#i want to munch and crunch on them

[suntails]

⚔️🐉

[sturniolohouse]

scavenger hunt - M.S

dad!matt x reader blurb - chris is the last in the house to find out about reader’s pregnancy.

"Alright both of you, close your eyes and hold your hands out," I announce, pointing to Nick and Chris who sit on the couch.

Matt sits next to them, his leg bouncing slightly with nerves. Our eyes meet, and he gives me a reassuring smile, though I can see he's just as anxious as I am.

Chris scrunches his face and looks between Matt and I, "What's going on?" He asks, clearly suspicious.

I see Nick hiding his knowing grin, pressing his lips in a line.

"Kid, just close your fucking eyes," Matt snaps, smacking Chris' shoulder which he immediately retialites with his own shove.

"Chris, c'mon," Nick says trying to keep the peace and I let out a breath. Chris rolls his eyes before closing his eyes and Nick plays along shutting his eyes with him.

"Are we getting a puppy?" Chris blurts out as I grab the envelopes from the counter.

I walk over to them, my heart pounding a little faster.

Holding two envelopes in my hands, I pause in front of the couch, glancing at Matt again, who gives me a small nod of encouragement.

"I have a big ask," I sigh deeply, looking to Nick sitting at the kitchen table.

I twist open the fresh pickle jar I made Matt pick up today. The smell of the brine hits me instantly, making my mouth water. I spear one with a fork before I take a bite, savoring the sour crunch.

Nick glances up from his laptop, peeking over his glasses as I lean against the kitchen counter, munching thoughtfully.

“No, you and Matt cannot move into my room,” he says flatly, before looking back to his laptop screen.

I roll my eyes and shake my head, finishing off my pickle before grabbing another spear.

"Chris can't know that you know," I finally say, feeling guilty.

Nick raises an eyebrow, closing his laptop halfway, clearly intrigued by the conversation shift. "Why not?"

"You know how he is," I sigh, gesturing vaguely.

"Yes, I'm very aware how he is, he's my brother… who’s an idiot." Nick says dryly, raising an eyebrow as he leans back in his chair.

"I just don't want him to get upset that he was the last to know,"

"If he gets upset that I knew before him, he needs to grow up." He rolls his eyes and I sigh.

"Nick," My tone is firm but pleading. "C'mon, just act surprised. I feel terrible, it's been weeks and we haven't told him yet,"

It's been a little over a month since I found out I was pregnant. Matt and I wanted to wait until I was closer to my second trimester to tell anyone, including Chris.

Which has been difficult considering we all live in the same space and this was the biggest secret Matt ever had to keep from his brother.

But we knew it was safer to wait a bit.

Nick leans forward, his expression softening as he realizes how much this is weighing on me. "Alright, alright. If it makes you feel better, I’ll play dumb. I’ll put on my best Oscar-worthy performance, I promise."

"Okay, keep your eyes closed," I say as I gently place the envelopes in their hands. "No peeking yet."

I hand them their designated envelopes, Nick’s marked with the number 1 and Chris’s with the number 2.

Nick lets out an exaggerated squeal as he clutches his envelope. I stifle a laugh at his act, while Matt rolls his eyes, shaking his head with a playful smirk.

"Open them," I finally say, and Chris immediately starts tearing into his envelope.

"Wait, wait—sorry! Nick, read yours first. They're numbered for a reason," I reach out, stopping Chris mid-rip.

He groans impatiently, leaning back while Nick shushes him with a grin, rubbing his shoulder.

"Relax," He says before opening his envelope carefully and reading it aloud.

“‘Hi Nick and Chris. Welcome to your scavenger hunt! Find the five clues to uncover the surprise... Your first clue is in plain sight, in the hands of the person to your right.’"

Nick turns to Chris, still grinning. “That's you, Chris. Go ahead,"

Chris’s eyes light up, and he doesn’t waste any time. Tearing his envelope open and quickly scanning it over before reading it out loud.

"'Clue number two is being kept warm and toasty... check the spot where you'd grab something cozy.'"

Chris’s wide eyes scan the room momentarily before landing on the basket of throw blankets. He glances at Matt for confirmation, but Matt just shrugs, keeping his face neutral.

"Something cozy..." he mutters to himself before he jumps up and makes a beeline for the blankets.

He digs through the folded blankets, shaking some of them out until he finds the third envelope nestled inside.

“I found it!” he yells, waving it around. “Bro, I'm killing this already. Nick, get on my level.”

"Kid's just too good at this," Matt says dryly, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.

"You better fold those back up when you're done," Nick warns, giving Chris a disapproving look.

He waves him off, "Nick, shut the fuck up," He rips open the envelope.

“‘To find the next clue, head to Nick’s keep. Near the gumball machine is where you should peek.’” He giggles as he reads it out loud.

“W rhyming. Nick, I'm so winning this," He says as he bolts up the stairs to get the next clue.

Nick rolls his eyes and shakes his head as Chris screams that he found the next clue, followed by his heavy footsteps as he barrels back down the stairs.

“Here, Nick, you can read this one,” Chris says excitedly, practically shoving the envelope into Nick’s hands, rubbing his own hands together in anticipation.

Nick clears his throat, "Feeling thirsty? Here's your tip: Check beside Chris's favorite sip."

"PEPSI!" Chris yells, sprinting for the kitchen, and I jump as he rushes past me, nearly knocking me over.

Nick stands, reaching to steady me and we both laugh at Chris’s excitement.

"Dude, be fucking careful," Matt sits up, his eyes wide with concern.

I assure him that I’m fine as Chris ignores him, yanking open the fridge and rummaging through the Pepsi cans.

“'Don’t stop now, don’t cease your strive. Your fifth clue is where you take late-night drives.'”

“Matt, toss me your keys,” Chris nods towards Matt, wiggling his fingers but Matt tells him that the car is already unlocked.

Chris darts to the steps leading to the garage before peeking his head back. “Nick, c'mon. Why am I doing this by myself?”

I nudge Nick and he rolls his eyes before getting up to follow Chris to the garage.

“Slow down, motherfucker.” Nick calls out as Chris runs ahead of him.

“How about you hurry the fuck up, goof.” Chris retorts.

Matt and I laugh at their muffled bickering as they get further away from us. Once we can't hear them anymore I let out a breath and sit on the couch.

“I might puke, I’m so nervous,” I admit quietly to Matt, who pulls me closer, wrapping his arm around me and kissing the top of my head.

“Me too. But I think it’s working. He has no clue,” he whispers back, giving me a reassuring squeeze.

We see Chris before we see Nick following slightly behind him when they return from the car.

Chris places his hands on his hips, catching his breath, and impatiently looks toward Nick, who’s carrying the fifth envelope.

"Hurry up!" Chris bounces on his heels while Nick shoots him a warning look.

Nick opens the envelope and reads aloud, “‘You've found the final clue, but there's one more stop! Your surprise waits with Mr. Wrinkleton sitting atop.'” He flashes a teasing look at Matt who just shrugs.

"Best guard dog ever," Matt quips with a smirk.

"Go ahead," I urge, getting up from the couch and gently nudging them toward the hallway leading to Matt's room.

Matt follows close behind me, so we can both see the reaction we've been anxiously waiting for.

Nick pushes the door open but Chris rushes past him, immediately spotting the white box on Matt's bed with the stuffed dog sitting on top.

Rubbing his hands together, Chris grins. "S’gotta be tickets to Disney."

He brushes Mr. Wrinkleton aside and grabs the box, giving it a playful shake like a kid on Christmas, trying to guess what’s inside.

He looks to Nick for permission who gives him a soft nod, his own excitement starting to show.

Chris then looks to Matt and I, who are barely keeping it together, both shaking with nerves.

I’ve resorted to locking my shaky hands behind my back while Matt stares intensely at the box in Chris’s grip, nervously gnawing on his nails.

"You guys are starting to freak me out... Why are you all looking at me like that?" Chris asks, his suspicion growing as he holds the closed box close to his chest.

"Chris, just open it," Nick says impatiently, trying and failing to hide his grin.

He hesitates for a second, glancing between all of us again before he finally sits on the edge of the bed, lifting the lid.

He halts immediately, his head snapping up towards me, then Matt, then back to the box. His eyes are wide and slightly vacant as shock washes over him.

Inside the box lays a folded onesie that says,

'I ❤️ my Uncles'.

"This is a fucking prank." He says with certainty, "Nick, are you in on this or something?" Nick covers his mouth his hands, trying to hide his shit eating grin.

"No, you guys gotta be fully fucking with us, because there's no way." Chris says, pushing the box to the side as if it will explode.

"Dude, it's not a prank. Just take everything out," Matt laughs nervously, but Chris sits there, mouth slightly agape, stunned and unmoving.

Nick takes it upon himself to lift the onesie up to reveal the sonogram photo underneath. Chris' wide eyes follow the photo before he looks to us again, pale as a ghost as realization settles in.

"Swear on your life this isn't a prank," he says, his voice wavering as he tries to hold it together.

"Chris, we swear. She's due in February," Matt steps forward, placing a hand on his shoulder and rubbing softly. Chris looks at me, his blue eyes welling up with tears.

He lets out a shaky breath, burying his head in his hands as his shoulders start to tremble. Matt and I immediately sit on either side of him—Matt wrapping an arm around him, while I rub his back.

I catch Nick pulling out his phone to capture the moment.

"Alright, buddy," Matt chuckles softly, his voice also thick with emotion, while I find myself tearing up with Chris.

After a moment, Chris lifts his head, turning to Matt. "You guys are having a fucking kid?" He says in sheer disbelief as he shifts his gaze to me.

He looks between my eyes, "You're pregnant?" His voice breaks.

"Yeah," I nod, emotion welling up as I manage a quiet smile.

He instantly goes in for a bone crushing hug and I wheeze at the impact, but return the tight embrace.

I rub his back and watch Matt's expression, his smile is wobbling as he attempts to hold back his tears.

"Easy, dude...how about your own brother getting a hug?" Matt speaks up jokingly and Nick snorts.

"Hey, she's the one doing all the work here, growing my nephew," Chris says, pulling back.

"Or niece." Nick and I chime in at the same time.

"Well, yeah. Niece or nephew." Chris corrects himself with a shrug. "M'putting money on a boy, though," He slaps Matt's back and brings him for a tight hug next.

Matt chuckles, his voice strained from the force of Chris' embrace. "We'll see, buddy," he says, patting Chris gently on the back.

Chris pulls back slightly, still absorbing the news as he looks between us, his thoughts clearly spinning. Suddenly, his eyes narrow, and they dart toward Nick, suspicion creeping back into his expression.

"Wait... Nick, why aren't you freaking the fuck out?"

Nick freezes, his eyes widening, caught off guard for a split second before he answers.

"I am! Are you kidding me? I'm so shocked, I'm… beyond shocked. I have no words." His voice cracks slightly, but he tries to play it off, though the faint grin tugging at his lips gives him away.

Chris's jaw drops, and he points accusingly at Nick. "You are actually the worst liar, dude. You knew! You knew this whole time!"

Nick throws up his hands defensively. "Okay, hey, whoa! I was sworn to secrecy."

Chris stands up and spins around dramatically looking between Matt and I.

"He knew?!" His voice strains, eyes nearly bulging out of his head. I sigh in defeat and stand quickly, grabbing a hold of his arm to calm him down.

"Chris, relax. He only knew because he was here when I found out. You and Matt were in Chicago."

"Dude, we wanted to tell you," Matt adds, "but we also wanted to wait until we were sure everything was happening. A lot can go wrong in the first few months." Matt explains and Chris seems to soften but he turns back to Nick.

"Fuck you," He pouts, pointing to Nick, though a smile threatens to break through when Nick scoffs at him.

"Oh, grow up, motherfucker. At least you got the fun way of finding out. I found out in the middle of tragedy," Nick crosses his arms, and I nod along.

"Yeah, finding out in real time was lowkey traumatic... I was going through it," I'm able to say a bit lightheartedly now, but I still feel Nick sneak over to rub my back comfortingly.

"Let me see the thing," Chris motions to Matt, eager to see the sonogram taken just yesterday at the 12-week scan.

The baby is significantly bigger and much easier to spot.

Matt hands over the sonogram, and Chris stares at the image in awe. "I can't believe this... you're not even showing." He glances down at my stomach briefly.

I shrug, "No, not yet... I just feel kinda bloated." I feel Matt tug on my belt loop, silently telling me to sit on his lap. I oblige, settling into his arms as he rests his chin on my shoulder.

Chris continues staring at the picture, his brow furrowing in realization. "Wait… do Mom and Dad know? Or Justin?"

Matt shakes his head, keeping his chin on my shoulder. "Not yet. We're gonna tell them when we go to Boston in a couple of weeks."

"This is fucking nuts. You guys are are nuts," Chris takes a seat back on the bed, still processing everything. Nick returns with a donut in hand before plopping down into Matt's streaming chair.

"Yeah, believe us when we say we didn't plan this." Matt laughs with a bit of flushed face.

"You dirty dogs," Chris mutters under his breath, shaking his head.

"Chris." Nick says with wide eyes, slight amusement in them.

"Not apologizing for that. You guys are sick," Chris confirms, looking between Matt and me and I place my hands over my face to hide the heat rising in my cheeks.

"Okay, okay, enough. Chris, I'm sorry you were the last of us to find out. It was really hard keeping it from you," Matt says, placing a hand on his brother's shoulder.

"We have a proposition, though. Well—actually, for the both of you," Matt adds, glancing at Nick.

"We went to the doctor yesterday for our scan, and we did the blood test to determine the sex of the baby... so we were wondering if you guys—"

"Yes! Yes, whatever you're about to say– yes." Chris blurts out, practically bouncing in excitement.

"Chris, let her finish," Nick scolds, though he's smiling.

"They want us to throw the gender reveal party," Chris interrupts again, this time with a knowing grin.

Matt and I exchange a glance, laughing softly. "Yeah, something like that," I say, amused.

"We thought it would be fun if you both planned the reveal together," Matt explains, "But something lowkey, alright? No big party. Probably just the four of us, maybe a couple friends... and no explosives or forest fires..."

"But those are the best kind..." Nick says, sounding playfully defeated.

“Dude, c’mon, I’m being for real.” Matt gives him a pointed look, though a smile still sneaks through.

“Our neighbors already hate us enough," I remind them, thinking of all the noise complaints we receive weekly.

Matt groans, pressing his forehead against my shoulder. “You guys are gonna get us evicted.”

"Fine, fine. Lowkey it is, but we're going to find a way to make it special...this is the first baby," Nick says softly and I feel Matt squeeze my hip.

“Don’t worry you guys, Nick and I have it under control,” Chris wraps an arm around Nick before stealing his donut.

“I trust you guys,” I say confidently, turning to Matt, who still looks a little weary. “Right, Matt?” I nudge him gently. He hesitates for a moment, his gaze flickering between Nick and Chris, but eventually gives a small nod.

“Sorry Matt, you’ve already relinquished full creative control to Chris and I,” Nick tells him with mock sympathy.

Matt mutters under his breath, rubbing his eyes and I cover my mouth to hide my giggle as he buries his face in my back.

“I’m gonna regret this, aren’t I?”

[forsworned]

🗯️hush, don't think you've made it under my skin

pairing: exhusband!simon "ghost" riley x fem reader

cw: nsfw, like the wording is pretty filthy, cunnilingus,

: ̗̀➛ masterlist

You stir in your sleep, the rustling rustling outside your window barely registering as more than a whisper in the dark. But then you hear it again, this time louder and more deliberate. Without a second thought, you're shooting up out of bed, your fingers are now closed over the cool metal of the handgun under your pillow as you slip out of bed. Your heart thuds out of your chest as your feet touch the cold hardwood floor, and make your way to the window.

The muzzle of your gun brushes against the curtain, pulling it back to take a gander at your backyard. The night is still, and a breeze passes over, caressing the trees and their branches. But something darts in the corner of your vision and you're cocking your gun as you scan the area a second time. But it's quiet again, too quiet for your liking.

Just as you begin to reinforce the window, your home alarm blares deafeningly into your eardrums, but before you can even move it shuts off. That makes your blood run cold.

There's a creaking on the floor below you. Your hands begin to tremble as you stealthily leave your room, and tiptoe down the stairs, checking every corner as you do. The sound of your heart thudding against your chest is pumping loudly in your eardrums. There's movement in the kitchen and a...crunch? Like someone's crunching on chips?

You stand up from your crouched position, swiftly stepping out and positioning yourself behind the figure in an attempt to disarm them in the dark, but you're gently rectified. Your form is pressed between the counter and a familiar feeling burly body, your hands bound behind your back and the warm breath that tickles your neck makes you melt a little.

"Hey, lovie," he breathes out, a hint of a smile in his voice.

"Goddammit, Simon." You grumble, not even bothering to wriggle out of his grip.

"Not bad." He sets your gun on the counter in front of you and you sigh. "If I were a second off, you'd have done me in."

"What are you doing here?"

