#i will finish cutting the pattern tomorrow
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perilegs · 2 months ago
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i need to go to bed, but, it's there :3c
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deadandwalking · 9 months ago
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if teenage years are the best years of my life why am i apologising to the little girl in my head why am i fearing my family falling apart why am i failing to accept my bio family are not good for me why am i worried about grades and jobs and life why am i preparing to mourn my best friend why am i fearing growing old why do i miss what i never had why do i miss people who don’t miss me why am i disgusted by my own urges, wants and needs why do i cry over the things i love the most why do i seek comfort in fiction because reality is against me why do i fear the touch i crave why do i feel i am dying
#thinking a bit too hard now#am i even going to survive long enough to make it all ok#why does nobody see i’m a kid#also side note obsession hurts so fucking bad especially when your object causes guilt because you know it should be someone else#pattern recognition is a curse#mmm yknow what fuck it i’m gonna elaborate briefly on everything because fuck silence i deserve to be heard for once#apologising to Boo because i ruined her life#i fear my family falling apart because most of us want to die and it’s impossible to keep everyone happy it seems#the bio family kinda speaks for itself but uuuh yeah i am not accepting my sister is bad#worried about grades and jobs because there’s a lot less money at home now but my brothers won’t cut back so i have to#which is really fucking up my progress with my ed#preparing to mourn because Angel’s been dying a while now and now he’s trying to finish the job himself#fearing growing old because will i really be better or will i spend my life miserable and psychotic#i miss Vermin again#i want him back but he was never here#i miss Wade#but i don’t think he misses me#he’s been online he’s just ignoring me#disgusted because hypersexuality is a bitch and i’ve tried sliding it into conversations with people i really need to fucking talk about it#it’s starting to feel suffocating but i’m too fucking embarrassed still#like i know it’s just a coping mechanism for all the trauma but#i can’t help feeling disgusting still#i cry over my family near every day because i just want us to be fucking happy for once#i have been clinging so hard to newer headspace members to give the others a break#two of them just happened to take the form of Chris Redfield and Mewtwo#again a sex thing i want to feel like my husbands want me but i’m too scared to do anything yet#ok confession done i’m gonna regret this tomorrow but whatever who really cares
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cultivating-wildflowers · 1 year ago
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strictly speaking, I need to clean my house this weekend, but I would much rather break out my new corset pattern and start on a sewing project
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giverofempathy · 2 years ago
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my teacher let me go home half an hour early :-)
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lovely-hikari-cosplay · 9 months ago
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Making shoes again for the first time in a year and I gotta say lousing up cutting the insoles is probably the worst since it takes 24 hours after wrapping them to get back to cutting them.
On the plus side, making mistakes like this is teaching me 1.) How much more I have to learn, which is always exciting and 2.) what my personal work process/method is like.
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voltrons · 10 months ago
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ITS VAGUELY SWEATER SHAPED NOW!!! YOU CAN SEE THE VISION!!!
i have a single (1) sleeve partially attached and four days to complete it woOOO! effort!! strength!!! power!!!!!!!!
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golden-reverie · 12 days ago
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Burnt Out
Author’s note: Hello to anyone who sees this! I’m Elodie, 24, from the Midwest. I love to experiment with writing, and my guilty pleasure is anything to do with Harry Styles. I’ve been so inspired by all the amazing writers on here, so I finally decided to take a stab at something of my own. I hope you enjoy :)
Summary: You’ve been running yourself ragged over a work project, and Harry isn’t having it.
Word count: 4.2k
Warnings: MDNI, spanking, punishment, fingering, pre-established dom/sub relationship, stern dom!harry, sub!reader, fem!reader, aftercare, all actions and dynamics are consensual
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The soft glow of the laptop screen flickered against the walls, casting restless shadows in the dimly lit house. Y/N’s fingers danced over the keyboard, her eyes locked onto the cascading lines of code. Stray wisps of amber hair had escaped the messy bun atop her head, and she absently chewed on the end of a pen—an old habit from her college days. The room was silent, save for the rhythmic clicking of keys and the quiet hum of the laptop’s fan.
Harry lingered in the doorway, arms crossed, watching her with a mixture of concern and quiet frustration. The faint aroma of the dinner he’d prepared still clung to the air, a cruel reminder that she had once again skipped a meal in favor of work. Outside, the streetlights cast a soft, silver glow through the thin curtains, tracing ghostly patterns on the floor. Y/N remained wrapped in the world of her screen, completely oblivious to his presence.
He cleared his throat, his voice cutting through the hush like a blade. “Y/N, it’s late. You need to come to bed.”
She didn’t look up. “Just a few more minutes, Harry. I need to finish this.”
Harry sighed, raking a hand through his unruly curls. “You’ve been saying that for the last three hours. You need a break.”
This time, she did glance up—just long enough for him to catch the flicker of exhaustion in her gaze before she turned back to her work. “I can’t. This project is a big one. I have to get it done.”
Harry pushed off the door frame and strode toward her, his presence heavy, unyielding. A warm hand landed on her shoulder, grounding her. “You’ve been at this nonstop for weeks. You need to take care of yourself.”
She shrugged off his touch. “I will. Just not tonight.”
His jaw tightened. “That’s not how this works, Y/N. You know the rules. You agreed to them.” His voice remained level, but there was an edge to it now, a quiet authority that she could no longer ignore. “Your body needs food, rest… You’ll burn out if you keep this up.”
Y/N’s fingers hovered over the keyboard, but for the first time in hours, she hesitated. She exhaled slowly, her voice softer, but still laced with defiance.
“I just… need to finish this. Can’t you see that?”
Harry’s expression didn’t waver. He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “You can finish it tomorrow. During normal hours. Right now, you need sleep. I already let you skip dinner, and we both know that wasn’t the first meal you’ve ignored lately.” He leaned in, his voice dropping to a murmur. “I’ve run out of patience, love.”
Y/N stilled. She understood the implication behind his words. Her breath hitched, cheeks heating.
“Harry, I can’t just—”
“Yes, you can.” His tone was gentle, yet immovable. “And you will.” With deliberate ease, he reached out and closed her laptop, the sudden silence deafening.
She finally looked at him, her eyes flashing with something between defiance and reluctant surrender. “You’re being over the top,” she muttered.
Harry smirked, tilting her chin up with his fingers, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Maybe I am. But someone has to be.” His thumb brushed against her cheek, slow and deliberate. “You’re not taking care of yourself. And that’s not acceptable to me.” His voice was softer now, but it carried an unmistakable weight.
The air thickened, charged with something unspoken yet undeniable.
He took a step back, nodding toward the staircase. “C’mon. Up you get.”
Y/N hesitated for half a second before pushing up from her chair, her body drawn to his like a tide to the shore. As much as she wanted to argue, she knew he was right. This project had pushed her past her limits—late nights, skipped meals, unanswered texts and calls—Harry had let a lot slide. But tonight, that grace had run out. And now that she had been pulled from the blue-light-induced trance she had been under, she found herself grateful for his insistence.
As they ascended the stairs, a different kind of tension coiled low in her stomach. She knew exactly where this was going, and she could already feel the electricity crackling in the space between them.
Harry sat on the edge of their bed, his eyes steady as she hovered in the doorway. He extended a hand, beckoning her forward.
“C’mere,” he commanded.
She found her place in between his legs. His hands fell to her hips and slinked around to the soft flesh under her ass, holding her in place. She looked down at him, anticipating his next move.
“I think you have a pretty good idea of where this is headed, yeah?” His eyes held a quiet patience that stood in sharp contrast to the inevitable sentence looming over her head.
“Yes, Sir,” she whispered, avoiding his gaze.
Harry hummed in approval. “I’ve let a lot slide these past couple of weeks,” he said, tilting his head forward in search of her eyes. “I know big projects come up and that they sometimes get the better of our judgment. That’s just life. But you’re not doing yourself any favors by skipping meals and running on two hours of sleep each day… I know you know that.”
She rested her hands on his shoulders, fingers toying with the fabric of his shirt. A nervous habit.
He blows out a soft sigh, brushing his fingers against her skin, “I gave you plenty of chances to course-correct, Y/N. I wasn’t expecting perfection, but you’ve been running yourself into the ground, and that’s not something I can just overlook.”
She chewed her lip, her gaze flickering anywhere but his face. “I know. I’m sorry.” A frustrated breath escaped her lips, “It’s just… this project is important to me, and you know how cutthroat my coworkers can be. I can’t afford to fall behind.”
“I understand,” he says, lightly squeezing her flesh beneath his hands. “And I love how hard you work, but regardless, you know you can’t be on your A-game if you’re not taking care of yourself… That’s why we put these rules in place, remember? He moves his right hand up to her jaw in a silent command to meet his stare, “Because I love you and I care about you.” His voice was steady, eyes unwavering. “And sometimes you need a reminder to care about yourself, too. Yeah?”
She maintained eye contact this time, the guilt she had been trying to push aside settled heavily in her chest. “I love you too.” she mumbles, her voice barely audible. “I’m sorry.” It wasn’t just an apology—it was an admission. She had ignored the rules, brushed aside her own well-being for weeks, and now the weight of it all felt like it was seeping out of her pores, pooling at his feet.
Harry lets his hand drop from her chin, his expression firm but not unkind. “And I appreciate that,” he says, his tone shifting, sharpening. “But you know the deal.”
It wasn’t necessarily a question, but she answered him, nonetheless.
“Yes, Sir.”
“Alright, over my knee,” he said, his voice leaving no room for argument. He patted his thigh—a silent summons, firm and absolute.
Y/N hesitated for a moment. Not out of reluctance, but out of the sheer pleasure of the moment—this dance between them—the thrill of defiance followed by sweet surrender. She always wanted this, always needed this, and until right now; she hadn’t realized how much she’d been craving it.
He didn’t rush her. He never did. He simply waited, watching her with steady, knowing eyes. The weight of his gaze alone sent a shiver through her, anticipation thrumming beneath her skin. Taking a slow, measured breath, she finally relented, placing her hands on the mattress for balance as she draped herself over his lap.
He took a moment to admire the sight before him—the gentle arch of her back, the delicate vibration in her limbs, betraying her excitement. His hands smoothed over her spine, warm and comforting, a soothing contrast to the tension coiling inside her.
He could feel her trembling almost imperceptibly as she laid there—a quiet, unspoken longing bubbling up from her core. He hooked his fingers into the waistband of her leggings, peeling them down her legs with deliberate ease before tossing them aside.
His palms roamed over the swell of her ass, his touch featherlight, teasing. Y/N bit her lip, resisting the instinct to press her thighs together as he traced the lace trim of her panties, feeling her heat radiating through the delicate fabric. That alone nearly unraveled him. His cock strained painfully against his sweatpants, but he forced himself to linger in this moment—the exquisite torture of making her wait, of drawing it out until she was teetering on the edge.
His hands traveled upward, finding the hem of her shirt, fingertips grazing the sensitive skin beneath. He heard the small hitch in her breath, watched as goosebumps bloomed across her flesh. Slowly, agonizingly, he lifted the fabric, removing it from her body, letting the cool air kiss her bare back as she shivered in his grasp.
He towered over her, his presence commanding every ounce of her attention. His voice, low and unwavering, wrapped around her like a steel chain. “Is your work more important than your own health?”
Y/N inhaled sharply, steadying herself before she answered. “No, Sir.”
“And who decides when you’ve had enough?” His head tilted slightly, waiting—expecting.
His voice rumbled through her, a dark, velvety vibration that settled deep in her bones. Her breath hitched. “You do, Sir.”
A flicker of approval danced in his eyes. “Good girl.”
His palm ghosted over the curves of her ass, tracing gentle circles that did little to soothe the anticipation humming in her nerves. “I want you to count for me.”
She barely had a moment to brace herself before his hand left her skin—only to return with a sharp, resounding crack.
“One!” she gasped. But before she could stop herself, her right hand shot back instinctively, trying to shield herself from the sting.
Harry was faster. He caught her wrist effortlessly, pinning it against the small of her back. His fingers wove through hers, the delicate touch at odds with the firmness of his next words.
“You know better than that.” His voice carried a quiet, heavy disapproval that made her stomach flip. “We’re starting over. Every time you squirm, we’ll go back to one again. Understood?”
Y/N swallowed hard, resisting the urge to whimper. He meant business tonight. “Yes, Sir.”
The next blow landed just as hard.
“One, Sir.” This time, she tagged on the honorific—not required, but a subtle touch she knew he'd appreciate. A ghost of a smile tugged at his lips.
Then came the next. And the next.
“Two, Sir… Three, Sir!” The quick succession stole the breath from her lungs, leaving her voice edged with both pain and something deeper, something needier.
He could feel it—the way her body responded, her skin flushing beneath his touch, heat rolling off her in waves. His palm burned against her flesh, but he reveled in it. He lived for this part: the slow, deliberate breaking down of everything but sensation.
By number twelve, the sharp slap landed against the tender flesh of her lower thighs, and she wailed, the sound raw and unfiltered. Tears pricked at the edges of her vision, but still, she forced the number past her lips.
Harry knew her body better than she did. He knew exactly how to unravel her, how to make her cry out first from frustration—then from sheer, unadulterated pleasure. He wanted her mind empty, consumed only by this, by him.
The next set of strikes sent waves of something heady through her, an intoxicating blend of pain and euphoria. Her breath stuttered. She barely managed to grunt out the numbers between each punishing impact, her body trembling, craving.
By the time he reached twenty-eight, her head had fallen slack against the bed, silent tears soaking into the duvet. This was the most Y/N had ever taken. Normally, he didn’t have to go past twenty before she surrendered completely, but tonight—tonight she had been stubborn. Each slap chipped away at the stress, the tension, the weight she had been carrying for weeks.
He felt the moment her body gave in. The way her fingers went limp in his grasp, her voice raw, spent. She wasn’t resisting anymore—just accepting.
“Thirty, Sir,” she sobbed, the words almost lost in the haze of exhaustion and relief. Then, softer still, “I’m sorry.”
Harry let his hand relax, fingers tracing slow, soothing circles over the heated expanse of her skin. Her body was still shaking, but not from pain. Not anymore. He knew she had slipped, drifting into that quiet, blissful space where nothing existed beyond the warmth of his touch and the safety of his presence.
And he wasn’t about to pull her out. Not yet.
For a long moment, the only sound was the steady rhythm of his palm smoothing over her, and the lingering, uneven sniffles escaping her lips. He let her breathe, let her be.
After a couple minutes, he leaned down, his lips brushing the shell of her ear as he murmured, “You did so good baby. I’m proud of you.”
He pressed a few final, featherlight kisses along the curve of her lower back, his breath warm against her skin as he murmured, “Are you ready for me to check on you?”
He already knew the answer. Knew what he would find when his fingers slipped between her thighs. The anticipation sent a thrill down his spine as he let his hand drift lower, tracing the seam of her slick folds, drinking in the heat that seeped into his skin.
She was dripping.
Harry was hard beneath her, the evidence pressing insistently against her stomach, and he knew she could feel it too. But tonight wasn’t about him. Yes, she had broken the rules—deserved the punishment she had just endured—but more importantly, he wanted to strip away the weight she had been carrying. He wanted to unmake the stress that had hardened her and replace it with something softer.
His thumb found her clit, circling with just enough pressure to make her squirm, a broken whimper muffled against the duvet.
“Good girl, Y/N,” he praised, his voice a low hum of satisfaction.
“Just gonna make you feel good now, yeah?”
He slid a finger inside her, slow and deliberate, while his free hand threaded into her hair, stroking, grounding her.
Her nod was small, but he felt the way her body melted, giving in to his touch. Wetness seeped onto his thigh, further proof of how much she needed this—needed him.
He pushed a second finger inside, reveling in the way her walls clenched around him, her body trembling from the overwhelming sensations. With every stroke, he could feel her tension unraveling, her muscles slackening, the last remnants of restraint slipping away.
The world around him dissolved as his fingers curled inside her, seeking out the spot he knew would make her crumble. “You’ve been so good for me,” he whispered, his lips grazing the damp skin of her shoulder. “Took your punishment like a champ. Now, I want you to come for me. Just like this.”
Her skin tasted of sweat and salt, the scent of her arousal thick in the air.
Y/N was a paradox—a perfect blend of submission and defiance. As obedient as she was, that stubborn streak of hers ran just as deep, a constant challenge that kept him on his toes. But nights like this? When she surrendered completely, yielding every inch of herself to him without hesitation?
He savored it. Relished it. Worshipped it.
Because having all of her—mind, body, and soul—was a privilege he would never take for granted.
He studied her like an artist captivated by the final stroke of their masterpiece, burning the view into his memory—the flutter of her lashes as her eyes turned glassy, the flush that crept down her neck, the way her cunt clenched so tightly around his fingers as if trying to keep him there forever. He wanted to teach her to let go. To release all the anxiety, frustration, and exhaustion that had been suffocating her for far too long.
But he needed it to come from her—wanted her to own her pleasure as much as he did—to know that she was worthy, desired, loved.
Harry’s fingers slid deeper, moving with deliberate slowness as they arched just right, pressing against the spot that had her moaning, her body instinctively grinding against his palm. Her face was buried in the duvet, eyes squeezed shut as she gasped, overwhelmed by the rush of sensations flooding through her.
