#i’d let that fish gut me

[bostoncreamdonut]

something something silco surrounded by water something something vander surrounded by flames

[jesuistrestriste]

GHOSTFACE DODGE GHOSTFACE DODGE GHOSTFACE DODGE MEOWOWOOWOWOWOWQOQOOQOQKA

DO YOU SEE THE VISON SAGE. DO YOU SEE IT

I SEE THE VISION SO BAD. SO BADDDDDD !!!!

[maitanii]

ran haitani, my beloved

“I haven’t been honest with you.”

The parking lot was nearly empty, the only sound coming from their slow footsteps. As they approached his black bike, Ran came to an abrupt stop. Those words. They were never good in any context. But hearing them from her? They felt like a punch to the gut. Turning, he caught the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

“What do you mean?” he asked, his voice steady but cautious.

She took a deep breath, as if bracing herself. “There’s something I’ve been lying about, and I think it’s time you knew the truth.”

Ran frowned. “Quit messing around.”

Her hesitation only made his nerves spike. “Do you remember our first date, when you told me about your favorite movie?”

“Yeah…” He drew the word out, his brow furrowing.

“Well, I lied when I said I liked it.”

For a moment, he just stared at her, processing. Then, the corner of his mouth twitched, and he let out a low chuckle. “Oh, babe…” His laughter grew, almost melodic, and she couldn’t help but feel a little lighter hearing it. “Is that what’s had you all wound up this afternoon?”

“Yes,” she admitted, biting her lip.

Ran shook his head, amused. “Well, can’t say I’m not hurt by that statement. But what can I say?” He stepped forward, wrapping his long arms around her shoulders and pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “You’ve got amazing taste in men, but your taste in movies sucks.”

“Today’s movie sucked, Ran.”

He froze, pulling back slightly. “Wait.” His eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

“I just… didn’t find it funny. The jokes were bad.”

“Okay, now you’re worrying me.”

“I’m sorry.” She slipped her helmet over her head, muffling the giggle threatening to escape. “I don’t even like the cast. That actor? He’s not charismatic. His entire shtick is picking a hot woman to play his wife and making that his personality.”

Ran let out a reluctant laugh, shaking his head as he fished his keys out of his pocket. “Fair enough,” he muttered, helping her onto the bike. Even though he wasn’t genuinely hurt, he was still a little surprised she’d brought this up now. As he settled into his seat, curiosity got the better of him.

“Why’d you lie to me back then? And why do you keep watching these movies if you don’t like them?”

She hesitated, then rested her hands lightly on his back. “Because you do, Ran. When you told me about that movie on our first date, you looked so excited. I didn’t have it in me to tell you how much I hate Adam Sandler’s acting.”

He reached for her hands, holding them against his chest as if to keep her close. “That’s sweet, babe. You’re way too nice to me.”

She smiled, relieved he wasn’t upset. “Maybe next time, we can watch one of my movies.”

“Sure,” he said easily. “As long as it’s not Twilight.”

“Oh, we’ll see,” she teased.

Ran groaned dramatically, revving the engine. “You know I’d give you the moon, but I’m not watching that.”

Her laugh rang out, even over the sound of the bike. “We’ll see.”

PS: I'm sorry girls, I don't like Adam Sandler movies. But do you know who does? My boyfriend.

When I first started talking to my boyfriend, he mentioned a movie I’d never seen. Instead of admitting it, I lied and said I loved it. Two years later, I finally confessed I hadn’t even heard of the movie until I met him. Now, nearly six years later, it’s still a running joke between us.

[misswynters]

Seb complaining to you after a days worth of work

short drabble

requested. by anon

Seb’s broad shoulders sagged as he shuffled inside, his gills flaring faintly with every irritated breath. Door creaking as he stepped inside still in his uniform, which carried a lingering dent of zauns smog and dust. He muttered something under his breath, probably about the day he’d had, as he unbuckled his utility belt and tossed it onto a nearby chair with a loud clunk.

You watched from the kitchen, leaning against the counter with a glass of water in hand, already bracing yourself for the incoming storm of complaints. Which he always does. He sure does love to complain about his job as enforcer.

“Long day?” you asked, breaking the silence.

Seb turned his wide, fish-like eyes toward you, his lower lip jutting out in an exaggerated pout. “You have no idea,” he groaned, flopping down onto the couch like a deflated balloon. His fin-like ears twitched as he rubbed at his temple, his webbed fingers dragging down his face dramatically. “I swear, if one more rookie enforcer tells me, ‘It’s just shimmer addicts, Seb,’ I’m gonna lose it. Like, yeah, Brad, shimmer addicts who could gut you with a rusty knife in two seconds flat. But sure, act tough.” (idk who’s brad lol, just a rando)

You bit back a laugh, crossing the room to sit beside him. “Brad again, huh?”

“Brad always,” Seb whined, throwing his head back against the couch and staring at the ceiling like it held all the answers. “It’s like babysitting with a badge.” He gestured wildly as he spoke, his fins flicking in irritation. “And don’t get me started on the paperwork. Hours of chasing down some punk, and then I have to sit there and write about it. I didn’t sign up for this. Well, okay, I did, but still.”

You leaned closer, resting your chin on your hand as you watched him rant. There was something endearing about the way he vented, his deep voice rising and falling with every exaggerated complaint.

“And then,” Seb continued, throwing his hands in the air for emphasis, “this shimmerhead threw a bottle at me. Me! Do I look like the kind of guy you throw a bottle at?”

You raised an eyebrow, pretending to think. “Well, you are pretty intimidating.”

Seb scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. “Oh, come on. I’m a catch.” He paused, his lips twitching upward as he caught the unintended pun. “Literally.”

You snorted, nudging him with your elbow. “A very dramatic catch.”

“Hey, someone’s gotta keep things interesting,” he said, finally cracking a small smile. He turned his gaze to you, his big eyes softening. “You’re lucky you’re cute, or I’d really start whining.”

“Start whining?” you teased, earning a half-hearted glare.

Seb sighed, leaning back into the couch and letting his head loll toward you. “You know,” he murmured, his tone quieter now, “it’s not all bad. Coming home to you? Best part of the day.”

Your cheeks warmed at his sudden sincerity, and you reached out to take his hand. “Glad I can make it better,” you said softly.

He squeezed your hand, his usual dramatics replaced by a rare moment of tenderness. The two of you sat there in silence, his complaints forgotten for now. Seb might be a whirlwind of grumbling and theatrics, but you wouldn’t trade him for anything.

taglist. @diffusebread @xxblairslairxx

banner. @anitalenia

[nightprompts]

&. 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐧 (𝐞𝐩𝐬. 𝟏-𝟒) 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬.