He releases his grip on you and leans his back against the counter as he uses the hem of his sweater to pop the cap off his ale and takes a swig of it. He's nonchalant and unbothered by your building irritation.

"Jus' thought I'd pop by." He shrugs.

Your eye violently twitches. "Pop by? Simon, you scared the fucking bejeezus out of me! You can't just pop by whenever you feel like it! You're lucky that Isla is with her grandparents this weekend."

He can tell you're upset, fuming really, but he sighs instead of arguing with you. The one who got away, his beautiful ex-wife. He cups your chin with his rough hand and tilts it upward. "I know that."

Instinctively, your pussy throbs at his touch. One thing about Simon is that almost anything he did got you riled up.

He sees that little shimmer of sexual arousal in your eye and there's a smirk that forms, stretching the scar on his pale pink lips.

"What do you want?" You whisper.

"Was hungry." He smirks, popping a chip into his mouth and your brows scrunch in vexation. And that really gets him going.

You grit your teeth. "Hungry?" You sharply exhale. "I should gut you where you stand."

Simon picks up the bag of chips and throws another crisp in his mouth. "Like to see you try."

But then slowly, after analyzing him enough, you begin to realize what he's doing here. He's not drunk, no no. You'd have smelled the booze on him instantly. He just plain misses you.

A wolfish grin etches into your face as you fold your arms across your chin. "You miss me."

He stops noshing on the chips slowly and narrows his dark eyes at you. "So what?"

You blink, taken aback by his response and he's back to munching on the snack, your snack. "So what? You're in my freakin' house!"

"Well, I do pay for it." He gives you a blase eyebrow raise. You grab the chips out of his hand and carefully roll them up, clip them over and stuff them in the snack cabinet. "Whoa, there, dovie, relax." He puts his hands in the air, licking the salt off his lips.

"Get out." You turn to him with a disgruntled expression. He searches your eyes for a moment. You don't really mean it.

"You don't mean that." He steps closer to you, and you reflexively step back until your back hits the counter and he's entrapping you. His body towers over yours, overpowering you in every single way possible. His breath hotly fanning over your lips, as he dips his down to you.

You swallow thickly. "Yes, I do..."

"You dont." He sursurrates, cupping your cheek and slowly capturing your lips in a feverish kiss. Your brows furrow in desire and ambivalence. It's like you're fighting demons, wanting to give in to your throbbing pussy's needs, but wanting to shove him away and send him back to his apartment.

But you're quickly tossing that out of the window he just came in from and you grab his face, feeling the blonde scruff on his cheeks. He lifts you onto the counter, one hand grips your neck and hair, and the other slides up your thigh and under the waistband of your boyshorts. He shudders at the feeling of your sopping wet folds. "My God, [name]. So wet."

"Shut up." You mutter, and he grins down at you.

"With pleasure."

And then he's on his knees, peeling away at your undergarments and shoving his head between your succulent, plush thighs and to your weepy cunt taking you in as he pleases. A sharp exhale that melts into a creamy moan, escapes from your throat and man does that make that man ravenous. He's sloppily supping you up and licking up every drop of you like you're some nectar from the Heavens Above.

"Oh my God—!" You choke out before your orgasm rushes over you and you're arching your back, and bucking your hips into his mouth as you ride out your high. Of course, what's a little eating out without some overstimulation. You cry out against him and wriggle out of his vice-like grip, nearly smacking him to get off of you and he lets go of your clit with a loud pop. He's chuckling at you, pussy juices coating his cheeks, chin, and lips as he lovingly gazes up at your panting half-naked form.

"God, I hate you." You seethe, but there's really no malice in your tone and he knows that.

"No, you don't, dovie." He gets up and kisses the top of your forehead, grabbing the ale and makes his way toward the window he came in from.

"He-ey!" You blurt out, trying to to collect yourself from such a delicious orgasm. But he's already halfway out the window, and you're left standing there gawking at him. When he's fully outside, you feel like your body has gone rigid from shock as you watch him walk away.

"Wha—where are you going?" You call out. He turns around to you with a smirk.

"Don't worry'll be back."

And that's enough to make your cunt start dripping for more.

divider by: @cafekitsune

[freshl6ve]

𝐂𝐇𝐑𝐈𝐒. 𝐒 | 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐈 𝐏𝐈𝐙𝐙𝐀

SFW!! | 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑─𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐊

₊⊹⁀➴ : Y/N walks downstairs to see Chris in the kitchen filming his part for the upcoming video. Y/N notices how he was eating his favorite mini pizzas that he loved so much. She decides to join him and keep him company.

𝐀 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐇𝐋𝟔𝐕𝐄 𝐎𝐍𝐄-𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐓 𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋

˚⊱🪄⊰˚ : 𝐈 𝐥𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐬, still rubbing the sleep from my eyes. As I entered the kitchen, the sight of Chris filming his part for the upcoming video caught my attention. I couldn't help but notice that he was indulging in his favorite tiny pizzas, the ones he always seemed to enjoy so much.

“Hey,” I said as I approached Chris, my voice still a bit groggy, “Mind if I join you?”

Chris looked up with a grin, his mouth full of pizza. He nodded, signalling me to grab a seat beside him. I took a moment to observe him as I settled down next to him. His focus was still on filming, but there was a sense of relaxation on his face as he enjoyed his miniature pizzas.

“I see you're enjoying your mini pizzas,” I teased, picking up a tiny pizza myself.

“Yup!” he replied, his voice slightly muffled between bites. “Can't pass up on these when they're in front of me.”

We sat in comfortable silence for a moment, both of us munching on the tiny pizzas. I glanced over at his phone. Curious, I asked, “How's the filming going?”

“Pretty good,” Chris answered, his expression turning a bit wistful. “I'm just really missing Matt and Nick right now, you know? It's not the same recording stuff without them.”

I nodded understandingly. “I get it,” I replied, “But hey, you know sooner or later, you guys will be back together. Just a few more days.”

With a smile, I reached up and gently ran my fingers through his messy hair. “You know I'm here with you through this, right? You're not alone,” I reassured him. “I may not be Matt or Nick, but hopefully, I can still keep you company a little bit.”

Chris's tense expression softened as he looked up at me. “I know,” he said quietly, “And I'm glad you're here with me.” With a small, grateful smile, he leaned back a bit, letting my hand continue its soothing motion through his hair.

I smiled warmly, my hand lightly massaging his head. “I'm glad I'm here with you, too. It's nice to spend some time together, just the two of us,” I said softly.

Chris closed his eyes, leaning into my touch and sighing contentedly. “Yeah,” he murmured, “It is nice.”

We sat in companionable silence for a moment, the only sounds the occasional crunch of a pizza and the soft shuffling of my fingers through his hair.

Chris opened his eyes and looked at me, a soft, grateful smile on his face. “Thank you, baby,” he said, his voice gentle and sincere. “Really. I appreciate you being here for me.”

My hand paused in his hair as I met his gaze warmly. “Of course,” I replied, my voice filled with tenderness. “I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world right now except here with you.”

As my hand trailed down his face, I let it settle back into my lap, my gaze meeting his once more. With surprising gentleness, Chris's own hand found its way to my face, his fingers lightly tracing my features.

He pulled me in for a kiss, his lips meeting mine in a tender moment filled with silent affection.

The kiss was gentle, his mouth moving against mine a slow, tender dance. I melted into the moment, my own fingers intertwining with his and holding his hand against my face.

Pulling away slightly, Chris rested his forehead against mine, his eyes still locked on mine.

We broke apart, my breath slightly ragged, and I managed a small laugh. “You taste like a mini pizza,” I teased, my voice a little breathless.

Chris chuckled, a coy grin appearing on his face. “Is that a bad thing?” he asked, his hand still tracing lazy circles on my cheek.

“Not at all,” I answered, leaning in for a quick peck on his lips. Pulling away, I stood up, making my way over to the counter and grabbing a napkin.

I couldn't help bursting into quiet giggles as I heard Chris speak. Turning around, I found him talking into his camera with a lighthearted grin on his face.

“Feeling bad, mini pizza; feeling happy, mini pizza... can't sleep, mini pizza; slept fine, mini pizza... going over to a friend's, mini pizza; friends come over here, mini pizza...” he repeated, his voice affectionate. “And most importantly,” he continued, “When I'm hungry, mini pizza.”

I chuckle as I heard Chris’s little mini pizza monologue to the camera. I walked towards him, the napkin in hand and a smile on my face.

“You really do love your mini pizzas, huh?” I teased, handing him the napkin.

Chris chuckled sheepishly, taking the napkin from me. “What can I say?” he replied with a shrug. “They're just so damn good.”

He used the napkin to wipe away some of the pizza crumbs from his face and hands. “I eat, breathe, and live this shit”

Chris took another bite, talking through a mouth full of pizza. “I know if Matt was here, he'd be like,” he began in an exaggerated mimicking of Matt's voice, “‘You chew so loud,’”

He then switched to a mock version of Nick's voice. “And then Nick would be like, ‘Let me have a bite!’” He threw his head back and let out a laugh, clearly amused by his own impressions.

I chuckled and shook my head, walking behind him and gently ruffling his hair. “Finish up your food,” I said, “And meet me upstairs in your room when you're done.”

“I will,” he replied, looking up at me with a small smile. Before I could step away, he grabbed my hip, pulling me closer. I stumbled a bit, letting out a laugh as he brought me down to his level for a quick peck on the lips.

I broke away reluctantly, shooting him a smirk before straightening up. “Don't take too long,” I teased, walking towards the stairway.

Chris chuckled lightly, watching as I ascended the stairs. “I won't,” he promised, his tone teasing.

He turned back to his food with a grin, eagerly resuming his mini pizza eating.

[anonimusunnoaniswriting]

Sukuna "asshole to the world, sweetheart to his girl" Ryomen

🎀minors and ageless blogs will be blocked 🎀

Pairing: Yakuza!Sukuna Ryomen x Reader

Genre: Smut, dark hero.

Word Count: 1450

Warnings: first off, fucking sukuna himself is a warning on his own so let's just start there. Possessive Sukuna, dark sukuna, yakuza sukuna, shitty boss, mean fucking asshole boss, violence, against boss, dacryphillia, p in v sex, rough sex, semi-public sex, read at your own discretion.

Summary: Sukunas heard you cry because of your boss one too many times. He takes matters into his own hands

A/N: This absolutely SPECTACULAR ART is by @innaillus and you can find the original here.

I want to thank her, not only for allowing me to use this as a banner but also for making such amazing art and sharing it with us. ♥️

This is a purely self indulgent fic. If you don't like it, please don't read it. I had a shitty week and needed a place to cool off.

Sukuna Ryomen glared down at your boss. He’d come in to pick you up and heard the creature screaming at you for something he already knew wasn’t your fault. You’d told him about the trouble you were having with your co-workers who slacked off and your shitty fucker of a boss who for some reason didn’t tell them off, but instead unloaded his anger on you. This would be the last time this pathetic vermin made you cry, he vowed.

He pushed open the door to your small office and stalked in. You stood in the corner trying to make yourself as small as possible, silent tears streaming down your face as your boss kept berating you – not even noticing his presence. One of the other workers tried to step in his way but he shoved them aside like they were nothing more than window curtains. He placed himself in between you and the balding middle aged man who dared to call himself your boss. “Hey nimrod, she doesn’t work for you anymore. Don’t fucking yell at her.”

The man cowered. Sukuna was taller than him and his crossed arms made his thick muscles ripple under his skin.

“Ryo…” you whispered

“Wh-who let th-this man in here? Sir, th-this is an office space. You n-need to leave.” your boss sneered at your saviour.

Sukuna merely smirked at you and pulled you into his side placing his lips on the top of your head in a chaste kiss. “Yeah, don't worry, I’ll be going pretty soon. Breathing the same air as you is making me feel nauseated. Can't believe the patience my baby girl had with your shit-ass, fucker” his first met the man's stomach with a sickening squelching crunch, and your now ex-boss, crumpled onto the floor in a heap.

“I'm gon-gonna call the cops on you asshole’ he croaked out.

Sukuna just laughed. “Have at it, ya great ballsack.”

♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

When Sukuna came to pick you up from work that day he had planned the night down to a T. He’d wanted to take you to a new movie that you'd been itching to see but hadn't had the time. He would follow that with a fancy sushi dinner at the city's best restaurant and then take you to the outskirts where there was a nice little viewpoint he had discovered where he planned on showing you the stars – in more than one way…

But when you didn't come out at your specified time, nor answer the cute message he’d sent you – Where you at, kitty-kat? – Sukuna decided to investigate and came across your asshole of a boss yelling at you. He’d had enough. You’d been coming home and complaining about him and even once returned in tears. It took everything he had to not rip the bastard’s throat out. But he was done with you being abused. You deserved better. Which is exactly what he told you now as you lay with him on the hood of his car.

The plans had been altered slightly, you would be watching the movie with him the next day. He’d skipped the fancy sushi and instead opted for your favourite comfort food – Chinese cuisine. Slurping down saucy noodles, and munching on crispy gyoza always made you feel better he knew and he found himself smiling at your joy. He’d then driven you to his secret viewpoint. You sat there on the hood of his car with him beside you. In the distance, the pretty lights of Tokyo lit up the horizon and reflected off your lover's red eyes. Above you, the stars twinkled in their own magic…

Something about you had him wrapped around your finger. One of the most feared yakuza, putty in your hands. Of course, no one knew the connection. It was all kept hushed for your convenience.

“Kitty-kat?” Sukuna called to you and you looked up at your man. “You know— you know I’m rich enough to support both of us easily right?”

You hummed. “Yes, but I don’t wanna be some dainty housewife, sitting and waiting for my husband to come home and serve him dinner Ryo! I have a whole ass degree that a lot of money was spent on, I’d like to use it babe!”

“Husband?”

“What?”

“You said, husband. Not boyfriend. Or SO. Or partner. You said husband.”

“Yeah… I said husband…”

“You wanna marry me?”

“I mean, yeah, eventually right?”

Sukuna crashed his lips into yours in a heated kiss; all teeth and tongue. He pulled your body close, pressing against you. “I want you so bad right now, future wife. I want you so fucking badly.” He half growled in your ear.

“You have me Ryo. I’m right here.” you replied. You tugged at Sukunas pants and he unbuckled his belt. Sukuna grinded against your thigh while kissing you. His hands tugged at the buttons on your blouse, undoing them as he went. You could feel the bulge growing in his jeans. He kissed down from your lips, to your jaw, to your neck down to the valley of your breasts.

“I wanna fuck you.” He looked at you with a lidded gaze “May I? I won’t be able to stop if we go further than this kitty-kat.”

You lifted your leg to rub against his clothed cock. “I’d leave you right now if you didn’t, Sukuna Ryomen. So fuck me already.” Sukuna flashed you a fanged smile and dipped his head pulling down your bra and freeing your breasts. He bit and licked and sucked, actions that were sure to leave marks on you. Further south his fingers pushed aside your panties and found entrance. He slowly worked his way into you, rubbing gentle circles in your skin. You allowed yourself to let go and dirty moans slipped out from your lips. Your fingers tangled in his pink hair – so soft, so smooth.

Once he had you dripping, he lay back down and ordered, “Sit on my face, and suck my cock while you’re at it.”

You followed, undoing his zipper and pulling his boxers and jeans off his semi-hard cock. You tentatively licked his head as you positioned your pussy right about his face. Sukuna pushed your skirt up and ripped your panties with a practised ease, pulling your hips down to his face. He loved having you like that. Every time he flicked his tongue against your clit your pussy would visibly tighten. You’d drool down the length of his cock hypnotised. Tongue flat against it as you struggled to maintain composure. It wouldn’t take long for him to make you cum all over his face for the first time. Legs quivering and hips shaking he brought you down again, laying you on the hood for him.

He lined up his cock – now rock hard from your mouth – with your entrance and sank into you. Slowly pushing his bulbous head, followed by his girthy length. You wrapped your arms around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss.

Sukuna thrust up into you. Your lips were hot and burning. You felt a wave of emotion come through and tears welled up in your eyes.

“Fuck Ryo— feels s’good!”

Sukuna snarled and increased his pace. His eyes glinted dangerously. “Feels good, huh kitty-kat! Gonna make you mine. No man’s gonna dare fuck with you again.” His movements were rough and jagged but drew out the pleasure in your core. The tightly wound knot in your abdomen built up with each movement, each drawn out pull, each hard thrust. You arched your back desperate to have him more, more, more!

Your second climax hit just as Sukuna grabbed a fistful of your hair. Your cunt spasmed, clasping around him and you cried out his name in a debauched prayer.

Sukuna looked more composed than he felt. His cock throbbed inside you, attuned to the flutters of your pussy. Just because you’d come didn’t mean he would stop. He chased his own release inside of you pulling your hair back, devouring your lips. His cock bullied you to the point of overstimulation. Tears ran down your cheeks again but this time they were those of pleasure.

He came, towering over you, eyes squeezed shut, head buried in the crook of your neck. His giant frame collapsed onto you and he carefully rolled off to the side so he wouldn't crush you.

