilemma, marry her ex-boyfriend or get deported

Author’s Note: I don't even go here but an anon suggested Clayton and I ran with it and loved every moment. This is obviously a dramatized version of immigration in America, while I tried to keep aspects as authentic as possible, I also took creative liberties to fit the story.

Also his mom's name is Kelley Keller and that is just so insane to me

Word Count: 9.2k

Album Series Masterlist

Don't wanna make it worse I'm gonna make it work

“What if you married Clayton?”

“You think marrying my ex-boyfriend for a green card is the answer?”

Ines doesn’t mean to raise her voice; Kat is just trying to help. But it’s been a long 24 hours and she can’t really control her emotions anymore.

“I think there should be reformed paths to citizenship. But that’s not going to happen in the immediate future, so I’m spit balling here.”

Ines flops face down on couch cushion and screams.

“I don’t hear you coming up with any better solutions,” Kat adds.

She lifts her head in shock, “You’re being serious?”

“Kat’s serious about what?” Nick comes back with drinks, his solution for comforting Ines.

“Nez should marry Kells for a green card,” Kat keeps saying it like it’s realistic.

Nick ponders the idea for a moment and shrugs, “It’s not the worst idea.”

“I’m just in a hellish nightmare, I’ll wake up and everything will be normal and everyone will be sane,” Ines rubs her temples.

Kat rubs her shoulder and nudges the drink closer to her.

Ines downs the drink and Schmaltzy passes his own drink before retreating for refills.

“I know it just happened, but have you thought at all what you’re going to do?”

“I mean, I’ve spent my whole life thinking about what I would need to do, it’s just never been so real.”

Ines feels a fresh batch of tears coming, she takes another drink to push them back. Nick comes back with a pitcher of drinks this time, clearly sensing where this night is headed.

“Didn’t one of your sisters have immigration problems?” Nick asks as he pours her a refill.

“Sort of, but it only came up because she was getting married and applying for a green card.”

Kat opens her mouth and Ines shoot hers a glare, “to the man she loves who happened to be an American citizen.”

 “Yeah, well, you kind of still love Clayton,” Kat mumbles, “I mean you guys still have pretty regular sex right, Nick?”

Ines turns her boiling anger towards Schmaltzy, “Oh my god, he told you we were having sex?!”

“No, you told her,” he points towards Kat, “and she told me, Kells hasn’t said anything.”

“We don’t do it that often.”

She huffs defensively before squeezing her eyes shut, hoping to return from whatever alternative universe she stumbled into.

“I know the idea sounds insane but think about it, you have all these pictures of you two together, you never made some big breakup announcement or anything, and you still live with him.”

“I mean it would be pretty hard to prove that you aren’t together,” Nick adds.

“From what you’ve told me about this babe, marrying someone is the easiest way for you to get on the right track for citizenship without having to go back to Mexico, where you might not be allowed back.”

She knows Kat is right, that she’s making an excellent case, but that doesn’t make the idea any easier to swallow.

“There’s not enough alcohol in the world.”

Ines spends the next couple hours putting that theory to the test; she doesn’t process much, too busy preserving her brain in alcohol. She loses track of time, of what she should be feeling.

The alcohol makes her feel warm and giddy, but her brain is screaming at her to feels anxious and alert. The mix of the emotion just leaves her a sobbing mess, curled up in Kat’s arms.

Then she hears a shuffle at the door followed by Clayton’s voice.

“You told him?! Oh my god,” she buries herself further into Kat.

“We called him to take you home, we thought you’d prefer to wake up in your own bed.”

Nick is speaking to him in hushed tones and Ines is immediately suspicious.

“I don’t need you to marry me, arcilla, I’ll be fine in Mexico,” her filter is non-existent at this point but somehow, she can still talk this much through her tears and inebriation.

“What is she talking about?” Schmaltzy clearly didn’t spill the beans.

Kat sits up, cradling Ines off to the side, like she’s a child who’s not supposed to hear an adult conversation. Even one this pertinent to her.

“Someone found out she doesn’t have legal citizenship and he’s probably going to report her.”

“What the fuck,” Clayton feels every muscle in his body tense.

“And these two idiots think you should marry me so I can get a green card.”

“Oh.”

Clayton’s never been great with big emotions, and Ines’ tears mixed with her words has his brain frazzled. He came thinking he was just being the DD for Ines, not DD for Ines in distress.

“Nez, babe, why don’t we table this for tonight. Let Kells take you back to your own bed and sleep it off. We’ll start fresh tomorrow,” Kat gently moves some hair behind Ines’ hear.

Ines doesn’t respond, just stands up and follows Clayton to his car on wobbly legs.

The drive isn’t far, but Clayton still feels like he has to say something, anything. He can’t find the words; they aren’t his strong suit. So instead, he wordlessly reaches across the console and grabs Ines’ hand.

⁄⁄⁄

The sun pours through her curtains with a vengeance; telling her it’s pretty late in the morning without even needing to open her eyes. Normally, she would hate wasting most of her day away in bed, but sleeping is a nice escape; not just from reality but from the pounding headache she feels behind her eyes.

Ines flips onto her back and throws an arm over her eyes, debating whether getting up and eating something is better than sleeping more.

Clayton makes the decision for her with a knock on the door, he sheepishly pokes his head in before coming to sit at the end of the bed. Offering up a bag of food, which Ines greedily takes knowing it contains her favorite breakfast sandwich.

“You’re a lifesaver,” she moans after taking a bite, digging into the bag to grab the extra hot sauce she knows Clayton didn’t forget.

She looks up and chokes on her sandwich.

Clayton is holding open a ring box with a diamond ring.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“I talked to Schmaltzy and Kat this morning and you know, I think they’re right. Getting married to me is gonna be the easiest way for you stay in the country.”

“And ruin your life.”

“How will being married to you be that much different than it is now?”

He makes a good point. They broke up before the last off-season and he had offered to let her stay in his house since he would be traveling for a big chunk of the summer. Not worry about finding a new place while she got back on her feet. That was months ago and she’s still here, cooking him meals, cleaning up around the house, having sex with him.

The only real difference is she has her own room now.

“I don’t know, legal paperwork, maybe me being detained by ICE, you being shackled to me for god knows how long, probably two years at least. What if you meet someone?”

“I’m a professional athlete, I don’t think people would be to shocked if I cheated on you.”

Ines isn’t impressed by his attempt at a joke.

“This isn’t fair to you.”

“And it’s fair that you have to move back to a country you barely remember living in?”

He has a single-mindedness that no amount argument will sway. Especially while Ines is in this hungover state.

“Okay, Mr. Machismo, where’d you get the ring?”

“I– um– got it this morning, Kat helped pick it out. You know, need some proof this is real. And before you freak, I bought it with cash so there’s no paper trail or whatever.”

“Christ, you really thought this through?”

“You always told me it could be a possibility, so you know, I thought about what I’d do, especially when we were actually together.”

The look on his face makes her want to cry. He’s so sure; certain that she’s worth the effort, was worth having an escape plan for her.

“I know it’s crazy, but I’d hate to just sit by and watch you get torn away from your life when I could do something.”

“Okay,” Ines’ voice cracks, wet through the tears she can’t hold in anymore, “If you’re sure.”

Clayton nods, plucks the ring out of the box and holds it out on his palm for her; it seems too intimate or too sacrilegious for him to slip it on for her.

“I’ll call my immigration lawyer,” she twists the ring on her finger.

⁄⁄⁄

“Hola Ines!” Sierra, her immigration lawyer squeezes her tightly.

“And this must be the famous tonelada de arcilla,” Sierra grins at Clayton and shakes his hand.

“I can’t believe she told you that,” Ines grumbles as she takes a seat.

“Soledad couldn’t keep her big mouth shut if she tried,” Sierra moves to the other side of her desk, “besides I love your mom’s inability to understand American names, like Ashton.”

“Oh yeah, tonelada de ceniza,” Ines giggles.

“You’re saying I’m not special?” Clayton smirks.

“You’re very special mi arcilla,” she bumps his knee with her own.

“So, we’re here to talk about a marriage green card?” Sierra gets to business.

“We got engaged right before this, but now some asshole is threatening to report Nez’ status to immigration. So it sounds fishy, but we just want to start the process before anything happens.”

Ines nods with a tight smile. She was expecting Clayton to be here for moral support, not for him to take the lead.

“Okay, so we don’t know if he’s reported anything or if ICE will even investigate you. But since you work for a political organization that isn’t exactly beloved in Arizona, we’ll prepare for the worst.”

Instinctively, Clayton reaches out to hold Ines’ hand, stop her from fidgeting before she even starts.

Sierra looks at her watch, “we probably don’t have time to get you married today, but definitely can get your license today. It’s probably for the best, since this is kind of rush job you’ll probably want to dress up, have some friends as witnesses, make it clear this is above the board.”

Ines squeezes Clayton’s hand. Sierra is too busy shuffling through papers to notice any nerves, or maybe she’s just used to it.

“How’s that sound? Married by tomorrow, try to finish the paperwork in the next couple weeks?”

“Um- what about signing a pre-nup?” Clayton snaps his head towards Ines, “I mean I know it’s best if we have like joint accounts to show it’s legit or that I won’t end up on welfare immediately, but most people aren’t marrying millionaires.”

“You don’t need to sign a pre-nup,” Clayton sounds almost hurt at her suggestion.

Ines slips her hand out of his, “Don’t be stupid, we’re only moving this fast because of me, I don’t want you to be at any legal risk just because I need a green card.”

“I haven’t worked with a case quite like this, but a pre-nup might help your case that this is for the right reasons and not just for a green card.”

Ines starts chewing on her thumbnail, Clayton grabs her hand to stop her.

“I’m not your agent, but we can probably draft a quick contract of sorts that will say she will sign a post-nuptial and you can sort that out after with your people.”

Sierra then goes on a spiel about what to expect, what documents they’ll need, forms they need to fill out, the medical exam Ines will need. Clayton is trying to pay attention, but his eyes are glazing over. She hooks her foot around his ankle and tries to give him her most grateful smile, she hopes it doesn’t look too much like a grimace.

They find themselves at the courthouse the next day. Kat had insists they don’t see each other before the wedding, so they go in separate cars. It makes no sense since the foursome all knows this isn’t real, it’s all an act.

Kat stops her on the steps of the courthouse,

“You have your something old with the dress,” she gestures to the huipil her abuela had made for her mother, it was the only mostly white thing she owned, though it was mostly covered in bright colored flowers.

“And your something new with that rock on your finger, so here’s your something borrowed and blue,” she digs through her purse for a box with a pair of simple sapphire earring.

“You know it’s not–“

“This may not be your dream wedding, but let’s no fuck around with good luck.”

Kat looks like she wants to say more, but that’s not something Ines wants to dissect at the moment. She pulls her into a tight embrace instead.

Clayton and Nick are already waiting inside. Ines makes a silly scrunched up face that Clayton returns.

“Don’t be gross,” Kat nudges her, it’s when Ines realizes she’s filming.

“I honestly thought you were gonna wear a Gucci t-shirt,” Ines grins when they stop in front of the guys.

“I made him put on something with a collar,” Nick gives Clayton a playful shove.

“Aww he could have been your something blue,” Kat coos as Ines fixes the collar of Clayton’s steel blue shirt.

“But I still would have needed something borrowed,” she laughs until she remembers she’s borrowing Clayton, she drops her hands to her sides like they caught on fire.

Thankfully, the clerk calls their names, saving them from dwelling too long on that truth.

The ceremony takes all of 15 minutes. Ines all too aware of her hands sweating in Clayton’s as they hold hands in front of the judge. Picture perfect.

“By the power vested in my by the state of Arizona, I know pronounce you married!”

When neither react right away the judge speaks up again and winks, “now would be a lovely time to kiss.”

An awkward giggle bubbles out of Ines, but then Clayton is cupping her face and kissing her. She kisses back, and what should probably be a more chaste kiss gets a little heated. Ines likes kissing Clayton, sue her.

They’re broken a part by the obnoxious cheers from Kat and Schmaltzy. Both are flushed when they pull away, neither quite sure if it’s from lust or embarrassment.

“Now that’s how you start off a marriage, congratulations,” the judge smiles.

⁄⁄⁄

Ines is fidgeting with everything. She’s moved a vase of flower about twenty times, though it’s only moved about 1 inch away from its original place.

Clayton grabs her arms and pins them to her sides, “relax, it’s just your family.”

“Oh yeah, my totally calm, quiet, chill family. Nothing to worry about.”

“Your family loves me, we’ll be fine,” he lets her arms go and she immediately moves the vase again.

“Where’s your ring?”

She reaches into the pocket of her dress, “My mom will notice it immediately, I’ll put it on after we tell them,” she starts to turn before wheeling back around, “that we’re engaged they don’t need to know we’re actually married, I don’t want them worrying about immigration.”

Clayton nods.

“And where’s your ring?” she instinctively grabs his hand to look.

“You just said they shouldn’t know we got married,” he laughs at her pinballing thoughts.

Ines opens her mouth to say something but he cuts her off by pulling out one of his chains, the silver ring hanging off of it.

“Okay,” she lets out a sigh, “keep it in your shirt, arcilla.”

Ines moves over to straighten an already pristine tablecloth; all the deception is making her ill. She doesn’t want to tell anyone, but she knows the news will get out somehow, and her mother will never forgive her. She might not forgive her if she learned she’s already married.

“When are we gonna tell your family? We can’t just be ‘engaged’ for two years or so without them knowing.

“We can call them after probably,” he shrugs, his confidence over this decision clearly wavering a bit. Ines feels secretly happy about that, they’re on a level playing field.

The doorbell rings, the commotion of her immediate family barely muffled through the door.

“Showtime,” Ines plasters on a big smile.

The family stumbles in, a cacophony of Spanish follows as they all speak over each other to greet Ines and pass off food.

“Clayton, mi amor,” Ines’ mom cups his face and kisses him all over before pulling him into a tight embrace, “I knew you two would figure it out.”

“Yeah, I’m glad we did.”

He takes some food and follows Ines to the kitchen as she gives directions to her family in Spanish. They’ve been together long enough he recognizes some of it, but he feels bad for never trying to learn Spanish in earnest.

One of her sisters, Teresa, is pouring shots of tequila. Ines smirks at him and is about to comment when a small body rams into him.

“Clayton! Look I lost a tooth at hockey,” Ines’ niece, Marisol smiles to show off the gap.

“She didn’t lose it during a game, she lost it shooting in our driveway,” her twin brother Mateo sneers.

“You’re just mad you have all your teeth still,” she sticks her tongue out.

“You know when you get adult teeth you want to keep them all, even as a hockey player,” Ines butts in.

“Whatever tia,” the little girl rolls her eyes and gets a scoff back from her aunt.

“The new season just started, how’s the new gear?” Clayton changes the subject.

“I don’t have to wear three pairs of socks in my skates anymore, and the sticks are so nice.” Mateo’s eyes gleam with excitement.

“Maybe later we can shoot around a bit,” Clayton smiles back.

The twins cheer at the idea before running off to tell their mom.

“You bought them gear for their new season?” Ines furrows her brows.

“Yeah, I have my connections,” he tries to play it off.

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“No, but last season they had all that hand-me-down gear, it was literally the least I could do for getting them into the sport in the first place.

Ines nods.

“Lovebirds, we’re taking shots in your honor,” Teresa calls them over to the rest of the adults and hands them cups.

“¡Arriba, abajo, al centro y pa’dentro!”

The tequila goes down smooth, relaxing her enough to rip off the band aid.

“Well, we have something else for you to cheers,” Ines leans into Clayton’s side before reaching into her pocket and putting on the ring, “we’re engaged.”

There are screams, hugs, kisses, and even some tears. Ines feels the alcohol going to her head far faster than it should. Another glass being thrust into hand and another toast.

“Felicidades mija,” Ines’ dad brings her in close.

He’s a man of few words, partially because he never really learned the language of his new country. Those two simple words and the joy in his eyes makes Ines want to weep. He turns to Clayton, placing a strong hand on his shoulder and holding his other hand out.

“Bienvenido a nuestro familia.”

“Uh, gracias Hector, soy muy um–“ he leans over to Ines “how do I say I’m very excited?”

“Está muy emocionado, papi.”

“¡Más tequila!” He shouts and the family cheers.

“He’s happy for us, right? Not trying to kill me?” Clayton ribs Ines.

“I think this might be a test, if you die you wouldn’t have fit in anyway,” she smiles back.

“So, when are you going to get pregnant, mija?”

“Jesucristo mamí,” Ines furiously blushes, “couldn’t you have at least asked that in Spanish?”

“It takes both of you, I thought he should understand too.”

Her family is a little less embarrassing the rest of the party, they genuinely seem excited for Clayton to join the family. Her niece and nephew ask if Clayton is finally their real tio while she watches them pass around a ball on the sport court in the backyard.

Her heart aches with the truth.

It’s keeping her up in her bed. Usually, after that much tequila she’d be asleep within minutes, but there’s too much going on in her brain.

Her door creaks open and Clayton creeps into the room.

“How drunk are you still?” Ines tries to suppress the smile in her voice as Clayton clumsily crawls into the bed.

He merely grunts in response and moves around to get comfy.

“And you’re in here why?”

“I think the air conditioner isn’t getting into my room,” he mumbles and drapes an arm over Ines, burrowing his head into neck.

He can’t see her epic eye roll; she knows the air conditioner is probably fine and there are two other guest rooms he could use.

“You don’t have to lie, I know you like to cuddle when you’re drunk, babe.”

She winces at her casual use of a pet name, feels Clayton freeze for a second too.

She runs a hand through his hair until he relaxes again, “since my family tried to poison you, I’ll make you a hangover-approved breakfast before practice tomorrow.”

He hums in response, breath evening out until he’s asleep.

Ines is quick to follow, the weight of his arm a grounding comfort.

⁄⁄⁄

A month into the regular season and Ines still hasn’t been to a game. Kat warned her some of the significant others were starting to talk. Rumors of her breaking up with Clayton before the off-season had been swirling around. Sure, those rumors were true, but there was no concrete reason to believe them until her recent absence.

From what Ines heard about other teams, this group wasn’t particularly cliquey or gossipy. But sometimes that meant when there was something to talk about, they were hyper-focused. And that seems to be the situation now.

So being the girlfriend/fiancée/wife/whatever the hell she is to a member of team leadership, she invited the group over for dinner and drinks to watch an away game.

In actuality, it comes at the perfect time. Ines likes planning and organizing and it’s the perfect way to keep her mind off everything else. The most pressing being that Clayton is in St. Louis and made her promise to Facetime with him and his parents after the game. Keeping up appearances when she didn’t travel for the first game with her future in-laws.

Coming in at a close second is the fact the Blues are playing in town the day before Thanksgiving, so his mom thought it was a great time to visit for the holiday. Especially since Ines couldn’t make it out to Missouri this trip.

She’s already nauseous at the thought of moving her stuff back into the master bedroom, hiding all evidence of the truth. For now, the door is locked, so no nosy and/or drunk women pop in tonight.

“Pour yourself a drink and sit the fuck down Nez, the game is about to start,” Kat warns from her spot on the couch.

Ines stops organizing the growing pile of mail and rolls her shoulders back. She grabs a new bottle wine, knowing this group has already emptied the ones on the table before the anthem is even finished. She settles in the middle of the couch and cuddles into Kat’s side.

It’s nice to be back with a group of friends. Ines always gets lonely in the summer when most of them go back home and she’s stuck here, but this summer had been especially brutal.

“Ines, what the hell is that?” Claire shouts moments after puck drop.

Ines’ eyes dart around the room, looking for a scorpion or something that made it into the house.

“The ring on your finger!” Claire is grabbing her hand; the game is quickly forgotten in favor of this.

“Clayton proposed,” she feels her mouth attempt to smile, but it feels all wrong.

“Finally!” Someone cheers from behind her and the rest of the group seems to concur.

