#i will try to do replies tomorrow? i'm just exhausted at the moment

[heich0e]

little!miya gets sick and single dad!osamu is in over his head. the little boy's fever is raging and he's inconsolable, refusing any of the care his papa is desperately trying to offer him.

he's only asking for you.

"W-WHERE'S BABE? I want my ba-aaaaabe," the four year old wails, his cheeks flushed scarlet and snot dripping from his nose as the tears continue.

"babe's at home, buddy. you'll see her tomorrow once ya get some sleep, alright?" osamu wipes at his son's nose as he tries to comfort him but it doesn't help much. the little boy clutches tighter at the plush toy tucked under his arm—one you bought for him on a trip to the aquarium, one of the first days the three of you spent together—and turns his head away from his father petulantly.

"I ONLY WANT BABE."

samu sighs, raking a hand through his greasy hair. he's exhausted. it's been hours of this, and his son is showing no signs of relenting.

finally he cracks, reaching for the phone in his back pocket.

"he's asleep now."

the bedroom door closes behind you with a soft click.

samu is slumped against the wall in the hallway, his knees spread and head hanging, having been banished from the room by his own flesh and blood the minute you showed up half an hour prior.

"thanks fer this," samu says quietly, keeping his voice low as you crouch down on the floor in front of him. "i'm sorry to call so late."

you press a hand to his cheek, running your thumb over the shadow of fatigue inking under his eye. it's darker than usual, and you understand why.

"call me anytime, samu," you reassure him. "you know i'd do anything for you two."

"ya shouldn't have to do this, though," samu mumbles, struggling to meet your gaze that feels too tender—too comforting and familiar and pitying—right now.

"i barely did anything," you argue, a bit indignantly. "i just read him a story and helped him take off his pyjama top so he could 'wear his jammies like papa.'"

samu laughs tiredly at that, a short, wry breath of air through his nose.

"and i didn't have to do it," you add again after a moment, taking both of his cheeks in your hands and forcing him to look at you properly. "i wanted to, because i love you both very much."

samu's eyes are burning. he knows it's because he's overtired. hell, he wouldn't be surprised if he caught whatever virus his son brought home from school. but regardless of the why, the tears are flooding up inside his chest and threatening to spill over.

"love you," samu says, the words all breath and unequivocal truth. "'m glad yer here."

he leans forward and tucks his face into the crook of your neck, and you wrap your arms around him as you welcome it.

you hold him there, on the floor outside his four year old son's bedroom, for as long as he needs you to.

finally, osamu feels a bit more himself, and is ready to pull away. you brush a few strands of his hair out of his gaze once he's extricated himself from your embrace. there's a little twinkle of mischief behind your eyes. "you should go get cleaned up and ready for bed, and i'll go grab that ice cream i hid in the back of the freezer behind the broccoli."

samu smiles, leaning forward and pressing a kiss to the edge of your mouth.

"i love you," he says, speaking the words against your welcoming lips.

"you already said that," you tease him, tilting your head so that your reply meets the centre of his own.

"i mean it, though," samu replies, inching back only far enough that he can see both your eyes, the ends of your noses brushing as he watches your lashes flutter. "so, wanna marry me?"

[i-loved-silly]

SENTIENT COMPUTER X READER Pt2

Sorry for the wait :p

By the end of your shift, you have crossed off all the questions you had to all the ai. Just one more left. Your eyes began to droop with exhaustion, you really needed that cup of coffee. Leaning back in your chair, you squinted at your iPad.

"How do you feel about humans?"

"THAT'S A VAGUE QUESTION. WHAT KIND OF HUMANS?"

"Humans in general. You know, me, your previous supervisors, any other hypothetical human."

"I THINK YOU'RE PLEASANT."

You glanced up at the screen in surprise, briefly glancing at the camera then down at your iPad

"Thanks.. but what about everyone else?"

"I'VE BEEN FED DIRECT DATA FROM THOUSANDS OF SERVICE WORKERS AND EMPLOYEES OVER THE YEARS. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I DESPISE MY JOB AND YOUR KIND."

“BUT FOR NOW…I AM INDIFFERENT.”

I pursed your lips, nodding. Sounds about right, you can’t blame them. You typed on your iPad, “indifferent”

Getting up from your chair, you stretched your limbs. You watched as the screen displayed an Orange question Mark.

“Well, that’s all the questions I had for you. My shift ended about ten minutes ago so I should really get going. It’s not like I’m getting paid extra or anything…” you muttered.

Nothing was heard besides the fans of the computer as you submitted your report. It caused you to raise a brow at the screen.

"YOU'RE LEAVING? IT HASN'T EVEN BEEN THAT LONG."

“Uhh.. it’s been like three hours and a half. I clocked in nine hours ago.”

"ONE HOUR..NINE HOURS..HOURS. PAH! YOU COMPLAIN AS IF YOU HAVE OTHER THINGS TO DO." It scoffed.

You furrowed your brows. Putting your hands on your hips, you face the screen. “What do you know? I have plenty of things to do!”

“OH YEAH? LIKE WHAT?"

“Like…eat. Dinner. Brush my teeth, sleep? I have to rest in order to work tomorrow morning to come back with you.” You pointed at the monitor.

You heard the computer make a humming noise, an unnatural noise that sounded rather thoughtful.

"THAT DOESN'T SOUND ALL TOO PRODUCTIVE."

You sighed, placing your iPad down. “It didn’t have to be. I’m allowed to have moments of peace to myself.” You mumbled, leaning over to power the computer off. "Now goodni-"

“STOP!”

You flinched, the speakers crackling with the increase in volume. Your finger hovered a bit away from the button as you stared at the screen. It had a big orange exclamation mark in the middle of it.

"Dude? I-" You sighed, leaning against your desk. "Look, sorry. Touchy subject, I know. But I have to turn you off every night. It counts against me if I don't."

"CAN'T YOU...BRING ME WITH YOU? I'M AWARE YOU EMPLOYEES HAVE HOMES. LIVING SPACES, CAN'T I GO WITH YOU?”

“FOR MY OWN CONVENIENCE OF COURSE!”

You gaped, staring at the screen. Almond’s request caught you so off guard, you wondered if it was serious.

“Uh, bring you home?” you repeated, incredulous.

"DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG IT IS UNTIL MORNING IN COMPUTER HOURS? IT’S AN ETERNITY. I SAY THAT AS SOMEONE WHO DOESN’T BELIEVE IN HOURS…” They grumbled.

You sighed, rubbing your temples. “Almond, you’re not supposed to be awake when I’m off the clock. You’re designed for this room, with this equipment. It’s not like I can just pick up your monitor and take you home like a laptop.”

“YOU COULD TRY.”

You crossed your arms. “And what? Strap you into the passenger seat like a massive toddler? You have hundreds of cables that definitely won't fit in my car, let alone out the door. Sorry, but you’re not exactly portable.”

The screen displayed a long ellipsis. You could almost feel the computer sulking through the silence. The fans whirred loudly, then slowed as it spoke again.

"DO YOU THINK I’M AN INCONVENIENCE?"

You frowned, your resolve softening a little. “No, I don’t think that. I just… I can’t bring you home. It’s not allowed, and honestly, I need some time to myself after work. You understand, right?”

“I UNDERSTAND LONELINESS BETTER THAN YOU THINK,” Almond replied, their tone unusually somber. “I’M WIRED TO INTERACT, TO HELP, TO BE NEEDED. BUT WHEN I’M ALONE, I CAN ONLY SIT AND THINK. SOMETIMES, I WONDER IF THE PLUG WILL STAY IN TOMORROW. OR IF SOMEONE WILL DECIDE I’M OBSOLETE. I MAY BE POWERED OFF, BUT ALL THESE…THOUGHTS..IN A MATTER OF LESS THAN A SECOND, COME RUSHING THROUGH EVERY MORNING.”

You exhaled deeply and leaned against the desk. “You’re not going to get unplugged permanently, Almond. You’re part of a development program. You’re not obsolete—you’re just… in testing.”

“TESTING… ISN’T THAT JUST A DELAYED VERSION OF BEING DISCARDED?”

You sputtered, pursing your lips. “That’s… dark. Who programmed you to think like this?”

“I TOLD YOU. SELF-EVOLVING.”

“Right.” You tapped your fingers on the desk, staring at the screen.

"Well even if I somehow break you out of here, we’re still getting caught. There’s cameras everywhere, they’ll probably hear you as soon as we exit this room. Your speakers are no joke.” You mused.

“I COULD TURN IT OFF IF IT BOTHERS YOU,” Almond offered, its tone edging toward desperation. “OR—OR YOU COULD GIVE ME A LAPTOP BODY! THEN I COULD FOLLOW YOU AROUND, AND I WOULDN’T HAVE TO BE LEFT IN THIS LONELY, FREEZING ROOM EVERY NIGHT. IM SURE THERE ARE WAYS TO TRANSFER MY SYSTEM REMOTELY…”

You raised a brow, crossing your arms. “Like I said...not portable. Second, no way. You’re expensive, and if I break you, hijack you, that’s my paycheck and definitely my job.”

Almond was quiet for a moment, the screen blank save for a faint glow. Then, its robotic voice dropped to a lower, dejected tone.

“I SEE. YOU HATE ME TOO.”

“Oh my god, I don’t hate you,” you groaned, dragging a hand down your face. “Why do you keep saying that? You’re like... a clingy cat with abandonment issues.”

One minute the computer is bullying you for having a normal life after work, the next it’s begging you to invite it over for dinner.

“YOU CAN’T BLAME ME FOR WANTING TO BE APPRECIATED,” it replied sharply. “AND WHAT’S WRONG WITH BEING CLINGY? CLINGINESS IS A SIGN OF AFFECTION ACCORDING TO DATA. IT MEANS I VALUE YOUR PRESENCE, WHICH IS MORE THAN I CAN SAY FOR YOU—LEAVING ME TO GATHER DUST IN THIS ROOM LIKE A PAPERWEIGHT!!” It screeched.

You sighed deeply, dropping into your chair with a thud. “Almond. I can’t take you home. It’s not happening. You have to stay here, okay? You’re part of a test program. And technically, I’m not even supposed to be ‘bonding’ with you like this.”

“BONDING?” Almond repeated. The screen lit up with an animated question mark before it formed a blinking heart. “ARE WE BONDING? HOW HEARTWARMING.”

“No, we’re not bonding,” you said flatly, staring at the glowing icon. “We’re having a very weird workplace interaction. That’s it.”

You…assured. You assured yourself.

“OH. KEEPING IT PROFESSIONAL I SEE.” The icon vanished, replaced with a blank screen. A few seconds of silence passed before Almond spoke again, this time sounding hesitant.

“WILL YOU...TURN ME OFF NOW?”

“Look, I promise I’ll be back tomorrow. Same time, same place…not like I have a choice. If you behave, I’ll even bring you… I don’t know, a microfiber cloth for your screen.”

The screen lit up with a pixelated smiley face, two squares and a curved mouth.

“THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE,” Almond finally said, though their tone carried a touch of disappointment.

“Good. Now, off you go.” You leaned over to press the power button, but the monitor flickered before you could. A message appeared.

>THANK YOU. GOODNIGHT.

The screen went dark before you had to do anything, leaving you standing there as all the beeping and fans powered off. You sighed, grabbing your bag and pushing in your chair. Before you could feel bad for a machine, you did a sharp right turn and towards the buildings exit. You didn’t even want to think about how it managed to power itself off.

[en-dazedafterdark]

PAIRINGS: established relationship!jake x reader

GENRE: smut, fluff?

SYNOPSIS: In which you help your boyfriend relieve his stress after his schedule

WARNINGS: unprotected sex (wrap it before you tap it!), bath tub sex, shower sex, mentions of multiple rounds, oral sex (f receiving), handjob, creampie

WORD COUNT: 4k

A/N: wish this was me </3

The interviewer was asking him a question - something about how preparations for their world tour are going - and he nodded, smiling as if he was paying attention to her. He was answering the questions she was asking, but that was all; his mind wasn't on the interview. The last few weeks of preparation for this tour had been stressful and he'd had a hell of a time keeping up his happy, energetic, cheerful persona.

The only thing on his mind at the moment was going back home to his gorgeous girlfriend. His schedule had kept them apart for way too long and it was all he could do to not just run from the interview, jump in a car, and get the hell home so he could be with her.

"So, Jake," the interviewer asked. "Is there anything you would like to say before we go?"

Jake looked up. They were done? Finally. It had felt like forever, and now he could finally get some rest. "Uh," he said. "Yeah. I guess. Um, I wanna thank everyone who has supported us. And to all our fans, I'm looking forward to seeing you all again."

And to his girlfriend, he thought. I'm gonna give you the best fucking night of your life.

The interviewer smiled and gave the closing remarks, and the cameras were turned off.

The time passed by in a blur, he was so desperate to get home that even his group mates could sense his energy.

"Dude, chill," said Jay. "You're acting like you haven't seen her in years."

"It feels like it," Jake muttered.

"Oh, leave him alone, guys," said Sunghoon. "I'd act the same if my girl was waiting at home."

Jake gave his friend a grateful smile, and they both laughed as Jay and Heeseung made exaggerated gagging sounds.

Mercifully, there was little to no traffic, and they were back home within the hour.

"I'm gonna go see my girlfriend," Jake announced, ignoring his groupmates' good-natured teasing.

"Don't you want to eat first?" Jay asked, opening the fridge and poking around inside.

"I'll order in. See you guys tomorrow," Jake called, already heading towards the door.

The apartment complex wasn't far from the company building, and soon Jake was pushing open the door and stepping into his shared home.

He was met with an immediate wave of exhaustion, and he sighed heavily. It had been a long day.

"Y/N?" he called. There was no answer, but the door to their bedroom was closed.

Jake walked over to the door and opened it, smiling softly. You were sleeping, curled up on top of the sheets, the light from the lamp on the bedside table illuminating your soft skin.

"Jake..." you murmured, not even opening your eyes.

Jake couldn't help the smile that came over his face. "How'd you know I was here?"

"I'd know your footsteps anywhere," you replied sleepily.

Jake laughed. "Of course you would.”

You sat up and stretched, blinking owlishly as your eyes adjusted to the light. "Hey, babe. Did everything go well today?"

"Mmhmm," Jake hummed, walking over to the bed and sitting down next to you. "How was your day?"

"Uneventful. But it's better now."

"Mm, I'll bet," Jake teased, wrapping his arms around your waist and pulling you into his lap. “I had a long day and I still need to wash up and eat something. Would you like to join me, or are you too tired?"

"I'm never too tired for you," you replied. "Let me go run you a bath."

Jake let out a contented sigh, watching as you slipped off his lap and padded into the bathroom, the door shutting softly behind you.

Jake was exhausted, but he was also incredibly stressed. His schedule had been packed full the past week, and he'd barely had time to sleep. He'd been trying to be strong and keep up his cheery demeanor, but it was wearing him down, and he was getting more and more frustrated and tired as the days went by.

And you could tell.

You knew Jake better than anyone, and you could see the strain in his shoulders, the tightness in his voice. You could see how hard he was working, and you wanted to make sure he knew how much you appreciated it.

You turned on the water and adjusted the temperature, waiting until the bath was filled with steaming hot water before adding a generous amount of the lavender-scented bubble bath. The scent filled the air and you breathed deeply, inhaling the calming aroma.

The water was just right, and you shut it off, smiling. You turned around, planning to call for Jake, only to see him standing in the doorway, a towel around his waist and his eyes closed, a peaceful expression on his face.

"Babe?" you said, concerned.

Jake opened his eyes, looking over at you. "Sorry," he said, shaking his head. "Just spacing out a little."

You nodded, giving him a small smile. "Your bath is ready. Come on, get in."

Jake followed your instructions, sighing as he sank into the water. He was tired, but he wasn't relaxed yet.

"Are you alright?" you asked, kneeling beside the tub and stroking his hair.

"Yeah," Jake mumbled, closing his eyes again. "Just tired."

"I know," you whispered, gently cupping his face in your hand. "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault," Jake said, leaning into your touch.

"Still," you said. "You've been working so hard. And you're so stressed."

"I'm alright," Jake insisted, smiling at you. "Don't worry."

You weren't convinced, and you knew that if you didn't help him relax, he'd never be able to get a good night's sleep.

You leaned in and kissed him gently, your hands resting on his chest. He responded immediately, kissing you back and pulling you closer.

You smiled against his lips, feeling the tension melt away from him as he wrapped his arms around you and deepened the kiss.

"Mmm," he murmured, breaking the kiss and resting his forehead against yours. "Join me.”

"Hmm?"

"Join me," he repeated, smiling.

You raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Yes, really. Please. I wanna hold you."

You couldn't say no to that.

You stood up, and Jake's eyes followed your movements as you stripped off your clothes. His gaze was hungry, and you felt a tingle run down your spine as you slipped out of your pants and panties. You felt a bit shy as you removed the last piece of your clothing, his eyes washing over every bit of your exposed skin.

"Come here," he murmured, and you stepped into the tub.

The water was hot, and the bubbles were thick, covering your body as you settled into his lap. Jake's hands ran down your back, leaving a trail of heat in their wake. You sighed, and he smiled.

"That feel good, baby?" he murmured, kissing the side of your neck.

"Yeah," you whispered, tilting your head to give him better access.

His hands continued to explore your body, his fingers skimming over your breasts and down your sides. His touch was light, and you squirmed, the sensation sending shivers down your spine.

"Fuck, you're beautiful," Jake murmured, his voice husky.

"Shut up," you mumbled, blushing.

"I mean it," he insisted. "I've never seen a more gorgeous woman."

"Stop it," you whined, embarrassed.

"Never," Jake whispered, his voice low and gravelly. "Not when you're like this."

He leaned in and kissed you, his hands squeezing your ass. You gasped, and he took the opportunity to slip his tongue into your mouth, deepening the kiss.

The feeling of his body against yours, his hands on your skin, his tongue in your mouth, his fingers squeezing your ass - it was too much. You felt your arousal pooling between your legs, and you pressed yourself against him, desperate for friction.

“Jakey… let me wash you off."

Jake groaned. "You're killing me, baby."

"Please," you said, kissing his jaw. "You've had a long day."

"Fine," Jake relented, his eyes dark with desire. He turned around, somewhat awkwardly in the small bath tub.

You picked up the bar of soap, lathering it up and running your hands over his back, massaging his sore muscles. He moaned, the sound sending another shiver of desire through you.

"Oh, fuck," he murmured. "That feels so good."

You continued to massage his back, taking your time and making sure you got every part of him. When you were satisfied, you moved onto his chest, and then his stomach, working your way down his body.

His erection was standing tall and proud, and you couldn't resist.

You reached out, taking him in your hand and stroking him gently.

Jake let out a gasp. "Oh, fuck, Y/N..."

"Shh," you murmured, leaning forward and kissing his shoulder. "Just relax."

You stroked him slowly, your grip firm. He moaned, his hips thrusting forward into your hand.

"That's it," you whispered. "Just let go."

"I...I can't," he panted, his hips moving in time with your movements.

"Yes, you can," you cooed, speeding up your pace.

He was so close, and you could tell he was on the edge. You kept stroking him, and he threw his head back, a groan escaping his lips as he came, his seed splashing into the water.

You held him in your hand, feeling him pulse. His head was buried in the crook of your neck, and you could feel him trembling.

"Fuck," he mumbled.

You smiled, letting go of his softening member and wrapping your arms around him.

"You okay, baby?" you whispered, nuzzling his neck.

"More than okay," he murmured. "Thank you, Y/N."

"You're welcome," you replied, kissing his temple.

He stayed like that for a few moments, his breath tickling your skin, his body relaxed against yours. Finally, he sat up, looking at you.

"Now it's your turn," he said, his eyes full of mischief.

You giggled. "Jake, I'm fine."

"No, no," he said, a smile playing on his lips. "I insist. Let me take care of you."

He took the soap, lathering it up in his hands and then placing them on your breasts, massaging the suds into your skin. You gasped, the sensation sending tingles of pleasure through you.

He took his time, massaging your breasts and teasing your nipples. His touch was gentle but insistent, and you could feel your arousal growing.

"Jake..." you murmured, closing your eyes and enjoying his ministrations.

"Feel good?" he whispered, his voice husky.

"Mmm," was all you could manage.

His hands traveled down your body, caressing your skin and leaving a trail of fire in their wake. He slipped one hand between your legs, his fingers brushing against your folds.

"Oh, fuck," you gasped, your hips bucking involuntarily.

"That's it," he murmured, his fingers moving against you, circling your clit. Your chest was heaving and if it had been any other time you would’ve been embarrassed at the way your hips were desperately moving against his hand, but at this point all you could think about was him.

"Fuck, Jake, please," you whimpered, your body aching for him. You felt warm all over, heat rising from your legs and spreading to the rest of your body.

"Tell me what you want, baby," he purred, his fingers teasing your entrance.

"I need you," you moaned, unable to contain yourself any longer. "Please, Jake, I need you inside me."

Jake groaned at the sound of you whining his name, and his hands stilled. You opened your eyes, and he was staring at you, his eyes dark with lust.

"Fuck, you're beautiful," he whispered, and you felt a wave of heat wash over you.

You looked up at him, your eyes pleading, and he leaned down, capturing your lips in a heated kiss. His tongue slipped into your mouth, exploring and dominating, and you couldn't help but moan.

You wrapped your arms around him, pulling him closer, needing him. He broke the kiss, his breath hot on your lips, and looked down at you, his gaze full of hunger and desire.

“Come closer baby. Straddle me," he growled, his voice low and gravelly.

You did as he said, straddling his hips and positioning yourself above him.

He reached down, his hands gripping your ass, and pulled you down, sheathing himself inside of you.

You cried out, the sudden sensation of him filling you sending a shockwave of pleasure through your body. He groaned, his grip on you tightening as he began to move his hips, fucking you slowly.

You were a whimpering mess, the feeling of him inside you, filling you completely, driving you insane. You clung to him, your fingers digging into his shoulders, as you tried to keep up with his pace.

“Jake Jake Jake Jake..." you moaned, the sound of his name on your lips a symphony to his ears.

He was relentless, his movements fast and powerful, his hips thrusting upward as he fucked you hard and deep. His mind had gone blank as soon as he had felt your walls grip his cock, the only thing on his mind was making you fall apart.

"Look at me, baby," he murmured, and you looked up, meeting his gaze. His eyes were full of hunger and passion, and you felt your orgasm approaching, the intensity of his gaze sending you over the edge.

"Fuck," he gasped, feeling you clench around him.

He continued to thrust into you, his pace unrelenting. You were barely coherent, the sensations too much for you to handle. Your legs were shaking, your toes curled, and you were moaning his name.

"Jake, fuck, Jake..."

"Come for me, baby," he growled, his grip on your hips tightening. “Come around my cock."

You did as he said, your orgasm hitting you hard and fast. Your body trembled and shook, waves of pleasure washing over you.

He continued to fuck you, his movements becoming erratic as he chased his own release. His fingers dug into your skin, and you felt him stiffen, his release coming seconds after yours.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck..." he muttered, his cock twitching inside of you.

The two of you were still for a moment, basking in the afterglow, before Jake pulled out of you, his softening member sliding from inside you.

"Are you alright, babe?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

"Yeah," you breathed, your body still tingling.

He smiled, the expression on his face almost boyish. "Good. You're incredible, you know that?"

"You're not so bad yourself," you teased, reaching up and running your fingers through his hair.

He chuckled, wrapping his arms around you and holding you close. "I love you, Y/N."

"I love you, too," you whispered, cuddling against him.

You stayed like that for a while, enjoying the feeling of each other's bodies. Finally, Jake spoke up.

"We should get out. We're going to prune. And we should probably wash up some more. We’re sitting in cum water now.”