“So, about that husband thing…”

You turned to look at him, blushing. “Ryo…”

He held up a ring; the ring his father left him. Gold work, carved into a dragon that held a shiny black pearl in its claws.

“I’ll get you a prettier one later, I promise but for now…” he took a deep breath. “Marry me, kitty-kat?”

A/N: please note this was a very hurried creation and edit, if you do find any errors or typos feel free to point them out KINDLY. Thank you for reading.

As always likes and reblogs are much appreciated and comments will earn you kissies!

[dear-ao3]

sharing with all of u my most favorite no bake granola bar recipe that has saved my ass on several occasions. by my best calculations its like around a dollar a serving (depending on where u buy your stuff)

the recipe itself if from here and the website gives you a bunch of different flavor options and what have u but this is what i specifically do.

these can be done in gluten free, vegan, nut free, etc etc

u will need.

3 cups oats. preferably rolled. whatever u have works.

1 cup of some kind of Nut or Seed Butter (original recipe says peanut. i use sunflower. whatever u have on hand as long as it is Smooth)

1/2 cup honey (recipe does say u can use brown rice syrup)

1 1/2 cups protein powder. whatever flavor u desire. this is the part that does get a little expensive but the one that i buy is a relatively small bottle and it lasts enough to make at least 2 packages

1 bag chocolate chips. i mean u dont have to. but youre lying if you say you dont want them.

microwave or toaster oven or real oven your choice of butter and the honey until its soft and happy. mix together. mix oats and protein powder in bowl. add in the honey butter mixture until combined. add in some milk if its too crumbly. add in chocolate.

line a 9x9 square baking dish with parchment paper/aluminum foil/plastic wrap/whatever u have. press the mixture in. fridge that little fucker for a few hours. cut into 20 bars. munch and crunch to ur hearts content.

recipe says u can freezer them. ive never tried but they do stay decent in the fridge for at least 2 weeks by my best testing. past that they might just get a little hard but theyre still very edible.

try them if u want. u probably need protein.

[mxnbi]

Sweet as honey

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ────────────────────

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ Boyfriend!Kaldo Gehenna X Reader

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ SYNOPSIS He couldn’t resist that sweet taste of honey on your lips. He had to have you then and there, even if it means doing it on school grounds

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ CW: public sex, sex on school grounds, a little bit of food play, sex in uniform, fem! reader

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ tags: mashle mashle magic and muscle kaldo kaldo gehenna kaldo x reader fem reader mashle smut mashle fanfic mashle oneshot kaldo one shor kaldo smut kaldo fanfic divine visionary anime manga honey food play school sex

21+ nsfw smut, minors DNI

Yet another day at Easton Magic Academy. Juggling potion classes, flying classes and the upcoming Divine Visionary selection exam has you pulling at your hair every day and night.

Wanting to destress a bit, you decided to go on a stroll around the school campus. Roaming up and down the hallways while you munch on some honey dipped pretzels.

You did a double take when you noticed your boyfriend, Kaldo, exiting an office right up ahead.

“Kaldo! What brings you here? You rarely come back.”

Your joyful voice echoed slightly through out the empty hall as you ran toward the tall man. Your body could barely contain the excitement from the rare sight of your boyfriend on campus.

Kaldo’s slender arms wrapped around your waist in a warm and welcoming hug after watching you practically float in his direction. He pressed a tender kiss against your forehead as he rocked you side to side lovingly.

“Hey honey. The school summoned us Divine Visionaries to investigate a student with no magic here. He’s quite the case as far as I’ve-“

He paused mid sentence, pulling away from you and sniffing the air like theres a gas leak in the building.

You looked up at him in confusion, all while still snacking on your pretzels. The crunch that came with each bite caught Kaldo’s attention.

He glanced at the snacks in your hand and a saucer of honey floating right next to you. He leaned down to eye level with you and pressed his lips against yours, giving them a quick lick.

You stood rooted to the ground, stunned by his unexpected display of affection, dropping a half eaten pretzel.

“I’ve been spending the past weekend looking for foods and dishes that go well with honey, but I never knew how good it could taste on your lips.”

Kaldo pulled back, looking into your eyes with lust filled in his. He quickly grabbed your hand before pulling you into the office that he came out of, not forgetting to lock the door right behind him.

Before you could even utter a word, he has his lips on yours, a hand on your waist and the other on the back of your head to guide you into the kiss gently.

He licked your lips, tasting the sweet nectar left over from your snacks that were now residing somewhere on the floor.

You could do nothing except melt into his arms, your feet floating off the floor and wrapping around his waist while he lifts you off the ground with minimal effort.

You were always aware of his love for honey, but him being away so often made you forget how much you could turn him on, even just by having a light snack.

Kaldo carries you over to a desk, pushing off random documents to floor and settling himself between your legs before undoing his sword to set aside.

“W-wait wait, who’s office is this? This could get you in so much trouble!”

You whispered in a panic, afraid that you’ll be the reason why he loses his prestigious rank that he worked so hard for. He laughs softly at your alarmed state, secretly creeping a hand up your thighs from under your skirt.

Kaldo undid his jacket and pants with one hand while the other rests on your hips. He looked at you assuringly, flashing you that sweet but oh so cunning smile that you know him for.

“Who could possibly get me in trouble?”

That was the last thing said before he pushed your skirt up and slid into you.

You screamed at sudden insertion, unprepared for the stretch that he gave you. Your hand flew up to cover your mouth as you looked at Kaldo wide eyed, only to be returned with that same cunning smile.

He steadies himself again, a hand on your hip as he slowly thrusted into your wet pussy.

Your legs tightened around him from the pleasure, trying to keep the volume down as much as possible, but boy does Kaldo make that hard for you to do.

He locked lips with you once again, his tongue searching around your mouth and lips for any remnants of that sweet syrup, all while fucking into your cervix.

“Mmngh fuck…slow d-down I can’t…keep quiet..”

You begged, hoping that he would understand the severity of getting caught while committing such an indecent act on school grounds. But it’s clear that it was not his priority in the moment.

Kaldo leaned down to nibble at your ear, and down to your neck. Leaving a small trail of love bites that made his throbbing cock twitch inside of you.

“They can deal with me then, think only about us now.”

Using his teeth, he swiftly removed his left glove and dipped two fingers in whatever honey remained in that little saucer.

“Open up honey.”

That was all he needed to say. You complied without a second thought and opened your mouth while sticking out your tongue.

He brought his fingers up for you to suck, moaning as he watched your cheeks hollow around his two digits with a tiny amount of honey dripping onto your chin and making its way down to your chest.

“Well we can’t have your precious uniform get dirty can we? Honey is not easy to clean.”

Kaldo then made quick work of your button and tie, freeing your perky tits and watching them bounce up and down with each thrust.

He bit his lip, holding back a whimper as he watched the honey slowly make its way down to your chest and in between your cleavage. He could almost come inside of you then and there.

He fucked you harder and faster, pounding into your pussy and watching your face contort in pure pleasure.

Kaldo bent down to kiss and lick up the sticky honey off of your chest while his right hand plays with your tit.

You threw your head back in pleasure, legs dangling in the air, shaking as he plunged his cock deeper and deeper into you.

“Mmm.. two of my favourite things in one…how could I ask f-for more.”

He whimpered quietly, looking down at where you two are connected as he pumped his dick in and out of you.

You felt your tummy tighten, but before you could say anything about you cumming, Kaldo abruptly pulled out of you. Giving you a quick peck on the lips before forecfully flipping you over with your stomach and chest pressed up on the table.

His hand caress your butt while he further pushes your skirt up and aligns his blunt tip at the entrance of your hole.

“Let’s make this quick okay honey, someone’s going to be using this room soon.”

You looked back at him, watching him sigh out in pleasure as he pushed into you again like he could never get sick of this sensation.

Both palms on your waist now, finger nails leaving marks in your skin, he drives his cock into you faster than before, almost forcing another moan out of you.

You grabbed the edge of the table, hoping to steady yourself from his intense pounding, but to no avail as Kaldo got the whole table shaking back and forth with his thrusts now.

“Mmmngh I-I need to come back..more often now..”

Kaldo mustered out a sentence between moans and whimpers, thrusts now becoming messier and messier.

You clawed at the table. The way his cock tip grazes your G spot drives you absolutely insane. You missed having fuck sessions like this whenever Kaldo’s away. He’s just something your fingers can’t replace.

That familar knot in your belly was starting to form again, and that’s when your legs start to lose it’s strength.

“A-ahh fuck..Kaldo I’m-ngh.. c-cumming.”

And with that, Kaldo went faster, harder, and deeper. Leaning over your body while supporting himself with a hand on the table to get a better angle. One that would snip that knot and made you cum all over his cock.

You moaned into your elbow, facing down into the table in an attempt to muffle any lewd noises that could be possibly be heard.

“Ahh~ K-kaldo…oh my god.”

Hearing you moan his name was like sweet honey to him. One last thrust and he was filling you up to the brim with his warm cum.

Sweat dripped down his temples and neck as Kaldo tried to regain his composure, slowly pulling out of you to watch his thick cum slowly ooze out of your cunt and down to the floor, just like glistening honey.

He pulled you up gently by your shoulders, bringing you into a warm embrace as he buries his nose into the nook of your neck.

“Would you mind stopping by my room? There’s a lot more I’ve been wanting to show you.”

Oh boy were you going to be busy that night.

A/N: RAHHHH FINALLY SOME MASHLE CONTENT im honestly so in love w the show and the characters. Im so happy to finally write smth about my boy kaldo but i hope to expand my territory to include the other men too hehehehe

[beetlejuicyy]

The Hunt | True Form! Sukuna x Reader

Synopsis: you convince Sukuna to go for a hunt like the old times. the difference is you are his prey this time

Warnings: obviously outdoor sex, primal play, predator/prey, CNC, creampie, established relationship, light degradation, safeword (not used), chasing

Word Count: 4.4K

Read on AO3

Masterlist | Divider by @joj0su

It was going to rain soon. The king of curses could sense it in the air, although no clouds were weighing down the sky. The wind carrying your scent back to him will make his hunt much easier. He already had it on his fingers when he sniffed them, like a predator identifying its prey. It was sweet and addictive, creeping up deep into his brain, compelling him to chase more. After a few moments of pondering, he decided to grant you more time to get lost into the woods of his estate. The balance of power was already unfair enough.

What if I left your side right now and ran away?

Sukuna frowned, his agile crimson eyes measuring your small frame as if pinning you in place with one simple look. You were at the table, in the main hall, having lunch.

I would catch you faster than you can imagine.

You knew that, he could tell from the smug smile stretching across your lips as you played with the food on your plate. Sukuna had noticed already that you didn't really have an appetite.

What if I would really fight to get away from you?

Sukuna sneered in response to your silly question, taking another sip of his drink. As if you could ever overpower him.

And I would act like I don’t want you to touch me, like I want to escape.

You must have been really bored the past few days in his absence, since your mind was preoccupied with such fantasies. He leaned back, placing the upper set of arms on the floor to support his body, while the other two were crossed, dismissively.

Would you take me by force?

You finally looked up at him, doe eyes glimmering with unknown excitement through your lashes.

I would bring you back, yes. You are not allowed to leave.

Sukuna would occasionally entertain your meaningless mind games, only because he was aware of how much it pleased you when he indulged in your mischievous and curious nature. However, he was failing to understand the hidden meaning of this one.

Would you take me by force, my king?

You asked again, but this time your words were coated in a promising intent, thick and sweet like honey, your eyebrows raised in a pleading look. His head leaned to the side, his mind putting in more effort to unveil the mystery of your riddle. Your sensual voice had awakened a desire inside him, the more his red eyes looked into yours, the clearer the picture you were painting for him.

I would, yes.

You were speaking the same language, at last. He uncrossed his arms, all four of his palms pressed flat on the floor behind him. His position was inviting, but you were planning on running away.

And if I screamed?

You asked, your hand stretching across the table to pick a ripe peach. When your teeth sunk into the soft and sweet pulp a thin thread of juice spilled at the corner of your lips, falling down across your chin.

I would cover your mouth shut.

Sukuna answered, his eyes leaving your enticing ones to follow the course of the peach juice falling across the skin of your neck, down under the hem of your robe, most probably between your breasts. Suddenly, his mouth felt dry, as if the only solution to quench his thirst was that single drop of juice on your skin.

And if I kicked you?

You took another bite of fruit, the crunching sound of your teeth ripping the flesh off the seed echoing in the silent room.

I would hold you down.

For a while, you contemplated in silence while munching on your peach. Sukuna never let his eyes leave your body, his mind already stirred by the idea you implanted with your words, his pupils dilated with intoxicating lust.

I will hurt you. And you will like it.

He added after a few moments of silence as you discarded the naked peach seed on a plate. You didn’t bother wiping away the mess you made around your mouth. It was hardly visible, but there was a sticky sensation of the sugary liquid dried on your skin and the sweet smell spread in the air around you. Sukuna wanted to lean over the table and lick it off. You only smiled in response to his words, a faint, contained smile that held back a million of possibilities.

I will be taking a walk in the woods. All by myself.

You announced.

Isn’t it dangerous?

He asked with a grin.

I've heard there's a beast lurking in the forest, indeed.

You said as you sat up, gathering the flowing fabrics of your kimono. You passed by him on your way to the door and you felt one of his rough hands grab your wrist.

How do I know if you change your mind?

Sukuna could easily determine your moods and thoughts with a quick simple look, even when you would refuse to speak. However, in this hypothetical situation, that was getting closer and closer to becoming reality, he doubted he could tell the difference. You looked down at him, taking a moment to admire the savage beauty of his body, the brutality of his four muscular arms, his massive shoulders. He could break you in half. The thought only made the wetness between your legs spread.

I will use a safeword.

You buried your fingers in his soft pink hair, almost the same shade as the peach you just ate. It was highly contrasting with the rest of his appearance, bringing out the roughness of his features even more.

Which is...?

He looked up at you, all of his crimson eyes focused on yours. You leaned down to whisper in his ear, although no one was there to hear your secret.

Peach.

Sukuna felt his cocks twich when your hand gently touched his ear. He looked back at you with one eyebrow raised, skeptical.

It sounds very puerile.

For a moment, you almost lost him. What was the point of these silly artifices? If you craved him carnally, a meaningful look and a soft touch from you would be enough for him to take the hint. He could take you right there, on the table, and satisfy your sexual appetite like he always did.

How long has it been since you last went on a hunt, my king?

Sukuna licked his lips unconsciously, your words sparking vivid images in his mind. He remembered telling you tales of old times, when he would enjoy bringing the terror on his prey, wether it was an animal, a human or an enemy. It had been too long since he last enjoyed it, having grown so powerful that no one could match his speed and ferocity to be called entertaning. One hand of his creeped up between your legs under your attire, as he was still pondering on the idea. You shivered under his touch, and he smiled slighly when your fingers gripped his hair a little tighter. The tips of his fingers ghosted lightly over your cunt, barely touching it. It was enough to get them wet with your juices. For a moment, you thought he had lost all of his patience and wasn't willing to play the part anymore. However, his hand retreated, leaving you sighing in disappointment. He seemed content with his discovery, almost surprised that you got yourself that wet only by thinking of him.

Peach, huh?

The muffled voices of servants were echoing louder on the hallway. It was around time they come and check the table in case their master requested more food. If someone did step foot in the room, they might destroy all the tension you had skillfully built in order to have Sukuna indulge in your fantasy.

Don't listen to anything I say, unless I say peach. If I do, it means I've changed my mind.

You always amused him whenever you had that serious tone, almost like giving him commands. He was going to let it slide this time, though, as he let it slide so many times before.

You have ten minutes.

*

The sunlight barely made it through the thick ceiling of tree branches full of leaves. The more you ran, the darker it got. For some good minutes, you couldn't even see ahead of you until your eyes adjusted. The notion of time was already a foreign concept to you. Time was measured now in the fast pace of your beating heart, threatening to plummet out of your chest. It felt like your veins were depleted of blood and the only thing keeping you going was the fear of being caught.

You started running without thinking much about it, almost simulating. The image of Sukuna's massive build was impregnated in your mind. The more you dived into the cold darkness, the more refined your senses became. The leaves on the ground were damp on your bared feet, squirrels were jumping from branch to branch, scratching against the tree bark, the air was humind and cold, stinging your throat. Your heart was booming in your ears like a war drum, but more importantly it was pulsating between your legs, a constant reminder of who you were running from.

You had to stop and catch your breath. You were in no physical condition to be straining your body to this extent. The layers of your kimono were also making your movements more difficult, the weight and tightness around your waist uncomfortable. After filling your lungs with fresh air you decided to get rid of these impediments. To hide your tracks, you struggled to bury the outer robe you discarded under a fallen tree trunk, covering the brightly colored fabric with leaves. Now that you were lighter, with only one long and thin piece of clothing covering your body, you felt safer. The forest was overall quiet and the lack of light gave you the feeling of safety, instead of frightening you like the first time. You were still on the edge, ears focused to pick up any unusual sound, but for now, at least, you were safe.

