#i was once again complimented on my music taste so I’m feeling very arrogant

[wickedhawtwexler]

i found out the guy i have a crush on asked out another girl from karaoke so lol i guess he’s not into me. i am giving up on being attracted to people ❤️

[bestruction]

How it’d be to watch animes with them

A/N: While i’m working on my Mikasa x reader royal au, this little idea came to my mind. I tried to put the links when i mentioned a specific scene and speak a little about the anime in case you don’t know it.  So here it’s: 

Warnings: Me exposing my otaku self, mentions of 18+ animes (Not hentais) 

Eren -  Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai: Tensai-tachi no Renai Zunousen (13+)

A / N: The main characters like each other, but none wants to confess because being the person who takes the first step would also represent being the defeated person. The anime develops in a series of plans that both elaborate to make the other confess their love.

Warnings: None

It was his idea to watch an anime together since the two of you liked it a lot. You saw no harm and agreed to go to sleep with your boyfriend on Friday night. So, you would have the dawn and the weekend to see everything.

“We could watch One piece! Everybody likes"

“In three days ?! We will not finish even if we do not take breaks ”

"Naruto then?"

“Haven't you seen it all five times or more?

"But it is a classic!"

"It is also too long!"

He would sulk when he saw you reject each of his suggestions for being too big animes. The truth was, he was trying to convince you to stay longer. After much searching in the catalog, you choose to watch a short comedy of 12 episodes.

Biggest mistake ever

Eren is already annoying by nature, and after watching Kaguya-sama's two seasons he would spend the day and night trying to get you to confess to him EVEN IF YOU'VE BEEN IN LOVE FOR TWO YEARS AND HE HAS BEEN THE FIRST TO DECLARE. HIT HIM, PLEASE.

"Do you think that using such a low trick will make me give in?"

“Eren, I just got out of the shower. What trick? Wear an outfit? ”

“Showing off your skin won't make you win”

If you wanted to play with him, great. You are going to spend the day in this little game until he gets tired and just hugs you or something because he can't spend a lot of time without touching you. But if you didn't want to, just you could use that touchy side of him against him too.

"Maybe I shouldn't show you anything else then"

"Yes, of course, do- Wait what?"

"You heard"

“NO, BABE! YOU WON! I CONFESS! I LOVE YOU"

Watching anime with him would be quite an experience. For being very verbal, Eren would be the type of person who doesn't shut up watching anything. Especially, something that makes him laugh. You would see him laughing out loud and throwing himself back on the couch or on you, whether you were with him or not. You may even complain, but it would be fun to see him react to everything as immediately and naturally as an unfiltered child.

He will sing ALL the openings for the rest of the days around the house until you are humming some without realizing it.

For some reason, can I imagine him doing Chika dance ?? Yes, please film this big bear dancing like a little girl.

Levi - Death parade 

A / N: Do you want to cry and hurt yourself? This is the right place. Death Parade is a story about what happens after death. The characters are sent to mysterious bars where they will be judged to decide the fate of the souls themselves. (18+)

Warnings: Suicide, depressive themes, mentions of rape and domestic violence

I don't see Levi watching many animes. In fact, I don't see him watching much anything at all. He would be the type of person who can't spend a lot of time in front of the television without feeling like he's wasting time. Which would result in a very selective and demanding taste.

He would always read the reviews about the film, and after watching it, he would make his own. Ever. No exceptions. Unlike Impossible-to-be-quiet-Eren, Levi would be silent to be able to capture and understand all the details. This is interesting because getting his attention is a difficult task. But once it's done, he is 100% focused on the story and immersed in the characters.

So, after reading about it, he would agree to watch Death Parade with you.

He would have low expectations at first, and if the anime failed to hold his very difficult attention in three episodes, he wouldn't even try with the rest.

So when in the first episode, all suspense and doubts left to the viewer entered Ackerman's head, he would finish the other 11 without realizing it.

As a rational person, he would love things that make him think and reflect on the proposed theme. In the case: Life and death.

For some reason, I imagine him as someone who would like to study and read philosophy as a hobby and that he would love Nietzsche? So, you could expect deep conversations after each episode.

But without any arrogance, humanity's strongest soldier might not be the most talkative man in humanity, but surely when he opened his mouth to it, it wouldn’t be to show himself off with something that he knows and you don’t. On the contrary, he would be more than happy to explain if you asked and added your opinion.

He wouldn't cry, but he would be touched by the way the emotions were shown and created in the characters.

He would probably see the scene where Decim cries more than once for being impressed with how the pain of a character who is supposedly not flesh and blood is expressed so well.

And after the anime is over, you would always see him listening to the music of the ice skating scene around the house while doing something.

When you were finished watching everything, you would talk again about the anime. You lying on his chest and he touching his hair, smelling him.

"Do you believe in reincarnation, Levi?"

“If so, I wouldn't go back to this shit a second time. No matter what they offered me ”

"Levi!"

"Unless it was to have you again"

“What a cliché” He would roll his eyes after hearing your response “But I like clichés”

Again, he wouldn't cry, but he would be thinking about how ephemeral things can be, including being alive. Then you can expect a more touchy Levi for a few days.

Jean - Banana Fish 

N / A: Another one to cry and get hurt. Banana Fish is way more than just a story about one character just is hard to define. So in case, you didn’t watch it, here’s the trailer. (18+)

warnings: pedophilia, rape, violence, drugs, your heart being destroyed

You know that guy who says that no yaoi is good, it's just a way to feed a bunch of fujoshi and stuff like that? Jean. It's him. I just know it. So when you suggested Banana Fish and said it was a BL / yaoi, he would probably laugh and ignore the idea.

But after insisting a little and showing him the many compliments that both the anime and the manga received, he would accept.

At first, he wouldn't pay much attention. He really thought it would be just another bad anime. But by the end of the first episode, he would be too involved in the story to stop.

I think he would love crime novels for the same reason that Levi: To think. Try to find out how things are going to end and pick up any clues that the author has left about the ending. So the plot would hold him so much because he would make a ton of theories about the end.

He will ship Ash and Eiji with all his soul. I mean, how can he not ship? To see an anime in which the physical touch between the couple doesn't really happen and still builds a well-developed and healthy relationship would be a new experience for him.

Jean is somewhat similar to Eren in this respect. So you can expect to see him huffing in anger, cursing one of the characters, throwing a pillow away, or using it to hide a tear or two that he would let go of you. The kind of person who gets emotionally involved with the things he watches.

He would cry an entire river after watching the last episode and deny it later.

“I was not crying. The cushion fabric made my eyes itch a lot ”

Show him again and he will cry the same amount and intensity

Armin - Haikyuu

A / N: Considering all the texts on Tumblr for haikyuu characters, I’m pretty sure you know what anime it’s lol (10+)

Armin is an otaku with a license card and no one can change my mind. He would probably start watching it as a child. So, his first animes would be everyone's classics: Naruto, Dragon Ball Z, Bleach, etc.

So it would be normal that as the vast majority, he would continue to have a preference for shounen when he grew up. So it would be your idea to see Haikyuu.

He would have low expectations because he thought it would be just another anime with cute characters for everyone to be thirsty as an inverted harem. And also because the synopsis does not create a strong impression, especially for those who consume shounen daily.

"So we are just gonna see a little boy trying to catch a ball?"

“It's gonna be good! Everyone is talking about it now ”

"Does he have some superpower?"

"No"

"Something scary?"

"Armin, just give a chance!"

He would like it. Did I say he would like it? Because he would love it. The atmosphere created and well developed with such a simple plot would hold his attention well. (Is it possible to dislike Hinata in the first episode?)

It would be a great anime for him to watch because 1. It is different from what he usually sees. Unlike shounen, Haikyuu deals only with real and tangible scenarios. Of course, still with that touch of anime, but it is very easy to recognize yourself in the characters and learn from them and therefore reflect on yourself as well.

It would be great to make him think about his own insecurities and how most of them were inside his head.

He would be so immersed in the anime universe that he would have to pause the game scenes because he would be too nervous waiting for the ball to fall.

You will probably see him taking a deep breath in each drawing scene of the characters and see him truly cheering for the team as if it were a real national game.

More than that, you will see his eyes full of tears when Yamaguchi hit the serve in the match against Aoba johsai.

In fact, Yamaguchi would be his favorite character. No discussions.

"I said it would be good"

"Shut up"

"Make me"

Mikasa - Heaven’s official blessing 

A / N: I'm going to leave the trailer here because I don't know how to define it very well. It's a novel, but the story doesn't focus ONLY on that. (14+)

Okay, you didn't suggest. She did not suggest. So how do you end up watching together? You catch her watching when you come home by surprise lol

Until then, you would know that she watched some anime, but nothing romantic. Never. In fact, that was her little secret.

Although common sense is that Mikasa would be cold even in a modern au (and I agree in parts). I think she would be the type of person who loves to see the sweetest and softest things to melt alone on the couch without anyone seeing. A moment for herself and a part of her that she would not show to anyone.

You would already know about her romantic side, but seeing her under the covers sighing while watching the Netflix special episode is a totally different story.

Please don’t mock her!!. She would be red enough by the time she was discovered.

When she was less shy, she would ask if you want to watch with her. She would say she saw no problem watching it with you again since doing it with you would be a different experience.

If you accept, you would spend the rest of the night in the room sharing a blanket and absorbing the soft atmosphere, the soundtrack, and the Chinese culture so present in history.

She would not speak a lot because she was paying attention, but she would hug you all the time. In the romantic scenes, she would tighten her arms around you a little and sometimes left a kiss on your shoulder.

I think she could relate to Hua Cheng's way of loving. He is always there to protect, care for and see his lover even if sometimes Xie Lian doesn't even know.

And that is what she wants to show you, that more than a girlfriend, she is also someone you can count on.

Days later, you will see her reading the rest of the work around the house because she couldn't stand to wait for a second season.

And later, SURELY melting and vibrating while watching Mo Dao Zu Shi.

[nincompoopydoo]

LOVE IS STRANGE

PAIRING: Poe Dameron x reader WORD COUNT: 1.9k SUMMARY: The union of Ireca and Mohash may seem a typical cliche of love in comparison to your depressingly lonely state, but when a certain poster boy pilot emerges during the celebration, you wonder if love works in other underlying ways. A/N: I found this in my google docs, first written about a year ago. so, wohoo i present to you my first ever poe dameron content, i think? he's so charming and carelessly beautiful. please leave a comment and tell me what you think or what else you'll like to see from me 💖 gif by @john-seed from this gifst WARNINGS: mentions of alcohol and getting drunk, space swearing. support my writing through ko-fi💖 MASTERLIST

Love is strange. Delicate yet fierce. So forceful that it manages to seep through the cracks created by bombs and gunfire of war. Unexpected at times, appearing out of nowhere. Yet, it’s beautiful because it brings those with beautiful hearts and minds together, entangled in the constant dance of intimacy and devotion.

It’s what Ireca and Mohash have.

Ireca was from the Logistic division, a mechanic herself and your colleague. She was to be married to her long-time lover, Mohash, a flight engineer for the Cobalt Squadron. As far as cliches go, wartime love falls along the lines of a romance cliche. Yet, war was all you’ve known. It’s what everyone has ever known. It’s common to develop some kind of a feeling other than the constant emotions during battle—fondness, the feeling of falling in love with someone. It’s truly what we stay alive for.

Maybe that’s why you hate it so much. The absence of the feeling that everyone describes as so fucking amazing that it completes you. You feel empty most of the time. It’s definitely the reason why you put all your effort into fixing things you can rather than complicated problems and issues that continue to reside in your mind, especially in the wake of midnight.

You find yourself sitting by the makeshift bar, tucked away from the crowd of friends and colleagues. There’s music playing, the sound of drums, and the seven-string hallikset reminds you of your brief visit to Naboo three cycles ago. You’re nursing a warm cup of something that tastes closer to acid water than alcohol.

Ireca emerges from the crowd with flowers in her braided hair. She approaches you with a bright smile and calls out your name wistfully. You shoot a strained smile her way, feeling the bags under your eyes weigh a little more. “What are you doing here all by yourself, huh?” she asks, leaning against the bar with a gentle pat on your shoulder.

“I’m just really tired. Last night was rough. Plus, I’m behind schedule.” you sighed heavily, running your fingers through your hair. She flashed you a smile of sympathy as you continued, “I’m sorry, Ireca. Don’t let me ruin your night. Go, have fun.”

She raises an eyebrow as you take another sip from your cup.

"Go. I'm sure you don't want to miss Mohash's special performance." You gesture to a drunk Mohash, who seemed to be searching for the woman. Ireca merely laughed. "Oh, it sure is going to be special." With a gentle touch to your back and wave, you watch her make her way into the swarm of bodies. You're left alone once again.

You’re still trying to figure out how Mohash even got hold of any sort of alcohol and managed to smuggle it into the base. Someone must have nicked it during one of the previous missions in the Mid Rim.

You rub your eyes, half-awake at this point; your cup is placed beside you as you rest your head against your folded arms on the table. Your mind is in a daze and incapable of irrational thought, deciding it would be best to just camp out here, by the makeshift bar, for the night. You were too tired to drag yourself all the way to your quarters, which felt like miles away, in the first place.

As sleep began to weigh heavy upon your eyelids, you suddenly felt a sharp tap on your shoulder. A soft groan escaped your lips as you shifted your head, still resting on your arms, just enough to peek at your sleep intruder.

It’s Poe Dameron. Commander and Black Leader. Incredibly talented, confident, and effortlessly handsome.

Ugh, you hate this guy.

Yet, you don’t feel so tired anymore.

“Are you drunk?” There’s amusement in his voice with a tinge of mockery. It made you realize the stun you were pulling. Classic Dameron. It was supposed to be a happy ceremony, but it was truly Ireca’s fault for manipulating you into coming tonight. Parties, events, and social gatherings were never right up your alley. You prefer spending time with machinery and your greasy hands.

Poe’s eyes are gleaming under the fluorescent lights, filled with concern, but you spot the smugness in his emerging smile. A flash of a thought, you kind of want to feel his lips on yours. The image immediately stings. You want to gag.

Poe is irritating, arrogant, and careless. Not charming. Nope, definitely not charming.

You straighten yourself, trying to shake off the burning image, shoving it to the back of your head. You lift your head, propping your elbow on the table and resting your chin on the heel of your hand. “You actually think I’ll even touch that bantha shit?”

Tearing your eyes away from Poe, you reach for your cup only to realize it was empty. He casts you a look. Your eyes shoot daggers with an extended pointer finger his way, “Don’t you dare say anything, flyboy.”

Poe raises his palms in defense, lips pursing. “Wasn’t going to.”

You catch a glimmer of mischief in his eyes, one hand discreetly reaching under his tawny leather jacket. Then, a bottle of Corellian whiskey emerges, shining under the lights of the Resistance hangar. Your face lights up at the recognition of the bottle, memories of your rare trips to Corellia, sharing whiskey drinks with your colleagues. It was the only planet you’d been to ever since you joined the Resistance.

You’ve only tasted Corellian whiskey once because of how expensive it is. You’ll happily get drunk to that in a heartbeat. Drink the worry and sorrow away with the lingering taste of frankly exorbitant whiskey.

Like a child with grabby hands, you reach for the bottle, but as your fingers brush his, Poe quickly lifts it to the air and away from you. He smacks your hand away. You whine, feeling a little lightheaded. The contents of the mysterious drink are starting to kick in.

What the blinkin' mradhe muck was in that drink?

“What do you want from me? It’s not like I have a drinking problem.”

He’s giving you that look like he’s judging you, but with a hint of amusement at the slight tug of the corner of his mouth. “You definitely have a drinking problem, but... i'll let you drink this on one condition.”

“For kriff’s sake,” you mutter, rolling your eyes, glancing away. “I’m not doing any weird wacky favors for you, Dameron.”

He scoffs, expression bewildered. “Hey, I don’t ask for weird wacky favors,” He articulates his words with a defensive tone, index finger stretched to your face. You simply smack it away as Poe clicks his tongue and continues to clarify his proposition. “All I’m asking is for you to fix my ship.”

Your wide-eyed gaze flies to him, shaking your head furiously. “Oh, no, no. No. Never in a million cycles. Never in a million millennials. Nuh-uh—”

“Hey, quit being dramatic. It’s a simple job.”

Your eyes grow even wider, voice raising. “A simple job? You fly that ship of yours like we have hundreds of spare ones. I’m not putting all my time and effort into fixing a lost cause.”

“But you haven’t even—”

“No. I’m not fixing your ship, and that’s final.”

Poe blinks and you’re back to fussing over your empty cup. The chatter of the crowd grows louder as a group of pilots of the Cobalt Squadron began rendering verses of an unknown traditional drinking song to your ears. You steal a look to only find Ireca and Mohash amidst a dance, tangled in each other's arms.

He eyes closely, noticing the turn of your lips, trained eyes deem melancholy. He knows the face of a loner very well—usually recruits with lost family and homes. They enlist in a mass community of freedom fighters for the restoration of good in the universe, and to finally feel a sense of familiarity and belonging. He doesn’t know much about you but he knows you don’t truly have anyone to depend on but yourself. It’s the reason why you’re constantly fierce.

Poe clears his throat, shifting closer to you as he watches the way you carry your gradual gaze to hold his. They then flit to the space between the two of you, raised eyebrows acknowledging the weird close proximity of his presence to yours.

“Look, you’re the best mechanic there ever was and probably ever will be. So, fix my ship, and you get to have this Corellian beauty. All of it.” He sways the bottle in the air, but you don’t look at it.

“You know, that’s bribery.”

“Yes, and it’s working.”

You scoff. “No, it isn’t.”

Poe laughs. “Yes, it is. I can see it in your eyes.”

Another scoff, you look fully aggravated. “How dense do you think I am?”

“Oh, very, but let’s not get into that.”

Bickering was the only language the two of you spoke fluently when you found yourselves tangled in a conversation with one another. Thrown insults were spoken lies—saying you hate each other when you know that isn’t true. Well, at least you don’t mean it and you hoped Poe didn’t either.

You’re exhausted, physically and mentally. For once, kindness and acceptance seem to be the easiest route.

A sigh passes your lips as you blink up to the ceiling, sending a silent prayer for blessings from the Maker above. “You’re right. I am dense. Truly dense. So, yeah. Okay. I’ll fix that stupid X-Wing of yours.”

Poe blinks, dumbfounded. “Wait, really?”

With a roll of your eyes, they meet his very own wide ones. “Yes, really. Only because you complimented me. Now, hand me that Corellian whiskey before I change my mind.”

He then makes a sound that resonates between a cough and a pleasantly surprised laugh, eyes crinkling with delight. Poe happily and absentmindedly passes the whiskey to you, still reacting like your agreement is some sort of object of ridicule in the best way possible.

“Wow—Maker, you have no idea what kind of trouble you’re saving me from. If the General ever found out—man, pfft. Thank you. Thank you so much—”

A swift and unexpected motion, he is reaching you, palms clasp and either side of your face, and plants a quick peck on the side of your left temple.

Poe isn’t thinking straight.

There you are, mid-swig, lips so close to the rim of the bottle with eyes so wide. You steal a steady glance at the pilot whose expression seems to reflect yours. His hands are still on your cheeks. He’s unbelievably close to you and he’s staring with that stupid look of his.

‘Maker, preserve me.’

A cheer erupts from the crowd from across the space and just like that, the moment is gone. Whatever the moment even was. His touch is no longer on yours and his gaze shifting away.

The tension, however, is still very present.

You finally take a swig of the whiskey, wanting to ease the sudden tightness in your chest. You hum at the stinging sensation on your tongue. You catch a glimpse of Poe from the corner of your eye who busies himself with tapping his fingers nervously against the surface of the bar.

Then, in an awkward motion, you stretch your arm to him, offering the drink.

A beat. His gaze shifts between you and your hand. When he finally gives in, a smile curves upon his lips, fingers brushing against yours. They’re delicate and you smile at him. It's small, but it makes his heart skip a beat and you wonder to yourself about the strangeness of love.

[taetaespeaches]

“Wanna know my favorite track?”

hoseok x reader (oc) genre: fluff word count: 1.4K

a/n: This is just Petal/reader helping Hobi relax and feel assured during the release night for Hope World back in 2018. They’re just being cute and in love and that’s really it. I hope you all enjoy and thank you for reading! :))

Only a quick few seconds passed after you knocked on the studio door before it swung open to reveal your boyfriend, wide-eyed with an even wider smile as he drank in the sight of you.

Forgetting about the bottle of champagne in your hand for a moment, and your purpose for showing up at his studio, you allowed yourself to be momentarily distracted by his stunning grin, and his pretty hair, and the cozy bright colored garments that adorned his perfect frame.

“Happy Hope World release day!” You cheered, still slightly preoccupied by him, slowing lifting your arms up to show the bottle of champagne in one hand as the other easily draped over his shoulder. “Wow, you’re pretty,” you complimented to the man’s delight. Hoseok’s arm slid around your waist as the other held the door open, both of you standing directly in the doorway, his lips pressing to yours almost hastily. The action was full of excitement and anxiousness and relief, and you happily accepted it, slowing his movements with the easy reply from your own lips.

Placing his forehead to yours as his hand soothed along your lower back, you played with the hairs that hung at the nape of his neck. To anyone else, you would have looked like a couple simply taking in each other’s presence after a long day at work, and you were; but you were also studying him carefully, gaging his emotions on this much anticipated day.

It was a small sigh, the breath that left his lips just barely brushing over your own, but it was enough to give away his nerves. “Hey,” you called for his attention gently, dipping your head just slightly to catch his gaze. “What do you say we crack this open and celebrate you and your incredible music?”

Hoseok’s eyes bounced from your eyes to your mouth to see you flashing him a small, comforting smile, his lips curving upward in response. “Get in here,” he told you through his grin, tugging you inside the studio and letting the door clasp shut behind you both.

The man was collected, but the way he stood by his chair, unaware of how to proceed with the evening gave you more indication of his nerves. Smiling fondly at him, you placed the champagne bottle on his desk before grabbing his hips, standing in front of him, smirking at his expectant features.

“Sit down, Sunshine,” you told him gently, pushing him into the chair, the man slipping into the seat reluctantly. “Just relax, you’re supposed to be enjoying this,” you told him, spinning his chair so it faced the computer screen where the mixtape was displayed.

“I am enjoying it,” he mumbled. “I think,” he added with a small chuckle.

Wrapping your arms around him from behind the chair in a sort of back hug, your hands resting at his chest as your chin sat atop of his, you pouted. “What’s going on, my love? What are you thinking?”

As he sighed, you listened intently as you awaited his stream of thoughts. “I am excited,” he assured you, and himself. “And I am proud.”

“As you should be,” you interjected, the man letting out a light laugh in response.  

“It’s just, I wanted to put this out there so badly, and now I’m just-” he paused thoughtfully, you waiting patiently for him to continue. “Worried.” He finished. “I’m so worried.”

Kissing the top of his head, your lips appreciating the soft texture of his tendrils, your thumb soothed over the top of his pectoral. “Aw, Hoseok,” you mumbled against his hair. “That’s perfectly understandable,” you assured him, the man humming in response. “But it’s also misguided and silly,” you told him a bit bluntly, your boyfriend letting out a single breath of laughter.

“What do you mean?” He questioned curiously.

“You’re worried you won’t live up to some standard, but you set your own standard, Sunshine. There is no golden mark to hit or some arbitrary goal to accomplish,” you explained, Hoseok’s hands reaching up to hold onto your forearms. “You already achieved the goal; you’re releasing the mixtape.”

Nodding at your words, you smiled as you pressed yet another kiss to the top of his head. “You’re nervous because you poured your heart into this project, and that’s scary,” you told him, a tone of understanding lacing your words. Lowering your lips to his ear, you left a lingering peck to the shell of it. “But that’s also why this mixtape is so fucking good,” you whispered with a sense of surety and bluntness that Hoseok loved to hear from you.

Giggling at your comment, he turned his face toward yours, his eyes bouncing around your features with a renewed hopefulness. “How good?” He questioned teasingly, feigning an air of arrogance that you would have mistaken as genuine if it had been a year and some odd months earlier.

“So fucking good,” you emphasized your compliment with a smirk, Hoseok giggling as you locked your eyes on that bright smile that lit up your entire world. “Wanna know my favorite track?” You asked him, his eyebrows raising in surprise.

“Did you pick one?” He asked excitedly, as you had previously been unable to decide on just one favorite song.

“Well, it’s a tie,” you told him, the man chuckling as spun his chair so his body was facing yours.

“Between which ones?” He questioned, his gaze following you intently as you lowered yourself onto his lap, sitting across his legs as your arm secured itself behind the back of his neck.