She didn’t mean to leave the ring on, it still feels so bulky and foreign. But she’s trying to at least wear it to work, so it doesn’t seem like some secret green card relationship. Though maybe keeping it from the WAGs makes it seem like a dirty secret.

In her mind it’s easier to cut and run from work acquaintances if this all blows up in her face. Clayton is stuck with most of these people, and Ines can’t imagine hurting him when he’s being so kind.

“Look how red she’s turning, no wonder she was staying away from us, Nez hates the spotlight,” Claire laughs.

“How did it happen?”

Ines wants to melt into the couch.

“Nothing special, he just brought me my favorite hangover breakfast and proposed while I was still in bed,” she shrugs, not wanting to lie more than necessary.

“Makes it convenient if you’re already in bed,” Kat waggles her eyebrows and Ines punches her arm.

“He knows I wouldn’t have accepted anything that wasn’t lowkey.”

“Yeah, except that gorgeous diamond, good work Kells,” Claire adds, giving the ring one last look before the action onscreen grabs back their attention.

Ines is a little wine drunk by the time the ladies clear out. Her face feels flushed and warm as she tries to clean up wine glasses and plates.

 There’s one bottle with a little wine left and she pours herself another glass while she waits for Clayton to call.  She starts to go through the mail she tossed aside before the game. A reminder for a dentist appointment, a credit card statement, a letter asking to go paperless for billing.

Her phone starts to buzz against the kitchen island, she answers the Facetime wishing it were a phone call instead.

“Hi arcilla, you played well tonight,” she’s actually not positive he played well, she mostly drank and caught up with her friends.

She looks down to the mail again, an official looking envelope addressed to her stares back at her.

“You, okay?”

“Yeah, sorry I’m a little tipsy,” she holds up her glass of wine for him to see.

“You had fun then?”

His dimple is on full display when he smiles and it reminds her of when they used to do this all the time; a call before either went to bed just to say hello or see each other’s faces. Ines knows what every hotel wall and headboard looks like in the NHL.

She plays with the corners of the envelope, “This is great and all, but I thought this was so I could say hi to your parents.”

Clayton starts to move, “they wanted to give us some privacy first.”

“Did they think we were gonna have quick phone se-ehh,” Ines peters off when his parents appear on screen.

Clayton is trying to hold back a laugh while Ines feels her flush grow brighter, “Hi Kelley, hi Bryan.”

“Hi honey, when are we gonna get you out here?” His mom asks.

“Sorry ,work never seems to be in my favor.”

She lies, it’s easier than saying she hasn’t been on a plane in 20 years because she’s afraid she’ll get deported. She’s never seen Clayton’s family outside of Arizona or somewhere within driving distance. They haven’t seemed too bothered, but she’s always worried they’re just good at hiding their true thoughts.

“One day,” she smiles, “we’re excited to see you in a couple weeks, is there anything you want us to make special for Thanksgiving?”

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that? You’re coming to our house.”

“Let me be a mom and take care of it” she scoffs, “you are my first daughter.”

Ines just nods because her voice might crack if she speaks.

“We’re getting a late dinner, so we’ll let you go. But can’t wait to see you, Ines,” Bryan says and gives a wave.

“Yeah, should be fun, enjoy dinner,” she waves back.

“Bye babe, love you,” Clayton waves, his eyes go wide before the call ends.

She’d give the moment more thought if she wasn’t itching to rip open the envelope in her hands.

Notice to Appear.

December 11th.

Suddenly the walls feel like they’re closing in.

⁄⁄⁄

When Clayton gets home from the road trip Ines is in the hot tub. Her muscles having felt wound tight for the last week.

“Saw you’re all moved in,” he says as he dangles his legs into the tub.

Ines doesn’t open her eyes to look at him, just nods.

“And you have your immigration hearing in December.”

She nods again, she left the letter out by the table where they put their keys. She didn’t want to talk about it, but she had to tell him.

“I’ll be in Buffalo that day, but I­–“

Ines opens her eyes, gives him an exasperated look, “You’ll play a hockey game and I’ll be fine on my own.”

“It’s not–“

She moves closer, almost to the space between his legs, “you’re doing so much for me, please don’t fight me on this. Just go play hockey.”

“Okay,” he nearly whispers.

Ines thinks about how easy it would be to give him a blow job right now, let her mind go blank for a bit. Shut up Clayton for a bit.

Before she can actually act on those thoughts, he places a hand on her cheek, running his thumb across her cheek bone.

“And you’re doing, okay?”

She honestly doesn’t know, but she does know she doesn’t want to talk about it.

So, she grabs Clayton’s wrist and pulls him in closer. She doesn’t wait for him to catch up, smashing their lips together and pushing her tongue into his mouth before he even starts kissing back.

He’s quick to catch up to her. Pulling her flush against him, filling the space between his legs. It’s the first time they’ve done this since they got married, it feels like all the building tension is finally exploding. Ines feels molten.

Clayton unties the back her bikini top and tosses it somewhere behind him with a wet splat. His hands cover her chest and she can’t help but shiver, maybe from the cold air but probably not.

She grabs his hair and pulls him away from her, “we should take this inside.”

Without second thought he pulls her out of the hot tub and towards the house, the strings of her bottoms undone and left outside as well. Ines paws at his shirt, trying to get her own fill of skin.

He pulls it over his head in one fluid motion as he maneuvers Ines towards the bedroom. Her back hits the mattress before she realizes they’re in the master bedroom.

They haven’t done this here since the break up six months ago, like it’s too intimate, too full of the past.

Clayton is hovering over her, the chain with the wedding ring dangling. The room is filled with her belongings again and she feels like she’s in some alternate universe. A world where they never broke up, where marriage was a logical step in the future.

She tries to clear her mind again, pulling Clayton down for a kiss because she wants this.

⁄⁄⁄

An alarm starts to blare and she feels the other side of the bed move.

“Sorry, that’s mine,” Ines apologizes and turns it off.

She lays back and stares at the ceiling for a bit. It feels too familiar to wake up in here, naked in the softest sheets she’s ever felt. But nothing has actually shifted, she’ll get out of bed and everything will be as it was.

She rubs the sleep from her eyes and gets out of bed to take a shower. Clayton is getting ready for practice when she gets out of the bathroom.

“I forgot how nice that shower is, you should redo the one guest bathroom, it could have better water pressure,” she jokes, though it doesn’t really land.

She wanders into the walk-in closet where she’s haphazardly put away some of her clothes, she feels Clayton follow her in, even though he’s mostly dressed.

“My parents get in today; do you want to go to the game with them tonight?” He sounds like he’s asking out a girl for the first time.

“The twins have a music recital or play or something I said I’d go to, but they can take my car to the arena so you don’t have to worry about that.”

She drops the towel on the floor and starts getting dressed for work, stopping before she zips up her dress, reading between the lines of Clayton’s question.

“But I’ll be at the game with them on Wednesday, I mean if you can get me a ticket,” she turns to flash a smile at Clayton to find that’s he’s only a step away.

“I think I can manage that,” he turns Ines around, moving her hair out of the way and zipping up the dress for her, fingers lingering at her neck for a second too long.

Ines stops herself from shivering and turns around, “I have to leave, but see you after the game.”

She gives him a quick peck against her better judgement, “good luck.”

The casual touches don’t disappear in the following days. Ines can’t tell if they’re putting a show on for his parents or not. The touches seem too instinctive to just be a spectacle, but maybe that’s because they’re sharing a bed again and can’t seem to keep their hands off each other behind closed doors.

Though that seems to be seeping outside of the bedroom, too.

The morning after his parents arrive, Kelley is in the kitchen making coffee and gives them a knowing look when they come out of the bedroom, as if to tell them they were too loud even from the other side of the house. Ines decides to pick up breakfast on her way to work rather than sit through breakfast at home.

That night Ines is laid out on the couch not paying attention to the football game playing on TV. Clayton lifts her head up and then places her back down on his lap when he sits.

She groans as she tries to get more comfortable, “You make a terrible pillow, you’re too bony.”

“I think it’s the titanium rod in my leg,” he says back, squirming underneath her to make her more frustrated.

“You were bony before then too,” she rolls her eyes and pretends to focus on the game and ignore Clayton’s fingers brushing under her shirt.

Wednesday is a half day for Ines, she gets home to a surprisingly empty house and enjoys drinking a beer and mindlessly watching Tiktoks in peace.

“Hey, wasn’t expecting you home,” Ines jumps when Clayton comes up behind her.

“Wasn’t expecting to find an empty house,” she shrugs.

“My parents are picking up Jake from the airport,” he wraps his arms around Ines’ waist, “I was about to take my pre-game nap, but I wouldn’t say no to some company.”

He presses a couple kisses into her neck, “an afternoon nap sounds nice.”

She barely finishes the sentence before he’s walking her to the bedroom. Clayton is a little handsy as Ines crawls into the bed.

“I’m serious about an actual nap, I won’t be held responsible if you have a bad game.”

Clayton rolls away, hands up in surrender.

Ines rolls towards him wrapping an arm around his middle, “For all your suffering, I’ll give you a blow job if you win tonight.”

“A victory blow job? You didn’t even do that when we were dating,” he chuckles, the sound amplified with her ear on his chest.

“What can I say, I’m in a giving mood,” she kisses his pec and closes her eyes.

Clayton’s alarm goes off and Ines groans.

“You can sleep longer,” he runs a hand through her hair before slipping out from under her.

“Nah, I’ll just be more tired later,” she rolls over but doesn’t get out of the bed, watches Clayton go into the closet.

“You should wear the green suit from the awards, it’s a special request from Marisol.”

“Oh yeah?”

“She thinks I have a say over what you wear and she told me it’s her favorite,” she watches Clayton start to get undressed, “you did look hot in it,” she smirks when he fumbles with a hanger in response.

When he comes out dressed, he still has bedhead. Ines gets up to fix it, he jokingly bats her hands away as they leave the room.

“Just let me fix this one piece arcilla, you look like we just fucked,” she stops in her tracks at the sight of Clayton’s family, “Hi Jake, good to see you.”

Jake nods in her direction, not particularly friendly, but she can pretend it’s because of the awkward conversation they just heard.

Ines knows Clayton told his brother everything, or more than Ines would like. She’s not sure exactly what he told his parents about the break up, but they seem to have forgiven anything pretty quickly. She knows Jake is a little weary of her now, and maybe her motives.

Clayton is either oblivious or just trying to play it off and gives him a bro-hug before he heads off to the game

The awkward air between Jake and Ines remains, not that they were ever specifically close, but this feels extra icy. She tries to avoid sitting next to him, but the two get caught between the parents. And she’s not even in her usual seats near Kat to have a buffer.

The game is a bit messy, passes aren’t connecting, the power play might as well be missing, but the crowd is into it. Mullett is small enough to feel like you’re always in the game, which helps Ines because before Clayton she knew next to nothing about hockey. Being this up close means she’s 99% sure she understands the rules, except goalie interference.

The second period ends with the Blues up by one, which isn’t too bad considering how the game is looking.

“Have you two talked about any wedding plans?” Kelley turns to Ines,

On her other side she hears Jake snort on his drink, she makes a mental note to double check how much Clayton has told his brother.

“Not really, I had a quinceañera so I already had my big party and fancy-dress moment,” it’s the truth, her 15th birthday fulfilled a lot of princess dreams she may have had.

“You’re both still young, you can have long engagement to figure it out if you want.”

Ines feels the anxiety seep out of her bones.

“You two could even get married at a courthouse if that’s that you wanted.”

The tension comes back so quickly it almost gives her whiplash.

Jake shoots up and mumbles something about food. Ines would follow him, but she’s not sure a public confrontation is the best idea.

Thankfully there’s some more hockey to distract her, the Coyotes end up clawing back but lose in OT on a poorly timed line change.

There’s not a great place to wait for the boys at Mullett, so they sit in their seats for a while before meandering down.

Kat jumps on Ines the moment she sees her.

“Look who’s gracing us with her presence,” Kat kisses her cheek and slides off her back before she can accidentally knock them to the ground.

“Yeah, yeah, I get it, bad WAG alert,” Ines swats her away.

She hears Jake mumble something, but can’t quite make it out. That’s when Kat actually seems to comprehend that Clayton’s family is here.

“The two lovebirds have been busy being cooped up, we haven’t seen them both in the flesh for a while,” she gives a cheeky smile and winks at the Kellers.

“We’re in the same house and they’re having a hard time keeping it in the bedroom, so consider yourself lucky,” Bryan laughs with Kat while Ines cheeks burn.

“Oooh la la Nez, loving this pre-honeymoon phase for you,” she gives Ines a meaningful pinch on the side, a warning they will be talking about this later.

“Speak of the devil,” Kelley laughs and pulls her son into hug.

“Kells show me some of this PDA everyone is talking about,” Kat is clearly not above egging this on despite the sharp look Ines gives.

Clayton pulls her in tight, ducking his head so he can whisper to her.

“Sorry, I didn’t live up to our end of the bargain. No prize for me,” he fake pouts.

“Cause I’m still in a giving mood, here’s a consolation prize for a one-point night,” Ines pulls Clayton in for a kiss, ignoring the catcall from Kat.

“That’s it?” Clayton her pulls her in tightly to his side.

“Don’t push it,” she elbows him in the side, ignores the knowing look Kat is directing her way.

Ines manages to convince everyone the brothers should ride home together, since they don’t see each other enough. Partially, to prove to Kat that there’s nothing going on; partially hoping that Clayton and Jake will talk through whatever weirdness is going on.

⁄⁄⁄

“Do you have to go golfing and leave me alone with your mom?” Ines complains before stuffing her face in the pillow

“You like my mom,” Clayton rolls back onto the bed and rubs her back.

“Yeah, but preparing Thanksgiving is like serious mother-daughter shit, I’d love some backup.”

“You could come golfing.”

“Cause I’d love to get made fun of instead.”

“Those are kind of your two options,” he kisses her shoulder.

“Fine, staying home it is,” she flips over onto her back, “can you at least make sure Jake won’t be weird when you guys come back.”

“He’s just looking out for me, doesn’t want you taking advantage of me,” Clayton absentmindedly traces up and down her arm.

“Did you tell him this was your suggestion? And that I signed a pre-nup? I won’t take advantage and steal your money if that’s what he’s worried about.”

His hand stills for a moment, “I’ll talk to him again, don’t worry about it.”

He stands up again, “have fun cooking.”

“I hope you lose!” Ines calls back.

Ines wanders into the kitchen an hour later, Kelley already deep in prep.

“Sorry, I went back to sleep. Though I’ve never cooked Thanksgiving so I don’t know how much help I’ll be.”

“You’re a great cook, I think you’ll be fine,” Kelley laughs before instructing her on how to finish prepping the stuffing.

Ines takes off the engagement ring and places it in the middle of the island, out of reach. She rubs the naked finger and notices there’s already a faint tan line. She flexes the fingers, like that will give her some answers. Like why taking it off doesn’t feel like unhooking an anchor that’s pulling her under anymore.

She looks up to see she’s been caught by Kelley. If she has some thoughts, she doesn’t share them with Ines.

They work mostly in quiet, the Thanksgiving Parade playing on the TV in the other room. Kelley stopping every once in a while, to watch or tell Ines about watching the parade growing up. How Clayton used to worry the balloons were going to eat the people holding them when he was a toddler.

“This is your first turkey?” Kelley says as Ines puts the bird in the oven

“Yeah, I spent most of my Thanksgivings helping my mom with housekeeping, so can’t do this but ask me to make a bed, I got you,” Ines laughs.

“This calls for a toast then,” Kelley finds some Bailey’s and pours it into their coffees, “To sharing my secrets with my new daughter.”

She clinks her mug against Ines, the sound scrambles something in Ines’ heart, “You know Clay and I broke up right?”

Kelley takes a long sip of her coffee and hums.

“He told us you needed some time apart. Because of all the uncertainty around the team and some things he didn’t really get into,” Kelley trails off.

“It’s understandable you’re both so young and had to go through some really intense things together. I think it was really mature what you two decided, but I’m really glad you worked it out, you make Clayton so happy. I think happier than hockey, if that’s possible.”

Ines lip starts to wobble, she tries to stop the tears. But how can she when even Clayton’s mom believes their lie? How can she break her heart down the line?

“Oh darling,” Kelley pulls her into a tight embrace that only a mom can give, “love is never easy, and if down the road it’s not right anymore, that will be okay too. It’s privilege to find love at all.”

That sends Ines into another wave of sobs. She buries her face into Kelley’s shoulder as she gently rubs Ines’ back and sways them side to side.

Once her cries seem to calmed down to sniffles, Kelley moves away enough to see Ines’ face. She wipes away the few stray tears, “I see the way you two look at each other when you think no one’s watching, I think you’ll happy together for a very long time.”

Kelley smiles, her eyes a little glossy like she might cry too. And with a shaky breath Ines tries to give her a smile back.

They hear the door open and the boys start to come into the house.

“Who won?” Kelley calls out as they come around the corner.

Ines tries to busy herself by rolling out the pie crust they had forgotten.

“Jake squeaked one out,” Bryan comes around the island and kisses Kelley, “smells great ladies, you need any help?”

“Not right now, we were gonna take a break soon,” Kelley winks at Ines.

Clayton comes and leans into Ines from behind, his hands boxing Ines in. He kisses her cheek before he notices her eyes rimmed red.

“You, okay?” He whispers, kissing below her ear.

“Yeah, whatever onions we bought were like tear gas,” she cracks a smile and leans back into him.

“We had to evacuate for a while, I think we just got it under control before you guys came home,” Kelley smiles and pulls Bryan out of the kitchen, following the sounds of a football game Jake put on.

Ines turns around, still boxed in by Clayton. She wraps her arms around his shoulders and hangs her weight on him, feeling a bit tired. He moves his hands to her hips, giving them a gentle squeeze.

“Was it rough morning alone with my mom?”

“No, it was really nice, actually.”

She pulls back to give him a genuine smile, plays with the ends of his hair, ���And did you talk to Jake?”

“Yeah, and I let him win so I think he’ll be in a good mood.”

“Wow, you did that for me?”

“Yeah, of course,” he smirks before dipping down to kiss her.

“Why can’t you let me win?” Ines pouts when the pull a part.

“I can’t act that well,” he’s biting back a mischievous grin, “but if you ask nicely, I can help you improve your back swing.”

He’s gently moving her hips side to side when Ines gives him a playful shove, “Keep it in your pants Keller, your family is in the other room.”

“Hasn’t stopped you much this week,” he pulls her flush against his chest, his hands wandering to her ass.

“Oh my god, there’s not gonna be that kind of giving today.”

Clayton’s about to respond, “Is it safe to come into the kitchen or are you two fondling each other?”

Ines moves Clayton’s hands off her butt and to his sides, “All clear Jake, your brother was just leaving to take a shower, a cold one,” she whispers the last part.

Jake makes a gagging sound, “you two are gross.”

“One day you’ll have someone to fondle other than yourself,” Clayton punches his brother in the arm on the way out of the kitchen.

⁄⁄⁄

Ines and Kat are sitting on the steps of the courthouse, finishing their coffees. The coffee was probably a mistake, it’s sitting acidic and heavy in her stomach.

At least the universe wasn’t cruel enough to have her hearing at the same courthouse as she got married. She doesn’t think her heart could take the irony.

Kat is jittery, her knee bouncing erratically. Caffeine doesn’t have that kind of effect on her, so Ines knows it must be something else.

“I think I’m supposed to be the nervous one.”

“I still don’t understand why you broke up with Clayton in the first place.”

Ines whips her head around like there’s someone waiting around the corner to record this kind of damning evidence.

“You said you’d explain, but you never did. And it’s clear you still have feelings for him.”

Ines scoffs.

“Fine, you don’t love him, then tell me why you broke up and why you never moved out? You had plenty of time to find a new place, Nick and I would have let you move in.”

“I was tired of holding him back.”

Ines gulps down the cold remnants of her drink.