Perhaps you should look for a place to hide. The idea came more like an instinct than a rational thought. Sukuna must have already started his hunt. While you were looking for a suitable spot where you could fit your body and conceal your presence, a flock of birds took off in the distance. The overlayed sound of ruffling leaves and fluttering wings made your heart sink for a moment. But it was only birds, so you continued your search undisturbed until a white rabbit darted out of a bush, passing by you in its frenetic run. You would have dismissed this occurence as well if you didn't feel it. It hit you like a sudden enlightenment, the air thicker, heavier as if something was breathing all of it, leaving none for the other creatures of the forest. Now it was truly quiet. The birds had fled. The squierrls were hiding inside their dens. No bunny, no deer, not even insects crawling on the wood, eating away the rotten parts of the forest. Everything seemed to have stopped, frozen, frightened.

He was coming.

Terror was creeping up your muscles, like a parasyte dictating your behaviour. It pushed you to run, but everything else around you was quiet. Wasn't it smarter to follow the natural instinct of the animals, lay low until the threat goes away? You didn't blend in with the forest, though. Your pink robe, loosely tied around your waist, was contrasting with the dark greens and browns of the environment, making you an obvious target. The more time you spent debating, frozen in your tracks, the closer it got. Although completely silent like a first class predator, his unbelieveable ferocity was travelling faster than his body. The atmosphere was soaked with it, danger waiting for you at every step. Even though you wanted to move, your body wouldn't listen. His presence alone was already overwhelming, filling the entire space with tension that was crushing you.

Your eyes windened, irises shaking in distress when you saw four red points gleaming in the darkness in front of you. Nothing more, nothing less than four small crimson circles. It was enough to trigger a response in you and your feet darted in the opposite direction, running faster than you ever imagined you could. Your heartbeat was once again hectic, your hands pushing branches and plants out of your way. You were gasping for air but there was no way you could stop. Your robe got caught in a thick bush and you pulled it forcefully, ripping it only to free yourself. He was near, almost one step behind you. He was purposefully being loud, branches cracking under his feet, his steps shaking the ground he was walking on. He wanted you to know he was there, close, maybe only one arm's length away from grabbing you by the neck.

The forest was a neverending abyss. You couldn't even tell what direction you were running in. Maybe you were heading back to the manor. Maybe you were sinking even deeper into the wild. All that you knew was that you were running away from him.

You cried out in pain when you fell on your knees, tripping. A guttural, animalic sound that was so foreign to you, almost impossible to believe that it came out of your body. You quickly turned around on the ground, trying to find out where he was. Cold sweat was running down your back and you were panting, half because of effort, half because of terror.  Your knees were bruised. Your hair unkempt. Your robe torn at the hems. Yet, he was nowhere to be seen. His absence was alarming. You couldn't even see him coming, couldn't anticipate where you should run. You felt your robe soaked around your outer thigh, the wet sensation tingling your skin. You looked up, thinking it had started raining, although there was no sound of raindrops hitting the ground.

And you saw him.

In the tree above you, standing on a thick branch. The mouth on his abdomen was fully manifested, the tongue poking out above the knot tied around his waist, thick saliva oozing down, dripping on you. You felt choked, deprived of air, although he was at a fair distance from you. Sukuna hopped down, landing right in front of you with a sound so loud and earth-shaking it resembled thunder. You tried crawling back, heels slipping on the grass under you. For every three frantic movements of your limbs he took one calm step, closing in the distance.

"Get away from me!" Your voice sounded threatening, although you were in no position to.

The strength in your legs was almost used up. You didn't think you could stand up, not to mention do it fast enough to  escape him.

He ignored you, taking another step. It seemed like there were two beasts inside him: the calm, calculated hunter that  chased and cornered you and the savage, famished creature that showed through his abdomen, salivating at your sight.

In a split moment he was leaning over you, his massive frame caging you against the ground, teeth sinking in your neck. Your artery pulsated under your skin, full of fresh blood running frantically. You found the force to kick his legs, trying to get him off you, but he wouldn't budge. All of his four arms were supporting his body above yours, two on each side of your struggling form. You could hear his feral breath right under your ear. You screamed and hit him as hard as you could, to no avail. The tongue on his abdomen ran over your skin, spreading its spit all over your tummy and your core. When its tip creeped between your legs, tasting your juices, he groaned like a famished animal that was finally getting his long deserved meal. It took a lot of effort not to submit to his touch, like you usually did. Instead, your mouth kept screaming curses at his name, begging for help in the middle of an empty forest where he was king. Two of his hands held your body in place, one kneading your soft breast while the other held you by the hip, his nails painfully digging in your skin, the muscles of his arms flexed in the effort of holding you in place.

You managed to grab his hair, pulling as tightly as you could to get his face away from your neck, where he was already leaving marks. One arm was sufficient for him to support his body, his knees already forcing your thighs spread apart on the ground. So he used the fourth hand to pull yours away from his hair. He caught your other wrist in his grip as well, pushing your arms above your head so you wouldn't defy him anymore.

"Let me go!" You shrieked, your arms aching because of his forceful grip. With every moment his teeth sank into a new spot on your neck you expected him to rip your flesh off your bones, that's how exhilarated he seemed to consume you. Something about you neck, the back of your ear, your tangled dirty hair, it seemed to have a particular smell that was getting him off because he kept sniffing and licking the area like a wild animal. "No!" You howled, your legs fighting to stay closed while the large tongue moved between your folds, wet and warm, sending a numbing pleasure all through your body.

You had never made Sukuna lose his self control like this before. The way you were fighting under him awakened the animal inside, his senses sharper than ever. Your cries were music to his ears. Your kicks were only encouraging him to hold you down even more. But most of all, your smell, your raw intoxicating smell, it was irresistible. Not altered by any artificial fragrance, not washed away by any water. His face was buried in the crook of your neck, where it was the strongest, and he was aiming to get you sweating all of it out of your body. Perhaps this blinding obsession was the reason he lost focus because, when you unexpectedly kicked your knee at the corner of his large abdomen mouth he growled in pain, grip losening on your body.

You took this chance to slide away, driven by adrenaline alone. It seemed that your instincts had unlocked a primal power inside of you, because you never even dared to hope that you could hurt the beast that Sukuna was. You were almost on your feet again, supporting your body on your arms to force it stand up when his hand grabbed your hair harshly and you fell back on the ground on all fours. You howled in pain like a wounded animal as he pulled you by the hair, forcing your back to arch.

"You have nowhere to run." He spoke for the first time as he leaned over your body, his voice hoarse and unfamiliar.

Your scream echoed in the entire forest when one of his cocks penetrated you, losing no time to adjust. But you didn't scream because of pain. There was no pain to feel when you were so wet, so prepared for him as he slipped inside you so easily, your walls tightening around his length in a welcoming feeling. His thrusts were fast and harsh from the start, the knot of pleasure tightening in your belly immediately. His other cock was rubbing between your ass cheeks as he forced himself into you in a frenzy, grunting and growling in the lowest, most savage voice that seemed to come straight from the depths of hell. Your cries turned to moans of pleasure, your body shaking according to his rhythm, your muscles tensed in anticipation for your orgasm. You couldn't fight against him anymore in that position, when he was fucking you like a wild animal.

You yelped in pain when he forced his other cock inside your walls, stretching you forcefully, knowing you could take all of him. You had to take all of him. Tears ran down your cheeks as your eyes were shut tightly, the only thing you could focus on being his two massive cocks inside your dripping wet cunt, abusing it relentlessly. He had both your hands behind your back, using you like a lifeless rag doll. In a seemingly kind gesture, his hand caressed your cheek, a mouth opening in his palm to wipe away your tears, only to press agains your mouth, silencing you. The tongue forced itself into your mouth, circling along with your own tongue. He could force your body to bend as much as he pleased, pulling your arms further back and pressing his hand tighter against your mouth, hitting your sweet spot over and over and over, even if it meant breaking you in half.

The sounds of his hips slamming against yours echoed in the dark forest, your muffled cries and his hysterical growls warning everything and everyone to stay away. The two arms that had been keeping your hips in place wrapped themselves around your waist, pulling your back straigth against his torso, this new angle allowing him to reach new, untouched spots inside of you. The tongue retreated from your mouth, leaving you a drooling mess, unable to protest anymore, and moved lower to suck on your nipples. Your head was bouncing against his chest as he thrusted into you, and you could almost hear the unnaturally fast pace of his heartbeat. Your hands found two of his wrists, fingers wrapping weakly around them, pressing his touch even more against your body.

His head dipped into the crook of your neck, taking a deep breath of your intoxicating smell before biting your ealobe.

"You could have ended this already." He growled into your ear, thrilled by your body's eager response to him. Your hands were desperately clinging to him, your smell so attractive and obsessive pulling him in, your cunt tightening around his cocks, taking him so well. His thrusts were getting sloppier and slower, but nowhere near weaker. "But you love it when I hunt you down and take you like an animal." You gasped with every swift and deep thrust. "Look." He said, and when he noticed your eyes wouldn't open, he growled the command in your ear again. "Look." His hand forced your head down. "Look how well you're taking me." Another hand moved to press against your navel. Right below it, a bulge was swelling round and disappearing under your skin as his cocks pushed in and out of you. You couldn't articulate any words in response. Instead, your head fell back against his chest, eyes shut tightly, feeling your orgasm approaching. Your whole body felt tight, muscles tensed. He was manhandling you with ease, two arms around each thigh keepibg the m apart, the other two around your upper body, knees hovering over the ground. One of his hands moved to make sure you would be reaching your high along with him, only the tips of his fingers barely touching your sensitive bud of nerves enough to have you whimpering even louder.

The feeling of thick ropes of cum inside you came at the same time with your orgasm. You weakly protested when he still thrusted inside you, slower, making sure his seed stays inside, although it was so much that it was spilling out and dripping over his balls and on the ground. He let you go, at last, the moment he completely pulled out of you echoing with a loud pop! in the empty forest. He had you so stretched, so fucked out, semen still dripping out of your hole as he laid you down on the grass.

You were panting and shivering, your heartbeat still beating insanely fast. But your whole body was relaxing, almost melting into the ground. The feeling of the soft grass blanket under your naked body, cooling your heat, and the humind air cleaning out your mind were truly soothing. For a moment, you almost forgot Sukuna was still there, your mind blank. The sound of raindrops hitting the tree leaves pulled you out of your haze. You were cold. As you turned around on your back you noticed Sukuna sitting next to you, with his robe messily put back on, his body towering above yours to shield you from the rain.

He seemed to have awakened from his frenzy too, because there was no sight of the thirsty creature that chased you. Instead, he was inspecting your body, evaluating his success on the hunt.

His piercing eyes made you snap back to reality and you became very aware of the fact that you were naked. You curled on the ground, unconsciously, arms covering your breasts, trying to be as small as you could.

"What are you so modest for now?" He almost scolded you, his voice back to the usual tone you knew. However, he wrapped you in the remnants of the torn robe you had on when he found you, right before ripping it off. You didn't even remember when that happened.

"T-thank you." You said, pulling the fabric over your shoulder. He picked you up with his two upper arms and you wrapped yours around his neck for support. It felt almost like the end of an unusuap sacrificial ritual, when the ancient priest would offer the dead lamb to a god. Except you were not dead and he was the god. Maybe this is how it happened on the other side, the immortal soul of the sacrificial lamb being welcomed among-

"Are you asleep?" Sukuna asked. The natural sounds of the forest were filling your ears now that the danger was gone. "You'll catch a cold."

"N-no. I was just resting my eyes." You shivered when his face kept touching yours, his nose sniffing at your neck and hair as he walked you out of the forest. You were dirty, of course you were, and sweaty and wet with all filthy fluids.

"Hm. Strange." He concluded. "It's gone."

You didn't have the energy to ask any more questions. Besides, he seemed to be talking to himself. You could feel your body warm up again against his. Soon, you were out of the forest, heading back to the manor.

《previous: Corruption | next》: Ascension |

Geto Suguru x reader True Form! Sukuna x reader

[rallentando1011]

certain ineffable things

(rise Donnie x touch starved gn reader - little bit of angst, mostly fluff) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lazy circles drawn on hips.

Tender pats on the shoulder or head, conveying much more than mere words.

Nudges of encouragement or of endearment or at least conveying that someone else was there.

Various affectionate displays - all luxuries experienced in the most painfully infrequent intervals.

 At least, they were to you.

Home definitely wasn’t the place to be seeking out stuff like that - your upbringing had all but made certain of that - nor was anywhere with your colleagues or friends. Any time anyone so much as got near, your skin seemed to crawl and spine shivered and-

In short, it seemed an endeavor destined to fail.

That wasn’t to say you didn’t like it. The physical contact part, that was; the yearning and all that was inarguably awful.

But the occasional touch or elbow rub or hug just absolutely made you melt. Only when you felt like it though. And normally only when you initiated it. And typically only with a certain purple clad significant other-

A hand grasped onto yours.

You snapped back to the present, sitting in Donnie’s lab where you’d been idly passing him tools and utensils as needed and he’d been discarding them back into your palm, and where a misunderstanding where each of you thought the other to be passing them something and extended two empty hands made quite the startling connection of the two.

“Sorry!” Your hand retracted as if repulsed by his. “Sorry.”

He jolted on his own accord before looking over at you. “You alright?”

“Are you?”

Donnie blinked. “You shuddered as if I transferred a few thousand volts which, considering my current field of experimentation, is feasible. Did I do something wrong?”

“No, not at all.” You shifted uncomfortably in your seat. What a way to get dragged out of a soliloquy. “It just, uh, caught me off guard is all. What about you? You just about leapt out of your seat.”

“All’s good on my end.”

“Yep. Same here.”

“Alright then.”

A terse moment passed. Despite how fervently you hoped he’d turn back to his work and drop the upsettingly awkward conversation, Donnie’s softly confused gaze stayed fixed on you. 

It made your stomach churn in a manner halfway between flustered and unbearable - that was to say, leaving sounded like a viable option.

“You know what? I might go get a snack or something; it’s been a minute since I had anything so...”

“Right. Want me to have S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. fetch you something?”

“No!” You took a deep breath upon realizing you were nearly shouting. “No, that’s quite alright. I don’t mind moving around a little bit.”

“Oh. Okay.” Donnie remained wide-eyed and immobile, tracking you curiously even as you moved for the door. He probably kept that up as long as he could, as long as you were in his sight before going back to work, not that you knew for certain, of course. You had squared your shoulders and rushed out as swiftly as possible, only easing up when you reached the kitchen.

You set straight to work on that snack and a warm drink to help you recuperate.

With a sigh, you prepped a kettle on the stove, leaving it to boil as you ventured mindlessly to the pantry.

After retrieving something to munch on, something easily poppable, you returned to an eagerly whistling kettle, the contents of which you quickly emptied into an eagerly awaiting mug. You plucked a tea bag from the cabinet adjacent to the stove and dunked it in, setting a timer.

As the tea steeped, you tried not to do so in your thoughts. Swimming and swarming uncomfortably through your brain with unpleasant reminders of how unfairly you’d behaved earlier, how unfair the circumstances around how averse you felt toward simple contact were-

No, not going there right now. You busied yourself with snagging pieces of your snack, losing your thoughts under the fervent sound of crunching and grinding and-

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Right. The tea.

Steeping over and tea bag tossed, you gathered your bearings and paused in the doorway. On one hand, you could go back to the lab and talk things out like a sensible person. On the other hand, cowering away in Donnie’s room was also there.

“Psh.” You shook your head lightly at yourself and trudged your way to his room, ever the craven.

You sipped at your earl grey contentedly, navigating around stacks of thick books and planters filled with rich soil and plum-colored tradescantia. Donnie, ever the botanist at heart.

Following the oh-so-perilous journey across his purple-fluorescently lit room, you settled on his mattress. Something struck you as funny in a deprecating sort of way when you sat - going into his room uninvited and making yourself at home on his bed seemed less intimate than simply coming into contact with him. Maybe you were just desensitized to eradicating his personal space but still quite opposed to doing the same with his personal bubble.

Yes, it was funny. Pathetic, too, but ironically funny nonetheless.

You couldn’t remember the last time you purposefully came into contact with someone and liked it. Like, genuinely, when was the last time you were touched?

Yes, sometimes it happened out of necessity - someone helping fasten on a bracelet’s clasp or zip up an outfit or something of the sort - other times it happened by accident - like earlier - but other than that, you hadn’t the foggiest idea of when you’d last sought intentional contact with anyone. All you knew was that it had been a painfully long time which made it a painfully sore subject.

The quiet shuffle of steps made a sudden appearance, ones you could recognize as Donnie’s without even looking up. So you didn’t.

A weight settled a considerable distance away from you on the bed, the sounds of the anxious pops of phalanges and the wringing of wrists making it even more apparent it was him.

You took a long, slow sip of your tea, savoring the last bit of warmth cascading down your throat before deftly discarding the empty mug on his busied nightstand.

You shuffled.

Talking, right? That was what was supposed to, what needed to come next, right?