“Come on, Y/N. Let go for me,” he coaxed, his voice dripping with filthy promise.
Her body tensed, and he knew he had her. She trembled on the precipice before the dam broke. A shattered moan tore from her lips as pleasure ripped through her, muscles spasming in tight, rhythmic waves. The heat of her release coated his figures, and he didn’t stop—not yet.
He worked her through it, his thumb never relenting from the steady, precise strokes against her clit. He wanted everything. Wanted to hear her cry out for him, to watch the pleasure drag her under until she had nothing left to give.
And under she went.
Her cries turned breathless as the last tremors wracked her body, her limbs going boneless beneath his touch. Slowly, he withdrew his fingers, smirking at the needy little whimper she made at the loss. He soothed the ache with soft strokes along her trembling thighs, grounding her as she came back down.
“Atta girl, sweetheart,” he cooed, voice laced with satisfaction. “That feel good?”
A slow, exhausted nod was all she could manage. As the haze of pleasure lifted, she became aware of everything at once—the damp strands of hair sticking to her nape, the tingling in her limbs, the lingering warmth radiating from her backside.
But nothing could pull her back to reality quite like his voice.
“Can you sit up for me, sweet girl?”
***
Water cascaded from the shower head in silken ribbons, a warm, soothing contrast against the cool tile. Steam curled in the air, thick and languid, blurring the edges of the room until it felt like they existed in their own private universe. The scent of eucalyptus clung to the mist, wrapping around them like an embrace.
Harry held Y/N close, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm, the quiet strength of him anchoring her. Her head rested against his collarbone, the sound of his heartbeat a calming metronome against the storm that had been raging inside her for weeks.
His hands moved slowly over her damp skin, drawing soothing circles along her spine, his thumbs tracing the delicate ridges of her back. She shivered—not from the cold, but from the contrast of sensations: the warmth of the water, the cool air beyond it, the roughness of his calloused fingers against the softness of her flesh.
She tilted her head up, meeting his gaze through the water’s shimmering veil. Her lips were parted, her lashes heavy, surrender written in every line of her expression. Harry felt something deep and primal stir in his chest.
With a lingering kiss, he turned her around, his fingers threading through her hair as he worked the shampoo into a gentle lather. His touch was reverent, a contradiction of tenderness and strength, his large hands cradling her head with the kind of care that made her stomach flutter. She sighed softly, melting into the sensation as she rested against his muscled body, her small noises of contentment filling the air like music.
When the last suds had been rinsed away, Harry reached past her to shut off the water, the sudden absence of sound leaving them in an intimate hush. Without hesitation, he grabbed the towels he had set out earlier, wrapping her in one before she could feel the bite of the air. He took his time drying her off, the plush fabric gliding over her sensitive skin like a gentle breeze, coaxing a soft sigh from her lips. Then, with the same quiet devotion, he slipped one of his t-shirts over her head, the oversized fabric swallowing her smaller frame.
As Y/N moved through the final steps of her skincare routine, Harry retrieved a bottle of lotion from the cupboard across the room. He approached her with the grace of a shadow, gently tapping her on the bum.
“When you’re done, I want you to lay on the bed on your tummy. Ok?” His voice a smooth, honeyed command.
She finished up and did as she was told, sinking into the mattress, her head resting on her folded arms. Her damp hair spread across the silk pillow like a river of dark water, cool and smooth against the fabric.
The bed dipped beneath his weight, and she heard the soft sound of lotion being smoothed between his hands. A moment later, the hem of her shirt lifted, and his warm palms met the tender skin of her backside. Y/N sighed deeply, the coolness of the lotion a welcome relief to the heat lingering from earlier. His hands moved with slow, deliberate strokes, massaging away the sting, his fingers tracing the curves of her body with intimate familiarity.
The room was quiet, save for the rustle of sheets and the steady rhythm of their breathing. Y/N felt herself unraveling beneath his touch, sinking into the present moment, leaving behind the weight of the stress that had knotted itself into her muscles. He always knew how to bring her back—how to pull her from the depths of her mind and remind her that she didn't have to handle everything on her own.
When he was finished, he leaned down, brushing a stray lock of hair from her neck before pressing a gentle kiss to the delicate skin there.
“How do you feel?” His voice was a low murmur against her ear, thick with warmth and something deeper—something unspoken but understood.
Y/N swallowed, taking a moment to gather her words. “I—I feel good, Sir,” she admitted, her voice still laced with the remnants of pleasure and submission. “Still a little out of it… but good.” She paused for a moment, then continued, “I’m glad for the punishment. I really needed that.”
She shifted to sit up, and he caught her chin between his fingers, maneuvering her head to face him.
Harry’s lips curved into a soft smile, his thumb tracing slow, reassuring patterns along her cheek. “You did well tonight. You know that, right? M’proud of you.”
The weight of his words settled over her like a blanket—warm, protective, unwavering. She smiled softly into his touch.
A beat of silence stretched between them before he spoke again. “When you feel like things are spiraling, I need you to know you can come to me.”
Then, without waiting for a response, he leaned in and kissed her. It was slow and deliberate, filled with everything he didn’t need to say—everything he had already proven.
When she finally pulled away, her voice was softer, more certain. “I do know that. And I’m sorry I didn’t come to you sooner. It’s… a habit, shutting people out when I’m stressed. But regardless, you didn’t deserve that.”
Harry exhaled a quiet laugh, “Yes, I’m well aware of that habit of yours, which we’ll crack one day. But in the meantime, you can push all you want, sweetheart. Unfortunately for you, I’m not going anywhere.”
She giggled, letting him pull her into his chest. “On the contrary. Very fortunate for me,” she corrected, her voice tinged with affection.
He grinned, maneuvering the covers so she could slide beneath them. Reaching over, he switched off the lamp on his bedside table, casting the room into a velvety darkness.
As Y/N melted into him, the last of her tension slipping away, he pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head.
“Get some sleep. I love you.”
“I love you too,” she whispered against his skin, finally surrendering to the quiet lull of sleep’s embrace.
...
Ahhh! Kind of out there for my first post but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. Hope you enjoyed!
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harrysfolklore · 7 months ago
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first win - op81
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gif by @princemick <33
summary: the road to oscar’s first grand prix win. wc: 3.4K
folkie radio: OSC’S FIRST WIN 🥹🥹🥹 that race that so stressful but he did it and i’m so happy! fun fact: i wrote this fic last night bc i just FELT oscar was winning, i just added today’s race a few hours ago 😭 i hope you like it! leave feedback
MASTERLIST | MY PATREON
February 5, 2023. Bahrain Grand Prix
Today was the big day. Oscar Piastri was set to make his Formula 1 debut as a McLaren driver.
You've talked about this countless of times, sharing dreams and fears, mapping out every step of his journey from karting to the pinnacle of motorsport.
Now, as you stood in the garage with the crowd's energy buzzing around you, it was hard to believe that moment had finally arrived.
Oscar was going through some pre-race talks with his team. You caught sight of him from a distance, his face a mask of focus and determination. When he spotted you, he broke into a smile, and for a brief moment, the tension seemed to melt away.
You make your way over to him as he finishes up with his team.
"Ready to set the track on fire, hotshot?" you tease, playfully tugging at the sleeve of his race suit.
Oscar grins, a mix of excitement and nerves dancing in his eyes. "Well, hopefully not literally. I don't think the team would appreciate a barbecued car on my first outing."
His chuckle is tinged with a hint of nervousness. You notice his hand fidgeting with the zipper of his race suit – a telltale sign of his pre-race jitters.
"Hey," you say softly, taking his hand. "Remember what we always say? You've earned this. You belong here."
"I know. It's just...," he took a deep breath, "It's really happening, isn't it? All those years of dreaming, and now..."
"And now you're about to drive the pants off everyone out there," you finish for him, your voice filled with confidence.
As the final call for drivers echoes through the garage, you both know it's time. Oscar's eyes lock with yours, a swirl of emotions passing between you. Without a word, he pulls you close, his lips meeting yours in a tender kiss. It's brief but filled with emotion.
"For luck," you whisper as you part, your foreheads still touching.
"With you here, I've got all the luck I need," Oscar replies softly, his smile warm and genuine.
With a final squeeze of your hand, he heads to where he's needed. You watch him go, your heart racing with anticipation.
The race begins, and for the first 14 laps, everything seems to be going well. Oscar is holding his own, fighting in the midfield, showing flashes of the talent that got him here.
But on lap 15, your heart sinks as you see his car slow down, veering off the racing line. The team radio crackles with the devastating news: "Box, box. We have a steering issue. We need to retire the car."
You watch, helpless, as Oscar brings the car back to the pits. The disappointment is palpable as he climbs out, his debut cut short.
As soon as he's free from the debrief, you find him in his driver's room. His face is a mask of frustration and disappointment.
"Hey," you say softly, taking his hand. "You okay?"
Oscar sighs, squeezing your hand. "Not really. I just... I wanted to finish the race, you know? Show everyone what I could do."
You pull him into a hug. "And you will. This is just the first race, Oscar. There are plenty more to come."
July 9, 2023. British Grand Prix
Silverstone is one of the most special races in the calendar, and for Oscar it's even more special because England is his second home.
He really wanted to deliver a great result. So far, he hadn't been able to place above P8 and he desperately wanted to improve that.
"I know you're nervous about tomorrow," you said as you laid your head on his chest, feeling him tense, "But you're going to do great, baby."
Oscar wraps his arm around you, his fingers tracing gentle patterns on your shoulder. "You really think so?" he asks, his voice a mix of hope and uncertainty.
You prop yourself up on your elbow to look at him. "I know so. You've been getting stronger with every race. The car's improving, and you're more comfortable with it. Plus, this is Silverstone - you know this track like the back of your hand."
He smiles, some of the tension leaving his face. "I do love this circuit."
"That's the spirit," you say, leaning in to kiss him softly. "Now get some sleep. You've got some racing to do in the morning."
The next day you watch from the garage, your heart swells with pride as Oscar delivers a perfect drive. As he crosses the finish line in P4, the garage erupts in cheers. It's his best result in Formula 1 to date, a performance that will silence any remaining doubters.
When he finally makes it back to the garage, helmet off and face beaming, you're there waiting. He sweeps you up in a hug, both of you laughing with joy.
"You did it!" you exclaim as he sets you down. "I told you you could do it!"
Oscar's eyes are shining with elation and pride. "We did it," he corrects you. "I couldn't have done this without your support."
September 24th, 2023. Japanese Grand Prix
You're perched on the edge of your couch, eyes glued to the TV screen, your heart racing as the lights go out at Suzuka. It's killing you not to be there in person, but work commitments had made the trip to Japan impossible.
Your mind flashes back to your conversation with Oscar yesterday after qualifying. His voice had been filled with excitement and a hint of disbelief as he told you about securing second place on the grid, right behind Max Verstappen.
"Can you believe it?" he had said, his words tumbling out in a rush. "P2! Right behind Max! I mean, I knew the car felt good, but this... this is incredible!"
You had matched his enthusiasm, your pride evident in your voice. "I told you you could do it! Just imagine what you could do in the race from there."
Now, as the race unfolds, you find yourself alternating between cheering out loud and holding your breath. When he crosses the finish line in third place, you leap off the couch, screaming in joy. His first podium and in just his 14th race.
You watch the podium ceremony with tears in your eyes, your heart swelling with pride as Oscar stands there, beaming, champagne in hand next to Max and Lando. It's a moment you've both dreamed about for so long.
It was killing you not to be there.
Hours pass, and you know Oscar must be caught up in team celebrations and media obligations. You're itching to talk to him, but you don't want to interrupt. Finally, just as you're considering going to bed, your phone rings.
"Hey, podium finisher," you answer, unable to keep the smile out of your voice.
"Hey yourself," Oscar replies, and you can hear the grin in his voice. "Sorry it took so long to call. It's been absolutely crazy here."
"Don't apologize! I'm just so incredibly proud of you, Oscar. You were amazing out there. Your first podium, it's a dream come true."
There's a moment of silence, and when Oscar speaks again, his voice is thick with emotion. "I just wish you could have been here. It doesn't feel quite complete without you."
"I know," you say softly. "I wish I could have been there too. But hey, this is just the first of many podiums, right? I'll be there for the next one."
"You bet it is," Oscar chuckles, "And you better be, I need someone to help me wash all this champagne out of my hair."
You laugh, feeling a mix of joy and longing. "I love you, Oscar. Enjoy your celebrations. You've earned it."
"I love you too," he replies warmly, "And I miss you, we have some celebration on our own to do."
October 8th, 2023. Qatar Grand Prix.
The heat in Qatar is suffocating, but the excitement in the air is even more intense. You're back in the paddock, determined not to miss another milestone in Oscar's career. Yesterday's sprint shootout had been a nail-biter, with Oscar securing pole position for the sprint race by mere hundredths of a second.
As the short-format race begins, you hold your breath. Oscar gets a perfect start, maintaining his lead into the first corner. As the final lap approaches, the McLaren garage is in shambles.
When Oscar crosses the finish line in first place, the explosion of joy is deafening. You're jumping up and down, tears streaming down your face as you watch him punch the air in triumph. He's done it - his first ever Formula 1 race win.
As Oscar pulls into parc fermé, you can see the emotion on his face even through his helmet. When he finally removes it, his smile is brighter than the Qatari sun. The team swarms him, and you hang back, letting him soak in this moment with the people who've worked so hard to make this possible.
When he finally breaks free and spots you, his face lights up even more. He rushes over, sweeping you into a tight embrace.
"You did it!" you exclaim, your voice muffled against his race suit. "Your first win, Oscar! I'm so proud of you!"
Oscar pulls back, his eyes shining with. "We did it," he corrects you, just as he did after Silverstone.
You laugh, wiping away happy tears. "Well this is just the beginning. Next stop, Grand Prix victory."
May 5, 2024. Miami Grand Prix.
The air in Oscar's driver's room is heavy with disappointment. You watch as he paces back and forth, still in his race suit, his face a mixture of frustration and barely contained anger.
The race had started so promisingly - Oscar had taken the lead early on and was driving beautifully. But then, a collision forced him into an unscheduled pit stop for a new front wing, dropping him down the order and out of contention for a podium finish.
"I had it," Oscar mutters, running a hand through his sweat-dampened hair. "I was leading the race, I had the pace. If it wasn't for that idiot..."
You step closer, your heart aching for him. "I know, baby. You were driving amazingly out there."
Oscar stops pacing and looks at you, his eyes filled with disappointment. "It's not fair. We've worked so hard, the car was perfect, and then..."
He trails off, shaking his head. You close the distance between you, gently taking his hands in yours. "Hey, look at me," you say softly.
Oscar meets your gaze, and you can see the vulnerability behind his frustration.
"You're right, it's not fair," you continue. "But that's racing sometimes. What matters is how you come back from this. And you will come back from this, stronger than ever."
"I just... I wanted this so badly."
You pull him into a hug, feeling him slowly relax against you. "I know. And your time will come, Oscar. This doesn't change how talented you are or how hard you've worked. It's just a bump in the road."
May 26th, 2024. Monaco Grand Prix.
The streets of Monaco buzz with anticipation for one the most important races in the Formula 1 calendar. For Oscar, this was his second time racing in Monaco, and the excitement was palpable.
From your spot in the McLaren hospitality suite, you had the perfect view of the circuit. Oscar thought you were back home, watching from the living room, but you couldn't miss this race. You wanted to see him shine on this iconic track.
You had coordinated with the team to keep your presence a surprise. As Oscar has his last quiet moments in his driver room before the preparations started, you sent him a quick text: "Good luck, love. Drive fast, be safe. I'll be cheering you on from home!"
Oscar's response was immediate. "Thanks, babe. I miss you. Wish you were here, but I'll bring home a trophy for you."
You smiled, knowing that he was in for a big surprise.
The race began, and Oscar quickly settled into a rhythm. He defended his P2 position until the checkered flag waved.
The team erupted in cheers, and you felt tears of joy streaming down your face. It was his third podium finish, and it was in Monaco of all places.
Oscar climbed out of his car, waving to the cheering crowd, his face glowing with joy and relief. As he stood on the podium, spraying champagne and celebrating with Charles and Carlos, you made your way down to the team area.
When the podium celebrations were over, and Oscar was heading back to the garage, you waited for the perfect moment. As he turned the corner, you stepped out, catching his eye.
"Oscar!" you called out, your voice carrying over the noise of the paddock.
He froze, his eyes widening in surprise. "What are you doing here?" he exclaimed, a huge grin spreading across his face as he rushed over to you.
"I couldn't miss this. I had to see you race in Monaco," you threw your arms around him, laughing.
Oscar hugged you tightly, lifting you off your feet. "You sneaky little... I can't believe you're here!"
"Congratulations, baby. You were incredible out there," you pulled back slightly, looking into his eyes.
"This... this is amazing. Thank you for being here. It means everything to me."
"I wouldn't have missed it for the world," you replied, kissing him softly.
July 7th, 2024. British Grand Prix
Oscar had been more motivated than ever. After finishing second the previous week in Austria, he was eager to claim his first Grand Prix victory, and what better place than Silverstone.
He started strong, fighting his way to the front and eventually taking the lead. The team was buzzing with excitement; victory seemed within reach.