“Piece of Peace and Blue Side,” you told him, his smile widening impossibly bigger, his eyes crinkled and adorable. “And Daydream,” you added, the man giggling. “Oh, and Hangsang, that one is fun,” you continued. “And of course Hope World is tied too,” you nodded to yourself as your boyfriend dropped his forehead to your shoulder, his hand squeezing the side of your thigh teasingly. “Oh my god and Baseline!” you kept on, Hoseok groaning jokingly.

“I thought you actually picked a favorite,” he complained through his grin, his head lifting from your shoulder as he shot you an affectionate stare.

“Don’t forget about one of my very favorites, Airplane,” you said through your smile. “It’s definitely tied for my top song,” you giggled as Hoseok pressed his mouth to yours in an effort shut you up, but also simply just to kiss you.

“I’m supposed to be the obnoxious one,” he noted, mumbling against your mouth as you kissed him back eagerly. He was referencing your habit of jokingly calling him obnoxious, an affectionate call back to your first meeting.

“Not tonight,” you told him, your hand positioned on his cheek as you smiled at him, your faces still close enough that your noses grazed each other. “Tonight, you’re perfect,” you complimented, Hoseok giggling at the cheesy comment.

“Just tonight?” He teased, triggering a breathy chuckle from you.

“Mhmm,” you joked in reply. “And I’m your obnoxiously proud girlfriend. Just for tonight,” you added. “I’m always proud, and I’m always your girlfriend, but my obnoxiousness is exclusive to tonight,” you grinned, Hoseok laughing fondly.

“You think your obnoxiousness is reserved for just tonight?”

“Mhmm,” you confirmed with a fake cockiness.

“You’re never obnoxious any other time?” He questioned in disbelief, you simply nodding confidently. “Aww Petal,” he cooed, “that’s so cute, talk about silly and misguided,” he commented through a small smile, you rolling your eyes teasingly just as he pressed his lips to yours once again.

Deepening the kiss, you reveled in the feeling of his lips against yours, the affection and love that you felt for him swirling in a delicious mix that you swore you could taste on the tip of his tongue. Maybe Hoseok just tasted like love, as he embodied the word and all its meanings. Hoseok was love.

“Thank you for being here,” he told you sincerely making you pull away to look into his eyes.

“Hobi,” you breathed out. “Of course I’m here, where else would I be?”

Giving you a knowing smile, you watched as his eyes glistened with overwhelming gratitude and relief. “I know but still,” he gave you a tight smile as he held back his emotions. “Thank you.”

“Stop it, you’ll make me cry,” you told him with a smile as your own eyes filled with proud, happy tears.

Giggling at you, he pretended to fan your face to dry your bubbling emotion, causing you to throw your head back in laughter. Grabbing his hand, you clasped your fingers over his own, holding the limb comfortingly.

As your laughter died down, it was just you and Hoseok, sitting in easy silence, despite the giddy atmosphere. Leaning forward, you pressed a sweet kiss to his cheek. “Play your mixtape for me, Sunshine,” you beamed. “I want to hear my favorite song.”

[maria-scribbles]

stitched together

being the only one in an ugly sweater at your friend's christmas party sucks...until he walks through the door.

fandom: outer banks

ship: pope heyward x reader 

word count: 1.2k+

featuring: pope being disgustingly adorable, scenes blatantly inspired by dash & lily, shitty friends, inaccurate info about nyc probably, references to high school musical and julie and the phantoms (in this house we stan kenny ortega)

a/n: day 6, late again 'cause work gave me overtime and i'm ✨tired✨ this is my first time writing for pope so i hope i did him justice! unbetaed as always

come join my holiday challenge!

December 2020

The moment you walked through the door of your best friend's apartment, you knew you'd made a mistake. Your fingers unconsciously twisted themselves into the hem of your long sweater -your green, sparkly, tinsel-y, twinkling sweater- as you waded further into the sea of classily-dressed college students gathered in Kayla's living room, for the first time feeling out of place in the familiar setting.

You didn't mean to show up more than fashionably late to the party but you'd had to make some last minute additions to your outfit, namely the star ornament that dangled from one of your wrists, and trying to hail a taxi in New York City after 8 was a challenge you regretted taking on so close to the holidays. You made it, though, ready to apologize to Kayla...if you could ever find her, that is; trying to ignore the feeling of multiple pairs of eyes on you that made your skin crawl, you made your way into the kitchen in search of your best friend. 

"Nice outfit." A sarcastic drawl came from a giggling group huddled by the island as you poured yourself a cup of hot chocolate from the crock pot on the counter and topped it off with a generous pour of whipped cream vodka.

"At least mine doesn't make me look like a douchebag, Chad." You took a sip to hide your satisfied smirk as the boy -a typical upper class white kid you already couldn't stand- sputtered and flushed an impressive shade of red while his friends laughed hysterically.

"You- I- bitch."

You just rolled your eyes as you left the room in search of your friend once again. "Don't hurt yourself, Todd."

Cup cradled in your hands, you followed the sound of Kayla's giggles drifting down the hall from the dining room and she spotted you the second you turned the corner, her face lighting up like the skinny Christmas tree in the corner. 

"Y/N, you're actually here!" She crossed the room in a flash and threw her arms around you, almost spilling the drinks in both your hand and hers with the force of her hug. "I was worried you were gonna bail, like usual."

Okay, so that stung, but you brushed it off and briefly returned her embrace before pulling away to take another long sip of cocoa. "Never, Kay. Why aren't you wearing your sweater, though?"

Kayla shrugged and glanced down at her slinky gold mini dress, then flipped her hair over her shoulder. "I don't know, this was just so much cuter than that ugly thing! Plus, Zach's here and there's no way I'd even have a chance to hook up with him if I had worn that."

'That ugly thing' being an exact copy of the very sweater you had on, of course; you'd made it for her as an early Christmas gift after she'd complimented the half-finished version she saw at your place a few weeks ago during a sleepover, both of you wine drunk on the bottle of Moscato she had stashed in her bag. You thought you'd agreed to wearing them at this very party, too, but apparently you were alone in thinking that.

She'd obviously already had one glass of it tonight, considering the complete lack of any type of filter on her big mouth, and you knew you shouldn't have taken those words to heart but you did. Still, you managed to hide your hurt and forced a grin onto your face as you said, "Go put that dress to work, then! And stay away from the wine!"

Kayla giggled again and squeezed your wrist before flouncing off to the living room, calling back over her shoulder, "You're the best, Y/N!"

You sighed and headed to the snack table pushed against the wall, fully intent on eating your weight in cookies and drinking until you were only just sober enough to remember how to call yourself a cab home; grabbing a plate, you were about to reach for the platter piled high with snickerdoodles when a voice came from your right and almost made you knock the whole stack over.

"I like your sweater."

You turned, steeling yourself to deal with another arrogant rich kid let loose with daddy's money, and came face to face with the last thing you ever expected to see: another ugly sweater, this one a pretty shade of deep blue and covered in twinkling stars and snowflakes, rivaling yours in its holiday cheer and the boy wearing it offered you a shy, adorably sweet smile that instantly put you at ease. 

"I like yours, too. Wanna see something cool?"

He visibly brightened at your words and at his nod, you clapped your hands together and held them straight up, the ornament on your wrist hanging perfectly over your head. "I even have the star on top." 

"I see your star and raise you this," He said, turning around to show you the hand-stitched sleigh flying across the full moon on the back of his sweater, complete with Santa and all nine reindeer.

"Shit, you can't really call it an ugly sweater with that on it, it's gorgeous!" You couldn't help reaching out to run your fingers over the carefully embroidered Rudolph, the stitches smooth and neat and obviously done with the utmost of care. 

"Is it cheesy to say that my grandma made it for me?"

"Dude, you should be proud as hell! She's so talented," You said, drawing your hand back as he turned around to face you once again. "I can sew a bit -I mean, I made this but it definitely fits 'ugly' more than yours."

"Is there really such a thing as an 'ugly sweater?'" The boy asked as he surveyed the snack table and grabbed a few chocolate chip cookies. "They're kind of like hairless cats: most people think they're ugly, but to some, they're beautiful. It just depends on the person."

Would it be bad to say that you were already the tiniest bit in love with this guy already? Kayla would judge you for sure -that girl spent all her waking hours being critical of everyone and everything around her- but you really didn't give a shit about her opinion anymore, not after tonight left you wondering if she was ever actually your friend in the first place.

"I, for one, happen to love both hairless cats and ugly sweaters." You said around a mouthful of snickerdoodle, hoping you didn't spit crumbs all over yourself like a fool and from the way the boy smiled and offered you his hand, you mustn’t have looked as stupid as you felt.

"Then you're my kind of person. I'm Pope."

"I'm Y/N." His hand was warm and way softer than you expected and you both held on for a beat longer than necessary, unwilling to let go, like you both knew that this was the start of something new, something big and crazy and exciting, that you were standing on the edge of something great.

And after you got home, his number in your phone and the lingering, unforgettable taste of his lips on yours, you couldn't wait to see where the two of you would go.

[notgalaxii]

ah! can you do 55 with asmo?? ❤ please

Woo! This one was fun if we ignore the fact that I've written it twice now because I wasn't satisfied. There might be grammar errors here and there because Im sick and all foggy headed and shit, I'll edit her another time. Anyways, happy reading! Thank you for the request my love 💕🤞

Prompt: Shut up and kiss me already 

"MC, how about we go out tonight?~" 

It was a sweet prompt from one of your best friends in the world, not just in the Devildom. However, it almost always led to something chaotic. Some nights Asmodeus disappears into the night and takes part in some wild orgy; some nights he tries to hook you up with someone; some nights he gets crowds when he really doesn't want to. Nine times out of ten, something happens.

This night was no different for the two of you. He dressed you up, styled your hair to his liking, then ushered you into some crazy nightclub that you definitely couldn't have gotten into on your own. Now, you danced together, pinkies locked so you don't lose each other in the mass of drunk demons, holding your alcohol in your free hand. The pinky holding had been Asmo's idea; it was a lot cuter than handholding and less intimate so you weren't uncomfortable. 

"Would you like a refill, cutie?" he quizzed, a bright smile stretching from ear to ear. 

“Yes, please,” you hummed, passing your cup over to the demon. Asmo took the glass from your hands almost gracefully, as gracefully as he could when he was buzzed, before turning on his heel and waltzing back to the bar. 

“I’ll be right back then, my dear!” he called over his shoulder. You chuckled to yourself, resuming the rhythm you had created to the beat of the music that was blaring through the club. 

He did this pretty often: holding you close for a few hours and then disappearing into the night, coming back a solid half hour later with a drink and a lipstick stain on his cheek. It was a little annoying at first, but you grew accustomed to it throughout your friendship with him. Seeing him throw compliments and flirts at any passing beautiful face like he was asking the time of day made your stomach churn still, even though it’s a part of your new daily routine. Not only did he nonchalantly chat it up with anyone, but the demons fell for it. Even when he wasn’t using his charm, strangers seemed to throw themselves at your best friend left and right. It wasn’t the flirting itself that entirely bothered you. It was what they were looking at. 

On the outside, Asmodeus was nothing more than a self-centered bratty perv who’s diet consisted of nothing but drama and attention. He was so much more than that to you, though. Asmodeus was a gentle and passionate man in more ways than one. When he loves people, he loves them. He learns them, he spoils them, he lives them, he breathes them. Asmodeus knows the ins and outs of everyone he cares for, what they like, what they don’t like, and every way to supply them with their needs. He’s thoughtful and kind.

The case was no different with you. You hadn’t spent a day without Asmodeus by your side since you started your stay in the Devildom. He’s taken you to all of his favorite stores, showed you all of the most beautiful sights to see, he’s fed you the most delicious food he could think of, and most of all, he’s spent quality personal time with you. Your favorite nights were those spent in his room before bed, trying out new face masks together, and just talking about life. For someone who seems self-centered, Asmodeus had always been the best listener when it came to you. In your eyes, he was no less than a glistening jewel that had caught the moonlight in the depths of a hidden cave. 

Just as expected, you spotted your favorite demon in the crowd near the bar, chatting with a beautiful woman. The look on his face read a combination of, “I can’t wait to get out of this conversation,” and “I should buy more alcohol.” Hers, however, was reading unadulterated desire, something that you had learned to pick up on when spending time with Asmodeus. By some miracle, you managed to meet his sunset gaze through the mass. It felt almost as if the smile he directed towards you had roped you in, dragging you closer to him. 

“Ah! It looks like you found me!” Asmo giggled once you fell at his feet.

“You’re not that hard to find, you know,” you teased, flickering your gaze to the woman he had just been chatting with. She was definitely more attractive up close, as she was shooting daggers at you with her eyes. 

“Well, I believe we had a lovely chat but I have previous engagements to attend to,” Asmodeus told her, lowering his hand to lock his pinky with yours again, “Perhaps I’ll see you sometime again in the future?” 

“I hope I can count on it,” her voice was low and almost sultry. Paying no mind to her comment, Asmo beckoned you to follow him off into a more secluded area.

“She seemed like a treat,” you scoffed before sitting down. 

“Hmm? You seem like you desire something. Tell me, MC, what is it?” Asmodeus inquired, not bothering to sit down. You looked up at him, watching the way the pink and gold hues danced in his eyes with glimmers of content, how his champagne hair effortlessly curled just out of the way of his gaze, how his skin looked so delicate and soft to the touch. He was absolutely right, you desired something. You desired him. You desired to reach up and run your fingers across his perfect skin. You desired his sunset gaze to be fixated on you and only you. You desired him to make an attempt to charm you again even though he knows it won’t work in the way he wants it to. You were already charmed by him, no magic involved.

“I just want to know what possesses you to make you walk up to random strangers and try to charm them,” it wasn’t a total lie, but it definitely wasn’t what you really desired. 

Asmodeus quirked an eyebrow at you in surprise, but it soon settled. The expression of shock was replaced by an arrogant smile. It was mesmerizing, the way his rosey lips pulled into an enchanting gleam. You wondered if he knew that he had your heart on strings and with every pull of his smile, he tugged on them. 

“She approached me, actually. I just wanted to get you a drink,” Asmodeus leaned down closer to you so that your faces were level. In doing so, a few strands of his hair fell in front of his eyes. There was a new thing you had desired, to run your fingers through his hair, push it out of the way, see just exactly how soft it was. “Is that all you wanted, MC? I feel like there's something still locked deep away in your chest. Why don’t you help me open it?”

“Oh, I’m sorry! If I had known that it was her doing then I wouldn’t have pestered you about it. Forgive me, Asmo,” you fumbled, brushing aside his last statement in hopes that he would drop it.

“Shh, just be quiet and kiss me already, would you?” Asmodeus cajoles, “That is what you’d like, isn’t it, love?” 

A warmth invades your face, peppering your cheeks with a deep shade of red. It takes a brief moment of contemplating whether it’s worth it or not, sacrificing your friendship to soothe your inner desires, but you comply with the Avatar of Lust’s demand. Once you’ve closed the distance between the two of you, your lips melt right against his. 

The kiss is everything you hoped it would be and more. Asmodeus’ lips were soft, smooth, and tasted faintly of the sweet chapstick that he had applied before the two of you set off. Unexpectedly, however, his kiss was gentle and loving rather than fervent and needy. He moved his lips against yours very slowly, yet skillfully. The feelings that Asmodeus’ touch gave you as his hands made themselves home on your waist and cheek were second to none; he sent ripples of euphoria throughout your entire body and chills down your spine. 

“I-I was really hoping you didn’t figure that one out,” you scrambled for words the moment his lips vacated yours. 

“I know you, MC,” he giggled. You almost hoped that he didn’t know you well enough to pick up on that you were desperate for more. 

[accio-lo-ki]

an attempt on ranking harry styles’ entire discography

this was hard. 

-

from the dining table - his most raw and vulnerable musically and lyrically; paints a straightforward, clear picture and uses repetitive lines to effectively emphasize honest emotions; fave lines: “even my phone misses your call by the way” and “comfortable silence is so overrated”

meet me in the hallway - baseline trumps all his songs in my honest opinion; almost goes hand in hand with from the dining table, which is fitting given as this song opens the album and that song closes it; musically and melodically one of his best and most unique; fave lines: “we don’t talk about it / it’s something we don’t do / but once you go without it, nothing else will do”

fine line - i remember in vivid detail the first time i really processed and listened to this song; i was in the shower and it came on shuffle, and i was so shocked that it was harry styles i was listening to because i had never thought that he would do this kind of folk-indie sound that i admit i was a fan of. made me cry. lyrically on of his best and the build up in the production is amazing. fave lines: “put a price on emotion / i’m looking for something to buy / you’ve got my devotion, but man i can hate you sometimes”

golden - one of the best from fine line; the contrast between the upbeat melody and the melancholic lyrics is amazing; i’m especially fond of the repetition of the line “i don’t want to be alone,” i feel like it sends the desperation and fear across clearly and subtly; fave lines: “i know you were way too bright for me” ; “i know that you’re scared because i’m so open”

sign of the times - i will never get over how this man chose a six minute rock ballad as his debut single and called it “playing safe.” this song is easily a classic and i can see it transcending time akin to bohemian rhapsody and the like. fave lines: “you can’t bribe the door on your way to the sky”

to be so lonely - easily the best musically in fine line; the guitarlele is such an edge and the melody is outstandingly complex; plays with his self-deprecation perfectly the way he failed to do in falling. fave lines: “i’m just an arrogant son of a bitch who can’t admit when he’s sorry”

adore you - literal pop perfection in terms of production and musicality; putting a (albeit simple and basic) guitar solo in the bridge of a pure pop song is refreshing and brave; lyrically simple but the overall song makes up for it. also hints at his self-deprecation which i always like. fave lines: “you don’t have to say you love me / you don’t have to say nothing / you don’t have to say you’re mine”

only angel - there’s something about this kind of style that brings out the best in harry’s voice. the nearly one minute choir intro is simply deranged and perfect. a lot of strong lyrical points. fave lines: “i’m still the only one who’s been in love with me” ; “broke a finger knocking on your bedroom floor / i got splinters in my knuckles crawling across the floor” ; “i must admit i thought i’d like to make you mine / as i went about my business through the warning signs”

lights up - musically one of his most unique; the combination of modern and traditional sounds in the production is very well done; his tone of voice in this is also very unique. fave lines: “lights up and they know who you are / know who you are / do you know who you are?”

watermelon sugar - perfect mix of mainstream bait and still being a really good song; production is amazing and the hype is well-deserved. fave line: “getting washed away in you”

kiwi - the perfect tour song; a lot of good lyrical points; the bridge is amazing; this song really brings out his vocal abilities. fave lines: “such a pretty face on a pretty neck” ; “it’s new york, baby, always jacked up / holland tunnel for a nose, it’s always backed up” ; “she sits beside me like a silhouette / hard candy dripping on me ‘till my feet are wet”

cherry - not quite as raw and vulnerable as from the dining table, but lyrically still honest and paints a really clear picture. minus points for the generic lyrics/ rhymes in the chorus but the great verses make up for it. the build up in the production is once again amazing. fave lines: “i confess / i can tell that you were at your best / i’m selfish so i’m hating it” ; “i noticed / there’s a piece of you in how i dress / take it as a compliment”

she - a nice attempt at an omniscient voice; superior vocals in the chorus; the guitar solo is once again basic (not in a bad way) yet hits so hard. i’m always a fan of specific place or time in the lyrics as it makes the song seem much more real. fave lines: “sends his assistant for coffee in the afternoon / around 1’32 / like he knows what to do”

sunflower, vol. 6 - the production in fine line hits its peak in this song; there’s a lot going on but it somehow works. lyrically underrated. fave lines: “my eyes want you more than a melody” ; “i couldn’t want you anymore / kiss in the kitchen like it’s a dance floor” ; “tired eyes are the death of me / mouthful of toothpaste / before i got to know you” ; “i’ve got your face / hung up high in the gallery” ; “your flowers just died / plant new seeds in the melody”

treat people with kindness - the chorus grows on you, but it’s really the melody and his vocal in the verses that sell this song. not for everyone. fave lines: “all we ever want is automatic all the time / all we ever want is auto all of the time”

carolina - another vocal highlight; the verses are better than the chorus. fave lines: “there’s not a drink that i think could sink her”

canyon moon - musically could be better, but the lyrics are outstanding. a nice attempt at a more poetic, lyric-focused song. fave lines: “quick pause in conversation / she plays songs i’ve never heard / an old lover’s hippie music / pretends not to know the words"

woman - his vocals and the production in this is what makes it work. it’s not a bad song–it’s really good actually–but it just doesn’t stand out in his discography. fave lines: “this thing upon me howls like a beast / you flower, you feast”

sweet creature - this is also a very good song, but compared to his discography, it’s apparent that he still wasn’t that comfortable and is still finding his own sound when making this. takes a lot of inspiration from the beatles’ blackbird. this just doesn’t scream “harry styles’ song”; it could easily have been another artist’s. fave lines: “i always think about you and how we don’t speak enough”

two ghosts - another one where it’s a good song but it doesn’t have his signature style yet. also, if there’s any song in hs1 where he’s definitely playing it safe, this is one of those. has great lyrical moments. fave lines: “tastes so sweet, looks so real / sounds like something that i used to feel / but i can’t touch what i see” and “this was all we used to need”

ever since new york - another good song that just doesn’t stand out. the dynamics are better live than in the studio version. fave lines: “choose your words cause there’s no antidote for this curse” and “there’s no water inside this swimming pool”

falling - okay. if there’s one harry styles song that i can throw away and pretend doesn’t exist entirely, it would be falling. not that it’s a bad song. it’s alright. but i feel like this song is textbook mainstream bait and it shows, especially when compared to the other songs in fine line / his discography. the first two lines in the verse (I’m in my bed and you’re not here) makes me want to cut my ears off with how generic the lyrics and melody are. i’m sorry. i’m only this harsh because i know that harry is better than that this song and that line. also, going back to vulnerability and self-deprecation, this one tries but just fails to land. the “vulnerabilty” is too in-your-face to feel genuine. again, not a bad song because he doesn’t have any, but this is pretty close. fave lines: “what if i’m someone i don’t want around?"

-

so. agree? disagree? feel free to send me your thoughts!

[bethdutten]

Hard to Accept

Loki x reader.

2k words, I wanted to make this longer but thought I should stop lol (might make a smut drabble to go along with it though ;)

Requests open!!

I’m an exception, it’s hard to accept.

You were fully planning on feeling indifferent towards your partner once you joined the team. Loki was arrogant, rude and pretentious at best. While that never changed, over the months of having to depend on him having your back in battle, you at least became tolerant towards him. Then slowly, you began to actually care for him.

Tony was throwing another one of his fundraisers, this time to raise enough money to rebuild the chunk he’d taken out of the Empire State Building last month. You leaned against the bar as Natasha poured you one of her famous Black Russians, self-consciously running your hands down the emerald green silk of your dress. Tonight you were going to tell Loki how you felt.

Natasha smirked at your dress of choice, about to say something when you felt a hand on the small of your back.

“You look almost as good as me in that color,” murmured a deep voice in your ear, making you shiver. You turned to Loki, rolling your eyes to mask the blush creeping into your cheeks.

“Is that supposed to be a compliment?”

Loki ignored your question, his eyes looking brighter than usual as he asked his own. “Dance with me?”

You opened your mouth to give him a snarky response, but thought better of it. Maybe this would be a chance for you to talk to him. You nodded instead, taking the hand he held out for you and letting him lead you to the dance floor.

He was dressed in all black, his suit tailored perfectly and it was making it hard for you to breathe as he gracefully pulled you into his arms. You rested one hand on his shoulder, the other still firmly in his grasp as he began to move you through the crowd of people dancing.

“Nervous?” He grinned, the hand still on the small of your back pulling you just a touch closer to his body.

“Yes,” you blurted out before your mind could catch up with your mouth, feeling your heart start to thud in your chest. “I mean, no. Just worried you’re going to trip me in front of the mayor for your own enjoyment, maybe.”

Loki let out a laugh, the sound like music. “I wouldn’t do that, darling. I’m more creative than that.”

Before you could respond, you felt a hand touch your back just above Loki’s, shifting in his hold to see who it was. It was Steve.

“Mind if I cut in?”

“Yes,” Loki, snapped, his gently gaze moving from you to the Captain and immediate turning cold.

“No,” you frowned, slowly letting go of Loki’s hand. Reluctantly. “It’s okay, Loki was just plotting my death via ballroom dancing.”

Loki’s eyes never stopped their piercing stare at Steve, even as he let you go and into the other man’s arms. You turned to give Steve a small smile, and when you looked back in Loki’s direction, he was gone.

Steve began to spin you away, looking down at you with a concerned look on his face. “Since when are you friends with that guy?”