Hashing it out verbally, coming to a resolution, going back to sitting in the lab with hardly a word exchanged and certainly no skin brushing by skin.

How do you ask someone why they scarcely touch you without sounding inappropriate or impotent? Not exactly a normal thing to ask. Or feel.

And how do you describe the niche feeling of wanting to feel any kind of contact but only under the most specific of circumstances?

Daunting, it was. All of it.

“Do you want to talk about earlier?” Donnie broke the silence.

The shake of your head was nigh indiscernible, but he perceived it nonetheless.

He twiddled his thumbs.

You cleared your throat.

He looked up from his lap.

You cautiously extended your arms out. An invitation to skip the words and go straight to the resolution.

Hesitantly, his hand met yours, the feeling electric, burning as his digits slid across yours to take gentle hold of you.

The two of you met eyes and, upon seeing no disapproval, continued with the utmost care.

You couldn’t recall which one of you moved to lay down first, but the other quickly reciprocated the shift, both of you ending up facing each other on silken violet sheets.

Legs tangled lightly for the purpose of pulling each other closer.

Tridactyl hands lightly glided to your sides, as if handling something delicate.

Yours made their way up, joining together behind his neck.

“I’m being so honest right now: if you want to stop, we’re stopping,” you voiced quietly yet surely.

Lazy circles on your hips drawn by his thumbs drew you in, drawn by thumbs that had increasingly more bravado by the second.

“Seriously, any moment you’re done, we’re done.”

A low hum sounded his amusement.

“Not as in done done, like done with this specific-”

“Respectfully,” Donnie interjected lightheartedly, “shut up. I’m good if you’re good.”

“…”

The silence this time once again carried an awkward air, but it was decidedly less insufferable.

Another second was spent before he cleared his throat, not wanting to misinterpret your silence. “You’re good?”

“Mmhm.”

“Then it’s good.”

With that, you decided his advice to shut up was the best idea you’d heard all day and did so, nuzzling your face into his neck sleepily. The reverberating churr and tighter hold you received in return were exquisite.

Oftentimes words proved to be the best and most concise way to convey a message; however, sometimes actions took that distinction, able to show as opposed to tell certain ineffable things.

[daistea]

ur au with the whole courting before the incident™ ... EXCELLENCE. your service to the community is appreciated and loved

THANK YOU!!

honestly it’s one of my favorite aus. It could go in so many lovely directions.

Like, you love Mithrun, you’re one of the only ones who know who he truly is, what he’s truly like. And you still accept that and want him. And that’s all he wants, is to be wanted.

But I don’t think he’d realize that at the time. He’s too wound up in his resentment toward his family, and in masking himself constantly. But subconsciously he drifts toward people who fulfill that need in him, so you’d be close. Whatever you decide, whether you’re dating or just friends, you’re one of the few people he genuinely cares about.

Tbh I don’t think he loved that elf girl. I think he just saw that his brother liked her, and he wanted to possess that. Big brother, the one who gets to inherit everything, the one who gets to live a canary-free life, the one who gets the girl. Not cool. It drives him crazy. Maybe at the time he sees that image in the mirror, you and him are arguing about something so he’s already in a bad mental state. Or you’re not dating at this time and he loves you but hasn’t realized it yet. Whatever the situation, he shatters the mirror and proceeds to disappear from society for five years.

There are searches, but he’s not found. The years pass. Even his brother has no clue where he is.

Meanwhile, Mithrun is living it up lol. But the years pass for him too and the place becomes more twisted and the illusions of his friends (and the illusion of you) don’t visit anymore. Idk someone once said they might actually be there with him, but based on what the demon said to chilchuck about making copies of his wife and kids, and also Marcille’s dad, I think he just makes weird little copies/shapeshifters.

You’re there! He spends the most time with you. And snake girlfriend doesn’t complain because he doesn’t wish for her to. But he sees this illusion of you and how you’re portrayed in his mind and these little subconscious things. And he’s like damn. I think I’m genuinely in love with them and have been this whole time.

And that’s when things hit their peak and ya know, munch munch crunch crunch

AND THEN LIKE he’s found. He’s different. Whether you help in his recovery or not is up to you. I think he’d actually push you away at this time because it hurts, but idk he might also just not care.

40 years later you see him again!! Mithrun is chill about most stuff from his past, he’s got a normal relationship with his brother now. I imagine it would be a little difficult with you though because the last thing he realized before getting his desires eaten was that he had a desire for you.

Also it would be funny if you’re like ‘wow you got hotter’ and he’s like ‘what’

[multifandomfemale]

I was kinda flabbergasted by Loolilalu’s height-

Anywho, I’m happy that more people are shipping these two—cause they interacted a few times in the release date video. Now, no one can stop me from shipping these two!

Hahahahaha

If anyone wants to vote on a ship name(putting down the ones I’ve seen)

Also, I’m predicting that Ragtha is a big candy/royalty fan, and it fangirling/is super ecstatic about the entire time in the kingdom.

Also, I think someone might munch and crunch on something the Candy Canyon Kingdom and any of the candy creatures(specifically Lollilalu) would be numb, or just unaware, to them eating candy.

Alright, I’ll shush up now, cya 👋👋

[danikamariewrites]

Can I request a headcannon where the reader is mated to Cassian, Azriel and nesta. And she's a total cutie somehow she always has some sorts of snacks on her hands like literally all the time ( giant sweet tooth) and they are wondering where she gets them from.

Like Cassian loses his mind because she just one moment doesn't have a cookie in her hand and the next she's eating one.

Also she's a total cat, she disappears in the middle of the day and they can only bring her out when they leave a plate of cookies in the kitchen. ( she can smell it ) she's always sleeping and likes to cuddle whenever one of them is sitting or working.

Mated to Az, Cass, and Nesta headcanon

A/n: I would give anything to be with all three of them tbh like this would be such a slay

Warnings: none just fluffy ☺️

When you felt the bond between all 4 of you, you guys didn’t know what to do at first

You were confused bc you thought the pull you felt to always be around Nesta, Cassian, and Azriel was just your friendship

You’d also be lying if you said you weren’t in love with them

The three of them love you so much

Not much has changed except that you move into the house of wind permanently

You have your own room but you spend most nights with Azriel, he’s your favorite to snuggle with

But there were nights when you wanted to cuddle between Nesta and Cassian

Nesta found she was very possessive and protective of you

And Cassian treats you like a princess

You were a big napper

You can fall asleep anywhere whether it’s on the couch, leaning against Cassian, or even at the table

The boys have found you and Nesta lightly snuggled on the floor of your at home library surrounded by books

One of your favorite nap spots was the couch. Especially when Nesta would read to you and run her fingers through your hair while resting your head on her lap

Something that always drove your three mates crazy were your snack habits

How did you always have one in your hand? How was it always candy? Where did you hide them?

At first you were really good at hiding snacks around the house

A small bag of chips under a throw pillow here

A bag of chocolate covered popcorn in the back of the cabinet

But then the House started helping you by making small compartments in the wall for snacks

If you were in the sitting room but wanted the snack you hid there in the upstairs library the house would bring it to you

“Ok, I know you don’t have those because they weren’t in the snack cabinet. Where did you get the snack?” You just giggle and shrug at Cassian’s question

Nesta would always give you a questioning look and then demand you share

Your dresses and skirts always had pockets not just so you could hold your things but for snacks, the important stuff

Cassian would always beg you for one healthy snack, “Just some fruit that’s all I’m asking.”

“Cass you make sure we eat healthy meals. Occasional junk food won’t kill me baby.” He’d just huff and cross his arms while Azriel laughed and stole a bit of whatever you were munching on

One time it was dead silent in a meeting, except for Rhys bc he was talking about important court stuff

You sneakily pulled a cookie from your pocket, you swiped it from the batch Elain just baked, and took a bite. What you didn’t know was that the cookie would betray you and make a loud crunch sound

Everyone looked at you and Cassian took it from you and gave it back once the meeting was over, “What did we talk about? No disruptive snacks.”

You also value sleeping in

If you didn’t get enough sleep the night before thanks to some ppl 👀…or just from not being able to sleep you liked a few extra hours of peace

Cassian and Azriel, being early risers, never got that about you

You could only be bribed with food

Breakfast is your favorite meal so they use that to their advantage

Always taunting you with the smell of sweet savory bacon, pancakes and maple syrup, eggs, muffins, anything they could cook they would make it for you

You would creep into the kitchen and swipe pieces of bacon before everything was ready

The boys would pretend to be annoyed but secretly love it

Sometimes during the day they could never find you

It was a true mystery where you went or what you did with your time

Nesta would leave your favorite treat out on the counter hoping you’d sense it was there

Azriel would totally have his shadows carry the scent of it to where ever you are

Sometimes they’d miss you and come back to half the plate gone and no you

Other times you’d be perched on the counter chewing happily on your treat

[cerealboxlore]

Hello world, I've had a cursed late night thought! Do you want to hear it? Of course you do, you have no choice :D

Y'all remember that one comic panel of Mary Marvel eating bullets like they were nothing? The Marvel Family are immune and resistant to so many things that they can eat bullets and have no consequences from eating poisons, too. Bizarre to the world, but very fun to them, I assume! I think Billy as Captain Marvel has also eaten bullets before, and bitten non edible materials in the past just for funsies. But what about Freddy?

What cursed thing can he eat to intimidate an enemy?

Kryptonite.

Let the boy eat Kryptonite with a crunch and munch like it was a rock candy 🍬

Let an enemy mistake him for a Kryptonian and use Kryptonite against him with a smug smile on their face, only to be beyond horrified when they see the blue Marvel chomp the green glowing rock like it was nothing.

Bonus points if Freddy even scares Billy and Mary with this because who in their right mind would willingly eat Kryptonite as their first plan of action??

[seiya234]

21 grams lighter

that website, amirite? anyway can't fucking believe alex did it again.

----

“Uncle Dipper, the school said you had to sign this?”

“Me specifically?”

Hank frowned. “Well, an adult in our house.”

“You’re the first one we found,” Willow added.

Dipper picked up the paper, skimming it quickly and. Oh.

Oh my god.

“Mabel are you in here?”

As the triplets wandered off, task done, a head covered in googly eyes popped out the kitchen door. “Mmmyes?”

Dipper brandished the papers. “Do you remember MADD?”

“Moms Are Down with Drugs? Yeah. We had to do those worksheets, and go to that rally in the gym, and there was a dog in a jacket.” Mabel paused. “Also, I don’t think they actually knew what it meant when you say you’re down with something.”

“Okay, so MADD… but for selling your soul.”

The googly eyes, with impeccable comedic timing, all fell off of Mabel’s face.

“No.”

“Oh my god, there’s a pamphlet.”

By now, Mabel had joined him at the table. “’Soul Selling: Not Even Once!’ Oh. Oh Dipper, this is bad.”

He was trying to hold in peals of laughter. “I know!”

“I don’t think this is going to discourage anyone.”

“I know.”

“And look, they basically give you the directions to summon five different demons in the name of Not Doing That, this is really, really bad.”

“I̶t̷'̴s̵ ̸f̸a̷n̶t̸a̴s̶t̷i̸c̵!̴”

Mabel looked at him, just looked at him for a minute, sadness welling deep in her eyes.

“No. No it’s really not.”

------

Trillions.

A number that is truly incomprehensible, much less in the context of time.

There were souls that rotted in that stomach longer than the oldest rocks of Earth.

--------

[from the M.A.D.D. Brochure, 2285]

“So remember kids, selling your soul doesn’t just effect you. It effects every version of you! It is an indelible mark that will linger for eternity, never changing, never going away. Paths, choices, loved ones, all will wither in the face of the horrible decision that you made! Eternity is forever, don’t make it your fault!”

[penciled in the margins, a note: “so we aren’t going to talk about social inequality or systemic racism then are we?”]

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

(the most eternal, sacred part of a being)

Dipper had been a demon for all of a month, if that, when he was offered his first soul. For a while, he… didn’t really do anything with them.

When he did, it was of course super traumatic for everyone involved but eh, that kind of went with the territory of everything that was happening in his life lately.

Point being, he never was sure why Bill kept everyone trapped inside of him, constantly screaming, constantly playing beach tunes to drown them out. No, better to eat them, get the power, set them free.

Like, obviously, not great to be eating souls in the first place, and yeah, yeah, he could tell, even ten thousand (ten million) (ten billion) years later who he had crunch munched through, but like, they were able to be out there living their lives! Doing stuff. Cycling back through.

Honestly. What had Bill been planning to do with them?

--------

For the first week after it happened, animals ran away from Mabel.

Not just cats and dogs but all animals. Flocks of birds would fly off at her approach, deer would get near the Shack and then run off, and Gompers disappeared into the woods.

After the bear ran screaming from her, Mabel put two and two together, and called Dipper.

“Is this forever?”

Dipper frowned. “What do you mean?”

Mabel waved at her body. “This.”

(it wasn’t fair, it wasn’t fair she was only 16/18/22/17, she didn’t mean for this to happen, she only wanted to live, he only wanted her to live, this wasn’t f a i r )

“Oh. Uh. Um.”

“Dipper. Just. Tell. Me.”

“Hold on.” He reached into his stomach, and pulled out something…. Ineffable.

It felt like every single cell in Mabel’s body was reaching towards it, she found herself walking towards Dipper’s open hand.

The demon looked at her.

“You can have it back.”

She was crying. When did she start crying? And more worryingly, why did it feel like this was the first real, true thing she had felt in a week?

He pushed the Ineffable thing into her chest, and Mabel sank to the ground, sobbing. She felt whole again.

She didn’t realize that she hadn’t been whole, not truly, not until now.

Alcor smirked. “Consider it… out on lease. I’ll take it back eventually.”

She should have challenged him on that. Should have asked him about that. Should have done a million trillion other things.

But Mabel was human. And scared. And so, so very young.

---------

(you were birds)

A young man with fluffy brown hair, mixing his blood with his sister and his new brother-in-law, making a promise.

(you were trees with roots entangled)

They made a family together, it was a beautiful family, they let him stay, stay when anyone else would have told him to leave.

(wherever we go next, whatever you choose, I will always be right there with you)

They fit, like spoons in a drawer, like yin and yang, salt and pepper, ketchup and mustard, literally a million different pairings you could compare the two of them to. They weren’t perfect but love doesn’t need to be, and shouldn’t be perfect.

(that’s done buddy)

One grave

(congratulations)

Another grave, but eighty years later.

(you chose Alcor instead)

[trulyumai]

Oh, Mr mosses (Series!) V

Synopsis: You were fine with the job, the steps were easy enough but the secret  of the D.D.D was getting harder and harder to contain. Each night a new entity would enter the building, each with its own horrific look and intentions. Just as you debate on leaving, a new resident has entered the premises; Francis Mosses who is absolutely entranced by your being. Now, his Mimic has taken a liking to you too.

Will you be as smitten of them as they are of you? Only time will tell.

Author Note: Hello everyone, a bit longer of a chapter but thats okay! After Thursday I will be final free! Which means I'll have more time for writing and answering requests, thank you for your patience! <3

Warnings: Blood, Obsessive/Possessive behavior, Stalking, Talk about Death, Mutilation.

Also available on AO3!

Taglist: @tfamidoingwithmylife @mariaflor873 @fandomfeind @greycloudsy @skully-skeleton-bone0106 @im-here-for-the-fun-of-it @the-tiger-lover78 @itoshilvr @wilddreamer98 (Let me know if you want to be added!)

God, even the way she laid there, limp against the office wall was everything to him. 

Biting down on 28 only crunches and squelches echoed through the room, the said man laid in pieces by his feet. 

He casually sat there in her squeaky chair, munching on a limb like it was normal; an everyday hobby. 

Humming a familiar tune he threw the rest of the arm past him, somewhere towards the cabinets, he had to guess. 

With his feet on the desk he sighed. 

Soon the D.D.D would learn of his presence, his safety would be at risk and his little toy would be in even more danger than she already was. 

Maybe he would take her, hide her away to be his little wife. That is what they’re called, aren’t they?

First things first; he had to dispose of the replica. 

Clicking his teeth he scratched his nails on the wood beside him. 

That fucking fool. A useless mirror image he copied. 

He had to learn everything about the man before taking his face; starting with his job, his hobbies, his routes, down to the fucking shampoo he preferred. Until it got to his favorite area, the most recent addition in his life; the pretty receptionist. 

He knew it would be so easy to manipulate the woman. Her mind was so weak compared to him, with just a tad bit of bending (Mentally and a bit physically), he molded her perfectly for him. 

Enough to not only get access to the building, but to her as well. 

She groaned as she laid there, she must be having a nightmare. He hoped it involved him, with some image of the mimic biting chunks out or flesh, kissing them as he went on.  Holding back a grin he decided to move her, before someone else were to poke their nose in the already bloodied business of theirs. He pulled her up until she reached his chest and eyed the old corroded clipboard by the door. 

Going down the list of names he got to her; room 24 Level 2.

Stepping through the red he rubbed his feet on 28’s corpse, letting the leftover blood dry on his once white, button up. We wouldn’t want a little trail now would we? 