But then, disaster struck. A poorly timed pit stop strategy caused Oscar to lose crucial positions. Despite his best efforts, he crossed the finish line in P4. It was his best finish at Silverstone but not the victory he had hoped for.
Later that day back at Oscar's apartment you watched him pace back and forth. He finally stopped and leaned against the window, staring out into the night. His shoulders were tense, and his jaw was set in frustration. The silence was deafening.
"What's on your mind?" you asked softly, breaking the silence.
Oscar didn't turn around. "I don't want to talk about it," he muttered.
You stood up and walked over to him, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. "I know you're upset. But sometimes talking helps."
He sighed deeply and turned to face you, his eyes filled with frustration and disappointment. "I was leading the race. I could have won. My first victory, right here at Silverstone. And it slipped away because of a stupid strategy call."
You reached out and took his hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "It wasn't your fault, Oscar. You drove an amazing race. Everyone saw how talented you are."
"But it doesn't change the fact that I could have won," he said, his voice cracking with frustration. "I've been waiting for this moment my whole life, and it was right there. And now... I don't know when I'll get another chance like this."
You pulled him into a tight hug, feeling his body tense before he finally relaxed against you. "Your time will come. I know it will. You've shown everyone what you're capable of, and there will be other races, other chances. This is just one race in a long career."
Oscar pulled back slightly, looking into your eyes. "I just wanted it so badly. To win here, in front of the home crowd... it would have meant everything."
"I know," you said softly. "And you'll get there. Maybe not today, but soon. And when you do, it'll be even sweeter because of everything you've gone through to get there."
July 21, 2024. Hungary Grand Prix
The Hungaroring buzzed with excitement as the cars lined up on the grid. Oscar, starting from the front row, felt a mixture of determination and nervous energy. As the lights went out, he got a perfect start, pulling away cleanly from the pack.
Lap after lap, Oscar maintained his lead. The team's excitement grew with each passing circuit. This could be it - his first Grand Prix victory.
However, as the race progressed, pit stop strategies began to shake up the order. After a particularly well-timed stop, Lando emerged just ahead of him. The tension in the McLaren garage was palpable.
Soon, team radio crackled to life. Reminding both drivers about strategies, and particularly asking Lando to give the position to Oscar, creating tension both on and off track.
In the final laps, Lando finally relented. He moved slightly wide in a corner, allowing Oscar to slip past. Oscar crossed the finish line first, claiming his maiden Grand Prix victory.
The team erupted in cheers, but the celebration felt somewhat muted. As Oscar climbed out of his car in parc fermé, his face was hard to read.
As you watched Oscar ascend the podium, your heart swelled with pride. Despite the complicated circumstances of his win, seeing him stand on the top step, the Australian national anthem playing in his honor, was a dream come true.
The champagne spray began, and you couldn't help but smile as Oscar, Lando, and Lewis doused each other in celebration. For a moment, the tension seemed to melt away as the three drivers laughed and enjoyed the moment.
As Oscar descended from the podium, his eyes immediately sought you out in the crowd. You managed to catch him just before he was whisked away for interviews.
"Congratulations, champ," you said, pulling him into a quick embrace.
Oscar hugged you tightly, his race suit still damp with champagne. "Thank you for being here," he murmured against your ear.
You pulled back, searching his face. "How are you feeling?"
A flicker of emotion crossed his features. "I'm not sure yet. I need to process everything."
"I understand," you nodded. "Go do your interviews. We'll talk properly later."
Oscar's eyes softened. He glanced around quickly, then leaned in and gave you a quick kiss. "Love you, see you after."
Hours later, after all the media obligations and team debriefs were over, Oscar finally made his way back to the McLaren hospitality area.
As he entered the room, his eyes immediately sought you out. You were there, beaming with pride, and the sight of you seemed to melt away some of his conflicted feelings.
"There's my champion," you said softly as he approached.
Oscar's face broke into a genuine smile, the first one since he'd crossed the finish line. He pulled you into a tight embrace, burying his face in your neck.
"I did it," he murmured against your skin. "I actually did it."
You pulled back slightly to look at him, cupping his face in your hands. "You did. And I am so incredibly proud of you, Oscar."
His eyes searched yours, vulnerability evident in his gaze. "It wasn't exactly how I imagined my first win would be," he admitted.
"I know," you nodded, understanding in your voice. "But that doesn't make it any less of an achievement. You drove brilliantly today, from start to finish."
"I just wish... I wish it had been a clean fight to the end, you know?" Oscar sighed, leaning his forehead against yours, "Without the team orders and all that."
"Hey," you said, making him meet your eyes again. "This is Formula 1. It's rarely ever straightforward. What matters is that you proved yourself out there today. You're a Grand Prix winner now, and no one can take that away from you."
A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "When did you get so wise?"
"Oh, I've always been wise. You're just finally starting to notice," you teased, earning a chuckle from him.
"Thank you," he said quietly. "For always being here, for believing in me even when things get complicated."
"Always," you promised, leaning in to kiss him softly.
The kiss deepened, both of you pouring your emotions into it - your pride and joy, his relief and love. When you finally parted, Oscar was smiling more brightly.
"So, Grand Prix winner," you grinned, "ready to go celebrate properly?"
1K notes · View notes
wolvietxt · 2 months ago
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𝓻oom 𝓯or 𝓶ore ??
pairing : dean winchester x female!reader warnings : food mentions, forced proximity, frenemies to lovers, crying, hurt / comfort, offhand comments, fluff, kiss wc : 3.3k a/n : hello supernatural fandom🙋‍♀️ i’m only on season two yet sorry if anything seems off, also taglist form here (i’ve finally added dean + sam)
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the diner was loud, the clatter of plates and hum of conversation filling the space as dean leaned back in the booth, looking way too pleased with himself. he’d already finished his burger, one arm slung casually over the back of the seat while his other hand nursed a cup of coffee. sam, as usual, was glued to his laptop, scrolling through case notes like his life depended on it.  
you stabbed a fry into a pool of ketchup on your plate, glancing between the two brothers. "so, what’s the deal with this case? anything concrete yet, or are we still chasing theories?"  
sam didn’t look up, too focused on the screen. dean, on the other hand, smirked and tapped the edge of his mug. "chasing theories, sweetheart. that’s the fun part."  
"yeah, nothing screams fun like getting blindsided by a vetala or a skinwalker because someone didn’t do their homework," you shot back, arching a brow.  
dean grinned, the kind that always made you want to smack it right off his face. "don’t worry, i’ll save your ass. again."  
"oh, please," you scoffed, shaking your head. "the only thing you save is your own ego."  
sam finally chimed in, his voice calm as he flipped his laptop around to show the two of you a map. "four victims, all found in their homes, all with the same m.o. blood drained, no signs of forced entry. we’re looking at a vetala, but the pattern doesn’t quite fit. usually, they target travelers, not locals."  
"so, what’s the plan?" you asked, leaning forward.  
"we’ll hit the victims’ homes tomorrow," sam said, shutting the laptop. "for tonight, there’s a motel nearby. we can regroup there."  
"works for me," dean said, already sliding out of the booth.  
the drive to the motel was tense but quiet, aside from dean insisting on blasting some alice in chains track while you stared out the window, trying to ignore the knot of exhaustion twisting in your chest. by the time you pulled into the parking lot, all you wanted was a shower and some peace.  
"i’ll grab the rooms," sam offered, heading toward the front desk.  
dean stretched as he got out of the impala, giving you a sideways glance. "bet the rooms are gonna be just as glamorous as last time."  
"as long as they’re clean, i don’t care," you muttered, slinging your bag over your shoulder.  
a few minutes later, sam returned, holding two keys. his expression was almost apologetic as he handed one to dean.  
"is there a problem?" you asked as you approached him.
sam glanced back at you, looking sheepish. "there are only two rooms left."
"that’s fine," dean said easily. "i’ll take one, and you two can share."
"not happening," you and sam said in unison.
dean held up his hands, grinning. "okay, okay, relax. i’ll bunk with sam."
"actually," sam said, cutting in, "i already grabbed a key. figured i’d get first pick since i’m the one doing all the work."
your jaw dropped. "are you kidding me?"
"sorry," sam said, though he didn’t sound sorry at all. "but hey, at least you’re stuck with dean and not some random stranger, right?"
you glared at him, but he just flashed you a smug grin and gave a quick peck on the cheek before disappearing into his room, a soft chuckle coming from his direction.
"great," you muttered.
dean jingled the remaining key in his hand, smirking. "c’mon, sweetheart, don’t look too excited. i don’t bite. unless you’re into that." he muttered, winking at you. 
"don’t call me sweetheart," you muttered, snatching the key from him and stomping toward the room.  
"aw, come on," dean said, following behind. "it’s not that bad. i’m great company."  
you didn’t dignify that with a response, shoving the door open and flicking on the light. the room was standard cheap motel fare: scratchy carpet, ugly wallpaper, and one double bed smack in the middle.  
"of course," you muttered under your breath.  
"well," dean said, tossing his duffel onto the bed, "this’ll be cozy."  
"you’re sleeping on the floor," you said flatly, dropping your bag onto the chair.  
he scoffed, already kicking off his boots. "yeah, that’s not happening. bad for my back."  
"your back?" you repeated, turning to glare at him. "what about my back?"  
he grinned, flopping onto the bed like he owned it. "you’ll survive."  
"you’re unbelievable," you muttered, running a hand through your hair.  
"relax, sweetheart," he said, propping himself up on his elbows. "it’s just one night. unless you’re worried about me stealing the covers."  
"i’m worried about strangling you in your sleep," you muttered, grabbing your toiletries and heading for the bathroom.  
his laughter followed you, low and smug.  
when you returned, showered and slightly less irritated, dean was still sprawled across the bed, flipping through channels on the ancient tv.  
"move," you said, gesturing for him to scoot over.  
he rolled onto his side, patting the spot next to him. "plenty of room, baby. don’t be shy."  
you froze at the word, heat creeping up your neck. "don’t call me that."  
"what? you don’t like pet names?" he asked, smirking.  
"not from you," you snapped, climbing into bed as far from him as possible.  
he chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. "suit yourself, princess."  
you turned your back to him, willing yourself to sleep. but after a few minutes of silence, dean spoke again, his tone lighter now.  
"you know, for someone who acts so tough, you sure get wound up over the little things."  
"what’s that supposed to mean?" you asked, not turning around.  
"just saying," he said, and you could hear the grin in his voice. "you’re always trying so hard to prove something. it’s like you’re afraid if you’re not perfect, you’ll just... fade into the background or something."  
the words hit harder than you expected, and you felt your chest tighten.  
"wow," you said quietly, your voice colder now. "thanks for the psychoanalysis, dr. winchester."  
"hey, i didn’t mean - " he started, his voice accompanied by a hint of amusement.
"forget it," you said, pulling the blanket tighter around yourself.  
dean didn’t say anything else, and after a while, you heard the tv click off. but sleep didn’t come easily, the sting of his words lingering long after the room went dark.  
the room was too quiet. the kind of quiet that made every little sound seem deafening: the creak of the mattress springs when dean shifted, the low hum of the heater kicking on, the rustle of the thin motel sheets.  
you lay on your side, staring at the wall. the pillow beneath your head felt stiff and lumpy, but that wasn’t what was keeping you awake. it was his words - flippant, thoughtless, but sharp enough to slice through you like a blade.  
"you’re always trying so hard to prove something... like you’re afraid if you’re not perfect, you’ll just fade into the background or something."
dean didn’t get it. he never did. it wasn’t just about proving something. it was about survival. you couldn’t afford to screw up - not in your line of work, not with the stakes so high. the constant pressure to be sharp, to be reliable, to be good enough - it wasn’t a choice. it was a necessity.  
and then dean had to come along and throw it in your face like some stupid joke.  
you rolled onto your back, staring at the ceiling. the tears prickling at your eyes were unwelcome, hot and stubborn. you didn’t cry often - not over things like this. but tonight, with exhaustion weighing heavy on your shoulders and his words still echoing in your head, it was harder to hold back.  
on the other side of the bed, dean was still awake. you could hear his steady breathing, the faint rustle of fabric as he adjusted his position.  
"you asleep?" he muttered, voice low in the dark.  
you didn’t answer.  
"look, i didn’t mean anything by what i said earlier," he added after a moment, his tone uncharacteristically hesitant. "i was just messing around."  
still, you said nothing.  
he sighed, and you could picture him scrubbing a hand over his face in frustration. "fine. be mad. whatever."  
you turned back onto your side, curling into yourself as quietly as you could. you just wanted him to stop talking, stop prying at the wound he’d opened.  
a tear slipped free despite your best efforts, quickly followed by another. you pressed your face into the pillow, hoping the darkness would swallow your silent crying.  
but then dean spoke again, and his words hit you like a brick.  
"are you hugging the damn pillow?"  
your breath hitched. you weren’t hugging the pillow exactly, but you had one arm curled around it for some semblance of comfort. you stiffened, waiting for him to make another joke.  
and he did.  
"what, you need a cuddle buddy?" his voice was teasing, laced with that stupid humor he always used to deflect.  
"shut up, dean," you said, your voice cracking in a way that made you wince.  
the laughter in his voice faded immediately. "wait... are you - "  
"don’t," you snapped, your throat tight. "just don’t."  
the room went dead silent. for a moment, you thought maybe he’d dropped it, that he’d roll over and go to sleep. but then the bed shifted, and you felt him sit up.  
"hey," he said softly. "what’s going on?"  
you shook your head, not trusting yourself to speak.  
"come on, talk to me," he pressed, his voice gentle now. "did i say something? because if i did..." he trailed off, exhaling a long breath. "damn it. i’m sorry, okay? i’m an idiot. we both know that."  
you let out a shaky breath, wiping at your face with the sleeve of your shirt. "it’s fine. just forget it."  
"yeah, no," he said, moving closer. "you don’t get to say ‘it’s fine’ when you’re over there crying into the pillow."  
"i’m not crying into the pillow," you muttered, your voice muffled.  
"baby," he said, the word soft and warm and startlingly tender. "you can’t lie to me. i can hear it."  
your breath hitched at the nickname. it wasn’t one he used often, and when he did, it wasn’t like this - low and soothing, like he was trying to piece you back together.  
"just drop it," you said, curling tighter into yourself.  
"not happening," he said firmly. you felt the bed dip as he leaned closer, his hand brushing your shoulder. "look at me."  
"no."  
"please," he said, his voice quieter now, almost pleading.  
you hesitated before slowly rolling onto your back, your arms still wrapped protectively around yourself. his face was close, the dim light from the streetlamp outside casting soft shadows over his features.  
"what did i say?" he asked, his brows furrowed in concern.  
you bit your lip, the words sticking in your throat, tears rolling down your flushed cheeks. but the way he was looking at you - like he actually cared - made it harder to hold them back.  
"you said..." you started, then stopped, your chest tightening. "you said i’m trying too hard. like... like i’m afraid i’m not good enough."  
his face fell, and you saw the exact moment he realized how much his words had hurt. "oh, sweetheart," he murmured, his hand finding yours. "i didn’t mean that. i swear. i was just being a jackass, like always."  
you shook your head, blinking back fresh tears. "it’s not just that, dean. it’s... everything. the way you always joke around, like nothing’s serious. like none of this matters. but it does. it matters to me."  
he didn’t say anything for a moment, his thumb brushing over your knuckles in slow, soothing circles. "you’re right," he said finally. "it does matter. and i should’ve thought about that before running my mouth."  
his honesty caught you off guard, and you glanced up at him, your defenses wavering.  
"you’re good at what you do," he said, his voice steady. "better than good. you’re smart and tough and... and hell, i don’t even know how you put up with me half the time. but you do. and i..." he hesitated, his green eyes searching yours. "i don’t want you to think i don’t see that. or that i don’t appreciate you. because i do."  
your breath caught, and for a moment, the only sound in the room was the faint hum of the heater.  
"dean," you whimpered, your voice barely above a whisper.  
he leaned closer, his hand moving to cup your cheek. "i mean it, baby," he said softly. "you mean a lot to me."  
the words hung in the air, heavy with something unspoken. before you could second-guess yourself, you tilted your head slightly, and his lips brushed against yours - tentative, testing.  
when he felt you kiss him back, his hand slid to the back of your neck, pulling you closer. the kiss deepened, slow and unhurried, like he was trying to say everything he couldn’t put into words. his hands found their way to your waist, pulling you closer until there was no space left between you. he was solid and warm, his body pressing into yours with an intensity that made your heart pound. his fingers traced the curve of your back, dipping under the hem of your shirt just enough to make your skin tingle.  
you felt the roughness of his fingertips, the callouses from years of hunting and fighting. they were a stark contrast to the softness of his touch, a reminder of how layered he was - how carefully he’d built this facade that now felt like it was falling away. he moaned low into the kiss, the sound vibrating against your lips, and you responded with a shiver, your hands finding their way to the hard lines of his chest.  
you couldn’t help but feel his breath hitch as you pressed your palms against him, as if the simple contact spoke volumes. his mouth moved against yours, claiming, exploring, every stroke of his tongue leaving a heat behind that was making it hard to think straight. his hands shifted, one moving up to cradle your face, his thumb sweeping over your cheek, the other slipping under the edge of your shirt again, skimming just above the curve of your hip.  
he pulled you tighter, until you were pressed fully against him, the soft fabric of his shirt brushing your skin. you could feel the heat radiating off of him, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, the way he seemed to anchor you to the moment, making sure you were there, right with him. it was dizzying, intoxicating, a heady mix of familiarity and newfound wonder that made you feel like you were on the edge of falling.
his mouth traveled to the corner of your jaw, down your neck, leaving open-mouthed kisses that made your skin burn. you gasped, a soft, involuntary sound that sent a surge of pride through him, made him growl low in his throat as he pulled you back into another kiss. his hands moved, now tangled in your hair, tilting your head to deepen the kiss, making sure you felt every ounce of him, every single unspoken word he hadn’t said yet.  
when you finally broke apart, his forehead rested against yours, his thumb still tracing gentle patterns along your jaw.