(  dialogue  prompts  taken from episodes 1 - 4  of max's  the  penguin  (2024),  created  by  lauren  lefranc.  feel  free  to  edit  and  change  as  you  seem  fit.. )

❛ i see you've made yourself at home. ❜

❛ so this new deal you got going... maybe i can help. ❜

❛ you know what i like most about you? you are who you are. you couldn't change if you tried. ❜

❛ you got a girl? good looking guy like you... ❜

❛ can you imagine? to be remembered like that? revered? ❜

❛ you really think people’d make a float of your dumb face and march it down the street, chanting your goddamn name? ❜

❛ you messed with the wrong fucking guy on the wrong fucking night. ❜

❛ you’re gonna do everything i say. or else i’ll murder you and, uh... anyone you care about. ❜

❛ what do you think of this? it’s a little air freshener. aqua paradise. you smell it? ❜

❛ we used to go there every day in the summer. you know, we’d mix the flavors for a suicide. you ever mix the flavors? ❜

❛ i ain’t trying to get in your business, but... i need an alibi. ❜

❛ i asked for extra pickles, and they give me two? so what, a normal amount of pickles is one? makes no goddamn sense. ❜

❛ there’s a nice sunrise behind you. you should take a look. ❜

❛ i could help you with whatever it is. whatever you need, whatever it is, all right? ❜

❛ well, maybe it’d be useful, keeping you around. for now. ❜

❛ but if you step out of line just once, i swear to god, i’ll gut you like a fucking fish. do you understand? ❜

❛ all right, listen, if i don’t come out... nah, i’ll be fine. you’ll be fine. it’s gonna be fine. ❜

❛ you know, maybe you don’t like me. that’s fine. i’m an acquired taste. ❜

❛ i’ve been rehabilitated. ❜

❛ you’ve really moved up in the world, haven’t you? ❜

❛ are you nervous? i’d hate for you to feel nervous with me. ❜

❛ you know, people underestimate you, but not me. i’ve always known you were capable of more. ❜

❛ this city is meant to be yours, sweetheart. what are you gonna do to get it? ❜

❛ the world wasn’t built for guys like us. that’s why we gotta take whatever we decide is ours. ❜

❛ but i gotta know. no bullshit. can i count on you to pull through? ❜

❛ i know who you are. i know what you are. i don’t work with people whose loyalty is for sale. ❜

❛ i’m gonna run this goddamn city. and i want you in on it. ❜

❛ i'm not safe. i'm home. ❜

❛ very, very convenient that, all of a sudden, you’re on my side. ❜

❛ you are scrambling for whatever dignity you have left and you’re hoping i will save you. ❜

❛ rough night, detective? ❜

❛ i refuse to let these old fucking men push me aside again, like i’m nothing. so, i’m going to take from them now. ❜

❛ you in? ❜

❛ let's dance. ❜

❛ you act like wanting more is a bad thing, but, i mean, don’t you want a better life than this? ❜

❛ are we, uh, kinda... partners now? ❜

❛ i mean, you fucked up. huge. but you learned, right? ❜

❛ whaddaya think the new clothes are for? you’re my guy. can’t have you lookin’ like a schmuck. ❜

❛ and from now on, you want something, you ask for it. ❜

❛ how’s anyone supposed know your worth unless you tell ’em, huh? ❜

❛ man of the hour, i was just thinking about you... ❜

❛ you do anything stupid, i’ll sense it. ❜

❛ that’s why you’re here. you seem to know everybody’s business. so, now’s your time to shine. ❜

❛ you’ve got a good thing going here. i’m really happy for you. ❜

❛ i know you’re not right in the head. i mean, that’s pretty damn clear. but i’m not scared of you. ❜

❛ you think i’d come here empty-handed? come on, we both know that if i ever truly left you hanging, there'd be a bullet between my eyes. ❜

❛ i got a real opportunity for you here, but it’s kinda hard to focus with a gun pointed at my face. ❜

❛ you got fight in you. you gotta let it out. ❜

❛ you’re fun at a card game, or over drinks, i’ll give you that. but people don’t keep you around because they think you’re smart. and they sure as shit don’t trust you. ❜

❛ i wouldn’t ask you to do this if i didn’t know you could handle it. i believe in you, kid. ❜

❛ i can't tell who wants this move. me or you. ❜

❛ i want this for you. ❜

❛ what you did to me. was it worth it? did you get everything that you wanted? ❜

❛ you wanna go, what are you waiting for? fuckin’ go. ❜

❛ you coulda left whenever you wanted. but you chose to stay. how about you ask yourself why. ❜

❛ i fucked you over. that what you wanna hear? ❜

❛ i’m fuckin’ sorry for everything that’s happened to you. ❜

❛ you meant something to me. still do. ❜

❛ i don’t know where to go from here. i don’t know how to trust you. ❜

❛ you need a cigarette, take the edge off? ❜

❛ a lobotomy couldn’t take the edge off. ❜

❛ when the time comes, i want you to take my place. i want you to run this family... if that’s something that would interest you. ❜

❛ they know you're mine. they'll do as i say. ❜

❛ why would you do this now? picking away at old wounds... you know how it upsets me. ❜

❛ you still haven’t told me what you want for your birthday. ❜

❛ i don’t need your advice. i don’t care what you think. no one does. you are my driver. that is all you are. so stop talking and drive. ❜

❛ listen, i get that you’re angry, you know. but i was just doing my job, looking out for you. ❜

❛ i’m not gonna make it in a place like that. i’m gonna die in there. ❜

❛ it’s okay to be scared. i was scared at first, too, but it’s not so bad here. you get used to the noises. ❜

❛ a woman beat the shit out of me while everyone stood around and watched. so, yeah, i had an incident. ❜

❛ i don’t know how to convince you i’m sane when you’ve already made up your mind about me. ❜

❛ i told you i’m fucking innocent. ❜

❛ i’m gonna get you something to eat. if you wanna get cleaned up, there’s a towel and a change of clothes in the guest bath upstairs. ❜

❛ i trusted him... when everything in my body told me not to. i should have killed him when i had the chance. ❜

❛ you abandoned me. ❜

❛ i left because i had to. because i could. i know you didn’t have that choice, but I’m here now. ❜

❛ you don’t have to pretend with me. ❜

❛ i haven’t forgotten, you know? the way you looked at me. so curious. ❜

❛ what did it feel like? to get to watch a person unravel? and now, you’re numbing yourself as punishment. ❜

❛ they think i'm broken. i'm not broken. ❜

❛ i'm not the one who's sick. and neither are you. the world is. ❜

❛ for the first time, i have hope. ❜

❛ to new beginnings. cent’anni. ❜

[earthnashes]

"By the moon we glide under, I despise you, Detective," Demona hisses, hefting the woman up by the wrists as if she weighed nothing. She yanks her close and bares her teeth in clear threat.

"Thank whatever gods you pray to I value my daughter's wishes. Otherwise, you'd be gutted like a fish by now."  

"Yet after all this time I'm still here. Alive... with barely a scratch on me. Angela has nothing to do with that, now does she?" Elisa hums, and Demona visibly bristles. The gargoyle can strike fear in the hearts of the coldest opponents-- has done so countless times in her pseudo immortal life-- but the detective was never among them.

The oddity of a human meets her piercing eyes without flinching. She does nothing to try and escape her grasp, simply allows herself to hang. By all accounts, helpless, but she looks as smug as she's ever been, trying (and failing) to hide the smirk curling across her lips.  

"If I didn't know any better, Demona," Elisa purrs, her voice is dripping with amusement, "I'd think you liked me-"

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

Haha whoops. :)

So I legit wasn’t gonna post this outside my patreon yet because I still have no concrete ideas, but I’m pretty proud of how it came out honestly. So here ya go. owo

I wanna do a Gargoyles AU, but like I said, no concrete ideas yet, largely because I need to rewatch the show (it’s been years since I’ve last seen it). But the basic idea I have so far explores the possibility of Demona’s redemption. One that is rocky and hard, but from what I remember she actually has the capacity to be redeemed, if she let her pride and anger go for literally like, three seconds.