Clicking the green button he passed 28 once more, whistling lowly as the elevator pushed its doors open with a groan. 

Stepping in his clawed finger pressed the second button on the wall, watched as the doors came together with a satisfying thunk. 

Belly satiated and full, he looked down at the woman in his arms, her head was lolled to the side, leaning firmly on his chest. Grinning wide he bent towards her, pressing a sloppy, bloody kiss to her forehead, cheek and nose. 

The box dinged once again, the doors slid open loudly to indicate their arrival to her floor. 

Walking through the corridor, he read the numbers idly 

10, 12, 14, 

A turn left 

16, 18, 20- 

A creek escaped, some neighbor had opened their door, just up ahead.

It was that rich suited prick. 

“Ah! Francis, lovely to- is that the receptionist?” His grin was hesitant, eying the girl with bloody marks on her face. 

He could kill him now, but it would be more of a mess to deal with, he doubted he could hide another body from the D.D.D.

Mustering up a smile, his sharp teeth gritted together.

“She’s ah, not feeling well,” attempting to move past the pompous man and walk towards her door just steps away, the man stopped them once more and put a hand out for extra measure. 

Growling he slowly turned, met the eyes of the man once more. 

“Do we have a problem,” he gritted, claws digging into the poor girl below him. 

“Well- ah, tell her to visit me when she feels up to it,” 

He put his hand back at his side, rubbing his fingers idly. 

“I have a job opportunity for her, you see!” 

Not bothering to waste anymore time, he pressed on to her room. Ignoring the suited man's stares as he clicked her key into place, shoving them both inside before slamming the door. 

“Fucking prick.” He muttered. 

But now he was all alone, could touch and prod at the girl with no interruptions. 

Looking around he noticed the apartment was tidy; everything had a place, plants sat by the darkened windowsill and beside them, a full bookcase was laid about. Her kitchen was spotless, only a few decorative items littered the counters while the sink was, of course, empty. 

Holding her up with one hand he scratched at his gums, pieces of bone were starting to prod against his teeth, becoming more annoying than painful. 

Looking for her bedroom he propped open a door with his shoulder, and with a thump, dumped her unceremoniously on the mattress. 

It was then, he realized. 

“Oh fuck.” 

Bolting angrily back towards the door, the hallway and elevator as fast as he could, he bit down on his annoyingly human cheek; hard. 

He left the elevator unlocked. 

Any other mimic could come through freely and he really couldn’t have that. 

Another competition for his food? Yeah no, fuck that. He hated how territorial his kind was, made everything a pain in the ass to retrieve and made survival even more strenuous. 

It’s why he found himself here; In this little rundown apartment, with surprisingly good security. 

Being denied and caught over and over made everything so much more satisfying, because he knew that if he waited- stuck around for the right moment, he’d get in. 

Watched plenty of his kind die too, before deciding to take a shape of his own, and finally, making his way to the pretty and gullible receptionist. 

Mashing the first floor button he clawed at his face, light red marks dented down with each press of his fingers. 

Ironically enough, he’s the one that has to distinguish between what’s real and fake now.

Waiting for the elevator he growled.

“What a pain in the ass.” 

——

The milkman was tired. Getting in, absolutely no one was there to check his ID, and he wondered if the receptionist was okay (Yet again). It seemed that lately, that’s all he could think about. Her health, the way she smiled, her pretty hands.

 Not once had she missed any of her shifts, and although he had only been there for a short time, he would always hear from the neighbors how dutiful she was. 

Come sickness, fatigue, anything, she would be there. 

Walking past the office, his fingers shook cautiously by his sides. 

Enough was enough, he would talk to her, he couldn’t avoid her forever and his little, “crush,” wasn’t going away anytime soon. 

So with a long intake of air. He pressed her floor number. 

It was now or never. 

The doors closed, and the travel up began. 

Floor1

Ding!

Floor 2

Ding!

With his head pointed downwards he heard the doors sliding open before walking forward, passing a quick figure to his left. Not bothering to greet them he kept his head down.

The anxiety was getting to him and wait- he didn’t even know what room she was in! 

Head up, he turned back toward the figure that passed him. 

They obviously resided on this floor, maybe he could attempt to ask them about her room without completely looking like a creep. 

But what he saw he just couldn’t explain- rationally describe. 

His face stared back at him, it was set in a scowl while he noticed vast amounts of blood adorned his usually crisp white shirt. The doors were on their way to closing, and this version of him reached out to stop it.

He was too late, the metal doors crashed together and Francis could feel his heart jumping out of his chest. 

What the actual fuck was going on.

Was he that tired? 

Grabbing his face he turned back, mumbling incessant comforts to stop the beats of his heart from getting any faster. 

He needed to find her room, and fast.

-

The first thing she noticed was her head. It boomed with an unfathomable amount of pressure, and she was hesitant to open her eyes. 

She felt around, immediately recognizing the comfort of her own duvet, the silkiness of her pillows,  the faint wafts of the candle she lit the night prior. It calmed the tenseness found between her shoulders, instantly relaxing against the cushioned material. 

With a muffled groan she allowed her eyelids to slink up, her messy room greeted her vision. 

Not remembering the trip up, she laid there, stretched out and confused. 

Craning her head just off the side of the bed, the receptionist glanced towards the hallway; to her front door that was wide open. 

Jerking up, her feet collided with one another, and looking more like a newborn calf than human she attempted her way to the front of the room. 

Never before had a fatigue caused this much confusion; chaos to her mind. 

Something had to be wrong. 

She remembered clocking in, idly sitting by as the clock ticked and ticked. After that it was all blank- it startled her to no end. 

With a hand on the door frame her figure leaned on the wall, just outside her abode. 

Biting her lip she held back a whimper, the bright lights of the hall burned her eyes, she tried to go off of memory, closing her eyes as she felt for every familiar bump and groove of the space.

Turning to where she remembered the elevator was, someone bumped into her- hard. 

“My goodness!” That voice… could it really be? 

“Francis?” Squinting her eyes she blinked repeatedly, trying to get the figure to focus in her vision. 

“H-Hey,” the deep voice answered back, smiling, as she knew it was the tired mailman. Only he could have such a serious yet flustered sounding voice.  

“I've been looking for you,”

The man gripped the girl's shoulders, light yet firm and bent down just to meet her gaze.

“Some… things have been happening, I wanted to see if you were okay.” Flustered, the girl forced out a laugh, taking a hand off her shoulder she gripped it softly. 

“I'm okay, you look more disheveled than me, big guy, what's up?” Kneading the flesh around his knuckles the man couldn't help but relax. 

She smelled so good- of lilac and vanilla, it invaded his senses and corrupted his mind. He couldn't even remember the duplicate until it was shoved back by his consciousness. 

Letting out a low moan he shook his head. ‘Focus Francis, god-’ 

“I have to talk to you,” he blurted out, face getting warmer as she paused her movement, and looked right at him. 

Letting out a giggle she rested her arm, just so it leaned comfortably in the crook of his elbow. 

“Okay? My rooms around the corner, if you wanna talk there?”

Not relying on his words he nodded his head, letting the girl lightly pull his arm to her apartment. 

Now, he just had to figure out how to explain his bloody twin. 

Should be easy!

And if she calls him crazy, and ultimately pushes him out of the apartment- possibly building, at least he got to get this close to her. 

Smelling her, touching her, it was better than living alone with his thoughts- tormenting him every hour of the week that he lazily spent thinking about her anyway.

Inhaling her flowery scent once more he shuddered, he hoped the pretty girl would believe him, so he could once more bask in her presence and ignore every little thing around.

[lewmagoo]

we own the sky | rhett abbott

part four: running towards a place

read the previous part here

series info: the fourth and final installment of the storm chaser rhett universe. want more? read the synopsis here. listen to the playlist here. see the series masterlist here.

description: in which you begin a new chapter

warnings: 18+ only, mentions of character death, grief, angst with a positive ending, mentions of sex, near-death experiences, blood and injury, inaccurate weather terms, please do not check my science lol, this story requires some suspension of disbelief. i usually try not to say anything about reader's family in fics but i do mention them having an unnamed great-aunt, as it was necessary to the plot

pairing: rhett abbott x f!reader

word count: 8,960

notes: i can't believe we've finally come to the end of this series. when i started it, i didn't know if i would even be able to finish it. i poured everything into this story, and i am so thankful for all the love y'all have shown to it. i cherish every single comment. thank you.

The next morning, you were the first one to wake. Although it was still early, it was late by Rhett’s usual standards. Royal was likely already finishing up the morning chores, and probably irritated that his son hadn’t come out to help. 

But Rhett deserved some extra rest. 

And how beautiful he looked while resting. His lashes fanned beneath his eyes, and his face was so relaxed. He looked so boyish when he slept, as if all the stressors of the world were gone, if only for a moment. 

But reality had to hit at some point. He woke not long after you, eyes fluttering open to find you staring at him. He hummed sleepily, hiding his face in the pillow. “You’re starin’.”

“Can’t help it. You’re beautiful when you sleep.”

His face was half concealed by the pillow, leaving one eye exposed. It popped open to look at you. “I ain’t beautiful.”

You beamed at him as you reached out to tuck a curl of hair behind his ear. “Oh, but you are.” Then you leaned down to kiss his cheek. He moved his head at the last second so you’d catch his lips instead. 

“I don’t even wanna know what time it is. Dad’s probably fit to be tied.”

“So what? You’ve earned the rest,” you told him.

His face scrunched adorably. “Doubt he’d agree with ya.”

Another kiss upon his lips. “Doesn’t matter what he thinks.”

You watched as Rhett stretched, much like a cat after a long nap. A beat passed before he spoke again. “Can’t believe I get to wake up next to ya. Feels like a dream.”

“I promise I’m real. Definitely no dream.”

“Mm.” He reluctantly sat upright, rolling his head from side to side. You watched the way his muscles rippled beneath his skin. “Guess we should go downstairs.”

“Guess so.” 

He looked at you, and his eyes flickered down to your lips. “I’m sorry, but I jus’ can’t stop kissin’ you,” he said as he brought his lips to yours, enacting a third kiss. 

“I don’t mind,” you assured him as you returned the favor, mouth soft against his own. 

For a few moments, you remained like that, kissing languidly. But both of you knew it would lead to something more, and while that sounded rather appealing, it was time to get the day started. There would be plenty of time for more escapades later. 

So you climbed out of bed and hurriedly got ready. When you made your way downstairs, you found Amy at the kitchen table, munching on a bowl of cereal. 

She lit up at the sight of the two of you. “You’re up!” She exclaimed. “Gramma was just about to ask you if you could drive me to school, Uncle Rhett.”

Rhett nodded as he stepped over to the cupboard to retrieve a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch. “Sure. Somethin’ wrong?”

“The storm blew the barn door off the hinges and she’s helping Grampa with it.”

He winced slightly, knowing helping with that door was his responsibility, not his mother’s. “Go ‘head and get ready, Ames. I’ll be back in a minute, I’m gon’ go talk to Gramma.”

Quickly, he sauntered across the kitchen and went to shove his feet into his boots. However, as he did so, Cecilia came back into the house. 

“Ma, I’m sorry, I shoulda been the one helpin’ Dad,” he called to her. 

The woman shook her head as she pulled her work gloves off. “Don’t matter. We got it done. ‘sides, I didn’t want to disturb you two. Figured you needed your rest.”

Across the room, you shared a sheepish look with Rhett. Obviously, she would put two and two together when she saw that her son wasn’t asleep on the couch that morning. It was clear that he was in his room, with you. 

“Oh, uh, yeah,” he said, scratching the back of his neck as he ducked his head, slightly embarrassed. You didn’t miss the humorous glint in Cecilia’s eye. “Well, next time, just knock on the door. I’ll hear it.”

“Okay,” she said. “Can ya take Amy to school, by the way? I got a bit behind this mornin’, since the door took longer to fix than I thought it would.”

“Yep, she just mentioned it. We’ll take ‘er,” Rhett agreed. 

We. Those plans included you, apparently. Not that you minded, of course. You were more than happy to tag along. So, with Rhett’s cereal forgotten, the three of you made your way out the door, Amy bounding ahead so that she could climb into the middle of the bench seat between you and Rhett.

“Might as well just grab breakfast at the diner,” he told you as he fell into step beside you. “If ya don’t mind.”

Your face broke into a pleased smile. “I’d like that.”

Off to Amelia Elementary you went, with Amy talking up a storm, far too awake for the early morning hour. You simply listened to her, amused, as she asked Rhett question after question. He answered them all with patience, happy to entertain her curiosity. 

When he pulled into the carpool line, he threw the truck into park and slid out of his seat, boots scraping against pavement. He reached out and took Amy’s small hand in his, guiding her out of the truck. You watched fondly as the girl wrapped her arms around his middle, and he leaned down to kiss the top of her head.

“Have a good day, Ames,” he told her. 

“I will. Bye! Love you!” She waved at you before she scurried off toward the entrance of the school. 

Quickly, Rhett climbed back into his seat and pulled out of the line so as not to hold up traffic. He made the fifteen-minute drive to the diner that was situated in downtown Wabang, and soon, you were both settled into one side of a booth, shoulders touching, cozy against one another. 

You shared a breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes, with extra whipped cream, and plenty of black coffee for Rhett. It all felt so domestic, and you were filled with contentment. 

As you walked back out to the truck after your intimate little breakfast, Rhett slipped his hand into yours, and you let him, fingers intertwining. He opened the truck door for you, and guided you inside, and you felt like royalty.

“We headin’ to your aunt’s house to finish cleanin’?” He asked, once he’d climbed into his own side of the cab.

You smiled softly and said, “Yes.”

And that was where you remained for the rest of the morning, sorting through things, packing up donation boxes, scrubbing each room down from top to bottom. And much to your amazement, by the time you called it quits for the day, everything was finished, for the most part. All that was left was to tote all the donation boxes to local thrift stores, and the homeless shelters that were in the bigger, surrounding cities. 

The entire reason you had come back to Wabang was now fulfilled.

“I can’t believe it’s done already. Thanks for your help,” you told Rhett, as you sat cross-legged on the porch swing of your aunt’s house, a box of pizza open between you both. It was well past dinner time, and you were ravenously hungry after a day of hard work.

“No trouble ‘t all,” came his response as he tore into the remaining crust of his pizza. 

“Feels so good to have that out of the way.”

“Y’gonna be the one to sell the house?” He asked.

You pinched the bridge of your nose and sighed. “Honestly, I have no idea. I have tons of paperwork to go through, trying to figure everything out. We’ll see what happens.”

“Maybe my mom can help y’out, she’s the one who took care of everythin’ with my great grandma’s house when she died,” came his suggestion.

“Maybe I’ll take her up on that,” you agreed before you downed the rest of your pizza.

You were sitting with your legs over his lap, and once again, you were filled with that comforting sense of contentment. It felt so right, being with him. There was no doubt in your mind that this was the way it was meant to be. 

For just a little while, you were able to gradually dip your toes into the waters of your new relationship, and get to know each other all over again. With the rest of the storm chasing team busy figuring things out, subsequently putting any future chases on hold, it gave you ample time to spend with each other. 

You were grateful for the brief, intimate moments you were able to share with Rhett. Moments spent getting to know him all over again. You allowed yourself to be soothed by the lull in time. A few days where you could simply just be. 

But that was just the calm before the storm. Little did you know what was coming your way in the not so distant future. 

A week had passed since the last chase you’d gone on. A few storms had passed through during that time, but any twisters produced were far away, and weak at best. 

During that slow storm period, you busied yourself with dropping off donations from your aunt’s house to thrift stores and shelters, as well as enjoying time with Rhett’s family. You’d missed them more than you realized after all these years. It was clear that his parents were thrilled that you were back in their son’s life. It made your heart sing. 

You’d called into work to take the rest of your vacation time. You wouldn’t have any left for the rest of the year, but you’d cross that bridge when you came to it. You weren’t quite ready to leave Rhett and face reality yet. And, besides, you’d begun questioning if you even wanted to return. 

Could you really move back to Wabang? A few weeks ago, you would have said no. But now, you were conflicted. Your life was in Maryland, but your heart was with Rhett. 

Soon, you would make your choice. 

Just when you thought the team had forgotten about you and Rhett, he received a call from Zara one Friday morning. She explained that the combined CO₂ and nitrogen tests had brought promising results, and that they were ready to take the experiment out on a chase to see how it fared. 

The team had been monitoring a potential storm that was building not far from Wabang. It looked promising, and they wanted you and Rhett to tag along. So that was how you found yourself preparing for yet another storm, anxiety roiling in your belly as you stood in the front yard of the Abbott property, watching everyone pull into the driveway. 

You closed your eyes and breathed in deep, the scent of rain blowing in with the wind, and you were transported back to the last time you ever got to go chasing with Perry, Rebecca, and Lydia. 

Oh, how far you’d come since then. If you focused hard enough, you could almost hear Lydia’s musical voice as she told you how proud she was of you for conquering your fear. 

“Y’alright?” Rhett asked as he sauntered up to stand beside you. His hand rested upon the small of your back, and immediately, your body relaxed. 