"you okay?" he almost cooed at you.
you nodded, your heart racing. "yeah. i think i am."  
"good," he said, pressing a soft kiss to your temple. "because i’m not going anywhere. not tonight. not ever."  
you didn’t trust yourself to speak, so you just leaned into him, letting his warmth and steady presence chase away the lingering ache in your chest.   
you woke to warmth. a heavy arm draped over your waist, the quiet rise and fall of his chest pressed against your back. for a moment, you didn’t move. you let yourself sink into the comfort of it - the weight of his arm, the steady rhythm of his breathing, the faint smell of his aftershave still clinging to the air.  
then reality crept in, and your eyes blinked open. the events of the night before played on a loop in your mind: the fight, his apology, the kiss.  
you turned slightly, just enough to see him. dean was still asleep, his face softer in the early morning light. his lips, which had been pressed to yours just hours ago, were parted slightly, and his hair was sticking up in a way that would’ve made you laugh if your heart wasn’t pounding so hard.  
you were so caught up in watching him that you didn’t notice his eyes fluttering open until it was too late.  
"morning," he said, his voice low and gruff with sleep.  
"morning," you murmured, suddenly hyperaware of how close you were.  
he didn’t move his arm, didn’t pull away. instead, he tightened it slightly, drawing you closer.  
"you okay?" he asked, his tone soft but cautious, like he wasn’t sure where you stood after everything.  
you nodded, your cheeks warming. "yeah. i’m okay."  
his lips twitched into a small smile, the kind that always seemed to disarm you. "good."  
for a while, neither of you said anything. the quiet was comfortable this time, filled with the unspoken understanding that something between you had shifted.  
eventually, you spoke, your voice barely above a whisper. "so, uh... about last night."  
his smile faded slightly, replaced by a more serious expression. "yeah. look, if you’re having second thoughts, or if - "  
"i’m not," you said quickly, cutting him off.  
his brow furrowed. "you’re not?"  
you shook your head, your fingers nervously fidgeting with the edge of the sheet. "no. i’m not."  
relief washed over his features, and he let out a breath you didn’t realize he’d been holding. "good. because, uh... i meant what i said. all of it."  
"even the part where you called me baby?" you teased, a small smile tugging at your lips.  
he chuckled, the sound low and warm. "especially that part."  
you couldn’t help but laugh softly, the tension in your chest easing. "you’re such a sap."  
"yeah, well, don’t get used to it," he said, but the teasing edge in his voice didn’t quite mask the affection in his eyes.  
before you could respond, there was a knock at the door.  
"you two decent?" sam’s voice called from the other side.  
you froze, your eyes widening as you looked at dean. he just smirked, clearly amused by your panic.  
"yeah, come on in," he called back, his tone casual.  
"dean!" you hissed, scrambling to sit up and tugging the blanket higher over yourself, even though you were fully dressed.  
the door opened, and sam stepped in, his eyes immediately darting between the two of you. his brows raised slightly, but he didn’t say anything.  
"breakfast?" he offered, holding up a brown paper bag.  
"thanks, sammy," dean said, sitting up and stretching like he hadn’t just been caught in bed with you.  
sam set the bag on the table, his expression carefully neutral. "we should hit the road soon. got another lead a few towns over."  
"got it," dean said, already reaching for the bag.  
as sam left, you turned to dean, your eyes narrowing. "you’re impossible, you know that?"  
"what? it’s not like we were doing anything wrong," he said, unbothered.  
you rolled your eyes, but you couldn’t hide the small smile tugging at your lips. "you’re lucky i like you."  
"damn right i am," he said, leaning over to press a quick kiss to your temple.  
and just like that, the tension was gone, replaced by the easy banter that had always defined your relationship - only now, there was something softer beneath it. something real.  
as you packed up and got ready to leave, you couldn’t help but feel a quiet sense of hope. the road ahead was uncertain, as it always was, but for the first time in a long time, you didn’t feel like you were facing it alone.  
you glanced at dean as he loaded the bags into the impala, the sunlight catching in his hair. he looked over his shoulder, catching you watching him, and smirked.  
"you coming, baby?"  
you rolled your eyes, but your smile didn’t fade. "yeah, i’m coming."  
and as you slid into the passenger seat, the familiar rumble of his impala’s engine beneath you, you couldn’t help but think that maybe - just maybe - this was the start of something good.  
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🌀 dean winchester : @person-005
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theorist-fox · 4 months ago
Text
Fair trade
John Price x Reader
Cross posted from AO3.
This one shot deals with heavy topics such as emotional manipulation, emotional abuse from family, and self-objectification.
I'm begging you to read the tags before pursuing the story. Thank you so much for taking care of yourself first. 🦊
If you're looking for some aftersex comfort, recommending this by @/karlachismylife. 🧡
Summary: John helps you out of the toxic pattern your family has woven around you, and finds how utterly gorgeous you are behind it. He cuts your strings, and loves you the way you deserve.
18+
Word count: 10k CW: smut (cunnilingus, blow jobs, sex seen as a form of self-harm, sex seen as a way to feel useful), heavy angst, hurt/comfort, dubcon if you squint.
Masterlist 🦊
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“No, we can’t come over, darling.”
To have a life planned out must be a dream. No worries nor fears, because everything is already outlined—a step-by-step guide, given to you at birth. A path, a purpose.
To give is your purpose.
It’s been ever since before you hit the eighteen mark; the birthday being only a threshold that signed your legal independence.
But you’ve always been, haven’t you? Shadowed by bigger problems ever since you were a small thing because there wasn't trouble that mattered less than you did.
The difference being that before you were shielded by your naïveté, by the bleeding heart they’ve carefully built for you, so you’d bend and break pliantly, even willingly at times, without ever realizing.
Now you're an adult, they'd implied.
Now they can use you at your full potential, and you won’t even put up a fight. You won’t set boundaries, because this is all you’ve ever learned. This is all they’ve ever taught you. Their perfect mold, kneeling in perfect obedience.
But how much can one take in a lifetime?
“Thanks for the help, love. I’ll call you tomorrow.” 
“Will you?”
“Of course.”
But staring at the phone won’t make it ring.
When you’ve never had a moment for yourself but plenty of time to dedicate to others—where do you draw the line of this so-called purpose, then?
“Happy birthday sweetheart.”
“It’s next week, mum.”
“Oh. I must have mixed it up.”
This goal—this agonized prize, towering at the finish line you’re desperately running to, the one defined by your family the moment your first cry pierced the air—what is it, exactly?
It’s a cascade of praises. It’s a shower of love that reawakens you from your torpor like a bucket of ice-cold water. It's abrupt but somewhat needed until it slowly becomes fresh instead of freezing, and it hydrates your skin and soothes the thirst. You feel rejuvenated, coming out of your lethargy, and alive and thriving and—
It stops.
Your fifteen minutes of unbridled, limitless love just snatched away in spare seconds.
And you’re parched again. Sometimes, they leave you wanting until you’re on your knees. Sometimes, they never give it back.
And so, the questions arise—what happens when you’re not needed anymore?
What happens when the calls plummet?
When the visits diminish until there are none?
When you're a ghost haunting your own life because your purpose is slowly vanishing. When that prize stands in the distance as a rushing fountain of praises and kindness, but you've already given a hand, an arm, your legs, your voice, your heart. What then?
How do you move, exactly, if there are no limbs to which attach the strings? How will you speak, if they’re not shaping your voice?
How does your puppeteer lift you from the floor? Your ventriloquist—how will it force you to agree to every demand?
“You... met without me?”
“Sweetheart, we thought you were busy.”
“You could’ve asked.”
“You would’ve said no.”
But you wouldn’t have. You’re not even sure you can say ‘no’ to them.
Is there someone who will hoist you up, when you’re nothing more than a torso, and take you to the finish line?
“Uh, darling, mind calling later?”
“I’m not feeling fine, I was hoping—“
“I’m busy, love.”
A therapist for your mum.
A crutch for your dad.
An advocate for your brother, but you’re no one to them.
A child, once. A person, now.
A notification on their phone. A Google reminder of a birthday.
A missed call. An excuse.
A vacant shape in a family photo. A memory, then nothing.
Raised to serve. But what happens when there’s no one to serve?
“What you’re doing to me is not fair.”
“I don’t like that attitude. Don’t forget how much we did for you.”
Your hands are tight around the steering wheel. White knuckled fists and creaking leather. The car smells of stale tobacco, cigarettes you’ve smoked with your offhand limp out of the car window, then stubbed in the portable ashtray.
"We love you, of course we do. How could you ask that?"
It's raining but your window's rolled down, a ciggie snug between two fingers. Elbow propped on the car door, arm hanging out. The sleeve of your sweater is soaked, and the cigarette is sodden. You don't even notice it when you bring it to your lips and take a drag. Nothing fills your lungs.
It’s fine.
It's a habit. It's autopilot. You go. You exist.
“It really doesn’t feel like it. You haven’t called in weeks.”
“It’s just—we’re people too. We’re busy.”
“You’re not busy for my brother.”
“He’s—you’re different, darling.” You’re used. We’ve consumed you.
It’s a feeling of emptiness that spills out of every hole like heavy smoke, clouding your senses. A husk that billows dark tendrils from its eyes, moves mechanically like an alien imitating a human being.
It's fake. You're a dummy. Unhuman. A thing.
“I just need your help. I—I’m not fine. I’m not asking for much. Just an evening toge—”
"So much is happening right now. You can deal with it on your own, love.”
You close the car door once you've parked it in the garage. Up the stairs you go, dragging your feet on every step.
“Like you’ve always done.”
Would this world exist even if you weren’t in it? Would these stairs lead to your apartment, if you didn’t inhabit it?
Is your flat even yours? Sure, you’ve paid for it. The party you threw after your signature was placed on the contract is still a cherished memory.
But what were you even celebrating? Four walls. A roof over your head. A bed to kip.
It’s a lot, you’re aware. Not everyone can say they own all that. But do you? 
They’re things. Can you own things?
Surely, you are owned. By them.
But you’re not even sure you need things. You can’t need, because things don’t need. And what are you, if not a thing? Because things are used, not humans. Humans fight back, eventually. Humans hold their pride dear, it's the only character that separates them from animals, from meat. You never bit back, not once. So what does that make you, if not theirthing?
Your purpose is not a choice you made, it’s theirs. You have to give—that is why they made you.
You own, so you can give them.
You earn, so you can give back.
Because who’s given you a roof when you couldn’t afford it yourself? And the food in your belly?
Darling, it wasn’t for free. You were expensive to raise. You were costly to craft, to mold, to perfect.
But they haven’t called. No one has. No one will. 
The master left the strings—and what of you, now? Do you just lie limply on the floor, waiting for the next hand that'll hoist you up?
And if they don’t call to ask from you, how do you know you’re doing fine? How do you know if the finish line is close when they took your eyes already? How do you ask for help, if you don’t have a voice?
But that was the point. Their goal. They own you, and without them, you’re nothing but a heap of wood, infested with termites. Wooden rods on the floor, nylon strings cut short. You’ll grovel and beg, they’ll croon at you in mockery, bleeding you dry, but it will be enough for you—anything would be enough for you.
You unlock the door. John hears and his head peeks from the kitchen.
“Hi love,” he rumbles, and you feel it shaking your heart.
Does he need you?
John Price is a captain of the special forces who has gone through hell and back. He's witnessed things you've only heard from the mouths of journalists or read in black-and-white papers, and he came out of each one of them unscathed. Strong. Resilient.
He doesn’t need you. 
“Sortin’ out dinner,” he adds, and returns behind the wall that separates the living room from the cooking area. “You’re gonna love this pasta, I’m telling you.”
Of course, he doesn't need you.
The house is pristine. He takes care of it while you’re at work since he’s off deployment. He’s going to be home for a while now, a handful of months. That’s a good thing, you miss him when he leaves.
It’s you who needs him. But you can’t need, so how does this work, exactly?
How do you explain that hole in your stomach that relentlessly craves to be filled? That makes you want to curl on the floor. Turn into dust and seep through the cracks of the hardwood.
Disappear. Invisible. Paper-thin.
Because maybe you're tired of being needed. Perhaps you want to break through that mindset and start needing something.
You chastise yourself for even concocting the thought.
You stand stock still at the door. You hear nothing but the blood rushing in your ears and John moving pans around the kitchen.
You see his head at the doorway again.
“Love?”
Your eye twitches, but you don’t answer.
He doesn’t need you. Then why is he here?
There are plenty of people out there who’d love to bend for him. Mouths he can kiss. Holes he can fill.
That’s what people are, no?
No. That's what you are.
You’ll make him need you. You’ll show him that you’re fundamental, not just another hole. That you cannot be replaced, because you can't afford to lose him. You can't.
It’s selfish, it is.
You cannot be selfish, it’s not what you were taught. But you will. Just today, just now. The first apparent tear into the careful pattern threaded by your family.
But it's not really a hole, is it? If you're carving it to escape a trap, only to fall back into another one of your own making.
You hurriedly toe off your wet shoes and walk with purpose to the kitchen, dropping your bag on the floor as you do. He quirks a brow at you and your silence, but his face soon morphs into sudden confusion when you come to stand in front of him and drop to your knees.
You know how to do it—how to make people smile.
Your empathy is unmatched. You read people's tics, their quirks. Gauge them from the way they move their lips, the words they use, the way they look at you.
And John—oh, he loves how you work with your mouth.
And if he needs your mouth, then by extension, he needs you.
Your hands palm his thighs as you flutter your lashes up to him. He's forced to lean back against the kitchen counter, but he's not looking at you the way he usually does—not with his lidded blue eyes, heavy and wanton.
John looks dubious instead. Even flinches when you press your cheek to the crotch of his jeans, stroking the fabric to your skin. Denim’s rough, and it especially hurts when the plump of your cheek catches the zipper’s teeth.
Good. 
Let him take. And let it hurt.
“What’s goin’ on." He states, doesn't ask.
Please, take.
You’re already working through the button and the zipper when you answer, fingers shaking as you do. “I wanna suck your cock.”
Now, John wouldn’t normally complain, but you sound much different from the other times in which you actually do want to suck his cock.
He hums, allowing you to palm him through his briefs, gently but firmly pressing your hand where he’s still soft. You nose him through the cotton, flattening your tongue against his dick—you can feel it twitch under the muscle. Good, means his body is responding how you want him to.
His hands curl painfully tight around the lip of the counter.
It’s so silent except for your heaving breaths warming up his length and the buzzing fire on the stove.
You place tender kisses as you feel him harden under your lips.
He's looking at you to try and gauge the reason behind all this. It's clear to him that you're not being your usual self, there is something in your eyes that tickles him in the wrong place. You know he knows—you know he's gathered something's wrong. He’s ever so attentive, capturing every minimal change in the wrinkles of your face.
You're so akin to him when it comes to that.
You don't give him time to ponder for long, though. You take his cock out of his briefs and force it into your mouth.
John knocks his head back against the cupboard and fixes his eyes to the ceiling, wide open. A heavy breath leaves him languidly. His cock chubs up as it sits heavy on your tongue, and you can feel it fill up your mouth.
“Christ.”
Yes. It’s what you want, to hear him lose himself in you.
You start slowly, pumping your hand at the base along with the movements of your lips, mindful of keeping your teeth out of the way. Tilting your head sideways, you let the tip of his cock push against your cheek while your tongue lavishes the malleable skin around its length.
Your eyes swivel upward, and you're met with the view of his corded neck, tight and straining as he refuses to look at you.
No. 
He needs to know it’s you.
He needs to understand that you can give this whenever he wants, that you're not just another mouth. That no one else is as versed as you are when you eat him up. Your tongue knows how to follow the vein along the velvet of his skin, all the way to the slit on the tip. Your hand knows how to cup his balls and brush the seam in the middle—how he shudders, each time you do.
He needs to know that.
He can’t let you go. Not him too.
He has to hoist the limbless torso that you are towards the finish line, where you’ll get your caresses and your praises and your prize: the crumbs of love you’ll lap until your famished heart stops rumbling.
So, you drift your free hand upward and thread your fingers through the curls on his pelvis, gently grazing the skin with your nails. Then, you drum the pads on his soft belly, feeling them dip into the flesh and hit the harder muscles underneath. You splay your palm in the middle of his stomach, where you can feel the blood rushing madly as his heart pumps all the same.
It’s enough for you, the bodily reaction to the softness of your mouth.
But why isn’t he looking at you?