You rolled your eyes, sighing. “He’s not that bad, Cap. I don’t know why everyone thinks he’s the same person who did what he did in New York years ago. He’s saved my life more times that I can count--”

“He’s also taken lives,” Steve interjected, his frown deepening. “I don’t like him being that close to you. He may be a teammate, but he’s still a murderer.”

“So are you, Rogers. Forget about that war you were in?” You snapped, moving to pull your hand away from him, but his grip just tightened.

“That’s not the same and you know it,” Steve grimaced, stopping your movements in the middle of the dance floor while people still floated around you. “I’m just trying to protect you.”

You pulled your hand away again, and this time Steve let you. “You don’t need to protect me from Loki. I’ve trusted him with my life more than a few times now, and he hasn’t let me down. He hasn’t let anyone down, as far as I know. Give him a bit of credit.”

You turned and weaved your way through the crowd, heading towards the hallway leading to the elevators. You were done with the party. Maybe it was a mistake, thinking you and Loki could ever be more than teammates who tolerate each other for the sake of the world. It was a good thing Steve cut in when he did.

You pressed the button for your floor, waiting for the lift to arrive when Loki reappeared, lifting a hand to your face when you refused to look in his direction.

“What did he say to you? Did he hurt you?” You frowned, not understanding until Loki’s thumb swept at the tear sliding down your cheek. “I swear to God, I will make him wish he was never born--”

You leaned up and kissed Loki before he could finish, sliding your hand into his hair and tugging gently as he brought him closer. He let out a quiet moan, his tongue just barely slipping out to swipe at your bottom lip before he was pulling away.

You dropped your hand as the elevator door opened. Loki was staring down at you, his eyes a darker shade of blue than before, but as you opened your mouth to speak he suddenly turned, disappearing into the crowd once before.

You didn’t follow him.

--

Since Thor was currently off planet, the fact that Loki was an asshole towards everyone was unsurprising. The rest of the team tolerated him for the most part, although Clint and Wanda were openly disgusted by his very presence. So, Loki ignoring you in the week following the kiss wasn’t to be unexpected.

He walked out of the room if you entered, and seemed to forcibly engage in a conversation with Bucky over preferred types of knives during dinner to avoid talking to you. 

It was getting a bit annoying. You got that he didn’t feel the same, and maybe he even hated you now, but you were still his partner, and the closest thing he had to a friend in the entire Tower. The least he could do was be civil.

Five days after The Incident, there was a call through FRIDAY for the team to meet on the roof for a mission. You yanked the zipper of your suit up with a bit more force then necessary, sliding your last gun in its holster as you left your room just in time to see Loki’s cape flit around the corner towards the elevator.

“Loki!” You shouted, jogging down the hall to catch up with him before he escaped again. You didn’t want to have this conversation, but if he ignored you on the field the same way he did around the Tower, this might be the last night you had to be pissed at him.

He was facing away from you, his jaw a hard line as he waited for the elevator to arrive. 

“Loki,” you sighed, voice low in case other members of the team were on the same floor. “I’ll make this quick, okay? I know you hate me but I need to know you’re at least going to shove me out of the way of a bullet while we’re out there because I can’t fight alone.”

Loki glanced over at you, his eyes guarded. It was the first time he’d met your eyes since you danced with him, and somehow the view of him in leather and armour instantly made your legs weak. “I do not hate you.” he said softly, “Quite the opposite. It would be unwise of me to act on it, but I would never let you get hurt.”

You frowned. “Act on what?”

“It doesn’t matter. I am me, and you are you. I wish it was different.” He paused. “You need not worry about the mission, you could not have a more capable person having you back, I assure you.”

“Yes, Loki, you’re an all-mighty god who gets everything he wants when he wants, we’re not all as lucky.”

He was suddenly angry, his eyes darkening. “You think I get everything I want? You would not be so unlucky.”

He turned to leave, and you felt a piece inside you break.

“I don’t get it. How can you think you’re a god who deserves to sit on the throne as king while simultaneously hate yourself enough to think you don’t deserve love.”

“Because I earned that throne,” Loki hissed, turning to you sharply with tears in his eyes. “I did not earn you.”

“Loki,” you whispered, taking a step closer to him and closing the distance. “I don’t know what’s good for me, but I know what I want. You are what I want. All of you.”

“But I’m a monster. Don’t you understand?” As he spoke, his eyes began to change into a startling shade of red, his skin becoming blue and marked. You gasped, taking a step back, but as soon as it appeared, it was gone.

“See?” Loki whispered, a hand tentatively reaching out towards you. “You can’t even--”

You reached up and tangled your fingers in his hair, watching the way he went to speak before you leaned up and kissed him. 

His lips parted in surprise, and you took the opportunity to lick into his mouth, savouring the taste of cinnamon and a hint of Asgardian ale. You groaned quietly, feeling Loki’s arms around your waist as he took control.

It was deep and warm and a bit dangerous, everything you thought it would be. Loki backed you up against the wall, his talented tongue doing things that had you weakly leaning into him.

He took the hint, his hands sliding down to your ass as he lifted you up, and you instinctively wrapped your legs around his waist. You could feel him hard against your core, and you moaned at the thought of only a few layers of leather separating you--

Loki pulled away with a gasp, his eyes blown black with lust as he drank you in.  “You’re going to be the death of me, darling.”

You smirked, tugging gently on his hair and loving the way his eyes flitted shut in pleasure. “Not if you end me first.”

Loki’s lips ghosted over your jawline, pressing soft kisses down the column of your neck. “Gods, I can’t wait to just wreck you--”

“Reindeer Games? Did you fuck off back to Asgard with your partner? Team’s waiting on you guys, let’s go.”

You both groaned at the sound of Tony’s voice in your comms, Loki letting you carefully slide back onto your feet.

You licked your lips, tracing your hands down Loki’s armour-clad torso before taking his hand. “Later.”

Loki raised an eyebrow, but squeezed your hand gently, nodding. “I’ve waited for you long enough, my dear, I think I can make it a few more hours.”

You smiled, leaning up for one last kiss before you pressed the elevator button. “We’ll lock ourselves in my room for a week, sound good?”

Loki’s eyes darkened, but he sighed. “And what will the others think.”

You turned to him, seeing the way he wasn’t even meeting your eyes as he asked. You lifted his hand to your lips, murmuring, “They’ll think that I’m a goddess for finally making an honest man out of the God of Lies.”

[daviesroger]

title: inch by inch rating: e pairing/characters: charlie weasley/narcissa black malfoy warnings: infidelity, smut a/n: this was written for the @hpkinkfest and i’m also going to use it for the @hogwartsonline sonfic owls! AO3

The ballroom was full, overflowing with witches and wizards dressed in elegant gowns and dress robes designed to garnish attention from other partygoers. Sequins and jewels abound, glittering in the dim light as they spun around the dance floor. It was a typical Ministry function, filled to the brim with bland punch, dull music, and conversations that could bore a ghost to death for a second time. They were deeply uninteresting, but they were a duty that Narcissa knew she couldn’t forego.

She had distance herself from the crowd, standing on a balcony that overlooked the ballroom. She watched her husband make his way around the room – shaking hands and smiling, making the rounds like a true politician. She knew that she should be down there with him, smiling and nodding and making nice with other Ministry employees, complimenting the women on their gowns and making small talk over flutes of champagne, but she was content to watch them for the time being. She told herself that she just needed a moment alone to collect herself before she would be ready to deal with Delores Umbridge nattering on about cats.

Narcissa scanned the crowd below her coolly as she finished the glass of wine in her hand – from up here they all looked the same – before she put it down and turned to join her husband, to be the accessory she needed to be. She straightened her shoulders and started down the grand staircase, doing her best to mask her displeasure at being here.

When she joined Lucius, he was speaking with three older gentlemen whose names she didn’t bother learning. She smiled placidly, ignoring the conversations around her and looking absentmindedly at the nearby partygoers. As she glanced at the wizards around her, all of them in dress robes, she landed on one man who was significantly underdressed, though that wasn’t what initially caught her eye.

It only took one moment for Narcissa to know that he was a Weasley. His hair was an obnoxious shade of red and freckles littered his pale skin. he was wearing a formal top that fit his shoulders well, and he’d left one too many buttons undone, showing the slightest hint of his toned chest and a bit of ginger hair, but it was his trousers that kept her attention. They were like a second skin that covered her bottom half and from where she was standing she could tell that they were real dragon hide, which was something she was sure muggle-loving Arthur Weasley couldn’t afford. The way they clung to him meant that she could see all the lines of his body and her eyes caught on the prominent bulge he was so proudly showing off.

Narcissa knew that she was staring, she couldn’t help herself. Her imagination was getting the better of her and she couldn’t stop fantasizing about the size of the Weasley boy – if it was already that large when it was soft, she wondered what it would look like when he was excited. Her thoughts were interrupted by a gentle squeeze of her hand and Lucius’s voice cut through her haze, “Right, Narcissa?”

“Of course, darling,” she replied – it was her standard response, she wasn’t quite sure what she was agreeing to, but she suspected that Lucius had grown tired of one dull conversation and had decided that it was time to move on to another. She moved with him, expecting that he would go to speak with someone more senior, but was surprised when he walked over to the group that included Arthur Weasley and his son. Narcissa wasn’t paying attention to the other members of the group, one of them could very well be one of Lucius’s superiors, but her eyes were transfixed on the front of the young man’s trousers.

When she forced herself to look up at his face, her blue eyes were met by deep brown – they sparkled with mischief and knowing and Narcissa felt her cheeks begin to flush. “This is my son, Charlie,” Arthur said, his voice brimming with pride. “He’s visiting from Romania, where he studies dragons.”

That explained the dragon hide trousers and the confidence that was pushing towards arrogance. Narcissa tried to avoid looking at him, to focus on the conversation around her, but as it was devastatingly dull, she couldn’t help herself. She allowed herself to fantasize about it briefly and her mouth watered when she thought about gagging herself on him, but she immediately scolded herself for the thought. When she glanced up at his face again, he was grinning as if he could read her mind. She couldn’t stand the way he was looking at her, the way it made her feel like she was going to burst into flames if he didn’t touch him.

“Excuse me,” she said, patting Lucius’s arm gently. “I’m feeling a little parched, I’m going to get a drink.” She could practically feel Charlie’s eyes on her as she wove her way through the crowd of people. She’d barely touched the champagne flute to her lips when Charlie appeared next to her.

“Good evening, Mrs. Malfoy,” Charlie’s voice was warm and it spread across her skin like warm oil. He stood in front of her and she watched the easy way he reached for a glass from the waiter that walked past.

“Good evening, Mr. Weasley,” Narcissa replied. “Are you enjoying the party?” she tried to act casual and keep her eyes on her face but she failed miserably at both.

“Not yet,” he replied, taking a step closer to her. He let her see him give her a once-over and he licked his lips appreciatively, a devilish smile appearing on his freckled face. “But I think I will be in a minute,” he said it quietly, as to not be overheard, and it sent a thrill racing down her spine.

Usually, his brashness wouldn’t turn her on as much as it did. Usually, she would tell him that she was married, that it was inappropriate. This time, she didn’t want to. Her husband hadn’t made love to her in months and she could see that the bulge in his pants was growing and its size was already impressive. She wanted to get closer to him, to see him in action. She shivered and looked up at him, her eyes full of lust. “Don’t follow too closely,” she told him, “we can’t make a scene.”

His smile widened and she knew he understood what she meant.

She spared a glance at Lucius, who was enthralled in conversation, before turning towards the nearest doorway. As she walked she looked over her shoulder, checking to ensure that Charlie was following her. She didn’t stop once she reached the hallway – there was a chance that someone would see them together – but she made her way down the hall leisurely, stopping once she found an office whose door was slightly ajar. She ducked into it and waited for Charlie to catch up.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind them, Charlie’s lips were on hers – insistent and enthusiastic – and he was pressing her body against the wall. With the level of confidence he exuded, she should have expected that he had experience, but she wasn’t expecting this. He kissed down her neck, his hands moving to cup her breasts through her dress, drawing a soft moan from her lips. It was exhilarating for her, having this young man ravishing her, pressing his toned body against hers, all while her husband was in the other room attempting to play nice with his father.

“We don’t have much time,” Narcissa whispered haggardly into his ear, desperate to do the one thing she’d been dreaming about since she first saw him in those damn trousers. “I want to suck your cock.” She felt Charlie’s stupid grin against the soft skin of her throat and he chuckled slightly before backing up off of her and leaning against the heavy wooden desk in the center of the room.

Narcissa licked her lips as he unbuckled his pants and she was on her knees in front of him before he had gotten them open. She slapped his hands away and tore at the zipper before reaching in and pulling his cock out of the constricting garment. Charlie pushed his pants lower on his hips, but didn’t take them off completely. She paused momentarily, desperate to get a good look at it.

He was only half hard, but he was already twice the size of her husband. Excitement swept through her as she grabbed the base of his cock and licked the tip experimentally, watching the way the younger man’s body reacted to her. She licked at it again, this time sweeping her tongue along his length from base to tip, making intense eye contact as she did so. Narcissa teased him until his cock was completely hard, before she wrapped her lips fully around his shaft, fighting against her gag reflex to take as much of it into her throat as she could, though she knew it would be impossible for her to take all of it, she used her hand to help give him as much pleasure as she could. If Charlie’s noises were any indication, she was more than succeeding.

She felt a jolt of electricity in her spine when Charlie’s hands tangled in her hair and he pushed her down onto his cock, holding her there and choking her with it. Narcissa squeezed his thighs in warning when it became too much, but she enjoyed tinge of pain in her lungs when she sucked in the first gasp of air. He captured her chin in his hand and he leaned down to kiss her, tasting himself on her tongue. “It’s my turn to return the favour,” he murmured against her lips.

“We won’t have time,” Narcissa told him. If they were gone for too long, Lucius would start to get suspicious and she was sure that Arthur would be looking for his son soon.

“We’ll make time,” Charlie replied, pulling her into and standing position. She suddenly felt a chill against her bare skin and when she looked down she realized that Charlie had used a spell to undress her and she hadn’t even noticed. He kissed her again and she shuddered when his exposed cock touched her now-naked skin.

Charlie grabbed her thighs and lifted her off the ground and she could feel the tension ripple through his muscles as he moved, shoving things off the desk before he laid her on it. He kissed down her body languidly, as if they had all the time in the world, paying special attention to her nipples, which she was sure were going to be sore afterwards. Once he reached her center, he let his lips hover over her and she could feel his breath against her folds.

He traced his tongue along her outer lips and pressed kisses to her thighs, watching it drive her wild with anticipation. Narcissa was on the verge of begging when he finally began licking her in earnest, alternating between flicking her clit with his tongue and sucking on it. He wasn’t quiet about enjoying her, moaning as he lapped at her wetness, and she could feel the familiar curl of heat beginning to form in her stomach. Her legs trembled as he continued his onslaught, licking and nipping at her like he was a starving man and she was the first meal he’d consumed in years. It was somehow both too much and not enough.

He stood up and leaned over her, kissing her as he teased her pussy with his hard length, coating it in her wetness. She grabbed at his biceps, searching for something to steady herself. “Fuck me, Charlie,” she demanded, her voice heavy with authority.

Charlie grinned again – it was infuriating, really – and kissed her neck once more. “You don’t have to tell me twice,” he replied and she felt him shift so that the head of his cock was pressing against her. Electricity raced throughout her body as he pushed himself inside of her. His eyes never left her face as he did so, and she suspected that he was looking for any signs of pain or discomfort. Narcissa was a little surprised at how easily they fit together, especially since Charlie was significantly larger than her husband.

Once Charlie was sure he wasn’t hurting her, there was nothing soft or romantic about it. It was everything she had needed – she felt all of the tension melt from her body as he pounded into her. He fucked her like her body was his to use, his to take pleasure from, and it turned her on more than she cared to admit. Charlie sucked and nipped at her neck and she knew that she would have to use magic to cover those. There were moments when she couldn’t help herself and her moans echoed through the room before he covered her mouth with one of his hands, his hips never slowing as he fucked her. The hot coil of her orgasm twisted inside of her, getting tighter and tighter until it finally broke, washing over her with waves of pleasure. She was stretched around his cock and she felt impossibly full, like she would never be this full again, and she was going to let herself enjoy it.

Narcissa could feel Charlie’s arms beginning to tremble and his rhythm started to stutter as he approached the edge – he leaned down, his entire body blanketing hers as he attempted to maintain the harsh pace he’d set. She pulled him down further, so that most of his weight was on her and she wrapped her arms around his back, keeping him against her. She tried to keep herself quiet, but the sound of her moans and skin slapping against skin filled the room. It wasn’t much longer before Charlie fell into his orgasm, his body shaking as he pressed himself deeper, finishing inside of her.

They stayed like that for a while, with Charlie lazily thrusting into her as he came down from his high, keeping his softening cock buried inside of her. If she’d been anyone else, Narcissa would have whined when he pulled out – she felt empty without him now, and there was a gaping hole that only he could fill. Once Charlie had climbed off of the desk she sat up and was relieved to find that Charlie had merely banished her dress into the corner of the room. She stepped into it, pulling it back into place and she tried to smooth out the mess he’d made of her hair, though she would probably have to use a spell once he was gone.

When she looked at him, he was grinning stupidly, watching her. It was easy for him to hide the evidence of what happened – all he had to do was tuck himself back into his pants and no one would be able to tell that he’d just fucked a woman seventeen years his senior in a random office at a Ministry party. “Next time, I’m going to make you come with just my tongue,” he said as he left the room, that cocky grin still on his face.

Narcissa stared at the door where he’d been, her heart still racing and her body still pulsing with electricity. Next time. He’d said it with so much confidence that she knew it would happen – it wasn’t a question, it was just a matter of time before they’d fall into each other again. She let herself fantasize about it and she knew that the next time she had Charlie Weasley, it wouldn’t be somewhere they had to hurry, or worry about getting caught. She would take her time tearing him apart, inch by inch.

[omgjasminesimone]

Homecoming Part 3

Bryce x MC

Previous Part: Part 2

Next Part: Part 4

Summary: Bryce and Casey attend his sister’s bachelorette party

Word Count: ~3000

Author’s Note: As always, let me know if you’d like to be tagged for the next parts!

“Ughh.” Bryce mutters as he wakes up, head pounding from his hangover.

After leaving family brunch the day before, all he could think about was how badly he needed a drink. (Not a mimosa though, that would just remind him of his alcoholic mother.) But he had promised Casey he’d teach her how to surf, so they did that first. Later in the night, they met up with the high school friends he was still in contact with for drinks at his favorite Honolulu pub. Back in the day, they didn’t used to card so he’d spent plenty of time there during his teenage years.

Casey fit in seamlessly with his friends, and he enjoyed showing her off. They’d been out very late, had drank quite a lot, to the point where he could almost forget about the brunch disaster.

Bryce is quickly sobering now though. And already dreading the joint bachelorette-bachelor party that they’ll be attending tonight. His mother is hosting at the house, which means it will be an offensive display of wealth. The dress code is black tie, which informs him that it will also be boring.

Bryce rolls over to his side, wrapping at arm around Casey. He kisses the back of her neck, squeezing her gently. “Baby, wake up. Do you still want to go hiking?”

Casey groans, speaking into the pillow. “Too hungover. I feel like I’m dying, amor.”

“Amor?” Bryce repeats, his pronunciation of ‘love’ nowhere near as good as Casey’s.

Casey rolls over to face him. “Now that we’re using the L word, you finally get a term of endearment. All the good Spanish ones are so romantic that I couldn’t use them if you just liked me.”

“All I had to do was tell you that I loved you to finally get my endearment? Well damn, I should have done that months ago.”

Casey laughs, giving him a quick peck.

He’s unsatisfied with such a chaste kiss. He cups her cheeks, pulling her to him and kissing her again. He licks at her lips until she opens her mouth, his tongue sweeping inside.

“Say it again.” He mumbles against her lips when he pulls away. “Roll the r.”

“Amor.” She pronounces, exaggerating the rolled r at the end.

“I love you baby.”

“I love you too, mi amor.”

…

..

.

 Haku laughs as he surfaces, shaking the chlorinated pool water out of his dark hair.

“Again Uncle Bryce, again!” The boy cries out, swimming back to his uncle.

Bryce grips under Haku’s armpits, hoisting him far into the air once again.  He stretches as Haku hits the water with a large splash. His arms are starting to get tired. Haku really does have limitless energy. That’s why Abigail asked him to babysit. Their mother wanted him out of the house as she made preparations for the party, not running around under the hired help’s feet.

Haku smiles as he surfaces, swimming back once again. “Now let’s play Marco Polo!”

“I don’t know little man. The rest of the hotel guests might not like that.” The pool is fairly popular today, and Bryce narrowly dodges a small girl doggy paddling by him.

Haku pouts. “Ok, I’m taking a bathroom break and then we can have a holding our breath competition!”

Haku hurries out of the pool, tugging up his blue swim trunks. “Do you need me to go with you?” Bryce offers.

Haku looks at him incredulously. “No!” He says insistently. “I’m eight!”

Bryce smirks. “My bad, you’re right. You’re a big boy. But don’t run off! Come right back here!”

Haku rolls his eyes, but doesn’t retort.

Bryce’s gaze falls on Casey, who is watching with a smile from the in-pool bar. He swims to her, leaning against the stool next to her. “I know what you’re thinking.”

Casey sips on her non-alcoholic smoothie, returning his flirty gaze. “And what’s that?”  

“Something along the lines of…” He pitches his voice up in a mocking imitation of her’s. “Wow, Bryce is so good with him. He’s going to be an amazing dad. Definitely not one of those workaholic doctors who never plays with his kids. Wow, I really want him to father my children.” He leans in closer, delighting in the blush that spreads across her olive skin.

“Even if I had been thinking something like that, the arrogance with which you just said that immediately made my ovaries shrivel up.”

Bryce puts a hand over his heart, pretending to be hurt. “Don’t say that babe.” He drops the act, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her softly. “We’d make such pretty babies. And they’d be smart too.” He breathes against her lips.

Haku returns, cannonballing into the water. Bryce kisses her one more time before pulling away. Haku swims to Casey. “Want to do the breath holding competition with us Casey?” Haku asks.

“Why don’t I be the referee? We have to make sure your uncle doesn’t cheat.” Casey whispers the last part conspiratorially.

“I never cheat. When you’re as talented as I am, you don’t have to. I’ll show you who has the better lung capacity Haku. But after that we have to head back to the room and get ready for your mom’s party.”

…

..

.

Bryce takes a deep breath when he stops the car outside his family’s colossal mansion, composing himself. The valet appears, opening the door for him. He nods, handing over the keys. Haku and Casey step out of the car as their doors are opened as well.

“Haku, come here.” Bryce orders.

Haku approaches and Bryce crouches, fixing Haku’s tie since he’d been playing with it during the car ride. He claps his nephew’s shoulder, and Haku grins before running into the house. Bryce turns to Casey, placing a hand on her lower back. She turns to him, gripping his black tie. “This is crooked.” She straightens it, tugging on it to bring his lips down to her’s when she’s done.

The kiss is chaste, because she’s wearing deep red lipstick and doesn’t want to get it all over him. He admires how beautiful she is for a moment. Her black dress is long with a slit running up to her thigh. The deep v neckline exposes a tasteful amount of cleavage. He smirks when he sees she’s checking him out as well. She’s never seen him in a tux before. As good as he looks in his scrubs, he knows he really shines in a tux.

He offers her his arm. “Shall we?”

She grins, gripping his strong bicep. “Let’s.”

They enter the house, and Casey is clearly awed as soon as she glances around the ballroom he leads her to. Hawaii’s richest and most powerful are all in attendance, mingling and networking in the large open space.

“You guys have a ballroom in your house?” Casey asks with disbelief.

“My parents have a ballroom in their house.” He corrects, grabbing some champagne off the tray of a passing waiter.  

There is a live band playing, but it’s soft elevator music and no one is dancing. Bryce spots Haku sitting in a chair in the corner, playing a video game on a handheld console. “This is a pretty low key bachelorette party. I was hoping for debauchery. And strippers.” Casey comments.

Bryce smirks, resting his hand on her back, a little lower than is proper. “Is that what you’re into? I can strip for you.”

“Was that another one of your med school side hustles?” She jokes.

“Nah, the bartending and modeling were enough to get me through. But I think I’d be good at stripping. Probably one of my many talents. We can find out when we get back to the hotel tonight.”

Any response Casey might have had is interrupted when Mrs. Lahela spots them from across the room and approaches.

“Bryce, dearest.” She is wearing a black ballroom dress, encrusted with expensive stones. She kisses both of his cheeks in a European style greeting. “And Casey, darling, how wonderful to see you again.” She kisses Casey on both cheeks as well, grinning when she pulls away.

Casey is a little thrown off by the transformation. There is a wine glass in her hand, but Bryce’s mother is just sipping on it casually. Nothing like the lush she met at brunch. “Nice to see you again too.” Casey returns.