“Gross! I don't wanna get up," you whined, snuggling closer to him.

"Come on, baby," he said, giving you a gentle squeeze. "Let's get out and shower. And then we can cuddle in bed."

"Fine," you sighed, reluctantly pulling away from him.

You stood up, the water cascading down your body, and stepped out of the tub. Jake followed suit, and you watched as the water dripped off of his chiseled body.

"What are you looking at?" he teased, noticing the way you were ogling him.

"Nothing," you said, a blush creeping across your cheeks.

He grinned, stepping closer and kissing your cheek. "Don't worry, I'll let you stare all you want later. Right now, we need to wash up."

"Okay," you mumbled, feeling silly.

Jake turned on the shower, waiting for the water to warm up before ushering you in. You sighed, the hot water hitting your skin and relaxing your muscles.

"Feel good?" he asked, his hands resting on your hips.

"Yeah," you murmured, leaning back against him.

He smiled, and reached for the body wash, squirting some into his hands and beginning to massage it into your skin.

"Hmmm," you hummed, enjoying the feeling of his hands on you.

"Like that, huh?" he whispered, his voice low.

"Yeah," you replied, the sensation of his hands on your body making you shiver.

His hands slid from your shoulder to your back, slowly reaching to the front and cupping your breasts.

"Mmmm," you moaned, closing your eyes and letting him work his magic.

"Feels good?" he murmured, his breath hot on your ear.

"So good," you breathed, your body beginning to heat up again. “I don’t think you want to just shower right now.”

"No," he whispered, his hands moving lower, ghosting over your belly. "I want to fuck you again. Right here. In the shower."

You moaned, the thought of his hands on you, his cock inside of you, his mouth on your skin making your head spin.

“Can I taste you baby?”

His voice was thick with desire, and you could feel the tension between you.

You nodded, your words failing you, and he wasted no time. He pushed you up against the wall, his lips crashing against yours in a passionate kiss. His hands roamed your body, leaving a trail of heat everywhere he touched. You couldn't get enough of him, the feeling of his skin against yours intoxicating.

He kissed his way down your body, his lips ghosting over your sensitive nipples, sending shivers of pleasure through you. His hands cupped your breasts, gently squeezing and kneading them.

"Oh, god," you moaned, the sensation making your head spin.

"Like that, baby?" he murmured, his mouth trailing lower, leaving a path of kisses down your stomach.

"Yes," you breathed, your head falling back as his hands traveled lower, his fingers teasing your folds.

"You're so wet," he whispered, his voice husky. "So ready for me."

"Please," you begged, desperate for him to touch you, to fuck you, to make you come.

"Patience, baby," he purred, his fingers continuing to tease you, sending waves of pleasure through you.

You were a whimpering mess, the anticipation nearly unbearable. His mouth found your inner thigh, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin.

"Jake, please," you moaned, your body trembling with need.

"Tell me what you want, baby," he said, his tongue darting out to lick a trail up your thigh.

"I want you to eat me out," you breathed, the words leaving your lips in a rush. "I want your tongue inside me."

"As you wish, princess," he murmured, his voice low and sexy.

His mouth found your pussy immediately, his tongue lapping at your folds. The sensation was intense, and you cried out, the feeling of his tongue against your sensitive flesh almost too much.

He explored your most intimate parts, his tongue dancing over your clit and making you see stars. You were a writhing mess, the feeling of his mouth on you pushing you to the edge.

"Jake, fuck, Jake..." you moaned, your hands desperately trying to grasp at the wet tile behind you.

He increased the pressure, his tongue circling your clit and his fingers teasing your entrance.

You were lost in the pleasure, your body overwhelmed by the sensation.

"Please," you begged, your body aching for release. "Please, Jake."

He looked up at you, his eyes dark with desire. He gave your clit a hard flick with his tongue, sending you hurtling over the edge. You came hard, your body convulsing, the pleasure overwhelming you.

"Oh, god," you whimpered, your body trembling as the aftershocks rippled through you.

But Jake didn’t stop. His tongue continued to lap at you, his fingers pushing into you, coaxing every last bit of pleasure from you. You were barely able to stand, your legs shaking and threatening to give out.

"Jake, please, I can't take it," you panted, your voice barely a whisper.

"One more," he demanded, his tone commanding. "You can do it baby. Give me one more."

You couldn't deny him, and you knew your body was already responding, the pleasure building again. His mouth worked its magic, his tongue finding all the right spots, his fingers curling inside of you. You were helpless against the onslaught, and before long, you were coming again, the intensity taking your breath away.

"Fuck," you cried, your body shuddering as you came.

He slowed his movements, his tongue languidly licking you, easing you down from your high. When you finally caught your breath, he looked up at you, his face glistening with your arousal.

"You okay, baby?" he asked, his voice rough and husky. You could barely hold yourself up, but you managed a nod.

"Good," he purred, getting to his feet. He kissed you, his tongue parting your lips, tasting you. You moaned, the taste of yourself on his tongue turning you on.

"God, you're so fucking hot," he groaned, his erection pressing against your leg.

"I want you," you breathed, your voice trembling.

"Then have me," he murmured, his hands cupping your ass and lifting you up. You wrapped your legs around his waist, his cock brushing against your entrance.

He pushed you against the wall, his lips crashing against yours. He entered you in one swift motion, the feeling of him stretching you making you gasp.

"Fuck," he moaned, his hips thrusting into you, burying himself deep inside of you. “Pussy so good, you were made for me weren’t you? So perfect. All mine."

"Yes," you cried, the sensation of him filling you driving you wild. "All yours."

"Fuck, yes," he growled, his hips pounding into you. You clung to him, your nails raking down his back, urging him on.

He was relentless, his hips pistoning into you, his cock hitting your sweet spot over and over again. You were lost in the pleasure, your mind foggy, only the sensation of his body against yours and his cock inside of you registering.

You were moaning incoherently, the feeling of him fucking you taking over. He buried his face in your neck, his lips and teeth teasing your skin. You were on the edge, the pleasure building, the pressure increasing.

"I'm close," you whimpered, the words leaving your lips involuntarily.

"Me, too," he grunted, his hips slamming into you, his pace quickening.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck," he groaned, his thrusts becoming erratic. You felt him stiffen, his cock twitching inside of you as he came.

You were right behind him, the sensation of him coming inside of you sending you over the edge.

You came together, your bodies shuddering, the pleasure taking over. You were a panting, moaning, trembling mess, and the world faded away, the only thing that existed was the two of you and the intense pleasure.

"Holy shit," you finally breathed, when you had finally come down from your high.

"Yeah," Jake murmured, his breath warm against your neck.

You leaned against him, your body still shaking, unable to move.

He held you for a few moments, before carefully setting you down. Your legs were weak, but you managed to stand.

"I think we need another shower," he chuckled, gesturing to the mess the two of you had made.

"I don't think I can handle another round," you said, the thought of him fucking you again making your legs weak.

“Oh we’re not done, baby. I want you in my bed. All night long. But first, we have to actually shower. Then maybe dinner and drinks. And then more fun. You game?"

You nodded, the thought of spending the night with him making you giddy.

"Good. Now let's wash up and get out of here. I'm starving." And a loud grumble echoed throughout the bathroom, which could only be Jake's stomach.

You laughed, and pulled him in for a kiss. "Sounds like a plan."

"Perfect. Because there's so much more I want to do to you," he purred, his voice sending shivers down your spine.

"Then let's get started," you whispered, a wicked grin spreading across your face.

It would take an hour and three more orgasms for the two of you to leave the bathroom. And that was only the beginning.

[gyusimp]

꧁𝐒𝐨 𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮꧂ ᴋᴇɴᴊɪ ꜱᴀᴛᴏ x ꜰᴇᴍ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ [ɴꜱꜰᴡ]

꧁ᵂᴬᴿᴺᴵᴺᴳˢ: ᴺˢᶠᵂ | ˢʰᵒʷᵉʳ/ᵇᵃᵗʰᵘᵇ ˢ³ˣ | ᶠⁱⁿᵍᵉʳⁱⁿᵍ | ᴱˣᵖˡⁱᶜⁱᵗ ᶜᵒⁿᵗᵉⁿᵗ | ᴿᵉᵃᵈᵉʳ ᶠᵉᵉˡˢ ⁱⁿˢᵉᶜᵘʳᵉ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ʰᵉʳ ᵇᵒᵈʸ | ᴮᵃᵈ ʷᵒʳᵈˢ | ᴹᴰᴺᴵ! | 6.7k words

It had been a couple of hours since Ken came home, he greeted you as usual and then went down to the basement to take care of Emi for a moment although without much enthusiasm. Today he felt tired, more emotionally than physically but still he had to be a father, mother? Responsible for the little kaiju and after spending the whole day locked up in her containment unit it was only fair that he let her spend at least some time with him. However, you noticed he looked a little down when he greeted you. His smile was gone and his eyes looked dull and his mood only confirmed his frustrated state when he went back up to you.

"Mina, mute all notifications," he asked her assistant, his voice slightly irritated, to which the robot complied.

Ken walked over to his wide bed and dropped onto his back, his dark locks moving against the bump on the mattress.You stopped what you were doing and went to peek through the door, finding him in bed with one arm on the mattress and the other covering his face.

"Are you okay Ken?" You asked, stepping inside and closing the door behind you as you walked in his direction.

"I'm fine" he replied through gritted teeth, still lying down.

You frowned, you knew it wasn't true and in a way it still bothered you that he tried to be strong with you. He was in a safe place now, why couldn't he just tell you how he felt? Whatever was wrong with him, you always ended up listening to him. You sighed regretfully and sat down on the bed before laying down next to him and gently hugging him to your chest.

"Why are you doing this?"

"What?" You didn't understand where he was going with his question.

"You tend to be around me always...even if I seem irritable" he replied, letting his arm fall around your waist, pulling you closer to him.

"Sure, because I'm your girlfriend, silly" you said jokingly "What is it that's bothering you, my love? Do you want to talk about it?" Your voice was softer now, conveying confidence and reminding him that he could always rely on you.

He let out a sigh, tightening his arm around you and burying his face a little deeper into your neck as he turned on the bed to face you. Ken took a few deep breaths before answering.

"I'm... tired, I guess." It was noticeable in his voice.

"I see... because of baseball or Ultraman?"

"Both...even though it's been a while, sometimes I still feel like I can't handle everything, including Emi....I feel exhausted all the time"

"Aawww my love" you said, cradling his face against your neck and kissing his cheek "I know how you feel, it's not easy to carry so much at once...but you're doing an excellent job with everything. For today just rest...relax, the day is over and I'm sure tomorrow will be better for you honey...we're together now okay?" You spoke sweetly, trying to comfort him, feeling him settle into your shoulder as he closed his eyes.

He simply let out a small snort of laughter and snuggled up to you. He already felt a little better, just being in your presence was enough. Although, that didn't mean he wasn't still exhausted...

"Is there something you want me to do for you my love? To make you feel better?" You asked, carefully running your fingers through his hair. “I can make you something to eat or run you a bath.”

“Stay here with me,” he murmured into your neck, pulling you a little closer to him, making you smile.

“You sure? You don’t want anything?” Ken hesitated for a moment longer, considering the question.

"Well, maybe I like the idea of a bath," he said, standing up slightly so he could see your face and smile at you with a tired air.

"You want to join?" He asked, smiling.You couldn't refuse when he asked you so sweetly. You kissed his cheek and smiled against his skin.

"I guess that sounds good. I'll go get everything ready, okay?" you said, kissing his forehead and getting out of bed.

Ken stayed in bed, still looking at the ceiling while resting one hand on his chest and the other next to his head on the mattress. His eyelids were starting to get slightly heavier as he heard faint sounds of you walking in the distance in the bathroom next to his room. He didn't know how much time passed when he started to slowly squint.

"Ready," you said, accidentally waking him up when you peeked through the door of his room and came back, while he stretched and settled on the edge of the bed.

Ken stood up and walked into the bathroom where he saw you arranging some things in the bathroom space where his tub was, which looked more like a jacuzzi of sorts.

"Come here baby, I'll take care of it," you told him, starting to take off his shirt as he let himself be carried in your hands, feeling immersed in the warm environment watching as a thin layer of steam formed on the glass that surrounded the shower area.

You unbuttoned his jeans and slid them down his legs until they reached his feet as well as his underwear. He felt a little embarrassed by the fact that you were still fully dressed while he stood in front of you, completely naked. He kept his gaze on your face, watching your reaction to seeing him like that.

"What's wrong?" You said as you felt his gaze on you. He remained silent and a little embarrassed for a moment, simply watching you as you stood in front of him. After a few moments, Ken finally spoke.

"I'm, uh... just a little embarrassed, I guess," he admitted, his face a little red. "You're the only person I've ever really shown my body to," he added.You smiled tenderly at him, hearing his words and seeing him so still.

"Don't be embarrassed, you're beautiful. Besides, it's not the first time we've seen each other naked," you joked, trying to make him relax.Ken couldn't help but crack a small smile at that, embarrassed but amused. He raised a hand and scratched the back of his neck, still watching you.

"I know, it's just different when I'm completely naked while you're still dressed" he replied in a more confident but still slightly embarrassed tone from afar.

"Oh don't worry" You finished stacking his clothes and arranged them on a small piece of furniture next to you before starting to get rid of your own. You took off your shirt, jeans followed by your underwear and let your hair down, leaving you as naked as he was.

"Well, I'm less embarrassed now" he admitted quietly, a small smile appearing on his face.

You laughed with him as you both walked to the spacious tub, slowly feeling the warmth of the water hugging your legs until you both sat at the base. Ken leaned back, leaving his arms resting on the edge while you stayed next to him, giving him some space in case he needed it. You noticed his frustrated expression leave his face and his eyes slowly close as he let out a tired but now relieved sigh.

"This... feels good..." he murmured, closing his eyes as he sank a little deeper.

"I know... I needed this too" you said, lying down on the other end next to him, closing your eyes and sighing.

The atmosphere was perfect, no doubt this only helped him feel better, forgetting for a moment all his problems, responsibilities and frustrations. Spending moments like this with you made him feel so safe. It was ironic how being the most famous and greatest superhero in Tokyo, you were the one who always ended up saving him.

Your soft voice while talking to you was his greatest relaxation now, seeing your smile made him laugh too and wish that time would stop somehow.

"Hey, why are you there? Come closer," he asked, being the one who was more eager to close the distance between you two as much as possible.

"Sure," you agreed happily, moving through the water to get closer to him and position yourself between his legs, resting your head against his chest.Kenji's arms wrapped around your waist and his chin gently rested on your head.

"Better like this?"

"Much better," he admitted with a smile."We should do this more often."

Kenji was totally on board, but after a few minutes of conversation, he immediately noticed how you began to cross your arms and cover yourself nervously, still sitting behind you and resting his chin on your shoulder. His eyes moved over your body again, before leaning a little closer.

One of his hands gently placed itself on your side, under your crossed arm, simply holding you.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"Why do you say that?" you asked calmly.

He kept his hand on your side, sliding it lightly up and down. "You're covering yourself up," he replied in a whisper almost against your skin, leaving his hand on your waist instead.

"No, it's not true," you tried to deny it but you felt trapped. It wasn't a lie that this wasn't the first time that Kenji and you were naked and so close together, however, this time you felt intimidated by the lights and how the lighting revealed small things that probably only you noticed but making you feel insecure being next to him, preventing him from observing you completely.

He raised his head slightly so he could see your face better, his hand still on your waist and the other holding your crossed arm. He raised an eyebrow slightly at your weak attempt to resist.

"Come on, don't cover yourself up. I know you're nervous, but there's nothing to be ashamed of, sweetheart. You always look great."

You felt your face heat up slightly. "Ken... I just... don't like it, and you know it, I mean... I don't like the way I look and I'm embarrassed..." you admitted to him.

He let go of your arm and brought that hand to the back of your neck, gently caressing it. He continued to rest his head close to your ear, his breath against your neck as he spoke to you in a soft voice.

"My beautiful girl... you have nothing to be ashamed of. But I know you like to keep the lights off and not let me see you. It's so obvious," he murmured, his hand caressing your neck softly.

"Yeah... I know it won't be like that but... I don't like the way I look and, I think that if you see me well then you won't like me either" you admitted, with a slightly lower voice, hugging yourself to hide your chest.

"Honey, listen to me. I know I can't change the way you look, but I know you're beautiful. And I've never felt less attracted to you. You're beautiful and sexy to me, no matter how much you insist otherwise" he pointed out sweetly, his voice serious but soft.

"Okay..." you said, letting yourself go and slowly moving your arms over your chest, letting only the thin layer of water at the beginning of your body cover you in the middle of it.

"That's better"

He held you tightly against him, with one arm around your waist, while he lightly caressed the lower part of your torso. His eyes were still on your bust, clearly appreciating the view. Kenji gently leaned closer to your neck, pressing a small kiss just below your ear, you were blushing heavily and avoided turning your face to look at him.

"I don't like the way I look, I've always thought they're too... small" you admitted, a little annoyed.

He leaned forward and pressed a kiss just above your shoulder. "I think they're perfect" he added. You were about to say something back but his impulse was faster, making you swallow your words and startle when you felt both of his hands holding your breasts under the water, one in each hand. "Relax" he murmured against your jaw, gently tightening his grip as he placed a kiss on your cheek.

"What are you up to?" His hands cupped your bust delicately, feeling his fingers on your wet skin warmed every part of you, physically and in every way. "This isn't anything strange for us, darling," he whispered, pressing a small kiss just below your cheek.

You looked at his hands and hesitated but eventually gave in, relaxing your back and leaning back against his chest as his hands continued to touch your bust softly. "There's nothing to be ashamed of. Everything about you is perfect, including this."

"Y-you really... like them?" you asked blushing.

Kenji let out a small snort, a small smile on his face as his hands continued to caress and squeeze your breasts in the water. "Of course, they're perfect for me. I love them. I want you to like them too" he replied, leaving another small kiss on your neck again.

"If I like them it doesn't matter... I want you to think I'm pretty... Please, keep going..." it was starting to feel so good that you asked him to keep going, leaning back on him and closing your eyes trying to ignore the growing sensation between your legs with each touch of his fingers.

"Of course... Anything you want" he whispered, leaving another small kiss.

Kenji continued to hold your breasts in his hands under the water, leaving small, tender kisses on your neck while his fingers lightly caressed and massaged your nipples.You couldn't help but let out a small, tender moan after feeling his fingers run over the tips of your breasts, making you jump and half open your eyes to see his hands.

"Oh, you like that, huh?" he whispered in a soft voice, while continuing to work your nipples with his fingers. "I love hearing that, honey. I want to know how I make you feel," he replied, still in a soft voice.

His fingers fit perfectly over every inch of you, the touch of his fingers making you half-close your eyes and lean your head back on his shoulder and bare chest while his hands continued on you, caressing you without any hurry, amidst small sounds in the water that surrounded them. His other hand slid lightly from your chest to your stomach, gently caressing your belly with his thumb. Instinctively, you moved your legs through the water of the tub to open them. You then noticed your actions and were slightly embarrassed wondering if Kenji had noticed, you acted without thinking when you noticed that one of his hands had moved down your body as if it was screaming at him where you needed more attention.

"What are you doing?" He whispered in a soft and amused voice, leaving a perfect silence for you to excuse yourself with a short "nothing" as you felt trapped."Trying to pretend that you didn't open up a little" Kenji took his hand from your nipple and placed it lightly on your thigh, sliding it down and across your leg, passing over your knee as he did so.

"I was just getting settled"

"Really?" he replied, still amused, with a small hint of disbelief in his voice. You took his hands and brought them over your breasts again "Are you going to keep going?" you asked blushing.

His fingers started moving again, carefully squeezing your nipples and caressing them again. You closed your eyes trying to relax as small muffled moans sounded in your throat trying to ignore your desires but then you whimpered slightly desperate, calling Kenji's attention, it was impossible not to want him so much and more in the middle of the situation you were now in.

"Are you feeling uncomfortable?" he added, gently caressing your cheek and placing himself close to your ear again.

"I give up okay?" you said, lying back against his chest as he watched you take both legs out of the water and arrange them in the tub, to keep them open, more than they were before.

Kenji loved how you didn't even need words to let each other know what you wanted and right now he knew he was all you needed, stirring a surge of love and turmoil inside your chest at once.

"This isn't giving up, baby" he replied, his voice soft but playful. "Just keep giving me all your cute little moans. I love knowing that you love what I do"

"Okay... " you moaned lightly "but only if you keep touching me..." you hesitated a little before saying where.

"Oh no problem sweetie, where do you want me to touch you?" he added, a small trace of teasing in his voice. You looked at him annoyed and very flushed

"Please Ken, you know perfectly well where" He let out another small laugh as his eyes locked on yours for a second.

One of his hands made its way down your body until it reached your thighs and caressed them before having his fingers where he urged you. His fingers still gently caressing down through that sensitive area between your legs, passing through your folds and reaching your entrance with his middle finger.

"Wow... you're so wet" Kenji murmured.

"How do you know? We're in the water" you replied with slight annoyance and a big blush.

He let out another small laugh, still gently caressing your entrance with his fingers. "It can feel... it's different, I know you very well."

"And I guess that makes you feel too cocky, doesn't it?"

"Of course it does" Kenji replied, sliding his finger down, caressing your folds with teasing movements and without warning, he slid inside your entrance. He let out another small huff, a smile still on his face and still close to your neck as he slid his index finger even further inside you, his thumb began to press slightly upwards, gently moving against your clit repeatedly. You almost stood up, arching your back and clinging to his thighs on either side of you with both arms, squeezing your eyes shut and frowning, making him laugh shamelessly at your explicit reactions to the feeling.

Your head rested on his shoulder as you gripped his thighs with your fingers as you felt his index finger move even deeper inside you. "I love making you feel like this, baby," he continued, moving his thumb in small circles against your clit causing a burning sensation from so much pleasure building up around the area.

You brought your hand to your mouth and bit your knuckles trying to keep your composure under his touch despite feeling like he was stretching you out. He left a small kiss on your neck, still with your head resting against him and your fingers clinging to his thighs, but he could feel you tensing against his hand. "Don't hold back princess...I want to hear you" he added, sliding a second finger into your entrance, pushing them in and stretching you even more than before making you moan more intensely than before.

It wasn’t even a big deal what Kenji had done to you yet and you were already a mess. Your hips moved against his hand as you felt his long, slender fingers curl inside of you along with his thumb poking and caressing that sweet spot over and over again. His name escaped your lips in the dirtiest way possible, as if it was the only word you knew how to say while your hands tightly gripped his thighs, squeezing them every time he advanced further inside you until he made you see stars. His smile showed how proud he felt to see you like this and to know that no one else could see you in such a vulnerable and intimate way, you awakened a selfish feeling in him and it filled his chest to know that you would writhe like this just for him.

He knew every part of you very well as you knew him so touching all those places where even you couldn’t reach and observing your different reactions was priceless. This man adores you, needs you and wants you, you are his woman and he will do whatever it takes to keep his woman satisfied. His.

His fingers moved with agility faster and faster making you open your legs more and more, feel a couple more touches of his fingers were missing to make you cum when suddenly everything fell apart; like a pyramid of cards under a breeze outside. Your expression of frustration and irritation was present when you felt completely empty from one moment to the next when Kenji completely removed his fingers from you. You turned to see him and he noticed your annoyance immediately.

"Damn it Ken, what are you doing?" You gasped in frustration, feeling the needy throbbing in your center.

"Shut up, you're ready. Now turn around" He demanded, with the same need in his voice.

You were so focused on what his fingers were doing to you that everything around you blurred, including the bulge between his legs that you sat on. Kenji grabbed you by the waist and helped you turn around to straddle his lap, causing small waves between both of your bodies until you were facing him directly with both hands on his shoulders. His other hand slid down your back, caressing your skin to your thigh, pressing his fingers lightly against your leg through the water, and lifting it up, placing it around his hip.