Recognize that is me. That I can make you feel good. That you need me, that you still do.
In the desperation of the moment, you opt for the best you can do: you take him deeper. The hand at the base of his cock moves to flatten on his thigh, and you carelessly widen your jaw to take more, and more, and more.
You flatten your tongue against the underside of his shaft and then twirl it around, all the while hollowing your cheeks without ever daring to take your eyes off him. That way, if he decides to look down at you, he'll find you teary-eyed and wanting—perfectly on your knees, like a devotee, no matter how artificially placed.
Your lips slide so easily up and down his cock, coating it with saliva, teardrops and precum. They swell so beautifully around it like a plump peach being ravaged; he always flatters you for it. Calls you beautiful when you suck him off so fervently, eliciting choked moans from you as you drink up the praise. 
You dive in and the head tips at the back of your throat, causing you to gag around it. The muscles of your neck clench and he curses under his breath. Your eyes water in joy and overexertion when he looks down at you at the sudden change in pace. You don’t care if it hurts, let him bruise your throat.
You can give him more. You can give him everything. 
You push even further until you're nuzzling against the coarse hair on his pelvis. You choke around his cock, a weak and wet cough that causes drool to dribble at the corners of your mouth. You pull back then, to take a wet gasp around his length, and then push forward to flush your nose to his crotch once more.
The tips of your knees hurt; the tiled floor in the kitchen is hard and merciless against the bone. It'll leave your joints aching and rough. They'll pop when you stand up, they'll hurt tomorrow when you go to work.
Good.
The knot in your stomach is ever so tight, seeking to be released and let go. It contorts in wantonness and, you’ll realize later, mortification. Just because you’re used to giving yourself so freely in exchange for crumbs, it doesn't mean it gets easier every time—to watch yourself bend on a whim, to see your pride shatter into even tinier pieces.
You feel his hand thread through your hair and tears fall down your cheek because yes, now he’s going to fuck your face like you want him to.
Use me. Treat me for what I am. Become the fucking puppet master. Take my fucking strings now that they’ve dropped them and guide me through this fucking shit I was left in.
But instead, he pulls you back, his cock escaping your mouth with the same ease you got it in.
A ragged breath, thick and wet, leaves your lips as soon as they’re free. Your coughs turn into a hack, as you stare at the glisten of your spit coating his shaft. A string of thick saliva tethers your mouth to it. Tears roll down your cheeks as you recollect your breath, nostrils flaring in the attempt to take in the air you’ve deprived yourself of.
“What’s this.”
You swallow down the liquid pooling in your throat, salty precum and viscous saliva like tar, gluing your tongue to the roof of your mouth.
“Let me.” You croak. The thought that you might sound pathetic doesn’t even cross your mind.
His brows twitch, but he keeps his voice even. “No. What’s going on? Spill it.”
Your pleading look morphs into a glare. Bloodshot eyes, tears, and snot. Spit and cum. Clumped lashes and runny mascara.
Whore. 
Your chest heaves, not from the strain, but from being caught red-handed, and you don't know how to behave.
No one ever asks why you do it, they’re simply glad you do.
You’re helping, aren’t you? It’s what you were crafted for, brick by brick, bone by bone. Made to change like a chameleon based on other’s necessities.
It’s what you are—so let me do it.
“I want to suck your cock.” You say as crudely as you can manage. “I want you to come down my throat and then I want you to bend me over the table and fuck me until you’re empty.”
He runs his tongue over his teeth, still holding your head by a handful of hair. His fingers aren’t tight, but your scalp stings nonetheless.
“Can do.” He shrugs. “Need to know why, first.”
You’re a heap of wood once again, piled up at his feet. Your limbs are jointless, just lying there, waiting to be thrown in the fire to rekindle its flame, so everyone else can be warm at your expense.
A broken puppet can still be used for other purposes until it's ash.
There's nothing in you, if not how wonderfully soft your mouth would be if only he'd let you wrap it around him again.
“Because I want to.”
He curls his nose, mustache following the stretch. “Hardly.”
“I do.”
He tugs at your hair and says your name in such a commanding manner that you can’t help but deflate. The glare in his eyes snuffs the defiant flame in yours.
"Please let me," you plead, and the way you sound is nothing short of degrading.
You don't care. You don't care if you reduce yourself to a puddle of pleas. You know you're not supposed to need anything, but you need this.
Your hands are sticky with dried spit and precum when they grab his cock again. You start pumping it fiercely, trying to make his orgasm hit earlier than what you had planned. He holds your head out of reach, meaning you can't wrap your lips around it—you'll have to make do with your hands.
Slut. 
But it’s okay, you’ll be a slut, if it helps him realize that you can make him feel good with everything you have to offer. That he won’t find another as pliant and willing as you are. That if he wants to be served, you will be his thrall.
Everything you own, it’s so you can give him.
Everything you earn, it’s so you can give back.
He can mold you. He can break you and put you back together the way he likes. He can craft a new puppet out of you, you’ll hand him the strings. He’ll take you to the finish line and love you, then.
Only then.
You see his mouth curl, bile on his tongue, as he reins in his own lust. There’s something wrong about you tonight, and he’s starting to understand what it is.
And so, he leaves your hair, favoring the softness of your cheek. He thumbs the plump of your cheekbone and then rubs a line along your lower lip.
It's then that you take your chance and rush forward, planting a kiss on the tip of his cock. Tongue out to leave kitten licks at the drops of precum you are squeezing out of him with your hands, knowing he likes those tiny shocks it sends up his spine.
And just when you think he’s relented to your pleas, just when you have your lips plump and shiny, ready to wrap around the flushed head of his cock, he takes ahold of your chin and tips your head back.
“I love you,” he croaks.
Words he’s said already, but not as often as he should’ve. It’s his fault, he grievously considers, if you think you have to be on your knees to receive them.
He realizes it when you shock into a stop. When your eyes widen a tick too much.
Blind idiot he is.
"I love you," he says again, more firmly this time.
Your face screws up as if you're trying to wrap your head around this language you don't know. You haven't done much to reach that prize—if anything, you’ve done the opposite. You’ve edged him until the head of his cock has turned an angry red that must be aggravating to handle, impossible to quench without the welcoming warmth of your mouth or that of your cunt.
You blink up at him. Tears fall down your cheeks. “But you need to come.”
If you’d have shot him, he would’ve handled the ache much better than this.
"I need nothing." He supplies gently, tracing the corner of your lips with his thumb, getting rid of the mess he's inadvertently made of your mouth.
His statement hangs in the air, stale and musty and threatening, not as sweet as he thinks. It clogs your nose and tightens your chest, curdling your blood into frozen lumps. The noises around suddenly feel deafening: the bubbles popping on the surface of the boiling water, the wet sound of your skin unsticking from his cock as your hands leave it, their thud as they fall in your lap.
If you’re not needed, then what are you?
Carefully, he tucks himself back into his briefs as he kneels to your level.
He whispers your name and cups your cheek as he does. "I love you.”
You know he does, but stuck in the web woven by your family, you always thought it was a purely transactional sentiment. A fair trade.
He loves you because you kneel prettily in front of the sofa.
He loves you because you let him stuff you up and fill you to the brim with his come at the snap of his fingers.
He loves you because you're a lovely addition to his arm when you doll up for his work ceremonies or other functions.
He loves you because you cook a mean Sunday roast when he comes back from deployment.
And you love him because he's John, because what's there not to love.
With gentle blue eyes framed by bushy eyebrows, and droopy eyelids that give his often scowling look a gentler feel to it. The honey smatter of freckles on his nose, and the sharply trimmed beard on his jaw. Plump rosy lips, how soft they feel when he places them on yours, juxtaposing with the prickly ends of his mustache.
His encompassing heart and the way he's enlarged it for you to fit better, so you're all comfortable and warm in his life.
John gently presses his lips on your forehead as he speaks softly, "I love you."
Your eyes flutter closed. A heaving breath again, one that stutters as you try to inhale it. Fat tears fill the cracks in your lips and flow down your tongue.
John brushes the back of his knuckles across your cheeks. “Don’t need all this to love you.” And then he looks in your eyes, searching for any sign of skepticism, and regrettably finds a considerable amount of it. “You knowthat. Right, love?”
No, you don’t know.
But you don’t have the gall to tell him. Suddenly, it hits how pathetic you look. On your knees, begging for him to stuff your mouth with his cock so you can feel useful, so he can shower you with love once you give him a reason to keep you.
You kneel there helplessly, deflated.
Useless.
You gesture with your hands at him, feeling how limply they hang from your wrists as if you've never used them on your own in the first place.
There is very little you can do to humiliate yourself further, and yet you manage.
“But you need me.” You cry, as your face scrunches in a pain so deeply settled that John has no clue how to work around it. “I need you to need me.”
However, he tries. He tracks your tears with his thumb, stopping their fall right above your cheekbone.
"Don't need you, love." He says tenderly. "I want you.”
He shifts a little closer and cradles your face in both hands so that you cannot avoid his eyes even if you tried.
“Want you.” He breathes hoarsely, “Ain’t with you ’cause I need someone. I don’t need anyone, and I don’t want just anyone—I want you. ‘Specially when you’re not on your knees.”
Your nose is stuffy, and you can’t breathe right. Suddenly, you feel so unbelievably tired. Your face plops in his hands, and the humiliation feels ten times worse. It's hard, however, to interject with a word that would make him understand how deep this pattern runs.
He doesn’t let you, but only because he knows already.
"Like you when you get all chuffed ‘bout your plants sproutin’." He drawls. "Love it when you hop into bed and shove your cold feet against my thighs ‘cause I'm much warmer. Or when you make love to me. But not when you—when you pull this."
His voice is heavy. Your heart aches because you're so tightly wrapped in deadly silk, stuck in your family's cobweb, that you've never noticed how it must pain him as well, to see you reduce yourself to this.
"Bloody hell, love." He sighs, furrowing his brows. "I love you, yeah? I don't need—whatever this is. I don't want whatever this is.”
John's eyes close, his face screwing up in that way that tells you he's thinking. He shakes his head subtly, and you're afraid you've gone and done it now. He's going to go because he already has so much shit to deal with that your puzzled self would only be another broken case to add to his file.
But alas, dread doesn't even manage to settle on your heavy heart that he locks you in place with his blues.
One of his hands drifts to the back of your head. He leans in, enough for you to smell the tobacco on his breath.
You swallow dryly, lips parted in shaky pants. Eyes lidded and tired, nose scrunching in sniffles.
John presses a gentle kiss on your lips, no more than a peck. And then another one, and another, and another, until you can’t discern whether it’s the salt of your tears or that of his skin.
Your breathing becomes heavier and it mingles with his own when he comes to rest his forehead on yours.
"I love you," he murmurs tirelessly.
The hand on your nape guides you to him, and he kisses you again. Unlike the previous ones, this is bolder, yet tender all the same. He holds you in place while the rest of the world falls into impeccable silence.
The gentle smacking of lips is all you can hear, and even if only for a moment, it manages to silence the voice in your head—a mimicry of your family’s cries, their lying coos, their grating, consuming, plastic love. 
You feel yourself uncoil under John’s touch and the deft work of his tongue on yours. Hands in your lap, you abandon yourself to him, but it's a different type of surrender; your eyes close and all your feelings, all your energy, flow into that kiss.
“I-I love you,” you venture, breathy voice brushing his lips.
John inhales sharply, and he realizes this might be the first time you said it because you wanted to and not because you had to.
His hand drifts from your cheek to your shoulder, down to your stomach and he guides you to lie with your back against the kitchen floor. His palms flatten next to your head.
Normally, John would have you on a fort of pillows and blankets and would never compromise about it—constantly making sure you’re as comfortable as they come as he ravages you. Beforehand, you'd get ready in the bathroom, having prepped yourself to a T. Shaved and moisturized and seasoned like a prized pig for him to consume, wearing the prettiest, skimpiest lace to frame the petals of your perfectly waxed pussy.
Because it’s a fair trade; he treats you like a princess, so you can be his pretty whore.
Yet tonight you think he won’t do any of that. There is a gentleness in his kisses that, while not uncommon, certainly feels unique. Your hands hover between your chest and his, unsure of where to place them. You hope he’ll guide you through this too, manhandle you into position like he always does.
But again, he doesn’t.
He barely feels like John at all. His behavior is so different that if you closed your eyes, anyone could be in his place right now. But that is only your perception, isn't it? Because John has always been tender with you, you were just too busy thinking about how to repay his kindness instead of living in the moment.
His lips leave yours only to busy themselves with the skin on your cheek, then down your chin and to your neck. You gasp at the goosebumps, and he stops.
His face comes into view and it is so flushed you think he must be collecting all his blood right in the apples of his cheeks.
“Okay, love?”
You blink. Your mouth tastes more like his cigars than tears and precum. It makes you feel less dirty, even if what you did (and have been doing your whole life) hasn’t changed.
You swallow thickly as he gazes into your eyes.
“Y-yeah, just—” A crease forms between your brows, “I should—I left you like that, and—”
He hushes you.
"No need to bother 'bout me." He reassures you.
He presses a kiss between your brows, smoothing the lines your concern has formed. You close your eyes, focusing on how warm he is in contrast to the tiles pressing against your back.
“Tell me what you want.” He breathes. As if you have an answer for that.
His kisses trail down your face and your neck, turning more open and wet. The rising gooseflesh, however, does nothing to stop your mind from running miles ahead.
What do you want? 
You must've been posed that question before because it's such a basic one. You try to think of contests in which one might ask that, such as your birthdays, or celebrations, or a teacher wondering what is it that you desire in the future: a career, a husband or a wife, a family.
But to desire is to choose, and you don’t think you’ve ever been given that possibility.
Hence why you're rattled, aghast. On your back on the floor, with John sucking love bites on your neck.
You give the answer you know will make him content.
“Fuck me.”
You’ll moan like a porn star. You’ll dig your pretty nails into his back so he can show off the marks you left on him with pride. You'll pretend an orgasm if yours is taking too long, so that his ego will be kept fed and full, and he’ll still find you appealing. So that he can go tell his friends and comrades how good you are, in and out of bed. What a gem. Wife material.
He’ll doll you up and tie the strings around your wrists. Make you dance and you will—coy smile, pretty eyes and all. A new puppet out of you, just for his sake.
John stills, and he shifts uncomfortably above you. His mouth is suddenly next to your ear, and he leaves a kiss at your jaw hinge.
“You don’t want me to fuck you.” He murmurs, and you swear there is a hint of guilt in the way he says it.
You feel dizzy at the thought of being caught. It’s scary to have your thoughts so out in the open after having spent an entire lifetime locking them up.
John nips at the shell of your ear. You venture with your hands and place them on his chest, still unsure of whether you want him closer or far, far away.
"Can I make you feel good?" He asks hoarsely. Your body responds naturally and it makes heat pool in your lower stomach.
You suck in a breath, eyes fluttering closed at the idea his words have instilled in you.
You reply the only way you know. “You don’t have to ask.”
“Yes.” He says forcefully, almost as if he wanted the answer to stick to your brain for the days to come. The switch is so abrupt your heart skips a beat. “Yes, I have to ask. Of course, I have to ask.”
He props himself up, hips snug between your thighs. He could roll them against yours and seek the friction his chubbed up cock must physically need after you teased it.
But he doesn’t, and it makes you feel both inadequate and nervous.
“So, answer me, love.” He rumbles, as his pupils dance between your eyes. “Can I make you feel good?”
You’re not sure why, but it makes your eyes water and your heart hurt. Your brows draw together in a frown that rips at John’s chest.
“Y-Yes,” you stutter, voice strangled in your throat. “Yes, please.”
John leans in to kiss your eyelids as you snap them closed.
And then he kisses your cheek, your nose, and your lips. His hand trails over your sweater. A gentle tug at the hem makes tears fall down your temple and into your hair.
You give an imperceptible nod at his silent request and he thanks you by pressing his lips to your jaw. He lifts it above your breasts, sitting atop the plain, skin-colored bra you're wearing. You haven't shaved, there's regrowing hair under your armpits and you're flushed to the bone. 
You're not the doll you allow him to see. You haven't prepped yourself for consumption this time, and it almost makes you squirm, as you force your biceps flush to your ribcage.
He can't see that you're not the perfect little puppet you've always shown him. If you aren't perfect, willing, and breakable, then he can find a thousand more like you—better than you.
But he presses a kiss to your sternum, ignoring sweat, squirming, and whatnot.
“Beautiful.” He murmurs, tongue out to trace the line of the bone. “Pretty fucking girl.”
You sob. It doesn't deter him, as he lines the plain fabric of your cup until his fingers meet the clasp conveniently placed to the front. With a quick snap, he undoes it, and your tits spill out to the sides.
He hooks your attention back with a look, and you understand he’s asking, once again.
He’s seen you naked a thousand times but you realize he’s never seen you this raw. Your cheeks are flushed and his eyes have never looked so gentle yet hungry.
You nod again and he dives in, wasting no time.
His hands grab the fat of your tits. Push them together. Thumbs teasing nipples as they pebble under his pads. Lips kissing anywhere they can land, latching on flesh until it darkens. His teeth graze the peaks of your breasts, and your back arches off the floor.