“It was so exhausting telling him no. No, I can’t go home with you to meet your parents. No, I can’t go to the All-Star Game in Florida cause it’s not in driving distance. I can’t be your date to a wedding because I can’t get on a plane. I can’t have bye week with all our friends in the fucking country I was born in because I may not get to come home!”

She tries to take even-keeled breaths; she doesn’t want to start crying before her hearing even starts.

“And he couldn’t tell people because what if someone slipped up and I got deported, or worse they found my parents or Soledad. She has kids!”

Kat puts a gentle hand on her knee.

“And he shouldn’t have to deal with that, he could find someone less complicated and someone who could actually be there for him.”

“Did he ever tell you those things were a problem?”

“No, but I could see how frustrating all those little things were becoming; how upset he’d get with every new thing I couldn’t do.”

“Yeah, he’s upset because you couldn’t live a full life without worry. Because he loves you, Ines! He’s still in love with you.”

“No, he isn’t. He’s just nice. He would have said something by now, not just married me and suffered in silence.”

“Oh, he should have said something? Like you’re saying something because you clearly still love him, too?”

Ines just blinks at Kat, like her brain can’t possibly comprehend what her friend is saying. She doesn’t even get the chance to argue because her alarm goes off.

“You have a court hearing, but don’t think justice will stop us from talking about this later,” Kat says sternly.

In the court room, Ines sits between her lawyer and Kat. Her brain feels too fried to keep up with the basics the judge opens up with.

“Now it says the couple was wed on September 14th of this year. Just a few days before the official report was filed about Ms. Ruiz’ status. You’ll understand why this seems a little convenient.”

“Yes, your honor,” Sierra stands up holding a file, “but the couple was engaged before any officially filings were made. And you can see in the documents we have a receipt from when Mr. Keller bought the engagement ring back in March of this year. If you need to see Ms. Ruiz’ ring for confirmation she can approach the bench.”

“That won’t be necessary. Seeing as all the applications are going through the appropriate channels, I see no reason to hold Ms. Ruiz in custody while she waits for her green card interview.”

The gavel bang echoes in Ines’ head, but the judge is already moving on to the next case. Sierra and Kat help lead her out of the courtroom. They’re excitedly chattering, and Ines knows she should join in, knows this is good news, but she hasn’t quite caught up.

She sends Clayton a text: Hearing went well, won’t be going to prison, then promptly turns off her phone.

⁄⁄⁄

Ines gets two days to stew before Clayton comes home.

He picks her up and spins her around in excitement the instant he sees her. His smile falters when he sets her down and sees the borderline grim look on Ines’ face.

“You bought the ring in March?”

Clayton doesn’t know what to say, shocked by the realization.

“They brought up the receipt during the hearing, to help prove that it wasn’t just a last-minute wedding.”

Ines bites at her thumb nail, the ring catching the light. Clayton feels some relief that she hasn’t taken it off.

“You wanted to marry me before we broke up?”

“You breaking up with me kind of ruined my plans,” Clayton shrugs, not sure the direction this conversation is taking.

Ines laughs in spite herself.

“There were all those weddings you couldn’t come to and I thought you needed a chance to think without any pressure from my life, I didn’t expect it to be permanent.”

Ines audibly swallows, they’re walking around the heart of the issue, both too scared to be the first to show all their cards.

“I still got to marry you, not in the way I wanted. But I don’t regret that, no matter what you think.”

Ines moves to take off the ring, Clayton holds his breath while his heart clenches painfully.

“Ask me again.”

“What?”

Ines hands him the ring, her voice wavers a bit, “ask me again.”

He fumbles with the ring for a second before dropping down to one knee.

“I- uh don’t have anything romantic to say. But I love you Ines and I want to be with you as long as you’ll have me. So will you marry me?”

Ines lets out a small sob before covering her face, “Oh my god I can’t believe I’m a girl who cries when she gets proposed to.”

“Is that a yes? Cause otherwise this is really fucking mean.”

“Shit, sorry, yes. That’s a yes,“ she clambers to get Clayton standing again and kisses him desperately.

“I love you arcilla, I’m sorry it took me a while to realize I never stopped,” she says between kisses, not wanting to stop now.

Clayton laughs and pulls away enough to put the ring back on, “it was worth the wait.”

This time Clayton pulls her into a kiss, savoring the moment he imagined for months and months.

[miryum]

Sweetheart- Chapter 1

Summary: Jason Todd finds himself in a Groundhog Day situation and it won't stop until he finds his soulmate who's going through the exact same situation. But will you two stop being idiots long enough to too see what's in front of you? Not even the author knows...

Reader and Jason Todd have to repeat the same day until they realise they're soulmates, but once they do so, a soulmate mark will appear and their lives continue

Disclaimer: I know very little of the DC Universe (having never watched/read any of the movies/comics...) so please feel free to correct me on shit, but again, I took liberties with the ages and jobs (like, I know the majority of the Wayne kids aren't high school age and Bruce would never hand his job off, but I will stab canon until the pages of this fanfic run red with its blood)

ao3 link

Principal Gordon sighed and leaned back in his chair. “What is it now, Todd?”

Jason shrugged. “I have absolutely no idea. Mr. Queen just doesn’t like me.”

“Or is it that you were being disruptive in his class and harassing Ms. L/n?” Principal Gordon raised a brow.

Jason chuckled and crossed his arms. “Harassing her? I wouldn’t call it harassing. Just some harmless flirting.”

“Mr. Queen said you were throwing crumpled pieces of paper at her that had inappropriate pick-up lines written on them,” Principal Gordon said. “You also disturbed Mr. Allen and Ms. Grace?”

“Bart and Artemis are exaggerating,” Jason’s leather jacket hung around him and he shoved his hands in the pockets. “Just some friendly banter. They’re too eager to rat me out. I would take their words with a grain of salt.”

Principal Gordon rubbed his eyes. He was counting down the days until Jason either graduated or dropped out- whichever came first. “Mr. Todd, this has been the… what? Fourth time you’ve been in my office this semester?”

“Fifth, if you count the day you were out sick and Mr. James had to deal with me,” Jason added. Principal Gordon hummed and nodded in agreement.

“You’re a good kid and you know how I know that?”

“‘Cause of my dad and my brothers and sister?” Jason rolled his eyes.

“No,” Principal Gordon shook his head and he softly smiled. “Because of your grades,” he pushed Jason’s transcript towards the boy. It showed near-perfect marks. “And because of your behaviour- excluding things like this.” Jason looked down at the floor and scuffed his shoe on the tile. “It’s not just Mr. Wayne who’s convinced you’re a good kid. It’s Mr. Kent and Ms. Prince, too. You help your siblings and are extremely protective of them. You have compassion and loyalty, Jason. You simply exhibit them in different ways.”

“Yeah, uh, thanks, Gordon.” Jason stood and avoided the principal’s stare. “Now, if you don’t mind, the bell’s about to ring and I don’t wanna miss any more education than I need to. You know me- need to fill up this big brain with as much information as I can!”

Principal Gordon huffed, his moustache twitching, but waved him away. Jason grinned, gave him a salute, and dashed out of the office, slinging his backpack over a shoulder. Once he was out of the door, he let the smile drop, blowing a piece of hair out of his face. Jason’s eyes flickered to the clock, and on cue, the bells sang throughout the school. Automatically, doors opened and the halls were filled. Jason weaved and pushed through the students, intent on locating one person.

“How was ol’ Gordon?” An arm was slung around his shoulder and Jason groaned and pushed Dick off. 

“How’d you find out?” 

“Cass texted the group chat.” Jason dug out his phone and swore at the numerous messages he found waiting for him. Dick and Cass were gleeful, Damian was being a little shit, Tim hadn’t said anything, and Alfred and Bruce were overwhelmingly disappointed in him. 

Jason shoved the phone back in his pocket, ignoring the messages, and scanned the halls. 

“Idiot little brother,” Dick dramatically sighed, hooking an arm around Jason again. “But I don’t know if you’re more stupid in academics or romance.”

“Can you shut the hell up?” Jason asked, punching Dick in the torso. He rounded the corner and there you were. “Cass! Can you not rat me out next time?” He directed his attention to his sister who was leaning by your locker. 

“Jason! Can you not interrupt my conversation next time?” Cass retorted, pushing off the lockers. You shot Jason a look of disgustment and he winked back. 

“Hey, sweetheart,” Jason saddled up next to you. “Did’ya like my notes?”

“Did’ya like the principal’s office?” you shot back. “They might as well give you your own chair from how much time you spend there. What’re you clocking in? Four hours a day? Wouldn’t you say that deserves some compensation?”

“You would think so,” Jason said. “But it turns out I need to join the union first.” You closed your locker and started off towards your next class. Jason wrestled your books from you and you begrudgingly let him. “What’s that?” His voice lowered and his eyes fixated on a point on your arm. 

“Hmm? Oh, the doctor had to draw some blood a couple days ago. They couldn’t find the vein right away so it left a bruise.”

“No one touched you, yeah?” He lifted a brow and you shook your head in reassurance. “Good.” He shifted your books to one arm and his muscles flexed. Not that you were looking. He ran a finger over the bruise. “You know you could tell me?” Cass rolled her eyes to Dick who snickered.

“I know, Jason. You’ve been adamant about that. Now, if you could give me back my necessary textbooks, I would love to go to Science.”

“Chivalry isn’t dead, sweetheart. Now where’s your desk?” 

“Mr. Todd,” Mr. Kent exhaled as Jason entered the classroom. “Didn’t you already grace me with your presence today? What are you doing back?”

“Good to see you too, Mr. Kent!” Jason grinned. “Just dropping off my girl and then I’ll be outta your hair.” 

“Not your girl,” you corrected, though you knew it was futile.

“If you’re not dating anyone, you’re my girl,” Jason shot back. “And as I don’t see a soulmate brand on your wrist, you’re still mine.”

“Hello Ms. L/n,” Mr. Kent tried to hide a smile at the antics of his students. 

You sat down at your desk and greeted your neighbour, Roy. “Hello Y/n. Jaybird… ” Roy gave a shit-eating grin to his friend. “How was Gordon?”

“You asshole,” Jason griped. A warning bell rang and he slowly started backing up towards the door. “Goodbye, sweetheart. I’ll see you in English.” You hummed noncommittally in reply. “Goodbye, shitface!” he called to Roy, throwing up his favourite finger. Roy blew him a kiss.

“He is whipped.” Your desk partner whistled. 

“No, he’s not,” you said. “I don’t know what we are, but I’m surprised he even looks at me, and certainly not in a romantic way.”

“Have you seen him hold anyone else’s stuff? That boy would burn the entire school down if it meant your safety.”

“Have you seen him with his girlfriends? Plural.” You opened your notebook as Mr. Kent started his science speech.

“And when was the last time he had a girlfriend?” Roy rested an elbow on the desk, completely ignoring the teacher. 

“Why the fuck are we still talking about this? Science and stuff are more critical than my non-existent relationships.”

“Y/n, I think your love life will always be the single-handedly most important thing to me ever,” Roy said honestly.

“Pity that there’s nothing to be interested in.” 

“You realise you inadvertently belittled yourself.”

“Yes, Roy, I’m aware.”

------

Jason woke up to screaming and shouts. Another ordinary day. “Jason! Get up!” Tim banged on the door. “You’re gonna be late!” Jason groaned and covered his head with his pillow. 

The door flew open and Cass waltzed in. “I think I left my book in here last night.” She started rummaging around the nightstand. 

“Get out!”

“Come on, you’ll be late to see Y/n!” Dick called from the doorway before running off to shower.

Jason paused. Dick was right. He needed to get up so he could meet you at the school doors. Not that you wanted to meet him, but he was always there anyway. 

“Oh, there he is,” Cassandra laughed. “That lovesick fool.”

“Ah, shut up. What’s for breakfast?” Jason slowly stood, stretching his sore muscles. He had spent last night at the gym in front of the punching bag. The rest of his siblings had eventually joined him in the Wayne gym. Damian had challenged him to a sparring match in which Damian and Tim teamed up on him and barely managed to win. He was going easy on them.

“Albert made pancakes.”

“Sweet,” Jason tugged on his clothes and signature leather jacket. “Do you ever find it weird that Alfred is the owner of a multimillion dollar company and he still makes us pancakes?”

“Do you ever find it weird that Bruce is the economics teacher at our school and you still wind up in Gordon’s office every other day?” Cass found her book and started out of the room. Jason followed after her.

“Do you ever find it weird,” Damian called from the bathroom, “that Dad quit his job to start teaching the youth of Gotham City and handed his company over to his butler after I was born? Clearly, we know who the favourite is.”

“Do you ever find it weird that you guys are interrupting my shower?!” Dick stuck his head out of said shower, motioning for Damian to close the door.

“Do you ever find it weird that in a house of idiots,” Tim hopped down the stairs. “I’m able to stay sane?”

“Dude, same.” Cass fistbumped Tim and they shared a secret handshake.

When the family finally arrived at Gotham High, after Jason’s bacon being stolen by Damian, Tim absent on account of before-school extracurriculars, and Alfred flipping pancakes while sporting an apron over his suit, Jason couldn’t help but scan the crowd. It was a routine he had grown accustomed to.

You were stepping off the bus, talking to Artemis and Kori. “Go on, loverboy,” Dick snickered.

“Fuck you,” was his reply.

“Hey, Todd,” Cass called. “When we get back home, I’m gonna re-dye your hair. You’re losing the white streak.”

Jason groaned. “Fine,” he grumbled, biting back a remark that it wasn’t dyed. He had lost that battle a long time ago.

“What’re you reading today, L/n?” He snatched your backpack away from you, intent on keeping his chivalrous streak alive.

“The Fault In Our Stars, a reread,” you said. 

“You don’t have to prove it to me, doll,” Jason said. 

You took a breath at the new nickname, but were quick to bite back. “Prove it? I don’t know what you mean.”

“You don’t need to tell me you’ve read it before to prove you’re smart. You’re telling me it’s a reread cause you’re showing that you could be reading harder, more complex books but you “settled” for this one. But don’t worry, doll, I know you’re smart. Might even have to get you to tutor me.”

“I’ve seen your grades, Jason. You don’t need a tutor.”

“How sweet,” Jason placed a hand over his heart, pretending to swoon. “The Lady L/n thinks me as smart as she.”

“I never said you’re as smart as me,” you corrected.

“Care to make a little wager, then?” Jason held open the school door for you. Artemis rolled her eyes when he let it swing shut after you and she pulled it back open for her and Kori. 

“No,” you deadpanned. “Because I know whatever idea you have concocting in that little brain of yours will be degrading.” You paused at your locker, tugging your bag back. You said your goodbyes to Artemis and Kori, promising to see them later without a parasite named Jason clinging to you. 

“Get a better score on the English test today,” Jason proposed. “And I’ll leave you alone if you ask me to. But if I get a higher score, I get to call you my girl.”

“Absolutely not.” You shut him down but couldn’t help your competitive spirit spark up. “However,” you swung the locker closed and you could see a glimmer alight in Jason’s eyes. “If you win, I will allow you to take me on a date.” Jason’s lips parted and his tongue shot out to moisten them. His head tilted up, eyes still locked on yours. “Maybe you’ll finally get over your obsession with me.” Your throat closed up at the prospect. Not that you would ever admit it, but you liked the attention Jason was giving you. He made you feel special. He made you feel loved.

“Obsession?” Jason whispered. He adjusted his jacket, fiddling with the zipper. “Is that what- you know what, yeah.” His supposed confidence returned. “But I’d be worried, Y/n. I’m not sure I’d be able to get rid of you if you go on a date with me.”

Rid of you. “Yeah, sure. And this is on the likelihood you’ll get a better score than me in English? That is where I thrive, Todd.”

“Same, actually.” Jason smirked. “It’s my highest grade.”

“Then let the best student win.” You stuck out your hand and Jason shook it, ignoring the warmth in his chest he got from touching you. 

“I will.”

“Funny. I was just about to say that.” 

Jason brushed a hand over your bruise. “When you’re done with Fault in our Stars, have you read The Count of Monte Cristo?”

“No. Would you recommend it?”

“Highly.”

You hummed and grabbed his hand to pull him out of the way of a group of theatre kids. “I’ve always wanted to go to Monte Cristo.”

“Sweetheart, that’s an expensive first date,” Jason joked, gripping your hand tighter when you tried to tug away.

“Eh, maybe as a fifth date.” Jason felt his face ignite at your words. He would kill for the prospect of a fifth date with you.

“I have to ace this test, first and foremost.” 

“An impossible feat.” You elbowed the boy in the side before winking at him and darting into your first class. You collapsed into your desk, your smug demeanour collapsing too. When was the last time you had openly flirted with someone? 

“I can’t wait to plan the wedding!” Kori squealed. You groaned loudly in response.

Outside the classroom, Jason couldn’t wipe the smile from his face. “You finally got an in.” Tim appeared out of nowhere and clapped him on the back. “I never thought I’d live to see the day.” 

Jason couldn’t find an insult to throw back, something that in itself spoke volumes. “How was Coding Club?” 

Tim frowned. Did Jason ever ask about his extracurriculars? “It was good…” he said slowly. “We’re designing this robot to-” he started rambling as Jason sauntered down the hall, looking as if he’d won the lottery. And he hadn’t even taken the test yet.

------

Jason glanced over at you. You had finished the test a couple minutes ago and were now reclined in your desk, copy of The Fault in our Stars propped up and Jason could almost trace the crease between your brows at your concentration. He shook his head to clear the distracting thoughts and tried to focus back on the test.

Explain the significance of John Proctor proclaiming, “God is dead!” and then reciting prayers before his execution.

 Jason started scribbling out a reply and was soon caught up in his response.

Ms. Prince surveyed her students closely, looking for any sign of cheating. Her eyes locked on you. Ms. Prince always had a soft spot for you. You communicated and spoke up in class and definitely weren’t afraid to advocate for your beliefs. But she also noticed how you and Jason tested and battled each other. She noticed how the two of you willed each other to be better. You kept each other on your toes. Maybe that was one of the reasons she sat you next to each other. Maybe she could see the harbouring feelings. Maybe she just wanted to see some drama during the 160+ days she was stuck in school. 

Jason snickered to himself and Ms. Prince silently prayed to her gods that he kept his responses appropriate. She also prayed that you and Jason would figure out your feelings before the end of the school year. She wasn’t going to sit through your countless arguments and flirtatious comments for nothing.

The class eventually came to an end and Ms. Prince announced, “the scores will be released by nine o’clock tonight. Good job and good luck.”

Jason swept out of the room, giving you a wink akin to the one he received earlier that day. 

“He’s an annoying little bitch,” Cass muttered.

“I wasn’t gonna say anything, ‘cause he’s your brother, but yeah,” you agreed. “Incredibly cocky and self-absorbed.”

“Amen,” she slapped you a high-five before bidding you goodbye. Soon, one sibling was replaced by another and Damian ran up to you.

“Y/n!” he crowed, latching himself to your arm. “How’ve you been? Good? Good. Listen, do a guy a favour, will you? I’ve been with you this entire time.”

“What the hell did you do and am I going to get in trouble for it?” you hissed, but automatically pulled him on the inside of you, instinctively shielding him from any oncoming danger.

“Nothing, nothing,” Damian promised. He had learned early on that the answer to everything was deny, deny, deny. “But Dad may be finding glitter in his desk drawer right about now.” 

“Damian,” you groaned. “That’s a fantastic prank and I love you for it, but your Dad is not the type of person who wants glitter in their files. Next time get Mr. Kent.” 

“Ooh, good tip.” The boy let out a laugh that sounded a bit too evil for your taste and you refrained from smacking him upside the head. 

“Damian Wayne!” A shout came down the hall.

“Shit,” Damian clutched your arm. “Remember, I’ve been with you the entire time.” 

“I know the drill,” you rolled your eyes. “I’ve been graced with your presence far too much to not know how to act.”

Damian paused and studied you. You quizzically stared back. “I like you,” the freshman suddenly decided.  

“Thanks? I thought that was already established.” 