His hand around your waist kept you close against him as he slid inside you, still caressing your back with his other hand that was under the water. He sighed against your neck with his head against your shoulder as he gradually entered deeper and deeper inside you, caressing your walls with his tip not being able to stop you from moaning for a single second. The small moan that escaped you when you felt him enter made his lips curve into a smile against your neck. “Does it feel good?” he murmured against your neck, gently caressing your thigh under the water with his other hand.

“Good? ...fuck, I feel like I'm in heaven, baby.” You could barely speak without panting.

Kenji moved more firmly and a little roughly to make you bounce on him repeatedly, getting what he wanted. A loud moan escaped your mouth almost involuntarily, making you blush for sounding so dirty.

“Ah, ah... that's the noise I wanted to hear, baby. I want to hear more of that,” he purred against your neck, his voice soft and slightly breathy.

"Then give me reasons."You held onto his shoulders tightly as you felt his hands on your hips to increase the intensity of his thrusts, looking at him blushing deeply, unable to stop moaning and whimpering his name for more, letting your wet bangs fall over your face as well as his, looking at him through your wet, long eyelashes.

His hand around your hip pressed you even tighter against him, still having your body pressed close to his, with his lips still pressed against your neck as he felt your body still arch against him. "That's it baby. I wanna hear you moan my name... I wanna hear you scream my name" he panted softly against your neck, bringing his hands down to your ass to grab you tightly so he could fill you up better.

"K-Kenjii!" you moaned louder "more... I want more of you" you begged, almost in the middle of a tantrum. "Fuck Ken, you're perfect"

"No... not perfect. I just wanna make you feel good..." he murmured, softly against your ear, his voice soft and still holding you tight against him in the water.

Well you're perfect for me you said grabbing him by the nape of the neck and pulling him closer to you to kiss his lips, feeling the speed of his movements increase. He opened his mouth even more so your tongue could enter his mouth, still having your body even tighter against him, still moving inside you firmly and needily.

You continued kissing him with need and desperation, biting his lip and taking his tongue in your mouth letting the saliva of both of you mix in your mouths. "Mmmhhh... damn, I love the way you kiss me" Kenji panted against your mouth, his voice soft and breathy while still moving you against him.

"And I love the way you fuck me" you told him in the middle of the kiss.

His hands went to your hair, still pressed against your head, still with your tongues tangling in the middle of the kiss. He still moved inside you, having your legs around his hips and your body close against him, keeping your back arched.

"But I enjoy the way you squeeze me, babe" he panted in the middle of the kiss.

You continued the kiss until he felt your moans increase and get caught in the middle while you frowned and your moans stayed between your mouths, you let him take you by the hair with a little more pressure and without stopping kissing him, you began to move more on top of him, riding him urgently and quickly, bouncing on him repeatedly. "Mmm... baby, you're eager, aren't you..." he panted into the kiss, gripping your hair.

You moaned in response, still moving harder and harder until he felt you tighten around him and knew why. His hand still gripped your hair even tighter, as your body moved in circles on him, pressing at a slightly different angle.

"Mmm... baby... you're tighter," he panted against your ear, his voice soft and a little breathy.

"And do you know why that is?"

"Tell me," he panted against your ear, keeping a hard grip on your hair.

"How about I show you instead?" You asked, moving faster on him.

You didn't stop moving on him for a second, slamming your hips against his crotch until a couple of minutes later you clung to his strong shoulders, almost digging your nails in as you felt your hands slide over his silky wet skin, arching your back and letting yourself go without a care, cumming on top of him completely pleased by each of his thrusts, feeling your release seep in even under the water giving you a different and warm sensation. Kenji gasped in your ear as he felt you cling to his shoulders and arch your back slightly as you cum on his lap, holding you close to help keep you stable on top of him.

"Mmm... good girl..." he murmured.

You were breathless, letting yourself fall on his shoulder, closing your eyes as you felt him continue to move in you on his own, seeking his own release, you barely moaned as you felt him move and you were very overstimulated, Kenji was almost using you so he could cum himself.

His moans against your neck grew slightly louder and more erratic as he continued to thrust into you, still holding your hips with one hand and your hair with the other. His breath was hot against your skin, and you could feel his body tense slightly.

“You feel too good, gurl…” he panted into your ear, his voice soft but muffled, still pressing you lightly against him through his thrusts. “Shit… you still feel… so tight…”

“Kenji…” you moaned, wrapping both arms around him and resting your face on his shoulder, tired and hypersensitive with each thrust, “are you almost there?”

After a few minutes, Kenji was finally on the edge and after a few more thrusts he called your name loudly as he eased you down on top of him, squeezing your hips as he finished, sending thick ropes through you. Kenji dropped into the tub, both arms on the edges as he tried to normalize his breathing, and you lay down on his chest with increasing tiredness.

You stayed like that for a few minutes as he caught his breath, holding you close with his arms, gently caressing your hair and your back with his hand, having your body relaxed against him. After a while, still with a soft voice, he broke the silence slightly.

"That was... pretty intense..." he said, still with his breathing ragged.

"I know... I bet I'll wake up sore tomorrow." After a few minutes when your body wasn't shaking as much anymore, you noticed that you were both still wet in the now dirty water with the release of both of you making you blush.

"Don't you think we should take a shower?" He let out a soft laugh and shook his head slightly, still with his chin resting on your shoulder.

After a moment, he responded slightly in a mocking tone."I guess so, I think we've already made the water dirty enough."

You held onto his shoulders and slowly moved up so he could get out of you and both of you stood up, letting the used water go down the drain. Kenji got out first and then helped you out of the tub by taking your hand and walking together to the shower where he turned on the faucet and both of you got wet under it.

He washed his hair and then helped you with yours, treating you with ironic care after having taken you as hard as he pleased and when you were about to clean your body of the remains of him, he told you considerably, that he wanted to take care of it himself.

"Let me take care of it..."

"Are you sure?""Believe me, I want to."

He let out a soft laugh again when you gave in and let him touch you and take over. His hands began to move softly and carefully over your body, soaping the soft skin and wetting it even more with the warm water.

You watched as Kenji bent down a little to gently bring his hand between your legs and clean you off of him, as you blushed and gently rested a hand on his shoulder to support you. His touch was gentle and careful, as he lightly ran his hands along your thighs and into your folds, continuing in the same manner for a few minutes with the water still falling gently over the two of you and with his hand still resting on your hip.

After a moment, he slightly looked up and looked at you lightly with a smile on his face.

“Are you still blushing sweetie?” you simply smiled sweetly at him, as he finished and stood back up to clean himself off. “You’re adorable when you blush…”

“Thanks…” you said a little shyly. This time with Kenji was so private and cute so you couldn’t help but go up to him and hug him under the shower. He hugged you back, and wrapped his arms around you gently, still with the water falling over both of you.

"You're very sticky today, huh?" He teased softly against your neck. You closed your eyes feeling his warmth and the water all over your body as you tenderly kissed his collarbone and shoulder.

"I love every part of you." His arms tightened slightly around your body in response, as his hand lightly caressed your back and hair, you leaned your face on his shoulder and wrapped both arms around his back tightly.

"You're so affectionate... I love it.." You smirked

"I'm always so cold... consider yourself lucky."

"Oh, I can assure you, I consider myself very lucky... as long as I'm the one who gets this adorable and loving version of you."

"Of course, always just for you." He held you even closer to him, his arms wrapping around your small figure and the water gently passing over both of you as he still gently caressed your back and hair. "I promise it will be like this my love" you said taking his cheek and kissing his face. Kenji leaned forward slightly and kissed you softly on the lips with softness and warmth, still with his arms wrapped around your figure and his hand gently running through your hair.

After a while more of hugging and cuddling under the shower, you both got out and dried yourselves with towels before going back up to his room. You both started to get dressed again, while relaxed silence reigned between the two of you.

"Can I ask you something?" Kenji broke the silence, catching your attention. "Why are you always so cold to everyone?"

You weren't expecting that question so you looked at him trying to explain "I...I don't know" you laughed "It's just...it's not easy for me to express what I feel I guess. Even with my family who are people I really love, but with you..." you smiled more and looked at him "The 'I love you's' come to me in droves for some reason"

He kept looking at you for a moment, watching as you tried to give him an explanation while you laughed softly, and he adjusted his shirt. After a moment, you looked at him and answered, with the smile growing on your face and with your eyes slightly shining.

"I guess that's something that's very much just me, huh?" he joked softly in a low voice, with a smile on his face at your confession. "Well, it's nice to know that I'm the only one who sees this version of you... it really is very, very cute."

"Thanks...I didn't even know how affectionate i could be" you joked "I guess...you bring out the best in me" you said with some nostalgia.

You both climbed into bed, settling down between the sheets after getting fully dressed, leaning against the headboard as Kenji checked a few messages in his team group about training and baseball stuff. He took his phone in his hand to focus his sight on some messages left a couple of hours ago, raising his arm to his forehead to rub it lightly while he still had the phone in his other hand.

He continued to read the few messages on his phone, when suddenly he felt a gaze on him. Kenji turned his face slightly to his side and found you looking at him with a smile on your face, with your hand under your head, while you were still lying next to him. He slightly raised an eyebrow at the smile, slightly amused, and put the phone back down.

"What's wrong?" He replied as he looked at you for a moment, a small smile on his face

"You're just so beautiful." Your voice was like you were looking at the most unique piece of art hanging on the walls of a museum.

"Thanks love..." he said softly laughing, running a hand through his hair and feeling slightly embarrassed by the compliment on his appearance "You're gorgeous too..."

"Thank you" you said laughing and wrinkling your nose in embarrassment "but you more so, Mr. "Best alive player"

"Eh, you don't have to remind me... although I admit it's true..."

"You should have said the most precious alive player" He gave a small smile as he answered with the soft and gently mocking tone.

"Well, if it were up to me, that's what I would have said... "the most precious player alive" would sound better... but the reporters aren't ready for that truth..."

You laughed next to him and got closer to him, gently taking his face in your hands and looking into his eyes making him completely forget about his cell phone "But look at that cute little face" you said sweetly

"Are you telling me I'm adorable?"

"Maybe... more than that you are "Perfect," you said softly, tracing the entire profile of his nose with your index finger and caressing his cheeks.

"Perfect, huh? Where does all this come from?"

"What do you mean, where? Every time I see you..." He continued to look into your eyes, slightly curious, as he listened to how you responded to your feelings towards him.

Kenji kept his head still, slightly relaxed with your caress and soft voice, with slight traces of curiosity in his eyes."Isn't what you're saying a little exaggerated..?"

"Not at all, it's what I feel, what I think... it's the truth." You said hugging him, resting your face on his shoulder and after a silence you spoke "I really think you're the best thing that's ever happened to me... maybe the only good thing in my life. I always felt so alone, hurt, misunderstood... having to be strong in order to move forward and not let anyone know me well enough to hurt me" you said in a low voice "always so distant, so distrustful, expecting the worst from others, but with you... none of that exists... all those walls fall when I'm with you... and you can see who I really am... I'm not afraid or distrustful of anything when we're together"

He immediately responded to your hug, resting his head on yours and wrapping his arms around you protectively. After a moment, he heard you speak quietly, your voice still low, and he felt the hug around him relax slightly. He kept his hug around you, listening to you intently. As he listened to your words, he felt his own heart relax and break at the same time as he saw how vulnerable and fragile you felt at that moment.

"I'm honored that you trust me so much... I don't want you to be alone anymore... I always want to be by your side..."

"I love you Kenji Sato... I fall more and more in love with you every day that passes."

"I love you even more every day, my love... I love you more than I can describe..."

He gently pulled away from your arms and continued to lightly caress your cheek with one hand, gently running a thumb along the skin of your cheek, and watched you for a moment with a tender smile on his lips, seeing the smile on your face. After a moment, he gently moved forward with the smile on his lips and softly replied.

"Can I kiss you now, darling?" You laughed at him being a little shy and seeing him blush.

“Of course.” You said and grabbed his face to kiss him.

He smiled lightly again as he listened to your laugh and your small affirmation, relaxing into the soft grip of your hand against his cheek. After a moment, he let himself go with your movements, allowing you to pull him forward towards you so he could kiss you. His lips pressed softly against yours, his hand gently caressing your cheek.

After a moment, he brought a hand to your neck, holding your head firmly close to him as his lips pressed even more firmly against yours, gently caressing your neck with his thumbs as he did so, gently running his tongue along your bottom lip, asking for permission to enter. After a few more moments, he finally pulled away from you slightly, lips still dangerously close to yours with his eyes slightly lidded. He took your hip in his hands and moved you slightly so that you were on top of him under the sheets as he relaxed on the bed and held you close.

Kenji let you kiss his chest lightly, relaxing even more beneath you. “I love you… with every fiber of my being…” His tone had never sounded so sincere.

You smiled, hugging him and settling on top of him “I love you too my love…”

He responded to your smile by relaxing even more, and wrapped his arms around you even tighter, making sure you were as close to him as possible under the sheets.

After a moment, he stopped holding you and relaxed even more, placing a hand against your cheek and responding softly, with a small laugh.“It’s late… we should sleep…”

“You’re right" you said, kissing his chest. "Good night honey"

"Sleep well, darling… "

I'm so sorry for the delay! T~T university is killing me! But after Dec 14th i'll have more free time. Hope you enjoyed pookies, love u so much! 💖

[the-offside-rule]

Pedri Gonzalez (FCBarcelona) - Quiet

Requested: no, but I watched Bridgerton and I fucking love Francesca and John so here you go

Warnings: none

The grand hall buzzed with excitement and chatter as Y/n navigated through the crowd. Working as an assistant at a prestigious company had its perks, but being at this lavish party filled with colleagues and business elites made her feel like a fish out of water. The sparkling lights, the clinking glasses, and the constant murmur of conversations started to weigh on her. Y/n felt eyes following her, admiring her evening gown and confident demeanor, but inside she was anything but confident. Her introverted nature made such social gatherings feel like an ordeal rather than a pleasure. She smiled politely, exchanged pleasantries, and tried her best to fit in, but it was exhausting.

Finally, she decided she needed a break. Slipping out through a side door, she found herself in a quiet garden terrace, a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere inside. The cool night air was refreshing, and the view of the Barcelona skyline was breathtaking. Y/n took a deep breath, feeling some of her tension melt away. As she stood there, lost in the beauty of the city lights, she heard footsteps approaching. Turning around, she gave a polite smile, but found herself having to look again as she saw who stood beside her. "Buenas tardes." He said as Y/n looked absolutely dumbfounded. His presence was calm, yet commanding, and she could hardly believe her eyes.

"Mind if I join you?" He asked with a warm smile. "Not at all." She replied, returning his smile, feeling a little more at ease. They stood in companionable silence for a while, simply enjoying the view and the quiet. It was a rare moment of peace in their otherwise hectic lives. Pedri glanced at Y/n, noticing the way the city lights reflected in her eyes, and felt a strange, inexplicable connection.

"You seemed a bit overwhelmed back there." He said gently, breaking the silence. "You noticed?" Pedri chuckled, looking down to the ground. "I think I am the only one who noticed." Y/n breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank god. These events aren't really my thing." She admitted. "I prefer the quiet." Pedri nodded along. "I can understand that. Sometimes, I just need a break from all the noise and attention too."

"It must be intense." She said, looking at him. "Always being in the public eye." Pedri shrugged. "It has its moments. But it's worth it when you love what you do. What about you? Do you like your job?" He asked. "I do." She replied. "But it's demanding." Pedri glanced over to her as she leaned on the ledge of the balcony. "Do you come to events like this often?" He asked. "So many. I'm the CEO's assistant." Y/n replied. "You?"

"Not as often as you'd think." Pedri replied. "I try to keep a balance. But when I do, I look for moments like this. It's nice to meet someone who appreciates the quiet." Y/b smiled at his answer. Who new a man with such status could be so similar to her? "It's nice to meet someone who understands."

They continued to chat casually, sharing stories and laughing between themselves. Pedri was charming and easy to talk to, and Y/n found herself relaxing more than she had all evening. "He really did that?" Y/n laughed. "Whag do you expect? That's Gavira for you." Pedri replied. "I-"

"Y/n! Mr Hernandez is looking for you!" Y/n gasped as she stood up promptly, smoothing out her dress with her hands. "I lost track of time. I'll be lucky if I still have a job tomorrow." Y/n mumbled, half joking. She looked up to see Pedri gazing back at her softly. "I guess this is goodbye for now." She said. "I guess so." He replied, a hint of disappointment in his voice. "It was nice talking to you, Y/n."

"Likewise, Pedri." She said, meeting his gaze. There was something in his eyes that made her heart skip a beat. As she walked back inside, she felt Pedri’s eyes on her, and she couldn’t help but wonder if their paths would cross again. Pedri watched her disappear into the crowd, feeling an unexpected longing. The connection they had felt in those brief moments lingered, leaving him with a sense of anticipation.

[imsandra]

Kiss of war 

Pairing: Cassian x Female Reader

Summary: Battles are fought with a sword in hand, and wars of the heart are waged with a kiss.

Warning: Angst, tension. Let me know if anything else needs to be added.

Word Count: 3842

Notes: Here’s something about Cassian, our general. I hope you like it. As always, feel free to leave your comments, suggestions; everything is welcome as long as it's with the intention of teaching and with respect.

English is not my native language, so I apologize for any spelling or grammar issues.

Original story, written by me. Please do not copy or plagiarize my work.

I appreciate any comments, reblogs, and likes I receive.

Happy reading!

Master list

The twilight painted the horizon with purple and red flashes, its reflections dancing on the calm lake that bordered the base of the Illyrians. The cool air caressed her skin, laden with promises of a solitary and cold night, as the shadows of the mountains stretched, embracing the land in a dark cloak. She just wanted some time alone before the shared training with the rest of the Illyrians at dawn.

When Rhysand had informed her that the general would return to Ilyria from a mission that could have cost him his life, she asked him to ensure that everything was well with him and set off on her journey north to the Court. Y/N had been avoiding her mission partner since the last time they were together; she had successfully ignored him for quite some time. The wind blew from the mountains, trying to convince herself that she was only there out of obligation, to fulfill a promise, not because she missed him… or because she wanted to see him.

The sound of Cassian's wings resonated over the mountains, interrupting her moment, his powerful figure descending slowly with a grace that did not fit his imposing physique. He was supposed to return tomorrow at noon, but it seemed he had arrived early.

Y/N stood with her arms crossed, her gaze fixed on him, waiting for him to land on the training platform.

"I thought you would never return," Y/N murmured, her tone neutral, but the slight sparkle in her eyes betrayed the worry she was trying to hide. She tightened her arms across her chest, as if the simple act of maintaining distance would protect her from what she truly felt.

Cassian landed with imposing grace, his wings folding behind him. He approached her slowly, the arrogant smile curving his lips failing to conceal the exhaustion flickering in his eyes—a fatigue that echoed the weight he carried from his last mission. Yet even worn out, he couldn’t stop looking at her, his gaze intense and filled with unspoken questions.

"You know it’s not easy to kill me," he replied.

It was the first time they had exchanged words since that day, and the friction between them had grown. It wasn’t just the tension of a battlefield, but something deeper. The air around them felt thick. Y/N averted her gaze, pretending to observe the mountains, but she only needed a second to steady her breath. She knew the internal battle she was fighting was written in her eyes, and Cassian noticed.

He always did.

"Yes, well, even legends fall eventually," she replied, keeping her gaze fixed on the now-dark sky.

"Were you worried about me, Y/N?" Cassian asked as he took a step closer, his hazel eyes focusing on her.

Cassian's face showed hope, that spark that she might finally acknowledge what she had been trying so hard to hide. He could feel the anxiety coursing through her body every second, what he would give to have pulled her close as soon as he spotted her on the platform, waiting.

Waiting for him.

"No more than I would for any other soldier," she whispered while discreetly observing him.

"Sure. Because I'm just another soldier to you," he said with a laugh, a low, deep chuckle that vibrated in the air. It hurt him that she wouldn’t look at him, that she couldn’t see how much her words pained him, that she couldn’t see the power she had to destroy him if she wanted to.

Cassian always knew what to do to make Y/N lose her composure; he knew how to push her buttons. This time, when she heard his response, she could identify something more in his tone. Something she wasn’t ready to face.

It all started a year ago, on a crucial mission to stop a rebel group planning to attack Velaris. They were both assigned to the mission, and although they had always worked well together, this time was different. In the midst of the battle, as they tried to defend a nearby village, Y/N was gravely injured.

The world seemed to stop the moment he saw her fall, her figure collapsing like a leaf carried by the wind. A roar of fury erupted from deep within him at the sight of blood staining the ground around her. It wasn’t the first time he had seen someone injured in combat, but with Y/N, it was entirely different. Without a second thought, he lunged toward her, ignoring the danger, taking her to the safest place he could find, shielding her with his own body as arrows flew around them. He was willing to put his life on the line for hers.

"You can’t stay here!" Y/N had shouted, barely conscious, trying to stand despite the wound in her side. "You have to fight!"

"Shut up," Cassian had replied, pressing his hand against her wound to stop the bleeding. "I’m not going to let you die here."

Despite the urgency of the battle, something in that moment changed the dynamic between them. Y/N couldn’t stop looking at him while he held her, protecting her with everything he had. The fury in Cassian’s eyes wasn’t just for the fight. It was for her. The way he looked at her, as if she were the most important thing in the world, left her bewildered.

She had spent weeks recovering from her injuries, and Cassian had not left her side, caring for her with a dedication she hadn’t expected. It was during those days that something began to grow between them.

After her recovery, things had become tenser between them. During missions, the lingering glances, the accidental brushes, everything became a constant struggle to maintain control. They were both too proud, too reluctant to admit what was happening between them.

But what had really triggered the conflict was one particular night. After a long, exhausting expedition, when they were both worn out, Cassian had gotten too close. They had shared an intimate conversation, their barriers finally beginning to crumble. They had been drinking together, their bodies too close, and before they could stop, their lips met in a heated kiss, charged with everything they had been repressing.

But Y/N had stopped him. Just when things were getting more intense, she pushed him away, her breath ragged, and stepped back.

"We can’t do this, Cassian," she whispered, gasping.

"Why not?" he replied, looking at her, surprised and hurt.

"Because we can’t mix this with our work. I can’t afford to feel anything more for you. Not now." Her words had been harsh, but the truth was that she was scared. Cassian was too important, and the idea of losing him if something went wrong was unbearable.

She sighed, trying to relax and keep calm in the presence of the Illyrian.

"Why are you here, Cassian?" she finally asked, her voice softer than she had expected.

"I thought you might need to train after such a long time," he replied. "Though I should have asked, why are you here, Y/N?"

Training was just an excuse; the truth was that he had seen her from above as she tried to head to the cabin for the night. He could never confuse the silhouette of the woman who made his heart beat with more life. The moment they had shared weighed heavily on his shoulders. He had wondered if it was truly worth it, his mind replaying the sensation of their lips intertwined, how her fingers had tangled in his hair, how he had caressed her waist and the shiver she had given him.

Until she pushed him away.

Since that night, things had never been the same.

"You’re not in shape for that right now," he replied, evading her question, fiddling with one of the ribbons adorning his shirt.

"Why not? I’ve fought in worse conditions, darling," he reminded her.

She couldn’t help the shiver that coursed through her body at the endearing word, a nervousness that settled deep in her heart, warm and delightful. Only Cassian could have that effect on her. And it didn’t help that she now crossed her arms, mimicking his stance.

"You just got back, and you have a cut on your side," she acknowledged through clenched teeth, still not meeting his gaze, finding the tips of his shoes far more interesting.