Each grunt that escapes him has your spine vibrate. You can't fathom the thought that he likes this, not when you’re tasting like a long day at work and wet rain, instead of buttercream and mango.
You try to snake your leg between his own, to give back what he’s giving you. Carefully, you stroke the curve of your foot against his hard length, but he pulls back with his hips and gently guides your thigh to rest once more around his waist.
“Don’t need tha’, sunshine.” He grunts, a murmur lost as his lips mouth at your nipples. "This 's more 'n 'nough."
His hands hold you by the waist now, fingers gripping the flesh with tenacity. His beard scrapes at the soft skin of your tits as he travels downward with his mouth, following the path lined by your sternum to the gap between your ribs.
He licks stripes as if your skin were covered with cream. His teeth sink softly where your flesh is plumper, causing you to writhe against him, and he chuckles under his breath as he remembers you’re ticklish.
Such tiny things he knows about you, you almost forgot it’s been years he’s known you.
His bites turn kisses, and they're chastely pressed on the line of your stomach, over your belly button, and to the seam of your jeans.
John looks up at you when his lips reach the zipper, and by doing so you notice his brows arching up, causing lines to wrinkle his forehead. Pretty blue eyes take you in and the mess that you've made of yourself. Runny makeup, bitten lips.
You know he can see how undecided you still are. Brows pinched in both pleasure and discomfort because this is so new to you.
But you nod a little sharply for him to go on, as your mouth curls down in the hopefully non-futile attempt at muffling your sobs.
John unbuttons your pants and shimmies them down your hips to your ankles in such an agonizingly slow manner you can’t help but think he’s doing it to give you time to rebut, in case you change your mind.
You don't.
He takes them off together with your socks and brings your foot next to his face. Places a kiss on the side of it, sending tingles up your legs that tip to the apex of your thighs. He leaves small pecks down your ankle and your calf, closing his eyes and sometimes brushing his beard against your skin.
You look away, cheek flat to the tiles, now wet with your tears and the rain soaking your hair.
It doesn't deter John in the slightest, not even when he slowly comes down to a crawl, chest to the floor and nose on your mound. He tugs with his teeth at the cotton of your panties, nothing more than plain white cheeky underwear. So different from the way you always present yourself to him, with your expensive lace and your silks and your soft skin—painfully waxed so it could mimic the feel of your babydolls.
Gingerly, you reach down with your hand and thread your fingers through his hair, smoothing them back from his forehead. You cup the side of his face and brush your thumb to his flushed cheekbone. He leans into your palm and kisses it, uncaring of the stickiness left by your previous activity.
You feel something inside of you crash and break, then, like a glass vase falling from a height. You’re not sure whether it’s a good thing or not, because it makes more tears collect at the corners of your eyes and those are never predictors of a good ending.
He digs the tip of his nose against your slit, following the wet stripe that inevitably formed the moment you dropped to your knees for him.
“Can I?” He asks, sending little spikes of electricity up to your chest when his lips brush against the sensitive skin covered by flimsy cotton.
You feel your chest get so tight someone might as well be curling rope around it.
You feel so pathetic for crying just because you’re being asked about what makes you comfortable and what doesn’t. You’re such an advocate for your friends to go out there and demand for their needs to be met, that you can’t help but wallow in your hypocrisy when someone asks for yours.
He waits patiently for your consent, even if he's a breath away from your private parts, with his hands caressing the back of your thighs. Even if he's done this to you a thousand times already, with your squirming body giving him a show worthy of the cameras, had they been there.
He makes everything around you look so soft, even the tiles of the floor that are uncomfortably sticking to your skin feel like plush cushions.
You wonder briefly if this is how it should’ve always felt, had you allowed yourself to recognize your needs instead of seeing your body as a means to make others happy.
It comes out of your lips as a breath that’s followed by a wet sniffle, your head nodding softly, contrastingly to how tight you’re biting your own teeth.
“Yes.”
No amount of pressure on your jaw could stop the sob that escapes you afterward.
John closes his eyes and a warm shuddering sigh brushes your skin. You’re starting to realize that maybe you’re not the only one who’s being affected by this sudden change in your and his intimacy.
His fingers hook at your panties and he slides them to your ankles, letting them hang down one foot. You swing it carefully and kick them off as he returns his attention to the apex of your thighs, hooking your knees on his shoulders.
He starts tenderly, pressing kisses on the soft flesh of your vulva, paying attention even to the smallest bits you weren’t even aware could feel good. He latches on your outer lips, feeling how puffy they get at the slight suction.
Your thighs are corded and stiff under his grip, arms hooked around each plush leg, and palms flat on your skin.
John’s eyes are closed, although you wish he’d look at you as he travels with his lips along your slit. A kiss on your hole without probing too much, then one along the middle of your slit, which was getting impressively wetter as time passed, and the one on your hooded clit.
It sent jolts up your spine, causing your hips to buck against his mouth. His fingers tighten around your thighs in response, as if he’s trying to rein it in for you.
You appreciate it more than he thinks. You don’t think you’ve ever been placed on top of the queue so blatantly in your entire life.
The tip of his tongue darts out, but it’s obscured from your eyes by the regrowing hair on your mound and from his thick mustache. So, it takes you by surprise when he all but licks a thin stripe over the protruding part of your clit.
You hiss, and your head goes dizzy. You feel tiny pinpricks tingling in your brain, making you lightheaded and more than a little breathless.
During the whole relationship, you’ve been so focused on appearing like a full meal to his eyes, that you forgot how good it felt to be that meal on his tongue.
He laps at you again, eyes now wide open to gauge more of whatever you were giving him. You feel them as bright spotlights aimed at your face, but you can’t find it in yourself to display the act you’ve always given him.
You're already too different from the woman he's so used to seeing. You wonder if he likes you anyway; or if he likes you less, or more. When your eyes lock with his own, a dark flash tells you to go back to your ways. To flutter your lashes and pout your lips in small pleas, whimpering moans that always make his eyes roll to the back of his head.
And just as you’re about to give in to those old habits, John flattens his tongue against your cunt and licks all the thoughts out of your head. You tilt it back in a groan that has never, not once, left your lips in his presence.
He seems more than excited to hear it and starts eating you out like you’re his first meal in a century. This time, there is no plasticity in the ways you move. You’re not squirming away and acting coy about it, meeting his eyes to make sure he realizes that you're his pretty doll.
This time there’s you and the pleasure he gives you. There’s a hand in his hair that shyly tries to keep him still, as he puckers his lips around your nub and sucks it in his mouth. There’s the subtle canting of your hips to press your cunt closer to him, and the way he makes sure you don’t pull away from his tongue with his thick arms coiled around your thighs.
It’s so strange to allow yourself to feel so much. All this time you’ve been oblivious to all this as it happened in your same body because you were too busy focusing on how you appeared to his eyes. Even as he tongued your hole, your head told you it still had to be about pleasing him—because nothing in this world could ever be exclusively about you.
It hits you sharply that your beliefs about yourself, instilled by the callous teachings of your family, had bled through every aspect of your life. You already knew that, of course, but you never realized they had seeped into your intimacy as well.
Yet now you have proof of it, because you're sure John has not changed his tactics, it's you who's finally allowing your body to feel all this.
He twirls his tongue around your clit and you’re seeing stars. It’s such a strong sensation that you think you might have lost a marble or two in the process. Each grunt he emits from his lips vibrates through you and elicits similar sounds from your own mouth.
You’re not even looking at him, and you don’t care. It’s too good. He feels fucking heavenly and you’ll probably end up apologizing later for not having included him more, for not having paid enough attention to him as you should’ve.
But now—fucking hell, now—there's only how his tongue toys with each and every nerve ending of your sodden cunt.
You let him manhandle you, then, like he did so many times in the past. But now he positions you in an unflattering angle you would've never allowed before. He sits up on his knees, carrying your pelvis with him, close to his face.
To help yourself up, you place your hands on your haunches, propping your elbows on the floor. The tiles press harshly against the bone, much like they did on your knees when you’d knocked them down to suck him off not even twenty minutes prior, but now that pain feels so fickle compared to the pleasure he’s giving you.
He locks his arms around your lower belly, soft thighs pressed to his ears, and he dives in again.
Like this, you’re sure he can see every stupid, unflattering thing about you. But there’s the catch—it’s stupid. You’re sure you’re going to rethink all this eventually, but now everything that isn’t John and his lips on you is so unbelievably, fucking stupid.
“Taste like honey, y’ do.” You think you hear him say, as he nuzzles your cunt for all it’s worth.
He delves his tongue into your hole, plunging as deep as he can until he’s nosing your clit too. Facial hair scrapes the inside of your thigh raw, but that only enhances the opposite bliss happening thanks to his mouth.
You whimper, but not for show; it feels criminally good, and John knows it's real because your thighs shake so fiercely his vision goes wobbly too.
He chuckles, but it’s not derisive. His eyes are incensed, the light blue barely a rim around enlarged pupils. He looks in utter awe as he takes you in; face flushed, hair still wet from the rain and now from the sweat too. With an expression he's never once seen before, not on you. The sheer discomfort of the position but also the complete bliss that makes you forget you could have this on a more comfortable bed.
“Look at you—fucking beautiful." He murmurs with his lips to your cunt. "Criminal to hide this from me, love."
Your lips part into an oval, and your eyelids tremble, fighting the need to close your eyes and just feel. But he looks so unbelievably stunning you refuse, categorically, to take your eyes off of him.
And he apparently thinks the same, because his gaze never falters, not even when you tighten the grip your thighs have around his head. Nor does his tongue, as he plunges it again in your cunt, nose nudging your clit just right. 
He might be fucking you with his mouth, but he sure is doing it with his eyes too.
And you’ve never felt so seen in your entire life. You’ve never felt so beautiful, so worthy, as right now. You wonder if he’s always been looking at you this way, but you were too lost in your own ways to notice.
You feel tears trickle down your temples again, mingling with your hair.
Jaw clenched tight, you breathe it out with all the strength you’ve got left in you.
“I love you.”
And John breaks into something different. You must have given him some final blow because his eyes shut closed and his brows knit together. An expression you've never seen, equally as pained as delighted.
He doesn’t answer, using his tongue for other purposes, keeping the stimulation both inside and out of you. Strong arms hold you still to his face, squeezing painfully tight around your hips. Thick palms flat against your lower belly, with his thumb tugging at your mons to unhood your puffy clit.
He goes on until you can’t hold yourself up anymore, arms giving out from under you. But he catches you anyway, hooking your legs better above his shoulders. The fact that your thighs are pressing against his ears gives you some sort of relief, knowing his hearing might have been muffled by your flesh.
So, you let go.
You moan loudly, fuck the neighbors, and whatever the world has to say. Fuck your head for sabotaging you, and taking you away from him.
You feel it build up slowly but suddenly; one moment it’s just fully encompassing pleasure, the next there’s a vine that stems from your ravaged cunt and curls around your belly, up to your neck.
Your throat blocks off, breathing shallow and sharp.
And then everything snaps.
John fights against the bucking of your hips just so he can keep his mouth on you and fuck you through it.
Your groan is so guttural you don't even think that was your voice. You don't even think, period. Your mind blacks out. A scorching heat develops from your sternum and coils around your chest like ivy in bloom.
You’ve had orgasms before thanks to his mouth, or his fingers, or his cock.
This, however, it’s so different you might consider yourself reborn.
It’s liberating. It’s new. It’s free and only, completely yours. 
You don't even notice, as his tongue slows down, that your eyes are staring at nothing on the ceiling. That they fill with tears. And that you're crying.
You notice nothing, but just how good your body trembles, from the tips of your toes to the conscience in your head.
You don’t notice the sobs that leave your lips, as John gingerly places your body back down. Nor the way your chest heaves as if you’ve just learned how to use your lungs, while he hooks his arms behind your shoulders, and lifts you up to sit butt naked on the floor.
He holds you to his chest and you painfully sob against it. Not a thought about whether this is the right time to cry crosses your mind.
He cradles your cheek to his heart, while wet lips press against the crown of your head.
“Let go,” he murmurs, voice hoarse. “’M here, love. Let go.”
You cry so hard you think you might crack like porcelain on that floor. Your heaving sobs echo against the walls of the kitchen like the cries of a newborn child.
And John has no intention of letting you go through it alone. He is there with his hands, with his lips, with the strong, steady heartbeat against your ear until your wailing abates. Only then does he cup your cheek to lift your face.
You weep under your breath when you notice the bloodshot whites of his eyes and the clumped lashes. The dampness on his cheeks and the redness of the skin.
He smooths your hair back. Kisses your forehead with such intensity that he just might suck away the self-hatred your family has seeded in your brain with his lips.
He looks at you, then. Lips pursed in a tight line.
“You’ve never looked more beautiful than you do now, love.”
It’s inevitable the way your lips stretch in a smile that quivers and shakes in a breathless, wet chuckle.
You dig the heels of your hands in your eyes, sniffling painfully hard to get some air in your lungs. Your mouth is pasty and God, you must smell like proper shite.
But John leans down anyway and kisses your lips, uncaring of the salt of your tears, the snot, and the taste of you still lingering on his tongue.
And you kiss him back, this time threading your fingers through his hair, arms looped around his neck in an embrace you never want to break.
Noses flush against each other’s cheeks, lips parting only for you to take breaths because your nostrils are currently too stuffy for you to use them properly.
You sniffle and kiss and tug at his hair and hold him until you're both sated, but never enough. It won’t ever be enough.
A few beats of silence reign the kitchen as you sit on the floor, tangled in each other’s arms. The water in the pot must’ve boiled away, forgotten on the fire that still buzzes silently. John’s chest is your tiny alcove as you rest your head against it, and he holds you until your heart’s content.
Everything you’ve ever learned shakes before your eyes. Every thread that knitted the pattern carefully woven around you is slowly unraveling. The fabric wears down the more he shows you love without asking for anything in return.
He's making you regrow your limbs, returning the eyes they stole, allowing you to see that at the finish line, there's nothing but lies.
Nothing but missed calls, skipped appointments, and neglect. Honeyed words, saccharine pet names to render you soft as dough, willing to offer yourself to their exploitation. Sucking on every last drop of your sap, until only a hollow marionette is left.
John hasn't refilled you with energy; he made you realize you were never empty to begin with. Helped you see that they never smothered your fire to ashes, but only dimmed it to a flame, one you can rekindle easily.
One he cannot wait, for the life of him, to see ablaze again.
He’ll fight with you, give you the wood you need to keep yourself warm and your heart safe. Cut your strings once and for all, until you can get back on your feet again.
He thrives at the idea of seeing you glow like you did moments before, in your most raw and real form; a woman he's yet to meet.
However, being human, he does feel a temporary disappointment at the thought that you had put up such a blatant front for so long. Anger that he’d never noticed, thinking you were just this pliant little thing.
But he should've never thought of you as a thing. Never should've seen you as this obliging, pretty doll hanging from his lips. He should've dug deeper, like he always does even on the field, instead of falling for lies.
He’s often asked himself how you’ve never seemed to need anything, often pegging the behavior to self-sufficiency. You always took care of everything by yourself and promptly refused any aid when he tried to give it to you.
His mind reels with memories of the times he’s offered a helping hand, and you’ve politely declined it. It shatters him to think that you did it because you were afraid you had to give something back and maybe were too tired to offer anything.
It’s then that his mind deep dives into a place that sickens him.
How many times did you have sex with him and see it as a bargaining chip? Or as a way to repay him for something he’s done for you just because he loves you?
He shuts his eyes briefly, forcing the bile down his throat and deciding to dwell on the subject later. This moment comes first. You come first. So, he takes you in, blinking his eyes open once more.
He blindly reaches back to turn off the stove, before returning his arms around you. He brushes his lips to your temple, and your muscles soften under the way his breath tickles your skin.
You tilt your head back to lock your eyes with his own, gauging the earnestness swimming in his blues.
“I love you,” he breathes for the umpteenth time, that day.
No ventriloquist forces you to say it back. No strings move your arms to loop around his neck, as you lift yourself on your knees to be level with his eyes.
It's you, who rests your forehead on his own, brushing your nose to his in a butterfly kiss.
You feel like flesh and bone, more than polished wood tied to nylon strings. No voice box if not your vocal cords vibrating when you decide it, asking and giving all the same.
“I love you,” you whisper back.
There is no hunger for love, no finish line to reach. It’s not a race, not today.
And with John, you don’t think it’ll ever be again.
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mintmatcha · 1 year ago
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"You guys are so lucky."
Ochako takes Izuku by the hand, that sweet, rosy smile filling her cheeks. The whole table whoops and hollers as Izuku brings her hand to his mouth and places a kiss directly on the engagement ring.
"I think we're pretty lucky too," Izuku whispers. Sero gags, finger in his throat, and Denki collapses into giggles. From across the table, Iida joins in, covering his smile with the back of his hand.
Tomorrow night, they'll be married. The ceremony is small, just a handful of friends and family, so most of you here won't be attending. You're fine with that- a couple of fancy cocktails is enough celebration for you.
"High school sweethearts," you sigh, "How romantic. I wish someone liked me in high school."
Sero snorts and Ochako sighs; you immediately know something is up. When you glance around the table, everyone is either avoiding your gaze or sniggering, partaking in some sort of shared secret. Turning to Iida for information, you find that he's the worst of them all, adjusting his glasses over and over again.