“I can see why Jason adores you.”

“Excuse me?!” 

“Oh, this is my class!” Damian beamed. “Gotta go before Dad catches me! Bye, Y/n!”

“Bye? But what do you mean-” The boy ran away before you could demand answers. 

“Y/n?” You turned around to find Mr. Wayne in front of you. “Do you happen to know where my youngest went?” 

“Your youngest? As in Damian? He was with me the entire passing period, but just went off to his next class.” The lie came easily.

Mr. Wayne sighed and ran a hand down his face. “You’re lucky I like you so much, Y/n. If you weren’t friends with my children, I would have half a mind to put you in detention.” 

“But you like me,” you reminded him, smiling widely. “So… you won’t.”

“As long as you accept my invitation to join us for dinner tonight,” Mr. Wayne negotiated. “It’s been too long since Alfred fed you and he’s starting to worry that Jason scared you off.” 

“I assure you, Mr. Wayne, Jason hasn’t done anything of the sort. And yes, I would be happy to join your family for dinner.”

“Good,” Mr. Wayne said. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to track down my spawn.”

“Bye, Mr. Wayne!” You managed the rest of the day without any more surprises from the Wayne family. In History, Mr. Curry was clearly nursing a hangover, so he put on the “historical” movie Night at the Museum. During Gym, Mr. Allen (Bart’s father, a fact that the boy always lorded over you for no apparent reason) was adamant on playing baseball. Luckily, Kori and Bart were both on your team, so with the combined speed-Bart- and strength- Kori (you were always shocked at how much muscle she packed under her bubbly personality)- your team won by a wide margin. Other than the bet with Jason, it had been a normal day, one you quickly wrote off in the books. Ms. Quinn, the librarian, bid you an enthusiastic goodbye at the end of the day. 

“Hey, Alfred,” you said as you entered the Wayne Manor.

“Miss. Y/n!” Alfred smothered his smile. “It’s a pleasure to see you again. How’ve you been, my dear?”

“I’ve been good. And you? How are things at Wayne Enterprises?”

“Mr. Wayne left the company in good condition, albeit I’ve been making some changes with staffing and schedules. Our stocks have been rising and I can safely say that the company is in good hands.”

“That’s fantastic, Alfred. Though I can’t say I’m surprised. After running this household, running a company can’t be too hard.” 

Alfred was about to retort when Damian ran up to you. “Y/n! Thank god you’re here! I need help with my homework.” 

“You literally have four older siblings and a teacher as a parent. I don’t think you need me,” you said. 

“But, Y/n!” Damian whined and you questioned if he was a freshman, giving how he was acting like a kindergartner. “You’re my favourite!” 

“I can’t argue with that,” you conceded. “What do you need help with?” 

“Science! Dr. Isley is kicking my ass.” Alfred shot the boy a glare and Damian corrected, “She does not like me.” 

“Isn’t Tim better at Science? Or Cass?” After some debate, you finally gave in to the boy’s pleads. “How can I help?” Damian slumped down at the kitchen table which was already occupied by Dick and Tim. You figured that Cass was tucked in her room, independently doing her homework, and you pushed the thought of Jason out of your mind.

“I don’t know… just, help!” He opened his folder and extracted a worksheet filled with equations on density and force. You grimaced. You hadn’t done this in two years and wondered if you could coax the information out of the darkest depths of your mind. You had thrown the equations in the literal and metaphorical trash the second you stepped out of that class. 

You started walking Damian through the questions, simultaneously working on your Maths homework and frequently checking your email to see if your English score had been released. 

“Look what the cat dragged in,” a smooth voice sang in your ear. You elbowed Jason in the gut and he let out a groan. 

“More like, look what your brother dragged in.” 

“The scores just came out, sweetheart,” Jason smirked. “Shall we see who’s the victor?”  Cass groaned as she walked in, heading for the snack cabinet. 

“No! I need help from my future sister-in-law!” Damian cried. Jason turned red and looked away. Dick laughed loudly and even Tim pressed his lips together to stop a laugh.

“Damn right,” You held up your hand and Cass slapped it. “Cass and I are getting married and none of you are invited to the wedding. Except Alfred, of course.” 

“Of course,” Cass agreed.

“Just show me your score,” Jason tried to return to the topic at hand. 

“Fine,” you pulled up your email, a glistening new message from Ms. Prince in your inbox. Oddly enough, you didn’t feel nervous. You would be fine with either outcome, knowing you would never tell Jason to leave you alone. But he didn’t know that. Jason’s nerves were haywire, worried that the second you got your scores, you would tell him to piss off. “What’d you get?” 

“A 97, but technically a 92.” Jason proudly said. “I got extra credit.”

“Ms. Prince doesn’t give out extra credit!” you exclaimed. “What the hell?!”

“If you ask incredibly nicely and tell her it's for a good cause,” Jason said. “Then yes, she does.”

“You fucking told her about our bet, didn’t you.”

“Why yes, yes I did.” Jason looked incredibly proud of himself and you wanted nothing more than to wipe that cocky simper off his face.

“What bet?” Mr. Wayne strutted into the room.

“Nothing,” both you and Jason answered at the same time Dick launched into an explanation of the wager. Mr. Wayne side-eyed both you and his son before peeking at Alfred. Alfred gave him a small shrug in response. 

“Just make sure no one gets emotionally hurt, Jason.” Bruce said. 

“How come you’re telling me and not Y/n!” Jason stood up, looking aghast. 

“Because Y/n is smarter than that,” Mr. Wayne said simply. 

Ignoring his father, Jason rounded on you. “Seriously, doll, what was your score?”

You glanced down at the number on your screen and a silent war raged on in your mind. On one side, your pride stood tall, but on the other, your heart begged for something else. “95,” you blurted out. 

The room went silent. Bruce and Alfred exchanged a glance and Bruce immediately took out his phone and started typing away. Cass looked over your shoulder and hummed. Tim let out a low whistle and Damian cackled. Dick closely watched his younger brother with a pleased smile. 

“Wait, actually?” Jason asked. 

“Yes, Todd,” you sighed. “Actually.” Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Bruce show his phone to Alfred. Alfred raised an eyebrow and you had an inkling of who Bruce had texted. 

“Damn, sweetheart,” Jason continued. “Did you throw the test on purpose?” 

“Just take the date, Jason.” You said, “I wouldn’t dwell on it. Though I am expecting you to pull out all the stops.” 

“You won’t be disappointed, sweetheart.” Jason pressed a kiss to your forehead and you pushed him away, ignoring the twists and turns of your stomach.

[bigshymen]

Hey! I just saw your account and I instantly became happy 🥹 Not many people write about Sam Sulek and I’m so thankful that you do ❤️

If you are taking requests can you do a fic that involves the reader ( female ) helping Sam relax after an intense workout, like giving him a bath or massaging him 🥰

( can be wholesome or 😏 upto you 😳)

YOU GOT ME THINKING THINGS…! (I apologize it’s only losely based on the prompt, I definitely took my own creative liberties on this one so there’s no relaxing here 😅)

SHOWER THOUGHTS (NSFW)

sam sulek x fem reader

summary : you are a bodybuilding influencer infamous in the community for hooking up with fellow bodybuilders before their untimely deaths. but you like that.

smut , shower s3x , protected s3x , light dom reader , bodybuilder reader , loss of virginity , inexperience , oral s3x , hook ups, reader is a fiend , drug use , oneshot , size difference , mentions of death , morbid fantasies , he’s loud ! , afab anatomy , v4ginal s3x , kissing , i love evil reader actually

It’s no secret Sam is on steroids.

He never outright said it but if you’ve ever seem him before.. it’s obvious. And nowadays, what bodybuilder isn’t on the juice?

This of course never bothered you because, well, it excited you. You got off to the rush of the shortened life span of steroid users, the knowledge that you would be the last fuck of their life because who else wanted them?

Most women aren’t attracted to ridiculously big guys anyway (and not the good kind of big). The last thing they would cherish before their untimely death was you and your charity towards them with their body.

it’s why you began this ‘arrangement’ with him. The two of you had a complicated relationship. Workout buddies by day and fuck buddies by night, basically. You knew what you were getting into when you got involved with a guy on steroids because he wasn’t the first and when he’s dead at 30 he definitely wont be the last.

The last guy you hooked up with was the stereo-typical-hypermasculine-bodybuilder influencer, both in looks and personality. Honestly, you only fucked with him because he supplied you with free anabolics, and while you weren’t a roidhead like the guy, you dabbled in a bit of testosterone because you wanted to get built up fast yourself since you were also a bodybuilder influencer.

When he ended up sick and dying a premature death, you set yourself on another bodybuilder.

With the reputation you built for hopping from one guy to another, (and the deaths that followed soon after) some happening to be well known with fanbases, you began to be regarded as a “curse.”

Any bodybuilder that messed around with you is bound to die when you break it off with them.

You were surprised when you caught wind of this when it eventually reached your ears by a joke “warning” you saw online. I didn’t bother you really. It was technically the truth, anyway, but you’d never admit it because it would scare away the game.

Fast forward, you discovered a seemingly overnight sensation when you opened social media one day.

“Sam Sulek, 21, Bodybuilder.”

He was young and already so huge. Normally you wouldn’t be interested in guys new to bodybuilding. They weren’t ripe and deep enough into enhancement drugs for death not to follow closely behind them.

But he was so, so huge for his age. And it was obvious he was using and using badly. Face massacred by acne, chest and shoulders red with it too. Unnaturally muscular and desiring to get only 30lbs heavier as his main goal, even though he was already so massive.

You were dripping through your tight, active shorts just thinking about it. He was ready, you just knew it.

The two of you met at a bodybuilding convention not long after. Most people recognizing you either wanted a picture with the infamous ‘curse,’ pointing with their friends and whispering that you were scouting for your next victim, or they were genuinely fans.

It wasn’t hard to find him. He was a massive hit among fans for his attitude towards fame and being so down to earth. And you had to admit, he was pretty attractive outside of his body.

You’d hoped he hadn’t heard about the “curse,” you were worried it may ruin your chances with him, and if he did he never mentioned it because only a day after the convention and an intense workout on his part, you invited him to the airbnb you were staying at in the area and he showed.

The chemistry sparked at the convention almost immediately and to your delight it continued to burn brightly at his place. Maybe he intended to collab with you and he thought it would be a good way to get his name out there, but you quickly made your own intentions clear.

And to your surprise he was receptive.

You moaned loudly as Sam went down on you, warm water spraying onto your body, obscuring the wet mess that wasn’t from the shower head between your thighs. His palms played with your hard nipples above him as he repositioned himself on his sore knees on the shower floor, but he didn’t complain.

He was hesitant at first about doing it in the shower because of the slipperiness, but you reassured him you’d make it worth it.

Obviously this was his first time because he was not a good eater. We can change that later. You stopped him after you faked an orgasm because you didn’t want to embarrass him. Normally with the previous guys you were with you didn’t give a shit about how they felt if they were trash at it, but Sam looked so eager to please.

He looked up at you with so much earnest. His wide and glossy nut-brown eyes and his pinky cheeks. It was cute, even. You couldn’t bring yourself to tell him was shit at head, at least not now.

You take your hand from his darkened, wet curls and beckon him up for the real treat. With your body pressed against the shower wall you let him have you the way he wanted.

Uncoordinated and weak as shit at first, but with your guidance, and his wrapped 3 inches you were screaming out in pleasure in no time.

“Oh.. oh!”

He re-paces himself slowly inside you, the stream of water working as an extra lubricate to your own. You rest your head onto the wall while he puts his head on your shoulder, sweet sounds exiting his mouth as well.

You pushed yourself backwards only drawing him deeper inside you desperately. Sensing that maybe his little peter wasn’t enough, he slithers his digits down your opening and begins to finger your clit, the enlarged size not seeming to phase him (thank tren).

With each thrust, the pain from his sore muscles increased but he couldn’t bring himself to stop.

He leans impossibly forward, pressing his massive body into yours and sandwiching you against the wall for his own pleasure, his cries becoming louder from his muscle aching along with the intense sensations.

Sensing his orgasm and your own, you captured his mouth with yours with a deep kiss, tasting faint traces of you on his tongue. You imagined his heart giving out while he struggled to tell you he’s close because you wont let him.

“M..mnh!” He attempts to get out until he can’t hold himself off any longer. He frees you from the wall and almost manages to get away before you pull him back in and have him empty himself inside you with a loud moan. You wish he had died then and there. The thought combined with this caused you to orgasm harshly, crying out alongside him.

You weren’t worried about the condom breaking anyway for obvious reasons.

Though extremely heavy breaths Sam looked dazed with pleasure, not even questioning what had just happened.

You shared one last kiss with him, well, shared is used loosely because you did all the kissing and while he tried to keep up before the water turned cold and the two of you promptly exited the shower.

[gaslighttragedy]

The Silver Shadow

Summary : In this story, Bucky and Andrea, an unconventional pair forced to work together even though they are constantly arguing; Sam is usually the mediator between them. Bucky does not trust Andrea, and Andrea does not trust Bucky. (Prologue is a flashback.) Pairing : Bucky Barnes x Original Female MC named Andrea, her FC is up to you, but I imagine a Shailene Woodley type character. (Bucky not seen in prologue. Main Interaction is with Tony Stark.) Words : A little under 1K. Warnings : Nothing notable in this prologue. Note : Suspension of disbelief is required ; I took a lot of liberties with the story, timeline and series of events. Other note : I wrote this in 2021, and let it in my google doc drafts. I found it, and thought maybe i could do something with it. I had a few ideas written down for the next chapters, so if people like this, I might continue? Prologue | Next Chapter Masterlist

Montreal, Summer of 2012.

The clicking and tapping of fingers on the black computer keys were the only thing that could be heard inside the small room. That small room was serving as the temporary headquarters for what the brunette doing the actual typing considered her best operation yet. Usually, she'd have some music playing in the background, but the playlist she'd been playing had stopped a while ago and she didn't bother to start a new one. No, she'd been having way too much of a blast. Infiltrating the Canadian Government's website to change every mention of Prime Minister Harper's name to Asswipe McStupid was the most fun she's ever had on a job. The real reason she was infiltrating the server was a tad bit more complex, but the prank added a little bit of flair to the task. Plus, it paid well, since she risked actual prison if she got caught. But then again, she always, always, had a fail-safe.

She only had about two minutes left to put the final touches on the malware she'd then upload on the government's server while the files she needed were uploading to her computer before the intrusion was traced back to her location and she was typing as fast as she could. That's when she heard it. 

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.

Fuck! She was supposed to have more time, god damnit! How could they have found her so fast? It was impossible! As she continued typing frantically, she was trying to understand where she messed up. Prison was not an option, and she didn't want to use her fail-safe. She'd never had to use it before on a big scale, say, on the military ops that would surely find her now.

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.

Louder, this time. The pounding she was hearing seemed to come almost directly from behind her. How did they get up to her so fast? She was on the 19th floor! It's not like they had power suits or jet packs to get to her that fast! The file she needed from the server was already exported to her computer, and she barely had time to close up everything before she heard the last barrier between her and the rest of the world fall behind her.

BOOM. 

As soon as she heard the door go down behind her, the cybercriminal threw her hands up, and for just a second, it felt like time stopped. She didn't hear a sound, which was surprising, since she thought a thousand men would be there to arrest her. That's usually what happens when you get caught stealing secret files from undocumented government projects. But she didn't hear a thing. The overwhelming desire to turn around was strong, but she stayed there for what seemed an eternity before she heard his voice. 

"I knew you were strong, but that's..." He said, with a little bit of… could it be envy in his voice? 

She'd heard his voice before. Everyone in America knew that voice. He'd been on TV, on the radio, and his name was as admired as it was feared. He'd made a spectacle a couple of years back, and because of it, his name would go down in history. 

"Jarvis," he continued, "Is she really stopping the suit right now?" 

"It appears so, Sir. I've lost all control of the suit's motricity." 

The brunette sighed as she finally dropped her hands to her side, simultaneously releasing Tony Stark from her hold. 

"I thought I made my position on your offer very clear, Mr. Stark." She said as calmly as possible. 

"And I thought you might want to reconsider." He replied with confidence. "Your abilities, they're worth putting to good use."

The hacker got up from her chair and started to pack her computer as fast as she could. She was losing time, and the longer she stayed in this spot, the more likely she was to get caught. She turned to Stark, who was still trying to convince her to do something she'd never agree to.

"Mr. Stark, as I've said twice before, I'm not joining your team of superheroes, or whatever you called it…" 

"Avengers." He said, cutting her. 

She casually dismissed him with the back of her hand, making the red suit rattle. 

"Avengers, Shmamengers. I don't care. I'm not doing it. Final answer." 

"This is not Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. You can't just say final answer." Tony said, aggravated. 

As she put her black messenger bag over her shoulder, the woman approached the famous Tony Stark and patted him on the shoulder of this suit, and with the flick of a wrist, put a big dent on it. It wasn't a warning, because he knew she'd easily overpower him. She did it just for fun. Just to mess with him. 

"Goodbye, Mr. Stark." She said with a sly grin.

"Jarvis, please advise Fury that Silver Shadow is a no-go." He sighed to his AI as the brunette was leaving the concrete building. 

[bubblefina]

No Puppet Strings Attached 4

Summary: When Katsuragi brings a puppet back to Tatarasuna, saying that he found him wandering the shores, the village and blade smiths took him in as their own. Something about the puppet struck a young girl's heart. Despite him not having a heart of his own, the puppet felt something that would seem to be impossible for someone like him to feel.

Pairings: Scaramouche x f!reader

. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .

Often in this world, strangers tend to meet on different paths of their life. Unlikely that they will stay with each other, but they will remember each other. Through their eyes, they reminisce of what once was. That is the truth of this world, no one knows the meaning of love, but they can feel it.

Niwa had already told her about the boy being a puppet. She had known before they kissed, but it didn’t stop her from pursuing him any less. They of course went home after their kiss, but the next day there was no need to go out and think about what happened, they just went to each other.

Y/n always visits the smithy, but never with this big of a smile on her face. Not even her brother saw her smile this brightly, it's as if she was reborn.

“Y/n? What’s wrong?” Niwa asks.

“Nothing, I’m not here to see you silly. I’m here to see…you” she kisses Kabukimonos cheek, which makes the rest of the blade smiths jaws drop. They were flabbergasted at the sudden affection she had shown the boy, mainly because she didn’t show that kind of affection to anyone.

“I’ll bring over some of the tea you like during your break, so don’t get too full, okay?” 

“Of course, I’ll look forward to it.” 

Ignoring the questions that were thrown at them, y/n gave a quick peck on the boy's lips, which just makes the surrounding air that much more heavy.

“You…you!” Katsuragi stares and watches.

Y/n giggles and walks out of the smithy. The blade smiths stopped what they were doing and crowded around the boy.

“And what happened between the two of you?” Niwa asks.

“It’s as you’ve said Niwa, I’m just as human as everyone else.” a small wink was aimed towards Niwa, who immediately got the message.

“You sly dog,” Niwa wraps his arm around the boy, “So it’s official then? Both you and my sister are together.”

“When did this happen?!” the other blade smiths said in union.

“A few nights ago.” He replied.

“And you sound so nonchalant about it, too.” Katsuragi says.

“I guess the initial shock of it is gone, perhaps I lost myself in this feeling without even being aware of it.” The boy stops and stares at his reflection in the sword.

“And what feeling is that?” One of the blade smiths asks.

“It’s love.” Niwa answers for the boy, a soft smile on his face.

. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .

Have you ever felt as if the world had become brighter? The flowers bloomed more often, the sun felt warmer, the wind felt as if it swept through your soul. That’s what love felt like to both Y/n and Kabukimono.

They spent every other passing moment with each other, to the point where the boy was a frequent visitor for dinner. Niwa had gotten used to having him around at home, but one thing he could not accept was allowing y/n and the boy to be alone in her room. Perhaps it was just him being an older brother, but he forbade it unless the door was open.