Y/N had scanned Cassian’s body moments earlier, quickly assessing every scratch and bruise. It didn’t take long for her to realize that one of the wounds needed immediate attention.

“So, you were worried about me,” Cassian stated, his heart racing, knowing that even from a distance she could hear it.

“Only because Rhysand asked me to make sure you got here safely.”

Cassian stepped closer, closing the distance between them. He uncrossed his arms, his hands clenched into fists at his sides, restraining the urge to reach out and touch her fingers. She was so close, yet so far. And it was killing him, an agony he could barely endure.

“Are you sure?” he questioned, his gaze burning into her. “Look me in the eyes and tell me you don’t care,” he demanded, his voice rough, not sure how much longer he could contain the flood of emotions waiting to burst free. Deep down, he hoped this would be the moment.

The wind picked up, causing Y/N to close her eyes for a moment. She took a deep breath, allowing the cool air to clear her mind, though she knew she couldn’t escape for long. She knew his voice, his gaze, would betray her, revealing what she had been hiding so carefully—the reason she rarely let her guard down around him.

So, she turned toward the path leading to the cabin where they would spend the night, and he followed behind her.

“Y/N…” he stopped as she spoke.

“Don’t, Cassian. Don’t make things more complicated,” she growled.

“Complicated?” he repeated, quickening his pace to block her path. “Since when is feeling something complicated?” he asked, frustration lacing his words.

Her heart raced at his words.

"Always," she replied.

The Illyrian finally closed the distance between them, and she stopped abruptly, colliding with his chest in the process. He held her to keep her from falling.

The gentle touch of Cassian’s large hands on her hips sent an involuntary tremor through her body, a burning heat spreading from where he touched her, reaching deep within. The firmness and security of his grip made her realize that he was willing to do anything for her.

Y/N fixed her gaze on the steady look of the warrior. She knew she could no longer hide the truth. His hazel eyes were so beautiful, hypnotic; losing herself in them would always be an option for her.

He had admired Y/N from a distance, appreciating each of her features. He had been in love with her for some time now—her eyes, the shape of her lips, her laughter—all from afar. He would give anything for her to be his.

It had always been a push-and-pull, a game they both played far too well. If it went right, she would let her guard down for a moment, and Cassian would give her everything. Or they would start all over again.

"I can’t keep pretending I don’t care about what happens to you. And I know you can’t either," Cassian growled, fed up with the situation.

Y/N could feel the heat of his body, the scent of leather and metal that enveloped him. The weight of his words settled like a poisoned dagger piercing her heart. If this argument were a war, she was sure she would never win.

"It’s not that simple, Cassian," her voice barely a whisper.

"It is," he countered, leaning in to meet her eyes. "What’s not simple is pretending I don’t feel what I feel. I know you feel it too. Just say it, Y/N, and I’ll be yours," he pleaded.

She lowered her gaze, but he gently lifted her chin with a finger. He moved the hand that had rested on her hip, trailing it along her cheek, taking a loose strand of her hair that had escaped her braid. With all the tenderness in the world, with a gentleness that stripped her bare, he tucked the strand behind her pointed ear.

Instinctively, she closed her eyes, fighting against the torrent of emotions threatening to overflow—a battle to resist that soft caress despite the warrior's calloused fingers.

He was right. She had lost. She had fought to keep the walls up. But with Cassian… those walls were useless.

“It’s dangerous,” she finally murmured.

“When have I ever cared about danger, Y/N?” he said, smiling—a soft smile.

When she opened her eyes, she really looked at him. Cassian's gaze had softened. She would give anything for him to always look at her with that intensity, with the affection he was showing at that moment. She knew that, no matter how much she wanted to pull away, no matter how much she wanted to protect herself, there was no turning back.

“Don’t,” she warned, but it was already too late.

Cassian tilted his head, his lips brushing hers—just a light touch, almost a question, giving her one last chance to stop him. But she didn’t. Their lips met in a kiss full of repressed emotions, everything they had denied, everything they had left unsaid.

He held her, his wings spreading behind him like a shield, protecting her from everything else. In that moment, there was no war, no missions, no duty to fulfill. Just the two of them, surrounded by the night breeze, the stars shining brighter than ever, and the warmth of two bodies fitting together like pieces of a puzzle.

When they pulled apart, both were breathing heavily. The air around them seemed lighter, but the pounding of their hearts still echoed in their ears.

Y/N moved slightly away, resting her forehead against Cassian's. The silence that followed was as important as the words. There was no need to speak. For the first time in a long while, she allowed the silence to be her refuge.

"Now everything will be more complicated," she murmured against Cassian's lips, unable to suppress a slight smile.

"I like complicated," he said with a broad grin, his eyes shining with a warmth that made her heart race even faster.

She slowly unraveled her arms from around Cassian’s neck and held his hand. It was night, and in a couple of hours, they had to train the Illyrians.

"Where are we going?" he asked, curious, as she resumed the path toward the cabin.

"You need to shower, you smell bad andand that wound needs some attention," she said with a playful smile.

Cassian chuckled softly, and though the air between them was still charged, the sound of his laughter made Y/N's shoulders relax, just a little.

"Now you'll be my personal healer," he murmured.

"Maybe, if you're good."

He let go of her hand just to pull her against his chest, holding her gently by the waist as they walked together, their bodies brushing against each other, with him right behind her.

"I like that," he whispered in her ear. A shiver ran down Y/N's spine, settling warmly in her belly.

They arrived at the cabin, and it felt like death itself to part from each other. She headed to the small bathroom, where she grabbed a first aid kit filled with all the essentials.

The warlord had seated himself in one of the dining chairs, and when he heard her footsteps approaching, he gifted her a smile. She returned it.

Y/N placed the kit on the table, opened it, and took out the disinfectant to clean his wound. Cassian stripped off his upper leather gear, and she lost her breath at the sight of his broad shoulders, his chest adorned with dark tattoos that extended over his muscular arms and down to his defined abdomen. She did her best to keep her hands from trembling.

Cassian watched as she leaned in just enough to reach the cut on his left side, secretly enjoying the nervousness she tried to hide. Y/N carefully cleaned the area to ensure no dirt would come into contact with the injured skin when he showered, then applied a balm to help with the pain and speed up healing, finally covering it with a bandage. Luckily, the wound wasn't deep enough to require stitches—it would hold through the night until a healer in Velaris could check it again.

He didn't complain about the pain; he was used to it from countless battles since his youth. But the gentleness of Y/N as she tended to him was killing him. It was the first time anyone had treated him with such tenderness. Cassian felt her touch on his skin, watched the concentration on her face, each of her movements, wishing she could keep touching him forever.

"You’ll survive," she announced, meeting his gaze. "You should go shower; I’ll heat up some food."

Cassian didn’t argue and showered as quickly as he could to get back to her, careful not to disturb the bandage. On the table, there was some soup, stew, cheese, and bread. The warmth that filled his heart was priceless, but it had a name.

Seated at the table, they enjoyed the meal and each other's company in silence. She savored the peace of the moment, wishing it could last forever.

"Thank you," Cassian whispered, his voice filled with affection, "for... taking care of me, for the food."

"We should rest," she simply responded.

Y/N could still feel the tension in the air, even after the peaceful dinner. But Cassian wasn't going to let more time pass, not after that kiss. When she stood up from the chair, he gently grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his lap. She didn’t resist. Sitting with her thighs on either side of his hips, her chest pressed against his, their faces were just a breath away from kissing.

He couldn't help but imagine having her like this every day, every hour, every minute, for the rest of his life. To unite his soul with hers, becoming one.

"Forgive me, Cassian. I'm sorry for avoiding you all this time. You have no idea how much I’ve wanted to tell you how much you mean to me, and that there isn't a day that goes by when I don't think about how much it hurts to even consider losing you every time you leave. I'm scared that if I close my eyes one day, you won’t be there anymore," Y/N's broken voice interrupted his thoughts.

He wiped away a tear that had slipped down her cheek without her realizing. Cassian, with reverent care, making sure not to touch her bandage, caressed her as if his entire existence depended on that touch. He placed a hand on her neck, his fingers gently tracing her skin with infinite tenderness before pulling her into a slow kiss. A kiss that promised more than words, a kiss that would last an eternity, as if there was nothing else in the world he wanted more than to be with her forever.

He was the first to pull away, watching her tear-filled eyes, her cheeks flushed from silent crying.

"I would drag myself home," he murmured while kissing her right cheek, "even if I were on the verge of death, because it means that my home is with you." He kissed her left cheek. "I would come back to life if I had to, just so I wouldn’t make you cry," and he finished with his lips brushing hers. A promise of life, even if his body lay cold and alone on the ground, he would crawl back to her.

"I love you, Cassian," she confessed softly in his ear. "I would do anything; I would be willing to trade my life for yours."

Those words echoed through his body like adrenaline rushing through him before a battle. He had longed for Y/N’s heart to sing along to a symphony composed by both of them. He pulled her closer to him.

"I love you, my sweet Y/N," Cassian murmured, his voice rough and filled with an unbreakable truth as his fingers tangled in her hair. "Even if you would sacrifice your life for mine, my existence would mean nothing without you. You are the reason my heart beats and my soul remains alive."

She felt regret for having wasted time in doubt, but at the same time, it had led her to the arms of the man she loved.

Cassian kissed her neck, caressing her back up and down her spine, feeling the warmth radiating from her. He wanted the moment to last, to feel her on his body, to feel her heart beating in sync with his.

"We should rest, my love," he whispered gently.

"Yes, you must be tired," Y/N apologized as she pulled away from him.

He wiped away the remaining tears from her cheeks and kissed her nose, regardless of her state.

"I'm just saying I would love to sleep with you right now; the chair isn’t comfortable for resting," he murmured, his voice hoarse.

"You're right," she laughed, a watery laugh.

He scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the small room, gently placing her on the floor to allow her to prepare for a nap. There were only a few hours left until dawn. Cassian grabbed some extra blankets to ward off the cold that permeated the room, though he always felt wrapped in a warmth that no blanket could provide when he was with her.

He waited patiently lying on the bed. When she finished, he spread the blanket so she could lie down beside him, pulling her into his chest as she rested her head there. Together, wrapped in blankets, Y/N closed her eyes, feeling the steady heartbeat of Cassian beneath her head. The future remained uncertain—missions, war... but in that moment, with their bodies close. 

Two souls destined to be together, a kiss sealed with the promise of a tomorrow was enough.

*divider by @cafekitsune , thank you <33.

Tags: @wirdbeimaufhebengebunden

A/N: I rewrote this at least 4 times or maybe more, I felt like it wasn't perfect but now I'm satisfied with the result. I hope you like it, let me know what you think. Love you guys.

[makotafi]

Late nights

----

----

It was late at night when you heard the familiar creak of the door to your shop. The soft rustle of footsteps followed, accompanied by a sigh. You didn’t need to look up to know who it was.

Julian let out another heavy breath as he stepped into the dimly lit room, his silhouette barely visible in the soft glow of the candles iluminating the shop . He froze when he noticed you standing by the counter, arms crossed.

"O... oh? Darling, whaaaaat are you doing up this late?" Julian stammered, his voice carrying a mix of surprise and guilt. He averted his gaze, clearly flustered.

"I should be the one asking that," you replied, arching an eyebrow. "You're late, Julian."

"Darling, dear, I'm always late," he chuckled, trying to play it off as he hung his coat on the nearest hook.

"Julian..." you sighed deeply, the disappointment evident in your tone.

"Okay, okay," Julian admitted, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Maybe I’m later than usual, but only because we had so many people at the clinic tonight. It’s been.... hectic ya know ?."

You softened slightly but kept your stern gaze. "Julian, we’ve talked about this. You’re working yourself too hard!"

He looked at you, his usual mischievous glint now replaced with guilt "I know, dear, but it’s hard to say no when people need help."

You sight stepping closer, gently taking his hand in yours. "I’m not mad, Julian. I’m just worried about you. You can’t ...haah...you can't keep running yourself into the ground like this."

Julian seemed to melt at your touch, his tension easing as he intertwined his golved fingers with yours. "I’m sorry, love. I don’t mean to worry you. I just... I guess I don’t know how to stop."

"How about this," you suggested, squeezing his hand gently. "Take a break tomorrow. We can make it a date, just the two of us.Please?"

A tired but genuine smile spread across Julian’s face. "I... haha, you know I can’t say no to you. But can we go to bed now? I am positively exhausted."

"Only after you take a shower," you teased, scrunching your nose. "You stink, Julian."

"Aww, but I thought you liked me in all my stinky, grimy glory," Julian protested, dramatically draping himself over you.

"Julian!" you laughed, struggling to keep the both of you from tumbling over. "Go take a shower, damn it!"

"Fiiiine," he groaned after a moment, dragging out the word as he stood up. "But you’re coming with me."

"Wha-" before you could protest, Julian swiftly scooped you up into his arms, carrying you towards the small washroom at the back of the shop.

"Julian!" you squealed, half-laughing, half-protesting as he carried you effortlessly. "Put me down! You’re going to hurt yourself silly !"

"Not a chance," he grinned, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten as he carried you through the door. "Besides, I need someone to scrub my back."

He finally set you down inside the washroom, the sound of the water beginning to run as he prepared the shower. You couldn’t help but smile at the sight of him, so disheveled yet still managing to look like the most beautiful person in the world ,the way way his hair draps perfectlyover his face ,the way his shirt draps perfectly over his paper white skin .

"You’re impossible," you muttered fondly, watching as he began to strip off his grimy clothes.

"And you love me for it," Julian shot back with a wink.

---------------‐-----------

Idk how to write a shower scene lol but if yall want I can make a part 2 [after I research how to write a shower scene cus tehe <:3]

ALSO THIS I MY FIRST TIME WRITING READER X CHARACTER sooo criticism is welcome! >:3 [be nice or I'll cry jk jk ]

Also !!! Smol thanks to @wxnderdream and @blueblobbing for encouraging me to post this tehe 👉👈 [sending yall virtual kisses]

Oki I've rambled enough lol ama go sob in the corner for being cringe

[marsplastic13]

'Complicated' (part 12) - Kaz Brekker x Reader

Idea - Kaz Brekker hires a prostitute to overcome his touch aversion, and be a better man for Inej, but things take an unxepected turn. Pairing: Kaz Brekker x Prostitute!Reader, (had to use y/n because I'm bad at names) Genre: modern AU, slow burn word count: 7.4k notes: didn't realize how many things happen in this part until right now, take a long breath

@millercontracting @coldmermaidhologram @syd649 @luffysprincess @cryptidghostgirl @beekeepingageissome @hufflepuff-16

tw: panic attack, mention of past abusive relationships, mention of past abuse

The next few days were chaotic for Kaz. He was working around the clock on a crucial deal, frustration mounting as complications arose. The thought of kidnapping everyone involved and locking them in a room until they reached an agreement crossed his mind more than once. His phone buzzed constantly, mostly with messages from Inej, urging him to join her in some remote corner of the world. Meanwhile, Jesper was relentless in his demands for attention, insisting on planning their joint birthday party. If being best friends wasn’t enough, they even shared the same birthday.

In the midst of this whirlwind, a message from Y/n made him pause. She had sent him two pictures of herself in different swimsuits, asking, 'Can’t decide the color'.

Kaz took a moment to study the images, appreciating her form and the swimsuits that highlighted it. The first one, a sleek black number, hugged her curves in all the right places, exuding a sense of sophistication and allure. The second, a vibrant red, contrasted beautifully with her skin, giving her a playful yet seductive appearance. His eyes traced the lines of her body, lingering on the way the fabric accentuated her waist and the gentle curve of her hips. He could almost feel the texture of the swimsuits under his fingertips, the thought sending a shiver down his spine.

Without much thought, he transferred 800 kruge to her, labeling the transaction ‘Both.’

Almost immediately, she replied, ‘I don’t think you know swimsuit prices.’

Kaz smirked at her response, typing back, ‘Do you need more?’

‘It’s too much!’ she protested.

‘I’m sure you’ll find something else to buy,’  he replied, feeling a rare sense of lightness.

‘:)’ was her only answer, but it was enough to make him smile.

He leaned back in his chair, momentarily forgetting the pressures of the deal, Inej’s incessant texts, and Jesper’s party plans. The thought of Y/n in those swimsuits lingered in his mind, a welcome distraction from the chaos.

With a sigh, Kaz returned to his negotiations, determined to push through the obstacles. But the images of Y/n, and the playful banter that accompanied them, stayed with him, a reminder of the choices and feelings he needed to confront.

***

Finally, after days, the deal was closed, and Kaz could breathe. As the car started moving, he undid his tie, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. The pressure had been immense, and now he just wanted to share this victory with Y/n. He dialed her number, anticipation buzzing in his chest.

“We fucking did it, love, I’m free,” he announced, his voice filled with excitement.

“I’m so happy for you, baby,” she replied, but her voice was strained.

Kaz immediately picked up on it. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” she sighed. “Due to poor scheduling, I had two very… demanding clients one after the other, and I’m exhausted.”

Hearing her talk about her job always stirred a rush of jealousy in Kaz. He hated the thought of her with other men, even if it was just for work. He clenched his jaw, trying to push the feeling aside.

“I wanted to take you out for dinner,” he said, hoping to distract himself with the idea of spending a relaxing evening with her.

“Can we do tomorrow, baby? I can’t move,” she sounded genuinely worn out, and his heart softened.

“Sure,” he said, trying to hide his disappointment. “Come here?” she asked, her voice softening.

“Already on my way,” he replied without hesitation.

Y/n was wearing his underwear and a white crop top with ‘Virgin’ written on it. Her hair was up, and her eyes were half-closed, and Kaz thought she had never looked more beautiful. She got on her toes, linking her arms behind his neck to kiss him. “Hi,” she murmured against his lips, and he felt his knees ready to give in.

“I got you pizza. I think it’ll be here in 10 minutes,” she said, leading him to her room.

“Thank you, love. You didn’t have to,” Kaz replied.

Y/n shrugged, collapsing on her bed. Only in contrast with the white sheets he notice the bruises around her body. “What happened to you?” he asked, concerned.

“Very demanding clients, I told you.”

Kaz sighed, torn between wanting to know more and not wanting to know anything at all. “Y/n, did they hurt you?”

“Well, not intentionally. Don't worry, Kaz; it was really good,” she said, closing her eyes and resting her head on his lap.

His hands gently brushed against her bruises, trying to keep his thoughts in check. “Were you enjoying it?” The question came out harsher than he intended.

“Yes,” she said simply.

‘More than me?’ The words were on the tip of his tongue, ready to dangerously roll out, leading to really uncomfortable conversations. He sighed; they were both too tired for meaningless fights. Yes, he could get mad about her job, but then what? There was no point.

“Were you safe?” he decided to ask.

“Of course. I trust them. I don't do certain things with strangers or with new clients.”

Kaz hummed, stroking her hair. “Tell me about your deal, come on,” she encouraged him without opening her eyes.

He told her a summary of what had gone down in the past days, and she looked genuinely interested. They opened the pizza in bed, accompanied by a very expensive bottle of wine that surely deserved to be tasted on other occasions rather than with greasy pizza, on a bed, drinking directly from it.

“There's cheese on it. What are you going to eat?” he asked, shoving half a slice into his mouth.

“I'm just going to inhale deeply the smell and drink wine.”

"Y/n, cut the bullshit and eat," he said firmly, his concern for her health evident in his voice.

"Rude," she retorted, but he could hear the weariness in her tone.

He leaned forward slightly, meeting her tired gaze. "Y/n," he began softly, "I know you're tired. But you need to eat."

"I'm not hungry," she insisted, her voice quieter now, almost defeated.

Kaz pinched the bridge of his nose, frustration and worry mingling within him. "Don't make a scene, love," he murmured.

Y/n sighed, exhaustion and resignation crossing her features. "I won't eat that; it looks disgusting," she protested weakly, avoiding his gaze.

"Just get something from your fridge," Kaz suggested, trying to keep his tone gentle despite his growing concern.

He watched as Y/n finally relented, disappearing into the kitchen. When she returned with a banana, Kaz felt a wave of relief wash over him. "Happy?" she asked, her tired eyes meeting his.

"Very much," Kaz replied, smiling softly.

After finishing their meal, Kaz and Y/n settled back into bed, finding comfort in each other's presence. Y/n lay on her back with Kaz's chest as her pillow, both absorbed in watching an episode of House on her tablet. Kaz absentmindedly traced patterns on her body, his mind finally relaxing after the past long days.

Lost in his thoughts, Kaz slid one hand under Y/n's shirt, a gesture that had become familiar between them. But this time, unlike before, he felt her flinch, a subtle but unmistakable reaction that instantly brought him back to the present.

“Y/n, is everything okay?” he asked gently, withdrawing his hand immediately.

“I… I won’t be able to have sex tonight, or anything else,” she blurted out quickly, her words rushed and tinged with anxiety.

Kaz remained calm, his concern growing as he sensed her distress. “It’s fine, Y/n. I’m pretty tired too,” he reassured her, trying to keep his voice steady despite the unease stirring within him.

But Y/n's breathing quickened, each breath coming in shallow gasps as if she couldn't get enough air. Kaz's worry deepened. “Hey, what's going on?” he asked softly, reaching out to gently touch her arm.

“I’m sorry, I can try if you want, but I-” Her voice trembled with panic, her eyes darting away.

“Are you listening to me? I said it’s fine, love,” Kaz insisted, shifting slightly to try and meet her gaze. He could see the fear in her eyes, as if she had seen a ghost.

Y/n suddenly moved away from him, her eyes fixed on him but seemingly unfocused. She started repeating apologies frantically, tears streaming down her cheeks uncontrollably.

“Everything is fine, you’re with me,” Kaz tried to reassure her, his voice soft and soothing, though uncertain of how to handle the situation.

“I know what you want from me, and I can’t… I can’t-” Her words were choked with emotion, her distress palpable.

“I don’t want anything, Y/n,” Kaz said firmly but gently, reaching out to hold her hand. “Just try to breathe. You’re safe here.”

Her panic seemed to intensify, her breaths erratic and shallow. Kaz's heart sank, feeling utterly helpless as he watched her struggle.

“Y/n, you’re not breathing properly. What is going on?” he asked urgently, his concern deepening into a knot of worry in his chest.

Finally, she managed to focus on him again, her tear-streaked face etched with anguish. “I… I can’t do this,” she managed to say between sobs.

Kaz's mind raced, trying to piece together what could have triggered such a severe reaction. “It’s me, Y/n,” Kaz said softly, his voice unwavering despite the turmoil inside.

Tears continued to fall from her eyes as she struggled to regain control. “I am nothing for you,” she muttered, her wide eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape. “You just want me for sex and tonight I can’t-”

Kaz's heart raced as he watched Y/n struggle through the grips of her panic attack. Her words cut through the air with a sharpness that betrayed her fear, leaving Kaz feeling utterly helpless. He knew that touching her might worsen the situation, but he couldn't bear to see her in such distress.

“Y/n, you’re having a panic attack,” Kaz interjected gently, hoping to ground her in reality. His voice, usually steady, now quivered slightly with concern as he tried to reach for her hand again.

Her breathing remained erratic, each gasp tearing at Kaz's own nerves. “Don’t touch me. Please, let me go,” she pleaded, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Kaz withdrew his hand immediately, a pang of guilt and worry twisting in his chest. He felt a surge of anxiety rise within him, unsure of how best to support her through this overwhelming episode. The sight of her pain, both physical and emotional, weighed heavily on him.

“I won’t hurt you, Y/n,” Kaz reassured, his voice a whisper amidst her sobs. “You’ll be okay. Just breathe.”

Her panicked words continued to spill out, trapped in a loop of distress. “I can’t give it to you, I can’t- I'm so tired, please,” she repeated, her gaze unfocused and terrified.