“You look wonderful.” Mrs. Lahela compliments.

“Thank you, so do you.” Casey replies.

Mrs. Lahela spots someone over Casey’s shoulder and turns back to her with an apologetic grin. “You must excuse me, I just saw the Governor. Hostess duties call, but do try the escargot! It was very expensive and it’s delicious.”

Bryce scoffs when his mother is out of earshot. “She never drinks heavily in front of other people. You’ll learn soon that nothing is more important to my family than appearances and reputation. She saves the alcoholic you met at brunch just for her immediate family.” He answers her silent question.

Casey squeezes his hand comfortingly. “Well, you heard your mother. Let’s find this escargot.”

They meander through the room, sampling the food the wait staff is carrying around.

“Bryce!” Abigail calls, dragging her fiancé behind her by the hand.

“Ryan.” Bryce greets shortly, nodding at the handsome blonde man.

“Hey Bryce. Good to see you again. It’s been years….I think the last time I saw you was prep school graduation.” Ryan responds.

Bryce doesn’t try to keep the conversation going.

“I’m Casey. This is quite the bachelor party.” Casey interjects to fill the awkward silence.

Ryan smiles at her, shaking her hand. “Nice to meet you Casey. I can’t take any credit. Mrs. Lahela – I mean Kate, she insists that I call her Kate now – planned everything.”

As Ryan and Kate talk, Abigail leans in to talk in Bryce’s ear. “Dad wants you to join him in the cigar room.”

Bryce grimaces. The cigar room. That’s never good. “I can’t just leave Casey.”

Abigail shoots him an annoyed look. “She’s a big girl Bryce. She can mingle. Would you just go talk to him so he doesn’t come out here and cause a scene in front of all of my guests?”

Bryce sighs, running a hand through his hair irritably. “Fine.” He turns to Casey, interrupting her conversation with Ryan somewhat rudely, but he really doesn’t like Ryan. Back in prep school, Ryan had been a womanizer, a bully, an elitist who treated the boarding school staff terribly, and just an all-around asshole.  

“Baby, I’ve got to go for a few minutes. Will you be okay out here?”

“Of course Bryce. I’m a big girl.”

Abigail smiles. “That’s what I said. Come on Casey, I’m going to introduce you to a few people.”

Bryce reluctantly walks through the hall to the cigar room. He knocks, and waits for his father to say “enter” before opening the door.

Aoloa sits in his favorite red plush chair, very expensive and reminiscent of a throne. Bryce’s older brother Francis sits in a smaller chair beside their father. In addition to his family, some close male family friends are also in the room. They’re all puffing on expensive cigars.

“Bryce, take a seat. Have a cigar.” Aoloa suggests, but it comes off as a demand.

Bryce sits on a couch beside his father’s lawyer, nodding at the older man. “I’ll pass on the cigar. It’s not good for you.” Bryce replies.

Aoloa shrugs. “Suit yourself. They’re Cuba’s finest though, so you’re really missing out.”  

“You won’t find a lot of physicians who smoke.” Bryce retorts.

Francis scoffs, and Bryce glares at him. “Something you want to say?”

Francis’ eyes narrow as he regards his little brother. “Yes actually. Ever since you became a doctor you think you’re so much better than us. That the family real estate business is beneath you. Frankly, I find it infuriating.”

“Francis, stop. This is between me and my son.” Aoloa insists.

Francis looks angry, but he defers to Aoloa. As always, playing the faithful little lap dog.

“Bryce, business is booming lately. With Ryan entering the fold, we’ll acquire an exclusive contract with his father, an important developer. We need all the Lahelas involved in the business.”

Bryce’s jaw clenches. They’ve had this conversation before. He’s never wanted in on the family business. He’s always been passionate about surgery. When he admitted this at his prep school graduation dinner, his father had become enraged. Ultimately, he refused to support Bryce financially through college. With his father’s income, Bryce qualified for no financial aid. He had been admitted to Stanford for undergrad, but he couldn’t afford it on his own so he’d taken a scholarship to the University of Hawaii.

He’d been looking forward to getting out of Hawaii. Looking forward to distancing himself from his toxic family. But he’d had to wait until medical school to finally go to Stanford, working his way through since his father still refused to help him.

“I’m about to be a senior resident. I’m the best surgical resident Edenbrook has. This is my dream, and I’ve worked hard for it.”

Aoloa’s eyes narrow. “Your dream? To be so poor that you have to ask your parents for money to buy a house?”

Bryce’s fist clenches. “I knew you would try to hold that over my head. I’m paying you back. I send you money every month. And let’s not forget you’re charging me interest, a much higher interest rate than any bank would charge.”

“No bank would ever give you a loan. You have no idea what it’s like to actually earn something on your own merit. To work hard. I came from nothing, and built all of this. You had every advantage, groomed for this work, and you’re throwing it all away.” Aoloa says with disappointment.

“Well so be it then. Invoice me for whatever I owe you for my upbringing. I’ll work on paying that back too.”

Francis leans back in his chair. “I told you this was a waste of time Dad.”  

“Seems like raising him in the first place was a waste of my time.” Aoloa responds cruelly.

Bryce stands, heading for the door. “I’m done here.” He slams the door behind him.

…

..

.

Casey and Abigail have migrated from the ballroom to the patio, where heat lamps and twinkling lights have been set up for ambiance.

“You know, I’m surprised you’re out here with me. Don’t you have a lot of friends in there?” Casey asks.

“Those are my parents’ friends. You’ve probably noticed, but my mom likes to throw parties seemingly for other people, but really just to show off her expensive house. Luckily, my actual friends planned a much better bachelorette party last week. There were strippers and penis decorations.”

Casey smiles. “Good. The bachelorette party you deserve.”

Abigail smiles, sipping on a cocktail and regarding Casey. “You know, I really like you. And I like you for Bryce. And this is a huge compliment coming from me because Bryce’s ex Tia is one of my best friends, one of my bridesmaids even. I kind of ship them, but man, you’re making me waiver.” Abigail seems to be a little drunk.  

“Thanks, I think.” Casey replies dubiously.

Abigail finishes her cocktail, gesturing for a passing waiter to bring her another.  “Bryce is just such a good guy, I always want the absolute best for him. Did he tell you that he let me live in his dorm room when I got pregnant?”

Casey shakes her head no, Bryce definitely didn’t tell her any of that.

“My parents were pissed. Unmarried teenage daughters don’t get pregnant very often in their circles. They said I was ruining the Lahela name. They wanted me to get an abortion.”

The waiter brings the cocktail, and Abigail downs it in one gulp before continuing. “But I loved Kahoni. And I wanted his baby. So they threw me out onto the streets. Kahoni is one of ten kids and lived in a three bedroom house with his whole family, so I couldn’t go to him. Francis had his own condo in Honolulu at the time, but he told me to get lost. He’s an asshole. But Bryce was living in a dorm at the University of Hawaii and he moved me in no questions asked. He even gave me his bed. He slept in a sleeping bag on his floor for the rest of the semester. I felt really bad about that, worried he was going to mess his grades up since he wasn’t getting a good night’s sleep.”

Abigail’s eyes well up with tears. “He’s just such a good guy Casey. He was the first one to hold Haku, you know. Kahoni had a car accident rushing to the hospital when I went into labor, so it was just me and Bryce. And he also helped me and Kahoni pay for our own place afterwards, for almost a year until Kahoni finally got a decent job.”

Casey takes Abigail’s hand, squeezing it to comfort the younger woman. “What happened with Kahoni?’ Casey asks.

“Love doesn’t pay the bills. I thought he was going to get it together eventually, be the man that I needed. But he never fully stepped up, not the way I wanted him to. Kahoni says I’m spoiled, that I expect too much. But my parents softened a little bit after Haku was born. They never liked Kahoni and told me I could come home if I left him. So two years ago I did.”

“Well, at least you’re happy now with Ryan.” Casey says.

Abigail smiles sadly. “Happy enough anyway.”

Bryce suddenly appears, making a beeline for her. “Casey, I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Let’s get out of here. I can’t be here a second longer.”

He sounds so insistent she finds herself immediately getting to her feet.

Abigail laughs humorlessly. “That bad huh?” She asks softly. She stands as well. “Thanks for coming big brother.” She hugs him tightly. “See you tomorrow bright and early for the rehearsal!” She chimes when she releases him.

“Wait, rehearsal? Why? I’m not in the wedding party.” Bryce questions.

Abigail looks surprised. “Of course you are. I made Ryan make you a groomsman.”

…

..

.

Taglist:  @octobereighth @sibella-plays-choices @hazah @akrenich @lovehugsandcandy @professorortegasstudent @regina-and-happiness @brightpinkpeppercorn @choicesarehard @lizeboredom  @desiree-0816 @hellooliviaolivia @dreaming-of-movies @friedherringclodthing @weaving-in-words @fairydustandsarcasm @goldenjellyfish12 @pessimystic-fangirl @mimikoasahina

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #180

“why don’t presidents fight the war, why do they always send the poor?”

Do you study anything? If so what? Not currently.. Listening to music? What’s the opening and last lyric of the song? "From her throne of skulls rules our queen of endless might / and lead us the the kingdom of chaos where the dark hearts forever dwell" ("Dark Mother Divine" by Dissection). Are you a fan of sci-fi? Neutral. What’s your favorite musical? Musicals make me cringe. Have you ever taken an underwater picture? No. What was your favorite color when you was little? Has it changed? Red, and then pink when I learned it was its own color. It's still pink. Are you a fan of cheesecake? Omfg no Ever been on a ride and hated every second? I don't believe so. When was the last time you jumped? And why? biiiiih I have no idea. What color is the floor in your bedroom? Tan. Who’s the last person that slept over at your house? Sara. What color is the hair on your arms? Very light brown. Favorite color eyeshadow? Black is the only way to go. Do you have any friends that you’ve known for 10 years or more? Yeah. Who was the last person that cried in front of you? Did you do/say anything to comfort them? My niece or nephew, because we were leaving, and yes. Who was the last person you cried in front of? Did you feel embarrassed about it? Mom, probs. No. What was the last compliment you received from someone of the opposite sex? My psychiatrist said I was doing well with improvement or something. Does the person you love/like have any pets? Yes. Are you satisfied with the way your life is right now? No, things need to begin changing. Do you wear socks to bed? Who the fuck does that. Do you actually love your parents? Yeah. Do you like being in a relationship? Yeah. Do you prefer the tanning bed or the sun? I don't tan. Are you taller than your mum? I think she's like, a half inch taller than me? What’s something you want to purchase next time you’re at the mall? If it has a Hot Topic, some band or graphic t-shirt. Do you prefer regular or diet soft drinks? Regular, as the artificial sweetener in diet inevitably gives me a headache. Tastes awful, anyway. How long do you need to get to know someone, before you’d think about having a relationship with them? I think this depends on how quickly and deeply you click. Would you ever consider going to meet up with someone you started talking to online? Already have, would meet more. Have you ever wanted to be on American Idol? When was this? No. Do you have any friends you’d trust completely with your life? Sara. Are you failing any classes you’re taking in school? N/A Name one song lyric from your favorite song of all time? "In school, I would just bite my tongue, and now your words, they strike me down. The flags are false and they contradict, they point and click which wounds to lick." Do you know anyone who owns a pet chinchilla? Are they fun? No. Do your parents trust you alone with members of the opposite sex? Yeah. What is the most visited website you have listed right now? I'm sure it's YouTube. Do you enjoy singing? Why or why don't you like it? Sometimes, but I suck at it. Have you ever been in a talent show? What was your talent? No. Do you have a best friend who is of the opposite sex? No. What’s one song you’re definitely getting sick of at the moment? I don't listen to such songs once they get old. Do you know the full anatomy of the human body? Why or why not? No, because I've never specialized in studying it in its entirety. Have you ever cheated on a significant other before? No. Does your boyfriend or girlfriend have a pretty smile? ACTUAL SUNSHINE What is your favorite past-time or hobby? Why is this your favorite? Gaming, 'cuz it's the best escape from reality imo. Are you committing a sin at the moment? Which one? Sloth. Always. What do you consider being the worst curse word? I don't believe in "curse" words. Do you like kissing lightly better than just making out? I mean I'm pretty sure anyone would reply with "it depends on the mood." On average, how many songs do you listen to in a day? No clue. Sometimes many, sometimes none. Do you ever buy your pet(s) birthday or Christmas presents? Yes. Do you still own any VHS tapes? Do you ever watch them? Mom probably has old home videos. Otherwise, no. One thing you promised yourself you’d never do and then did? Not trying at all to be dramatic, but I seriously did promise myself I'd never risk loving someone again after Jason. Have you ever had to call 911? No. Have you ever rolled off your bed in your sleep? No. Do you get along with your significant other’s friends? I only know Tiffany, and she's great. Do you enjoy board games? No. What is the most expensive gift you have ever given someone? A promise ring. Describe your socks. I'm not wearing socks. I hate them. Do you believe in yourself? Sometimes. Do you feel bad when you kill bugs? Usually no... sadly. I should. If it was like a butterfly and insects of that sort, I'd feel awful. What is your favorite planet? Saturrrrrn. Do you have any pets that you had since you were born? No. Do you own anything that you had when you were a baby? Yes. Are you one of those people who are always cold? No, I'm like, permanently hot... Do you enjoy Mario games? Not especially. Things like Mario Kart though are fun to play with friends. Describe your signature: Legible but written waaay too slowly. What are some of your favorite card/board games? Battleship, Scattergories, Clue, Magic: The Gathering, uhhh... Do you own a gaming console? Which one? PS2, Wii, broken PS3 that I wanna get repaired, GameBoy, Nintendo DS Lite. What is the name of the last bar you went to? Never been to one. Do you follow any sports teams? No. How old were you when you attended your first concert and what was it? Ummm 17-ish? Alice Cooper. Which one of these words describe you the best: stubborn, impatient, hot-tempered, lazy, arrogant? Lazy. How about these: compassionate, forgiving, altruistic, honest, open-minded? Compassionate. If you had to choose one activity to do for 10 minutes, would you rather jump rope, hula hoop or hopscotch? My knees are baaaad, so all I really could survive is hula-hoop. What's the last TV show you watched, and do you relate to any of the characters? Ash had Naked and Afraid on at her house, but I related to neither contestant very much. If you had to compare yourself to one character from Friends, who would you say you're most like? Never really watched it. What is one movie you saw only once because you hated it so much? None solely for the reason of not liking it. Would you have sex with the last person you text messaged? THAT WOULD BE MY MOTHER UM LEMME THINK NO. How many people of the opposite sex do you fully trust? None. Nightmares ruined my dad to a degree I don't think I can completely recover from, even with how close we are. Out of absolutely nowhere, I had another one that resulted in me jerking awake and literally giving out a short scream. I feel in my heart I should fully trust my dad and that his image is wrongly affected by my own fears, but I'm not very sure how to change that. Ever used a bow and arrow? Not a real one. Favorite Taylor Swift song? Fuckin FIGHT me "Picture To Burn" SLAPS. Give me a song that is underestimated/not well known: "Possession" by Otep. Otep songs in general. Does everyone in your family have a job? I'm the only one who doesn't. Name a reason you would most likely go to jail for: Probably killing someone when defending a loved one from being physically attacked, and there won't be enough evidence to show that I did it as defense or that going that far was justifiable. I have actually worried about this lmao. What kind of car did your parents have while you were growing up? A blue and then tan van, and Dad had a series of old, tan cars named Frida the Cheetah I-III. :') Do you tie your socks together or roll them up? Roll them up. What was your last bad date? I don't think I've had a bad one... Do you ever wish your birthday was on a different day? Yup, 'cuz it's occasionally Superbowl Sunday. What holiday would you want to have your birthday on? BITCH HALLOWEEN. Have you ever gone snorkeling or scuba diving? No. If yes, what’s the coolest thing you’ve seen? N/A What’s your favorite filling in chocolates? Fudge. When’s the last time you had a s'more? Some time after Sara's visit in June when we had some stuff left over. Does your best friend have any phobias? ... How am I blanking. I know some of her fears, but they're rational. Do you prefer the taste of lemon or limes? Lemons. What would you name your firstborn son? Probably Damien, or Severin. Do you cook anything you don’t like eating? I don't cook. What’s the last picture you colored? One I drew. What is the cheesiest way a guy could propose marriage? M'kay, it's always a man who proposes, I'll take note. But regardless, idk. What’s the first instrument you ever played? A recorder. Do you have an attic? A small one. Have you ever lived in the country before? My whole life. Do you drink coffee every day? No, I hate coffee. Have you ever stayed in a suite? No. Do you take good pictures? Sometimes, though I suck at manual mode because it's hard for me to tell when things are *perfectly* in focus. Have you ever been in a tornado or hurricane? Hurricanes. Do you have any bookmarks in your internet browser? If so, how many? Four. Do you know anyone in the military right now? I believe so. What’s your favorite show on Comedy Central? Don't watch it. How old is the oldest person you know? Uhhhh... late 80s? Early 90s? Do you usually go to sleep before or after the people you’re living with? Varies. Which band has the best name, in your opinion? Cradle of Filth is badass. Which one of your exes do you feel like you have the most chemistry with? Have, none, had, Jason. Do you like where your house is located? No. What’s the best hotel you’ve been to? One right by the beach. Are you into designer clothes? Nope, forget those prices. The only I plan on buying something from sometime is Cloak out of relentless support for The Man and The Apprentice. Have you ever done any internship? No. What’s your favorite store? (other than Hot Topic) Do not attack me like this. But anyway, Rebel's Market. What do you think about tattoos on women? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA fuck you. Have the cops ever gotten onto you for anything before? No. Do you have a Myspace? And if so what is your screen name? It probably still exists, and idk. Do you have a YouTube? Yeah. Facebook? Yeah. Gaia? Idk what that is. Bzoink? No. What email thingy do you use? (yahoo, gamil, rock) Hotmail and Gmail. Do you own a cellphone? If so what kind is it? A Shitty Samsung™ Do you have a digital camera? What kind is it? A Nikon D3200, but I'm hopefully getting a new Nikon or Canon soon. This camera's just about toast. What is your most common typo? Ummm. Idk. I don't make many now as I have to type slowly on this annihilated keyboard. What happens now is just not pushing down hard enough, so I wouldn't really call them "typos.' What kind of computer do you have? My actual one is a Sager, but the one I currently have to use is an Acer. Do you have an iPod/MP3 player? Yes. Literally had it since the beginning of middle school. What is your favorite video game of all time? Silent Hill 2 for story, Shadow of the Colossus for gameplay. For overall, they're pretty much tied. Have you ever played Call of Duty? No. Do you play games on the computer? When I get the Sager fixed... How many doors are in your house? Windows? Doors leading outside, I'm guessing? Two. Windows... at least eight. Nine? Most are small, though. Do you have any posters on your walls? Of what? Metallica, a unicorn at therapy being told "you need to believe in yourself," Homecoming-styled Pyramid Head, Marilyn Manson, Illidan from WoW, Silent Hill 3, Jack Skellington, a music one, and meerkats. What kind of bed do you have? (fouton, twin, bunk) Queen. Is your bed comfortable? Eh. Where is your computer located? I only have a laptop. Other than a closet, do you use a dresser/wardrobe to keep your clothes in? I have a dresser. How many mirrors do you have in your house? (other than hand-held) Uhhh two? Do you have a garage? No. Should you be doing anything right now? What? No. Do doctors or dentists make you more nervous? Doctors. Did you ever think you were about to die before? Ha, in the fourth grade when I was writing my DARE paper and I accidentally stabbed my freshly-sharpened pencil into my left palm... I thought it was lead so I ran SOBBING to my mom about how I was going to die lmao. Then after I ODed, I acknowledged there was a possibility, but I didn't care to think about whether I lived or died to like... think either one. Have you ever really had a near-death experience? Was it cool? "Was it cool." Fuck off. There's no such thing as a "cool" way of almost dying. Anyway, I got in a car accident when I was young, but Mom's driving saved our ass. I don't know if you'd classify the OD as near-death... I apparently didn't take enough to where a certain ingredient became heavily toxic or something, plus I was fucking drowned in fluids to counteract the amount I did have in super quickly (or something like that), so I didn't really experience an "I'm dying right now" fear like I did when I saw the wreck coming. How often do you brush your teeth? Once a day. How often do you shower? (Come on, tell the truth) Every other day, or if I'm being lazy, I go an extra day and regret my decision. What body type do you have? Um not skinny help. What kind of nose do you have? It's kinda little. Are your eyebrows thick? Normal. What color eyes do you wish you had? A more sapphire blue. Do you have fat lips? I'd say they're normal. Do you have a long neck? No. What are your views on abortion? Ultimately, when all things are considered, pro-choice, but I believe in avoiding abortion as well as you can. Like, just getting one solely because you were being sexually careless is a no from me, but like, if pregnancy and/or bearing a child would be an incredibly difficult feat for you emotionally and/or physically, you have the right to put yourself first. Gay marriage? All for it. What different types of churches have you visited? Catholic and Christian. Who would you want to be the flower girl at your wedding? Aubree, buuut I doubt her dad would allow it considering there's a high chance I'm marrying a woman, and he's homophobic as all hell. Do you want to be married within the next ten years? Ideally. What group are you most active in on Facebook? I'm only in one, a WoW group. I rarely comment on anything tho. Are you ashamed of anything? Yes. What were your favorite Disney rides as a kid? I don't really remember them. What were your favorite rides at Cedar Point? Never been. Have you ever owned a succulent? No. Favorite type of tea to drink in the fall? I hate tea. If a brand were to sponsor you, which brand(s) would you prefer? *shrugs* Have you read the entire Bible? No. Do you make bucket lists for each season? No. What is the next hobby you want to start? I'unno... I guess I'd like to get back to reading. Do you dye your hair regularly? No, it's not something I can afford, especially because I want complex color combos. What makes you depressed? Thinking too much about my current life issues, above anything else. My brain confuses depression and boredom a lot, and I'm bored plenty. Loved ones being hurt or upset, and sometimes thinking about the future. Do you think you could ever be famous? Nooooo, I absolutely do not want that. Do you think you have what it takes to make it big in the entertainment biz? Definitely not. What industry is it that you want to go into? Art. Do you have a job now? If so, what is it? No. What are some jobs you’ve had in the past? Sales clerk/associate. What are some jobs you want to or would like to have? List five. Photographer, zoologist, archaeologist, meerkat biologist, artist. What are some jobs you have considered? Archaeologist, vet, movie director, game designer, movie editor, and now zoologist and photography. What are some health problems you have had in the past? That I don't still have? Lots of ear infections, high cholesterol, insomnia, and talk about embarrassing, but last year I had this random span of premature nighttime incontinence... that fucking sucked. What are some of the best medications you’ve ever had? The Latuda + Lamictal combo is one of the biggest reasons I'm still alive. What is your favorite vitamin? I don't have one. Have you ever made money off of YouTube? No. What was a video you watched over and over as a kid? OH MY GOD so Nicole and I watched "Before He Cheats" covers (why idk????) and she found this one of a girl lip-syncing along to a super sped-up version and we found it stupid funny. Have you ever experienced depression as a side effect? Yes; I have both bipolarity and depression, but taking anti-depressants while also bipolar ramps your bipolar symptoms the fuck up, so of course my times of depression were soooo much worse than they were supposed to be. Have you ever been suicidal as a withdrawal symptom? No. How old were you when you started wearing glasses (if applicable)? Some time in middle school, I think? Have you ever been told you have an accent? As a kid I really did; when seeing my NY relatives, they would always point it out lmao. Now I think I only super faintly do and it's only slightly noticeable with some words. Actually at the reptile con in Illinois, after a bit of talking, a girl I met asked if I was from the U.K. because apparently she detected a faint trace of B r i t i s h? Describe the last situation in which you had to give up on an individual? I've gone back and forth with Colleen so many times that I feel anyone who reads these knows the story. What are some things that cause you to abandon association with someone? Shoving opinions in my face, arrogance, disinterest in our relationship, closed-minded, just to name a few. When was the last time you made a new friend? Ha. What is the most unusual thing within your general vicinity? Ummmm I'm not sure. Maybe my python, as she's a morph? What are some things you enjoy that not many others do? Writing, reptiles and amphibians, conspiracies, looots of snow, foreign music, watching others play games, uhhhh. Are you one who considers preserving your past important? In some ways, sure, but not a lot. Focus on the present and aim to create a future better than your past. When was the last time you had some sort of a meltdown? I'm not sure. Some time last month, I think. When was the last time you were super busy? Psh. I'm never busy. Not always a good thing. What is a quality someone might not assume you have? Serious impatience. I don't think I hint towards that weakness until like, you see me in a doctor's office. What was the last thing you did that was healthy? Got a good night's sleep. What was the last thing you did that could harm your health? Drank soda oops. Do you know anyone who self-injures? Not in the present, I believe. Have you ever had to reside with an individual who had a mental disorder? Mom has depression.