As such this takes place after a piece I’m currently working on, so that one should give some more context. Until then though, enjoy a grumpy Demona and a smug, kinda flirty Elisa. uwu

[jadeshifting]

— WHAT’S IN MY BAG? ( IN MY OUTER BANKS DR )

˚　　　　✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　.　　　　　 . ✦　　　 　˚　　　　 . ★ ⋆. ࿐࿔

my bag isn’t just a bag, it’s quite literally years of belonging and experience—a testament to my whole life. a weathered bag of leather and canvas, faded from years of sun, salt, and marsh water. i’ve fixed the strap countless times and the bottom is always a little damp from seawater and mud. my belongings are a mix of necessity, habit, and some sentimentals that i won’t leave behind ( even if some are dead weight )

MAP OF KILDARE. it’s not just any map, it’s my map. i’ve spent years putting my own markings on it, mapping out the things i’ve found and learned. it’s practically more valuable than gold ( not really )

PACK OF MARLBORO GOLDS. a habit i got from my mom, i think. i’ll only smoke the golds. my sister thinks it’s a horrible habit, and i agree—but i think everyone needs at least one of those

MOONSTONE ROSARY. a good luck charm, i literally never let it leave my possession. i’m convinced if i let it go for one second i’ll magically pitch of the side of a cliff or something

DIGITAL CAMERA. waterproof, obviously. ( i learned my lesson after the last three )

BUCK KNIFE. old, well-worn, i use it for everything. shucking oysters, cutting rope, and defending myself if necessary. it’s sharp enough to gut a fish, slice through reeds, and anything else i need

TRUCK KEYS. mind you, the truck hasn’t run in ten years. i dunno why i carry them, acting like it’ll make the engine magically clear of dry-rot and rust. still, i do

HEART SUNGLASSES. cheap, plastic firetruck red. they’re shitty and practically block out zero light, but i keep them cause my sister gave them to me and cause they’re kinda cute sometimes

ALABASTER POCKETKNIFE. worn over the years, with ‘Fool For Love’ engraved on the side. it was a hand-me-down from my mom, and that couldn’t have been more true for her

HANDFUL OF SEASHELLS. smooth, and mostly pinky blue, or opalescent off-white. i’ve been meaning to display them or frame them, but i always forget, so they litter the bottom of my bag instead

PAIR OF SHORTS. my clothes get torn to shreds and soaked practically every day i work, so it’s good to have a spare in case i have to go somewhere afterwards

BEER CAN. unopened, lukewarm, dented, probably shaken up all to shit. i forgot it was in there, actually. i don’t even like beer

HAWAIIAN VANILLA PERFUME. a brand new bottle i just splurged on. it’s the only perfume i’ve ever worn since i got my first bottle, for my birthday back in middle school

DECK OF CARDS. i made it a personal goal to learn as many card games as possible, so far i know at least thirty—though some are a lot more boring than others

BAG OF PEACHES. that i bought earlier, perched sooo lightly on the top so they don’t get smushed. i was planning on roasting them ( my sister and i like them roasted and served with a scoop of ice cream ) ( i don’t know who came up with it either, it’s a family ‘recipe’ )

SILVER WATCH. i took it off so it wouldn’t get waterlogged, it’s a shiny antique

SPRAY-ON SUNSCREEN. i know it doesn’t work as well, but i’d need thirty hours in a day to have the time to slather on lotion sunscreen every time i was charring out in the sun—it’s just not efficient

HEADPHONES. waterproof and over-ear. the sound of the waves crashing against the cliffs is roaring and i’m convinced it would’ve made me deaf by now if i couldn’t opt to listen to The Cranberries instead

COPY OF ‘CIRCE’ BY MADELINE MILLER. i have to hang it out to dry on the clothes line out back, it got wet :(

WATERPROOF MASCARA. i quite literally won’t get caught dead without it. you can take anything away from me BUT my eyelashes

SPOON. sturdy and metal, used to pit peaches or avocados in a pinch, or dig into a coconut if i’m really desperate

COCONUT OIL. in a really sketchy-looking glass bottle with “coconut oil” scrawled across the front in black marker. still, it’s imperative, good for everything—cooking, soothing, moisturizing when the sun tries to crack your skin off, etc

WATERWORN POLAROID. of just me and my sister. the edges are perpetually damp, but i’m careful to keep it from tearing

HERMIT CRAB SHELL. my sister’s hermit crab is about to change shells, i told her i’d bring a really good one home for him. i literally spent two weeks searching the beach until i found this one

GOLD LIGHTER. for smoking or starting a fire, i can count on it rain-or-shine

LEATHER GLOVES. the oyster shells are razor-sharp, i already have plenty of tiny, shiny scars to prove it. the gloves help a little, even if they’re permanently stained with salt and mud

CRACKED COMPASS. it’s been broken for a long, long time, but i know my directions well enough that i’ve never made the effort to get it fixed

˚　　　　✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　.　　　　　 . ✦　　　 　˚　　　　 . ★ ⋆. ࿐࿔

[floatingaimlessly333]

The 141(and friends(plus Graves)) as Things My Friends and I Have Said:

Gaz, playing a game with Soap: Stop using your spells on me, you magical bitch!

Ghost: Your gaydar is strong and your opinions are wrong

Price: Do not send me anime boy art of Austin from Backyardigans

Ghost: Hamlet her ass!!!

Soap: This is not Game of Thrones, ye shall not betray me!!!

Soap: I didn’t forget, but I forgot.

Ghost: Johnny, you can walk.

Soap, drunk off his ass: *falls into a bookshelf and knocks everything off*

Farah: I’ll become the colonizer! :)

Alex: You know life is good when mild sauce just hits you in the chest

Nik: Put your pinky down. The Queen is dead, there’s no need for that.

Roach: Sperm Donor Daddy Onceler

Ghost: The dog version of 50 Shades: 50 Shades of Greyhounds

Gaz: Red fish, blue fish, give me my money bitch

Graves: Face down, ass up, that’s the way that we suck blood

Soap, drunk and in the back of Kate’s car: May ah vape in here?

Laswell: You have been for the past 3 minutes.

Ghost: You’re a goose cunt.

Price, after Nik used the kitchen: Potato peeler stealing conniving little twat

Laswell: You think I have big pockets because I’m a lesbian?

Ghost: Call me the good doctor, because I’m autistic and all up in those guts.

Soap: Good night, sleep tight! Don’t let the sandman stick 2 fingers in yer arse!!

Ghost: Even if I was in Hogwarts, I’d still be autistic. I can’t avacadavra the autism away.

Gaz: Maraschino cherries don’t taste like cherries, they taste like capitalism.

Ghost: I’LL CUT YOUR DICK OFF!!! :)

Soap: Ye just milk their lil’ snake tiddies

Ghost: Holy bats, Ballman

Nik: How did the mall cops talking to the street cops prevent you from taking a piss?

Graves: I think

Ghost: You think? Incredible

Ghost: I don’t follow wizard rules

Soap: Do ye guys think oral sex from a muppet is a handjob or a blowjob?

Price, after starting a group chat with all of his friends: Wait! Fuck!! I’m disbanding the groupchat. Everyone forget each other’s numbers. I can’t have you all scheming against me.

Alejandro: I’ll be honest, I didn’t know you had a dad until sophomore year.

Rudy: H-How?!? We’ve known each other since we were four!!! YOU’VE BEEN TO MY HOUSE!!! WHERE MY DAD LIVES!!!

Ghost: I’m not going to my funeral.

[hayhenna]

Tides of the past 🩵♥️

_a short shuggy fic_

Continuation of The Captain's Heart

-----

The room was quiet except for the soft sound of their breaths, mingling in the stillness. Shanks and Buggy lay tangled together on the bed, a blanket loosely draped over them. The air was warm, and the afterglow of their passion still lingered. Buggy’s fingers traced absent patterns along Shanks’ toned abs, his detached hand lazily perched on Shanks’ chest, as if it belonged there.

“You know,” Buggy began, his voice softer than usual, “this felt… different.”

Shanks turned his head to meet Buggy’s gaze, his scarred face illuminated by the faint moonlight. “Different how?”