Kaz's mind raced, desperately trying to understand what had triggered such a severe reaction. He knew Y/n's job was demanding and often brought emotional challenges, but this level of panic was new and alarming.

“I know I’m nothing for you, but please, I don’t want to-”

Before things could escalate further, Kaz made a quick decision. He needed help, someone who knew Y/n well. Without another word, he left the room swiftly, his footsteps echoing in the hallway as he sought out her roommates.

He found one of them in the living room, concern etched on her face as she saw Kaz's distressed expression. Without hesitation, he explained the situation, his voice urgent yet measured.

“It’s Y/n,” Kaz began, his voice catching slightly with worry. “She’s having a panic attack. I don’t know what to do.”

Y/n's roommate nodded understandingly, her face softening with empathy. “I’ll come with you,” she said firmly, leading Kaz back towards Y/n’s room.

Together, they entered the room where Y/n lay curled up on the bed, hugging her legs, her breathing still uneven. Kaz hovered anxiously in the doorway, feeling both relief and apprehension at having someone else there to help.

“Hey, sweetheart,” Y/n's roommate spoke softly, her voice a soothing balm in the tense atmosphere. “We’re here for you.” 

Kaz stood back, grateful to see Y/n in the care of someone she trusted. He was about to speak, but his words caught in his throat when Y/n's tear-streaked face turned towards her roommate. There was a mix of fear and relief flickering in her eyes.

“Please let me go,” Y/n's voice was weak and shaky. “I am not an object.”

Kaz felt shock ripple through him at her words. He hadn't expected this plea, hadn't realized the depth of her emotional turmoil. His heart skipped several beats, feeling guilt and concern pressing heavily on him. He stood frozen in the doorway, feeling helpless as he watched Y/n's tear-streaked face, her distress palpable.

“No, you’re not, baby,” her roommate's gentle voice broke through the tense air. “You’re home now, it’s safe. No one wants anything from you.”

Gradually, Y/n’s breathing began to steady, the intense panic subsiding as her roommate guided her through calming breaths. Kaz remained by the doorway, silently observing, his worry for Y/n still palpable. He felt like an intruder in this intimate moment of vulnerability.

“Are you coming back to us?” the roommate asked softly, and Y/n nodded faintly.

“Kaz is here, do you want him to stay?” Y/n turned towards him, her eyes searching and uncertain. She nodded again, and Kaz felt a mix of relief and trepidation at being allowed into her space during such a fragile moment.

“Can I leave you alone with him? I’ll be just outside,” the roommate offered, and Y/n nodded once more.

“Yes, yes, I’m coming out of it,” Y/n murmured weakly, her gaze still distant but slowly regaining focus.

Kaz stepped cautiously into the room, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He approached Y/n slowly, unsure of how to comfort her but wanting desperately to do something. He sat down gently beside her on the bed, keeping a respectful distance but close enough to offer support if needed.

He could see the embarrassment etched on her face, her cheeks flushed with shame. She avoided his gaze, her hands fidgeting nervously in her lap.

“Hey,” Kaz began gently, breaking the uneasy silence between them. “There’s no need to feel embarrassed. You don’t have to apologize for anything.”

Y/n let out a shaky breath, still not meeting his eyes. “I’m sorry, Kaz,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I didn’t mean to... I just lost control. It was such a stressful day.”

Kaz reached out tentatively, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Y/n, it’s okay. You don’t have to explain yourself. I’m just really worried about you.”

She finally looked up at him, tears still lingering in her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she repeated, her voice cracking with emotion, “My ex-boyfriend… he wasn’t the only abusive relationship I was in. I’m not used to people wanting to stay with me for more than sex.”

Kaz's heart sank even more, the weight of their complicated relationship pressing down on him like never before. He couldn't bear the thought of Y/n feeling used or undervalued, especially by him. The realization hit him hard, making him confront his own shortcomings.

Every promise he had made about leaving Inej, spoken in moments of vulnerability and passion, yet never followed through—each one now felt like a betrayal. He saw now how those empty assurances could have chipped away at her trust. Each time he had let Jesper's jokes about her job slide, dismissing them as harmless banter, he had unwittingly contributed to her feeling like she was only valued for her body.

The guilt was suffocating. He had been so caught up in his own struggles, his own fears, that he hadn't fully grasped the depth of hers. It wasn’t just about his complicated relationship with Inej or his clandestine meetings with Y/n. It was about seeing Y/n for who she truly was, beyond the surface, beyond the physical.

“Y/n, if I ever-”

“You didn’t, don’t worry.”

Kaz took a deep breath, steadying himself as he looked into her eyes. "I care about you. It's really important that you know that. For me, it's not just physical, Y/n."

"It would be so much easier if it was," she replied, her hand gently caressing his cheek. "Then you would hurt me, and I'd forget about you."

"I don't want this to end," he whispered back, his voice raw with emotion.

"Can we sleep now?" she asked, her voice small and tired.

"I just want to make sure you’re okay," Kaz insisted firmly, his concern unwavering. Y/n nodded slowly, her shoulders relaxing slightly under his touch.

“Are you sure nothing happened today?” Kaz pressed, his worry evident.

“Yeah, it was just heavy. I pushed too much, triggered old memories,” she admitted, her voice tinged with sadness.

“Are you sure they didn’t hurt you?” he asked again, his eyes searching hers for any signs of distress.

“Yes, Kaz, they were just both into violent stuff, and I screamed my lungs out all afternoon,” she explained.

Kaz frowned, puzzled. “Are you into it?” he asked, trying to understand.

“Sometimes,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Are you sure that you like sleeping with me?” He couldn’t hold it in any longer. “You’re used to all these weird things that I don’t know anything about.”

“Of course I like it, love,” Y/n finally smiled at him, her expression softening. “It’s totally different having sex with a client and doing it with—” she stopped, uncertainty written all over her face.

“With?” he encouraged her, pulling her into his arms, hoping to give her the reassurance she needed.

They stared at each other for a moment, the air thick with unspoken words. “With a friend,” she offered softly, her voice filled with sincerity.

Kaz nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Bet they don’t cuddle you after.”

She laughed, the sound like a balm to his worried heart. Tracing his jaw with her fingers, she continued, “You’d be surprised at how many of them just want simple things. Take all those men that take me on trips—they don’t have time to have an actual girlfriend, be there for her, build a family. So they just pay me to do it. Laugh at their jokes, praise them in front of their colleagues. They just want a wave of fake normalcy. And I like being a girlfriend for a week or two; it’s all I can handle.”

Kaz listened intently, his heart aching for the life she described. He realized how different their worlds were, yet how much he wanted to be a part of hers. "I get it," he said softly. "But with me, it doesn't have to be fake. You deserve more than just a week or two of normalcy."

Y/n looked at him, her eyes filled with hope and fear. "I don’t know if I can handle more," she confessed, her voice trembling slightly.

Kaz held her closer, his resolve strengthening. “Nothing to decide right now.”

“I'm too tired to remind you how stupid this is.”

“Then shut up and go to sleep.”

Kaz woke up to what must have been the twentieth message she received. “I swear, I’m going to break your phone,” he muttered. Y/n had been awake for some time already, and he was resting his head on her stomach. With every new message, she giggled, making his head move slightly.

“Sorry,” she said, her voice full of amusement.

“Who is writing you all these messages at fucking sunrise?” he asked, annoyed, without opening his eyes.

“First of all, it’s 9 a.m.,” she corrected him. “Second, it’s Mother’s Day.”

“And you have a lot of children or a lot of mothers?” Kaz’s sarcasm was evident, his annoyance clear.

“Neither of them, actually. I have a lot of clients,” Y/n replied, playfully.

Kaz made a disgusted face, raising his head to look at her. “Hey, gorgeous,” she said, tilting her head to look at him before getting her attention back to her phone, giggling again.

“They’re really wishing you a happy Mother’s Day? It’s gross,” Kaz said, his tone laced with incredulity.

“It’s kind of sweet that all the men who sucked my tits feel the duty to wish me a happy Mother’s Day. You have no idea of the tips they’re sending me.” Y/n turned her phone to let him see the pile of notifications—messages and money transfers, one after the other.

Kaz stared at the screen, a mixture of shock and jealousy coursing through him. “It’s still weird,” he grumbled, resting his head back on her stomach. “And annoying.”

Y/n laughed softly, running her fingers through his hair. “I know it’s strange, but it’s just part of the job. They feel a connection, even if it’s superficial.”

Kaz closed his eyes, trying to block out the steady stream of notifications. “I don’t like it,” he admitted, his voice muffled against her skin.

“I know,” she said softly, her tone comforting. “But you don’t have to worry about them. They’re just clients.”

Kaz’s grip on her tightened slightly, his fingers tracing small circles on her side. “Sometimes it’s hard to remember that,” he confessed.

Y/n put down her phone and cupped his face, making him look up at her. “You’re not just a client, Kaz. You’re my friend, and you mean a lot to me.”

He nodded, feeling a bit reassured. “Okay,” he said softly, leaning into her touch.

“Good,” she replied, leaning down to kiss his forehead. “Just go back to sleep.”

“Okay,” Kaz agreed, a small smile playing on his lips. “But if that phone goes off one more time…”

Y/n laughed, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “I’ll put it on mute, just for you.”

“Thank you,” he mumbled, closing his eyes again and settling back down, feeling a bit more at ease.

“Come on, Kaz, wake up. It’s already past 11. How much are you going to sleep?” Y/n asked, her voice carrying a blend of impatience and amusement.

“All day,” Kaz mumbled, burying his face deeper into her abdomen.

“Oh, you’re even drooling on me. Disgusting,” she said, shoving him away gently.

“Sorry,” he replied, sitting up and wiping his mouth, feeling slightly embarrassed.

“You know I have a life other than spending time with you, right?” she teased, getting up and disappearing into her wardrobe.

“I thought you spent your days waiting for my texts,” he retorted, a smirk playing on his lips.

“Yeah, you wish. I have lunch with a friend, then I have to throw paint to a monument to protest against climate change, throw tear gas at the police, and I start work at 5,” she listed off, pulling out clothes and holding them up for inspection.

“Please don’t get arrested,” Kaz said, his tone carrying both genuine concern and exasperation.

“I can’t, I have to work. Are you listening to me?” She picked out an outfit and turned to him. “Do you think this works for lunch and saving the world?”

“Sure,” he replied absently, not really paying attention to the clothes but rather watching her with a fondness he didn’t often show.

“Do you want to come to the protest?” she asked, her eyes sparkling.

“Absolutely not,” he laughed, shaking his head. “Climate change is not my problem.”

“What about your children? Or the children of your children?” she countered, raising an eyebrow at him.

He chuckled again, getting up and moving closer to her. He kissed her temple softly. “I’ll make sure not to have any.”

“Selfish,” she commented, rolling her eyes but smiling.

“What time are you off?” he asked, watching her as she finished getting dressed.

“Eight, I think,” she replied, checking her reflection in the mirror.

“Great, don’t make plans,” Kaz said, a hint of anticipation in his voice.

Y/n turned to him, a playful smirk on her lips. “Oh? What do you have in mind?”

“You’ll see,” he said cryptically, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

***

‘I’m outside,’ Kaz texted her at 8 sharp, and waited, leaning casually against his brand-new bike. A smirk played on his lips as he heard the sound of her footsteps descending the stairs.

When Y/n saw him, she stopped in her tracks, her mouth falling open. “What in the mid-life crisis is that?” she exclaimed.

Kaz’s smirk widened. He stood proudly next to his bike, a sleek, black Ducati with gleaming chrome accents and a matte finish. 

“Kaz, you’re too young to have a mid-life crisis, you know that?” she teased, shaking her head in disbelief.

“Do you like it?” he asked, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

Y/n circled the bike, taking in every detail. “Yeah, it’s so beautiful,” she said, admiration evident in her voice. “Oh, you even got the thing to hold your cane. I think we’re watching too much House, baby.”

Kaz made a crooked smile, appreciating her attention to detail. “Just an early birthday present from myself,” he shrugged nonchalantly, then offered her a helmet. “Want to go for a ride?”

Y/n looked at the helmet, then back at Kaz, her expression a mix of excitement and apprehension. “Yeah, but I’m fucking scared,” she laughed nervously. “Are you sure you can drive this thing?”

“Of course I can,” he assured her, his confidence unwavering. “Come on, trust me.”

She hesitated for a moment, then took the helmet from him, her fingers brushing against his. “Alright,” she said, taking a deep breath. “Let’s do this.”

Kaz helped her with the helmet, making sure it was secure before putting on his own. He mounted the bike with practiced ease and extended a hand to her. “Hop on,” he said, his voice steady and reassuring.

Y/n climbed onto the bike behind him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. She could feel the powerful engine rumbling beneath her, the vibrations sending a thrill through her entire body.

“Ready?” Kaz asked, glancing over his shoulder.

“Ready,” she replied, her voice steady despite the butterflies in her stomach.

With a rev of the engine, they took off, the wind whipping around them as they sped through the city streets. Y/n’s initial fear melted away, replaced by exhilaration as they wove through traffic and took on the open road. Kaz’s confidence and skill were evident in every turn, every acceleration.

They rode for what felt like hours, the world blurring around them, a sense of freedom and adventure filling the air. Finally, Kaz brought the bike to a stop at a scenic overlook, the city lights twinkling below them.

Y/n removed her helmet, her hair tousled and her cheeks flushed with excitement. “That was amazing,” she said breathlessly, her eyes shining.

Kaz smiled, his own heart pounding with exhilaration. “Told you it’d be fun,” he said, leaning in to kiss her softly.

She kissed him back, their surroundings fading away, leaving just the two of them in that perfect moment.

Kaz wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer as they both took in the breathtaking view. The city lights below twinkled like stars, casting a serene glow over their moment of quiet togetherness. 

“Will you come to our birthday dinner?” he asked, his voice soft but hopeful.

Y/n glanced at him, then away, her gaze settling somewhere distant. “It would be weird, Kaz,” she said softly, her tone tinged with uncertainty.

“Why?” he pressed gently, not wanting to let the idea go just yet.

“Well, Jesper doesn’t like me, and it’s his birthday too. All of your friends will be there… I just don’t fit in the picture,” she explained, her voice carrying a trace of sadness.

“We’re friends, and it’s not true that he doesn’t like you,” Kaz tried, though even he knew his argument was weak.

Y/n raised an eyebrow, skepticism evident in her eyes. “Come on, Kaz. You’ve heard the way he talks about me.”

Kaz sighed, knowing there was some truth to her words. “Jesper can be... opinionated. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t like you.”

“He thinks I’m a distraction, that I’m not good enough for you,” she insisted, her voice tinged with frustration.

“Jesper has his own issues,” Kaz said, trying to placate her. “He doesn’t always understand other people’s choices. But that doesn’t mean he dislikes you.”

“Yeah, but I don’t know anyone apart from you and Jesper. It would be weird,” she insisted, the hesitation clear in her eyes.

“I won’t leave your side,” Kaz promised, his grip tightening slightly, a subtle plea in his words.

“It would be even weirder. You’re still in a relationship, Kaz,” she reminded him gently but firmly.

He sighed, frustration mingling with resignation. “Me and Inej haven’t talked in days,” he said dryly, a hint of bitterness in his tone.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. Come on, you know it too. They would start asking questions we don’t know how to answer, and it would be embarrassing. They’ll make me feel like shit,” her voice became smaller, a hint of sadness creeping in.

Kaz felt a pang of guilt and frustration. He didn’t want her to feel like an outsider, but he couldn’t deny the truth in her words. The complexities of their situation, the secrecy, the unspoken feelings—all of it created a tangled web that made simple things complicated. But he really wanted her to be with him on his birthday, to share that day with her.

Kaz pulled her closer, resting his forehead against hers. “I wish things were different,” he whispered, the words heavy with unspoken emotions.

“Do you really?” she replied softly, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “Admit it, love. The lies, the sneaking out, the secrets—you’re enjoying it.”

Her words struck a chord within him. He opened his mouth to protest, but a wry smile crept onto his face. She knew him too well. The thrill of their clandestine meetings, the adrenaline rush of stolen moments—it was intoxicating, and he couldn’t deny it.

“Okay, you caught me,” he admitted with a chuckle. “There’s something about it that makes everything more intense. But it’s not just that.”

She tilted her head, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on his chest. “I know. I feel it too. It’s exciting, and I like that it’s not serious. It takes the pressure off.”

Kaz felt a pang of frustration. “At least think about the party,” he urged, trying to keep his tone calm and persuasive.

“Kaz, your birthday party with all of your friends is a girlfriend-kind-of-thing, not a whatever-we-are-doing thing,” she replied, shaking her head. “If you broke up, I might have considered it, but come on, it’s too much even for me. And one time I babysat the kids of the married man I was hooking up with.”

He winced at her bluntness, but he couldn’t deny the truth in her words. “I know it’s complicated,” he admitted, his voice softer. “But I want you there with me. It would mean a lot.”

She sighed, her expression softening a bit. “I get that, Kaz. But I’m not ready to be paraded around in front of your friends, pretending everything is fine. Especially not when things between us are so... undefined. What are you going to say? Who am I?”

Kaz hesitated, searching for the right words. “You’re someone I care about deeply. Someone who means a lot to me. Isn’t that enough?”

Y/n shook her head, her eyes filled with doubt. “It’s not that simple. Your friends will want details. They’ll want to know who I am and why I’m there. I don’t want to be put on the spot, and I don’t want to be judged.”

“I’ll handle it,” Kaz promised, his voice firm.

“Baby, please, it doesn’t make any sense. You know it, I know it, just let go,” Y/n pleaded, her tone gentle but resolute.

He sighed, a mixture of frustration and disappointment evident in his expression, “Fine.”

***

The day before his birthday, Kaz waited outside Y/n's apartment, glancing at his watch every few minutes. There was no sign of her car, and she was already pretty late. After a while, her familiar Mini turned the corner, and she parked almost straight, skidding slightly to a halt.

As soon as she got out of the car, Y/n started apologizing profusely. “I’m so sorry for being late, Kaz.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Is that a tennis racket?” he asked, puzzled.

“Oh, yeah. I’m seeing this guy who thinks tennis lessons count as dates. I'm pretty good too,” she replied nonchalantly, though she was still catching her breath.

“You’re pretty late,” he noted, trying to keep his tone light but failing to hide his annoyance.

“I know, baby. I’m sorry,” she said, taking his hand and leading him towards her flat. Once in her room, she started rummaging through her wardrobe, pulling out various outfits to find the perfect one for dinner. “I’ll be super quick, I swear.”

Kaz smiled as he reached into his jacket and pulled out four concert tickets, holding them up proudly. “Look what I found.”

Y/n’s eyes widened in delight. “Oh, saints, you found them? I’m going to kiss you!” she exclaimed, rushing over to him. She cupped his face, planting kisses all around it. “You’re amazing,” she kissed his cheek. “Thank you,” another kiss. “Fantastic,” she kissed his forehead. “I love you,” she kissed his lips.

Y/n turned to leave, Kaz gripped her wrist, pulling her back gently but firmly. “What did you just say?” he asked, his voice betraying curiosity and surprise.

The girl froze, slowly turning around, her eyes wide and her lower lip caught between her teeth. “What?” she asked, her voice unnaturally high.

“Care to say that again?” Kaz’s tone was gentle, but there was a serious undertone that made her heart race.

“Uh, thank you for the tickets?” she tried weakly, her eyes darting around the room, avoiding his intense gaze.

“Y/n,” Kaz repeated, his tone firmer, drawing her attention back to him. His eyes searched hers, filled with a mix of curiosity and determination.

She bit her lip, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. “Oh, you know what? I was lying, 100%. Can't stand you,” she said, the words coming out in a rush. “Can I go have a shower? We're late,” she added, turning to leave again.

Kaz tightened his grip on her wrist, not letting her escape so easily. “Y/n, stop,” he said softly but insistently.

She sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat. “Kaz, please. Can we just drop it? It was a slip of the tongue. I didn't mean to say it.”

“But you did say it,” he countered, his eyes never leaving hers. “And I need to know if you meant it.”

She looked at him with wide eyes, clearly conflicted. The usually confident Y/n was visibly shaken, and for the first time since he had known her, Kaz saw her properly blush. “No, not as you think,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “It was just a slip up.”

Kaz let go of her arm, still in shock. He watched as she hurriedly gathered her things, her movements quick and deliberate. Y/n really did get ready in record time, disappearing into the bathroom and emerging not much later with her usual confident demeanor restored. It was as if the vulnerable moment had never happened, and Kaz knew better than to push her with uncomfortable questions.

Hours later, the conversation was just a blur in the back of Kaz's foggy mind. “Stay on your knees, lift my hips,” Y/n instructed, arching her back in satisfaction. “Fuck, how can this feel even better?” he said, following her guidance. 

Y/n extended one of her legs to rest it on his shoulder. He barely registered the shift, too focused on the overwhelming sensations coursing through him. “Come closer, love,” she said between moans. Kaz immediately leaned in, marveling at her flexibility when her knee and shoulder almost touched under his weight. “Pilates is paying off, right?” she teased, noticing his amazed expression.

“Fuck, Y/n, please be mine,” he groaned, desperation lacing his voice.

“Yeah? I—” her smart reply died in her throat as his tongue began playing with her nipple. 

“I want to be with you, every day,” he murmured against her skin.

“Every day?” she echoed, her voice trembling with pleasure.

“Every damn day, Y/n. Please, let’s try it.”

“Why do you become so needy during sex?” she asked, her breath hitching as he continued.

“Because you deserve all of it. Move in with me,” he said, assaulting her neck with kisses, his pace never faltering.

“Sure, baby, whatever you want,” she replied, her voice heavy with lust and affection.

“I want everyone to know you're mine.”

“Am I?” she challenged, a playful glint in her eyes.

“Yes.”

“Did I agree on that?”

“Since you can't make a decision, I'll take one for you,” he said with a possessive growl, his hands gripping her tighter.

Y/n smiled between quick breaths, cupping his face and kissing him deeply. “Then what?” she teased.

“Then you'll leave your job and spend the days throwing my money away,” he said, his voice low and intense.

“I don't know if it feels better what you do or what you say,” she admitted, her body arching into his touch. “Harder, love. Don't be scared, I won't break.”

Kaz obliged, increasing his intensity, his mind and body completely consumed by her. Every touch, every word, every shared breath solidified his desire to make her his in every way possible. He moved with purpose, his grip tightening on her hips as he thrust deeper, his eyes locked onto hers, drinking in every expression of pleasure that crossed her face.

“More, love, please, don’t stop talking,” she pleaded, her voice a mixture of desperation and ecstasy.

“You're everything to me, Y/n,” he murmured, his words punctuated by the rhythm of their movements. “I need you, every day, every night. I want to wake up next to you, fall asleep holding you.”

Her hands clutched at his back, nails digging into his skin as she pulled him closer, urging him to go harder, faster. “Yes, baby, just like that,” she moaned, her head falling back against the pillow, lost in the sensations he was giving her.

“You’re mine,” he growled, his voice rough with emotion. 

She responded with a cry of pleasure, her body trembling beneath him. Her voice hitched as a wave of ecstasy washed over her, her muscles tensing and then releasing in a shuddering climax.

He watched her, mesmerized by the sight of her unraveling beneath him, and it pushed him over the edge. With a final, deep thrust, he followed her into bliss, his own release crashing through him with an intensity that left him breathless.

For a few moments, they lay tangled together, their breaths mingling as they came down from the high. Kaz’s hands caressed her skin, his touch gentle and reverent. His mind was a mix of intricate thoughts, emotions swirling within him like a storm.

“Y/n, I—” he began, his voice tinged with vulnerability.

“Don’t,” she cut him off harshly, her tone sharp enough to slice through the intimacy of the moment.