[deliciousengineerangel]

Our first fuck

You came by Wednesday afternoon. It was snowing. I picked you up at the station, you had brought some beers. Nice! I had some Vodka and beers – rather too much than not enough though. It was a simple date – chilling, drinking, music, shows – nothing was really planned. I had promised to give you a massage, to get you to come to the suburbs. I wanted to see you but didn’t want to go all the way back and forth to the city center. Didn’t end up giving you the massage – still owe you that one. Cash it in anytime, I’ll even throw in a “happy ending” if you want. Beware though. I’m generous, because I think that the more, I give, the more I’ll receive in the long run. I love pleasuring, because I believe that the quality of any given moment is a product of the enjoyment of every individual – and that we are all one, you’re a different version of me.

Same same, but different.

We got back to my room and sat down on the bed. It was kinda weird having a chick over, when I have such a small room with almost no furniture – after being used to having a really cool apartment. Sitting on the bed and talking was pretty chill though, at least for me. I put on some music – my “new tracks playlist”. I’m not sure about your taste in music, you say you like everything – but what do you prefer? Anyway, you seemed to enjoy the tracks, which makes me happy. I’m really arrogant. I have great taste in music, and very varied. A lot of the tracks are French pop/rap, and some trance, hardstyle and metal tracks. All the music I’ve listened to, has been discovered through others, either people or algorithms. I love discovering new music.

Sometimes you listen to a track, and think wow!!! Then you listen to that track a bunch of times. The more you listen, the more you enjoy. At some point, you’re know the track so well that you could play it in your head without even listening to it.

It’s weird playing music for other people, “DJ’ing”. I love my own music taste. If there’s anyone else, I get insecure about what to play. What does this person like? What tracks do I want to play? I don’t want to play my favorite tracks/artists, if I think the people I’m with won’t enjoy them.

You seem cool. You say you enjoy pretty much any genre. You’ve been to Wacken. You said you had a great time seeing Ensiferum live and had fun crowdsurfing. We listened to the Clayman album – Trust me, it’s rare to find chicks that like In flames. I have no idea why; the whole metal scene is like 75% guys.

I told you the story of my ABGT 250 experience, traveling to a festival in the states with only $36. I love that story, those memories. I’m a crazy person, doing crazy things. The only things holding me back are fear and anxiety. Which is probably a good thing. Funny thing is that anything I described in that story was true, and also less scary than kissing a chick. Traveling alone across the world without money available, investing my savings in the “most risky” assets, doing high doses of psychedelic drugs – doesn’t scare me that much. Of course, it makes me nervous, but kissing chicks terrifies me. I’m not sure why. You told me that everybody knew how big a crush you had on me years ago, and I must have been the only one that didn’t know. I’m not sure. The way I remember it, I did have a feeling that you liked me, but I also wasn’t sure, and I was way different back then.

I was raised in a very feminist household – with a strong focus on gender equality, which led to me believing that I had to look for women as “smart” as me. I’m really smart in some ways – also really stupid. Back then, I was looking for someone like me – instead of someone to compliment me. You often say how much you’d like to be able to get a university degree like your sister, but as I’ve said before – you’re doing really well in life. Having an andels-apartment in central Copenhagen, with no loan left to pay off – most people in the world would be really jealous. One of the things I admire/enjoy about you is the way you’re open to anything and seem to try to have a good time, regardless – you’re like “Yeah, I’ll give it a try! why not?”. I’ve been the same way recently, even though I used to be the complete opposite. Sometimes I’m in doubt whether you’re being fake nice to me – you seem too good to be true. Nobody accepts me as much.

Okay, back to the story.

 From the beginning, you’ve really been confusing me. At first, you were lesbian – or at least thought so. That was cool with me, I’ve never had a lesbian friend. Haven’t had many girlfriends in general. Then we started cuddling. You know how much I had missed cuddling and how much I love it. Suddenly we’re cuddling in a more intimate way than with anyone I’ve cuddled with – because I’d end up escalating way before having cuddled for as long and close as we did. You said you were lesbian though, and I enjoyed the cuddles. Suddenly we’re kissing and having oral sex. I’ve always loved oral, both giving and receiving. There’s less pressure than with penetration, for me at least. I don’t have to worry about not Cumming. It also felt really fucking nice to have my dick sucked after so long. More than 4 years since last time. Wtf.

 Actually, back to the story.

So, we were in my bed, talking, cuddling, kissing, listening to music. As usual, I have no idea what to do. I’m having a great time – you were giving me the craziest compliments. I really enjoyed having someone to chill with, cuddling and talking. It’s kinda weird that we’re talking so much better than back in the days. Also, I didn’t really know what we were going to do. We had oral last time, but were we going to go all the way?

Having intercourse sometimes makes me nervous. It feels so good, but also makes me cum really fast when I’m not used to it. As we were making out and I was rubbing your pussy through your pants, you started talking about anal, and how you would have to get eased into it. At first, I thought it was kinda weird you would mention anal at that point. Then I remembered our conversation – you already know a lot about me sexually. No worries though – I won’t be rushing anything. Anal is pretty great though, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it – when done the right way, with a lot of warm-up. Hahaha actually I’ve tried both giving and receiving now. Definitely want to try having you stick fingers or toys up my ass, while giving me a blowjob.

Guess I’m just going to be as honest as I can about everything. Even though it may seem perverted.

As we kept on making out, touching, and holding each other, I got more and more horny. My dick was diamond hard, and all I wanted was to shove it deep inside you. I was also waiting for you to escalate, as I’ve been the whole time. Of course, by then it was clear that you were bisexual, but I was still letting things happen at your pace.

You said that you really wanted to fuck. Normal.

At that point, I was really sure I’d cum within the first 10 seconds of sticking my dick in your pussy. Over a year of celibacy will do that do a guy. Didn’t take the speed into account though – I’ve never fucked on speed before. It’s made for some crazy masturbation marathons thought, so I’m not surprised.

I told you that I want to eat you out and make you cum before we fuck. Both because I love eating pussy, but also because I thought I was going to cum instantly and wanted you to have a good time as well. It’s weird to be eating pussy again – I’m out of practice, don’t know what you like the most. At the same time, it’s like riding a bike – you don’t really forget it. It’s weird how you react after an orgasm, pushing my head away. I asked you about it, and you said you just felt really ticklish – not that it was uncomfortable. That seems similar to how the tip of my penis feels after an orgasm. I think everyone is able to have multiple orgasms – and I said that I see it as a challenge. As long as you’re up for it of course.

I don’t know how you feel about sex, and if I have a weird relation to it. I love everything about it. Slow, fast, intimate, hard, the smells, the feels, the sounds, foreplay, cuddling afterwards, oral, anal, vaginal.

The only thing that makes me insecure, is performance anxiety. I always have high expectations for myself – I like to please as much as being pleased. It’s like a sport in some ways. Making my partner cum is like hitting a home run, a 3-pointer or scoring a goal – Not sure which analogy fits best, if any.

After you came, I got really nervous and excited. Over one year since last time I got laid. I lubed my dick up with some spit – great trick, always makes it easier. The moment I stuck it in, I remember thinking something like: Fuck yeah – this feels amazing! I’ve almost forgotten how pussy feels. So nice & warm. You were able to take it without any problems, which was really nice. With some women, I’ve had to be careful not to go too deep, because they said it hurt. I’m not sure exactly how big my dick is, only that I’m perfectly happy with it – wouldn’t want it any bigger, or smaller for that matter. I hope you like it as well. Seemed like you did.

As I said, I was surprised when I didn’t cum right away. Never fucked on speed before – it seems like a miracle. Not only does it make me hornier, but it also makes it easier to control my orgasms. And makes it easier to cum more than once.

I wonder how it affects you, sexually? I was happy that you were up for it. While I completely understand that you were scared after taking a bit too much the first time – it’s also more fun to be doing it together. You’ve tried being alone in paranoia-world now, you know how it is. There’s nothing to be afraid of, especially if we’re spending the night together. Always feel free to say that you’ve had enough – I’ll always offer but never pressure. Sex, drugs & alcohol are a pretty good combo though! The best combination..

To my surprise, I was able to keep fucking you. Telling you how nice your pussy feels. We started in the missionary position – a good place to start. After a while, I took your legs and put them over my shoulders. That kinda makes everything better, feels tighter. Felt so damn good to be balls deep in your pussy. You weren’t saying much, by seemed to be enjoying it. Don’t be afraid to say stuff during sex, even if it sounds silly to you, it probably sounds hot to me. Actually, it might be good not to be too loud in my room. Housemates can hear everything. Shortly after, I put one of your legs down – makes for a really good angle.

Suddenly I could feel myself getting closer to orgasm. Normally I would have slowed down, changed positions or something else to slow things down, but after so much kissing and foreplay – I really wanted to cum.

And so I did. I won’t even try to describe how nice it felt. You saw how I was lying on the bed afterwards.

That’s one of the best feelings in the world.

I’ve never written anything like this before. Hope you enjoyed reading it. I don’t expect anything in return. At the same time, I wouldn’t mind hearing your version of the story – in Danish of course.

[thedevilinherself]

Masquerade

Notes:

This is a shortened version of an idea I had for a full series. I turned it into a oneshot, but if you all like it, let me know and I'll write the full series when I finish some one of my current series.

The bright and vibrant colors, the ornate tapestries that hung about the exquisite architecture, the beautiful and glamorous people that filled the marbled halls, giving it a sort of ghostly, haunting life with their laughter and chatter. It all made him sick. Gabriel stood off in a corner, hesitant to enter the dazzling light of the ballroom, eyes scanning the room meticulously in search of any threats or signs their cover had been blown. All around him were drunken revelers, cackling and chortling at their dry humor and ill perceived wit.

Letting out a low growl, the man shifted in his heavy and overheated costume, checking again to make sure his skull mask was fastened securely. The last thing he needed was for it to slip. All the other guests were also in masks, splendid and ornate. But then, that was the point of a masquerade ball.

Somewhere, amongst this writhing mass, was their target. A high ranking general, the man was making great strides to avoid a war with the Omnics, doing everything in his power to help Overwatch build back up into the great force it once was. With all the masked figures about, a stealthy assassination would be easy, they just had to find him first.

Sombra and Amélie were flirting their way through the crowd in an attempt to play to the general’s ego. Meanwhile, Akande was impressively social. Despite his intimidating stature and demeanor, he was a very easy man to converse with, maneuvering social situations with ease and charm. He could be seen, standing nearly a foot over the other merrymakers, tilting his head back with a hearty laugh as all around him hooted along in great amusement.

That just left Gabriel. Grumpy, unsociable, uncomfortable Gabriel.

He didn’t know why he needed to be there. Stealth wasn’t his forte and he was never good at maneuvering social event. Even in his days at Overwatch, he had usual spent his time at these events at the open bar, drinking till Jack or Ana dragged him off, sick of him making a scene. But he couldn’t do that here. There was too much at stake.

Again, his eyes swept over the masses, studying the various masks in an attempt to discern which one hid his target, but to no avail. Several minutes passed in much the same manner, till finally, Akande approached him, smile bright and welcoming in its deception.

“Any luck?” Turning to look up at the man that towered over him, Gabriel let a disgruntled hum slip past his mask. “Well maybe if you actually got out into the crowd, you would have some better luck.” Face half covered by his mask of a rhino, Gabriel could tell by the purse to the man’s lips that he was in business mode.

“Why did you even need me to come along? I am of no use in these scenarios.” The shorter man grumbled.

“This mission is too important. I want as many pieces in play as possible. Plus, this is a mission you can actually blend in on.” Sparing the other a jovial grin, Akande wasn’t surprised when the shorter man just spared him a disgruntled growl, turning his attention back to the drunken partygoers. “Go out into the crowd, socialize, you’ll be of more use that way.” The dark man stated flatly as he turned to take his leave. “Besides, you look suspicious just sulking in the corner.”

As much as he hated to admit it, Gabriel knew the other was right. Resolving that tonight was going to be nothing more than a miserable experience, he straightened himself with a huff. The sooner he could find General O’Sullivan and kill him the sooner this could end. So the man stepped down from his elevated perch, moving to mix with the swarm of debauchery and sin.

Wading his way into the crowd, Gabriel grimaced beneath the mask at all the drunken fools that jostled about. Despite his discomfort, he did his best to discern the identities of the many guests, keeping to the outer ring to avoid the dancing that consumed the center. There were celebrities, politicians, businessmen and performers, all swaying about the room in disjointed patterns. But try as he might, the man had no success over the course of the next hour.

Frustrated and hot, Gabriel prepared to make his way back to his corner, checking his mask again as he pushed past a particularly drunken fool that clambered up the grand stairs a few steps to look out over the crowd. The Talon agent only faltered when he heard the man’s booming voice ringing out from behind him.

“Ladies and gentlemen. It is my pleasure to introduce to you, our esteemed guest of the evening, and one of the loveliest women I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Now, when I invited you all here, did I not tell you that I would be bringing one of the brightest stars to shine today? And many of you doubted me. And now, singing for you tonight, le joyau de Paris.”

Applause erupted all around Gabriel as all heads turned in the same direction, eager to catch a glance of this renowned woman. At the top of the stairs appeared a young looking woman, shapely and glowing under the rosey lights that illuminated her. Her gown was black with ornate red accents, her mask covering only the upper portion of her features with the face of a demon, two large twisting horns sprouting from her hair. Many cheered as she came into sight, men whistling, women trying to look disinterested.

Gabriel had never heard of her. She looked a bit young to be so well celebrated by such famous and influential people. But then she began to sing.

As the music played, Gabriel felt himself holding his breath, eyes transfixed on the woman as her lilting voice carried him to a far away place, where it was only the two of them and her song was sung for his ears alone. It was like nothing he had ever heard. More real and haunting and ethereal than anything he had experienced before. Everything around him faded away, and all his senses were overwhelmed by her. Her voice, so soothing, so effeminate and lyrical. Smoother than satin and sweeter than even the greatest treats, Gabriel felt his heart begin to melt, swelling and souring with the notes she carried. Never before had he been so enamored, so swept away by feelings, unexplainable and all consuming.

As her song came to an end, the man found himself paralyzed, unable to look away as she glided down the steps towards him, mind still playing the sound of her angelic voice over and over again in his head. He felt compelled to move towards her, to speak to her, to hear more of that inspiring voice. But as her lips pursed, eyes sharp and displeased, a sense of intimidation never before felt took over the man. As her eyes locked on him, Gabriel was consumed by a feeling of nervous excitement that he hadn’t felt since he was sixteen. With hurried step, the woman came to stand directly in front of him, assertive and forceful as she spoke.

That is how you met him.

“Would you dance with me?” You asked, tone sharp, as if it wasn’t really a question and more of an order.

“Huh?” Was all he could think to say in response, so caught off guard by your directness.

“Please?” Your eyes pleaded with him. While Gabriel struggling for a response, another man came over to interject himself into the conversation.

“My dear. You simple must dance with me. I do believe this will be the night you finally fall in love with me.” The man was trim, well built, but something in the way he carried himself and the exaggerated expense of his costume left Gabriel with a sour taste for the man. Arrogance, the man reeked of it, looking down at you as one would a steak or fancy car.

“I’m sorry Monsieur. I’m afraid I’ve already promised this man my hand for the evening.” Suddenly taking Gabriel’s arm, you were quick to move to his side, smile forced as you regarded the other.

“Oh, I’m sure he won’t mind. Would you, Sir?” The man stated, reaching a hand out for you to take. It was then that Gabriel seemed to wake up.

“Actually, I would.” Putting his hand over yours, he moved you back, putting space between you and the pushy man. “So shove off.” You were surprised by his response, but said nothing as he put himself between you and the annoying man who sought to court you.

Moving you to the dance floor, Gabriel’s brain was in a panic, running over thousands of routes and possible outcomes this could have, not sure where to take this or what was happening as he moved into position to dance with you. He didn’t dance. Even in his days at Overwatch, he had always refused, turning away countless offers in favor of sulking at the bar. What was he doing? But as he looked at your eyes, dazzling with a sort of gravity as they looked up at him compliantly, he felt compelled to keep this going as long as he could. Just a little bit longer.

With ill practiced steps, he began to lead you in time with the music, focus split between your eyes, and not stepping on your feet. It was jerky and lacked finesse, but he managed, doing his best to calm his beating heart.

The two of you swayed in time to the music, not speaking a word as you turned about the dance floor, many envious eyes on you. You were light on your feet, Gabriel noted. Probably well practiced and experienced in this type of world, you seemed to glow before him. He tried to think of something to say, something that would start up a conversation, gain your attention, before you were swept away by another.

“Your voice is beautiful.” He muttered without confidence. You smiled graciously, this sort of compliment very common for you.

“Thank you.” Despite the masses that churned about the two of you, your eyes were only on him, giving Gabriel your undivided attention as those beautiful eyes inspired him with feelings of appreciation and contentment.

“So… you’re a singer?” He asked, not wanting the conversation to lull. You looked at him confused, questioning how someone attending such a party could be clueless as to who you were.

“Yes. Opera.” You stated, sparing him a hesitant, yet sincere smile. You found yourself very at ease with the man. His awkward attempts at tête-à-tête and lack of social graces refreshing, leaving you with the impression of a genuine man.

“Opera? I didn’t think young people were into opera anymore.” His tone was incredulous as he spun you beneath his arm then back again. “Hell, most people my age don’t like it.”

“I take it you are not a fan.” You chuckled, enjoying his honesty amongst the sea of pretense. Despite his mask and costume, that covered every inch of him, you felt the man bare himself more open than anyone around you.

“No. Too boring.” He grumbled, eyes briefly scanning the crowd before returning to you with a start. “I mean- but when you sing, it’s not so boring.” You laughed, heartfelt and sweet as the man attempted to catch himself.

“I’m glad my singing has impressed you so.” The song ended, most of the crowd separating to stumble to new partners, but the two of you never released each other.

“I did sort of commandeer you, so I would like to take this opportunity to formally ask. Will you be my date for the evening? I find you an absolute delight.” You asked, eyes forsaking all others as they remained heavy on the man. The music began again, signaling it was time for him to make a decision.

Tightening his grip on your hand, Gabriel consented to your request as he pulled you closer, making it clear to all the eyes that lingered on you that you were taken for the night. He was ungainly and a bit clumsy as he guided you about the dance floor, but as you smiled up at him, eyes soft and warm, he felt at ease.

“I must say, I love your costume, Monsieur. Tell me, do you read Poe?” Gabriel grinned beneath his mask, charmed by your culture and awareness.

“Mask of the Red Death.” He stated, on the same page as you without needing further explanation.

“So it was planned.” You smiled, teeth flashing pearly and stunning beneath your red lipstick. “It is a delight to meet someone else with a love for the macabre. I must say, I felt something in the air the moment I entered the room. The chill in the atmosphere, the somber tone of the band, the lights, the masks. It is the perfect night for something tragically beautiful to start.” The way you looked at him, the words you spoke, the way you seemed to inch closer to him with every twirl, Gabriel knew exactly what you meant.

There was something about you, something shadowy and forbidden and almost dangerous that drew him to you, craving more as he became lost in your dark enchantment. The shape of your lips, the lilt to your voice, the way you swayed towards him as you danced, you were intoxicating.

“But listen to me go on. I fancy myself a poet I fear. No doubt I should stick to singing. I’m at least good at that.” You chuckled, amused by yourself, only to be surprised when the man laughed along as well.

“I think you’re wonderful.” He stated, causing a shy smile to pull at your lips.

“Well thank you.” You both looked at each other warmly, the world fading away till it was just the two of you, swaying in time to the heavenly music, the mission long since forgotten by the man.

“May I step in?” A well dressed gentleman stepped forward, extending his hand to you as he flashed a charming smile. The two of you had failed to notice the music had stopped, and people were again switching partners. Gabriel’s hand tightened on yours, a silent snarl curling his lips beneath his mask.

“I am quite content. Thank you.” You stated, eyes briefly regarding the man with disinterest before returning to the man that stood before you. The intruder floundered, surprised by your words before retreating sheepishly back into the crowd. Gabriel smirked beneath the mask. He liked a woman that could handle herself. As the music started again, he lead you further into the dance floor, more confident in his stride.

“I never did ask. What is your name?” Your expression was so sweet, so interested as you studied him, Gabriel almost felt like you could see right through the mask, see the him that hid away beneath this noble falsehood. This gave him pause. He felt compelled to answer you, to tell you his name, to leave that little piece of him with you. But then, would that be wise? There were members of Talon that didn’t even know his name. At the end of the day, this was just some random woman who he would never see again in his life. Then again, you felt like so much more than that.

When he gave no response, you spoke up, easing the situation with your charm.

“Forgive me. I suppose it is rude to ask someone their identity at a masquerade. For now, I suppose I will call you Death.” You smiled at him, head tilted, and Gabriel could not will his eyes to leave your lips. “So, What brings you here Mr. Death? You do not strike me as someone who makes a habit of attending such events.” Forcing himself back to reality, Gabriel met your eyes, releasing a breath he had been holding as your feet entangled about each other in the fast-paced dance.

“I’m actually looking for a friend of mine, General O’Sullivan. You wouldn’t happen to know if he’s even here?” With the swell of the music, he pulled you close, your chests pressed together as he was presented with an excellent view of your cleavage. Never was Gabriel more grateful that his eyes could not be seen through the skull mask. He was struck by the sudden urge to lean down and bite at your supple flesh, nipping and sucking until you were marked as his. But he maintained his composure.

“Monsieur O’Sullivan is no doubt about. Probably shamelessly flirting with woman much too young for him. It’s not like him to miss an event like this. Though I can’t say what his costume is. Most likely a lion or a king. The man boasts an ego as large as his stature. Although I suppose I don’t need to tell you this. Did you fight with him in the war? I am assuming you were a soldier. You strike me as the type. Strong build, commanding presence, a man of few words. Direct and to the point. Just like every soldier I have ever known.” Gabriel was taken aback as you rambled on, not sure when to interject, or if he even wanted to. You were right, he wasn’t much for mincing words. Besides, he rather enjoyed listening to you talk. Even when you weren’t singing, you voice was calming, bringing him a sense of ease and security.

The pleasant moment was interrupted however, as a sly voice rang in his ear.

“So who’s the girl?” Gabriel scowled as Sombra’s voice reached him through the earpiece, spoiling his mood. “You’ve sure been dancing with her a long time. Is Reaper hoping to get lucky tonight?” Eye’s scanning over the room, it didn’t take him long to spot the young trickster. Leaning against a pillar a few levels above him, she smiled down at him mischievously through her goblin mask. He spared her a disdainful glare that went unnoticed through the mask.

“Am I keeping you from something.” You gave him a questioning look, one brow raised as you moved away slightly, putting a little distance between the both of you as you noticed him eyeing the woman on the balcony. Realizing the connotation in your tone, Gabriel was quick to give you his undivided attention.

“No.” He stated flatly, regretting his tone the moment the words left his lips. You gave him a skeptical stare before glancing up at the woman on the balcony.

“Is she the one you came here with? I suppose I never did ask if you were already spoken for this evening.”

“It’s not like that.” He was quick to interject, wanting to derail that train of thought before it swept you away too far. Under the hot lights of the dance floor, amongst the humid crowd of twirling figures, Gabriel could feel himself sweating beneath the heavy folds of fabric, uncomfortable, but not wanting this moment to end.

“Oh, she looks upset.” Sombra chimed in, only adding to the man’s aggravation. “Did I get you into trouble?”

“Monsieur Death. I am rather enjoying your company. But if you are already promised to another, I will not be play-“

“I said it’s not like that.” He regretted the harshness of his tone, frustrated by Sombra’s meddling and the idea of you slipping away. For but a moment, an ill-contented glare flickered in your eyes, face harsh with disdain, clearly displeased by his tone.

Gabriel didn’t know what to say in response, didn’t know how to get things back on track as for the first time since he had taken your hand, an uncomfortable silence gripped the two of you. You both continued to dance, despite the heavy mood that edged its way into the romance that blossomed between you.

“I’ve located O’Sullivan. I’m going to make my move. Standby incase things get dicey.” At the hacker’s words, Gabriel was gripped with a sense of urgency, realizing the time he had with you was running out.

“Look, I’m not exactly good with women. And I don’t spend much of my time trifling with them. So when I say there’s nothing there, I mean it.” Something in his tone, in his body language as he moved closer to you, skull mask looking down at you, an intense spirit resonating from behind it, had you convinced of his honesty. “I don’t normally do things like this.”