“I’m fine. Just thinking about…” You trailed off, suddenly overcome with emotion. 

He already knew who you were talking about. “Yeah, me too,” he replied. 

You looked at him, watching as his eyes glimmered with melancholy. “They’d be proud of us,” you said. 

“I know it.” His lips brushed against your temple and you leaned into him, allowing him to hold you. A moment of peace before you set off right toward the face of danger. 

“We’re gonna be okay,” you whispered. 

He nuzzled his nose against yours. “Yeah, honeybee. We are.”

Thunder rumbled overhead, and you looked to the heavens, eyeing the sky. Something shifted within you. A strange pull in your gut, as if an invisible force was tugging at you. The air felt different. Thick, as if the walls of nature were closing in around you. 

The hair at the back of your neck stood on end. The storm was much closer than you realized. 

The sound of Zara’s truck pulling in stole your attention away from the sky, but you were met with a wave of dread when she climbed out of the vehicle. Her face was bleak. So was Jeslyn’s. Something was wrong. 

Danny pulled the RV to a stop directly behind the truck, and as he and Finn climbed out, they were as eager as ever, clearly unaware of whatever had happened with Zara. But their jovial attitude soon quieted when they saw the grim expression on their friend’s face.

“What’s wrong?” You were the one to ask the question, stepping forward, uncertain.

Zara sighed softly, dark lashes fluttering. She looked to be on the verge of tears. “On the way here, I got a call that my mom’s in the hospital. I don’t know all the details but, uh, my dad wants me and Jes to go see her, so it’s gotta be serious.” Her voice trembled as she spoke, thick with emotion.

“I’m so sorry,” you told her, instinctively reaching out to hug her. As soon as your arms wrapped around her, a soft sob escaped her throat, and she hugged you back tightly. 

“Thank you,” she whispered after a moment, pulling away to wipe her tears away with the back of her hand. The rest of the group rallied around her, with all three boys stepping in to give her hugs. She leaned back against Jeslyn, who then wrapped her arm around her wife’s shoulders.

“What d’ya need us to do? We’ll take care of everythin’. You’d better get on the road quick so you don’t caught in the storm,” Rhett piped up, ready to help with whatever the two women needed.

Zara was too overcome with emotion to speak, so Jeslyn spoke for her. “Somebody’s gonna need to man the remote for opening the tanks, since Danny and Finn are gonna be busy with the radar.”

You stood there for a moment, realization washing over you. With Rhett busy driving, and Danny and Finn running the radar, the responsibility to open the tanks fell on you. A shock of anxiety ran through your chest. Did you have the courage to do this? You’d already guided Rhett on where to drop the tanks, but now, you would also be responsible for opening the tanks at the exact second. No sooner, no later. 

Suddenly, it felt so overwhelming. If you estimated right, you could potentially be the first person in history to stop a tornado. If you didn’t, everything Zara and the guys had worked so hard for could all be for naught. 

But you could feel everyone’s eyes on you, awaiting your answer with bated breath. Lightning cracked across the distant sky. Thunder rolled.

“I’ll do it,” you said.

“Thank you so much,” Jeslyn breathed, already turning to open the passenger side door of her truck. She rifled inside for a moment before she turned toward you again, thrusting the remote into your hand. “I know you won’t let us down.”

The pressure was on.

“Alright then, you two go on to the hospital, be with your mom. We can handle everything else,” Finn said, shooting a reassuring smile at the girls. 

“Thanks, guys,” Zara finally managed to say, deep brown eyes still swimming with tears. “Really.”

“We got you,” Danny said as he pulled her in for another hug. The rest of you followed suit. 

As she guided Zara into the truck, Jeslyn spoke over her shoulder, “Be safe, guys. Let us know how it goes.”

“We will. Drive careful, alright?” Rhett was the one to answer her. 

The four of you watched for a moment as the girls drove down the driveway, but you couldn’t afford to remain there for long. The clock was ticking, and it was time to spring into action. With hearts heavy for the sudden grief Zara and Jeslyn were dealing with, all of you set to work preparing for the chase.

The wind picked up as you headed to the barn, where Rhett’s truck was parked, to load all the cans onto the trailer. Danny pulled the RV up and Finn proceeded to open the storage hatch, revealing the cans of CO₂ and nitrogen.

As you scrambled like a bunch of worker ants, the atmosphere grew even darker around you. Eerily so, as if God Himself had turned off the sun. While the guys strapped the tanks down, you paused, stepping out into the open to look at the sky once again.

Goosebumps creeped along your arms, and a pit of dread formed in your belly, heavy like a rock. You took a few steadying breaths. The clouds looked angry. Black and foreboding, churning with unkempt energy. 

And then, as if the veil between heaven and earth had been torn asunder, an alarmingly large bolt of lightning struck the earth in the not so distant west pasture. The crash of thunder that followed was so violent it reverberated through the very marrow of your bones. 

You jumped back in fright, eyes wide as saucers. “Oh my god.”

“Damn, that was close,” Rhett called out, voice trembling slightly. 

You turned to him, and when he saw the look on your face, his brow furrowed in concern. You were speaking before you even realized you’d formed a thought. “It’s…it’s going to hit the farm. The twister, it’s–it’s gonna touch down here.”

The three men stared at you.

“How do you know that? Storm hasn’t even started yet,” Danny interjected, running a hand through his windswept salt and pepper hair. 

“I-I don’t…” You trailed off, your heart leaping in your throat as your phone began to vibrate wildly in your pocket. You slipped it from the confines of your jeans and stared at the screen. Tornado Warning. Seek Shelter Immediately.

There was no way of being absolutely certain that the twister would touch down on this exact property, but something in your gut was screaming at you. Danger, danger, danger. After what you had lost six years ago, you weren’t going to take any chances by dismissing the warning you’d just received. 

You locked eyes with Rhett. 

“Alright boys, let’s get movin’!” He shouted at Danny and Finn. 

Finn nodded. “Okay! We’ll fire up the radar and get out a little further from you guys so we can monitor it. We’ll be on the walkies with ya the whole time!”

The two were already scrambling to climb into the RV. As they sped off, you joined Rhett at the front of the Sierra. “‘Fore we go, I’m gon’ check on Mom and Dad, make sure they know to get in the shelter.” They were likely already aware, but Rhett wanted to make doubly sure they were okay.

It was late afternoon, and chores were mostly done for the day. Cecilia was likely starting on dinner preparations, while Amy did her homework at the kitchen table. A scene you had witnessed many times. 

But when Rhett came to a screeching halt just outside the house, his parents were already making their way outside, Cecilia clutching a bag of emergency supplies. Her face was full of fear, and your heart leapt in your chest, because somehow, you knew her fear wasn’t because of the approaching storm. 

“Oh, thank god!” The woman called out, rushing down the porch steps, her husband hot on her heels. “I thought you’d left already!”

“Wanted to make sure y’ got to the shelter safely!” Rhett responded over the rumble of the engine and the rush of the wind.

But his mother shook her head. “Amy went out for a walk an hour ago and she hasn’t made it back!” The terror in her voice sent a chill down your spine.

Rhett tensed beside you, but remained calm. “We’ll look for ‘er.”

“You be careful, y’hear?” Royal spoke up, “and you find our girl.”

“Please,” Cecilia echoed, reaching out to touch her son’s arm. She couldn’t utter another word, for her trepidation had rendered her speechless. 

“We’ll bring her home, Momma.” No more loss would be suffered in this family. Rhett would make sure of it. 

As his parents quickly made their way to the storm shelter, Rhett stepped on the accelerator, turning the wheel sharply. Your heart leapt into your throat, and you reached up, grasping the ceiling handle to hold yourself steady. 

“Where would she have gone?” You asked, shivering from the fright and mounting adrenaline you felt. Your chest went tight. 

“She usually takes the trail behind th’ house. She knows not to stay out there alone when it’s stormin’. She might’ve just gotten spooked and found a hiding spot. She’s smart, she knows to hunker down during a twister.” But it sounded as if Rhett was trying to convince himself. Truthfully, he was terrified, praying silently that Amy was okay.

As he sped toward the property at the back of the house, he said, “Get on the walkie and let the guys know what’s goin’ on.”

With trembling hands, you grasped the handheld device and quickly spoke into it, explaining the situation. 

“We’ll be in our place. If you can’t get in position soon enough, just let us know and we’ll scrap the chase altogether. Over.”

“Okay! Over and out!” You replied, tossing the walkie down onto the truck seat, swallowing down the bitter taste of dread that had risen in your throat as you settled back against your seat.

Obviously, finding Amy took precedence over trying to catch a twister. Nothing else mattered in the moment. Your mind was clouded with urgency and desperation. Both of you were quite literally stricken, unable to form words as Rhett frantically drove, his eyes searching, his mouth moving silently around the syllables of his niece’s name. 

For a terrifying second, he was transported back to that terrible, awful day six years ago. It was an image that was branded into the folds of his brain forever, like the Abbott brand that his father imprinted onto all their cattle. 

If he happened upon the very same scene with his niece, it would break him irreparably. 

But he wouldn’t let his mind go there. Not now. Not when she needed him to find her, to save her, to protect her. “You see anythin’?!” He called to you, knuckles white around the steering wheel, shoulders pulled toward his ears. 

“No!” You exclaimed, not daring to take your eyes off of the surrounding plains, looking for a flash of golden hair, or the bright purple shirt you’d seen the girl wearing earlier. C’mon, baby girl. Give us a sign that you’re out there.

Rain had begun to pelt against the windshield of the truck. Around you, the wind picked up. Trees swayed in a haunting fashion, their leaves shivering, undersides turned toward the sky. A warning. Danger is coming.

“Goddammit, where is she?!” Rhett growled, slamming his palm against the dash in frustration. 

Nausea roiled in your gut. Your extremities felt numb, your body vibrating with unease. When had it gotten so hard to breathe? It felt as if someone was squeezing your lungs, inhibiting you from taking in oxygen. You were suffocating. Choking. Strangled by your anxiety. 

And then you saw it. Just over the ridge, where the earth dipped into a valley. Purple.

“There!” You cried, jamming your finger against the window, pointing into the distance. 

“What?!” Rhett couldn’t see anything. Whatever it was, was now hidden from view. But you knew you’d seen it. 

“Just turn right! Head for the valley! I swear I saw her!”

He yanked the wheel to the right, and the truck veered sideways, jostling you both. His foot was heavy on the accelerator, picking up speed, the uneven earth sending your heart straight down to your stomach.

Your gaze was locked straight ahead, afraid that if you looked away, you would miss it. Miss her. 

Closer, closer, closer to the valley you got. Just up ahead, you could see that the earth gave way, sloping down into a dropoff. “Stop!”

Rhett slammed on the brakes, and the very second he threw the truck into park, you were leaping out, feet landing against grassy earth before you sprinted forward. He followed suit, running alongside you toward the drop.

Just as you came down into the edge of the valley, you saw her. Huddled down against the cleft of earth, arms over her head, frightened and alone. Rhett dashed ahead of you, calling out the girl’s name, dropping to his knees beside her.

She lifted her head, large eyes growing wider still. “Uncle Rhett!” She wept, instantly surging forward to throw her arms around his neck. 

“I’ve got ya, honey! Let’s get y’outta here!” He scooped her up with ease, cradling her close as he stood to his feet. He nodded toward you, and you both ran back up to the truck. 

You threw yourself into the passenger seat and turned, allowing him to guide Amy up into your lap. You hooked your arm around her waist and pulled her toward you so he could slam the door shut. 

“Are you okay?!” You asked her, searching her over for any injuries. 

“I am!” She answered, bottom lip quivering, eyes filled with tears. 

“You scared us so bad, darlin’!” Rhett exclaimed as he hurriedly climbed into his own seat, slamming the door shut. 

“I’m sorry!” She cried. “I was trying to get back but got really scared that I wouldn’t make it to the shelter in time, so I got into that ditch!”

“You did the right thing,” you assured her, tucking her windswept hair behind her ear. She nodded, throwing herself forward, face buried against your neck as she cried. 

But the moment of relief was soon stolen from you as the sound of hail began to strike the roof of the Sierra. Rhett grabbed the walkie-talkie and called into it, “We found ‘er! We’re on the move again, y’got a read on what we’re dealin’ with?! Over!”

There was no time to waste. Either you got moving, or you were sitting ducks. 

But Finn’s reply came through the receiver as an unintelligible, garbled mess. Rhett tried to raise him again, but once again, all he was met with was static. “Shit,” he cursed, tossing the walkie down onto the seat. He turned to you, and his eyes were alight with worry. “We’re goin’ in blind.” 

At that very moment, the hail stopped. With a trembling hand, you opened the window, holding your arm outside. The air felt thick and humid, but an odd sort of coolness came along the edge of the wind. 

And then you looked up. 

“Oh my god.”

There it was. Enormous and foreboding, a wicked twister breaking forth from the sky, touching down in the pasture adjacent to you.

“It’s going toward the house!” Came your despaired shout. 

Eyes wide, Rhett sprung into action, slamming the gearshift into drive and wedging his boot against the gas pedal. “Jesus!” He shouted. “Hold on, y’hear?!” The truck lurched forward, gradually picking up speed, faster and faster, staying parallel to the quickly developing tornado. 

You couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t speak. With Amy huddled against you, you blindly reached out, grabbing for the remote to open the tanks, knowing you needed to be ready, lest you miss your opportunity. 

It was close. Too close. Gaining traction by the minute, swallowing up the surrounding earth, kicking up debris along with it. If you didn’t get out of its path, you knew that the three of you likely would not survive. 

Rhett brought the truck to the highest possible speed, fighting to keep control, body rigid against the seat. “Tell me when to drop the tanks!” Came his desperate plea. 

But your voice wouldn’t come. Your throat felt as if it had closed up, forcing you to remain silent. It wasn’t time, not yet. You were too close. If he slowed down, it would steal precious time. Time that you didn’t have. 

You found yourself in a precarious position, trying to comfort the scared girl beside you, while also counting down the seconds in your head, hoping Rhett would find a safe distance. Part of you wondered if this was it, if you’d end up like your three friends once had.

Somehow, your voice returned, and you yelled, “Take a left!” 

He did, veering in the direction you told him to. Amy shrieked in fear as the truck shook violently. You tugged her closer, bringing her head to your chest, free hand covering her ear to muffle the sounds happening around her. 

Your eyes, wild and alert, stayed glued to the churning column of air, now behind you. The size of it made your blood run cold. Could you really stop one this big? Was this even possible? Were you simply speed-running your own demise? 

“Talk to me!” Came Rhett’s voice in your ears. 

“Not yet!”

He kept his speed, pushing the old Sierra as fast as it would go, faster than he’d ever driven in his life. His ears were ringing. His breathing was ragged. Everything in his body told him that he needed to get you and Amy out of this situation. 

But he pressed on, waiting for the exact moment you told him to drop the trailer.

And then, “Now!”

He brought the truck to a screeching halt, arm darting out to keep you and Amy from flying forward. As soon as he knew he was in position, he jammed his fingers into the button in the center console, securing the trailer into the ground.

Then, he flipped the switch to release the hitch. 

But nothing happened. 

“What the hell?” He flipped it again, but it simply wouldn’t work. 

“Rhett, what–” 

He was already unbuckling his belt. “Stay put! I’ve gotta unhitch it!”

He wrenched his door open and jumped out of the truck, to your utter horror. Amy sat up, frantically calling his name, fearful of her uncle’s fate. You watched him like a hawk, breath bated, hackles raised. 

And then, all at once, a large piece of flying debris sailed through the air, and before he could react, it clipped him right in the head, and he went down.

Your world tilted on its axis.

“No!” You shrieked. You threw your door open and told Amy to stay in the truck as you hurdled yourself into the storm, wind pulling at your clothes, a powerful, uncontrollable force that could very well rip you right out of existence if it chose to do so.

“Rhett!” His name came out as a broken wail. Your mind only allowed you to think one thing: oh my god, he’s dead, he’s dead, he’s dead.

But then, hope.

“Here!” He was scrambling to his feet, knees almost buckling under his weight as he fought to pull himself uptight along the side of the truck. His head was bleeding, crimson flowing down the side of his face. But he was alive. 

“Baby!” You threw yourself at him, grasping his face, searching his eyes. “I thought–”

“I know! I’m fine! Get back in the truck!”

But you weren’t leaving him out here. You shook your head in refusal and, instead, aided him in unhitching the trailer from the truck. It took both of you giving it your full strength before it finally gave way.

Hair flying every which way, face bloodied, he locked eyes with you and said, “We got it! Let’s go!”

Fighting against the roaring, screaming, howling tempest, you ran like hell to the passenger side, hoisting yourself into the Sierra. Rhett made it into the driver’s seat and slammed the door shut before he frantically threw the gear in drive and peeled off, leaving the trailer behind. 

With one hand holding Amy’s, and the other clutching the remote, you turned in your seat, waiting for the exact moment to press the release button. Closer and closer, the twister raged on, devouring space and time, threatening to consume Rhett’s childhood home. 