Buggy hesitated, an uncharacteristic vulnerability flashing in his eyes. “I don’t know. I felt something I’ve never felt before.” He let out a nervous laugh. “You know me—feelings aren’t my thing.”

Shanks smiled, brushing a strand of Buggy’s wild blue hair out of his face. “That’s what happens when it’s not just sex. That’s making love.”

Buggy’s heart skipped a beat. For a moment, he couldn’t bring himself to speak. Instead, he closed his eyes, a small, almost childlike smile creeping onto his lips. It was like being young again, back when life was simpler, and all they had was the Oro Jackson, their dreams, and each other.

As Buggy’s hand continued its lazy exploration of Shanks’ abs, his mind wandered. “Do you remember that time on the Oro Jackson, when you tried to prank Roger? We ended up hiding in that tiny supply closet.”

Shanks chuckled, his voice tinged with nostalgia. “How could I forget? You wouldn’t stop complaining about the smell of pickled fish.”

Buggy grinned. “Yeah, but I also remember you kept looking at me weird. What was that about?”

Shanks’ expression softened as he stared at the ceiling. “I… I wanted to kiss you. I didn’t understand it back then, but I felt something. You felt it too, didn’t you?”

Buggy nodded slowly. “Yeah. We were so young and stupid. Nobody told us anything about love.”

“We were pirates,” Shanks said with a smirk.

“Pirates,” Buggy echoed, grinning.

Shanks shifted to his side, propping himself up on one arm. “You know, Buggy, I have a confession to make.”

“Yeah, Red?”

“Remember the time we spilled fish guts on the deck and got sent to guard duty at the top of the mast for two whole days?”

Buggy burst into laughter. “How could I forget? That was miserable—and we were definitely not kids anymore by then!”

Shanks laughed too, the sound rumbling deep in his chest as he got in too of Buggy. “Yeah, well, I stole a bottle of rum that day. We had our first make-out session while we were supposed to be on watch.”

Buggy blinked, his laughter subsiding. “Wait, what? That doesn’t ring a bell.”

Shanks rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. “We were drunk. Well. You more that I was… and I kissed you, just a soft kisses, like this…” He leaned down and demonstrated, his lips brushing against Buggy’s in a tender, lingering kiss.

Buggy lay there, his hair loose and cheeks flushed, his lips slightly parted as Shanks pulled back. “Then what?”

Shanks smiled, his hand trailing down Buggy’s sides. “I remember you were wearing that shirt you always said made you look rugged, just so I’d notice. I touched you like this…” His fingers danced lightly up and down across Buggy’s skin, sending a shiver through him.

Buggy stretched his neck, letting out a soft hum. “Go on…”

“We didn’t talk much. You just kept calling me ‘Red, Red,’ over and over,” Shanks admitted, his face tinged with embarrassment. “And… well, that *did things* to me, if you know what I mean.”

Buggy raised an eyebrow, a sly grin spreading across his lips. “Seriously? I’ve been calling you that since we were teens. You got a boner just from me saying it?”

Shanks rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling nervously. “What can I say? You’ve always had a way of getting under my skin.”

Buggy leaned closer, his grin softening into something more playful. “Guess I’ve still got the charm, huh?”

Shanks’ voice dropped, growing husky. “Then I kissed you again… and all I could think about was everything I wanted to do to you.”

Buggy’s lips quirked upward, and he tilted his head, his tone turning seductive. “And then what, *Red*?”

Shanks swallowed hard, his gaze dropping to Buggy’s lips. “And then… you held onto my neck and bit my lip. Just like this…” He leaned in and grazed his teeth over Buggy’s bottom lip, a gentle tug that made Buggy’s breath hitch. “That blew my mind. And then…”

Shanks pulled back slightly, laughing at himself. “I panicked. Chickened out. Left you there all confused and, uh… handled things myself on the other side of the mast.”

Buggy stared at him for a moment before bursting into uncontrollable laughter. “You’re telling me you abandoned me and then jerked off your feelings alone while I was still there?”

Shanks covered his face, laughing along. “Hey, I was young and stupid, okay? Cut me some slack!”

Buggy grinned mischievously, his laughter subsiding. “You’re still stupid, Red. But I guess I can forgive you.”

The two captains exchanged a glance before their lips met once more, laughter mingling with soft kisses as their hearts raced, filled with the joy of shared memories and the warmth of having each other.

Buggy chuckled softly, his cheeks still warm as Shanks continued to leave featherlight kisses along his neck. "You know, Red, for a guy who claims to be fearless, you sure were a coward back then."

Shanks pulled back slightly, smirking. "Well, what can I say? You were intimidating, even without your Devil Fruit powers. Besides, I didn’t want to ruin what we had… I guess I thought I’d scare you off."

Buggy rolled his eyes but smiled, his fingers trailing lazily over Shanks’ chest. "You were such a sap even back then, huh? And here I thought I was the dramatic one."

Shanks grinned and nuzzled against Buggy’s cheek. "Guess I’ve always been sentimental when it comes to you."

Buggy let out an exaggerated groan but couldn’t hide the blush spreading across his face. "Ugh, you’re making me soft, Red."

Shanks laughed, his tone teasing. "Too late for that, Buggy. I’ve already got you right where I want you." He punctuated the statement with a playful squeeze to Buggy’s sides, earning a surprised yelp from the clown.

Buggy scowled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. "Watch it, Red, or you’ll lose a hand tonight."

Shanks grinned mischievously, leaning in close. "Better my hand than my heart."

Buggy stared at him for a moment before throwing his head back in laughter. "Oh, now you’re *really* laying it on thick. You’re lucky I’m in a good mood."

"Come on, admit it," Shanks teased. "You love it."

Buggy rolled his eyes again, this time with a genuine, warm smile. "Yeah, yeah. Maybe I do, you idiot."

The two captains lay there in comfortable silence for a while, lost in their shared memories and the warmth of each other’s presence.

Finally, Buggy broke the quiet. "Hey, Red… I think we were just two stupid kids trying to figure things out back then. But maybe it’s a good thing we were so dumb. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have ended up here, right?"

Shanks smiled, brushing a strand of Buggy’s hair out of his face. "You’re right. We were very stupid. But now, we’re two stupid adults who’ve figured it out." Said with a wide grin.

Buggy smirked, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Speak for yourself, Red. I’m a genius."

Shanks barked out a laugh, pulling Buggy closer. "Sure you are, Buggy. Sure you are."

And as the night deepened, the two pirates, who had spent so much of their lives chasing dreams and treasures, found the greatest treasure of all in each other: a love they’d both been too foolish to understand but were now wise enough to cherish.

---

Sappy end :3

Part 1 The Captains heart

Ty for reading, I hope you enjoyed my sappy writing.

Lemme know what you want to read next :)

[maggplays]

Frogs of Fall: Perspectives

Another silly thing I wrote in between marathon runs of Alex marriage dialogue... A contribution to Sebastian's frog pajamas, I figured I should write something for that considering I started the whole thing! :D Written from each character's perspective, like the last one. Link at the bottom if you want it.

Sebastian/fem farmer (Raven OC) NSFW: mild language, sexual content | Quick read ~2200 words

Read on AO3 here: Frogs of Fall

I might be convinced to write part 2 if enough people are interested, leave a comment!

Raven

It’s early, but not that early. The sun rose not too long ago and the air is crisp. I feel a slight chill, but it will be gone once the sun fully rises. I check my watch one more time before resting my hand on the door. Nine o’clock. The handle turns and the door swings open. I step inside, bringing a swirl of fall leaves with me. “Hello, Raven!” Robin’s cheerful voice greets me as I step up to the counter, she winks and nudges the catalogue towards me, eager for another big project. 