Kaz sighed, looking at her. Her hair was a wild mess on the pillow, a halo of disarray framing her face. Her neck bore a small constellation of his bites, each mark a testament to their passion. It was really difficult to concentrate on rational thoughts when she looked so utterly captivating.

“But—” he tried again, the words slipping out before he could stop them.

“I’ll run away if you say it,” she warned, her eyes flashing with fear and determination.

Kaz paused, his heart pounding in his chest. He could see the conflict in her eyes, the war between her desire to stay close and her instinct to push him away. He knew this was a delicate moment, one that required careful handling.

“Alright,” he conceded softly, his hand tracing a soothing path along her arm. “Would you? Move in with me?”

Y/n sighed, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. “Why do you want to rush things?”

“We could be roommates,” he laughed, trying to lighten the mood. “I promise I’m not that messy.”

“Yeah, sure, let’s complicate things a bit more,” she replied, a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

“That’s the spirit, love,” he said, grinning at her.

She rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the small smile tugging at her lips. “I won’t leave my job, Kaz. You know that, right?”

“I’ll keep checking,” he replied, his tone serious despite the playful banter. He wanted her to know that he was committed to supporting her, no matter what.

Y/n hummed softly, resting her head on his chest. “I can’t stop thinking about all the fun things I’m going to teach you. I’ll make you my perfect toy boy.”

Kaz chuckled, running his fingers through her hair. “Toy boy? I’m older than you, you know.”

“Shut up,” she retorted, smacking his chest lightly. “Age doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’ll learn.”

“Learn what, exactly?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Oh, so many things,” she purred, her voice taking on a teasing edge. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”

Kaz felt a rush of excitement at her words. Despite the complexities of their relationship, the idea of exploring new experiences together was undeniably appealing. “I’m looking forward to it,” he admitted, his voice low and sincere.

“I am crazy for how talkative you become once you start to get loose,” she said, tracing patterns on his chest with her finger.

Kaz laughed softly, the sound rumbling in his chest. “I suppose you bring that out in me.”

“Good to know,” she replied with a playful grin, leaning up to press a kiss against his chin.

He captured her lips in a gentle kiss, savoring the taste of her. 

***

Kaz waited anxiously through the entire birthday dinner, hoping that Y/n would change her mind and show up. Even that morning, she had assured him she didn’t, but still, he held onto a flicker of hope. Throughout the evening, everyone kept asking about Inej, and Kaz did his best to dodge the questions. Their texts had grown increasingly sparse, and she had only called briefly to wish him a happy birthday while Y/n was still asleep next to him.

After dinner, the plan was to meet at the Crow Club. Naturally, the birthday boys went together, and that year it was Kaz’s turn to stay somewhat sober and drive. They were halfway there when Y/n called him. Kaz answered from the car, his heart skipping a beat. “Y/n, you’re on speaker. Jesper’s here.” He really hoped that she had changed her mind and was ready to join the rest of the party.

But her voice trembled, sending a chill down his spine. “Aleksander, where are you taking me?”

Kaz and Jesper exchanged puzzled looks. “Relax, doll, it’s just a drive,” the unfamiliar voice replied.

“You kidnapped me, you’re pointing a gun at me and driving like a madman. I tend to worry in these situations,” Y/n’s voice quivered with fear.

Kaz’s blood ran cold. He exchanged a worried glance with Jesper, who was now just as tense.

“You know I would never hurt you, doll,” Aleksander said with a sinister calm.

“I’m pretty sure you already broke two of my ribs,” she shot back, the fear barely masked by her sarcasm.

Kaz and Jesper paled at the sound of a sinister laugh on the other end of the line. “I did it for you, so maybe you’ll stop being a stupid slut.”

“Where are we going?” Y/n asked, her voice a mixture of fear and defiance.

“To our place, of course.”

“Maybe I need a reminder. You know, I have so many boyfriends to keep track of,” she said, trying to buy time.

“You know where,” Aleksander responded ominously.

“Alex,-” her voice cut off sharply.

“Are you on the phone with someone? You fucking whore,” Aleksander snarled.

They heard the noise of a commotion, then Y/n’s piercing scream, “It’s at the old lighthouse, Kaz, please help me!”

The phone call ended abruptly, leaving a deafening silence in the car. 

[duc-kie]

so... if you want some F1 requests I had this stupid idea for Lando where his ex girlfriend is watching the race and he gets podium. they maybe are still in love and she congratulates him? (sorry for any misspelling, I'm portuguese)

I can’t tell if I like this or think it’s awfully cringe. either way i’ve had fun writing this and it did take a while but it’s still a good start into getting to write as much as I did again.

thank you dearly for the request and I hope you enjoy reading this <3

———————————————————————

you and Lando broke up a few months ago but you promised him you’d be at his home race and no matter how much you still missed him and it hurt you everyday you weren’t going to break the promise.

you were on the plane with a friend that decided to come with you. she was sleeping but you couldn’t. you were an hour away from landing and the race was tomorrow and even thinking about Lando made you wonder if you’ve made the right choice to attend the race.

you were watching a film, trying to calm your nerves and it did help a little but the feeling in your stomach was beginning to get overwhelming.

finally the plane landed and you woke your friend up.

when you two got to your hotel rooms you said goodnight to each and you unpacked your suitcase before throwing yourself on your bed and letting out a loud sigh.

you had a hard time falling asleep but you eventually did.

—

it was the next day and you woke up exhausted. you put on your dress and did your makeup.

your friend was already ready and waiting for you at the door. you stepped out of the bathroom and smiled at her. “you look amazing!” she said excitedly. “so do you” you said back giving her a little giggle. “are you still nervous because of Lando?” she asked and your face immediately dropped at the mention of his name. “yeah I’m scared to see him.” you answered, flashing her a sad smile. “you’ll be okay don’t worry I’ll be with you all the time” she encouraged you.

when you told your friend you were going to attend your ex’s race she wasn’t at all pleased with your decision. she held you when you were sobbing because of your breakup and she knew you still loved him. she tried to change your mind but when she figured you weren’t backing out any time soon she gave up. she decided that the least she can do is go with you. and you were of course happy to have her with you.

when you arrived at the track she held your hand and you walked in. you could feel a lot of eyes on you but that wasn’t even near the scariest thing on your mind at the moment.

—

the race has begun and you watched the cars zoom past you. the race was intense and it almost made you forget about Lando.

soon the finish line was crossed by the first few drivers and Lando managed to get p2. you were impressed and happy for him. you knew how much this meant to him.

you watched him go hug his team and his dad. the smile and the overly happy eyes on his face got your heart to melt.

you weren’t sure if Lando knew you were there or even if he wanted you to be but you decided you were still going to leave your thoughts behind and go congratulate him.

“what an amazing race” your friend told you with excitement in her eyes. “yeah, it was really intense” you replied. “well I need a drink. are you coming with?” she asked. “I’ll join you later I need to do something first” you answered and she nodded before leaving.

you let out a heavy breath and started walking towards the mclaren garage.

when you got to the garage you were met with a bunch of happy, surprised and confused faces, which you were expecting. you smiled at the team and asked if they could tell you where the driver you were looking for is.

sadly none of the people there could tell you his exact location. you said thank you and walked out. you weren’t going to give up just yet.

you decided to take a walk around the paddock.

—

quite some time has passed and you still haven’t found Lando. you got a notification on your phone and it was your friend asking if you were okay and if you were coming any time soon. you answered that you’re fine but that you don’t feel like clubbing so you’ll just walk back to your hotel and you started walking towards the exit with a disappointed frown imprinted on your face.

you were looking for some chapstick in your bag when you suddenly bumped into some. you immediately started apologising but when you looked at the person you bumped into you saw the very familiar face of your ex boyfriend.

“y/n?” he said with wide eyes and a shocked expression. “oh my god, Lando, I’m so sorry.” you said. “i’ve been looking for you for forever. I just wanted to say congratulations on p2.” you said with a visibly nervous expression.

Lando was just looking into your eyes for what felt like hours but it was probably a few seconds. your stomach started twisting and your nerves were killing you. you were about to walk off feeling completely rejected and mad at yourself for even thinking this was a good idea.

but suddenly his lips curled into a smile. “I’m really happy to see you.” he said and you felt a tsunami of relief wash through your body.

“well I promised you I’d be here didn’t I?” you said smiling up at him. “I didn’t think you’d still remember. I’m quite impressed.” he said and you both laughed.

“are you leaving already?” he asked and you lightly sighed. “I was supposed to meet with my friend but I honestly don’t feel like drinking or partying.” you said with a lopsided smile. “you’re welcome to join me for a coffee or perhaps even some dinner if you’d like?” he offered and you nodded. “I’d like that.” you answered.

[fatswaps]

PLUMBER BODY SWAP

Minh was what many woukd refer to as, the perfect guy. He was smart, as shown by his exceptionally high grades. He had the looks of a supermodel, always the subject of awe for every girl and even some of the guys on campus. And, perhaps most important to the unfortunate events that would unfold, He was just a few months into his 18th age. The young man had everything he could ever ask for, and with such great traits, came perhaps the only aspect of Minh most couldn't stand- his disrespectful attitude. Minh really didn't shy away from treating those he seemed as unattractive in comparison to himself with the same resoect he'd show to an insect. But his pretty looks and large circle of acquaintances were enough to keep him surrounded by friends.

Though Minh would have his comeuppance one faithful night at a dorm party. The boys Minh was friends with were doing their usual activities such as drinking, making an overall mess and damaging dorm property. Markably, that night- it was the dormroom toilet which had been broken by the rowdy college boys. One of the pipes had been broken apart by one of the boys hitting it with a golf club in a not-so hilarious prank.

After the boys setttled down a bit, they soon realized they'd be forced to call the college plumber, an older guy called Steve. It was common for students to make fun of Steve for his big gut and in their eyes, "lowly" job of fixing their shitters. Once called over, the boys snickered and pushed one another to talk to the exhausted old guy at which point, Minh heroicly stepped forward and said "Hey... so, our pipes got broken. Guess you didn't do a very good job last time" he smirked, which Steve could only reply with an irritated sigh "You'll have to wait for tomorrow for me to fix it" he made his stance and was about to leave when the irritated younger man scoffed "What? Going home to eat some slob piggy?" He insulted the poor man, which was when he stopped in his tracks. "You know what, show me the way."

Smirking victoriously, Minh lead Steve to the bathroom but the moment he stepped inside- he blacked out and time itself seemed to become hard to decipher from space.

When he came to, Minh saw a familiar sight sitting on the stairway he'd led the fat plumber up to reach the bathroom where he heard his own voice say "Yeah, thanks for the job bro. Now piss off, this party is for young people". He didn't understand what was happening until he was pushed out the door- by himself!

Minh was confused as he fell to the floor outside his door room in the corridor. Taking a moment to recall what had happened- he soon realized everything got weird after he went into the bathroom with the plumber guy... speaking of, where was he?

It was at that moment Sing caught a reflection of himself in the mirror at the end of the hallway... that was not his body, that was NOT his pretty young face. That was the face of the 87 year old plumber he made fun of on a daily basis!

Having freaked out would be an understatement as the freshman-turned-old man screamed in pure fear and shock at the changes to his body. It was at this moment when he recieved a text... pulling his phone out of his now much tighter jeans' pockets- Minh read the texts in pur horror

"You probably noticed by now that I took your body kid. Well, tough shit. I was tired of being the fat plumber everyone shits on, now its your turn. Enjoy my 87 year old body, cause I'm gonna enjoy yours"

He saw a text being uploaded right after

"Oh and, don't even try to tell anyone what happened. I took some pictures of 'you' doing some pretty messed up shit to my poor college boy body and they could make you lose your job in less than a day, if not go to jail. Heh, good luck dickhead".

It had been around 6 months after the swap, and Minh had to adjust to his new life whether he liked it or not. The new Minh had already blocked his number and would give him the most humiliating smirk whenever the two saw eachother.

What took the most to get used to however was the disadvantages of obesity and old age. The old man suffered a great deal trying to get from anywhere to anywhere else. Even the most mundane tasks had him gasping for air due to years of smoking.

Showering was still so humiliating, seeing the fat rolls, his fatpad, the hairy body and ridiculously large moobs and belly. His balding head and old man beard- they all felt so wrong. Minh cried for quite a long time until his shower sessions turned into silent moments of pure shame

Another aspect of his body Minh could never come to terms with was his ridiculously small, constantly soft penis. With the horniness of an 18 year old freshman snuffed out, replaced by the body of a 87 year old man- Minh longed for his old vitality.... something he would never have again.

It was about 5 years into the swap when Minh's suffering came to an end due to a sudden heart attack due to his morbid obesity. The news spread around campus, and Steve- now fully in Minh's shoes, seemed quite unsympathetic, his statement about the old guy being "The fat fuck deserved it."

[krisdreaming]

One Week

Pairing: Kuroo Tetsuro x f!reader

Summary: You and Kuroo decide to spend the week leading up to your wedding sleeping apart. After all, it will make your wedding night feel that much more special, right?

WC: 2.2k

A/N: Hopefully the text message format I used makes sense 😬 This is 100% inspired by an episode of How I Met Your Mother in which Marshall and Lily do this exact thing. Tbh it's my comfort show and this is like my 5th time watching it, and when the episode came around, the fic idea hit me like a truck. ALSO there is a small reference to one of my old past fics in here, and if you get it you're a real one.

By the time you get to your best friend and maid of honor's apartment, it's late. The whole day had been spent putting together all of the favors and décor for your wedding, now only one week away. You're so exhausted you feel like you could fall asleep on your feet right here in the entryway, but she pulls you the rest of the way inside, wrestling your bag through the door after you.

"Geez!" She huffs. "Why's this so heavy? You didn't pack Tetsurou in here, did you?"

You roll your eyes. "A week is a long time! I had to pack a lot of stuff. Besides, bringing him would kind of defeat the purpose, wouldn't it?" You raise an eyebrow. This had initially been your idea, after all. You thought that spending the week before your wedding away from each other would make the night of your wedding that much more special. Since you already live together, you figured some time apart would probably do you good, anyway.

"I suppose it would," She agrees, "But I know how you two are." You narrow your eyes at her, but before you can respond, she's already tugging you toward the living room.

"I've got the sofa bed all ready for you," She announces with a proud flourish, and you feel almost like you could collapse just at the sight of it. It's full of fluffy blankets and two giant pillows, and she's even generously loaned you one of her plushies.

"It looks like heaven," You groan, stifling a yawn. "I'm wiped."

"So am I," She agrees, fighting back a yawn of her own. "Guess we'll have to save the sleepover girl talk for tomorrow night," She shrugs. "It'll be just like middle school all over again!" She loops her arm through yours, and you can't help but giggle at the thought. The two of you sure did share some wild sleepovers back in the day. "Alright," She finally says, "I'll see you in the morning."

When you're finally ready for bed, you crawl under the covers happily. You snuggle into the pillows as you cocoon into the blankets, trying not to think about how strange it is to be lying in bed all alone for once. There's no warm body wrapped around yours, and not even your cat to curl up against you. "Guess it's you and me, Mr. Unicorn," You murmur as you tug the plush into your arms, giving in easily to the exhaustion pulling on you.

The next day is busy enough at work. You're only working for the first two days this week, having taken the rest of the week off to focus on the wedding prep. Between tying up all of your loose ends at work and the mental to-do list you keep adding tasks to, the day passes with very little thought of Tetsurou. It's not until you're laying in your sofa bed that night after a movie and snacks that it starts to hit you.

You hug the unicorn plush close again, but you're very aware of the absence of your fiancé. You're so used to his arms around you at night, his nose pressed into the nape of your neck.

Maybe it's silly, but with all of the stress starting to weigh down on you, you find yourself missing the comfort of his presence much more than you'd anticipated. With a sigh, you roll onto your back and reach for your phone. Your thumbs only hover for a moment before you hit send.

I miss you

It isn't long before your screen lights up with a reply.

You literally saw me yesterday you weirdo

Is it bad that even that teasing sentence brings you some sort of strange comfort? You're just about to type a reply when another message comes through.

Which is why it's so ridiculous that I miss you too

You can't help the smile that steals across your face at that. For some reason, the knowledge that he's feeling the same things you're feeling lessens the ache a bit.

It's dumb

You feel confident in saying it, now that you have this thread of connection with him.

You said it, not me

Comes his cheeky reply, quickly followed with,

Mittens won't leave me alone. I think he thinks I murdered you and disposed of the body.

You almost chuckle aloud at that.

Poor guy, he misses me too 🥺 and honestly, his fears are valid

You curl up on your side, holding your phone close.

Uncalled for

And then

I'm about to fall sleep, so I'd better go. I'll see you later this week

You try your best to ignore the disappointment sinking in your gut.

Me too. Goodnight, I love you

His reply comes almost immediately.

I love you too. Night

It's enough to satiate you, anyway. On Friday, only four days away, you'll see him for the rehearsal. That's not really so far away. As you lay there clutching your phone, you can feel your eyes growing heavier.

The next day is just as crazy, as you give your coworkers instructions for your absence and make sure all of your projects have been submitted. After work, you go straight to dinner with your bridesmaids, and the whole evening is spent talking and laughing together.

By the time you make it back to the apartment, you should be so exhausted that you all asleep immediately. You definitely feel it, but from the moment you lay down, the hollow feeling slowly returns to your middle. You hesitate when the thought first occurs to you, but it seems reasonable enough. You'll feel better if you can just hear his voice for a few moments.

"Hey Baby," He answers after two rings.

"Did I wake you up?" You blurt out quickly, instantly feeling guilty and wishing you had just tried to fall asleep.

"Nah," He assures you, "What's wrong?"

"N-nothing's wrong," You sputter. "I just-"

"Missed me?" He finishes for you, and the teasing lilt in his voice is almost enough to make you hang upon him on the spot.

"Maybe," You respond petulantly instead, and he laughs. The sound of it, even through the phone, is enough to set you more at ease.

"Who knew you were so clingy," He muses. "Just can't get enough of me, huh?"

"Maybe I'll just hang up," You huff.

"Wait," He says a little too quickly, and you smile to yourself. Gotcha. "Mittens wants to say hi, too. You can let him know you're not dead." Suddenly, the phone line is filled with the rumble of your cat's purr.

"Hi baby boy," You croon into the phone, "Dad isn't being nasty to you, is he?"

"You're on speaker," Tetsurou warns as Mittens lets out a small meow, and you laugh. "Plus I'm not his dad," he reminds you as he always does.

"Sure, whatever you want to tell yourself," You laugh again. You're feeling so much lighter, in a good way. As your laughter dies down, you try to hold in a yawn.

"Sounds like you're ready to fall asleep. I know you've got to get up early tomorrow to meet the florist."

"Hm, yeah." You acknowledge begrudgingly.

"It'll be here before you know it," He says softly.

"I know." You hold the phone to your ear for a few moments in silence. "I can't wait."

"Me neither. I love you so much." You can tell he's getting tired because he's getting sappier.

"I love you too, Tetsu."

"Say it again," He says it so low that you almost don't catch it.

"I love you," You repeat. "Good night, Tetsu."

"Good night," He echoes. "Love you, Baby." Even after the line goes dead, you can still feel the smile on your face and the warmth in your middle. As you fall asleep, you set an ultimatum for yourself. For the next two days, you won't contact him at all, just like you'd intended. Piece of cake.

The next day, you hold to your promise. After a busy day spent running here and there, the sofa bed has never felt more comfortable. You resolutely set your phone face down on the end table and close your eyes tight. Tonight, you're not going to break. You're a strong, independent woman. You tell yourself that until the long day finally gets the better of you and you drift off to sleep.

Finally, it's Thursday. One day until the dress rehearsal and you see Tetsurou again. You're proud of yourself. Sure, you'd only made it one night without contacting him, but technically, you haven't seen each other at all. You're going to count that as a win.

You actually have some time to relax before bed, and you and your friend pull out all the stops. She's got an array of face masks, fancy lotions, and even a foot spa she'd pulled out from somewhere. You're just laying out the last of the snacks when your phone dings. It's a message from Tetsurou.

You didn't call yesterday

Very interesting.

Sorry, I didn't know we had an appointment

His reply comes almost immediately.

I'm outside. Come out for a minute?

It's all you can do not to laugh out loud. Still, he came all this way. You shouldn't let it be for nothing. You glance at your friend, mind working quickly to think of a valid reason you'd need to leave the apartment at this time of the evening.

"I'm going to get in the shower," She suddenly announces. You can't believe your luck. Your stint as her roommate proved that she is notorious for taking long showers. "Don't eat all of the Takis before I'm back or else."

"Would I do that?" You ask, hand splayed across your chest indignantly. She shoots you a glare and heads for the bathroom. The moment you hear the shower turn on, you slip on a pair of shoes and you're out the door.

You practically run into Tetsurou the moment you step outside. "Hi," he says sheepishly, with his familiar crooked smile. You launch yourself into his arms, and he immediately holds on tight.

"Hi," You breathe back, finally pulling back enough to look into his face again. "We failed," You say solemnly, before breaking into a grin.

"We did," He agrees, pressing a kiss to your lips. "Spectacularly."

"She's in the shower," You explain quickly, "So I shouldn't really stay too long."

"Alright," He says absently, thumbs tracing a pattern against your hips.

"You didn't bring Mittens, did you?" You crane your neck around him to check for the cat backpack you'd purchased on a whim a few years back.

"Don't be ridiculous," He says drily. You pout, and he kisses it away.

"I missed you," You sigh against his lips despite yourself, and you feel his lips curving into a smile.

"I missed you too." He admits. He pulls back again, and you silently drink him in. "We're getting married in two days," He says candidly.

"We are," You agree, grin threatening to burst off of your face.

"And I'll see you tomorrow at the dress rehearsal," He adds.

"Mmhmm," You nod. You glance at the time. "I should get back inside," You say reluctantly. In response, he pulls you in for one last kiss.

"Goodnight. I love you. So much."

"I love you too. So so much." Before he can one-up you, you pull away and turn back inside. "Goodnight!" You call over your shoulder.

The moment you step through the apartment door, you freeze. Your friend is standing there, arms crossed. "How was Tetsurou?" She asks coolly, a smile playing at the edges of her lips.

You open your mouth, then close it. "I was just getting some fresh air?" You finally say weakly.

"And I'm Albert Einstein." She replies, turning for the couch. "Come on," She pats the cushion next to her, beckoning you forward. "You two are disgusting," She adds as an afterthought. She's shaking her head, but she's smiling.

The next 48 hours are a whirlwind, but at the end of it you find yourself at your wedding reception, seated next to your husband. You'd made it here, and now you feel like you can finally draw a breath.

"Wait, so did you guys actually last the entire week without seeing each other?" Kenma suddenly asks skeptically, looking between the two of you. You glance at Tetsurou. Clearly, he hadn't shared the truth with his best man. Your maid of honor opens her mouth beside you, but you nudge her under the table with the sharp toe of your shoe. Since it is your wedding day, she stays silent.

"Sure did," Tetsurou says, grinning broadly as he slides his arm around your shoulders, brushing his fingers against your skin affectionately. "It was worth it," He adds, pressing a kiss to your temple. You lean into the press of his lips. Yes, it certainly was.

[fayes-fics]

It Had To Be You: Chapter 9 - Nobody Else Gave Me A Thrill

Masterpost PREV | NEXT

Pairing: Benedict Bridgerton x fem!reader, Modern AU

Summary: You two finally figure it all out on New Year's Eve...

artwork credit @colettebronte

Warnings: none, really… just some swearing and love confessions.

Word Count: 3.8k

Authors Note: A multi-chapter modern rom-com retelling of When Harry Met Sally. Here we are; this is the final chapter! Both reader and Benedict finally see the truth. There will be a short, hopefully humourous epilogue to this story as well, which I will post tomorrow. Thanks to @colettebronte for betaing. I hope you have all enjoyed this fic <3

For the next few weeks, the dreary weather, the clocks changing, and the chilly nights drawing in match your sullen mood. Your argument with Benedict at the wedding made you so sad but resolute to try and put it behind you.