"You mean someone else," Denki says after a while.
"What does that mean?"
"It means," Denki jerks his head to the side with a conspiratorial grin, "Iida was rock hard for you all through high school."
The man in question sputters-- hard. Iida chokes on his beer and dissolves into a round of coughs, covering his mouth with the back of his hand as he tries to gather himself again. The rest of the table is a cacophony of sound: Izuku thumping the poor man's back, Sero and Denki are howling with laughter, Ochako scolding the gang. You want to laugh too because the idea feels impossible -Iida, the collected, calm, polite one of the group, certainly couldn't have been 'hard' for you-- but then you see his face.
"I-" Iida's glasses are halfway down is his nose, "That is not--"
"Oh my god, dude-- you're bright red!"
Iida really is scarlet. It runs down to his chest, shirt unbuttoned just enough that you can get a peek. He can't meet your eye, looking up and down aimlessly. You've never seen him like this before-- not with his exes, not with crushes; that makes something inside you flutter.
"Are you guys just teasing me?" You manage to laugh.
"You didn't know?" Izuku asks.
"No!"
"Are you kidding? Everyone else knew. This guy-" Sero pats Iida's broad chest, overly familiar - "Would lament about you all the time. About how you walked, how you dressed-"
"Sero Hanta-" Iida chides.
"-how you rolled your skirt after training," Denki finishes.
"I did not!" Iida quickly defends himself. His hands are wringing around his beer, tracing the same pattern over and over again as he glances around the group. His eyes never make it your way.
"Oh, you kinda did," Ochako cuts in with a giggle.
"Sorry, Iida. You did," Izuku agrees.
"Well, it wasn't- It's not because I thought you were--" he huffs, "The school dress code said skirts had to be past fingertip length, and yours were- You rolled the hem and--"
Iida swallows hard and finally meets your eye. He looks miserable, lips drawn into a straight line.
"Well, I wish you would have told me you liked me-"
"I did not like you."
"I would have rolled my skirts shorter."
The table breaks into laughter again, but Iida just grows pinker.
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woozinhos · 22 days ago
Note
Just the tip but vernon? 👀🐻‍❄️
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Notes: god back to writing I love it hehe hope you enjoy <3
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Smut below the cut
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You and Vernon had been tired all day, having worked non-stop on a project that left you both exhausted. As the night fell, the fatigue began to fade and the desire for each other began to build. You both lay in bed, too tired to move much but too aroused to sleep. You turned to Vernon, your eyes meeting his in the dim light of the room.
"I can't believe we're still so horny after all that work," you said, your voice husky with desire. Vernon chuckled, his hand tracing patterns on your bare skin. "Me neither," he replied, his eyes darkening with lust. "But I don't think I have the energy for anything more than just... the tip." You smirked at his suggestion, your body responding to the thought.
"Just the tip, huh?" you said, your hand trailing down his chest. "I think we can work with that." Vernon's breathing grew heavier as your hand continued to explore his body. He rolled on top of you, his weight pressing you into the mattress. "You're such a tease," he whispered, his lips brushing against your ear. "I've been wanting you all day." You wrapped your legs around his waist, pulling him closer.
"I know," you said, your voice low and sultry. "I've been thinking about you all day too." Vernon kissed your neck, his tongue tracing a path down to your collarbone. He moved slowly, taking his time to tease you just as much as you had teased him. Vernon flopped onto the bed beside you, completely spent from the effort of just getting you aroused. He let out a deep sigh, his chest rising and falling rapidly. "God, I'm exhausted," he said, his eyes closing. "But you're so worth it." You laughed softly, turning onto your side to face him.
"We can finish this tomorrow," you said, your fingers gently tracing the contours of his face. "When we have more energy.” Vernon pouted, his eyes opening to look at you with a pleading expression. "But I need you now," he whined, his voice filled with need. "I can't wait until tomorrow. I want to touch you, taste you, make you feel good." You felt a shiver run down your spine at his words, your own desire still burning strong.
"Are you sure you have the energy for that?" you asked, a hint of challenge in your voice. Vernon's eyes darkened again as he heard your words. "Just the tip," he repeated, his voice low and gravelly. "Please." You nodded, a sly smile playing on your lips.
"Okay," you said, scooting closer to him. "Just the tip it is." Vernon's hands moved with a sense of urgency, his fingers slipping under the fabric of your panties and pulling them aside to reveal your body to him. He looked at you hungrily, his eyes drinking in the sight of you. You could feel his gaze on you, burning with desire. He gently traced a finger along your sensitive skin, teasing you just enough to drive you wild.
"You're so beautiful," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. Vernon slowly pulled himself out of his boxers, his erection springing free and hard as a rock. He stroked himself gently, watching your face as he did so.
"God, you're driving me crazy," he said, his voice thick with desire. He moved you onto your side, his body spooning yours from behind. His chest pressed against your back, his warmth enveloping you. He continued to stroke himself, his breath hot against your neck. He pushed one leg between yours, gently spreading you open for him. His hand moved to your hip, holding you steady as he positioned himself behind you.
"Are you ready for me?" he whispered, his lips brushing against your ear. You nodded, your heart racing in anticipation. You could feel the tip of his cock pressing against your entrance, teasing you with the promise of what was to come. Vernon slowly pushed himself into you, letting out a low moan as he felt the tight heat envelop him. He started to move his hips, slowly sliding the tip of his cock in and out of you. The sensation was driving you crazy, sending waves of pleasure through your body with every gentle thrust. Vernon's grip on your hip tightened as he moved, his breath coming in ragged gasps against your neck.
"You feel so good," he groaned, his words punctuated by the sound of your bodies moving together. He began to move faster, his thrusts becoming more urgent as his need for release built. He reached around to cup your breast, his fingers pinching your nipple as he continued to drive himself into you.
"Please," he begged, his voice ragged with desire. "Please let me go all the way. I need more of you." You could hear the desperation in his voice, and it sent a thrill through your body. You nodded, giving him the permission he needed.
"Do it," you whispered, your own need for him becoming too much to bear. "Fuck me properly." Vernon didn't hesitate. With a low growl, he pushed himself all the way inside you, burying himself to the hilt. He started to thrust harder, his hips snapping against yours with each movement. He lost himself in the sensation, his mind consumed by the pleasure of being deep inside you.
"Yes," you gasped, your voice filled with ecstasy. "Just like that, don't stop." Vernon grunted in response, his pace quickening even more as he felt you respond to his movements. He shifted his position slightly, changing the angle of his thrusts to hit that sweet spot inside you. He could feel you clenching around him, your body tightening with pleasure.
"You're so tight," he panted, his hand moving from your breast to your hip to hold you in place. "I can feel you taking me so well." He was getting closer and closer to the edge, the sound of your moans and the feel of your body driving him wild. He continued to thrust into you, his pace becoming more erratic as he neared his climax. He was struggling to hold on, but he wanted to bring you over the edge first.
"Come for me," he said through gritted teeth. "I want to feel you come around me." He reached down between your legs, his fingers finding your clit and starting to rub it in quick, circular motions. The added stimulation pushed you closer and closer to the edge, your body tensing as the pleasure built to an almost unbearable level.
"Vernon," you moaned, your body arching against him as you felt your orgasm approaching. "I'm so close. He continued to move against you, his thrusts becoming more forceful as he pushed you towards your release.
"Let go," he whispered in your ear. "Let it take you. I've got you." Your body convulsed as you finally reached your peak, your scream echoing through the room as your orgasm washed over you in waves. Vernon held you tight, his hips stuttering as he felt your walls clenching around him. He buried his face in your neck, muffling his own moans as he followed you over the edge, spilling himself deep inside you. You both lay there, panting and sweaty, as you slowly came down from your high. Vernon wrapped his arms around you, holding you close as he pressed soft kisses to your neck and shoulder.
"That was wow," he whispered, his voice still husky with desire. You turned in his arms to face him, your eyes meeting his as you basked in the afterglow of your shared pleasure.
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thevoidstaredback · 9 months ago
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"Guys!" Nightwing shouted once he and Batman arrived in the main are of the Bat Cave, "I have some fantastic news!"
Bruce pulled his cowl off, his amusement no longer being hidden as he nearly failed to keep from laughing.
Everyone had gathered in the Cave to await the two who'd gone to the Watchtower, so everyone was already there to hear the exclamation. Even Alfred was with them all.
"Calm down, Big Bird," Jason said from his place on the meeting table, "What's going on?"
Dick was bouncing on the balls of his feet, "Can I tell 'em, B? Can I, can I?!"
Bruce chuckled, "I'm not stopping you."
He cheered before turning back to the rest of his family, "They think there's a total of three-" he held up three fingers on his left hand, "-of us operating within Gotham, myself excluded because I'm in Bludhaven."
"Wait," Stephanie called, "They think Batman only has three people helping to cover Gotham? They know we're human, right?"
Dick shook his head, his grin only getting bigger. "Nope! They think Batman only has two sidekicks covering Gotham with him."
This caused everyone to laugh, the humor breaking any seriousness anyone would've tried to control to keep on topic. It was nice, Bruce smiled, to be able to let loose with everyone like this. His family was altogether, spending time with one another, doing things that didn't include head hunts or injuries.
Alfred took his place beside Bruce. "This is nice, isn't it."
"It is."
"You can die a happy man now?"
A chuckle. "You killing me off so soon?"
"Of course not, Master Bruce," He's smirking, "I'm simply stating a fact."
"Ha!"
"What're you guys talking about over there?" Tim called. Everyone had gathered at the meeting table to go over final details and slight changes for the set up tomorrow. "C'mon! We've gotta finish putting this all together."
Duke nodded from over his shoulder, "Yeah! New information allows room for some much more fun!"
Jason smirked. "Yeah, old man, Alfred! We want to see if we can get away with switching out with each other. It'll confuse the hell outta the Leaguers."
Bruce raised an eyebrow as he and Alfred joined the kids at the table. "How are you going to pull that off? Despite what you all may thing, the others are all a lot more observant than given credit for-"
"Except the Flash and Green Arrow." Cass cut in.
"Hey!" Dick said, "Don't dis Barry like that!"
"Yeah," Barbra agreed, "And Ollie's whole thing is spotting details. He prides himself on it!"
"If that were true, then we wouldn't be planning on how to mess with them, now would we?"
Tim nodded, "Damian's right."
"As you were saying?" Bruce prompted.
"Well," Jason continued, "You, Damian, and Dick have to be here as Batman, Nightwing, and Robin. They all probably know about me, so I'll stay out of the Cave, but you can bet your ass that I'll be in the Clocktower with Babs, listening in on everything." He looked to Tim and Babs. "Should we set up cameras?"
Tim thought for a second, "If we want to record this, then yeah. I can have them all set up by morning."
"I'll help you set it up before I head out tonight," Barbra agreed.
"Anyway," Stephanie interrupted, pulling the attention to herself, "Tim, Cass, and I could totally get away with running around and messing with their senses and shit. And if we can get Kate and Selina in on this-"
"You've already talked to them, haven't you." Bruce asked. The matching grins on everyone's faces was answer enough. He sighed.
"Having fun," Cass patted his arm, "Bonding."
He snorted. 'Bonding', yeah right. Maybe letting his coworkers be the target of his childrens' whims is a bad idea. Then again, their not hurting anyone. It's all fun in games.
Bruce sat at the head of the table. "Alright. We all know about Superman's ability to hear heartbeats and breathing patterns. He's able to memorize someone's vitals, especially his friends. It's safe to assume he's got mine down, as well as Robin's and Nightwing's."
Damian scoffed. "Changing my vitals will be no issue for me."
Bruce nodded, "Me, either."
Dick nodded along, "Soundseasy enough. But what's the plan?"
"Oracle will call you out for an emergency in Bludhaven. Red Hood will call me out for some information at the docks. We'll met up at the Clocktower and switch costumes." he explained.
Barbra had a manic look on her face. "We should have Steph and Cass stay away from the Cave at first, then have them come in separately, but sharing a costume." SHe turned her attention to the blonde. "You have a spare Spoiler costume, yeah?"
Stephanie matched her grin, "Naturally."
"What about me, Tim, and Damian?" Duke asked.
"How would you and Tim like to be actual bats?" the red head wondered, "Or maybe ghosts?"
"Do we get to mess with shit?" Tim asked.
"Naturally."
"I'm in," the two responded.
"Damian will run distraction," Jason said," He'll be the only one who stays with the JL the whole time they're here. Alfred will have to keep cover upstairs. I'll bounce between the Manor, the Clocktower, and patrol."
"Are you quite sure?" Alfred asked, "That's quite a lot to be doing."
"Yeah, I'll be fine," he assured.
Brice cleared his throat. "If everyone's ready?" Looks around the table before nods of affirmation. "Good. Finish up any last minute changes and preparations. They've agreed to meet at the Watchtower at fifteen hundred New Jersey time so that I can bring them here. Damian, I want you to come with me."
"Of course, father."
"Ready? Break."
Part 3 Part 5
Tag List: @sebas-nights
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thewitchblue · 1 month ago
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"Oh, lovely to see you Tim, here's a gift."
You smiled as you placed a small giftbox in his hand. You've been giving the Batfamily small gifts here and there every time you get a vision of their nightlife. It's always a gift of exactly what they need, and you always make sure to put it in their packs before they leave.
You never tell them why you give them gifts, and they've never noticed the pattern because they always open their gifts just before they leave.
You simply smile and give them a pat on the back before moving on to help the others with the usual outside perspective the family desperately needs.
Tim opened the gift with raised eyebrows to reveal a nail file with a hidden trigger that, when pressed, produces a serrated knife. You always were good at making gadgets with double meanings. An unassuming nail file would never be taken away from Tim on patrol, so he slipped it into his pouch without much thought.
Until he needed the nail file (which had a motorised sandpaper) specifically to saw through chains and then cut through the ropes wrapped around his wrists and ankles. That got him thinking.
You always knew exactly what he needed and exactly how to make the gadget within 24 hours. You could probably finish most of your projects within 6 hours.
You were a genius inventor and actually made a lot of the gear they use every night. Tim began to question how you knew what he needed. He's never needed this nail file before, and why did you only give it to him? He wanted answers, and he was going to get it out of you one way or another.
You were sprawled on a couch, tinkering away with a table full of nuts, screws, and, interestingly, a bandaid. What could you possibly be doing to a bandaid? He has no idea, but he knows when you get engrossed that gaining your attention would be impossible.
He approached you with a frown. The things you make seem almost magical, but you will babble on and on if they ever ask you questions about engineering and how you made your project. You always had a mischievous gleam in your eyes as you explained the newest invention.
More recently, they have been mostly traps to bamboozle crooks and for very niche and incredibly specific situations, much to his delight. The most recent was an exploding toothpick to put inside locks and break them from the inside out.
"I have a question."
Tim cut right to the point. You looked up from your torn apart bandaid and gestured for him to continue before going back to your project. He shifted in place, uncertain of how to question you now that he's in front of you. How does he phrase his question?
"How do you... know when I need something? The nail file was extremely specific for the situation I was in."
You looked up once and took note of his determined expression. He really wanted to know, and you doubt you can shake the Bat-to-be. You shrugged non-committally as your gaze returns to your bandaid dissection.
"The idea came to mind."
Not a lie. You simply reverse-engineered the situation your vision told you would happen. However, Tim needed more answers. He asked,
"Why did you only give the file to me?"
You raised your eyebrows at him. He knows something. What he knows is unclear to you. Your visions couldn't have prepared you for this awkward conversation. You explained patiently,
"I only had time for one prototype. Why do you ask?"
Tim frowned at you. You looked so relaxed when you were focused on a project. He can't tell if you are lying when you work. What doesn't he know?
You are so specific in your inventions at times. It was as if you knew he could have died if he didn't have that nail file.
You reached for something on the table. Are you putting in a needle? Who would ever need a needle in a bandaid?
Well, the small needle had anti-venom in a tiny compartment you made that he will need when he accidentally steps on a snake tomorrow night. It's a baby snake, but he'd need the anti-venom fast. Someone was breeding super venomous snakes for Joker. It's unclear why, but he'll need the anti-venom faster than the others could appear.
Tim decided to try a different approach. He said,
"You seem to always know what we need when on patrol, and I want to know how."
You tried to appear casual. You've been doing this for years. You flew under the radar for too long to let him ruin it. Bruce pays you a lot for your inventions, but he hates metas in his city.
"I always think of a new problem. What if Jason trips into a vat of acid Joker-style? Well, I can make his patrol outfit acid-proof. What if Bruce needs fast-acting waterproof glue? I can make that easily. You, evidently, needed that nail file."
You cursed as the needle fell. You cleaned it while saying slyly,
"You're welcome, by the way."
You quirked your lips into a small smile while turning your gaze to Tim with amusement dancing in your eyes. He murmurs an embarrassed "thank you."
He moved to sit next to you on the couch you were sat on, so you make room and move all your supplies. He borderline whines,
"Who would think of waterproof glue for vigilante activities?"
You raised your hands smugly but lowered it when he lightly hit your arm with a smile on his face. You loved riling him up. He was often in the cave and became your companion in the quiet darkness. He said quietly,
"Whatever you are hiding, I won't tell the others."