“Oh, I’m still working on gathering decent hardwood for the stable, I should be ready to start on it in the next few days.” I can’t help but smile as she raises her eyebrow knowingly. 

Robin sighs. “Ah, well. It is a lot of work gathering resources by yourself. I’m off to aerobics class anyway, I’m sure I’ll see you tomorrow if not sooner. Have a wonderful day, Sebby should be up shortly,” she chuckles and heads out, leaning back to snatch a towel draped over the chair by the door. It’s a good thing I like Robin, she can be a lot sometimes. 

Shuffling footsteps reach my ears and I turn towards the sound. Sebastian emerges from the hall to the kitchen, rubbing his eyes, hair tousled, a pillow crease across one cheek. He hasn’t seen me yet, his fingers run back through his hair, then up as he reaches for the ceiling, arching his back and yawning, shirt hem rising to expose his belly… Oh… holy… My eyes widen and my heart tries to escape my chest as my gaze drifts down to his belly button and a tidy row of dark hair marching in a straight line between the angle of his hips down to his dangerously-low waistband. My lips part and lungs struggle for air, I'm gaping like a fish but can’t do anything about it… Sebastian’s well-worn pajama pants are stretched out at the waist with frayed ties hanging loose. Little faded cartoon frogs frolic merrily across the fabric, dancing and catching dragonflies. One little frog seems to smirk then wink as it peeks out from its hiding place in his pajama fly. Rising up on his toes, Sebastian fully commits to the stretch, and I watch shamelessly.

As Sebastian opens his eyes, I see realization cross his features and he snaps his arms down, yanking on his shirt hem. Pfftt! God, he’s cute. Just like yesterday when he handed me a bouquet, staring at his feet, whispering, “Will you go out with me?” like he was terrified I’d say no. To my embarrassment, I practically jumped on him, but he didn’t seem to be bothered by my eagerness. Then he kissed me, or maybe I kissed him? I’m not sure but I’ll never forget that feeling. Oh damn, I’m just staring at him, letting the poor guy squirm.

“Good morning, handsome!” Ooof, that’s cheesy, oh well. It’s true anyway. That smile! Heh, and the little dimple in his cheek… I love when he laughs. “There’s frogs on your pants,” I blurt, like that wasn’t obvious. They are really cute frogs though. I wonder where he got those? Must have been a gift, I can’t see him buying something so silly himself. Sebastian looks down, red flush creeping up his cheeks. Of course that only draws my eyes to where he’s looking, directly at his crotch. 

“Uhhh… I should go get dressed, I’ll be right back.” Sebastian makes a move for the stairs, my hand flies out to grab his arm before I can think. I want to keep him here with me, him and his ridiculous pajamas that are… quite thin now that I see them up close. A burning ache fills my gut and before I can overthink it, I throw my arms around his neck, kissing him… hard. He wraps his arms around me, holding me tight to his chest, a moan escaping his lips. I feel his body’s response to my proximity and I can’t help but rise up on my toes, feeling him rub against my pelvis, hard and hot. He opens his mouth and I kiss him deeper, our tongues tangling in a dance, his hands sliding down my back… The ache in my core intensifies as my body reacts to the feeling of him pressing against me.

SLAM! 

“SEB!! YOU UP YET?” Holy Yoba! I think my heart just stopped, I feel Sebastian jump and release him, returning my heels to the floor. He’s panting, obviously disoriented by Sam’s sudden interruption. “Oh, hey guys, Raven, I didn’t know you’d be here, heh! Uhhh, sorry, I can come back later. Like in five minutes? Haha!” Sam’s voice filters through the roar in my ears, my brain struggles to make sense of the words.

Blinking, I look down. That cheeky little frog is looking back at me from his rather high perch. Sebastian is gripping his shirt hem, self-conscious; I turn around, careful to keep Sebastian behind me, blocking Sam’s view. “I’ll wait outside, you’re supposed to come practice the new set at my place, remember?” I hear Sebastian’s rumbling grunt in response, and Sam thankfully takes the hint and steps out. Sighing, I turn back, leaning my forehead against Sebastian’s chest and settling my hands on his bare hips, I don’t want to let him go. 

After a moment I look up, meeting his eyes, swirling wells of bluish gray. “That frog is my favorite, he better come visit me later,” I whisper… that was… pretty forward. I hope he doesn’t mind. I smile to cover my embarrassment, I have no idea if he wants to repeat this scenario or just let it go and see what happens. All I know is I really love these pajama pants of his. 

“Sorry about Sam, I… do you want to meet up later? I have better pants, these are trashed. Heh, I must look like you found me in the sewer.” Sebastian sighs softly, avoiding my eyes. He’s definitely got the wrong idea, I can’t let him think that.

“Don’t you dare get rid of these, I love the little frogs and you look so… um, I better go before Sam gets bored and comes back in. Come over to my place tonight after you’re done hanging out at the saloon, and bring those pajamas. I want to get to know that little frog better, heh! Yeah, that was a joke. Sort of. Not really. Okay, I’m done, one more kiss?” That was definitely starting to go downhill… Sebastian immediately responds with a gentle kiss, his lips warm and inviting. Before I get lost in him, I pull back and head for the door, looking over my shoulder to catch one last glimpse of that man in frog pants. My man in frog pants. Tonight can’t come soon enough.

Sebastian

-Rumble- Urgh… shut up, stomach… it’s too early. The sun is just peeking through the tiny windows of my dungeon, must be around nine. -Rumble- Fine, I’m getting up. I drag my legs over the side of the bed, my toes curl at contact with the cold floor before I find my slippers. Shoulders drooping, I slide my feet towards the stairs, gravity sucks. Two… three… four… I trudge up the steps, dragging my fingers along the worn path in the wall until I reach fifteen.

Crisp fall air tugs at my hair and clothes as the front door closes, Mom must be heading out for her aerobics class. -Rumble- Alright, alright, we’re almost to the fridge… I rummage around and find an energy bar, I wish these actually gave me energy, but whatever. At least my stomach will be content. Pushing my hair out of my eyes, I shuffle back down the hall, hearing the door again. Mom must have forgotten her towel. Turning the corner, I pause to stretch my shoulders, must have slept weird last night… I glance up and freeze… Raven.

Heat washes over me as she smiles, my arms over my head, cool air prickling my bare stomach. I tug my shirt down and try to breathe normally. Only yesterday I had finally sucked up the courage to offer Raven a bouquet of flowers, hands shaking, stuttering out the words. She immediately accepted, no hesitation, she wanted… me. I still can’t believe it. When I ran into Sam afterward, the whole story just gushed out of me, he couldn’t stop laughing. I think I punched him, I don’t remember. Then he hugged me, what a goof.

“Good morning, handsome!” Raven’s cheerful voice yanks me out of my head, she’s the only one who can do that. I grin like a lovesick puppy… well, I guess that’s pretty accurate. Tilting her head, she gazes at me, the corner of her mouth twitching like it does when she’s about to say something sarcastic or that she thinks is funny. She has a great sense of humor, I don’t always get her jokes, but I laugh just the same. Seeing her happy is all I need. “There’s frogs on your pants, “ she smirks, eyes sparkling.

I look down. Oh god no… shit, shit, shit! I forgot I was wearing my frog pajama pants, the ones Mom got me several years ago, and have nearly been worn to transparency. She keeps begging me to throw them out, but every time I head to the trash, halfway there I think they have a few more washes left in them. The elastic has completely given up at the waist, the ties are frayed, and the faded frogs just mock me, knowing how much I love these pants. A frog looks up at me from behind my fly, sticking out its tongue. I can practically see the outline of my… oh god, these are going straight in the trash after this! Another wave of heat washes over me, and I feel a draft down there… I’m not wearing anything under these pants, I hate the feeling of boxers when I’m trying to sleep.