You’re not taking anything or anyone else away from me.

You jammed your thumb into the button as hard as you could, praying silently that the tanks would open without issue. Five, four, three, two, one…

The twister concealed the tanks, inhibiting your view. You had no idea if what you’d just done was even working. Even so, you called out, “I opened the tanks!”

Rhett’s knuckles were white as snow as he clutched the steering wheel, and in a split second decision, probably the most foolish one he’d ever made, he turned at the last possible moment, swinging the truck so that it was parallel to the twister. And then, he thrust his foot onto the brake pedal, and the vehicle came to a shuddering halt.

Both of you turned, eyes on the tornado. You reached out, grabbing for Rhett’s hand, fingers intertwining, holding on for dear life. He moved quickly, his body shielding yours and Amy’s. If things went south, he could not protect you, not from this, but he’d be damned if he didn’t try.

Together, you watched, not daring to breathe, move, or speak. 

Seconds passed, but they might as well have been hours. Then, all at once, the sky swallowed the twister whole, pulling it right back from whence it came, and the earth was silent.

You let out the breath you’d been holding. So did Rhett. Amy tentatively lifted her head from where it had been hidden against your chest. You turned your head, face full of disbelief, meeting Rhett’s gaze.

You saw that, right?

“Did we just…”

His mouth broke into a grin, though his lips were stained red from the blood that had been running down the side of his face. “Yeah, we fuckin’ did!”

You slapped your hand over your mouth, unable to hold in the laugh of utter disbelief that tore from your throat. Amy asked a question, but you barely heard her, for you were too overwhelmed. Once again, you opened the truck door, sliding from the seat, feet on stable ground.

You walked past the truck. Into the field. Toward the trailer that still remained in the place you had dropped it. And there were the tanks of CO₂ and nitrogen, valves open. It had really worked, hadn’t it?

You felt like a firework exploding in the sky, so full of color and light. Tears welled in your eyes, and you found yourself turning around, searching for Rhett. He was there, just like he always was, watching you in awe, his gaze as warm as the sun.

“We did it,” you whispered, legs already moving, body drawn to him by an invisible force, unable to be apart from him for a second longer. You were free-falling, trusting him to catch you. And he did, arms pulling you into him, holding you close, hand cradling the back of your head.  

It all came pouring out of you then. The elation at what you’d just accomplished. The realization that your fear had been well and truly conquered. The thought of just how proud Perry, Rebecca, and Lydia would be. If it was possible to feel joy, disbelief, and sorrow all at once, you felt every bit of it. 

It was raw and painful and beautiful. 

You sobbed into Rhett’s chest, body trembling, knees almost buckling. He gently rocked you back and forth, arms secured tightly around you, holding you as if you were the most precious thing in the entire world. 

“We’re okay, honeybee. We did it. You did it.” He, too, could not hold his tears back. They poured down his face, onto the top of your head, as the two of you stood there, holding one another, weeping openly.

Moments later, Amy’s voice could be heard, calling out to you. You parted from Rhett, turning to see the girl approaching, holding the walkie-talkie in her hand. “This keeps going off!” She exclaimed, waving the device around.

Rhett stepped forward, reaching for the walkie. As he tried to raise Danny and Finn on the channel, you opened your arms, and Amy surged forward into your embrace. 

“You okay, sweetheart?” You asked her.

“Y-yeah,” she said with a nod. “That was so scary! But you stopped it, didn’t you? It worked?”

You managed a smile, despite your tear-dampened cheeks. “Yes. It worked!”

She grinned widely, her eyes sparkling. “Oh, that’s so cool! You stopped a tornado! I bet you’re the first person in the world to do it!”

Though, you couldn’t entirely take credit for it. After all, you’d only pressed the button. It was Zara’s brainchild. However, you were elated that you had been given the opportunity to put it into action, and see the results up close and personal. 

“We did it, boys!” Rhett shouted into the walkie, his voice drawing your attention back to him. “We stopped our first twister!”

The sound of hooping and hollering could be heard on the other end, and you found yourself beaming, a sense of all-consuming joy washing over you. The look of pure, unadulterated glee on Rhett’s face made your heart sing, threatening to soar right out of your chest and into the clouds above.

“We’re comin’ to you, so stay put!” Finn shouted over the receiver.

“Over and out!” Rhett responded. Carelessly, he tossed the walkie-talkie aside, letting it thud against the soft earth. Then he was running at Amy, lifting her into his arms and spinning her around as she squealed with delight. “We did it, honey!”

“Yeah!” She laughed musically, throwing her head back, hair flying behind her. 

As he slowed to a stop, he gently put her down, but he swayed a little, unsteady on his feet. Instinctively, you reached out to steady him.

“Whoa there, cowboy.” You tilted his chin up, inspecting the gash on his head. It was right above his temple, and it looked rather deep. “You need stitches.”

“Naw, I’ll be fine,” he protested with the wave of his hand. 

“You’re bleeding from a gash in your head. You’re getting stitches.” Your tone left no room for discussion. 

Rhett simply shut his mouth and nodded. In the moment, hopped up on adrenaline, he couldn’t feel it. But now, it was beginning to throb, and he felt a little woozy on his feet. Even so, he simply couldn’t wipe the smile off his face.

It felt as if he was living in a dream. He was afraid to pinch himself, for fear that he would actually wake up. However, the warmth of your body against his as you wrapped your arm around his waist was real. Your sweet voice, full of concern as you fussed over his bloodied face, was real. You were real. 

“Here they come!” Amy called out, motioning to the approaching RV. Danny was driving at full speed, clearly eager to reach the two of you. 

Still pressed against Rhett’s side, you turned your head, raising a hand in greeting. As soon as the vehicle came to a halt, both men jumped out, hooping and hollering. 

“We thought for sure you guys were goners!” Finn exclaimed as the two jogged toward you. “We lost your signal and couldn’t see you anywhere!”

“Honestly, we thought we were goners, too,” Rhett replied with honesty as he exchanged a knowing look with you. You placed your hand over his heart. You were both here. Alive and safe. The Fates had smiled down on you today.

“Damn, look at your head,” Danny spoke up, eyeing the wound. “Y’alright, man?”

“Yeah. The trailer jammed and I had to jump out and get it unhooked. Got clipped in the head while I was doin’ it.”

“Hey, what matters is you survived. And you stopped a fuckin’ twister, baby!” Finn shouted. Then, upon noticing Amy’s presence, he winced. “Whoops, sorry kiddo. Guess I should watch my potty mouth.”

Amy grinned as she came up beside you, lovingly taking hold of your arm. “It’s okay, just don’t let Gramma hear you talk that way,” she said with a giggle.

You smiled down at her, but very quickly sobered up when you thought of her grandparents. “We’d better go check on your parents,” you told Rhett. However, just as you spoked, the sound of an approaching truck grabbed your attention. 

All of you looked across the pasture to see Royal’s old truck approaching. As soon as he came to a stop, Cecilia was all but leaping out of the cab, Amy’s name on her lips as she rushed toward the group.

“Gramma! I’m okay!” Amy called out, rushing to her grandmother. 

You watched, verklempt, as the woman dropped to her knees in front of her granddaughter. Her entire world. “Oh! You had us scared half to death, you hear me?! Don’t you ever do that again!” She scolded, though there was no malice in her tone. She pulled the child to her bosom and hugged her tightly. Amy hugged her right back.

Moments later, Royal joined his wife, and Amy pulled away to hug her grandfather, arms wrapping around his middle. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head, never one for dramatic shows of emotion. 

Cecilia rose to her feet again, and finally took in the sight of the four of you. Her eyes fell upon her son, and she stepped forward, concern clouding her face. “Goodness, Rhett. Your head!” She approached, gripping his chin and turning his face so she could get a closer look. “You need stitches!”

His mouth curved into a soft smile, though his eyes shone with tears. “I’ll get ‘em, Mom. Don’t worry ‘bout me.”

She patted his cheek, her bottom lip quivering. “I’m your mother. I’ll always worry about you.” Without a word, Rhett broke away from you so that he could embrace her, strong arms wrapping around the woman who had given him life.

He thought of all she’d lost. She had endured the worst loss that anyone could suffer, and yet, she was the picture of strength and grace. He was so grateful for the mother he had. He knew that he put her through a lot by choosing to chase, after that very same thing had been what took her oldest son from her. And yet, she never once told Rhett to give up what he loved, even if it scared her to no end. 

“I love you,” he heard himself whisper. 

As she pulled away, she patted his chest and nodded, unable to voice her reply. But he already knew what she’d say. I love you too. 

And then he lifted his head to see his father approaching. Royal eyed the gash on his son’s head, and proceeded to clasp his shoulder. “You did it, boy. You fin’lly did it.”

Rhett grinned. “Nah. She did it.” He pointed to you, pride evident on his face. 

You came up beside him, and he tucked you against his side once again. “We did it,” you corrected. There was no you without him.

“Well, because of you, the farm’s safe, and so’s Amy. And I just know that Perry and the girls would be so proud of what you two did today,” Cecilia spoke out, smiling tearfully. She pulled you in for a hug, which you gratefully accepted. 

You cherished the significance of the moment, body warm with pride and disbelief at the accomplishment you had just witnessed. 

“Can we get ice cream to celebrate?” Amy’s voice suddenly rang out over the low chatter of the group. Her eagerness pulled an amused laugh out of everyone.

“First, Uncle Rhett needs to get his head sewn shut. But yes, we can get ice cream,” Cecilia promised. The girl excitedly pumped her fist in satisfaction.

“I’m taking you to the hospital,” you told Rhett, slipping out from beneath his arm.

“So that means I ain’t drivin’?” He asked.

“Are you kidding me? Absolutely not.” Then you turned to Danny and Finn. “You two want to get ice cream with us after I get this guy put back together again?”

“Yeah, sure,” Danny said, nodding his head. “First we’re gonna check on the tanks and see if Zara’s up for a talk so we can let her know what happened.”

“Just give us a call once you head to the ice cream place and we’ll meet you there,” Finn echoed. “We’ve got so much to do. We…we really stopped a twister. We’ve got phone calls to make. We need to get a grant from OU. We need to see if we can start testing this out on a wider scale. I mean, holy shit, this is, like, history making stuff here!”

Danny clapped him on the back. “Hey now, don’t get ahead of yourself. We’ll figure all that out.” He looked at you and Rhett and smiled. “You focus on gettin’ our cowboy stitched up. We’ll talk everything else over later.”

You hummed, shooting him a smile. “Sure thing. See you guys in a bit.”

As the two men ambled off toward the trailer to inspect the tanks, you turned to guide Rhett to the truck. Cecilia and Royal were already guiding Amy into their own vehicle to depart, which left the two of you alone.

“C’mon now, let’s get you fixed up.”

Rhett smiled as you led him toward the passenger side, and as you opened the door, he leaned toward you. “Can you believe it?” He asked. 

It was your turn to smile, and you shook your head. “No. I really can’t.” It was truly unfathomable, the thing that you had done that day. Stopping a weather phenomenon in its tracks. It was impossible. Improbable. And yet, with Zara’s genius invention, and the rest of the team’s help, you’d made it happen. 

“You’re fuckin’ amazing, you know that?”

You rolled your eyes as you nudged him to climb into the truck. “Far from it. I just pressed a button.”

Once the door was shut, he leaned out the open window, arms resting atop the door. “No. You did so much more than that. You go from bein’ fuckin’ terrified of twisters, to conquering one of ‘em. Pretty amazing if y’ask me.”

Ducking your head shyly, your lashes fluttered before you looked up at him again. When he lowered down to kiss you, you let him. “I’m proud of you, girl.”

His praise was all you needed to hear.

With a soft sigh, you rounded the truck and climbed into the driver’s seat. You started the engine and then moved to buckle your seatbelt, making sure Rhett’s was also buckled, before you set off across the property, toward the main road.

For the entire ride to the hospital, his hand rested comfortingly upon your thigh. You let it stay there.

Once you arrived at the emergency room, it did not take long at all for them to call him back, his head wound making him a priority. Around you, people chatted about the storm, and how they’d seen a twister touch down nearby. Little did they know that the reason it stopped was because of what you had done. 

Rhett was given a total of four stitches in his head. Though he was entirely fine with needles, you still held his hand during the procedure. He didn’t push you away. In fact, he was grateful for your presence. It made him feel at ease. 

Afterward, once he was all stitched up and ready to go, you walked out of the hospital, with his arm around your shoulder, and yours around his waist. “Let’s get you some ice cream, cowboy,” you said.

“I like the sound of that.” He replied.

If only for a short time, you let go of everything. The stress and the fright that you had endured that day. The worry, the uncertainty, and everything else. You let yourselves celebrate an astonishing victory with the people you loved, enjoying ice cream cones, reliving happy memories, and telling stories of storm chases gone by.

And you realized, as you sat around the table at the very same ice cream parlor you had gone to after Rhett’s extraordinary ride at the rodeo, that you were entering into a brand-new chapter. Everything was going to change after this, and you welcomed that change with open arms.

It was time to start living your life.

Epilogue

One Year Later

“S’that the last box, honeybee?” Rhett’s voice rang out through the house, reaching your ears from where you stood in the hallway.

“Yeah, that’s everything!” You called back.

His footsteps were heavy on the rickety old staircase, taking the steps two at a time. He found you standing in the doorway of what was now your shared bedroom. He couldn’t hide the smile that tugged at his mouth at the sight of you, so effortlessly beautiful, and all his.

“Hey there,” he murmured, hooking an arm around your waist and pulling you close. You melted into him, body warm and familiar. 

“You’re sweaty,” you stated, and he hummed in amusement. 

“Yeah, well, draggin’ eight hundred boxes into the house will do that to a body,” he replied.

“You’re exaggerating.”

“Me? Exaggerate? Never,” came his faux shocked reply.

You turned in his arms then, placing your hands against his solid chest. Sweat glimmered on his brow, which you reached up to wipe away, letting your fingers wander to the faint scar just above his temple. A reminder of the day you had made history. “Can you believe we’re finally here?”

He shook his head, ducking his head to kiss your nose. “Been waitin’ for this moment for so long. A place t’ call our own.”

What a journey it had been. After the success of stopping the twister the year prior, you had made the decision to leave your job in Silver Spring and move back to Wabang. You didn’t want to endure a long distance relationship with Rhett. If you were going to invite him back into your life, there would be no miles between you ever again.

You decided to buy your great-aunt’s house after you’d cleaned it out. But the place had been in need of many repairs. After many months of hard work, the house was finally ready for you to move in. And what a joyous occasion it was. You were filled with hope, and excitement for the future.

Things were looking very promising for you both. Your background in weather analyzation had landed you a job at the University of Oklahoma, overseeing the field-testing of various weather related devices. The university had bestowed a grant to Zara’s team, funding any further research into the use of CO₂ and nitrogen used to slow and stop tornadoes. 

Unfortunately, Zara had been unable to be as involved as she wanted to be with the project. After the initial health scare that had taken her and Jeslyn away from the chase you’d gone on a year ago, Zara’s mother had been diagnosed with cancer, leaving Zara and Jeslyn to move into her parents home to help her father care for the woman. 

In her absence, she asked you to supervise any and all chases involving her method of tornado taming, and you gladly accepted the responsibility, willing to help her in any way possible as she endured this difficult time.

As for Rhett, he was recruited by the university to test storm chasing vehicles that might be used in future weather projects. He was able to take each of them into the field to see how they performed under acute weather conditions. No vehicle passed inspection without his stamp of approval. 

Both of you had been through so much. Loss, grief, fear and uncertainty. There would always be a void in your hearts, a permanent ache whenever you remembered the three people that had been ripped from your lives so many years ago. You would never forget them, and you would honor the memory of Perry, Rebecca, and Lydia in everything you did. 

But now, it seemed that there was a light shining at the end of the long, dark tunnel. You were moving into your very first home together. You were truly, deeply content, and you were able to do what you loved, side by side. 

What more could you have ever asked for?

The vibration of Rhett’s phone in the pocket of his jeans cut through the air at that very moment, interrupting your peaceful exchange. Quickly, he slipped the phone out of his pocket, glancing at the screen.

As if on cue, thunder rumbled in the distance.

“Let me guess, it’s Danny,” you said.

Rhett grinned, turning the screen so you could read the text. Storm’s moving in! Y’all ready to wrangle some twisters?

“Well then, I guess we should get a move on, huh cowboy?”

He stole another kiss from your lips before he grasped your hand. “Guess so, cowgirl.” Then you were off, hand in hand, rushing down the steps. 

As you scrambled out the door, the feeling of heavy, humid air immediately engulfed you, and you breathed in deeply, relishing in the scent. A storm’s a brewin’.

But you weren’t afraid. Far from it. You were eager, heart pounding against your rib cage in anticipation. Oh, how far you’d come. What had once terrified you now exhilarated you. 

“Ready, honeybee?” Rhett asked you as you climbed into the truck. 

With a confident nod, you replied, “As I’ll ever be. Let’s go own the sky, baby!”

Fin.