It didn’t bother y/n too much, because she could just go somewhere else. It wasn’t that they wanted to do something perverted with each other, but just bask in some private time.

Their favorite place was a little green area surrounded by flowers and trees. They’d go there at least once a week and just lay down to admire their surroundings, and of course each other.

Y/n took the liberty of laying herself on the boy's lap, it turned into one of her favorite things. He’d take the time to pluck flowers from the ground and decorate her hair with them. Carefully tying the stems of the flowers around each lock of hair. 

“I feel bad for taking the flowers out every night, you put so much effort into placing them into my hair.” she says, sulking.

“No worries, if the flowers run out here, we’ll have the rest of the world's flowers to use.”

“Hm, now that you say it. A flower from each nation would be nice now wouldn’t it.”

“You would put the flowers to shame, they would already enhance the beauty you possess.”

“You…shush!” she begins to act flustered, which he found adorable.

During moments like this, he leans in closer to give a peck on her lips, just to see her flustered more. Her usual reaction is to hide her face behind her hands, refusing to remove them unless he stopped laughing, which he did, eventually.

. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .

Another one of their newly found interests was music. When Y/n was out harvesting things, she’d hum a tune, which eventually caught on with Kabukimono. So whenever she’d start humming the tune, he’d synchronize his whistling with the song she hummed.

She of course joined in, now whistling with him. They’d do it whenever to let the other person know that they were close by. The other villagers eventually caught on with them, eventually naming the tune “the ballad of lovers”.

“Did you hear both of them going at it again?” one of the villagers says.

“You mean that whistling the both of them do? Of course, it's quite catchy if you ask me.”

“It’s more of a mating call if you ask me.”

“Mating calls or not, the both of them…never a dull moment between either of them.”

. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .

Not all days were happy. There were rumors of the nobushi now growing in numbers, the villagers began to worry if they’d invade the village. The anxious feelings spread throughout the village, to the point where the elders told the residents to not stray too far from the village itself.

This meant that neither y/n nor the boy could go to the special spot that they both loved so much. During the village meetings, when the elders spoke of the nobushi getting closer and closer, looking as if they were to plan an invasion, y/n gripped onto the boy's hand tightly.

During the last nobushi invasion, both her and Niwa’s parents were killed. She was still fairly young, shielded from the sight of seeing her slaughtered parents in their home, but Niwa had witnessed it all. He vowed that he’d protect his sister no matter what, and he intends to keep that promise. 

The boy caressed her hand that shook with anxiety with his thumb, reassuring her that everything will be alright. He might not have the strength or power of the other men, but he too would do his best to protect her to the best of his abilities.

The next few nights were calmer, no movement spotted from the nobushi, so the villagers moved on with their daily chores. It wasn’t until a foggy early morning that things seemed eerily quiet.

Normal activities were occurring, but a few select people stopped what they were doing, then the village became completely silent.

It stayed like that for a few moments until an arrow was shot out from the fog, hitting nothing but a wooden pole. 

“We’re under attack!” one of the men roared.

The villagers scattered, the women, children and elderly all ran to safe areas designated for the villagers who weren’t fit to fight. In the midst of the running, Niwa had grabbed hold of y/n, telling her to stay with the rest of the villagers who were running for safety.

She was reluctant to go, not wanting to lose another family member, but he promised her that he would come back. With a heavy heart, she fled. Niwa had also found the boy, who was handing out swords and other weapons to the men who were ready to fight.

“I need you to go with the group who’s staying at the safe house.” Niwa says to him.

“But why?”

“I need someone there with y/n, someone I can trust. If something happens to me, I need you to be there with her, can you do that for me?”

“Niwa…if she loses you, she will be crushed. I’m not even sure I can console her if that were to happen.”

“I’ll do my best to make it back, but I need someone there with her.”

With no hesitation, the boy left for the safe house. The rest of the men stayed behind and did their best to ward off the nobushi, who came in hefty numbers. Luckily the villagers knew their village the best, all the best ambush spots, where to set traps. The fighting went on for not too long before the nobushi knew that they were outmatched. 

The kairagi within the group managed to do great damage before they retreated. Not even they could last forever on their own. The group of bandits was smaller, so eventually they’d grow tired and weak. Before taking a chance to surrender, they dispersed as quickly as they came. 

A few men went back to the safe house and retrieved the group of people who remained out of the fight. They were just as disheartened to see what came of their village. There was damage all around.

“We barely managed to recover from the winter, now this?” One of the older men complained.

Most people rushed back to their homes to see if anything had been stolen or damaged. Others scurried around the village, trying to scavenge anything that was left of the food supply. By the time y/n had made her way out, she immediately ran to find her brother, embracing him when she finally spotted him.

Tears spilled out of her eyes, relief overwhelming her. Niwa held onto her tightly, tears threatening to leave his eyes all the same. He held them back, wanting to be strong for his family. 

“Are you hurt?” she asks.

“Not much, I was more on the defensive side. The frontmen are being taken care of right now, or are about to.”

The boy appears from the crowd, looking worried. Niwa ushers him over and embraces him for a hug as well.

“Thank you for looking after her,” Niwa whispers in his ear, “I’m glad you’re safe too.”

. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .

A few hours after the attack, y/n found herself at the spot where she and kabukimono spent most of their time. The flowers, the trees, the grass…everything had been burned to bits.

There wasn’t a sliver of life left within it. Y/n fell to her knees when she saw it. The boy put his hand on her shoulder to console her.

“No need to worry, they will regrow.” he says, swiping his thumb along her cheek.

“I know they will, but…it hurts looking at this. We made so many memories here, and now everything is so bleak.”

“The damage is horrible, and it will take a long time until the trees grow and flowers bloom once more.”

Noticing the now more gloomy look on her face, the boy tilts her chin upward and kisses her lips.

“But I’m sure the next time this area is filled with life again, it will be full of even better memories.”

Y/n nods her head, resting her face against the boy's shoulder. Both of them sat at the very top of the hill, looking down at the scorched field. They may have lost the flowers and serenity of their favorite place, but they still had each other.

. ⋅ ˚̣- : ✧ : – ⭒ ⊹ ⭒ – : ✧ : -˚̣⋅ .

Months had passed as the village continued to try to get back onto its feet. The nobushi had seemed to leave the village alone, as they were nowhere in sight. Most likely traveled to another beach and set up camp there.

The other villagers didn’t seem to care, as long as the nobushi didn’t bother them, they didn’t care where they went.

The weapon forgery was also hit hard. Since many of the blade smiths were injured during the raid, work was slow. Making and selling weapons was one of the village's main source of commerce, and without the manpower to continue such a task, many orders, and commissions fell behind.

The blade smiths who were able to work became fatigued from not getting any breaks. They themselves still had injuries, but were still required to go to the smithy and continue to work.

It went on like this for what seems like forever, but on one peculiar day. A man with white hair, dressed in red, visited the village. From the look on his face, anyone could tell he wasn’t an Inazuma native. 

He introduced himself as Escher, from Fontaine, and he has the perfect solution for the smithy’s smelting and weapon crafting problem. 

[masterwords]

adding it all up

Summary: Hotch follows Reid and Jack into a haunted house. Inside he meets a ghost and stumbles right into some unexpected arms.

Pairing: Hotch/Will

Words: 3.2k

Warnings: nightmares, ptsd, minor injuries, panic attack

Notes: I formally submit to you my entry for @imagining-in-the-margins Meet Cute/Ugly Challenge with the prompt: Character accidentally gets hurt in a spooky attraction and a scare actor breaks character to help. To the surprise of no one at this point, I took some creative liberties with the prompt. There isn't much to the plot, it's pretty simple and we mostly just have an excuse for kissing. As with everything I've written so far about this pairing, we live in a universe where Will is a DC Metro Detective but he is not nor has he ever been with JJ because we don't have time for that kind of backstory in these little one-shots. Thanks for reading yo! Let's show this incredibly rare pairing some love. (And now I return to writing about hotchgan...I can only stray for so long.)

**

“Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease dad!”

“I’d rather not,” Hotch said, as if it was going to change the mind of his six year old son. And maybe he didn’t really want to because his argument was pretty flimsy. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to go in, or that he didn’t like Halloween. “I don’t like to be scared.” That was a lie and Reid saw the opening, poking a huge hole in it immediately.

“You get scared for a living,” Reid pointed out from behind him and Hotch groaned. He’d been hoping Reid would take his side. “Come on Jack. If your dad is too chicken I’ll take you in. I’m kind of an expert.”

“You are?!”

Reid crouched beside Jack as best he could, favoring his still sore (always sore) knee and leaned as close as he could to the child. His whisper smelled like kettle corn and candied apples and cotton candy, that’s what Jack thought anyway. Reid smelled like a carnival. “I’ve already been through it three times. I bet you could find some people in there you know. Like playing a really big game of Where’s Waldo…”

“Who’s in there?!”

“You’ll have to come in with me and see.”

“Can I dad?!”

Hotch sighed and nodded reluctantly. “I’ll be right behind you.”

“You don’t have to if you’re too scared! You can stay out here! I’ll be tough.”

“I know you will buddy.”

Hotch looked at Reid and then at the doorway. He wasn’t scared, it wasn’t that. He simply didn’t care for jump scares or people being that close to him, close quarters, being vulnerable. Not in control. In the dark. Worse than that, he didn’t want any of that to be witnessed by a man he’d just begun seeing just a couple of weeks prior. Because that would be embarrassing. Big strong FBI Agent can’t handle a clown yelling boo in his face.

He always knew this was a possibility. Jack had never wanted to go into the house of mirrors or the haunted house before, he preferred to stick to roller coasters and prize games when they came to the carnival. He thought he’d be safe, especially this year. They were coming up on one year since Haley died and he thought for sure Jack wouldn’t want a thing to do with fake blood and jump scares but here he was practically dragging Reid through the entrance. Dutifully he followed them in, staying a few steps behind. “See you at the end dad!” At the entrance he was asked to wait. Reid and Jack got shoved in with another group and he was about to be sorted with the next when he asked if he could go through on his own.

“I don’t have a guide for a solo trip,” the young man at the door said. “You good at following directions? There are little green glow in the dark arrows along the ceiling that point you the direction you’re supposed to go. Keep an eye on them and you’ll find your way. Don’t go too fast or too slow. There are little red lights on the walls where there are emergency exits if you get hurt or lost or too scared to finish.” The young man flushed a little as he said the last part, Hotch didn’t look much like the type to get scared of anything but he still had to say it. There was a script and he followed it. He liked his job.

“Got it. Follow the green. Red means emergency exit. Thank you.”

Great. Alone. Jack didn’t even care to walk with him, too enthralled with whatever whispers and promises of adventure Reid was feeding him. He didn’t even turn around to see where Hotch ended up. He moved at a relatively quick clip, barely looking in the direction of the sets or the mini scares. Up ahead he was sure Reid was peeking at all the details, getting the most out of everything and helping Jack do the same. He was barely paying attention to any of it. Occasionally he found himself jumping when a clown popped out with a hatchet. That was natural, his heart thumped a little harder, but he smiled and thanked the volunteer in costume before stepping around the corner into a room that was filled with spider webs and hissing sounds. He’d never been afraid of spiders, in fact as a child he’d found himself collecting them in little mason jars and feeding them for a week or two before releasing them back out into the woods. He batted at a piece of cotton webbing that tickled his ear and frowned, not caring much for that feeling. It was worse than the room full of animated spiders.

The haunted house wasn’t huge but it felt like it lasted forever, twisting and angling and collapsing in on itself until he really did feel dizzy. His senses had been warped by the strange dark shafts and violent twists and hanging bloody sheets behind which shadows lurked.

Was he lost or could it really be this long? He glanced up as if to assure himself that he was going the right direction, and squinting into the dark he was able to make out one small green arrow.

There was only one way to go, really. He could hear Jack’s chirpy little voice up ahead and Reid’s surprise, maybe real or maybe an act, and there were voices not too far behind him but he was otherwise completely alone in the maze. The ceiling ahead dropped until he was hunched over in a sort of soft, undulating tunnel. It was pitch black, with only a foggy red light to guide him from what looked like miles away. Hunching like this hurt his back. Up ahead was a pinprick widening to an opening he had to step through into what looked like a torture chamber with bodies hanging from the walls. He’d seen this in real life, this wasn’t entertainment. This was work. Well researched, too. He recognized bits that had been pulled from crime scene photos, small elements not many would recognize but they made his breath catch in his throat more than once. People’s fascination with serial killers would never cease to worry him.

“I’ll gut you like a fish!” growled a man in a grisly voice from the shadows beside him. Hoarse from saying his line so many times, Hotch knew, but something about it still made him flinch away. There was a strangely familiar quality to it, something ghostly and pale, dry leaves rustling in the chilly October wind. “You should have taken the deal…” the voice whispered in his ear and he froze. His legs wouldn’t move. A flash of muzzle and the smell of gun smoke, steel bright in the dark and then pitch black.

“What?” he asked, ashamed of the fear that welled up in his chest. There was a vague pain where his heart should be noisily thumping but was making not a sound. “What did you say?” (He knew, somewhere deep inside, that the man hadn’t said that. There was some still quiet voice of reason in there, it was just disappearing second by second as fear seeped in.)

No reply. He had to be hearing things. There was no way. (Someone could have read the book. He told Colson what Foyet had said to him. He'd been on pain medication, heavy stuff, when he talked to Roy...he should have said less. He knew it but Roy had been so good to him, he found it hard to hold back.) He squinted into the dark where he stood motionless, breathless and saw a black mask coming toward him, outlined by a sickly white fog. Hovering there, not attached to a body for the longest time, and then around him materialized a hooded sweatshirt. Foyet’s mask. He knew it wasn’t Foyet, he’d seen the autopsy report, Foyet was dead. But the mask still startled him, and when it came closer (the person now muttering their actual lines and not something his frightened mind invented on his behalf) he found that his legs did work. They just didn’t obey his commands. He stepped backward, his heel catching on the curtain separating the two rooms and he managed to pull part of it down on top of himself. The feel of the fabric against his neck sent him into a tailspin and he lunged forward past the man in the Reaper mask (now reaching for him and asking if he was alright) until he stumbled into the next corridor where he narrowly missed stepping on a body on the floor. One of his victims, presumably. Hotch glanced down at her, stabbed repeatedly (do you have any idea how long it takes to stab someone 67 times?, he thought) and felt his blood run cold.

Was this some kind of a sick joke? Did someone know he was coming today? (Someone aside from Will? Will would never…he’d been there that day, that was how they met.) As he stepped around the woman on the ground with her guts strewn all around her, he slipped in the gore and took a header down the small flight of black and white checkered stairs. The sound his body made as it hit the wall was horrifying – he wouldn’t doubt if the people outside waiting in line had heard. He groaned and tried to push up to standing but he knew right away that he was hurt. Or just about ready to pass out. His head swam and he collapsed in a heap. “Dammit,” he mumbled. His chest was tight and there was a pain, a burning and squeezing that ran through his left arm. He couldn’t catch his breath.

“You okay mister?”

He recognized that voice, that molasses drawl he’d been hoping to hear in any way but this. Never this. Slowly he looked up, taking the hand of a werewolf who helped him stand. He was dizzy after hitting his head and his ears were ringing. Most of the time his tinnitus was manageable, background noise, but when he was around loud noises or when he hit his head it made sure he remembered it was with him forever. Now it was screaming so loud he felt like his head might burst.

“Will?”

“Hotch?”

“Yeah,” Hotch replied, slipping back against the wall when the group of people who had been a few turns behind him made their way curiously down the stairs. They looked perplexed, probably wondering at all the commotion a few turns ahead of them. Waiting to see a body on the ground. Will quickly maneuvered them until they were part of the exhibit, pretending to eat Hotch and to his credit, Hotch moaned because...well he really felt like it, his head hurt that bad. Once that group passed, Will lifted his mask and eyed Hotch in the dark. There was only a dim foggy glow from the previous room but even in then he could see that something was wrong.

“Are you hurt?”

“No.” Hotch swayed where he stood and watched as an ominous gray cloud crept in at the edge of his vision. He felt foggy and wrong, his heart had slowed to a syrupy thump in his chest. He thought he might pass out. There had been such an immediate feeling of panic and now his heart felt like it might give out entirely. “Maybe.”

“What happened?”

Before he could answer, another group came around the corner and they slipped back into their role of werewolf devouring a poor innocent man. It wasn’t exactly what Will’s job was supposed to be, he was supposed to jump out from around the next corner howling and chase the passersby to the next room but it beat not doing it all or having undue attention paid to him.

Hotch swallowed hard. Was he really about to admit he’d been frightened in a haunted house? Really truly scared? And now he probably had a concussion to take home as a souvenir once this panic attack left him alone? “I don’t know,” Hotch said quietly, incapable of finding the right words. He couldn’t admit what he saw. Was it real? Had his mind played tricks on him? “The last room got to me.”

“The torture chamber?” Will asked, his hands gripping Hotch’s waist to steady him. “You seen stuff like that a hundred times…I guess the mad scientist was kinda creepy, I just thought he looked like Doc from Back to the Future.”

“Mad Scientist?” Hotch asked, gripping Will’s forearms. “I didn’t see a Mad Scientist.”

“Huh. I coulda sworn today was Mark’s day. He loves that damn wig. Who was in there?”

Hotch swallowed hard. His throat was dry and clicked painfully, and for a split second he questioned not only his hearing but his eyes...had he just made it all up? Before he could answer another group came around the corner and Will pulled his mask back down and once again set to devouring Hotch’s jugular. Hotch was happy just to stand there pretending to be eaten, it beat the hell out of exploring the caverns of his mind. Of wondering what happened. Did he invent it all? It was possible. He’d been having nightmares again as the anniversary crept closer but he thought he had a pretty good handle on them.

“You want me to get you outta here?” Will asked when they had a brief break. “You’re still shakin’ and you're breathing all funny. My shift is over in fifteen minutes, I can meet you out front when I’m done. We can talk then.”

“Jack is with Reid,” Hotch whispered. “Can I stay?” He didn’t think he could walk. One step and he had the distinct impression he’d be face planting. Maybe if he stayed until this silent panic attack passed – this panic attack he was so far not admitting to – it would be okay.

“Yeah. Sure. But I gotta do my job so you think you can help me out?”

“I’ll try.”

Will smiled from beneath the mask and let it fall back over his face, taking Hotch’s hand and leading carefully, slowly down into the hallway. He kept his arm around Hotch’s waist, walking with purpose. “Right here, lay down.”

“Lay down?” He liked the sound of that. His head was swimming and his legs felt like they’d been poured with concrete.

“Down.”

Hotch eased himself down until he was on the oddly soft fake grass, and Will nudged him until his body was flush with the wall painted with a glowing full moon and pitch black trees. It looked like something painted by children. “When people come, I’m gonna pretend to be eating you. Then I get up and chase ‘em down the hallway and come back. You just lay here. Close your eyes. Play dead.”

“Yes, sir.”

Hotch had no complaints about closing his eyes, it instantly made the pounding in his head quiet to a dull throb. Will shifted above him, and he heard the distinct sound of a howl. It was low, gutteral, almost sexy. Hotch shifted where he lay when he felt a heat growing in his belly. This was not the time, but it did settle the racing of his heart, and the ache in his chest. There were footsteps beside him and Will was panting, chasing a family who giggled and squealed at him, and then he was dropping to his knees over Hotch.

He expected the fur from the mask against his neck again, but instead in the blind darkness he felt the soft flush of Will’s lips against his own. The mask bobbed against his nose, obscuring both of their faces as Will drew him into a kiss. He was breathless from running, Hotch’s chest was constricting like his heart was going to give out, and suddenly the world around him erupted in kaleidoscope colors behind the black of his eyelids. He sucked in a deep breath, a wanting breath as Will stood and chased a couple past them. And then a group of teenagers, one of whom kicked the bottom of Hotch’s shoe before Will returned.