“Uhhh… I should go get dressed, I’ll be right back.” As I turn towards the stairs, Raven’s hand touches my arm, then she’s in my arms, pressing her body against mine. I feel every curve of her, soft breasts pressing against my chest, the slope of her back down to her… oh god, my breath catches as she presses her lips to mine, so full and sweet, like honey. My body reacts instantly to her touch, desire flaring to life in my core, no… no… there’s nothing I can do, these pants are way too thin to hide something that obvious. Though at this point, I don’t think it would matter if I were wearing jeans. She’d definitely feel that. Raven lifts herself on her toes, rubbing against me, I suck air at the sensation and she flicks her tongue into my mouth. I curl my tongue around hers, sliding my hands down over the curve of her glutes… tingling waves rushing over me, burning desire… ngh… I don’t think I can stop, I don’t want to stop.

SLAM! 

“SEB!! YOU UP YET?” Sam’s stupid yellow head flashes across the edge of my vision, Raven stiffens, quickly lowering her feet to the floor. Her arms release my neck, cold air flowing over my exposed skin. “Oh, hey guys, Raven, I didn’t know you’d be here, heh! Uhhh, sorry, I can come back later. Like in five minutes? Haha!” I glare over Raven’s shoulder at Sam, oh he’s definitely paying for that later. She turns, staying squarely in front of me, thank god. It’ll take a minute for my body to get the message that it’s time to cool off… I glance down, the smirking frog has completely emerged from its hiding place, perching right on my- Eeesh. That’s attractive. “I’ll wait outside, you’re supposed to come practice the new set at my place, remember?” I grunt my acknowledgment as Sam waves, snickering as he saunters out the door. Raven turns back, her hands on my hips, thumbs gently massaging my skin. 

She looks up and smiles, her emerald eyes sparkling with mischief. “That frog is my favorite, he better come visit me later.” I blink… is she serious? Does she actually like these pants? They’re so… stupid. 

“Sorry about Sam, I… do you want to meet up later? I have better pants, these are trashed. Heh, I must look like you found me in the sewer.” -Sigh- Why did I say that? She didn’t actually say she wanted to stay the night, she was probably just teasing. Talk about jumping the gun. 

“Don’t you dare get rid of these, I love the little frogs and you look so… um, I better go before Sam gets bored and comes back in. Come over to my place tonight after you’re done hanging out at the saloon, and bring those pajamas. I want to get to know that little frog better, heh! Yeah, that was a joke. Sort of. Not really. Okay, I’m done, one more kiss?” I bend down a little to give her a parting kiss, then she’s stepping out the door, leaving me feeling a little cold and empty. Trudging down the stairs, a smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. Tonight can’t come soon enough.

To be continued??

Shadows and Starlight (Perspectives 1)

[hmsdoodlin]

BEAT HIS ASS!

Mind and Heart, violence, choking, angst, 614 words, Heart gets belittled (deserved)

Title is a placeholder, I’m not good with titles :P

——————————————————————-

“[The difference between you and me-]” Mind tightens his grip on Hearts neck, ignoring the man’s sputtering and writhing beneath him. “[-Is impulse control.]”

As if to prove a point he loosens his hold for a moment, allowing the moon to get a gasp of air before sealing his windpipe again.

He stared at the man beneath him, bloody nose spilling all over Minds hands as Hearts grip squeezed around slippery purple metal.

“[If I could ensure our hosts survival without you I’d gut you like a fish right here and now.]”

Heart stilled for a moment, seemingly taken aback by the brutal confession. Either that or he was finally losing consciousness, Mind couldn’t really tell. He loosened his grip once again as Heart sneered back at him, teeth barred in a threatening display.

(I’ll kill you) it says, Minds scowl deepens, he knows it’s the truth.

“[You are an animal, you try to ruin me any chance you get. No fear of repercussions, not the semblance of an idea of damage control if you’d successfully cave my head in under your fists. Pure, unfiltered delirious rage.]”

Heart reared up with a burst of energy, snapping at Minds face with yellowed fangs. Mind pulled himself back out of instinct, struggling to overpower the beast beneath him. Heart was always the strongest between them, and he had to force his entire body weight onto him as he slammed his head back to the floor with a staticky hiss.

“[I have carefully planned your death a thousand times over in my brain. There is no half assed attempt at a grave and the blind hope for things to go smoothly. My plans disintegrate your very existence within seconds, reducing you only to Souls memory. There will be no crying, no regret. Just apathy.]”

[I wouldn’t regret it like you did.]

The words hang heavy on his tongue, biting back vile curses and pools of venom. If he could kill Heart there would be no tears or begging for forgiveness, he wouldn’t fall back in shock at his own doing and stare in terror. Even when he had won, Mind bleeding and gasping underneath him, Heart fell victim to his nature and fumbled instead of finishing the job for good.

That’s why he failed.

That’s why Mind would succeed.

He felt Hearts heartbeat through the fabric of his hoodie, loud and erratic as he refused to relent. Mind knew he couldn’t keep this up forever, so he gave one final shove downwards. Pressing Hearts throat as close to the ground as possible, squeezing with as much strength he could muster. He couldn’t feel the skin beneath his fingertips, perhaps that made it easier to pretend his neck was an object far removed from anything alive or human.

The moon thrashed a few times more before going limp, only after a few calculated moments did Mind let go and shakily stagger backwards. Heart clutched at his throat, turning over while coughing his lungs out. Saliva and tears coated the floor beneath him, gasping for air as he heaved.

Mind felt nothing, stepping back to see his work while breathing heavily. A part of him expected to feel victorious, prideful and excited that he had finally given Heart a taste of his own medicine. But he felt oddly empty as he watched the show beneath him. There was no joy to be found here.

“[I haven’t killed you yet because we need you in order to live. You can never kill me. We are not the same.]”

And with that he left, the sounds of labored sobs eventually becoming too much to bear as he limped away without turning back.

[tgmsunmontue]

Season to Taste - 28/? WIP

Explicit Hangster - Celebrity Chef Bradley and Naval Aviator Jake Seresin who have a relationship spanning the globe before they realize how tightly bound they are to one another. Heading into this little world.

PROLOGUE/ONE TWO THREE FOUR FIVE SIX SEVEN EIGHT NINE TEN ELEVEN TWELVE THIRTEEN FORTEEN FIFTEEN SIXTEEN SEVENTEEN EIGHTEEN NINETEEN TWENTY TWENTYONE TWENTYTWO TWENTYTHREE TWENTYFOUR TWENTYFIVE TWENTYSIX TWENTYSEVEN

CHAPTER TWENTYEIGHT

                He didn’t expect to miss Leandro and Silvia and all the extended Gallo family so much. He’s so glad that Vi decided to come with him, that it gives him a link to their family back home. When they were travelling it was fine, better. New places and people everyday, foods to try and regular contact home. Now that he’s more settled his apartment feels… quiet. Empty. He’s glad Vi lives with him, even if she’s messy and has no intention to change.

                “You’re allowed to miss people. Fuck. What kind of emotionally repressed upbringing did you have?”

                Bradley looks at her, one eyebrow raised, because they’ve talked about this.

                “Oh shit. Yeah. Okay. You get a pass. But you’re Italian now. Honorary Italian anyway.”

                “Yeah, don’t think it works that way.”

                “Let’s pretend it does. You need to cry?”

                “I don’t need to cry.”

                “We all need to cry once in a while. Come on… curl up with me and think your saddest fucking thoughts until you cry. Promise you’ll feel better after.”