“Do what?” You asked, wanting to hear him say it aloud. You knew what he meant, for it was the same thing you were thinking. But as the world eluded you, leaving you breathless and transfixed on the man that led you about the mass of faceless revelers, something in you yearned for the words to be spoken allowed.

‘Fall in love with strangers’ was what Gabriel wanted to say, his heart pounding as a haunting calm overtook him, leaving him lost in a dream like state as he stared into your eyes. It was stupid to say something like that, he didn’t even know your real name, you were too young for him, he was a wanted murder, he could never explain his decomposing body. But in that moment, he wasn’t thinking about any of that. All he was think about was your eyes, your lips, your wit, the way you consumed him, enveloped his every sense, the will in your spirit, your voice.

“STOP HER! STOP THAT WOMAN! SHE HAS MURDERED GENERAL O’SULLIVAN!!” A booming voice rang out over the crowd, silencing the revelers in a brief moment of calm before all hell broke loose.

Sombra could be seen dashing through the crowd, darting through the panicked guests as she made her way to the exit. Amélie and Akande were doing the same, their retreats being more inconspicuous as they bustled out amongst all the fearful guest that swarmed the exits.

“General O’Sullivan?” You murmured, eyeing the woman that dashed past the guards and through the large entry way door before it filled with terrified guests, scurrying like rats from a burning ship. A light went off in your eyes, mouth opening as you turned to look up at the man whose arm had wrapped around you in the bustle. “You!” As Gabriel looked into your eyes, it was clear you had figured it out, made the connection that this had been his reasoning for being here all along.

With a bitter sting in his heart, he slipped his hand off you, taking a step back as he glanced over to the packed exit. But to his surprise, you grabbed his hand, squeezing it tight within your dainty grasp as you pulled him along to weave against the current of people.

“Come with me!” You shouted, wasting no time dragging him through the panicked mass till you two reached an empty hall. Never releasing his hand, you ran as fast as your dress and heels would allow, never looking back at the man in tow as you maneuvered the corridors. “There’s a servant’s exit in the back. With the commotion, the guards will have left it. You can escape there.” Several more turns and sure enough, the two of you found yourself at a small staff door that let out into a dark alley of the old city. “Take this path until you reach the crossroad, right will take you to the outskirts of the city, but left will lead you to the city center.” Holding the door open, your gaze lingered on him with regret and concern. “Be safe, Monsieur Death.” Gripping the silky fabric of his cloak, you pulled yourself up, laying a kiss over the teeth of his skull mask, a mark of red lipstick proof of the deed as you pulled away.

Much to your surprise, a gloved hand snaked into your hair, cupping the back of your head as his other hand reached up to slip the mask up just enough to expose his mouth. His lips were at yours before you could register what he was doing, kissing you deeply as his passion overtook you, sucking the very breath from your lungs as his arms enveloped you. His lips were cold, but impossibly soft.

The contact lasted but a moment, yet it felt like a small eternity shared solely between the two of you. When finally he pulled away, breathless with the thrill of his courage, a satisfied grin flashed bright before being again concealed by the mask.

“My name is Gabriel.” He stated boldly, without hesitation or regret.

“Like the angel.” You replied, still beside yourself with the excitement that had set your heart aflutter.

“Yeah.” He chuckled breathily. “Like the angel.” As he turned to take his leave, darting off into the shadows of the city, a romantic wonder overtook you.

“I’ll be at the Paris Opera in December. Will I see you there?” You called out, giving the man pause as he glanced over his shoulder with a grin.

“We will dance again.” With that, he was off into the night, fading into the darkness of the allies and out of sight.

[allen-messenger]

I already read some of your drables and i think your writting is amazing, keep up the good work ♥. If you're not busy, may I request some headcannons about a MC that has a resting bitch face 24/7 but it's actually veeeery soft? RFA and Saeran please!

Thank you so much anon, you are so lovely. Your supportmeans a lot to me. Also, congratulations for sending me my very first request ♥ I got a bit carried away, so my HC might be a bit long, butI hope you’ll enjoy reading them anyways.

P.S : I’m sorry if the formatting looks awful on the phone app. I tried to make it look better but it appears I’m awful at it.

Kindhearted MC has a “resting bitch face” (RFA + Saeran)

Yoosung★

Simply put, the boy was so damn worried.You seemed so cheerful in the chatroom, so why did you look annoyed now thatyou were finally meeting in real life? Was he the only one who had been lookingforward to seeing the other? Were you disappointed in him? Was hedisappointing? 

Thousands of negative thoughts crossed hishead. Argh, maybe he should have listened to Zen. Maybe he should have workedup instead of staying in front of his computer 24/7, eating Leys chips anddrinking Ponta. Maybe Jaehee’s was right, maybe he was too short, and maybe hisworn-out hoodie was tacky. And… what if you thought he wasn’t wild enough? Hehad no idea how popular men like Zen acted. Should he start calling you “babe”or “lamb”? Should he start bragging about his looks…? Ah, he suddenly feltincredibly gloomy. He didn’t have half of Zen’s looks, so there was no way hecould ever become as attractive as him. And obviously you would bedisappointed, you were going out with him instead of dating a godlike musicalactor!

“Yoosung… Is something wrong? You lookpale.” You asked, worried.

“I’m sorryI’m not good enough, but… I’ll try to become a better man for you! So… so…!” Hepanicked.

“Huh…?What are you talking about?” You were genuinely surprised. His reaction was sosudden you weren’t sure what to answer.

“You don’tlook like you are having fun at all… I knew it, I am too normal… I am not acool career woman, a famous actor, a genius hacker, or a corporate heir, thereis no way you would like me… I… I am not even ranked #1 on LOLOL!”

“No! It’snothing like that at all.” You reassured him. “I’m just nervous, it is ourfirst date after all. Sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”

“I’m theone who should apologize, MC… I must have looked ridiculous, right?”

“Not atall. You are adorable, Yoosung.” You chucked. “You know… Don’t tell the others,but I think you are the cutest member of the RFA.”

All of a sudden, his cheeks felt warm. Hewas sure of it now, you were the supportive, kindhearted MC who had alwaysaccepted his normal, average self. Your words have always felt like they wereimbued of magic to him. Once again, you had managed to make his uneasiness flyaway. This time, it would be his turn to make sure you would have fun.

Jumin Han

For the longest time, the corporate heirdid not even notice your expression. He had zero interest in his employees’ appearanceafter all. The only thing he evaluated them for was their professionalism,their skills, and how useful they were for the company. Although he stronglyappreciated your meticulous work, he did not have a personal interest in you.You were an employee – a really competent one -, and he was a practicalexecutive. That was all there was to it.

However, one day, he overheard negativegossip against you. Some of your coworkers were talking about how contemptuous andarrogant you were, constantly looking down on them. Progressively, they startedstraight up laughing at you, saying someone as condescending as you wouldprobably die alone.

In a single sentence, the corporate heirbrought back peace in the corridor.

“If you have the time to slander your colleague, go back to work. Now.This is your first and last strike. Next time I see youdeteriorate our company’s work environment, I will personally make sure yourdesks are emptied.”

Seeing your coworkers laying low for awhile gave you a surge of relief. Actually, you had been contemplating quittingyour work because of the heavy atmosphere you felt around you. Your gaze mighthave looked harsh, but in truth, you wished you could have got along with yourcoworkers. Although most colleagues acted neutral towards you, a small groupexuded hostility every time you uttered a word. Nevertheless, you had stayedbecause the company worked on interesting projects – also, the pay wasundeniably satisfying.

After this event, Jumin slightly paid moreattention to you. It wasn’t noticeable, but for an instant, he examined yourexpression, trying to find what could have led your peers to think you weredisrespectful towards them, in vain. He just couldn’t understand the reasonbehind their gossip. Your expression did seem to show a bit of disinterest, butyour meticulous reports obviously showed how passionate you were about yourwork. The executive skimmed through the folder you held out to him.

“Your report is satisfying, but I would like you to develop on theeffects our project would have on the environment. Assistant Kang researchedsome data regarding this point, ask her to share the file with you.”

“Understood. Thank you for your time, Mr. Han.”

“Close the door before leaving. While you are here, I’d like to say thatyou can address any complaint you have about your work environment directly tome. You are a valuable asset for our company. It would be a shame if C&Rwere to lose you because of some pests.”

“Thank you, Mr. Han. I will take my leave now.”

For thefirst time, you smiled at work. Jumin Han was said to be a cold, insufferableemployer, but to you, he was just a practical executive who cared about hisworkers in his own way.

Jaehee Kang

The first time you met Jaehee was at oneof Zen’s musicals. You were both seated on the front row, next to each other.The storyline wasn’t that original, but Zen’s acting mostly counterbalanced thescenario’s flaws.

You were completely oblivious to theglances Jaehee threw you during the performance. Usually, the assistant wouldhave been dazed by the spectacle. But today, her curiosity sometimes made herlook away from the actor’s performance. Zen had a solid fanbase by now, andfront row seats tickets for his shows were highly difficult to obtain. Jaeheeknew for a fact that some fans were willing to spend more than 500$ to gettheir hands one of those prized tickets. Because of that, she was bewilderedthe person sitting next to her seemed so dissatisfied in the musical. At times,you even seemed straight up irritated. Even more surprising, you vigorouslyclapped at the end of the musical, giving the staff members a standing ovation.

After a few minutes of contemplation,Jaehee asked you if you had enjoyed the musical.

“Oh, please don’t mind me if I am wrong. You just seemed irritated and…I was just wondering if the show did not suit your taste?

“Ah, no. I… just usually look this way.” Usually, being called out foryour expressions made you upset. However, seeing how Jaehee’s eyes wereshrouded in remorse, you understood that she only meant well. “Thank you forworrying, though. I actually liked the musical, especially the part where the detectivediscovered the culprit’s identity.

Conversing with you, Jaehee realized thatyour cold expression contrasted with your loving nature. Although your eyesseemed to be looking down on others, you were full of admiration for theactors. More importantly, she was grateful you noticed her uneasiness and turnedan awkward conversation between strangers to a passionate debate about Zen’smusicals. She now had no doubt that you were compassionate, and much morecourteous than she was.

ZEN

A while ago, you discovered a websitewhere many Zen’s fans showered him with compliments. At first, you were veryexcited about participating in anonymous conversations about the handsomeactor.

However, when you became his full-fledgedgirlfriend, you had to stop lookingat the forum threads. Messages full of malice towards you were being spammedall day.

“She’s totally in for the fame. Pathetic.”

“She’s dating the most beautiful actor on Earth but she looks so annoyedlol, what a bitch.”

“Hate her. I would definitely give Zenny so much more love lolol ♥”

“Fire her! My love Zen needs a lovingmanager, not some random frigid girl. Guys, let’s make a petition so she getsthe fuck out of here!”

“They’re such a bad match. Seriously,is Zen blind or something? She always looks mad lol.”

“A princeand a bitch faced frog lololol”

Needless to say, you were devastated. Itused to be such a welcoming community, so why did it become that way? And whywould they judge you solely on your appearance? Of course you’ve never beenannoyed by him. At contrary, you loved him. You really did, even if youexpression wasn’t always full of love.

Feeling unworthy of him, you avoided Zen’scalls and only went in the chatroom to talk about the party. After a few days,the actor himself waited in front your doorstep for you to come home.

“Zen…? What are you doing here?”

“Babe… You wouldn’t take my calls, so I came here. I was worried sick.Did something happen?”

He gently wiped the lone tear falling along your cheek.

“Tell your knight everything. Don’t cry, princess. For you, he wouldfight off dragons and witches, so please don’t cry.”

Zen caressed your hair while you told himabout the hate directed towards you. Your sentences were interrupted by manysobs, but he still understood.

“Honey… Don’t mind what they say, please. You are the kindest andmost-loving soul I have ever seen. Those people don’t know who they are talkingabout. How dare they say I am blind? They are the ones who should run to thenearest optician. You are so beautiful you don’t need the princess attire toshine! Your knight will protect you from those dirty mouths, so don’t worry,alright?”

You chucked at Zen’s burst of anger.

“Okay… I love you.”

A week later, your knight in shining armorkept his promise. During an interview, he firmly asked his fans to stopspreading negativity towards you.

 “She is the woman I love, and I can’t bear seeing her hurt because of mycareer. I wish you could see past her expression. If you could, you would seethe golden heart hiding behind it.”

Hisdeclaration was well received by  his fanbase, who created apopular forum where ill-messages against any of his fans, including you, wouldimmediately be deleted.

707

At first, you were a bit reticent aboutjoining the RFA. It was understandable: you were just a good Samaritan whowanted to give back a phone to their rightful owner, and you ended dragged inan association you had never heard about. Watching the CCTV at Rika’s apartment,Seven assumed you seemed annoyed because of the situation you unwillingly endedup in.

As V’s slave, he was the one who gatheredinformation to pressure you into a joining the group. Because of that, he felta bit guilty and tried to cheer you up with silly jokes. He wasn’t sure hisattempts were any successful. Although you wrote he was funny, he could stillsee your irritated expression whenever he looked at the CCTV. Even worse, youreyes were sometimes full of disdain while you chatted with the RFA. He didn’tmention it to anyone, but seeing you warming up to the group members, includinghim, while keeping your scornful glare intimidated him a bit. Did you have badintentions towards the RFA, after all? Should he redo the background check toensure you didn’t have any link to the hacker?

After seeing how much your kind wordsencouraged the members, Seven started to believe your tenderness was real.Witnessing how you pushed every single member forward, the hacker couldn’tdistrust you anymore. His instinct, on which he had sometimes relied on tosurvive, told him there were no lies lurking in the shadow. Placing confidencein V’s decisions, Seven also gradually opened up his heart to you. Actually, itwas hard not to. It wasn’t every day he could find someone who appreciated his oh-so-funnyjokes, after all. Whenever your condescending expression turned into a smilebecause of his jokes, he felt his heart race, just a little tiny bit.

Saeran

When he was a child, the only expressionsSaeran had ever seen were his mother’s fury and his brother’s compassion. Afterhe entered Mint Eye, he stopped looking at people. Even though his eyes laid onthem, he couldn’t really see their faces. His mint-colored irises were meant tofocus on computer screens, not on people. Other believers wouldn’t help himmake his dearest wish come true, but his hacking skills would allow him to havehis revenge on that damn redhead.

Because of that, he had absolutely no ideawhat a “resting bitch face” was like. When he saw your expression, he simplyconcluded you were despising him, and quite rightly. He was the hacker who, insearch for a useful tool, had led you to the trapped apartment, after all.Afterwards, he shot your association’s leader, and was treated like a victim,even though he was the monster. How ridiculous.

However, Saeran couldn’t comprehend whyyou would still visit him every single day without fail. You would silentlyopen a book and read in his company. In truth, he didn’t really dislike your presence.Your visits were peaceful, soothing moments during which he didn’t have to seethe redhead he loathed so much. Contrary to the therapist or to Luciel, youdidn’t expect him to say anything. Other than the faint sound of turning pages,you didn’t make any noise. Yet, he felt uncomfortable you were forced to seehim every day, for a reason of another. If you despised him, why didn’t youstay in the nice, cozy home he’s never had? If you hated him that much, whywouldn’t you stand further from him, like all those stupid nurses? Your oddityraised some concern within him, and he finally asked “Why are you coming here?”.He sounded so bitter, yet so sorrowful. His voice was the voice of anabandoned, broken human being.

“Why… you say…” His question wasunexpected. After carefully weighing your words, you answered “There is noparticular reason. I just thought you would be lonely, alone in this emptyhospital room.”

For a few seconds, the white-haired man searchedfor an answer. However, no words came to his mind, so he stayed silent, andquietly thought that you were similar to his brother after all. Even though hestrongly wanted to resent you, it was so difficult… Your kind nature,contrasting with your expression, made it so hard for him to feel any animositytowards you. So, maybe he would silently enjoy your presence. Just for a littlewhile.

A masterlist can be found here.

[new2otomelol]

How the heck did she get away? - A KBTBB Fanfic

Voltage owns the rights to KBTBB and all its characters. I created the MC = Soraya.  I wanted to try doing a different MC that actually runs away from the bidders.  Think of it as an action/adventure thing.  Enjoy!

SORAYA’S POV

My hopes and dreams were illuminated by the beautiful buildings surrounding me.  I have come far and wide in search of a new start, a new life.  My love for foreign languages had brought me to Tokyo where I planned to fully integrate myself into the culture behind the language.

I am a 25-year-old widow traveling from Texas.  My former husband and I were childhood sweethearts and had married at a young age. One day, while I was studying for an internship project, he was gunned down by a thug in the streets of our hometown. Losing him felt like I had lost the biggest part of myself.  I knew he wouldn’t have wanted me to wither and mourn him for the rest of my life, so a year after his death, I’m in a taxi headed to a luxury hotel in Tokyo, all thanks to the help of a friend of mine that had moved to Japan.  She rented a room for a week for me to give me time to find a job here in Tokyo.  “Tres Spades…wow, nice hotel, I like the name” I say out loud as the cabby takes my change.

I stopped breathing for a moment as I took in the wonderful view of the amazing lobby with marble floors, beautiful artwork, elegant water fountains, it was just a site to behold. I feel a little awkward as I walk to the receptionist since I’m 6’ 2” tall wearing skinny jeans, body fitting Star Wars Tee-shirt and my long black hair is twisted up in a bun being held together by a pencil. Can you say nerd?

As I register for my room and get ready to head to the elevator, a swarm of short women run past me to stand around a handsome man that just seemed a bit too arrogant for my taste. I lean down to pick up my luggage when a woman passing by wearing a ton of makeup and perfume bumps into me and I begin to topple over.  I reach my hands out to the counter in front of me to try and steady myself; however, I feel someone grab my arm and pull me up saving me the trouble.  I’m immediately met by a beautiful pair of grey eyes, a little below my height level.  I recompose myself as he lets go of my arm and bow to him thanking him for saving me.  He quickly glances me over and says nothing as he continues to walk away. He was extremely well-dressed, slicked back hair, grey suit.  Oh well, it was time to move on, to my room.

Once I put up all my items, I thought it’d be great to go and get a drink downstairs.  Since I had seen people dress elegantly earlier, I decide to put on a nice short dress and a shawl to cover my bare shoulders. I applied a small amount of makeup and head downstairs. Once at the bar, I fiddle on my phone as I slowly take in my Margarita.  “Hello there pretty lady!” I jump a bit as a man with a fedora hat startles me out of my concentration.  I begin to laugh a little because of my reaction “I’m so sorry sir, I was lost in thought, thank you for the compliment.” He smiles and sits next to me. “You know, I’m in a bit of a tight spot, I need a date for a party and mine just walked out on me.”  I down my drink immediately as I begin to feel a little uncomfortable. “My name is Baba, what is your name?” I give him a weird smile “It’s Soraya, but I should get going.” I begin to move from my chair to head of the bar when Baba stops me. “Please pretty lady, can you help me?” I laugh “for one Mr. Baba, I barely know you; two, as soon as I standup, you’ll lose interest in me…” he smiles as he looks at me intently “and why is that princess?” ugh, those lines… “because of this.” I stand up and he immediately notices that I am too tall for him. “I find this incredibly sexy!” I laugh again as I grab my purse and begin to head to the lobby, leaving behind a very confused Baba.

Once there, I notice many elegantly dressed people headed to a party area.  My curiosity gets the best of me as I get close to the entrance and a bodyguard stops me.  It is at that moment that I feel an arm drape around my waist. “She’s with me” I look over to find the man with the fedora hat holding me.  We both walk inside and he lets go of my waist.  He bows taking off his hat “beautiful lady, thank you for helping me!” and quickly disappears in a large room of people. Seriously?! Oh well, might as well make the best of it.  

I begin to walk around, drinking champagne and enjoying the music when the man with the fedora hat returns. “You again? Seriously man!” He begins to laugh “well, since we’re friends now, care to join me for a masquerade?” I sigh, but I was feeling tipsy and excited about doing something fun. “FINE!” so I accompany him to a secret part of the building wearing a mask. I know better than to follow complete strangers into an obscure area, but I can defend myself if need be. My husband had been a part of the special ops for the Marines, so he taught me many things.

I stand in awe as I see a wonderful underground theater with hundreds of people wearing masks.  I look around for Baba, but he once again disappears. I decide to look for him in the hallways when I spot an open door and I knock to check for him. “Mr. Baba, you there?” I take a step inside when I trip over something on the floor and fall knocking down a statue of some sort.  Immediately I hear footsteps rushing towards me. “The statue! It’s broken! We need a replacement and fast!” three men in dark suits look at me and suddenly grin… “time for you to take responsibility for that.” I begin to shake my head as one of the men restrains my arms and the other puts a towel on my face. I suddenly smell a weird chemical and I begin to lose consciousness fast.

I wake up to a man speaking in a weird manner and notice that I’m in a cage. I shake the cage with all my might and scream in Japanese “help me! Please! Help me!” The man points at me and describes me just as he would describe an item at an auction… wait a minute, they, they’re bidding on me? “No, please help!” The man with the weird hat and makeup smiles “SOLD! For $20 million!”

I feel helpless, scared… what am I going to do now? Two masked men approach the cage and take me out. I recognize one of them immediately, “it’s you! Please help me!” he motions me to be quiet as they lead me to an elevator.  Once inside I address Baba “I know it’s you Baba, please let me go!  What’s going on?” But he remains quiet the entire ride to our destination.

I’m lead into what seems to be the penthouse of the building.  Three other men wearing masks are lounging around the day room area. “It’s okay, you can all take your masks off now.” Says Baba. The man I had seen earlier in the lobby area of the hotel surrounded by women smiles wickedly at me and begins to talk “we bought you and now we own you.”

I feel rage seething inside of me and I scream at him. “I will NEVER be owned by anyone, especially by someone like you. I’m calling the cops!” I begin to turn when Baba stops me. “You see a cop anywhere around?” said the man with the grey suit. Baba answers, “yeah, right over there.” The cop gets an annoyed look on his face “why you gotta give me away like that?” The rest of the men laugh a little. All I can see is black and white as my vision blurs; I should be scared, but my love taught me better than that. I turn to face them all once again and scream, “I said let me go!  I don’t care if you have a crooked cop or you own the force!” I push away from Baba when then the man with the grey suit stands up and points a gun at me. “Do that and I will kill you.” I smile and walk towards him. “Shoot me, I’m not afraid to die.” His eyes widen at and he takes a step backwards, still aiming the gun at me.

My rage knows no bounds right now; I know I should value my life, but I gave death an open invitation when I lost my better half. “Eisuke, she’s not scared, she’s pissed off!” said a blond man that I could see out of the corner of my eye. “I SAID, SHOOT ME!” I yell as I get close to the man holding the gun, until I feel the cold steel on my forehead.  He keeps looking at me straight in the eyes.  He looks unsure of what to do. “Are you stupid! Do you really want to die right now?!” Asks me the man with the light purple shirt as he stands up and comes towards me. “Like I said, I have nothing to fear, I’ve lived my life.” I say this with so much conviction that the man holding the gun begins to tremble and lowers it.

“Princess, you can’t say things like that.” I stomp my foot and turn around to meet Baba. “You started all of this! Why did you lead me to that place? And Yes, I can say things like that, it’s my life.”  I hear someone whistle from the far corner. “Let’s settle down kid… first, let’s get to know each other.  I’m Mamoru, you already know Baba, the mobster there is Soryu, this is Eisuke and that youngster over there is Ota.”  I sigh and take deep breaths to try and calm down, but it isn’t working. “I’ll make it easy for you Mr. Soryu, lend me your gun and I’ll take myself out. I will NOT BE OWNED!” The men all take a step towards me and I feel Baba hold my arms behind me. “I’m taller than you shorty, I can easily shift my weight around on you, now LET ME GO!” I begin to struggle against Baba and true to my word I manage to make him lose his footing as he releases me.

Soryu runs to me and holds my arms behind me, he’s the closest in height to me. “Let me GO!” I continue to struggle against him. “Woman! You are wearing my patience thin!” I begin to laugh sarcastically “and what am I supposed to do? Just stand here and accept that a bunch of rich guys decided to purchase me as a toy? I didn’t study and work hard to be dominated by any of you.”  Eisuke walks towards me and holds me by the back of my head, making me look down towards him. “We own you, there’s nothing you can do about it. You want out of this, pay the money or work it off.” He’s so close to me that I easily lift my knee and strike him where the sun doesn’t shine.  He immediately doubles over in pain. “Ooooohh…. Boss, you okay?!” Said the blond man while the detective and Baba laugh.