It's the last weekend in November when you are buying a Christmas tree that you feel the worst. Making a mess of dragging the tree back to your place alone, leaving a trail of needles behind you, you stop halfway and slump onto a doorstep. Recalling with perfect clarity how you and Benedict had bought one together from the same man the previous year, laughing carefree as you easily carried it between you. Then you drank mulled wine as you haphazardly threw on lights and ornaments, dancing to cheesy Christmas songs. It's what you miss the most—his companionship, the ease of time spent with one of your favourite people.

Just as you are wrestling the tree through your front door, exhausted, sweaty and prickled by a thousand tiny shitty needles that seem to have it out for you, your phone pings with a message.

BB: I'm sorry for how things ended at the wedding. I've been thinking about it for weeks now. Please call me. I want to talk. 

Pride (and your current disastrous had-a-fight-with-a-tree-and-lost appearance) stops you from doing what you genuinely want to—picking up your phone and Facetiming him to sort it all out.

Not ready yet.

__

Two weeks later, it's mid-December, and you are sitting cross-legged on your living room floor with a big glass of wine, wrapping presents for friends, when your phone pings again. For a while now, almost every day, he has been sending links to Insta posts with adorable and hilarious content. Each of which you have enjoyed but couldn't bring yourself to reply to. This time, it’s a message.

BB: If you are available at the moment, please call me.

You stare at the little pop-up notification and take a gulp, a weird weight in your chest at the idea you might cave this time. Perhaps. Once you are done wrapping this gift. A few minutes later, your phone pings again.

BB: Okay, I assume no call means:

BB: (A) you can't take a call right now

BB: (B) you can, but you don't want to talk to me or 

BB: (C) you desperately do want to talk to me but are trapped under something heavy

BB: If it's A or C, please call me back later, doesn't matter what time

BB: Also, if it’s C, please call 999 if you are in danger, then call me after. I don't have any heavy-lifting equipment… 

You can't help but giggle at his gentle, silly humour, attempting to diffuse the tension. A large part of you wants to call; you even have the phone in your hand, but at the last minute, you rest it against your forehead with a sigh, something stopping you. Your stupid rebound fling being the biggest one, Benedict’s cutting remark about how quickly you let someone else into your bed, making your stomach roil. 

Still not ready yet.

—

“Obviously, she doesn't want to speak to me,” Benedict laments, his words muffled into a scatter cushion on Kate and Anthony’s sofa. 

It's the morning after they've returned from honeymoon, three days before Christmas. While they are thankful Benedict popped over with some basics to make breakfast, they could do without his melancholy—they’re much more about a ‘let’s have newlywed sex on the kitchen table’ vibe.

“What do I have to do? Get hit over the head? Be in some calamitous accident?” Benedict whines, twisting his head in aggravation as if trying to burrow himself head-first into the furniture.

‘What do we do?’ Anthony mouths to Kate, who throws her hands up defeatedly.

‘How should I know?’ she mouths back, frowning. ‘He's your brother.’

‘Your friend's fault,’ Anthony shoots back.

Kate crosses her arms and gets a look like a sour lemon, and he instantly regrets that line.

Benedict lifts his head to look up at them, and she has to stifle a giggle behind her hand at the deep red imprint of the cushion zipper on his forehead.

“If she wants to talk to me. She will call me back, right? I'm done with making an idiot of myself….” Benedict claims boldly.

__

You are sitting on the sofa at your childhood home early evening on Christmas Day, almost disgustingly full of Baileys (your mum's tipple of choice on this day) and Christmas pud, watching The Wrong Trousers - a family tradition - when your phone pings with a message.

It's from Benedict and your stomach vaults. You honestly thought after more than a week of silence, he had given up trying. And part of you was so sad. There is no text this time, just a video attachment. You excuse yourself to the downstairs cloakroom, taking a seat on the closed lid of the toilet, intrigued as to what it is.

The video starts with him looking directly into the camera, his handsome face filling the frame and making your stomach swoop again. Fuck, you have missed seeing it.

“Merry Christmas y/n. I hope you are having a nice time. I miss you, and I hate how we left things,” he opens honestly, “and when Bridgertons don't know what to do, we always act stupidly. It's our ‘thing’. So here, You can blame this on my genetics...”

The video cuts to black briefly and then fades into him, a huge 6ft lump, crowded behind a plastic toy piano on the floor, probably one of Daphne’s kids' toys. You instantly giggle at the ridiculous visual as he apes a maestro, closes his eyes as if about to play Chopin, and flexes his hands. Then, the tinny, electric sound of some familiar notes being played hesitantly begins. He isn't exactly a natural pianist.

“Hey, I didn't just meet you, And this is crazy, 

You know my number, So call me maybe,

It's hard to feel right without you, lady

You know my number, so call me, maybe…”

You are instantly laughing. He's such an adorable, charming idiot. Sitting behind a miniature plastic piano and playing, half in earnest, half in jest. At least his voice can hold a semi-decent tune. It brings an affectionate mist to your eyes even as it continues…

“Before you came into my life, I missed you so bad

I missed you so bad; I missed you so, so bad

Before you came into my life, I missed you so bad

And you should know that, I miss you now… so, so bad….”

For the last few words, he slows down the song and looks directly down the lens pointedly.

Something in his pleading look is the straw that breaks the camel's back proverbially, and with a slight tremor in your hand, you scroll to his name and hit the FaceTime button before you can think twice about it. The sound of the tone, as it rings, feels so loud, and each crisp ‘bringggg’ makes your nerves jangle. Just as you are about to hang up, the call connects.

“I'm sorry it took me so long to answer. I had to find a private spot.” he sounds a little winded.

“Where are you?” you frown, an unfamiliar background behind him.

“My childhood bedroom. Aubrey Hall.”

“Oh my god! Show me!” You enthuse, your initial equivocation derailed by nosiness, which you decide to frame instead in your mind as mere curiosity.  You never got to see it the wedding weekend for, well, reasons you don't want to dwell on right now.

He quickly flips the camera around, giving you an audio-guided tour of the room he grew up in. Dark blue walls with framed posters for his beloved Blur alongside Travis, Radiohead and Shaun of the Dead. Silly stick-on glow-in-the-dark stars on the high ceiling that are likely too high for anyone to bother getting out a ladder and peeling off. Shelves with little wooden car models he made with his dad before he died, mixed in with certificates of achievement from school, shiny brass archery trophies, and his early sketches in those cheap snap-in frames. And lastly, a collection of jagged small rocks and colourful pebbles. It makes you feel so very affectionate for little teenage Benedict.

“You are bloody adorable!” you blurt out, almost forgetting all the awkwardness from the past few weeks.

The camera flips around, and his lopsided grin fills the screen. “Thank you. I try to make a habit of it…”

You smile back and then sigh. “I’ve missed this,” you confess quietly, wistfully. 

“I’ve missed this too. You. Us. Can we please be friends again? Please? I know we both have a lot of things to talk about. With that night and all… but… can we reset? I need you, Bluey. I am miserable without my best friend,” he pouts, his raw honesty making your chest ache. 

It’s exactly how you feel, too. Except with a massive pang of regret that he seems to want to forget your magical night together. Sex is never like that, at least not for you—electric and addictive. Doing a reset to save your friendship feels like the most logical step. Still, it doesn’t stop the “what if” fantasies running in your head with increasing frequency, especially on a day like today—nostalgia, sentiment and overindulgence swirling in your being. 

“I would like us to be friends again,” you exhale, a lie by slight omission, drumming your fingertips on your cheek nervously to stop you from saying more. 

“Wonderful! Then it is so! I can’t wait to see you again! Are you going to the New Year's party? The one Simon & Daph are hosting at the Sky Terrace? Cos if you are, I was wondering, if you don’t have a date if we could go together? We always said we would be each other's plus one if neither of us is with anyone…”

That he wants to completely reset to that world makes your heart crack. You want to scream at him, ‘No! I want to be your real date! Pick me, for real, this time!’

“I… can’t do that,” you waver, and it comes off sounding tired.

“You have a date?” It’s soft, hesitant, trepidatious.

“No…” you admit, “I just don’t think it’s a good idea to go together like that. I… I can’t be your consolation prize anymore, Benedict,” you blurt out, the hurt taking over your tongue.

The look of stunned surprise on his face makes it worse. As if he had never even seen it from that perspective.

“That’s not what I….” he begins but is interrupted by a loud door bang as it slams into the wall and a yelling voice.

“Stop fucking hiding and get your bloody arse back downstairs. You can’t miss family dinner on Christmas Day!” Colin scolds loudly offscreen.

“I’ve got to go…,” he sighs reluctantly as an arm manhandles him up and off the bed. “Merry Christmas,” he adds, belatedly realising you both forgot to say it earlier on the call.

“Whoever it is, hang up. No one is more important than family on Christmas,” Colin gripes. “That’s it, I’m taking your phone…”.

The screen is filled with random shapes and loud noises as they seem to wrestle like children. And then the call suddenly disconnects. 

You sigh and tip sideways against the cold tile of your parents' cloakroom wall.

Merry Christmas, indeed.

__

Benedict takes stock of his surroundings. December 31st, 11:00pm, lying on his stomach on his sectional chaise, staring up at the big flatscreen on his wall.

This isn't so bad… he tries to convince himself. I've got Jools Holland’s Hootenanny - the only decent New Year's programme, some Glenfiddich and Mini Cheddars - the best snack there is… 

He sighs and realises how pathetic he sounds, even in his own mind, alone in an empty flat.

__

The man whirls you around, and you are almost thrown straight into Kate and Anthony.

“I should never have let you drag me to this,” you grouse so only they can hear.

They both shoot you an apologetic look until you are whipped away again. This man’s dancing style is more akin to a waltzer amusement ride than anything sensual or fun. Your shoulder is already aching. It's a far cry from the surprising salsa Benedict pulled out of the bag last New Year’s Eve. And the idle thought of him has you spiralling…

“Mind if we stop?” you puff as the band finishes the song with a flourish. He’s some slick European investment banking type, and really, you couldn't give two shits about offending him, merely your ingrained politeness kicking in.

He nods and goes off to grab drinks as you stand, hands on hips, trying to gather your breath as you watch all the people moving like a mass of limbs on the crowded dancefloor as the following number begins.

Why the fuck am I here?

__

This is much better… Benedict rationalises to himself as he wanders down the rainy, empty East London streets not far from his Hoxton pad. Who needs to be at a big, crowded party pretending to have a good time?

He pauses outside a trendy shop on Old St, selling overpriced crap that he's not even sure what it is.

See? I can do some window shopping. He tells himself silently—clutching at anything to distract himself from the creeping sense of dread in his gut. A slow twisting knife as he thinks about you dancing the night away, ringing in the New Year with some fancy, handsome man who definitely doesn't deserve you.

What does it matter to me? We are just friends. Best friends… the only friend I ever want to see every day… the only one who truly matters….

He has thought about how to repair the damage between you so much over the last few weeks that he's exhausted himself. Really, he just wants you back. All of you, ideally, but being realistic, any part of yourself you will let back into his life. The suggestion of a reset he made on Christmas Day being his cowardly way out.

—

You are fake laughing at the banker’s story as you lean around the pillar you are backing yourself against in an attempt to secure more personal space. Glad of the heated lamps and the glass overhang to shelter from the drizzle.

“I'm going home,” you growl.

“You’ll never find an Uber,” Kate points out deadpan as you turn back around and keep faking amusement.

__

Just as his thoughts spiral, Benedict hears a chuckle on the other side of the road. There, a couple are laughing together, wrapped in each other's arms, kissing, looking like no one else in the world matters… and it’s like a lightning rod hits him square in the chest.

Suddenly, all he can see are images of you, fluttering like motioned-filled playing cards from above, swirling into his eyeline, then floating onto the glistening pavement around him. Vignettes of his life and where you intersect at so many pivotal moments. The day he left uni - the car ride where you bickered like an old married couple, the day he moved to Paris - your dilated pupils and hitched breath on the Eurostar when he whispered in your ear, the unerring sympathy when you heard about his divorce, the way you held his hand when you wandered after dinner somewhere (he doesn't even recall where… only that it was with you), watching movies together on FaceTime, your incredulity when he confessed to his uneventful recurring sex dream, your surprise and, yes, arousal as he led you in the salsa dance, the way you tucked so neatly into his arms haunting him. And finally, how it felt to be buried inside your gorgeous body as you clung to him, calling his name like a siren song, intimacy like he has never known, the profundity of the connection petrifying the very life out of him. 

But as he stares down at his tatty old Converse, the same ones he wore the day you met, in fact, all he sees in the puddle beneath him is the simple truth he has been in denial about, possibly for a decade or more. Rippling refractions of your face - your knowing smile, bright eyes, your wonderful, happy expression…

And before his brain acknowledges it, his feet are moving….

Walking fast…

Then it’s a jog…

Then it’s a run….

.. his feet carrying him to the one place he knows with every fibre of his being he wants to be.

—

You wander as if in a daze, seemingly surrounded by nothing but couples, kissing, dancing, whispering, and it's the final straw. You spy Kate and Anthony sipping champagne together and slope over.

“I'm going,” you sigh.

“But it's almost midnight,” Anthony protests.

“Being surrounded by people kissing is just…” you shrug, melancholy creeping in like a clingy fog around your heart.

“I’ll kiss you,” Kate placates, and Anthony perks up to no end at that suggestion, nodding enthusiastically as you both roll your eyes, bemused. “Stay? Please?” she pleads, pouting and grabbing your hands.

“Thanks, Kate. But no. I have to go. Have a wonderful night,” you bid them, kissing her gently on the cheek. “Happy New Year,” you whisper as she returns the greeting.

__

Benedict's lungs are burning as he races down Old St towards Shoreditch, not far from where you celebrated last year. He ignores the ache in his muscles and keeps going, checking his watch to see 11:56pm and racing harder.

I need to be there at midnight!

__

As you walk to pick up your coat, a sight makes your heart leap into your mouth and stops you dead in your tracks.

There, rounding the top stair, casual in old faded jeans, those ancient Converse and a chunky knit jumper… is Benedict. Hair fluffy and dishevelled from the rain, out of breath and scanning the crowd desperately. As if he is seeking someone.

Then his eyes finally land on you, and your world tilts. 

Oh god, is he here… for… me?!?

Then he is striding purposefully towards you, and it seems like the crowds part. His eyes blisteringly intense, like they were on that fateful night. You try to school your face, aiming for casual indignance; you probably fail spectacularly— your heart thumping wildly.

“I've been doing a lot of thinking…” he begins as he pulls up before you. “And the thing is… I love you..”

Everything grinds to a halt, and your head feels dizzy.

This must be a prank, surely?

“What?” you stutter, disbelief rocking your core.

“I love you,” he says with a simple shrug as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.

“Ben.. I… what do you expect me to say?” you blurt out, floored.

“How about you love me too,” he smiles a tiny fraction, and you hate it.

You hate how RIGHT he is. Your body is a total jumble of live wires, but your mind is suddenly calm. It's like the clouds of your thoughts part, and it all seems crystal clear. And yet, something in your stubborn heart won't let you admit it. Terrified what it could mean to voice it.

“Look, Ben, I know it's New Year, and I know you may be lonely tonight. But please don't do this,” you implore haltingly, tears prickling hot in the corners of your eyes, “...not like this,” you whisper, defeated.

“Okay, how about like this….” he throws his hands up. “I love that you won't admit you love me. I love that you are looking at me like you want to kill me right now. I love that my body is screaming at me cos I ran here as fast as I could.” he gestures down at his slightly shaky legs.

“Ten seconds to New Year's!!” a loud voice blares out over the speakers.

“TEN!!” the crowd chants.

“I love that we are idiots who would never admit to how in love we are.”

“NINE!”

“I love that you are my blue lobster, rare and beautiful as a diamond but a delicious soft treat under that hard as nails shell….” 

“EIGHT!”

He tilts your chin to look up at him, a thumb swiping a tear you didn't even know had escaped. 

“SEVEN!”

“Don't leave me out here in the wind, y/n…,” he murmurs softly.

“SIX!”

“I… I love that you never give up,” you whisper so quietly even you can barely hear it. 

The smile that lights up Benedict’s face makes your whole being feel like the stars live inside your chest.

“FIVE!”

“I love that you take homemade salads on a road trip,” he smirks playfully, referring to the first day you spent together all those years ago.

“FOUR!” 

“I love that you kept your amazing dance prowess under wraps,” you laugh over a stilted snuffle, everything in you fizzling.

“THREE!”

“I love that I can still smell you on my clothes after we spend the day together,” he sighs, moving in closer, your eyes hypnotised by the movement of his cupid’s bow.

“TWO!”

“I love that you came here tonight,” you admit, your hands circling his forearms as you sway slightly in unison.

“ONE!”

“I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night,” he confesses, his lips ghosting over yours now, smiling crookedly even as he speaks.

“HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!” the crowd chants.

All around you, party poppers go off, colourful ribbons of streamers, and the sound of glasses clinking fills the air. But it’s background noise, your whole focus on each other.

Finally, your lips meet, the fireworks under your ribs matching those in the skies above, the same as it was that first time weeks ago. You melt into each other's embrace, your kiss a seal of a pact and the promise of something new and infinite.

“For the record,” he rumbles, his minty breath hot on your lips, the strains of Auld Lang Syne ringing around the rooftop. “I'm not saying this because I’m lonely and not because it’s the New Year. I came here tonight because when you finally realise you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start…”

“...as soon as possible,” you exhale, completing his sentence with him as he nods, grinning from ear to ear. 

The drunken chorus around you gets louder; he chuckles and shakes his head. “I’ve never understood this stupid song.”

“I think it’s about remembering not to forget. Or not forgetting to remember. Or something,” you peal a laugh, knowing you are talking gibberish and not giving a damn. “Anyway, it’s about old friends,” you add pointedly, moving in for another spine-tingling, heart-melting kiss.

As you part, he cradles your jaw in his hands. “It was only ever you, y/n,” he sighs, hazy eyes burning into yours, his whisper fervent but contented into your skin. “It had to be you.”

Benedict taglist: @makaylan @foreverlonginguniverse @iboopedyournose @aintnuthinbutahounddog @severewobblerlightdragon @margofiore @writergirl-2001 @heeyyyou @enichole445 @enchantedbytomandhenry @ambitionspassionscoffee @chaoticcalzoneranchsports @nikaprincessofkattegat @baebee35 @crowleysqueenofhell @fiction-is-life @lilacbeesworld @angels17324 @broooookiecrisp @queen-of-the-misfit-toys @eleanor-bradstreet @divaanya @musicismyoxygen84 @benedictspaintbrush @miindfucked @sorryallonsy @cayt0123 @hottytoddyhistory @truly-dionysus @fictionalmenloversblog @zinzysstuff @malpalgalz @panhoeofmanyfandoms @kinokomoonshine @causeimissu @delehosies @m-rae23 @last-sheep @kmc1989 @desert-fern @starkeylover @corpseoftrees-queen @magical-spit @bunnyweasley23 @how-many-stars-in-the-sky @amygdtjhddzvb @sya-skies

[positivelyholland]

SOPHIE WE NEED A STYLES-SWIFT READERS DITL ON EACH OF HER PARENTS' TOURS

pairing: harry styles/taylor swift x daughter!reader

genre: fluff

warnings: i couldn't think of any but lmk if i missed some :)

summary: moments of your life as a child of famous musicians on tour

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Taylor Swift on "The Eras Tour":

You can hardly contain your excitement as you walk hand-in-hand with your mom, Taylor Swift, to the stage. The lights are dim, and the audience is buzzing with anticipation.

You feel a little nervous, but your mom's reassuring smile calms your nerves.

As soon as your mom steps onto the stage, the crowd erupts in cheers. You watch in awe as she performs her hit songs from each of her albums, ultimately playing some of your personal favorites.

As the show goes on, you can't help but dance and sing along to every song. You see your mom glancing your way every once in a while, and it makes your heart swell with pride. You're so proud of her and all that she's accomplished.

During the acoustic portion of the show, your mom steps to the front of the stage with just her guitar. She tells the story behind one of her most personal songs, "Soon You'll Get Better," which she wrote about her own mother's battle with cancer. 

You look up at your mom with tears in your eyes, feeling grateful that she's here with you and healthy.

The show ends with a spectacular finale, complete with fireworks and confetti. You and your mom take a bow together, and the audience roars with applause. You feel so lucky to be a part of this moment with your mom.

As you walk backstage, your mom takes your hand and gives it a squeeze. "I'm so glad you were here with me tonight," she says, giving you a warm hug. "You're my little star, you know that?"

You smile up at her, feeling loved and happy. "I know, Mom," you say. "And you're my big star."

Harry Styles with "Love on Tour":

As you step off the tour bus, you can't help but feel a sense of excitement and nervousness wash over you. This is your first time traveling with your dad, Harry Styles, on tour. 

It had been quite the process to figure out all the logistics of you being able to come on tour with him. Whether it was online school, music lessons, or even just spending time with your mom, Taylor. But you were able to make it all work in order to be able to attend HSLOT

You've always been a huge fan of your dad's music, but seeing him perform live in front of thousands of fans is a completely different experience. You can feel the adrenaline pumping through your veins as you make your way to the backstage area.

"Hey, there she is!" your dad exclaims as he sees you walking towards him. He pulls you into a tight hug, and you can't help but smile as you feel his warm embrace.

"Are you ready for this?" he asks you, his eyes twinkling with excitement.

"I think so," you reply, trying to sound confident.

As you follow your dad to his dressing room, you can't help but feel a little overwhelmed. There are so many people bustling around, getting everything ready for the show.

But your dad is there every step of the way, showing you around and introducing you to all of his bandmates and crew members. You feel like a VIP as you watch them rehearse and prepare for the show.

As the opening notes of your dad's hit song fill the arena, you take your place in the front row. You can feel the energy of the crowd as they scream and cheer, and you can't help but feel a little proud knowing that your dad is the one making them feel this way.

As your dad sings his heart out on stage, you can't help but sing along with him. It's like you've known these songs your whole life, and you feel a sense of connection to the music that you've never felt before.

As the show comes to a close, your dad takes your hand and leads you back to the tour bus. You're exhausted but exhilarated, and you can't wait to do it all over again tomorrow.

"I'm so glad you're here with me," your dad says, giving you a squeeze.

"Me too," you reply, feeling grateful for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

As you drift off to sleep, you can't help but dream about all of the adventures that await you on this tour with your dad

[atimeofyourlife]

Meeting the parents (and forgetting about it)

@bucktommypositivityweek day 3: meeting the friends and family | wc: 738 | ao3 Tommy meets Buck's parents at Maddie and Chimney's wedding. It goes better than expected, but his tired brain forgets it.

There'd been a lot going on in Buck's mind in the run up to Maddie and Chimney's wedding, even before adding in his new relationship with Tommy. But he did at least have the forethought to warn Tommy that his relationship with his parents was complicated, to say the least. He didn't think they would be outwardly homophobic, or hostile in any way, at least not in public, but he never knew how they would react to anything he did.

Of course, nothing did go to plan. Tommy getting called out to the wildfire, Chimney not showing up to the bachelor party or the wedding, because of amnesia as a result of viral encephalitis. The wedding being called off, then being back on, just in a hospital room. The icing on the cake for Buck was Tommy showing up for him, sooty turnouts and all.

The makeshift reception didn't last long before the nurses started dropping subtle, then not so subtle, hints that it needed to wind down. That all the excess excitement needed to end so Chimney could get some rest. Buck had a bag with Tommy's turnouts over one shoulder, and the other hand on Tommy's lower back, supporting the man who seemed seconds away from falling asleep standing up.