Another kiss. And another. Hotch had rolled over enough that he could press his thighs together to stop his body from responding in ways that would be wholly inappropriate in a haunted house. Every kiss brought him back to the surface for air, and slowly the panic in him drained to quiet nothing. He forgot, briefly, about Foyet’s mask. He’d been caught up in the moment, that was all. Just his mind taking the haunted house a little too seriously. The nightmares seeping into reality. The handle he thought he had on them was weaker than he thought.

Fifteen minutes later they emerged into the glaring daylight. Hotch had almost forgotten it was just barely afternoon, the sun was still overhead bathing everything in its warm glow. Will held his mask beneath his arm, the sweat on his brow making the strange mix of facepaint he’d had on beneath clump and smear. His eyes were blackened, his lips gray and lifeless. Reid smiled and nudged Hotch, handing him a paisley print silk handkerchief from his pocket.

“You uh...you’ve got something right….there…” he said, indicating his lips. Hotch glanced at Will’s smudged gray mouth and frowned, realizing what he must look like too. “Did you need CPR?”

“Something like that.”

“See ya LaMontagne!” an officer yelled as he exited the haunted house, his black hoodie tied around his waist and a mask dangling from his arm. Will glanced at the mask, and then at Hotch, and then back at the mask. He doubted it was intentional, at least not aimed at Hotch. How could it be? Probably just a practical joke, trying to get the best out of a local legend. Still, he was angry and embarrassed. This was one of his guys. Not a great look.

He didn’t even need to say it and Hotch wouldn't want to hear it. Likely he would argue on behalf of the officer, make an excuse for his poor judgment and lack of taste, and maybe he'd be right too but Will didn't want to listen. Roy Colson's new book about the Reaper's last stand was studded with Hotch's own memories, a gift to his friend for keeping his promise during the initial investigation, and the entire squad was in the process of reading it. They knew, they all knew. He couldn't believe one of them would think this was appropriate. Hotch turned away and wiped the grease paint off of his lips while Reid followed Will’s gaze at the officer and the mask. “Is that…”

“Yeah,” Will grunted. “I’ll handle it.” The guy was going to be seeing a lot of paperwork and grunt security jobs in the near future.

“Who wants a funnel cake?” Will asked, changing the subject abruptly.

“I do!” Jack had never turned down an offer of sweets in his life, and even Hotch could hardly say no to an offer of deep fried batter covered in powdered sugar.

“Well lets go find some grub then!”

[mynamesaplant]

It Changes, like Water (CH. 4)

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

Summary: Akari has just met Gaeric for the first time and is still a little rattled by the experience. Ingo tries to reassure her by telling her a story.

Content Warning: Blood, bodily injury, and wild animal attack

Notes: I've made this in honor of Monsoon-of-Art and their PLA mer au (and just a touch from a different au where Gaeric acts as Irida's guardian). Many of the scenes in this fic are directly inspired by their work, there mer stuff more specifically. I've been a big fan of them since I started playing PLA and I've only grown to love all their characterizations of some of my favorite characters in all of Pokemon.

Getting into the meat! This is the portion of the story that has a depiction of violence, which includes: blood, broken bones, and other sorts of violence. I would consider it minor at best, but just in case that stuff upsets you, you've been warned!

This is by far where I took the most liberties with the Nobles and the Celestica flutes. The thought it would be interesting that each flute had a slight personalization to it. It would still look like a Celestica flute from afar, but a bit more unique to the Noble and the Noble's warden up close. The pyrite and ice being an homage to the Pokemon, Avalugg.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy! Don't like to read on Tumblr? Read it here on AO3.

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Gaeric used to love going to the various shrines for Pearl Clan’s nobles. The closest being Lord Avalugg’s residing on a speck of land in the middle of their territory. This is where many generations of the lord’s children called their nursery and Gaeric loved to see all the gentle giant’s offspring, but now those memories were associated with once happy memories gone rotten.

He got the feeling that Irida felt the same as they genuflected before the lord’s shrine. She fidgeted beside him, the tip of her tail flicking in a barely contained agitation – she felt uncomfortable. This place held memories for her, too. Memories embittered by horrible events. Gaeric understood. He knew better than anyone.

“Alright, small fry. Let’s get going. Those fish aren’t going to catch themselves.”

Soon they were back in the water and headed toward distant shorelines, entering the mouth of a winding river. Irida was quick and was usually pretty good at diverting fish into strategically placed nets, so he told her to watch the current and try to spot any natural fish traps like eddies and look for optimal hideouts that she would need to flush the char out from. She nodded keenly just as he got started setting up his nets, thrusting stakes into the silty river bottom with his raw strength because they were already behind schedule.

Stupid Palina and her guilt tripping. What did it matter if Irida wasn’t interested in being clan leader? Or what if she did, but had more of his tendencies? Just a little bit more animosity toward the likes of Diamond Clan. Just a little bit weary of people and accepting their help. Wouldn’t that make a more self-sufficient and cautious leader? He thought so.

The stakes were set and Gaeric was taking a short break before the real work began. Irida was already hard at work scaring fish into the net set up and quickly tying them off, the settlement would be quite appreciative of the haul. Unlike Irida, who was trying to mooch from him the moment she noticed he had something to eat, he had had the foresight to bring food with him from the settlement.

“Getcher own!”

He grumbled through a piece of defrosted seal meat, one arm extended and keeping Irida at bay. Whining, she tried to flit around his hand to sink her teeth into the piece of meat for just a little morsel, but Gaeric, far too used to this routine, jerked his head away at the last second.

“Just a little piece- don’t be such a jerk!”

With very little consideration, Gaeric shoved the remaining meat into his mouth.

“Gaeric!”

The teen chewed, swallowed, and smacked his lips to emphasis just how tasty it had been. He could feel one of his back teeth stinging in protest, he heard a decidedly loud crack when he shoved the whole piece in his mouth. Irida glared at him the whole time.

“You knew this was going to be a big trip. You should have thought about bringing something to eat.”

“Would it have killed you to share?”

Irida griped, arms folded over her chest and a grimace curving her mouth. No, it wouldn’t have, but it was all a part of Gaeric’s tough love campaign. He was trying to teach Irida about responsibility. She had to learn to be responsible for herself and own up to her mistakes when she made them, how else would she be a good leader?

“No, probably not, but what would that teach you?”

Irida glowered at him, stuck out her tongue, and swam off in a huff up the river. Gaeric could see her rummaging around through the boulders to spook any stray prey like a char or a lamprey. He did bring some extra rations because he knew she forgot, but he was waiting for her to realize her mistake and come back before he was going to part with it.

Life wasn’t always kind and Irida needed to learn how to roll with the punches, so to speak. When he made a mistake, his mother always made him own up to it, and always made him take responsibility for it. He expected the same thing – possibly more – from Irida. So, Gaeric waited. He waited and waited until he felt his eye starting to twitch with the effort of scanning the murky water in the distance for her smaller figure. Where in Sinnoh’s name was she?

He was stowing his possessions into the cleft of two adjacent rocks and started making his way upriver to search for her. What a brat, he thought to himself with his brow furrowed, couldn’t swallow her pride enough for an apology. He was coming to a section of river that he found strangely quiet, nothing alive moving in the water, just debris already caught in the current. The water grew shallower to his right, and he saw something that sent a cold shiver through his whole body. The furry legs and faces of brown bears in the water, peering at him as he surged forward, now listening for a sound he was dreading more than anything in the world. When he heard it, Gaeric’s heart almost stopped.

A scream.

The sound came from up the river aways, the water growing shallower and the banks narrowing into a tributary that was turning white and frothy with how fast Gaeric was clawing his way towards the sound. The bottom of this tributary was much rockier than the river it washed into, his underbelly scraping along the bottom and tinting the water the same soft pink one might see at dusk. Small, jagged pebbles were tears and digging into his flesh, but he didn’t care. His only thought was of Irida. His head broke the water, whipping around wildly and eyes widening at the spots of blood splattering the shoreline. Just beyond his reach was Irida and a young brown bear.

Irida was screeching at the top of her lungs and rolling around in the grass to evade the bear, her claws covered in blood and a wicked looking gash across the bear’s snout was enough clues that Irida was fighting for her life. In his heartbeat of observation, he saw Irida had her own gashes and a bite mark by her tail. The bear must have dragged her out of the water by her tail and that’s all Gaeric needed to know. He practically launched himself out of the water, but gravity was not kind on his large body. He was trying to reach out for her, trying to bring her back to the safety of the water, but he just didn’t have the reach. Just a hair’s breadth from his fingertips.

“No!”

He roared, trying to shimmy himself on the grass to get closer and the water falling from his body in sheaves was helping, making the ground slick enough to move his bulk but it wasn’t enough. His sudden appearance startled the bear, but also Irida, and the bear was quicker to recover. There was another blood curdling scream as the bear’s jaws clamped on her arm and shattering one of her pearlescent bracelets, dragging her away into the tree line, all while Gaeric howled and cursed.

What was he thinking! He should have warned her about the bears, how many other depictions other than those of the benevolent Lord Ursaluna had she ever seen? She had no frame of reference for the animal and no experience in rivers to know to stay away from this common predator. She knew about predators of the sea, but those of land? Those were a brand-new animal in more ways than one. He knew how curious she was. He should have known her curiosity would outweigh her instincts in this case. She wouldn’t have had a reason to think a bear was any more dangerous than a sea turtle.

“Irida!”

With no legs, he was relying solely on his arms to move closer, and the grass was ripping from the soil in protest at his massive bulk. Irida was being dragged away. She was crying and clawing at the bear’s face and eyes. Bears, however, could be just as sturdy as any mer, so it ignored her efforts to fight back. The fright in her eyes, pupils contracted so much as to only resemble thin lines, it was only serving to make Gaeric’s movements more frantic, more desperate.

Not her. Not Irida. Sinnoh above, please, not Irida. Show him just a little mercy. Gaeric couldn’t lose someone else. Sinnoh, grant him the strength to move – grant him a miracle! And Sinnoh must have been listening and had taken pity on the poor orphans as, beyond the trees, there was a bellow of rage that made the very earth beneath him tremble and shake. The bear froze, ear pricked and nose twitching. Irida fell to the ground in a heap and the bear was trying to take off in the opposite direction to no avail. A massive brown blur barreled into them at a frightening speed. Lord Ursaluna had arrived in the nick of time.

The other bear was launched as if weightless across the bank, its body leaving skid marks through the grass. It lay motionless for a moment, which momentarily made Gaeric wonder if Ursaluna had hit it hard enough to kill it, but a second later it leapt to its feet and had taken off. He turned his head back toward Ursaluna, the lord huffing indignantly at the departure before swinging his massive head in the direction of Irida…

Oh, lords and ladies! Gaeric scrambled across the grass, digging his claws into the earth to be by her side. She was catatonic, staring vacantly in the direction her attacker had run. He said her name and she did not acknowledge him.

“I should have warned you. Stupid!”

He cursed himself, looking at her wounds and seeing that many, although bloody, were superficial. The worst was the bite mark by her tail where the bear had initially grabbed her, the bear had contended with the thick layer of that had been developing with more consistent meals.

The bite to her arm was not looking good at all, the broken bones beneath made her arm rubbery like fresh seaweed, but it didn’t appear the bear had a good grip after it had shattered her bracelet. He hoped that bear had pieces of that bracelet lodged its mouth forever. If Lord Ursaluna had not come when he did – the Noble’s hot breath warmed Gaeric’s shoulder and the teen jumped.

Ursaluna was massive. A hump of rough fur covered dense muscle between his shoulder blades, there was peculiar splotch on his head reminding him of the cloudy night of a full moon and mournful looking eyes that did not complement the deadly sets of claws on each paw. The bear scented the air, glancing around him to look at Irida and those mournful eyes seemed to understand the situation, the lord stepped toward her.

To look at Ursaluna, it would be hard to expect him to be as gentle as he was with Irida just then. He nosed her face, breathing in deeply before taking in the rest of her. Upon noticing the jewels that her father had once worn before her, the lord seemed to recognize and inclined his head in his recognition. A low growl emitted from the noble’s throat before he lumbered into the woods, Gaeric did not know what was meant, but he could guess. They were to wait there until he returned.

“Irida, I’m so sorry.”

Her eyes drifted toward him as he reached for her and then hesitated. He was terrified to touch her, like she was like dried brittle star that would crumble to the touch under his rough hands. Gaeric could feel something welling deep within him, something he had been pushing down for so long, and was continuing to push down because he couldn’t afford to look weak.

He was going to be the biggest, like his father. He was going to be the strongest, like his mother. How could he be either, if he couldn’t stop being selfish for one second to realize that he was not fit to take care of Irida? There was a hole in his life that he would never admit that Irida filled when he lost his mother. The girl meant so much to him, but he couldn’t even be a good role model to her.

He kept her around at first because he had to, he only did it out of spite. Too wrapped up in his own pain to realize just how much Irida was hurting. Instead of using that mutual experience to help each other heal, Gaeric was only interested in getting back at the people who served to make his life more miserable.

He hadn’t done right by Irida, and it was about time he admitted it… After all, that’s what his mother had taught him.

“I…”

Gaeric took a deep breath, looking into her blue eyes that began to fill with tears at the tone of his voice.

“I failed you, Irida. I was selfish and that nearly got you killed.”

There was so much more he wanted to say, but his throat felt too tight, and he lowered his head, hurriedly brushing the tears from his eyes. He took another deep breath.

“I should have, and promise to do better for you… But I don’t think I can do that right now… I have to – No, I need to work out some things on my own. I’ll always be here for you Irida, but to be the best mentor I can be to you, I must work on myself first.”

She stared at him for a long time, a long lingering hurt shining in her eyes. She asked him something that made his whole chest ache with a despair he hadn’t felt so deeply as he did when he receive the news of his mother.

“So, you’re abandoning me too?”

“I’m not-”

Gaeric swiftly stopped. Think before you speak, he told himself. They were both in very vulnerable positions right now and he didn’t want to make the situation worse. He didn’t want to. He truly didn’t, but he had to, for his and her own good.

“Never.”

Gaeric assured her, but she looked as though she didn’t believe it. He had to be better – for her and the clan. Even if he felt wronged by the elders, he knew that to keep his mother and father legacy and to raise Irida to the height of leadership she deserved to hold, he needed to be the best version of himself… Whoever that was.

“I will always be here for you, but I need to be better than what I am at this moment.”

He wasn’t sure she would entirely understand his reasoning, and it might take her a long time to forgive him, but he knew that admitting this was a task that was too big for him to handle would be more noble than to continue on in the manner he was mentoring her. Gaeric was spared going into a further philosophical dive into his own doubts and image of legacy by the return of Ursaluna and a mouthful of some very smelly green stalks.

Without any sort of real warning, the lord hunched over Irida and crunched down on the white ends of stalks. The smaller mer yowled in pain as her skin almost seemed to steam as the viscous juices pelted her skin, she would have jerked away had the noble not growled in warning. Gaeric reached out to her, holding her hand as he watched something miraculous happen.

The steam began to dissipate, and it was like her bone was never broken; without being set or anything, the bones just seemed to mend on their own. The oozing bite wound on her tail also healed and scarred almost instantly. Both of them were equally astonished, Irida raising her arm to stare at it up close when Lord Ursaluna spat out the green stalks, mouth dripping with saliva as he hacked up any remaining vegetable matter.

Gaeric didn’t know enough about the land herbs and medicines as he ought to, but he faintly recalled Calaba or a different elder mentioning something called a medicinal leek. It had powerful medicinal properties that the two of them just witnessed in action. Now the lord was looming closer toward Irida, his massive head almost as big as her entire body and nuzzled her cheek with his snout. The small pearls on all of her jewelry began to twinkle softly as the noble grumbled something to her, a deep and affectionate sound that made Gaeric feel strangely better upon hearing it.

Ursaluna stepped back. By the look on Irida’s face, something he was not privy to just occurred and the noble started to nudge both mers back towards the water. 

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Ursaluna watched over them as Gaeric rounded up his nets and other supplies in silence, escorting them back to the seaside. He growls something to Irida and she murmurs something about being asked to wait, Gaeric was just happy she was speaking. The noble planted his feet and emitted a low bellow that seemed to echo across the water. Gaeric and Irida exchange brief looks as Ursaluna’s stance relaxed a little. A few moments later, a call was returned and something big was cutting through the water towards them.

To be graced in the presence of two nobles in the same day was practically unheard of as the glistening form of Lord Avalugg slowed to a stop in the water and dragged himself onto the beack, ice-encrusted flippers carving out the sand. What in Sinnoh’s name was happening? The two lords acknowledged each other with small grunts before, what seemed to sound to the two mers anyway, a serious and drawn-out discussion where a lot of glances were thrown their way was had.

Gaeric and Irida were too nervous to move or speak as this unintelligible conversation ensued, the shallow water lapping at their tails as they awaited whatever judgement the lords seemed to be in the process of discussing.

Avalugg’s aged yellow eyes flicked over to them, but he did not seem remotely interested in Irida. The gaze seemed focused on him and Gaeric swallowed sharply, assuming, incorrectly, that the lords were upset with him and his flagrant disregard for his young clan leader. Avalugg hauled themselves over to the two, but his eyes never wavered from Gaeric. A lifetime of experiences lay in those eyes as the noble blinked up at him slowly – he couldn’t look away.

There was a bitter note of jealousy in the teen’s heart, brief and almost instantly replaced with regret, why begrudge a lord for their wisdom? A wisdom he wished he possessed to know what to do with his situation. Lord Avalugg raised his head, gurgling mournfully as if he had seen right into Gaeric’s very soul in that instant.

“Ah – I-I apologize, my lord!”

Gaeric stammered, a terror seizing the heart lodged in his throat. How ignorant. How blasphemous. He shut his eyes, waiting for a judgement for such treacherous thoughts. Gaeric felt Irida tugging on the sleeve of his tunic.

“Gaeric… I don’t think Lord Avalugg is upset with you. Look!”

He pried open an eye cautiously at her exclamation and the noble inclined his head toward Irida, as if telling him to listen to his young leader. Irida cocked her head, marveling at Avalugg as he flapped icy flippers, kicking up the sand into a miniature whirlwind. The noble bellowed a low note, to both of their astonishment, there was something forming in the dust cloud, and they only saw it clearly once it had dissipated.

A flute. A white flute both of them were all too familiar with. A Celestica flute.

It spun slowly in midair, glistening with ice and small flecks of pyrite in the light of dusk. Gaeric, without even a second of hesitation, reached out for it with both hands. It was light in his hands, cool and smooth against his skin, and both nobles nodded solemnly.

Lord Avalugg, after many years, had selected a new warden.

<<Last Chapter || First || Next Chapter>>

[mingiswow]

Chapter 8: Earth to yn

Word count: +1,1 k

Summary: You always believed in the stars, the energy, the destiny, and that everything happened for a reason. But what if the oh so destiny put you in a group project with the music majors? And that one of the boys hated you guts for a reason you don’t even know why? 

Pairing: Changbin x gn!reader, Hyunjin x gn!reader

The auditorium was more filled than usual when you entered the place holding the two cups of coffee and searching for your friend.

“Yn! Here!” You smiled upon seeing him and happily sat by his side, giving him his coffee. “Are you ready?”

“For what?” You took a big gulp of your coffee, regretting the decision as soon as the too-hot liquid almost burned your mouth.

“The group project”

“A little. I mean, I want to be in Hyunjin’s group, but I also wanna be with you. And I don’t know how the teachers are going to divide the class, there’s a lot of people” you looked around, taking notice of how many students the music major had in this particular class, but your eyes soon stopped when you saw the man entering the room, his laugh loud as always, as he kept talking to the three men with him.

He looked so beautiful that day, it seemed as if he glowed even more than usual, his silky hair framing his facial features just the right way to accentuate his angles. His nose looked like it was sculpted by Michelangelo and you never thought you’d be attracted to someone’s nose, but he wasn’t just someone. No. Hyunjin was a god walking among the dirty humans and you felt so lucky to be able to live in the same realm and universe as this man.