“Woman, you’re a feisty one, aren’t you?” said my captor as he held me. I double over as if my stomach is hurting and Baba takes note “Princess, you okay? Sor, maybe we should ease off?” I immediately snap back up as fast as I can and hit Soryu’s head with mine, knocking him backwards.  Two down, 3 to go.  Baba comes at me again, but this time I drop to the ground and use my long legs to my advantage by swiping Baba’s feet below him.  I then roll out of the way, grab a base and throw it straight at Mamoru’s neck as he was trying to take out his weapon.  Ota is the only one left as I run to the elevator and he blocks it. I stomp on his foot as I get close and hit him with the palm of my hand on his chin, he falls backwards from the impact and I press the elevator call button fast.  I hear Eisuke and Mamoru cussing up a storm as they are getting up trying to rush towards me. “Woman, stop right there!” yelled Eisuke, but the elevator doors opened and I rush inside effectively closing the doors before any of them could get to me.  

I know they’ll have security waiting for me at the bottom floor so I press all the floor buttons that I can and prepare to make my escape through the elevator hatch.  Once the elevator stops on a 3rd floor down, I grab a hold of the cables and quickly make my way to a ladder on the wall. Luckily, there are air shafts everywhere, so I get into one and I start to make my way around.  I make it to one of the guest rooms and notice that someone is taking a shower. I take advantage of the situation and rummage through the clothes in the luggage.  Bingo! Female clothes! I put on an over-sized dress, a large hat and some glasses. This will help me make it through for a bit as I go through the hallways, I have to find a way out.  I make my way out of the suite and head to the elevators, the only chance I have is if the elevator is filled with people to where I can blend in.  

One of the elevators ding and notice that luck is on my side, it was stock full of people! I join the crowd as we make our way down to the lobby; I had been on the 33rd floor. That woman upstairs will call in a few minutes, after she’s done taking a shower, that someone went through her luggage.  Luckily, we make it down quickly and as I exit the elevator, I notice security guards focused on the private elevator.  I smile and head towards the back exit of the hotel, my height can give me away quickly, so I hurry.  

Once I make it to the back, I stop short on my tracks as I notice two men talking on their cell phone, they look like mafia goons. “Yes boss, we’ll look for her.” I hear one of the men say. Shit! I notice a laundry cart and I climb in while I wait for the goons to leave. Ten minutes pass and I finally make my way to the parking lot. I feel like I’m on an episode of “Mission Impossible.”  The parking lot is riddled with cameras and guards.  I strategically make my way around different areas and notice a laundry truck.  I sneak my way over to the truck as the back doors are open and rush inside, making sure I was out of sight from the cameras.  I hide myself under a pile of towels and wait.

30 minutes later the truck begins to move and I begin to feel relief briefly, but I have to be careful, it’s still not over yet.  20 minutes pass and the truck stops and the doors to my freedom are opened.  I wait for the men to take one of the laundry carts down and I make my way out as quickly and stealthily as I can.  I’m in some sort of warehouse near Tokyo Bay. Once I jump over the fence I run as quickly as I can to find a safe place to hide somewhere.  I’m not familiar with Tokyo, but I must avoid dark areas as well as any place near that hotel.

As I wonder around in the dark, I notice a small shop still open.  I wonder inside and am greeted by an old seamstress woman. “Oh my! Are you okay dear?! You look like you’ve been running away.” I smile at her and attempt to speak as calmly as possible “I am ma’am. I just ran away from something horrible and I’m afraid of getting caught.  I didn’t do anything wrong, but these people want to find me and I can’t tell you anymore because I don’t want to get you in trouble.” She smiles at me, walks over and holds my hands “I had to run away from my abusive ex-husband a long time ago, I know how you feel.  Why don’t you stay here with me, help me and we’ll find a way out of this together.”  I smile and give her a tight hug. “Yes! Please, I will help with anything I can!”

MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE HOTEL

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU COULDN’T FIND HER?! She’s taller than me for God’s sake!” Soryu yells over the phone as Eisuke and Ota look at each other baffled at how a woman could get away from them, especially a foreigner.  A few seconds later Baba comes into the penthouse carrying some luggage in his hands. “Boss, her name is Soraya Rodriguez…” he sets her luggage down on the floor as he walks over to the rest of the auction managers… “she comes from Texas and looks like she has a teaching license and is a certified translator.”  Eisuke looks over to Mamoru “see what you can find out about her, call your contacts, NOW!” Mamoru gets up and begins to make some calls.  

Soryu goes through Soraya’s purse and finds her ID; he takes a picture of the ID with his phone and forwards it to his men. When he empties the rest of the contents of the purse he notices a photo slip out, it was a picture of the woman in a wedding dress with a man. “Looks like she’s married…” Soryu mumbles and is interrupted by Mamoru “correction kid, she was married, that guy there was shot and killed. According to my sources he was a spook for the Marines, but got shot down in his neighborhood by a punk over a year ago.  Seems like our escapee came over to start a new life here.” Ota stands up from the couch and heads over to help Baba go through the woman’s belongings. “No wonder she didn’t care if she died… that kid must have been heartbroken” said Mamoru.

Baba finds a book in her luggage and opens it to find a pressed flower inside. He slowly touches the pages as he sees that they appear to be stained by her tears, “I agree Mamoru, I think this guy was everything to her.”  Ota notices a sketchbook at the bottom of the suitcase and pulls it out.  There were drawings of people in a park, of the woman’s husband, flowers and many things she sketched. “She is also an artist, she has a good hand and eye.” Ota smiles as he picks up her sketchbook and takes it with him to the couch.

“I think we’ve done all we can for tonight. My men are looking for her and they have her description and picture, she won’t last long out there without being caught.” Soryu informs the others.  All the men nod in agreement and prepare to head to their suites.  “I hope for the kid’s sake that she’s okay,” said Mamoru. “We didn’t mean to cause any harm to the Princess” said Baba, who looked sadder than before. “I’ll tell you this much, she sure doesn’t fight like a princess, I’m just surprised she managed to get away,” Soryu said with a worried expression. “I wouldn’t be surprised if that husband of hers taught her a few things; we’re dealing with a smart woman here and we have to find her tomorrow.” Eisuke said sternly and with that they all left to attempt to rest.

SORAYA’S POV

I have been working with Ms. Lee for about a couple of weeks now.  I have not left the shop in fear of people looking for me, plus there is much work to do here. Ms. Lee and I have gotten along greatly and she has been assisting me in plotting of ideas to move away from Tokyo without being seen.  I have not told her about the auction and don’t plan on telling anyone as I don’t want to put people in danger.  

Ms. Lee was once in a situation where she had a powerful husband who would abuse her; she had run away from China and has been working here in Tokyo for over 30 years now.  She told me she thinks of me as her daughter and has gotten me used to wearing Cheongsam dresses. I especially love the fact that I can practice my Cantonese with her.

Today, Ms. Lee want to take me to a more remote part of Tokyo.  She decided to head to Nikko where there are many shrines and wonderful places.  She thinks I could be of great service to the tourist department as a translator there, but we would have to create fake paperwork for me while being there.  I gather my things and she asks me to wear a beautiful Cheongsam dress that she created for me a couple of nights ago; I can’t say not to her, she’s been my savior all this time.  

As we lock up the shop and head towards the train station I hear a scream from the alleyway. I leave my things with Ms. Lee and rush to see what the commotion is about.  A young Japanese woman was being held by a man when another younger man rushes along and tries to stop him, but the older man is too big. I run towards the girl and ask her to run away. I then face the two men struggling and I hit the bigger man on his pressure points along his neck as hard as I can causing him to lose consciousness.

I then turn to the younger man and offer him my hand to help him stand up. “th…thank you ma’am! You saved me! I should be ashamed of myself.” I smile at him “Not at all, you did a brave thing helping that poor girl out.”  He can’t even look at me in the face and places his hand on the back of his head in a shy manner. “I’m supposed to be an Ice Dragon and protect the week and now, I just… boss is going to get mad.” I laugh a little. “Well, if what you say is true, then your gang sounds pretty cool.  Keep your chin up and you’ll see you’ll get better with time.”  I ruffle his hair a little and stand up to leave. “Ma’am, I’m Inui, if you ever need anything, I’ll be there for you!” the man finally lifts his head to look at me “w.. wow, you’re tall!” I laugh and wave goodbye, “take care Inui, please be sure to save all the innocent people that you can!” I walk off fast and make it back to Ms. Lee. “Soraya, my goodness dear, I was worried, let’s go, we can make it if we hurry!” we set off to our new destination – Nikko.

MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE ALLEY

Inui stands there looking at the wall of the building in front of him.  He is still amazed that he had just bumped in to a beautiful woman who saved him, not only that, but a VERY tall beautiful woman…. Wait a second, there was something familiar about her.  Inui takes his phone out and looks over the text message from a couple of weeks ago that was sent by his boss. “That’s her!” Inui exclaims and runs out of the alley way planning to follow her.

After a few hours, Inui sees that the woman settles in to one of the shrines near the Kegon waterfall. The old lady that was with her seems to be going back on her own, so that means that the lady will be living there. Inui heads back down to the station area and waits for the old lady to leave.  He then contacts his boss “Mr. Oh! I… I found her, THE woman!”

 SORYU’S POV

Great, what does he want now?  I take my phone out and answer it, “Yes Inui, make it quick!”… “Mr. Oh! I… I found her, THE woman!” I couldn’t believe what he had just told me. “Are you sure it was her Inui? We’ve been looking everywhere…” “Y..yes  sir!  She saved me from a thug in an alley and then I followed her here to Nikko, looks like she’s living here from now on.” I can’t believe he was able to finally do something right, well sort of, the idiot got saved by her, it should have been the other way around.  “Stay there Inui, we’ll be there shortly. Don’t lose sight of her!” I hang up and make my way over to the penthouse.

 That woman has been able to dodge us for two weeks now.  My men have been looking everywhere to find her, heck, even the lazy detective put in his time, but we couldn’t come up with anything.

 I make it to the penthouse and find all of the guys waiting for me. “Inui found her, she’s in Nikko, lets go get her.” Baba is the first to stand, but looks concerned. “What is it Baba?” I ask him, I can’t have anyone doubting things right now. “Shouldn’t we have something to drug her with, you know she’ll put up a fight? Plus, I don’t want to hurt her… from what we’ve learned, she’s gone through a lot.” I sigh and point to a suitcase I’m carrying. “I have what we need, now let’s move it. I promise she’ll be safe.”  We all head to the helicopter to make our way to Nikko.

SORAYA’S POV

It was hard to say goodbye to Ms. Lee, but I will be in contact with her.  I take my time and settle my things around the small apartment. Thanks to Ms. Lee, one of the shrine owners agreed to help me until my paperwork could be straightened out.  I take a look at the tourist guide book to familiarize myself with the area. There’s a beautiful waterfall some ways from here, but I’d like to see it one day.  I walk over to the window and open it as I take in the fresh air. It’s barely noon right now and the mountains look beautiful from up here.

I make a quick lunch and watch a little TV; I love Japanese programs.  I hear a faint helicopter noise outside the window and I decide to take a peak.  Down at the bottom of the shrine I notice the young man I helped earlier and see the guys from the hotel get down from the helicopter. NO! THEY FOUND ME! I quickly put on my sneakers and realize that I have no time to change, so I will have to run in this tight Cheongsam.  I tie my long hair into a bun, grab a flashlight and a bottle of water and I sneak out of my apartment.  Once I make it to a trail that leads to the waterfall I hear someone yell “Woman, stop right there!” that was Soryu, I’m sure of it, but no time, I don’t look back and begin to run.  I hear something being fired and notice a tranquilizer dart zoom right past me and hit a tree. So that’s how it’s going to be?

I tare the sides of my Cheongsam so that I can run with more freedom and do so in a zig zag pattern to avoid the darts.  I look back for a second and notice Inui, Soryu and Mamoru hot on my trail… I hear the helicopter and look up to see the rest of the guys pointing dart guns at me. Seriously! Don’t underestimate me morons!  I keep running and notice the waterfall straight ahead.  I make it to the very top and see that only Soryu was able to keep up with me.  I stop as I have nowhere else to run. Soryu comes up a few feet behind me and the helicopter flies above. “Stop woman, enough is enough, we’re not going to harm you!” Soryu yells as I bring my arms over my head. Think, Soraya, think! “Princess, step away from the waterfall, we won’t shoot anymore, just walk towards Soryu.” Baba looks at me with concern written all over his face as he yells from the helicopter flying above.

Certain moments in your life the decision has already been made for you.  The day I received the phone call that my husband had died, I knew I had no choice but to move forward.  Living without my best friend, my lover, it has been hell. Now that I am faced with this situation, I see no other choice. I had been looking to the ground as I was thinking this, realizing that Soryu had started to very slowly walk towards me, but he was still too far away.  The helicopter couldn’t get close due to the trees.  I close my eyes and listen to the powerful sound of the water as it makes its unyielding way to its destination.  

My eyes open wide with resolve and I look straight at Soryu.  He looks at me, trying to figure me out, but the more I look straight into his eyes, time seems to move slowly. Soryu drops his gun and begins to yell reaching his hands over to me. I had already pushed myself as hard as I could off the cliff and arched my back to prepare to dive… looking up to my feet I could see the helicopter and Baba hanging off to the side with a look of terror on his face. I close my eyes and whisper “help me my love or take me with you.” I next feel cold water and my head hitting one of the rocks; I lose consciousness immediately.

SORYU’S POV

I reached out to grab her, but she had already jumped. I can’t believe that she did it… why?  That look in her eyes, it felt as if she could see through me, to the very core of my soul.  I hear Baba calling to me as he throws the ladder down to me.  I immediately grab on to the end of it as the guys lower me to the bottom of the waterfall.  When I get there, I notice Soraya’s body floating in the water with a swirl of blood around her. God no, please be alright. I jump in and pull her out of the river. I notice she’s had a hard hit to the back of her head and some scratches and bruises all over her arms and legs.  “Soraya, wake up!” I start to lightly tap her on the cheeks. But she doesn’t seem to be breathing.

 I lay her flat on the floor and start the CPR process.  After a few attempts, she coughs and I quickly turn her over to let the water out of her lungs.  Baba climbs down the ladder as the helicopter hovers above. “Sor, how’s she doing?” I sigh and take a deep breath. “She’s breathing again, but we need to take her to get checked out.” Baba nods and he starts to climb back up to the helicopter. I pick up Soraya and place her over my shoulder and let the guys pull us up.

 We decide to fly back to Luke’s place so that he can treat her.  I hold on to Soraya and caress her face… such a strong woman.  Baba had been holding her legs as he sat next to me. “She doesn’t seem to have broken bones, but we won’t know for sure until we see the doc.” I nod in agreement.

 Once there, Luke was ready for us as Eisuke had called ahead.  He did some x-ray work immediately. “I need you guys to find her some clothes, she’s still wet, we have to change her immediately.” I dispatch Inui to purchase clothes for her while we wait.  Luke had to cut Soraya’s Cheongsam off her body to inspect for any other wounds.  I had to assist as Luke had no nurses to help.  She’s beautiful, can’t deny that part. Luke wraps her wet hair in a towel then pushes it away from her. He takes a good look at the hit at the back of her head and begins to stitch the cut. “She’s lucky that she didn’t hit any other area. She should be fine after some time.” Luke says.  He takes out some towels and a blanket. I dry her body as he patches up some of her cuts and scrapes. Inui makes it back after 30 minutes and we look at her x-rays, she has a crack on her femur and a broken arm. Luke hands me some scissors. “Okay, cut off her underwear and dress her, we have to tend to her broken limbs.  “Why me?” I ask Luke… “You’re the least perverted out of all of us.”  Oh God, this is torture.

SORAYA’S POV

I’m in the darkness and can see a light far away with people standing  all around it.  As I walk closer to it, I see my love. “Richard!” I yell as loud as I can, he stands there looking at me with a smile on his face.  He holds up a hand motioning me to stop. “It’s not your time Soraya, I will always be here for you, but right now, someone else needs you there.” I look at him in confusion and begin to cry.  The light gets brighter before me until I realize that I just opened my eyes. I see a white ceiling and as I turn my head, I see a window featuring the beautiful city of Tokyo right outside.

 I try to get up, but I feel a sharp pain to the back of my head, my arm and leg. “Nghh…. Ouch….” I say and next thing I know I hear the rustling of blankets in a bed next to me. “You’re awake!” It’s that Soryu guy… everything suddenly comes back to me.  I panic for a second and try to get up as fast as I can from the bed, but he rushes over to me and pushes me back down. “You’re not well enough to do that right now. You’re lucky to be alive. Now relax, we’re not going to do anything to you, okay?” I nod, again, no choice in the matter.

 “You’ve been out for a couple of days.  We were getting worried.  You’ve been one hell of an escape artist, difficult to track, even for my men.” He lets out a small grin as he lets go of my shoulders. “I know it was difficult for you to go through everything you have and then to be sold at an auction that probably topped it for you. Just so you know, we only bought you to help save your life.  There were far worst people in that auction than us.” I close my eyes as I try to re-shift myself and try and take it all in. “Soraya, I’m the one who purchased you and I am responsible for you. I don’t ever want to go through something like that again. Please stay by my side and help me as a translator. I will make sure to pay you well and accommodate you.”

I’m taken aback by his words, but I still don’t know.  He did save my life, so I guess will give it a chance. Plus, could he be the one that my love was talking about? “I… uh… alright… I will stay and help…” Soryu lets out a sigh of relief as he helps me readjust my pillows. “I will warn you though, I will take off the minute you do something weird!” I say this to him and he laughs. “I have no doubts about that. But I don’t want you to feel confined.” I lift my hand towards him and offer it as a sign of an agreement. He laughs and shakes my hand. “Alright shortie, I agree.” His eyes widen as he looks at me. “What?! You can’t deny it, even if it’s two inches, I’m still taller!” He gives me a funny look “maybe I should reconsider my stance on protecting women…” I start to laugh at his comment, but let out little moans of pain.  And so began our very weird, but interesting relationship…”

[mayquita]

Call Me (15/?) Pictures of Reality

After several months it’s finally here! I'm posting unbeta'd since I didn’t want to delay it any longer, besides, I'm going on vacation soon. This chapter originally was longer, but it was becoming a monster, so I decided to split it into two parts. This time we have Emma POV. One more week and Killian will be back...

@saraswans, thank you for everything, as always :)

Summary: Emma loses her phone after a chase, but she finds a phone in a cafe just when she needs it most. Killian forgets his phone in a cafe when he is about to take a flight to Ireland. Killian makes a call to his own number hoping someone answers on the other end of the line. What will happen when Emma answers the call?

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter14

FF.net

Ao3

Friday.

It had been two weeks since Emma found Killian's phone and according to him, they had to celebrate it in a special way. She wondered if Killian had planned a new date, but he had been totally secretive about it, refusing to give her any clue. The only thing he had asked was to have her laptop close in their daily night talk. So here she was, in her living room, her laptop on the coffee table, waiting. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her stomach clenched in knots in anticipation of what was to come.

Her fingers tapped on the coffee table while she checked the time on her phone. It was early, Killian would still take a while to show up as the Joneses had a family dinner today.

She was going to have to look for a distraction to keep her mind occupied. Sighing as she shook her head, Emma opened her laptop, determined to do some research on her new case. Her determination lasted only a few seconds, though. Her gaze began to wander without paying attention to what appeared on the screen as her mind traveled thousands of miles across the ocean.

The memories of the previous days came to her mind like flashes, preventing her from concentrating on anything but the experiences shared with Killian throughout the week.

Emma leaned back against the back of the couch as she grabbed her cell phone. Since the afternoon didn't seem to be productive in other respects, at least she would allow herself to relive those pleasant memories. Her phone was her ally in that regard. Her finger slid across the screen with a clear goal, her photo gallery. Her lips curled into a wide smile as she scrolled through the screen until she reached all the photos shared from the moment the mystery was finally revealed.

Five days ago…

Sunday.

To Emma's relief, once the masks fell, everything went smoothly. Further, she felt that Sunday afternoon as a kind of déjà-vu, reminiscent of what she had experienced the previous Sunday. With subtle differences, though. Or not so subtle actually.

Killian went out again with his friends, soccer—football— afternoon and beers in a pub. She also got a group photo, although this time with an addition, Killian himself. He seemed comfortable and happy surrounded by people who cared about him. Her heart fluttered a little at his carefree smile, a beer in one hand while his other arm rested around his brother's shoulders.

Emma also received some messages in the group chat from Killian's phone, the compliments sent by his friends getting her to blush.

That night the conversation was short. Killian came home late and, although it was noticeable that he was doing his best to stay awake, Emma soon took pity on him and sent him to sleep. He did, but not before sending her one last photo, a selfie of himself lying on his bed in shadows, his features barely visible except for his bright smile, something to which she had already used to in just a few hours.

Monday.

Emma woke up with renewed energy, her good mood pulling her lips into a smile even with her eyes still closed. The first thing she saw when she managed to open them enough, was an image of Killian, hair tousled, eyes slightly swollen and his lips curled into a smirk. In front of him, a succulent Irish breakfast. The best breakfast ever —His words.

Her mouth watered at the delicacies the bastard was showing her, so once again, before beginning her workout in the gym as part of her surveillance work, she went through Granny’s, her craving for any greasy and caloric food too powerful to ignore.

Her new friend Ruby welcomed her the moment she entered the room. She almost shrieked in pride when she realized that her intuition hadn’t failed and Killian was, in fact, a hot Irishman.

This time it was Emma's turn to share her breakfast through photographs, earning a little reprimand from Killian that made her eyes roll.

I can not believe you're going to eat all that right before you go to work out, love.

At Ruby's insistence, she took a selfie of the two together and sent it to Killian. Emma flatly declined to include the message she wanted to add, referring to the confirmation of her suspicions.

"No way, I will not contribute to feeding his ego."

The session in the gym was almost fruitless, but at least it worked for something. The discharge of adrenaline allowed her to not only maintain her good mood but increase it. She felt a euphoria she had not felt in a long time. The perp didn’t appear, but she had full confidence that sooner or later she would catch him. The very idea of hunting the guy and putting the handcuffs on him made her whole body vibrate in anticipation.

Throughout the day, Emma received and sent numerous photos and messages, as a way to share her little everyday moments with Killian. She couldn’t be more pleased to have decided to take that small step forward in their relationship. The fact that they had revealed their identities had made the connection between them even much closer.

The topic of the conversation that night was Ruby and their recent friendship. She bared her soul a little more, telling him all her insecurities about her relationship issues. He, as always, was a constant supporter, encouraging her to continue opening up, assuring her that he already liked Ruby and couldn't wait to meet her in person.

"Should I be jealous?"

"I'm afraid I have a special predilection for blondes in leather jackets who know how to use handcuffs, love."

Tuesday.

Emma woke up with a good feeling, convinced that today would be the day when she’d finally catch the elusive bastard. Her good mood still persisted, and she was certain that some of the blame was on the several pictures sent by Killian Jones. Like the one who welcomed her as soon as her eyes adjusted to the morning light. Killian tasting an ice cream with his sister-in-law Elsa —whom she had finally been able to put a face—next to him in what looked like her ice cream shop.

Her good mood decreased throughout the day, though. After spending a couple of hours working out in the gym, the perp hadn’t yet made an appearance. She was about to give up, wiping the sweat from her forehead with a towel as she walked towards the exit of the room but just then she glimpsed him out of the corner of her eye.

The guy, a man in his forties, rather corpulent, and arrogant in appearance, was now entering the room. She couldn’t pass up the opportunity to establish at least a first contact with him.

After a few seconds of hesitation, she managed to bump into him and began an impromptu conversation, with the excuse of being new to the place. Her lips pressed into a fake smile to disguise the repulsion she felt at the man's attitude. The bastard fixed his lascivious gaze on her breasts without bothering to look into her face. Oh, the satisfaction she would feel when she could finally use her handcuffs on him. That thought was the only thing that stopped her to punch him in the face.

The topic of conversation that night with Killian was, of course, her adventures and misadventures as a bail bonds person, sharing both laughter and their usual banter. After two hours of talking, they ended the call, not before Emma giving up to Killian's insistence, who had strongly urged her to take a photo as a proof of the good use of her handcuffs in that bloody bastard —His words.

Wednesday.

Once located, catching the guy was much easier than she thought at first. The next day she waited patiently for him to leave the gym, leaning against his car with her sight focused on the front door. As soon as the guy appeared, he barely had time to show a lascivious smile when he noticed her. The next second, he found himself chained to a bench, his eyes and mouth widened in shock. As soon as he realized the implications of what just happened, his face became a grimace of rage as he began to throw insults at her. Far from intimidating her, she directed him a wide smirk, making the guy angrier.

Maybe it was inappropriate, maybe she was violating some kind of law, but Emma couldn't care less. The sensation of triumph ran through her body, adrenaline rushing through her veins clouding her reason. Without pausing to think, she grabbed her cell phone directing the camera at her and making sure the guy she'd just captured was also on the screen, along with the handcuffs she had chained him to the bench. The insults and threats of the dude didn't stop her from pressing the button, immortalizing the moment. Then, ignoring the damned bastard who threatened to report her for violating his privacy or any other nonsense, she sent a message to Killian accompanied by the photo she had just taken.