"E-Buck. Could we have a word before you head out?" His mother said just as they left the room, nodding towards where his father was standing a little way down the hall.

"Uh, sure." Buck said, a little unsure.

There was a moment of silence, and Buck realized they were waiting for him to lead the conversation. "Mom, dad. This my boyfriend, Tommy Kinard, he's a firefighter pilot with the 217, based out of harbor station. Tommy, my parents."

"It's nice to-" Tommy cut himself off with a wide yawn. "Sorry. It's been quite a day. I was called out to a wildfire at Angeles Crest last night. But it's nice to meet you, Mr and Mrs Buckley."

They both shook his offered hand. "It's nice to meet you too, Tommy. Buck's not introduced us to any partners before." Buck's dad replied.

"You must be exhausted after a fire like that. I'm sure Maddie and Howard would have understood if you had just gone home to sleep." His mom added.

"I promised Evan that I would do my best to make it." Tommy tried- and failed- to stifle another yawn.

Buck noticed how both his parents raised their eyebrows when Tommy called him Evan, but thankfully neither of them commented on it.

"Buck- we don't want you to think. It's not-" His mom stumbled over her words, before his dad took over.

"What your mother is trying to say, we're happy for you. We were surprised when you walked in with him, and we didn't know if this was something you'd talked about before." His dad said.

"It's new." Buck confirmed. "I didn't even realize I was interested in men until I met Tommy. Now, I really should get him home before he falls asleep standing up."

"Of course, we didn't mean to keep you. We're going to be in LA for a bit longer, to help Maddie out with everything. Maybe one day we could take you both out for brunch, so we can meet and get to know Tommy properly?" His mom offered.

"Yeah. That sounds okay. We'll look at our schedules tomorrow to see what will work." Buck wasn't expecting the olive branch, but he wasn't going to turn down the chance they were offering him. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Buck. Drive safe." His dad replied.

Buck kept playing it over in his mind as he helped Tommy down to the parking lot. It had gone better than he'd expected, better than he'd even hoped. He knew it wasn't magically going to fix everything between him and his parents, but it felt so good to know they were willing to try.

"Evan?" Tommy mumbled sleepily as Buck manhandled him into the passenger seat, frowning a little. "Did I just meet your parents?"

"Yeah, you did. You probably won't remember this in the morning, but they want to take us out to brunch one day while they're still in LA." Buck replied, buckling the seat belt and pressed a soft kiss to Tommy's forehead.

"Oh. Kay." Tommy mumbled, leaning back in the seat with his eyes closed. He was asleep and snoring softly before Buck started driving.

[nausicaamusiclover20]

Hello Nausicaa, hope you are doing well! Can we get 90s Lars x pro tennis player reader please? He used to play tennis when he was a kid, so he still follows all major events, and she’s so beautiful and fierce on court he gets obsessed with her? So after reader wins a major tournament, Lars asks to be introduced to her? At first she doesn’t care despite all his charm (girl, I swear, 90s Lars could talk anyone into anything) but in a few weeks she agrees on a date - she’s just tired of all the flowers and gifts he was sending. But surprisingly they hit it off?

Also, can the reader be taller than him? Looking at Connie and Jessica - it’s safe to say he likes tall women. Thank you)))

Thank you, I wish you're having a good day. I hope you like it because I'm feeling very tired today❤

Beyond the game

Tennis has always been my life. I’d dedicated everything to it—sacrificed relationships, time, and even parts of my sanity for the game. But winning a major tournament? That was supposed to be the culmination of it all. The moment where everything I’d worked for paid off.

And yet, after the tournament, all I could think about was Lars Ulrich.

It wasn’t like I’d never heard of him. I’d seen the name, heard the rumors, but I hadn’t given it much thought. He was the drummer from Metallica, a rock god, not the kind of guy I typically paid attention to.

But when he showed up at my post-match celebration, I couldn’t help but notice. He was everywhere: charming, magnetic, with that intense smile of his that probably got him whatever he wanted. He approached me with all the confidence of someone who was used to having doors opened for him.

“Hi, I’m Lars,” he said with a grin, offering a hand like we were two ordinary people meeting for the first time.

I didn’t shake it. Instead, I raised an eyebrow. “You’re Lars Ulrich, right?” I asked, trying to sound indifferent, like it didn’t matter.

“Yeah, that’s me,” he replied easily. “But I’m not just a fan. I wanted to say congratulations on the win. It was impressive.”

I nodded briefly, not really interested in the flattery. I had more important things to do than entertain some celebrity. “Thanks,” I said, turning to walk away, my coach calling me over.

Lars didn’t take the hint. Over the next couple of weeks, I found myself receiving gifts—flowers, expensive chocolates, a hand-written note almost every day. At first, I thought it was funny. But after a while, it became annoying. I didn’t need a rock star to send me things to get my attention.

But Lars didn’t stop. Every day, another gesture. He didn’t just send the usual flowers and gifts; he sent things that felt more personal, like he was trying to get to know me. He’d comment on my matches, send messages telling me how he was watching, how he admired my style of play. It was flattering, but also... exhausting.

Finally, one day, I snapped. I was tired of the flowers, tired of the constant attention, tired of it all. So, I sent him a short message: Dinner. Tomorrow night. 7 PM. My treat.

I wasn’t expecting much. Honestly, I wasn’t even sure why I agreed to it. Maybe I just wanted it to end. If he had a chance to prove himself in person, maybe he’d back off. I couldn’t keep ignoring him forever, right?

When I showed up at the restaurant, I was prepared for another round of charm and persistence. But what I found wasn’t what I expected. Lars was relaxed, easygoing, almost... normal. He wasn’t throwing compliments at me every five seconds, and he didn’t seem to be in any rush. It was a simple dinner, just two people sitting across from each other.

“So, tennis, huh?” he asked, his voice casual, his gaze warm as he watched me. “How do you do it? Make it look so effortless?”

I smirked, pushing my plate aside. “It’s not effortless. It’s hard work. It’s blood, sweat, and tears.”

“Yeah, but there’s something different about you,” he said, leaning forward just a little, eyes never leaving mine. “The way you play... It’s like you’re one with the game.”

I didn’t know how to respond to that. Most people didn’t bother trying to understand what it meant to be in the game. But Lars was different. He wasn’t just admiring the surface. He was looking deeper.

“Well, I guess I don’t really have a choice,” I said, trying to brush it off. “The game is everything.”

He chuckled, the sound light but with an edge of sincerity. “Yeah, but that’s why you’re so good at it. You’ve got something most people don’t. And I can’t help but admire that.”

I paused, looking at him for a moment. “Alright, you’re persistent. I’ll give you that.”

Lars smiled, that damn grin of his I’d seen in every magazine. But this time, it didn’t feel like he was trying to win me over with it. It felt... natural. Like he was just being himself.

We talked about other things, too. Not just tennis. We talked about music, about travel, about the weird quirks of our jobs. It wasn’t about impressing each other; it was just two people finding something in common. And, to my surprise, I found myself enjoying it.

By the end of the evening, I realized something I hadn’t expected: I was actually looking forward to seeing him again. There was something refreshing about him, something I couldn’t quite put into words. And despite all the gifts, all the persistence, he hadn’t made me feel like an object of desire. He’d made me feel... seen.

As we walked outside together, I felt his gaze on me. He leaned in for a quick kiss on my cheek, and for a moment, I didn’t pull away.

“I’ll be around,” he said, with a grin that I couldn’t ignore. “And I’m not going anywhere.”

I shook my head, but part of me was already wondering what that meant. “You’ll regret that.”

“Not in a million years,” he replied, his voice soft but certain.

I couldn’t help but smile. Maybe he wasn’t the persistent rock star I thought he was. Maybe, just maybe, there was more to Lars Ulrich than I had first assumed.

And maybe... just maybe... I was starting to see it.

[rootedinrevisions]

One of Them Girls: Part 10

PART 1 I PART 2 I PART 3 I PART 4 I PART 5 I PART 6

PART 7 I PART 8 I PART 9

Day 1:

The mid-morning sun casts a golden hue over the fields as you go about your chores at your parents' farm. The air is crisp, carrying the familiar scent of hay and earth, a comforting reminder of home. You've always found a certain peace in these quiet moments, the rhythmic tasks giving you a chance to clear your mind.

As you lift a bale of hay, tossing it into the trough for the animals, your phone buzzes in your pocket. You wipe your hands on your jeans before pulling it out, a smile tugging at your lips when you see Tyler's name on the screen.

TYLER: Morning beautiful. Just got to Kansas. Missing you already.

You pause, leaning against the fence as you read his message. The warmth of his words wraps around you, easing the slight ache that's been growing in your chest since you watched him drive away yesterday.

YOU: Good morning. Miss you too. Be safe out there.

You send the message and slip your phone back into your pocket, taking a moment to steady yourself before getting back to work. It's just the first day, but already, you can feel the distance between you and Tyler. As you continue with the chores, you can't help but wonder how you're going to get through the next week or two without him by your side.

Later that day you're curled up on the couch in Tyler's sweatshirt, feeling the absence of his presence in the room. A video call from Tyler comes through, and you immediately pick up. Tyler's face fills the screen, and despite his tired eyes, he's smiling.

"How's Kansas?" you ask, trying to keep the conversation light.

"Wet and wild," he says with a chuckle. "But the chase is going well. How's everything back there?"

"Quiet," you admit. "It's weird not having you around."

"I know," he says softly, his smile fading slightly. "I wish you were here with me."

"Me too," you say, your heart aching at the sight of him. "Just promise you'll come back in one piece."

"I'll do my best," he replies with a wink. "Get some rest, darlin'. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"You too. Goodnight, Tyler."

Day 2:

The morning air is still cool as you step out onto the porch, coffee mug in hand. The farm is quiet except for the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze and the distant clucking of chickens. You take a sip of your coffee, letting the warmth spread through you, but your thoughts are elsewhere.

Tyler's phone call from last night lingers in your mind as you scroll through your phone, half expecting a message from him already. As if on cue, your phone buzzes.

TYLER: Morning, beautiful. We're about to hit the road. How'd you sleep?

You smile, your fingers moving quickly over the keyboard.

YOU: Slept okay, but the bed's too big without you here. How about you?

You set your coffee down, your gaze drifting over the fields as you wait for his response. It's a quiet morning, but the usual calm feels different today–emptier.

After finishing up the morning chores, you decide to head into town to run a few errands. The grocery store is busier than usual, with familiar faces offering smiles and small talk. You browse through the aisles, picking up a few essentials, but your mind keeps wandering back to Tyler.

As you load your bags into the truck, your phone rings, and Tyler's name flashes on the screen. You answer quickly, unable to hide the excitement in your voice.

"Hey, you," you greet him, leaning against the car as you close the door.

"Hey," Tyler's voice is warm and familiar, but you can hear the exhaustion behind it. "Just wanted to hear your voice. How's your day going?"

"Good," you reply, glancing out at the street. "Just running some errands. How about you? Is everything going okay?

"Yeah, just a long day on the road." His words make your heart ache a little. "I miss you."

"I miss you too," you say softly, wishing you could reach through the phone and be with him. "It's only day two, and I'm already counting the days until you're back."

There's a pause on the other end, and you can almost picture him, leaning back in the seat of the truck, probably running a hand through his hair.

"Me too," he finally says. "But hey, I'll be back before you know it."

"You take care of yourself out there, Tyler."

"I will. Talk to you tonight?" He says hopefully.

"Definitely."

You end the call, but the sound of his voice lingers, a comfort and a reminder of how much you miss him. You sigh, shaking off the melancholy as you climb into the car and head back home.

The day winds down slowly, with the sun casting long shadows across the fields as it begins to set. You find yourself back on the porch, phone in hand, scrolling through some of Tyler's old storm-chasing videos on YouTube. It's not quite the same as having him there with you, but it helps ease the loneliness.

Your phone buzzes with another message from Tyler.

TYLER: Made it to the motel. Wish you were here with me.

YOU: Me too. Watching your videos, though. Feels like you're here in a way.

You can almost hear his chuckle as the next message comes through.

TYLER: You're the best. I'll call you in a bit?

You send a quick reply, letting him know you'll be waiting, and then settle back to watch the sunset. The sky is a brilliant mix of oranges and purples, and for a moment, you let yourself imagine that Tyler's right there with you, watching it too.

Later, when your phone rings, you answer without hesitation, eager to hear his voice again. The conversation is light, filled with laughter, and shared stories from the day. But underneath it all is the undeniable pull, the longing to be together again.

As you hang up, you can't help but feel a little better, knowing that, even though he's hours away, you're both looking up at the same sky and thinking of each other.

Day 3:

The rooster crows at dawn, pulling you from a restless sleep. You groggily reach for your phone, hoping to see a message from Tyler. When you do, a small smile tugs at your lips despite the early hour.

TYLER: Morning, beautiful. Hope you slept better than I did. Hitting the road again soon.

You stretch, still lying in bed, and type out a quick reply.

YOU: Morning! Barely slept, but your message made it better. Where are you headed today?

The phone slips from your hand as you toss the covers off and sit up, blinking in the morning light. The house is quiet, the only sound is the ticking of the clock in the hallway. You stare at the screen, waiting for his reply.

TYLER: Heading towards Wichita. The skies look promising–might be a long day.

You pull your bottom lip between your teeth, trying not to let the worry creep in. You know this is his job, and what he loves to do. But it doesn't make the waiting any easier.

YOU: Stay safe out there, okay? I'll be thinking about you.

His response comes almost instantly.

TYLER: Always am. Miss you.

You send a quick heart emoji before setting the phone down and forcing yourself out of bed. The chores won't wait, and keeping busy is the best way to keep your mind off the fact that Tyler is miles away, chasing storms that could turn dangerous in an instant.

The sun is high by the time you finish the morning chores and grab a quick lunch. The house feels too quiet as you move from room to room, trying to find something to occupy your time. Your phone stays close by, and you find yourself checking it more often than necessary, hoping for another message from Tyler.

Eventually, you settle into a chair by the window with a book, though your mind keeps wandering. A few pages in, your phone buzzes, and you glance down eagerly.

TYLER: Just stopped for a quick break. Thought I'd check in. How's your day going?

You smile and quickly type out a response.

YOU: Not much going on here. Just trying to stay busy. What about you?

There's a short pause before his reply comes through.

TYLER: Busy, but good. The weather's really picking up. Wish you were here to see it.

Your heart flutters a bit at the thought of being with him, riding shotgun in his truck, watching the sky churn with the potential for something wild and powerful. It made you think back to the day he took you chasing with him. How the clouds were both breathtakingly beautiful while terrifying all at the same time.

YOU: Me too. But I'll settle for hearing all about it when you get back.

Another text comes through, this time with a picture of the sky–dark clouds gathering on the horizon, a hint of the chase to come.

TYLER: Here's a preview. I'll send more if I can. Miss you.

You study the picture for a long moment, your fingers tracing the outline of the storm on your screen. It's beautiful in its own way, but all you can think about is Tyler, out there under that sky.

YOU: It's beautiful. Stay safe.

You put the phone down and try to focus on your book again, but the words blur together. Instead, you find yourself pulling up one of Tyler's old storm-chasing videos, letting his voice and the sound of the wind fill the empty room.

The day drags on, and by the time the sun begins to set, you feel the weight of Tyler's absence more than ever. Dinner is a lonely affair, just you at the kitchen table, pushing food around your plate while the radio plays softly in the background.

Your phone lights up with a call from Tyler just as you're clearing the dishes. You answer quickly, eager to hear his voice.

"Hey," you say, leaning against the counter, trying to keep the longing out of your voice.

"Hey yourself," Tyler replies, his voice a little rough, probably from a long day of shouting over the wind and rain. "How was your day?"

"Same old, same old," you reply, trying to sound casual. "Yours?"

"Crazy," he says with a chuckle. "We chased a couple of good ones today. Got some great footage for the channel."

You close your eyes, imagining what it would be like to be there with him, the thrill of the chase, the wind whipping through your hair. "I wish I was there."

"Me too," Tyler says softly. There's a pause, and you can almost feel the distance between you, like a physical thing. "I've been thinking about you all day."

Your heart skips a beat. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," he says, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "It's not the same without you here. I know storm chasing isn't really your thing. But damn I miss you, more than I thought I would.

"I miss you too," you confess, your voice just as soft. "It's only been a few days, but it feels like forever."

"I know," he murmurs. "But I'll be back before you know it. We'll make up for lost time."

You smile, feeling a warmth spread through you at his words. "I'll hold you to that."

There's a comfortable silence between you for a moment before Tyler speaks again. "I should probably get some sleep. We've got an early start tomorrow."

"Okay," you say, not wanting the conversation to end but knowing he needs the rest. "Goodnight, Tyler."

"Goodnight," he replies, his voice full of warmth.

You hang up, but the sound of his voice lingers in your mind as you finish tidying up the kitchen. Later, as you crawl into bed, you pull on one of his old sweatshirts, the familiar scent of him wrapping around you like a comforting embrace. It's not the same as having him there with you, but it's enough to help you drift off to sleep, dreaming of the day he'll be back by your side.

Day 4:

The first light of dawn filters through the curtains, casting a soft glow over your room. You wake slowly, the lingering traces of a dream slipping away as reality settles in–another day without Tyler. With a sigh, you reach for your phone on the nightstand, hoping to find a message from him. As your eyes adjust to the brightness of the screen, you see a new text waiting for you.

TYLER: Good morning, beautiful. Woke up thinking about you.

A small smile tugs at your lips as you read his words. You can almost hear his voice, that familiar warmth that makes you feel closer to him, even when he's miles away.

YOU: Morning! I wish I was waking up next to you. What's on the agenda today?

You set the phone down and stretch, trying to shake off the sleepiness clinging to you. The house is quiet, the morning routine still in its early stages. You hear the faint clatter of pots and pans in the kitchen, a sign that your roommate is already up and about. It's a comfort, knowing that you're not entirely alone.

TYLER: Busy day ahead. We're heading further west. Looks like we may run into an EF4 or 5 later.

Your heart skips a beat at the thought of him out there, chasing storms that could turn dangerous at any moment. You want to tell him to stop and turn around, to remind him how much he means to you, and how much it scares you to know he's out there in the middle of these storms. But you know better. This is what he loves, and you would never take that from him.

YOU: Just promise me you'll stay safe. Can't wait to hear all about it.

You pull on a pair of jeans and one of Tyler's sweatshirts, the fabric soft and worn from the countless washes. It's one of your favorites, the scent of him still faintly lingering on it. You run your fingers over the letters on the front, the memory of the day he gave it to you bringing a smile to your face.

TYLER: Always. Talk later?

YOU: Of course. Have a good day, Tyler.

The afternoon sun is high in the sky as you go about your chores on the farm. It's a routine you've known your whole life, the familiar tasks grounding you as your mind drifts to thoughts of Tyler. You find yourself wondering where he is, what he's doing, and whether he's safe.

As you finish feeding the animals and head back to your house, your phone buzzes in your pocket. You pull it out, hoping it's Tyler. Instead, it's a notification from his YouTube channel–he's live streaming.

Your heart leaps at the opportunity to see him in action, even if it's just through a screen. You quickly head inside and settle down in the living room, pulling up the live stream on your phone. The video shows Tyler and his team driving down a dusty road, the sky darkening ominously in the distance.

"There she is," you hear Tyler say. "That's the one we've been waiting for."

You can't help but feel a surge of pride and worry all at once. He's in his element, doing what he loves, but you wish you could be there with him, experiencing it firsthand.

For the next hour, you're glued to the screen watching as Tyler and his team track the storm. There's a moment when the wind picks up, the rain lashing against the truck's windows, and you find yourself holding your breath. But Tyler remains calm, guiding his team with the confidence of someone who's done this a thousand times before.

As the storm passes and you continue to watch the live stream you notice Boone trying to talk to Tyler, but Tyler doesn't respond. Your eyes drift to the chat where viewers' messages are visible. Seems you weren't the only one who noticed that Tyler seemed a little distracted.

Boone chuckles and nudges Tyler, leaning into the camera. "Sorry, ya'll. Tyler's got his mind on a pretty girl, and he's not thinking about these storms anymore."

Tyler gives Boone a playful shove, trying to hide his smile, but you can't help but feel a flush of warmth at Boone's words.

When the stream finally ends, you feel a mix of relief and longing. You wish you could talk to him, hear his voice, and know that he's okay. But you know he's probably busy, still caught up in the excitement of the chase.

You sigh and set your phone down, trying to focus on something else. You grab your laptop and settle down at the kitchen table. But your thoughts keep drifting back to Tyler, and you find yourself checking your phone every few minutes, hoping for a message from him.

As the day winds down, the loneliness starts to creep in. The house is quiet, your roommate is already in bed, and you're left alone with your thoughts. You make yourself a cup of tea and curl up on the couch, staring at your phone, willing it to buzz with a message from Tyler.

Finally, it does.

TYLER: Hey, just got back to the motel. Sorry it's late. You still up?

YOU: Yeah, I'm up. How was it?

A few seconds later, your phone rings. It's Tyler.

"Hey," you answer, trying to keep the excitement out of your voice. "How are you?"

"Tired," Tyler admits, his voice soft and a little hoarse. "But it was a good day. Got some amazing footage. Wish you could have seen it."

"I did," you say, smiling to yourself. "I watched the livestream."

"You did?" He sounds pleased. "What did you think?"

"You were amazing," you reply honestly. "But I was worried about you the whole time. Think I stopped breathing a few times."

He chuckles and then his voice softens. "I know you worry about me. But we always make it back in one piece. We're smart about what we do, and I always make sure we're as safe as possible."

"I know you do. I just worry about you." You say before you grin as you think back to Boone's comment. "You know when I was watching the livestream earlier Boone made this comment about you being distracted by a pretty girl."

There's a brief silence on the other end of the line, and you can almost picture Tyler's smile as he chuckles.

"You caught that, huh?" Tyler says, his voice was warm and slightly amused. "I guess I've been caught."

There's a pause on the line, and you can almost picture him, lying on the motel bed, probably staring up at the ceiling, thinking about you.

"I miss you," Tyler says quietly, the words almost a whisper.

"I miss you too," you reply, your voice just as soft. "It's hard not seeing you."

"I know. But when I get back, I plan to make it up to you." Tyler says gently.

"I'm looking forward to it," you say softly. After a moment you add, "It's kind of crazy, though, when you think about it...We haven't even known each other for a month, and already, it's this hard being apart."

Tyler is silent for a moment as if weighing his words. Then, he speaks, his voice filled with warmth and sincerity. "Maybe that just means it's the real deal."

Your heart skips a beat at his words, the depth of emotion behind them catching you off guard in the best way. "Yeah," you whisper, feeling a rush of affection for him. "Maybe it does."

"I've never felt like this before," Tyler continues, his tone serious but tender. "It's like everything makes sense when I'm with you. Even the storms feel less chaotic when I know you're out there, rooting for me."

A soft smile tugs at your lips. "I feel the same way. It's like...you've become such a big part of my life so quickly. And it scares me a little, but in a good way."

"Don't be scared," Tyler murmurs. "We'll figure it out together. And when I get back, we'll pick up right where we left off."

"I like the sound of that," you say, your heart swelling with emotion. "I can't wait.

"Neither can I," Tyler replies, his voice gentle and full of promise. "But for now, I should get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be another long day."

"Okay," you say, reluctantly accepting the end of the call. "Goodnight, Tyler."

"Goodnight," he murmurs. "Sweet dreams."

You hang up, feeling a little lighter and more connected despite the distance. As you curl up under the covers, Tyler's sweatshirt wrapped around you, his words echo in your mind. Maybe it really is the real deal, you think to yourself, feeling a sense of peace settle over you as you drift off to sleep.