“Earth to yn” you shook your head and looked over to your friend who was laughing at you. “You looked so stupid right now. Daydreaming with the man. Why don’t you just ask him out?”

“I can’t. I mean, technically I can but it’s hard, ok? I always sound dumb and lame every time I try to speak to him” you took a small glance over at him again, feeling silly because of your crush on him.

“I truly don’t understand you” the boy shook his head and took a sip of his coffee. “And just so you know, he was whispering with his friends and looking at us” you turned to your friend, shocked, before turning not-very-subtly to them, who were indeed looking at you. You felt Hongjoong wave his hand to Hyunjin behind you and the other one to wave back. You just gave a small wave and a nod of your head, a little embarrassed.

You couldn’t let it slide how the boy you learned was named Changbin looked very grumpy when you looked at his friend. But also, how incredibly handsome he was. Large shoulders, big arms, and chest. His face was sharp and well-built and even though you didn’t see it, you were pretty sure he probably has a killer smile.

As the teachers started speaking, your mind wandered from what possibly you could have done to Changbin, or anyone he knew perhaps, that made Hyunjin ask to Hongjoong. Your mind made a back and forth trip between your curiosity about Changbin and your crush on Hyunjin.

“The groups from the music students have already been formed since the beginning of the semester” you heard the professor from the music faculty speak and finally paid attention to the people speaking. “So we gave them the liberty to choose with whom they want to work with” you looked over at your friend in a silent way of saying that in no way you’d be in the same group as Hyunjin. “We ask for the music students to start to separate into their groups and look for their partners. We only ask for the groups to be not over five people of each faculty and lower than two per faculty. Good luck, students”.

The woman finished and soon the silent class was filled with conversations and whispers and people forming their groups.

Hongjoong was pretty calm by your side, his legs crossed as he sipped on his coffee just waiting for some music student to talk to him. You, on the other hand, were on the verge of your seat, nervous about how the hell these people are gonna choose someone they don’t even know to make a project like that?

“Joong! Yn! Want to be part of our group?” You couldn’t believe your ears when you heard no one other than Hyunjin himself calling you. You heard a bit of a whisper-fight between him and his friends as you turned to them.

“Sure, we’d love to” your friend grabbed you and pulled you to the seats next to them. “Hi, I’m Hongjoong and this is my friend yn, nice to meet you guys” he smiled at the four men that reciprocated, except for Changbin.

“These are Chan, Jisung, and Changbin, they have a rap group called 3racha”

“Omg you guys are 3racha? I love your work! You guys are a legend on campus” Hongjoong spoke all happy, he was a big fan of the boys but never was able to see them in real life.

“Hongjoong is my graffiti partner I’ve talked about”

“Oh! You’re so talented, man. I’ve seen your last work that Hyunjin showed us, amazing” the cuter one, Jisung you think, said with a big smile on his face.

They kept talking about their artistic inspirations and aspirations while you and Changbin stayed quiet. His eyes never left the ground, as the dirty porcelain tiles were more interesting than anyone and anything. You couldn’t help but feel your heart sting a little, why was he treating you like this without knowing you? Without talking to you? You wanted to confront him, to grab him by his collar and ask what was wrong.

Suddenly you felt someone shaking your body out of trance, calling your name. You looked over to who was it to find Hongjoong’s smirking face

“Sorry, were you talking to me?” the boys laughed at you, making your cheeks heat up.

“You’re daydreaming a lot today, yn” your best friend commented, his smirk still on his lips as if he was up to something. “We were asking what you think about us meeting this friday after the boys performance to talk about the project”

“Hm… sure. That’d be great.”

The bell rang, announcing that the class was over for the day. you and the boys started to gather your things to go to the next class, walking along to the exit of the auditorium.

“So see you guys this friday?” you asked the four boys that nodded, except for Changbin, again, who only stood a little further than his friends, playing with his feet. “Was nice meeting you guys, can wait to start the project” you smiled

“Will be so cool” Hyunjin spoke with his beautiful smile, hugging Chan and Hongjoong by the neck. “Can wait to work with my friends”.

You felt your stomach do a little flip as he said the word friends and that, maybe, you were included in it.

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[sjsmith56]

The 107th - Part 4, From There to Here - Bucky Barnes One Shots

Summary - The 107th get their final leave before shipping off to Europe. Told from the POV of Corporal Dum Dum Dugan it recounts his time off, then reunion with Sergeant Barnes before the rest of the unit arrives. It picks up again on their arrival in Italy, leading to the unit’s capture by HYDRA, and rescue by Captain America.

Characters - Bucky Barnes, Dum Dum Dugan, Gabe Jones, Falsworth, Dernier, Morita, Colonel Lohmer, Dr. Arnim Zola, Steve Rogers.

Length - 4.5K

Warnings - Fears of marital infidelity, capture by enemy, reference of “Limey” about a British officer, violence against POWs, retaliation against sadistic officer, death of character.

Author notes - As in the previous one-shot Dum Dum Dugan and Gabe Jones are part of the 107th Infantry Unit.  Although this series of one shots are primarily about Bucky Barnes, I have a fondness for Dum Dum Dugan and decided to include a little personal scene involving him, his wife and his boys.  The scenes in the factory of Barnes, Dugan, and Jones after being captured are based on a digital comic book titled Captain America: First Vengeance by Fred Van Lente.

<<Part 3

〰️〰️〰️

Sarge came into the barracks hut at Camp McCoy on the morning of June 4, 1943, brandishing a set of papers, one for each of us.  Gabe and I looked at each other and figured this was it, our marching orders had come in.  Over a year's worth of training had made us a well oiled unit of fighting soldiers and now we were declared ready to join the fight in Europe.

"A Company," yelled Sarge.  "Gather around."  He waited while everyone in the hut got close.  "The Lieutenant is at Division and has charged me with giving you the good news.  We have our orders.  Tomorrow morning, at 08:00 you are officially on leave.  You may go home, see your wives, or your girlfriends, or your wives and your girlfriends, your folks and anyone else special to you.  If you're planning on having kids make them now boys, because it will be a while until you're back.  Maybe get married first before you do.  Make sure you have filled out your beneficiaries on your life insurance form.  You can give them to me right up to our embarkation date.  On Saturday, June 19 most of you are expected to report by no later than 15:00 at Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn.  There you will receive your kit and await the call for transport to a port in the United Kingdom.  Everything you need to know is in your travel orders which I have right here for you."

He began calling out names and handed out the letters one by one.  I received mine and looked at the top line.  Travel orders for Dugan, Timothy C. A., Corporal, Serial number etc.  I looked at the date where I had to report back and noticed it was different from what the others were told.

"Hey, Sarge, why do I have to report back on the 15th?" I asked.

Those big baby blues fixed their gaze on me.  "Because some of us have to be back early, like me.  I have to be back on the 12th, all corporals on the 15th.  I didn't write the orders ... I just obey them."

"My wife isn't going to be so happy with only ten days," I replied.

"Times are tough, Dugan," he retorted as he kept handing out papers.  "I have about a dozen girls that I'm supposed to see in seven days.  Might have to double them up.  Stewart!"

The Sarge had a reputation as a ladies' man, which I had actually seen proof of in Sparta.  He went through the girls of that town like a man on a mission although he made good friends with a couple of them, like Miss Warren.  She was a real sweetheart, didn't seem to mind that he dated other broads.  He always treated her right and with respect.  She wasn't like some of the cookies he went out with.  Come to think of it he had weekend liberty that week before our orders came in, and when Gabe and I went to the store to say hi to Miss Warren they said she had the weekend off.  We wondered if he took her away, but we always thought she was too smart to fall for Sarge's lines.  Still ....

"Dugan," said Gabe.  "What are your plans for leave?"

"I'm sure my wife has a list a mile long of things for me to take care of," I replied.  "You?"

The handsome black man smiled.  "I'm hitting the jazz clubs," he said, "Been too long since I heard some good music.  Then I'm going to fill up on as much of my Mother's and Aunty's food as I can.  Would have been nice if the Yankees were in town."

I laughed.  "Why you cheer for those losers I'll never know.  You're as bad as Sarge and his Dodgers.  Red Sox, now there's a team."

Other guys got in on the conversation over who the best baseball teams were.  I saw Sarge smile as we jawed at each other.  As long as it didn't come to a standoff or blows he didn't care if we poked harmless fun at each other.  If things did get out of hand Sergeant James Barnes was pretty good at breaking it up.  I guess he would be, having been a YMCA welterweight champion three years running.  That's where I first saw him, fighting a buddy of mine on the undercard as an amateur in 1941, before Pearl Harbor.  Sarge was good, maybe could have turned pro if not for the war.  When I first met him at Camp McCoy I told him about seeing him fight.  We had good talks about Joe Louis, Buddy Baer, and Billy Conn among other boxers of the time.

Early the next day, after morning chow, the three of us, me, Gabe and Sarge, headed out for the bus to the train station in Milwaukee with our duffel bags and travel orders.  There was a lineup of guys kissing their girls goodbye.  I guess Sarge must have done most of his goodbyes already as only Miss Warren was there for him, and they gave each other a rather tame hug, then he did kiss her, kind of sweet like.  She waved at Gabe and me, then left as she had to be at the store for opening.  We got into Milwaukee an hour later and boarded the train right away, finding our spot together, as we knew there would be an issue about Gabe riding with us.  Sure enough the conductor came and said there was a car for Gabe's type further along.  Sarge just looked straight at the man.

"According to the United States Army Corporal Jones is white," he said.  "He stays with us.  You have a problem with that you take it up with the United States Army."

Gabe, who was sitting by the window, let Sarge handle it and he just stretched his legs out so they covered the aisle seat next to me, then pulled his cap down over his eyes.  When another conductor came to try his luck at getting Gabe to move Sarge just pushed his cap up and gave him that intense blue eyed gaze he gave anyone who was messing with him.

"Private Jones is in this unit, and I believe this car as well as several others have been reserved for our unit, 200 soldiers, in fact.  If he moves, we all move with him.  You able to squeeze us all into a single car?"

That shut the conductor up.  Of course, we went through the same thing again when we transferred in Chicago but Sarge wasn't having any of it and we were soon on the train for the long overnight trip to New York.  When we pulled in at 08:00 into Grand Central Station I wasn't expecting my wife and kids to be there but I was surprised to see my neighbour, Mr. Santucci.  He waved at me and was quite excited.

"Timothy, I'm glad you're here," he said.  "Come, I'll take you home.  There's something I need to tell you."

Well, this couldn't be good.  We got out to the street and he flagged a taxi, a taxi, can you believe it?  He gave the address of our building and then sat back. 

"Your wife, Kathleen, she kept a little secret from you since you were last here," he said.  "She didn't mean to.  She meant to tell you in person when you were supposed to be on leave the last time.  I told her she should write about it but she said it was something that should be said in person."

I rolled my eyes.  My leave got cancelled the last time about six months ago after Sarge, Gabe, and I squared off against a few soldiers from the south who took exception to Gabe's presence in our midst.  We all got our leaves cancelled as punishment but the guys from the south got recycled, had to restart their boot camp from day one.  I wondered what could have been so important that Kathleen had to tell me in person and then it hit me.  I looked at Mr. Santucci.  He nodded.

"You have a son," he said.  "Looks just like you, born two months ago.  He'll be a big boy, just like your other two."

I said three Hail Mary's right there in the cab with Mr. Santucci sitting right next to me saying them as well then I looked at him.

"You're not lying to me are you, Mario?" I asked.  "He's my boy?"

"No doubt about it," he replied.  "Your wife is sick with worry that you wouldn't believe her, so I said I would come for you and explain it all.  You know how some women get when they're full of child.  It's like their brain gets all fogged up and they can't think straight."

That did sound like Kathleen.  When she was pregnant with our first she took the subway to Yonkers and didn't know why.  Took her all day to get back.  With our second she went to the grocers and came back with a case of bananas, said it was too good a deal to pass up.  We shared them with everyone on our floor so they didn't go bad but Kathleen did do strange things when she was pregnant.  Until I saw her and the baby I didn't know what I was going to say or do.

Finally, we pulled up in front of the apartment building and I swallowed as I stood there looking up at the front of it.  Three kids in that small apartment.  Mr. Santucci patted me on the back and opened the front door for me.  As I went up the stairs, I was aware of several of the tenants opening their doors after I passed.  Did the whole damned building know?  Finally, I arrived at our door and knocked, as I left my key behind when I went to boot camp.  There was the sound of a baby crying and I almost burst into tears hearing it.  Then the door opened, and I saw my Kathleen standing there, her face fearful but just as beautiful as it had been eleven months before when I last saw her.  Two little shadows rushed out from behind her and grabbed my legs, my older boys, Tim Jr. and Danny.  After kissing them and letting them have their way with me I looked at the babe that Kathleen was holding, and she put him in my arms. 

He was definitely my boy, from the Dugan red hair, to the chubby cheeks and clenched fists that reached for me.  Even if he wasn't my boy I would have loved him because he was so perfect and I loved his mother so much.  When I kissed him she began to cry and I had to put one arm around her.  Mr. Santucci, who had been standing in the doorway smiled and left, closing the door behind him. 

The next ten days passed much too quickly as I played with the boys, helped look after little Liam, as Kathleen had named him after my grandfather, then had tender times with my wife that may or may not have put her in the family way again.  Before I left I made her promise that if she was carrying another baby to write me about it.  Before I left, just after lunch on June 15th I kissed her softly, as tears fell from her green eyes, and I touched her dark hair before enclosing her in my arms.  I kissed all three of my boys and then I carried my duffel bag with me to the train station and got on the train to Brooklyn, where there was a regular bus that ran between the station and the base at Fort Hamilton.  I didn't know then it would be several years until I saw her, our three boys and our daughter Bridget.

After I reported in I was directed to the barracks assigned to our unit.  Sarge was already there going over paperwork.  He took a stack of papers and shoved them across the desk to me.

"Put these in order by date," he said.  "The clerks here have their own system.  I had all the requisitions in, signed by the Lieutenant and everything and they brought them right back to me, date first, then requisition number."

"Hello to you too, Sarge," I said.  "How was your leave?"

"Not long enough," he said.  "Had to date two at a time.  You?"

"I have another child," I said bluntly.  "Kathleen was pregnant from my last leave, wanted to tell me in person but my leave six months ago got cancelled, and she didn't want to put it in a letter."

Sarge howled.  "So, what is it?"

"A boy, Liam, looks just like me.  She might already have another one starting but she promised if she is she would write me."

"How old is the oldest?" he asked.

"Four." 

He howled again.  "You're a cruel man leaving your wife with that many young babies."

"She's a good mother," I said defensively.  "The neighbours are good.  They'll watch out for her.  My mam had me at 17, then three more before she was 21 and she was a good mother."

Sarge just shook his head and grinned.  What did he know?  He was a bachelor and doll dizzy.  Our other corporal, Tommy Malone arrived and Sarge pushed a bunch of requisitions towards him to put into order.  Took us another hour but we finally got them organized like the clerks wanted and Sarge submitted them.  The day our company arrived they would line up at the quartermasters office and receive all their bedding and towels.  The day after they would get their kit, rifle, sleep roll, cooking kit, medical kit, everything we would need when we were finally mustered and ready to be shipped out to our destination.

"Do we have our ship assigned yet?" I asked.

Sarge smiled.  "The Queen Mary," he said.  "They're sending us in style to Scotland, leaving on the 24th.  We'll be training before we go." 

He wouldn't be so happy when we boarded.  They packed over 15,000 troops on that ship plus over 900 crew.  They had beds stacked three high in every part of that floating transport.  Even the officers had to share although they were only two or three to a cabin.  Although it was June the seas were stormy and by the time we arrived in Gourock, Scotland, half the complement were almost dead from sea sickness.  When we disembarked in Scotland, we boarded a troop train that took us from the port, through Glasgow and down to an army base near Manchester.  We had a couple of days there then another sea journey from Liverpool to Algeria where we transferred to another ship that took us to Sicily.  The Mediterranean was calmer but by then most of us were just plain worn out and only barely recuperated when we arrived in mid-July.

We did our best and made good headway when we landed in Sicily in July and took the island just a few weeks later, leading to the ouster of Mussolini.  When the British landed in southern Italy shortly after the Americans landed to the north, hoping to encircle the Germans and fascist Italians that were still loyal to them. 

We chased them to a place called Azzano in northeastern Italy in October 1943.  The fighting was brutal, and we lost the Lieutenant, leaving Sarge in charge.  Surrounded by enemy mortars he ordered Gabe to call in B Company for support.  Before Gabe could do that, we came under attack and the damnedest thing happened.  Suddenly we saw these blue flashes coming out of the dark, hitting the Germans and just ... disintegrating them into thin air.  Within seconds all the Germans were taken out.  We watched as this tank we had never seen the likes of come over a hill, shooting these pulses of blue lights at the German line in the far distance.  In awe, we just stood watching it unfold in front of us then suddenly the tank aimed its cannon at us and began firing.  Taking cover as best we could in the craters left by the mortar blasts we huddled there, hoping to hell that this wasn't to be our last day on Earth.  Then the flashes stopped, and we were surrounded by troops built like machines, dressed in black armour holding these strange rifles on us.

"Aufgeben," yelled the one closest to us and we looked at Gabe.

"They want us to surrender," he said.

Sarge raised his hands.  "Tell them we surrender.  What choice do we have?  We can't fight against those guns."

As we assembled Sarge told me to estimate a head count.  As best I could tell there were well over a hundred of us.  Whether the rest were dead or had escaped from the rear I couldn't tell.  We were marched to an area a couple of miles away and loaded into trucks.  Then we were transported for some time before the trucks were stopped and we were ordered out.  Sarge didn't look well and we closed ranks around him, knowing that a weaker POW could be subjected to cruel punishment by the guards.  They herded us into this building then forced us into an area full of different cells.  They stuck me, Sarge and Gabe in a cell with a Limey officer and a Frenchman.  I made a joke, not a good one, I admit, and the Limey took offence at it.  Well, my people are Irish and I wasn't too fond of the British just because of that and we pushed each other.  I have to admit that he wasn't scared of me, even though I must have outweighed him by 50 pounds, but I still got a few licks in before Sarge ordered me and Gabe to stand down.  The Frenchman said something and Gabe laughed, then answered in French.  It surprised the man and he stood up, offering Gabe his hand.

"I'm Dernier, Jacques Dernier, French resistance," he said, in his heavily accented voice.

Gabe looked to Sarge who nodded his approval and he introduced us.  Then the British officer stood up.

"Major James Montgomery Falsworth," he said.  "3rd Independent Parachute Brigade of the British Army.  My apologies to you Corporal, for being overly sensitive to your joke.  These soldiers are not the usual Nazi vermin we're used to dealing with.  They're worse and they have treated us like cattle.  It has stressed us immensely."

I nodded my acceptance of his apology.  "I'm sorry, sir," I replied.  "We have to work together against these guys, not fight amongst ourselves."

"Where are we?" asked Sarge.

"Somewhere near Kreischberg, Austria,"   replied Falsworth.  "This is a HYDRA facility.  As near as we can tell they were Nazis and now they're worse, looking at Nazis as if they're substandard.  The commanding officer is a sadist named Colonel Lohmer.  Try to avoid his notice.  He has killed several men just for displeasing him."

That was easier said than done when we were forced to begin working the following day.  No work, no food was what we were told.  Sarge, who hadn't been feeling well for some time could barely get up but he did and was assigned a job of moving carts of munitions from one spot to another.  He collapsed while pushing the heavy cart and fell against the munitions, causing some of them to fall.  Lohmer was right there and laid into the Sarge, beating him continually while the man didn't even have the strength to defend himself.  I could feel my hands curl in frustration at witnessing the savagery of the Colonel.  Finally, he stood up, gave a final kick to the Sarge's side and walked away, ordering Lieutenant Kleiber to see to the mess.  Kleiber motioned to me and Gabe to pick Sarge up and take him to the cell.  Gabe examined him as best he could and determined Sarge had broken ribs.  He also had a rattling cough.