You sighed. You loved Tim; you don't think your heart could handle being pushed away from him and out of the city. You told him quietly,
"There's nothing to admit."
He gently took your hand in his with a softened look. He loved you, too. You frowned and lightly squeezed his callused hand. It hurts to hide from him, but you can't tell him. He might even push you away if he found out you were a meta.
"You can tell me."
He told you softly. He wanted to know you better. You were always the kooky engineer to the family — someone in the background, but Tim saw you as you. Strong, kind, intelligent you. Someone who borderline lives in the Batcave at a table near the Batcomputer and spends all night and most of the day tinkering away and muttering questions too quiet for them to make out.
You wanted to tell him, but the fear kept your mouth glued shut. The words got clogged in your throat. You sighed and looked at your conjoined hands.
"I... It's not safe, for me here."
You said cryptically. Tim is smart. He can figure out what you mean if he is so inclined to know.
Those words, however, only set off alarm bells. Did someone threaten you? Who could sneak into the Batcave? Where was Alfred at the time? You rarely leave the cave, like some trapped oracle.
You looked at him like he should know what you mean, but his alarm wasn't allowing him to think. Did the League of Assassins come by? No, they would have kidnapped you or killed you before you even noticed. You barely noticed him until he said something, and even then, you went right back to your bandaid.
"Baby, talk to me. Tell me what's wrong and I can fix it."
Tim didn't even notice the term of endearment slipped out, but you did. Your head snapped in his direction.
You set the bandaid down in disbelief. Did he call you baby? What does that mean for your relationship going forward? You questioned,
"Baby?"
Tim responded like it was normal for you to call him that in return,
"Yes? Tell me what is wrong."
You blinked at him and waited for his words to sink in. When they refused to sink in, you sighed.
"Look, sweetheart, I'm trying to do my job. You will know what I mean when you start thinking with that BatBrain of yours."
You lightly tap his head with a wrench to signify for him to think before finishing your project and starting to wrap up your little gift.
Tim will think it's a joke, but he'll humour you. He'll put the bandage on as a last laugh and then be shocked when the anti-venom enters him. He'll give a disbelieving laugh, thank you millions of times, and hobble home when Jason showed up to handle things.
The thought struck Tim just before he went to sleep. You... you're a meta. A psychic meta. Oh, he's so screwed. If Bruce ever finds out... well, he'll just have to make sure nobody finds out. You were smart enough to know not to say it directly, which he was grateful for. If he can hide your powers nearly as well as you can, he can do this. He has to have faith in your ability to hide.
He also blushed as he remembered he called you baby. That is a can of worms he will have to deal with another time.
You handed Jason a rose with a mischievous smile while rolling a wrench between your fingers like a pencil in your opposite hand. You had turned it into a fidget toy, flicking and rolling the tool with familiarity.
The rose looked normal and unassuming. It looked so real that it would likely appear as if Red Hood was going on a date, and he's running late. You could imagine all the confused goons he beat up when they got a peak at the rose safely tucked away. The thought made you smile.
"What? Does it squirt water?"
He asked flatly. What's so special about it? He knows for a fact you aren't giving him a normal rose. You muttered,
"Tough crowd. What if I wanted to ask you on a date?"
When Jason continued to simply look at you instead of figuring it out for himself, you sighed and double tapped the centre of the rose.
A vast amount of cures for various poisons were displayed before him. He read each label carefully, then organised it how he liked it, and shut the compartment. He reluctantly tucked the rose in the pocket of his leather jacket. He simply said,
"Thanks, pipsqueak."
You only nodded in response as he walked away. Cluemaster was planning a "gameshow" type of trap tonight, but rigged the game. He will "forget" one of the cures Jason needs to complete the trial. You couldn't tell what cure was missing, so you crafted a bunch of them. You frowned in thought as you saw Tim out of the corner of your eye.
You were still a bit dazed about your recent development with Tim. You know for a fact he knows now, as he's been finding more and more excuses to hang out with you. The others assume it's because Tim is going to finally make a move on you, but he just... hovered. He looked awkward. He felt awkward. He wanted to tell you his feelings and get the rejection over with, but he's scared. He's never dated someone like you before and he had no idea how to ask you or even tell you how he feels. You're in every corner of his life. You are the one constant in his life. Your quiet companionship means the world to him. What if he ruins everything?
Dick gave him a brotherly thumbs up and walked away when he tried to ask for advice. Dick knew next to nothing about you, so he had no advice to give. Tim spends basically every day with you. He should know you best. He spends all day with you in the cave, and he asks for any input when he knows he's overlooking something.
In fact, the family was surprised it took Tim this long to notice his obvious fondness for you. It makes sense. The two introverts who can sit in silence with only the sound of typing and gears turning hanging in the air. He could smile as you murmured questions to yourself. You know Tim would be useless with any gadget, so the questions remain rhetorical. He finds it cute that you prefer to vocalise your thoughts instead of keeping it all locked in. It doesn't bother him one bit.
Nobody appreciated you like Tim did, so they didn't give you a second thought. Maybe that is part of your psychic abilities as well, he wasn't sure. He wished he could ask safely. He wanted to yell at Bruce for the paranoia, but it would reveal your ability if he did so. Instead, he settled for internally screaming at him.
You leaned down to grab a gear you had dropped the other day. When you stood up again, you said,
"Okay, I'll bite first then, why are you following me?"
Tim rubbed the back of his neck nervously. Well, now is as good a time as any to admit months' worth of feelings that morphed into something far more than a companionship in the darkness of the cave, no pressure.
"I..."
You tilted your head and gave him a knowing smile. You knew. You looked into the future of Tim out of curiosity and found his confession, but you needed him to play the part. He sighed in relief. All the pressure popped like a bubble.
"I love you."
He said it so fast that you would have missed it if you hadn't slowed it down. Your powers work kind of like a youtube video: you can pause it, slow it down, fast forward, reverse it, etc.
Now you felt a bit awkward. You had no idea what to say. You had been so shocked at night that you didn't think about what to actually say in response. You smiled nervously and awkwardly said,
"I, uh, I love you too. Thanks, by the way."
You gave him a kiss before shuffling back to work. You needed to do something with your hands. It's a form of stress relief, a small comfort to ease your nerves. Some turn to cigarettes, you turn to nuts and bolts.
Tim trailed you in a bit of a daze. He sat on a nearby chair and watched your hands fly through a project you had in your subconscious mind. It's more of a fidget project with no real purpose behind it yet.
You picked up a screw and screwed it as much as your fingers allowed. You clicked your tongue in irritation when you noticed none of your nearby screwdrivers would fit the small screw.
"Babe, can you hand me that screwdriver?"
You asked him. The small screwdriver had rolled right in front of him. Your gaze landed on him when he said and did nothing. He looked stunned.
He didn't hear a word past babe. He could only stare at you in shock. You called him babe like you've done it thousands of times. The casualness felt like you just slid right into the role of his life partner as easy as sliding your hand into his own. He didn't have to ask you to be his lover or ask you on a date. You did all that for him with one word.
You noticed his checked-out gaze and grabbed the screwdriver yourself with a quick cheek kiss which he leaned into happily.
You may be the meta, but he could have sworn he saw his future with you.
A/N I wanted to make this into a 2 part story, but decided against it and smooshed them together.
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blue-jisungs · 7 months ago
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a laugh for a coffee
# author's note ... not proofread, sorry!!!! also this is based on a tiktok i saw lmao
# setting ... non-idol!haechan, barista!yn, grumpy x sunshine
# warnings ... yns kinda a bitch lmaooo but tbh a mood, i relate ;; swearing
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you knew it was an awful idea. every normal person would know. especially a person that values money.
but mark, apparently, is none of those.
standing behind the counter, arms crossed on your chest, you let out a deep sigh. your overly optimistic co-worker just shook his head.
“come on, dude! some smile won’t hurt anyone!” mark whined and looked at you like a kicked puppy.
“you sound like a typical karen right now” you grunted and noticed the first customer glancing at the flier taped to the window. their eyes widened and they rushed inside.
“see! told you it was a brill–”
“hello, how can i help you today?” you cut him off, monotonically greeting the person.
“i saw the flier, so here’s my attempt: knock knock”
you just shot a side eye to mark, who grinned.
the flier that he hung up this morning (supposedly with consent of your boss, but that you’d argue) said ‘make our barista laugh and get a free coffee! :)’
so that’s why, right now, you’re obliged to answer:
“who’s there?”
“interrupting cow” they puffed their chest out. you already felt it in your bones that it’s just a bad joke.
“interrupting c–” you tried to bounce the line back, as the joke usually goes but…
“MOO!” they mooed.
they mooed.
mark started laughing and they send him finger guns. you remained unbothered, tapping your fingers against the counter. the customer scoffed and pulled out their wallet.
“you’re a tough one, huh? i’ll just get an espresso then” they smiled and you nodded, taking the order.
“come on, dude. that was good!” mark shook his head and you went to the coffee machine, ignoring him.
you were known to be the grumpy person, quite everywhere. whether it was your class, friend group, work environment or family. but that was your attitude, and it wasn’t even all the time. you just saved your words, not caring about bullshit. besides, it was mostly towards strangers. when you opened up to mark, he later revealed that he thought something possessed you. but not everyone has to be nice to strangers and fake laugh at their terrible jokes.
mark seemed not to understand that, though, and made it his goal for today to witness that happening.
you knew he won’t succeed. it would take a really good joke or a child falling to make you smile… not to mention laughing. especially at work, when you just want to get your shit done and money earned. if you wanted to have a job that’s just for shits and giggles, you’d work in entertainment.
“oh no, not me. her. yah, y/n, come here! there’s another joke for you!”
sighing deeply, you turned on your heel.
this is going to be a horrendous day.
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you were expecting the end of your shift like a small kid expects christmas. minutes were running painfully slow, hours - even slower. it felt like an extremely boring class, when you close your eyes for ten minutes but it turns out it wasn’t even a full minute.
that’s how you felt; dreadful jokes one after another. at some point you just decided to zone out, planning your tomorrow day off. your mind just fished out the orders and isolated the awful puns.
“yo, dude! hi!” mark’s voice boomed in your ear sickeningly loudly (well, maybe because he was standing right next to you).
focused on making a cappuccino (who even orders those at 7pm?), the smell of freshly grounded coffee making you wonder if you should go cafe hopping tomorrow. carefully angling the pearl white cup, you poured the milk foam from above. when the cup was ⅔ full, you lowered the pitcher with milk as close as possible and reflexively wiggled the vessel gently to create a flowery pattern. then at the end, you flattened the cup and finished the milky masterpiece with a swift move.
“it’s amazing how she does that with no emotions on her face whatsoever”
“because i’m at work, you fuck–” you wanted to growl but your eyes shot up, meeting with a new customer “oops”
the guy giggled and shook his head.
you placed the beverage on the tray, next to a warm croissant with chocolate and mark grabbed it. leaving the space to deliver the order, you stepped to the cash desk again.
“can i take your order?” your voice was cold.
maybe it wasn’t the best approach for work but you couldn’t help it. especially today.
glancing at the customer, you realized it’s one of (many) mark’s friends. his brown hair was fluffy and loosely falling on his forehead, cutely matching with the beige hoodie he had on–
stop.
“what’s up with the flier thing? even mark texted me…” he started but was cut off by the canadian himself.
“haechan, finally! how are you?” his voice was a bit panicked, rushingly coming up to you.
haechan, that’s the name. or nickname? you’re pretty sure you heard mark call him donghyuck before. maybe it’s an inside joke?
“good, actually. i wanted to grab some coffee because i’ll probably pull an all nighter today” he explained and his curious doppio colored eyes scanned you. with the corner of his lips turning upwards, he thought of something “actually, you know… i’m a student and…”
your body language spoke louder than words because he pivoted and said something else.
“whatever. but truth be told, i looked up tips on how to make a girl smile. some were really creepy, dude. ‘tickle her’ or ‘make a silly dance’? like, what kind of loser came up with those? even worse, what kind of loser would do those?” he smiled to himself. that was true - he went through quora and other wikihows. if his plan - which was mostly just yapping - didn’t work out, he planned to do a silly dance. ‘chicken dance’ was what one of the sites proposed.
“i think you forgot to mention the kind of losers who even look up such tips in the first place” you huffed and mark’s eyes widened. that’s the first reaction someone managed to pull out from you throughout today. haechan saw his friend’s face and took it as a sign. “speaking of tips, you better hurry up if you want to have a coffee. there’s other customers in the line. by the way, mark why are you still here?”
“i, uh! sorry!” your coworker yelped and rushed to the other cash desk to serve other customers.
“so?” you cocked an eyebrow and crossed your arms.
“i bet you heard an awful lot of bad jokes, huh?” he asked, poking the inside of his cheek. mark was listening, somehow managing to also listen to the last customers’ orders.
“yup”
“shit, that was my plan a” haechan sighed dramatically and looked you in the eye “please don’t make me do the dance…”
the pathetic whine wanted to make you laugh itself. but you saw the pure unwillingness to do the dance… and you would never say no to humiliating a man.
and haechan seemed to notice that too. well, he also heard stories about you from mark.
“do the dance, haechan” you nodded, fighting a smile.
he let out a sigh, eyes locking with yours. there was a glint of amusement dancing in his americano-colored irises.
slowly shifting away, he started to awkwardly do the chicken dance. eyeing mark and you, pure agony on his face. it was just like a torture for both of you, really. but you noticed he was different than others and you finally cracked it out: he didn’t want to get a free coffee. he just wanted to make you laugh.
which he did.
with a loud snort, you shook your head.
“okay, you can stop. my eyes are gonna fall out…” you laughed at, well, the mix of events. him doing the dance, the desperation in his eyes and just the overall craziness of this day.
“no way dude, no way” mark laughed maniacally, the other customers’ looks judging the three of you.
haechan nonchalantly fixed his hair, as if nothing happened. then, he leaned against the counter.
“y’know what?” you asked, poking the inside of your cheek while smiling. “sit your ass down, i’ll bring you a coffee and something else. americano, i assume?”
haechan nodded and when you turned around to prepare his beverage, mark exchanged a shocked look with his friend.
you prepared a large iced americano and a cinnamon roll. on top of that, you wrote down your number on a napkin. maybe you’ll regret it, maybe not.
upon delivering it to him, the clock striked 9pm and mark told you to go, and as an apology for putting you through the torture today he said he’ll close up.
so when haechan discovered the phone number (of a girl he’s been crushing on for a month) on a napkin, you were already gone.
“told you that a funny guy–” mark started, leaning on a broom.
“shut up, man” haechan grinned, already saving your phone number.
masterlist <3
taglist. @l3visbby ,, @laylasbunbunny ,, @planetkiimchi ,, @mon2sunjinsuver ,, @w3bqrl ,,
@eternalgyu ,, @haecien ,, @slytherinshua
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bookshelfdreams · 5 months ago
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I know it's been half a year and I don't feel like digging up the original post rn but I finally got started ooooonnnnn
✨The American Duchess Wrap Cape✨
Carol Kimball made a printable version of the pattern which she generously shares for free on her blog along with instructions for alterations and assembly (PLUS pockets! And a hood!). This is what I'll be working with.
I forgot to take a picture, but I'm using a grey-green (sage? I'd call this sage) boiled wool as top fabric, and dark blue flannel for the lining. Because I am an idiot, and also due to my general hubris, I have forgone the mockup. Instead, i decided to try on every pattern piece as I go along and see what alterations it needs. I am sure I will not regret this.
(I do have a lot of fabric, so there's room for error. When I bought it earlier this year I thought I would do the hood, but I have since decided against it - with the colour, a hood would make me look like some twee forest creature. Not that that wouldn't be an amazing fashion concept. Unfortunately, hoods don't work great with scarves and shawls, so no hood this time.)
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First (after printing and taping together the pattern pieces) was extending the shoulder seam. The original pattern has tiny shoulders, which might work fine for some (although, tbh, even the og pictures of AD's reconstruction seem to fit the model kinda awkwardly), but for me, too small. Kimball recommends making a sort of bulge on the front piece so it actually goes over the bust, which I did; I freehanded it and figured I would cut it out, sew in the darts and then check if it fits.
I wasn't sure how to mark where to put the darts without cutting up the pattern. In the end, I just put a little bit of white thread through the start and end points, pulled off the paper and tied them off loosely. That worked really well, and it made folding the darts easier, too.
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Anyway, the front piece seemed to fit! So I used it to adjust the pattern for the lining, cut out the two front pieces, and put in the darts there. Then I cut open the darts, finished the seams that needed finishing, and pressed all my seams, as if I knew what I was doing and wasn't a chaotic craft gremlin.
Next, I cut out the back piece (the pattern prints only one half, but I mirrored it and then taped the two halves together, so I wouldn't have to fumble around trying to cut it on the fold. That would not have ended well) in both top and lining, sewed them together with the according front pieces at the shoulders, and pressed the seams again.
Then I ran out of blue sewing thread. But since it's 20:00 anyway, and my sewing machine is very loud, I'll be a considerate neighbour and stop with the noise-heavy activities. Tomorrow I'll have to go to the inferior craft store (the good one is closed on tuesdays) to get some fusible interfacing for the collar and pockets (up next!). Also blue thread.
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(The cat was helping, as always)
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