                “This is insane…”

                “Yeah yeah, keep telling yourself that.”

…            …            …

                “Boyfriend’s on the blower!” Kieran declares, because he’s appointed himself Bradley’s cellphone keeper, despite the fact that Bradley doesn’t need someone to answer his phone for him.

                “Oh for fucks sake…” Bradley mutters, hands dripping with fish guts and blood. Okay, maybe he does need someone to answer his phone. Kieran smirks at him, the others in the kitchen are turning off the music, conversations dropping to more quiet murmurs, all so Bradley can talk to his boyfriend. There isn’t a film crew hovering at the moment, for which he’s grateful for, doesn’t need more of an audience for his phone conversations with Jake.

                But Bradley is working and needs both his hands free. He’s lost ear pods into soup and sauces before, the over-the-ear ones catching and pulling on his hair and uncomfortable under his hat and he just doesn’t like things in his ears when he’s working. So now there is an understanding in his team, if Jake calls and it isn’t the busy service time, they let Bradley talk to his boyfriend. He knows they have their own reasons for keeping him happy, but he’s still grateful. He nods at Kieran, who settles the phone on the little holder located just above Bradley’s workstation and presses the answer button.

                “Hey babe…”

                “Hey. I’m –”

                “You’re on speaker in the kitchen,” Bradley quickly interjects and there is raucous laughter around him. He wasn’t quick enough one time and Jake had said a little bit too much, unaware he was on speaker. He doesn’t call while Bradley’s working frequently, because the timing doesn’t often align with their schedules.

                “Good to know. You know I’m just going to assume that’s always the case now, right? Going forward? Safest bet, right guys?”

                “Yes!” everyone in the kitchen call back and Bradley hides a smile.

                “Well, I was just calling to say that it’s forty-eight hours babe. Just thought I’d ring and give you a countdown…”

                “For the callers at home, Bradley just went as red as a tomato…”

                That makes Jake laugh and the sound filling his kitchen makes Bradley grin wider, not even bothering to hide it.

…            …            …

                Their carrier is due for significant maintenance, the entire squad disembarking in Brooklyn to start their leave. He’s surprised when Phoenix falls into step beside him, because he’s not headed toward temporary housing, and he knows her home base is North Island.

                “Phoenix, you’re heading into New York as well huh?”

                “Yep. Been planning this since I found out where we’d be finishing up. There’s this restaurant I’ve been dying to go to. I made a reservation months ago for tomorrow night, it’s impossible to just walk in. What about you? Heading home?”

                “Yeah, eventually. Here to see my giant cock of a boyfriend…”

                The look on her face and eyeroll is exactly what Jake was after and he smirks.

      ��         “Can’t you just call him by his name?”

                “And stop annoying you? Never.”

                “Ugh. You’re impossible.”

                “You love me really,” Jake says with a laugh, which earns him another eyeroll. He thinks she might be warming up to him, although all the baked goods he’s given her courtesy of Leo have probably helped.

                “How long are you in town? You want to meet the giant cock?”

                “Rooster. How about we just call him Rooster,” she suggests, desperation edging in and Jake doesn’t stop grinning.

                “Hmm. Not bad… you’d still know it was because he has a …”

                “Lalalalala I can’t hear you…” Phoenix says, voice loud and Jake laughs again. She’s almost as much fun to rile up as his sisters.

                “Fine. I’ll call him Leo. You can call him Rooster though.”

                “Please note that I have no interest in his cock. Or anyone else’s for that matter.”

                “Oh,” Jake states, because that is indeed new information. “Huh. Good to know. You know, one of my sisters is a lesbian…”

                “Hangman, please don’t take this the wrong way, but I don’t want to be related to you.”

                “Wow, jumping to marriage without evening meeting her. I know the Seresin charm is strong, but even then…”

                “I mean I’m not even taking the chance of ever being somehow related to you.”

                “Okay. Sure… my family is great. Your loss Phoenix. Tell me about this restaurant you’re going to. Fancy?”

                “The fanciest and most popular. There was a whole TV show about it, Tartaruga Blu?”

                “Nope. Never heard of it.”

                “Bet your boyfriend has.”

                “Yep. Probably,” Jake agrees easily, because Leo knows food stuff and watches more TV than Jake. “Pretty sure you’re more interested in the baked goods he sends me than …”

                “That is true. Definitely one of the reasons I keep you around.”

                “So you admit there’s more than one reason?”

                “Ugh.”

                “Pretty sure you were the one who was moaning over those cookies he sent me.”

                “Shut up. Anyway, I thought he was Italian?”

                “Nah, he was born in Virginia actually, but lived all over. Spent most of his childhood and teen years in Cali actually, your neck of the woods. He just headed for Italy first chance he could and then lived there for a long time.”

                “Huh. That sounds kind of familiar…”

                “Pretty sure it ain’t a unique situation.”

                “Yeah. Probably…” Phoenix says, although her expression looks like she’s trying to figure something out.

…            …            …

                He has time, so he sees Phoenix to her hotel before wishing her a good leave period. She insists on following him on Instagram, even though Jake’s account is private and he hardly ever updates it, using it to follow his sisters and look at when he’s feeling particularly homesick. Right now he definitely isn’t thinking of them, his mind very firmly on Leo and the address he’s heading toward, phone directing him with its little arrow and distances. He knows Leo has to work tonight, won’t be getting home before 10pm and Jake had turned down the offer of going to the restaurant for dinner, not wanting to turn up anywhere with Leo and not be able to immediately undress him and take him to bed.

                Jake’s been thinking about this, of driving Leo to the edge over and over. Giving Leo instructions and having him listen and follow them. It’s been another four months since they last saw each other in Japan, and they’ve definitely gotten very experienced with taking photos and talking filthy to each other over the phone when they can find the time to make that work. Catching Bradley in his kitchen and telling him he wanted to tie his hands behind his back and then go down on him… well. He’s not embarrassed about wanting to do that, more embarrassed that he maybe made other people uncomfortable hearing it.

                He grabs two hotdogs and eats them as he walks, mouth twisting now at the taste of ketchup. Damnit, Leo’s sauce has ruined him for hotdogs. He’ll bitch about that later to Leo he decides, heads to Leo’s apartment, knowing it’s going to be empty. But there is a concierge and Leo told him to expect it but he still finds himself shaking his head. He shows his ID and is given a key to Leo and Vi’s apartment, and considering what he wants to do for the next twenty-four hours he’s very glad to know that Vi has decided to stay with friends.

                Smart woman.

                They have a flight to Texas in thirty-nine hours. Jake is going to make every single one of those hours count. Right now though he has maybe an hour before Leo is meant to get home and he has a plan to put in place.

…            …            …

                “Jake? You here?”

                There isn’t an answer, but he can hear the shower running in his ensuite bathroom, and a shower sounds like the perfect thing right now. He’s tired and sweaty after the last few days of work, preparing for the ten days he’s taking off to visit Texas with Jake. Vi can work miracles, but even she can’t move everything. Ten days is still going to feel like a luxury, and he’s looking forward to seeing all of Jake’s family again.

                “Hey there…” Bradley says, coming to a stop in the doorway and taking in the sight of a naked Jake Seresin in the shower. It’s quite the sight.

                “Hi… you going to join me?”

                “Yeah. I really need a shower. You being in there is definitely added incentive…”

                “Mmm, well I’m happy to assist with the washing… if you’re too tired that is.”

                Bradley groans, because honestly the sound of Jake’s capable hands running all over his body sounds great, but also really relaxing. He’s just that tired and god he’s not even going to be able to keep up with Jake with how exhausted he’s feeling.