"Sounds like pneumonia to me," said Falsworth, standing nearby.  "Kleiber isn't so bad.  He would let your Sergeant recuperate before sending him out to work but Lohmer would just as soon see him die on the work floor.  We need to take Lohmer out and I think I know how."

While we returned to our workstations we looked for a certain substance, it was sticky and if left long enough on a metal surface would weaken it.  The Major, Gabe and I found some, brought it to Dernier and when no one was looking he applied it to the chain attached to a crane carrying bins of scrap to be melted into munitions.  All night that stuff sat on the chains and the guards were none the wiser.  In the morning, Lohmer ordered Sarge to work.  Gabe and I helped him up.  I never knew a man who could tolerate as much pain as Sergeant James Barnes could.  Even though every step was agony for him he refused to show weakness in front of Lohmer.  He loaded scrap metal into a large bin.  When it was full Lieber ordered the crane to lift the bin up.  We all stood back, knowing the chains were weakened.  As the bin rose up high Lohmer walked under its path just as a part of the chain broke, dropping the bin right on top of him.  All of us POWs cheered when the son of a bitch was crushed, then the guards herded us back into our cells.  Again, Gabe and I supported Sarge while he stumbled back.

"You don't have to worry Jimmy boy," I whispered to him.  "Lohmer won't hurt you again."

"Bucky, my name is always Bucky," he mumbled.  "No one calls me Jim, or James."

"Alright, Bucky, we got you," I said, as Gabe and I laid him down on the floor of the cell.

We were there for hours while the guards and Lieutenant Kleiber investigated the "accident" as they finally determined it to be.  When we got our food, Gabe and I took turns feeding the Sarge.  The next day Kleiber agreed that Sarge was too sick to work and he was allowed to stay in the cell.  Even though he rested he seemed to get sicker and sicker over time.  Several days after Lohmer died a scientist showed up, a little guy with glasses.  Apparently he was now in charge.  At least he didn't order any beatings, but there was something about him that gave me chills, especially when he noticed Sarge.  His second day there he showed up at our cell with Kleiber.

"This man, on the floor, why hasn't he been working?" he asked.

"We think pneumonia, plus several broken ribs courtesy of your predecessor," said Major Falsworth.

The scientist turned to Kleiber.  "Why was he not sent to me sooner?" he asked.  "I am a medical doctor as well.  I have treatments for pneumonia.  Bring him to me."

"Yes, Dr. Zola," saluted Kleiber.  "Immediately.  Guards!"

He signalled to several guards and one motioned us back with his gun while the other two took the Sarge between them.  He tried to struggle but there was no strength left in him at all.  I was angry and upset.  Grasping at the bars I yelled at them.

"Don't you kill him, you dirty bastards!"

The doctor, almost out of the room turned back and walked towards me several steps.  What he said chilled me; not just the words but the way he said it.

"I have no intention of killing your Sergeant.  Whether he survives the treatment is up to him.  If it works it will be a new day in science and your Sergeant will never be sick ever again."

With a smile I can only describe as twisted the doctor left with the two guards carrying the Sarge behind him.  For the next few days we heard nothing, except there was another man in charge, an arrogant SOB called Schmidt who upped the production limits for everyone.  Even Kleiber wouldn't say anything about Sarge, and both Falsworth and Dernier shook their heads, saying it was likely that Sarge was dead.  Neither Gabe nor I were going to let his death go unpunished and we talked together about taking on the guards and getting one of those fancy rifles in our hands.  We knew it would likely end up with our deaths and although I was worried about leaving Kathleen a widow with four babies to look after alone (she had written that our last time together had produced another pregnancy) I wanted to die fighting, not as someone's slave.

One night we were sleeping in our cells when the guard on patrol above us suddenly fell over, knocked out.  Some guy, wearing a leather jacket, a toy helmet, and carrying a toy shield took the keys to our cell out of the guard's pocket.

"Who are you?" asked Gabe.

He looked around, shrugged, and said, with a Brooklyn accent, "Captain America."

Then the guy jumped down, proceeded to unlock our cells, and asked about Sergeant James Barnes.  Falsworth told him he was likely in the isolation unit.  The "Captain" told us where the tree line was, to wait there for him, to raise some hell along the way, and he took off towards the unit where Sarge likely was.  We all looked at each other and did what we were told.  We hit them hard, took their weapons, found grenades, found their fancy tanks with the blue flash cannons and gave them hell. 

When we reached the rendezvous point Captain America wasn't there but shortly after the whole factory went up and we wondered if he made it out.  We shouldn't have worried because he showed up with Sarge and we found out that this guy was his best friend from Brooklyn who disobeyed orders to drop behind enemy lines and rescue us.  Cocky little guy, little to me, anyways.  Sergeant Barnes couldn't keep his eyes off of him, as if this guy had undergone some big transformation.  Whatever it was, he had moxie, and there were several of us that kind of liked his style of fighting.  Oh, and Sarge?  I don't know what that Nazi doctor did to him but he was better and his ribs were apparently healed.  It was a miracle, as was our rescue.  For those of us who stuck with Captain America, it was the beginning of some incredible missions.

Part 5>>

Series masterlist

[mirtifero]

I actually want to talk about a short story book plan I had back on around 2020(?) and that I'm slowly coming back to.

I cant remember if it was around 2020 or 2021 or if it started in 2019, but I remember being in front of a computer while thinking about it, so idk. Maybe 2020.

Cus I remember being influenced by senmu's work by the time? And some of these seem to have some ressemblance.

I remember stopping writing them because they started making me feel ill to my stomach. Maybe you'll see why. The scenes of each story were too personal and were wounds that hurt too much for me to handle at the time.

Now I see them with a bit of fondness.

The stories are going to be written in portuguese tho, ahahah. Not here! Here you'll have short summaries.

Warnings for each story summary on the improvised name for each of them

Dream Boy (abuse, murder, suicide)

This one is quite simple. A man in a big city has developed major depression due to loneliness and is struggling in a small friend group he made of horrible people. These "friends" basically just use him for his (broke) wallet or to beat him up or harrass him. Due to that, he slowly starts to make a fictional person inside his head to be his best friend. He eventually actually develops feelings for this fictional boy, and starts going slowly but surely mad. His life is a mess, he is constantly almost getting evicted, he locked his university course and his friends suck. That dream person is the only person he has. He eventually has a breakdown and kills his "friends" and ends up getting arrested. He commits suicide shortly after to reunite with his beloved.

Girl best friends (abuse, suicide, murder, homophobia)

This one's very short and simple. Two girls are best friends in a very conservative town, and one starts developing feelings for the other one. Let's call them 1 and 2. One day, they are having a sleep over, and 2, who knows about 1's feelings for her, starts whispering sweet poison to her. 1 gets flustered and asks what she's talking about, receiving a confused look from 2. Basically things like that happen for a while, 2's whispers developing from sweet nothings to... something weirder. 2 starts to talk about death and wanting to kill hersef when they graduate highschool, which was some months from then. Slowly 2 also starts suggesting for a double suicide. 1 is scared, but 2 keeps pushing and pushing for her to do it. On graduation day, they go to the roof together, and 1 once again hesitates, but 2 looks at her and tell her she loves her so so much and that she can't wait to die together with her. 1 sits on the edge and breathes but chickens away, making 2 angry. 2 pushes 1 down the building. 1 looks up while falling, realising 2 was not jumping. 2 had tricked her. She never wanted to die. She wanted 1 dead.

Three friends (cannibalism, animal death)

This one. Changed a lot. Originally it was about a starving girl, her dogs and a mysterious kind stranger. The stranger gave her food and she was forever grateful. Slowly though, her dogs start missing. Her meals are her only source of comfort. One day, instead of a full meal, the stranger appears and shows her one of her dead dogs. Rips it apart and feeds it to her. She had been feeding the girl on human and dog meat all along.

Now, there's only 2 people in that story (which I took some liberties to change from its actual original, since silly me doesn't remember much besides dogs and cannibalism), so why the 3 title? Thats because for a good while I changed it. It is the time loop yuri story I talked about. With the same characters and similar ideas, a girl was trapped in a time loop where her two friends kept killing each other and grotesquely mutilating and eating themselves, and how it kept getting worse because the girl started actually making things worse HERSELF.

But I ended up... not liking it? I don't know, my original ideas were feeling based only, I couldnt seem to make a plot out of it. It's a nice idea, but not for them. I won't scrap it, just like what happened to Henry (hence why there's two of them), but the murder besties will stay on the shelf for a while.

Yes I will write the dog eating story instead. Lol.

That's honestly it? Like, it's three stories I made at a very low point of my life, and based off emotions I couldn't seem to explain at the time. Now I understand them better and wish to explore it on these stories I made at my lowest.

Sharing here because... maybe someone here likes grotesque stuff? Haha. Well. Hoped you who read this liked it!

[amberss]

Kiribaku Fic Recs

hey guys! I'm obsessed with this ship, as it's noticeable if you go to my blog haha, so i decided to make a fic rec list for them 💚 it'll be continuously updated as I read more! hope u like it!

Edit: since now I have another rec list too, I'm gonna link it here. This is a list of my personal recs, and it's also being updated 🐝

[this list is sorted by the amount of words. tell me if this doesn't work]

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• More than 50k •

quote love unquote by @newamsterdame

When Kirishima Eijirou's band hits the big time, he's not prepared for his newfound fame. He's even less prepared to meet the actor he's been crushing on for years, or to start dating him as a publicity stunt. The closer Kirishima gets to Bakugou Katsuki, the more he realizes he's in over his head. But it's hard to stop, once his heart is in it.

Rated: T, Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Words: 135,781

Moment of Truth by Fanficsmything

A fanfiction based on the 2009 movie The Proposal that turned into its own storyline and lovingly stuffed full of cliches.

Rated: M, Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Words: 104,611

Coffee Cups and Cigarette Butts by RedRiotsScar

Bakugou Katsuki has always wanted to be a lawyer. He’s going to be the best lawyer in Japan, but first, he has to be the best law student. He’s out to prove himself, especially to the red haired idiot who called him a dick on the first day of law school.

Or KiriBaku law school AU!

Rated: M, Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Words: 102,612

2 A.M by cityboys

Caught between cities, phone calls and shifts he didn't sign up for, Katsuki finds that he doesn't travel light as well as he thought.

Rated: T, Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Words: 67,432

Kirishima goes to a quiet seaside town to take care of his grandmother after she has a bad fall. There he meets Bakugou Katsuki and falls in love.

A Secret Admirer by KiriBakuHappiness

Bakugou Katsuki has a secret admirer and the class of 1-A is desperate to figure out who it could possibly be.

Rated: T, Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Words: 60,915

Tonight, We're the Sea by @itsthegameilike

Rated: M, Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Words: 60,715

Lying, Still by @uncomfortabun

So, when his mother sets him up on a blind date with a weirdly bubbly girl with pink hair and dark eyes, he thinks he’s just about had it – and he’s not too shy to tell the girl just that.

To his surprise, though, she wholeheartedly agrees, and they come up with a plan, which works out pretty well until they are faced with a new problem; Mina’s childhood friend, Kirishima Eijirou.

Rated: M, Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Words: 52,793

.

• 25k to 50k •

(Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder) FALSE by dragontrappedinhumanskin

When Bakugo and Kirishima get hit by a quirk that forces them to literally stick together or face the less then desirable consequences, how the fuck is Bakugo supposed to keep his crush hidden?!

Well, turns out he never needed to.

Rated: T, Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Words: 46,121

the fools rush by @chonideno

Or how Bakugou and Kirishima find a way to call each other “home” and struggle with the realization that once all their bills are on auto-pay, the only thing they still have to deal with is this pit full of feelings they have ignored for too long.

Rated: T, Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Words: 40,714

Lazarus by drifting_manatee

Katsuki Bakugou wakes up buried six feet underground, blindsided and trapped by a faceless villain. His quirk has been rendered useless, and his only tools for escape are a faulty cell phone and his own perseverance. With time running out, he is forced to confront not only his increasingly futile odds for survival but the rising tide of feelings he's kept buried all these years.

Rated: T, Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Words: 35,463

The Way We Love by i_write_shakespeare_not_disney

Or: I listened to a song and I ended up falling into the get together- break up- get back together trope that I kept complaining about

Rated: T, Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Words: 32,614

the fuel to your flame by sascake

He’s saved from Bakugou biting a chunk out of his arm at the ding from the phone. The three of them turn back to the screen, where ‘You have a Match!’ is emblazoned across it.

Rated: E, Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Words: 29,603

slow it down (go easy on me) by @newamsterdame

When a confrontation with a villain throws Bakugou through time, he's forced to face a future he never imagined, and maybe something he can't leave behind.

Rated: T, Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Words: 26,930

cotton candy hands by @chonideno

A series of soft vignettes in which a love-struck Kirishima and a touch-starved Bakugou care for each other and it's definitely not making their hearts jump through hoops, they’re never this close to kissing, no, they're totally best friends bro

Rated: T, Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Words: 26,107

.

• 15k to 25k •

ghosts beneath ink wash stars by cityboys

Eijirou's evolution from Bakugou's delivery boy to kind of, possibly, someone to come home to.

Rated: T, Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Words: 18,820

when a rock and a hard place love each other very much... by shizuumi151

Kaminari ends up as the middleman and can't do anything about it. But for the sake of courage, true love, and his sanity, he has to.

Rated: T, Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Words: 16,463

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• 10k to 15k •

houdini by @chonideno

Kirishima gets stuck in a closet with Bakugou for the sake of a stupid game, and it's fine, it's only seven minutes, what's the worst that could happen.

Rated: T, Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Words: 14,142

The Best Medicine by chezka

Or, Kirishima sees Bakugou laughing, and his world shakes with it.

Rated: G, Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Words: 13,842

felix by @chonideno

the cat is a ball of reddish brown fur and unabashed cockiness, and he purrs his way into bakugou's list of living things he likes to have around, bringing a +1 with him

or how bakugou meets his neighbor, and everything sharp and pointy starts looking soft and squishy

Rated: T, Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Words: 11,967

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• 5k to 10k •

the inherent eroticism of the sea by @chonideno

the new crew member is loud, confident and capable, and the ends of his hair curl like he's been in salt water. he feels like the sea, and bakugou loves the sea

or how the ship's engineer falls for the rookie

Rated: M, Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Words: 7,227

Tug by @uncomfortabun

Kirishima Eijiro is getting used to life in the dorms with his classmates, which is only made harder with his neighbor being the only person who can make his heart stutter insanely.

Rated: NR, Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Words: 6,763

Till Death Do Us Apart by codename_bewareofthefangirl

“I, Kirishima Eijirou, the Red Dragon, offer you my utmost loyalty and my humble life. I will stand by your side and protect you till the day death do us apart.”

Bakugou could recall everything.

But all he was left with were haunting memories and an empty heart.

Rated: NR, Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Major Character Death, Words: 6,727

watching you fall in love. (watching you be loved) by pxningfo0L

5 times Mitsuki saw her son fall in love, and the one time she knew someone loved him back.

Rated: M, Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Words: 5,135

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• 1k to 5k •

what we deserve by @aloera

“Never have I ever met my soulmate,” Uraraka says. Drunk Katsuki takes a sip and the room goes silent.

Or Katuki's timer goes off at USJ. Eijirou's does not.

Rated: T, Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Words: 4,490

to have and to hold by @aloera

In which Kirishima talks about his husband constantly and the most his coworkers know about the mystery guy is that Bakugou absolutely hates him.

Rated: T, Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Words: 4,548

what I mean by @uncomfortabun

Bakugou and Kirishima are hanging out like always, and Bakugou decides to finally take a chance.

Rated: G, Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Words: 3,162

morpheus by @chonideno

5 times they fell asleep around each other and 1 time they didn't

or their step-by-step progress to waking up to each other

Rated: G, Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply, Words: 2,643

Bite by Moment_of_Tangency

“So,” Kaminari says, idly sipping his juice. “Alpha on alpha. What’s that like?”

Eijirou doesn’t look up from where he’s staring across the room, watching the back of Bakugou’s neck as he makes his way through the lunch line. “It’s a battle of wills.”

Rated: E, Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Words: 2,599

[goldenwilliamson]

hi could you please write about george playing you a song he wrote for you?? thanks xx

pairing: george x reader

summary: george writes a song for you

warnings: none

word count: 770

author’s note: i know this isn't why he wrote here comes the sun, but i took creative license here. also i envision the version of hcts that george brings home is take 9 from the deluxe abbey road!

You wake up earlier than George which isn’t unusual, you rise with the sun. George had even taken on the liberty of calling you his sunshine because of the fact. Every morning you try to step out of bed as silently and lightly as possible, George never usually stirs, the boy could sleep for days if he was allowed.

This morning you wake up and fall into your usual routine of a cup of tea in the living room followed by a walk through the garden. When you come back inside you hear George before you see him, the sound of his soft voice and acoustic guitar drifts toward you on the gentle breeze. As you enter the living area where he sits on the large persian rug between the lounges with a guitar perched on his lap, his eyes seem to light up at your arrival.

“Ah, here comes the sun,” he takes notice of you and the use of the sweet nickname makes you smile uncontrollably. He continues to strum, singing the sounds of the guitar when no lyrics immediately find him.

“Doo da doo doo,” he continues which makes you laugh.

You walk closer to him, settling into the comfort of the lounge as you watch George continue to work sweet notes out of the guitar.

“Here comes the sun and I say, it’s alright,” he pulls the perfect words from the ether and looks right at you as he sings them. Your cheeks warm with the overwhelming love you feel for the man sitting in front of you, singing the loveliest song.

He slows to a stop and moves the guitar to rest on the floor beside him, “Morning, sunshine.”

“Good morning darling,” you say, “That was beautiful.”

He rises and comes to lay with you on the lounge, you move to allow for George to wrap his arms around you as your face presses against his chest. 

“Oh, I’ve missed you,” he sighs. You haven’t actually been separated, not really, but George has been in the studio all year thus far recording what is seeming to be the final Beatles albums. 

“I’ve missed you too Georgie,” you say. 

“Not long till all this Beatle mayhem is done for good,” he says like a promise. 

It takes you a moment to respond, though you feel you should be happy, you’re finally going to have George home with you more often and he’s sure to be in a better state when it’s all over, part of you is sad. It really does feel like the end of an era. 

“How are you feeling about it all?” You ask. 

“Well, it’s bittersweet, but I think I’m just ready,” he says, and you understand completely. George has reached his peak and it’s time for him to depart and work on himself for a while.

A couple of days later you’re getting some tea ready when George arrives home with a tape in hand and a shy look on his face.

“Hello,” you greet him with a big hug and he plants a kiss into your hairline. 

“What’ve you got here?” You ask, holding your hand out. George passes you the tape and smiles, bringing his hand to the back of his neck. 

“I’ve written a song for you,” he says plainly, “Would you like to hear it?”

You glow with this news and you tell him immediately to put it into the tape machine. 

“We just did it today, it’s not finished yet,” he explains, but you wave him off, wanting to hear every single sound.

You recall the sound of the isolated guitar quickly, before George’s voice even has a chance to come in, “This is what you were playing the other morning!” 

“Yes,” he nods, smiling at the triumph in your recognition. 

The line ‘Here come the sun’ followed by the ‘It’s alright’ plays and you can’t hold back your smile. The drums and bass come in and George’s voice continues with lyrics you haven’t yet heard. He’s singing about the horrid winter you’ve just endured, but seeming to say that the sun is here now so it’s alright. The instrumentation is unreal, like no other song you’ve heard before. The time signature is unusual, but you love it. The song closes out with the isolated guitar again.

“George,” you shake your head in wonder.

“The last year hasn’t been easy, but I’ve had you through it all, my sun whose always shining,” he says, expressing so much love through his words. 

“I love you,” are the only three words that find you. 

“I love you too darling.” 

“Little darling?” You grin at your cheesy reference to the lyrics which makes George laugh and pulls you close to hold you.

“Yes, little darling.”