As you can see, I have already put my handcuffs to good use.

You’re bloody brilliant, Swan.

Later that day, she allowed herself the indulgence of enjoying a relaxed afternoon. She had earned it after the success of her last case. As soon as she got home she prepared the bathtub with warm water, bubbles, and essences, ready to take a relaxing bath while listening to her favorite music.

Emma closed her eyes, letting the warmth of the water and the softness of the bubbles caress her skin, managing to relax her muscles. The melody from the phone wrapped around the room as her mind recreated the lyrics of the songs. The tranquility didn’t last long, though. The music was cut off abruptly by the tone of her phone announcing incoming messages. A groan of frustration escaped her mouth. Damn Killian.

She tried to ignore him at first, squeezing her eyes shut. The messages kept coming, though, interrupting the song over and over, until Emma gave up. Exhaling an exasperated snort, she wiped her hands on a towel and grabbed the phone placed on a shelf near the bath tub.

In other circumstances, she'd be happy to receive any photo or text from Killian. This time, however, she was looking for at least ten minutes of peace and quiet. Still, she couldn't keep the corners of her lips from rising slightly as she checked the contents.

There was a picture of a few women having a conversation. Around them, a few children in what appeared to be the living room of the Jones House. A text accompanied the photo.

Swan, help! My friends have abandoned me and I'm surrounded now by ladies and children. I need a distraction to keep me from dying of boredom, love.

A giggle bubbled in her chest,  even though she still felt a little irritated by the interruption. His ability to dramatize even in the most ordinary situations had the capacity to make her laugh. She was now in a position where she could help quite well to distract Killian. So without thinking too much about the implications, she sent him a text back.

Is it enough distraction if I tell you that I'm taking a relaxing bath? Or at least it was until your interruption.

You can't be serious, love.

You wanna a proof?

The three little dots on the screen appeared and disappeared continuously as if he didn't finish deciding for an answer. Emma bit her lower lip, suddenly nervous about the implications of the game she had just gotten herself into. She felt her cheeks burning, and the reason was not only the warmth of the water.

Finally, a simple word appeared on her screen.

Aye.

No way she was going to send him any explicit photos, let alone when he was surrounded by his family, but that didn’t mean she could not tease him a little, right?

She put her cell phone on the shelf for a moment and then reached into the bathtub, trying to draw all the bubbles around her, so that only the most innocent part of her cleavage would be exposed.

Then, careful that the bubbles did not disappear, she dried her hands with a towel, grabbed the phone again and shot a couple of photos. When she was satisfied with the result, she sent the picture to Killian.

Bloody hell love ... you know that I have a rather vivid imagination, right? How am I supposed to act now in front of all these ladies and children?

Oh, my innocent bubble bath has affected you? Dirty mind, I tell you.

His response did not come immediately so Emma began to think that maybe she had gone too far with the banter. Within a few seconds, however, a new message popped up on the screen.

Apologies, Swan, I was interrupted by a crowd of children who wanted to know what was so funny on my phone.

Her eyes widened and she almost dropped the phone into the tub by surprise and sudden embarrassment. But before she started to freak out even more, Killian continued.

I had to improvise with an image of... swans. But I think it's time to let you enjoy your relaxing bath. Thanks for the distraction, love. Talk to you later.

After putting the phone back on the shelf, Emma leaned back in the tub and closed her eyes. The still warm water and her favorite music playing back in the room, all she needed to relax. Her mind, however, had other plans. Damn Killian Jones and his interruption. The image of the Irishman surrounded by women and children while finding an excuse not to betray her audacity had settled in her head and there was no way to get rid of it.

Another thought burst through her head, making her smile. Whatever the moment she wanted to take a soothing bath, either of the two Jones brothers decided to interrupt her. Less than two weeks ago it was Liam, and now it was his younger brother's turn. Despite the interruptions, however, she couldn't be more grateful that the Jones brothers had come into her life. She hoped they would stay for a long time.

Later that night, Emma learned that the reason Killian had stayed home while his friends and brother were hanging out was, in fact, his own decision. His niece's birthday was the next day, and since the previous years he stayed back in Boston, this was indeed the first birthday he could attend, so he was more than willing to be a part of all the preparations.

Her stomach fluttered with any mention of his nephews or niece, especially now that she had graphic evidence of the mutual adoration between the children and his favorite uncle. After so many years living alone, she didn’t know that kind of longing to see a happy family could have a place in her heart. But that longing to finally belong to something was becoming more powerful. And Killian talking about the birthday of that adorable little girl with bright blue eyes and blond hair, did nothing to mitigate it, rather the opposite.

Thursday.

That day Graham brought them a new case, so Emma spent most of the time in the office, as she began her first investigations. At lunchtime, both Graham and Leroy asked her to join them. At other times, she would have rejected it flatly, claiming any excuse. This time, however, she agreed without a second thought. To her surprise, no sign of anxiety or nervousness appeared, her decision to open up to others stood firm and things flowed more easily.

She even took a couple of photos with her two coworkers before ordering their meals and sent them to Killian, following their established routine of sharing their lives through messages and photos.

Should I be jealous of your boss?

Emma had never thought of Graham as a potential love interest, but the truth was that when they met for the first time, he began to show an interest in her beyond the professional. She was aware that Graham cared about her. Her heart, however, did not bear his name. Beyond her walls and her fear of making a relationship, there were no butterflies fluttering in her stomach, nor was her heart racing to see him. But that didn't mean she couldn't open up to him and make room for a friendly relationship.

Still, this was the perfect excuse to tease Killian a little.

Uhm ... an Irishman with blue eyes, a scruff and a leather jacket ... It's familiar to me. The difference is that one of them is here and the other is thousands of miles away.

Maybe I could help you with your choice, love.

Her eyebrows went together as she narrowed her eyes, confused by his unexpected answer. After waiting a few seconds without any new text, she shrugged, set the phone down, and turned her attention to her two partners.

A moment later, though, the phone buzzed again, and although they were about to order, her curiosity won, so she grabbed the device ready to find out what was Killian in hand this time. The picture she saw when she unlocked the screen left her speechless. A shiver ran down her spine, her mouth fell open as her eyes widened, unable to look away. That bastard...

Following your example from yesterday, I also just had a relaxing bath that will help me face a birthday party full of children. Here's the proof.

In fact, it seemed clear that Killian had just gotten out of the shower. At least he had taken pity on her somehow since the image showed only his upper torso at the height of his pectorals. But that was enough to make her mouth water and not precisely because of the food. A strand of his soaked hair fell on his forehead, his sinful gaze seemed to stare at her. Her gaze drifted to her collarbone first and then to the drop of water immortalized in its course sliding down his well-defined pecs… Dear Jesus, this man was going to be the death of her without even having met him in person.

"Emma, are you okay?"

Graham's voice filled with a mixture of concern and amusement broke the spell. Emma pressed her lips together in a tight line as she shook her head slightly, noticing how her cheeks burned.

"Yeah ... it's just ... hold on a second." She murmured, avoiding his gaze.

Once she overcame the initial shock, a growing anger began to overtake her. The damn idiot had done it on purpose so she shot a quick response, her fingers tapping hard her phone’s keypad.

You, bastard, I'm in a public place, surrounded by people.

His response was almost immediate.

So was I yesterday, Swan. I gather from your reaction that your impression has been good enough...

Emma clenched her jaw, her embarrassment increasing as she thought that Killian was right. She started playing with fire and now she was getting close to the flames. She noticed without needing to look up, as Graham kept his gaze fixed on her, perhaps waiting for an explanation.

I'm not talking to you right now.

Without further ado, she locked her phone's screen and put the device back down on the table. When she finally dared to look up, she met Graham's curious gaze, a half smile on his face, his head tilted slightly to one side, as if he were studying her.

"Was he your friend? The Irishman?" He asked with what seemed like a genuine interest.

"Uh-huh..." She managed to respond, keeping her look somewhat evasive.

"Lucky guy..." Graham's words came in so a low murmur that Emma thought she had imagined it. But before she had time to think about what his words might entail, Leroy interrupted them.

"Are we going to order our food now or not?" He grunted, showing his impatience in his characteristic grumpy tone.

Emma focused on the menu, though her mind devised the various ways in which she could take revenge on Killian. She also tried to decide if the fact that he was one of the sexiest men she had ever met in her life was actually something good for her or not.

They did not talk on the phone that night. The reason was not Emma's anger, though, but the birthday party. Her annoyance toward him grew thinner as Killian shared photos of the party with her, each one more cute and adorable.

The previous event had been soon forgotten — who was she kidding? She couldn’t erase from her memory the image of a wet Killian and his sinful gaze — and was replaced by the images of a happy family, all smiling and bright gazes. She marveled at the happiness Eileen irradiated for having her uncle on her side for the first time on that very significant day for her. She noticed also the eagerness of the girl while blowing the candle and making a wish.

She couldn’t be more grateful to Killian for engaging her, even through photos, in a family event with the ability to melt her heart and leave her yearning for more. Family, that concept so strange to her that she was now learning to value through these people, almost unknown. They gave her the opportunity to experience the true meaning of the word she still didn’t dare to voice aloud.

Killian's intention had been to stay awake to talk to her. But the last picture he sent her showed a fretted face. The party was over and he was helping to clean up the mess in the living room. He looked tired but happy at the same time. Despite his insistence, she did not budge.

Go to sleep, Jones, I mean it.

Okay, Swan, you win. If I were not so tired, I would rebut you, but you're right, it's time for me to sleep for today. Goodnight.

She was about to write her reply back when a new message appeared on the screen.

I almost forget it. I have something special prepared for tomorrow. It's a surprise. You just need to know that you should have your laptop handy. Sleep well, love.

Friday. Present Day.

The ringing of her phone brought her back to reality. She had been so self-absorbed remembering the last week that she had lost track of time. Straightening, she let the melody sound a little more as she ran her hands through her hair and then pinched her cheeks. Now that they shared photos she should appear decent enough. After a deep breath, she grabbed the phone and answered the call.

“Hi.”

“Hello, love and happy anniversary.”

She rolled her eyes. “Really?” Why didn't that surprise her? Even so, her stomach fluttered a little in anticipation.

“Well, it's been two weeks, right? Two weeks since we met. And since we already had a celebration last week... "

 "...You've thought of celebrating it too this week, of course." She continued for him. Since Killian announced he had something prepared for today she hadn’t stopped asking him, getting silence by an answer. As soon as the subject appeared in the conversation, she could not help herself and the words came out of her mouth hastily, in a clear sign of her impatience to know what he had in mind.

"We're impatient, aren't we?" His amused tone did not help at all.

"Just curious, that's all." She had already insisted a lot throughout the morning through messages, even sent him a selfie with begging eyes and her lips forming a pout. Negative result. Her pleading level had already reached its peak, so by no means she was going to start over.

The answer was an absolute silence on the other side of the line. Seriously? She rolled her eyes at Killian's childlike behavior and also remained silent for a few seconds, but her curiosity finally won.

After a deep exhalation, she gave up. "Oh, come on, spit it out, Jones." "Ha, I knew it." His triumphant shout nearly ripped through her eardrum, also causing an increase in her level of annoyance to him. He was so insufferable at times. "Remember that I still have your phone and that it may have an unfortunate accident." She had not needed to use the threat of the phone in the past few days, but now it seemed a fitting enough time.

"Whoa, whoa. Calm down, I was just teasing you a bit, Swan. There's no need for anything bad to happen to my phone." After a brief pause, he continued. "Besides, it's not a big deal, really..." Was she imagining things or did Killian seem a little hesitant now?

“I’m listening.”

"I've thought that since our looks are no longer a mystery, it might be a good idea for us to explore a new mode of communication." No, it was not her imagination, there was a slight hesitation in his voice, but Emma didn’t have time to appreciate the reason. The moment she realized the meaning of Killian's words, reality hit her hard.

Her gaze traveled to her laptop as the realization of what was about to happen began to take hold. A video call. That was Killian's surprise. Her heart hammering in her chest and her hands began to sweat, she was not ready for that. She hadn't even thought of this possibility, although once the mystery was revealed, there was nothing that separated them except the physical distance. Still...

“Emma?”

She reacted at the sound of his voice, shaking her head in an attempt to pull herself together. “You want to use Skype, or Facetime or any of those video call applications."

"Well, love, it seems appropriate that this is the next step in our unusual relationship. First the phone, then the photos, now the video call..." Little by little his voice was gaining confidence, causing the flutter in her stomach to increase. "We should take advantage of the fact that not everyone has the opportunity to experience as many first times as we did before meeting in person." At this point, any hint of his previous hesitation had vanished. The way his tone of voice lowered to almost a murmur with the words first time was not helping to mitigate her state of agitation.

But he had a point. What they were experiencing was something unique. After a deep exhalation, she turned on the laptop. A tug of anticipation settled into her stomach. The reality was that, in spite of the initial shock, the idea of getting at the same time both his suggestive voice and his moving smile was too attractive to ignore.

"Okay, let me turn on the laptop. Hold on a second, I'll be right back." Without waiting for a reply, she dropped her phone on the couch and rushed to the bathroom. It was a silly thing, really, because during these last days they had already shared millions of photos, but she felt the need to be as attractive as possible for their first time. First time of video call. That is. “Get a grip, Emma!”

Quickly, she applied a touch of lip gloss and made sure her hair was on point. She smiled at her image in the mirror realizing that she was wearing, the same T-shirt she wore when she sent him her first photo. The one that was too large that slid down leaving her shoulder exposed. Good.

Emma went back to the living room, sat down on the couch and picked up the phone again. "Okay, Jones, I'm ready." After sharing their respective usernames, the incoming call sound through the laptop wrapped the room. Emma closed her eyes for a few seconds and after a sigh, she pressed the answer button.

The image of Killian filled her screen at once, causing her heart to skip and her stomach to flop. Damn it ... It was happening.

He leaned against his headboard and wore a white v-neck t-shirt. His features were relatively shaded, the only sources of light seemed to come from a lamp on the nightstand and from the laptop screen itself. Despite the lack of illumination, she didn’t miss the way his lips curled for the first time in a small, hesitant smile.

"Hi again, love." Her eyes followed the movements of his lips as he formed the words, keeping her completely hypnotized, unable to look away. She bit her lower lip as she tried to keep her breathing steady It was too real. It was too much.

"Hi." She managed to murmur, her brain unable to form any more elaborate words.

"Hey, Swan, you can stop talking on the phone, we don't need it anymore."

Her mind still took a few seconds to process his words. But then she realized that she was still holding the phone to her ear as she stared at the computer screen. "Oh, shit." She dropped the phone on the couch as she felt her cheeks start to burn with embarrassment, wanting a hole to open beneath her feet and carry her away.

Killian chuckled, but she could not see his movements since she covered her face with her hands and refused to look at the screen.

"It's okay, Emma, don't hide, let me see you." Killian pleaded, though his voice didn't hide his amusement.

So much for a first time. She thought.

Emma dared to peer at the screen through the gap between her two fingers. "Can we ignore what has happened and start over?" She asked, hating the pleading of her voice.

"Of course, love, if that's what you want. By the way, I found your little confusion quite lovely." Though she still did not look at him directly because of her embarrassment, she could detect the genuine smile in his voice.

"Just forget it, okay?" She finished the call and collapsed against the back of the couch, still slightly mortified. Within seconds, however, she began to laugh at the absurd situation. She didn’t know what was worse, whether her initial confusion with the phone or her subsequent reaction. She attributed it to the nervousness she felt at the unexpected idea of Killian.

"Okay, let's go for the second time." She infused herself with the confidence she needed.

This time, she left the object of her embarrassment away and restarted the call. Again, the image of Killian appeared on her screen, wearing the same genuine smile.

"Hi again."

"Hi, love. Better?"

"Yeah, but I still find it odd that we're talking through this medium. It feels very real, doesn't it?"

"Aye." He nods and his tongue peeks out to the corner of his mouth.

They stared at each other in awkward silence for a few seconds. Then, they restarted the conversation, tentatively at first, but little by little, Emma gained security. Within minutes they were both chatting animatedly, just as they did during their interminable telephone conversations.

There was a difference, though. His body language endowed with an even greater meaning to his already expressive verbal language. She no longer had to settle for his static smile. Now she could see his lips curling into a smirk with forming dimples on his cheeks. Now his innuendos and his suggestive voice were accompanied by the dancing of his eyebrows, increasing the meaning of his words. It was too real. And dangerous. And such a little too addictive.

Killian began to make a reference to her t-shirt, showing that he recognized it from her first photo. At that moment, though, something happened that caused his gaze to drift beyond the computer. Then a small figure appeared on the screen and curled up beside him. Was she his niece?

Emma remained enthralled, staring at the screen and following every move. He held the little girl in his arms as he spoke sweet words to her and gently stroked her back. It seemed that Eileen had had a nightmare and had come to her uncle's room for shelter.

A feeling of vertigo washed over her. Her heart skipped a beat, overwhelmed by what she saw on the screen. The tenderness with which Killian treated his niece could melt even the iciest heart. And hers was not going to be less. Why did he have to be so damn adorable? She swallowed, suddenly uncomfortable to witness the intimate moment between the two of them, but unable to look away.

"My apologies, love, this little lass has had a nightmare, but everything is fine now, I'll escort her to her bed, I'll be right back."

The moment Killian disappeared from the screen, Emma let out the breath she had been holding. It was too much. She did not know the reason, but seeing Killian share family moments, especially with his niece and nephew, had a strong impact on her. As much as she struggled to ignore it, she surrendered to the evidence, she was falling fast and hard for that man. And that terrified her. She needed to calm down before she panicked.

At that moment, she noticed her phone and without thinking twice she grabbed it as if it were a lifeline and shot a quick message to Ruby.

I'm keeping a video call with Killian.

Cool. And tell me, is your Irishman as hottie in motion as he is in pictures?

If you only knew... She thought. Instead, she went straight to the point.

 It feels too real.

Okay, I get it, but is that a bad thing? He's coming back in a week, Emma, you better get use to it.

She knew she was being ridiculous, but the instinct to protect her heart was still ingrained in her.

I'm not good at this.

Honey, no one's telling you to jump into bed with him the moment you meet him. There is nothing wrong with continuing your friendship with him when he returns.

Now that she had been able to open up and give the friendship a chance she did not want to ruin everything just for fear of what might arise. But even though she was new to all this, the way her body and heart reacted to any aspect of Killian probably had a deeper meaning. And that scared the hell out of her.

Wait a minute, why are you texting me while you keep a video call with him?

His niece had a nightmare and he has accompanied her to her bed. I'm waiting for him to come back.

Oh, really? How adorable!

 It was a cute moment. —Too much for her own good, she thought.

And...

And what?

Is there a problem with that?

Maybe...

This time Ruby took her time to write. Since Killian had not yet returned, Emma settled down against the back of the couch, waiting while her heart kept pounding in her chest.

Don't go up your walls now. The connection created between you two is unique, don't miss the opportunity. Enjoy the moment, let yourself go. And if when he comes back you need to get your walls up again, do it. He will take care of knocking them down again.

Ruby's words had an immediate calming effect. She took a deep breath and decided not to anticipate events but to get carried away. One week. One more week to experience this idyllic relationship where there was hardly room for frustrations or disappointments. She hoped she could control the panic that still lingered in the pit of her stomach.

Ok. I’ll do my best. But I've only known him for two weeks, we have not even met in person and still feel like too much.

You and I have been friends for a week. I mean, I'm not complaining at all. But look at you, just a week ago you almost didn't talk to me and now you've decided to trust me. And I'm grateful that you did. Trust him too. And enjoy the view, now that you can, darling.

Emma snorted as her lips curved into a smile. Just then Killian appeared again on the screen.

"What's so funny?"

"Oh, nothing, I was texting Ruby while I waited."

"Good things, I hope. Say hello to her from me."

"You can never expect good things with Ruby, Jones." Her grin widened, matching Killian's. And at that moment all her worries disappeared. One week. She still had one week. "Wait a moment, I'll be right back with you."

Emma sent a quick text to Ruby.

He’s returned. I'll talk to you later. Thank you.

Anytime, Emma.

Emma dropped her cell phone on the couch and her gaze focused again on the screen.

"Is she okay? Your niece, I mean."

"Aye, it was just a nightmare." She did not lose sight of the way he ran his hand through his hair, making it even more disheveled and causing a need inside her to run her fingers through it as well. "It doesn't happen often to her. I guess she was still nervous after her birthday party from yesterday."

"She's adorable.You're lucky, Jones." She said softly.

He gave her a look that was perhaps too intense. "Yes, I am."

After a few seconds of holding their gazes, Killian finally spoke again, his solemn expression giving way to something more amusing. "And for that reason, as luck seems to be on my side, I have something more to propose to you and I know you're going to say yes."

"Oh, don’t push your luck so much, buddy."

Killian chuckled. "I can assure you that the plan is too tempting to reject it."

Okay. He had managed to win her interest. "Let me judge for myself. I'm all ears."

Killian scratched behind his ear and looked away a little. Was it possible that he was nervous? This was interesting. "My nephew Connor and I have a plan for tomorrow afternoon. We're going to start rewatching the Star Wars saga, and I thought you could join us."

Emma frowned, confused. "What do you mean?"

"Well, a movie afternoon, each of us watches the movie on our respective TVs while we share a video call. What do you say?"

"As on a date? You know that I don't do pillage and plunder until the third date, right?" Emma regretted the moment the words came out of her mouth. What are you thinking? She thought as her cheeks began to burn.

But at least she'd gotten a reaction on Killian. She felt his eyes widen a little, even she could see, despite the dimness, that his cheeks also blushed, his facade of bravado disappeared for a moment.

"Ehm..." He mumbled, scratching again behind his ear. "I did not intend to consider this as a date since we will be accompanied by my nephew, but if you put it this way then yes. This will be our second date, Swan. Which means that there is less left for the third one." He had recovered soon from the impact of her words, his suggestive voice and his tongue darting out to wet his lips had the ability to make her knees weak.

Remembering Ruby's earlier words, she decided to ignore her inner voice screaming danger and got along with it, glancing at him from beneath her lashes. "Okay, since you're picking the second date again, you'd better be worth it, Jones."

"This will be an advance. The third date will be when the fun begins, love."

"And can I have popcorn?"

"Whatever you want, Swan."

Her heart skipped a beat. It was an innocent sentence, but Emma did not miss the true meaning of his words, especially the way he was looking at her. It was a look full of promises.

"Okay, we have a date then." His smile grew larger, accentuating his dimples as the butterflies in her belly fluttered furiously.

Even though he was still smiling, she could also see the signs of weariness on his face. Casting a quick glance at the clock, she realized that it was already too late for him.

"And now it's time to go to bed, Jones, it's late for you."

"I do not know if you noticed, love, but I’m already in bed." His eyebrows arched playfully and she could not help but roll her eyes, earning a chuckle from him.

"You know what I mean. Go to sleep. I don’t want to see you yawning in front of me."

"You know? That is one of the drawbacks of video calls, love, I can’t hide the yawning. Even so, the incentives are much greater. Like seeing the way you roll your eyes or how you frown when something bothers you. Quite adorable."

"Oh, shut up, Jones, I'm closing the window. Goodnight."

"Good night, Swan. Sleep well."

Her hand moved quickly over the computer mouse, closing the window with determination without looking back at the screen. Otherwise, she would have fallen surrendered to his charms again.

Within seconds, her phone buzzed, notifying incoming message. Emma was not surprised, since she was sure it came from Killian, in what had become a routine after their endless conversations.

I forgot to tell you, Swan. It's been a delight to see how you are even more stunning in movement than through a static image.

Damn bastard with the ability to make her hands tremble and her heart speed up. She had lost count of the times he had got her cheeks flushed since they know each other.

You are not so bad yourself. May the force be with you.

Despite the ridiculousness of the comment, She could not help giggling.

Really, Swan?

What? I was just getting into the role.

Good night Emma, or should I say Princess Leia?

I'm rolling my eyes right now.

I didn’t expect anything less from you, Swan.

Go to sleep, Jones. Good night.

Thank you for always following me in my ideas. Remember, we have a date. I'll see you tomorrow, literally.

So it was happening. They had a new virtual date, or whatever. And also with his nephew, which meant that she was going to be a witness of more cute moments between uncle and nephew. Great. But she couldn't wait to see Killian again and continue discovering everything this relationship could offer them before they get to know each other in person.

Emma leaned against the back of the sofa, unable to stop a smile from forming on her lips. Despite her initial fears, everything had gone well. She continued to ignore the warning voice inside her and decided to be guided by Ruby's words and what her heart felt.

Thanks for reading :)