                “Come here darlin’…”

                Bradley goes, stripping off his clothes and dumping them directly into the washing hamper, and then he’s stepping under the spray and Jake’s hands are one him for the first time in months. He leans in for a kiss, desperate for that connection after so long apart. He’d thought maybe it might be hard and fast, both of them desperate to come, but it’s almost the opposite, slow and thorough. Their hands and mouths and eyes becoming reacquainted with each other and it’s quiet and intense and as much as the time apart might suck he’s glad that this exists, that they get to come back to each other.

                “Missed you…” Jake murmurs against his neck and Bradley hums happily, repeats the words into Jake’s mouth.

                He’s done what Jake asked, not that Jake had reminded him precisely when the spoke two days ago, but he’d said forty-eight hours, which was the time frame he asked Bradley to not jerk off. Which wouldn’t have been a problem with how tired he’s been preparing for ten days off, but this morning when he’d been stretching himself, thinking about what he was doing and why, had definitely turned him on, knowing that Jake had asked it of him. He just wishes he wasn’t half asleep, doesn’t want Jake’s homecoming to be anticlimactic.

                “Fuck you’re beautiful Leo…”

                Bradley whines, hips stuttering because Jake’s hand is wrapped around his cock and he’s not sure if Jake’s talking about him or his cock. Regardless his body is reminding him it’s been a long while since he got off, much longer than the two days Jake had originally suggested, but it’s not Jake’s fault that Bradley hadn’t had the time or inclination in the days before. Jake hasn’t even touched the slim plug Bradley has resting in his ass and he reaches for his hand, guides it so his fingers run over the slightly flared base and then Jake is groaning, his own cock hard against Bradley’s hip and he knows he’s going to be taken apart in the best possible way.

                “Leo baby, you okay?”

                Bradley nods, bottom lip clamped tight between his teeth because he doesn’t want to cry out, but he also doesn’t know what the plan here is exactly, Jake just telling him this is what he wanted and Bradley wants to give him the world…

…            …            …

                “Think I can edge you baby? You like being edged right?”

                Leo’s entire body trembles against him, but he’s shaking his head and he looks close to tears. Jake doesn’t want sad or upset tears, but he also doesn’t know what’s going on in Leo’s head right now.

                “Jake,” Leo manages and Jake just holds onto him, arms around him, hopes the hot water isn’t going to run out any time soon. “I haven’t come in nearly five days… because of work… I really don’t…”

                “Don’t what?”

                “I don’t think I can stand being edged right now. Please just…”

                “Okay,” Jake says, easily, and in his head he’s thinking I love you and he knows Leo most likely feels the same way but the words can’t trip over his teeth. The fact that Leo trusts him enough to say what he wants, fuck, he really does love him.

                “Yeah?”

                “Of course baby… tell me what you need. What you want. Or should I just tell you what I was planning?” Jake asks, fingers tracing over pale skin, not the sun-kissed skin from their time together before in Texas. He’s probably not been out in the sun since then if Jake had to guess.

                “Tell me…”

                “Okay… but how about we go and actually get ready for bed, you’re dead on your feet.”

                “Not that dead,” Leo argues, although his argument is slightly derailed by the fact that he struggles to walk in a straight line

                It doesn’t take much to bully him out of the shower, to pat him dry and then nudge him into his own bed. He’d already laid out supplies before he got in the shower, and they might not get around to using them if Leo falls asleep on him, which is fine. However Leo’s cock is hard when Jake slips into bed beside him. It must be close to midnight, which he knows isn’t that late of a night for Leo, but he also knows he’s been getting up early to do prep so that he can enjoy time away from work while Jake’s on leave.

                “You ready for story time?” Jake asks, pressing a kiss against the curve of Leo’s neck, waits for the affirmative hum to indicate he’s listening and then Jake wraps a hand around his cock, rocks his own cock against the curve of Leo’s thigh. “I was stretching myself out in the shower… was going to sit myself on your cock and ride you until I came. Wasn’t going to let you come though. Bought you a cock ring just in case you thought you needed it. Then I was going to wait until I got hard again, keep you hard the whole time by sucking you. Then I was going to fuck you nice and slow, bring you to the edge over and over. See if we could beat our last record…”

                The sound Leo makes is so close to a sob Jake feels a flash of worry, but he looks anything but upset. Skin blotchy and flushed, mouth hanging open and eyes glazed. He looks like he’s already been denied an orgasm or two and he’s absolutely gorgeous.

                “Oh, so you do like the sound of that huh?”

                “I just… I don’t… don’t want you to be disappointed in me.”

                “Oh baby… Leo… darling… I could never be disappointed,” Jake murmurs softly, then something occurs to him. “However if you want me to spank you… we can talk about that.” It’s definitely on the right track judging from the way that Leo’s entire body shudders and jerks. But now is not the time for that type of conversation, both of them far too worked up and on the edge to be thinking rationally to bring in anything new right now. “Later.”

                “Yeah, later. Please…”

                “You want to come Leo?”

                “Yes.”

                “Okay… you just… lie back and let me take care of you okay? Let me make you feel good.”

                He takes his time giving Leo a long kiss, wonders if he should maybe just turn off the lights and let the other man actually sleep. Except his cock is hard and digging into Jake’s hip incessantly and he reworks his plan a little, because Leo is tired but he’s also still got the plug in him… Okay. Little bit of revision and he can work with this. He gets the things he needs, condoms and lube, a towel and tissues, bottle of water… He’s always believed in being prepared. He wraps a hand tight around Leo’s cock and jerks, hard and fast, watches as Leo’s entire body arches off the bed. Not that tired yet.

                “As I said, you’re not the only one already stretched and ready baby…” Jake says, rolling a condom down Leo’s cock and being very liberal with the lube before he shifts until he’s straddling over him, holding his cock at his entrance. “Wanted to give you this…” Jake says, and he sinks down slowly, grits his teeth against the discomfit and waits for it to ease. He can feel Leo straining beneath him, trying to hold still and he appreciates his level of restraint, leans down and kisses him again, his body rocking and it feels good, but still not his favorite, but from the expression on Leo’s face it’s making him see stars and Jake is more than okay with that outcome.

                “Don’t hold back baby, work with me here…”

                “Jake…” Leo says, and there is definite wetness in his eyes, but Jake is pretty sure everything is okay. Trusts that Leo will say something if he needs something else, something more. He simply rocks gently back and forth, takes in the darkening red flush of Leo’s skin across his chest, neck and face. This isn’t going to be enough to get him off, not with Leo’s hands lying almost lax on Jake’s thighs, but he cares more about Leo’s pleasure than his own right now.

                “Come on gorgeous…”

                “Jake… Jake please…”

                “Tell me what you want baby. Anything…”

                “Fuck me. Please. I need…”

                “Oh… yeah. Yeah. Of course baby.”

                He kisses Leo as he eases off his cock, has to admit the distraction of kissing definitely helps. Then he’s disposing of the used condom on Leo’s cock, dropping it to the ground for cleanup later, nudging Leo onto his side because the sleepy demeanor is definitely calling for something a little more gentle and slow. He kisses him softly as he slides the plug out, drops it to the ground to join the condom, then uses a couple of fingers to slide more lube in and around; swallows Leo’s little breathy moans and gasps. Then Jake’s sliding a condom down his cock, slicking himself up and settling himself behind Leo to slide his cock into him.

                Their combined moans are beautiful, and he swore to himself that he wouldn’t tell Leo he loved him while they were having sex. It doesn’t stop him thinking it over and over, his hand working on Leo’s cock, lips placing non-stop kisses over his neck and shoulder, entire body unable to get close enough to Leo’s for his liking, holds him tight against his chest as he thrusts in and out. He can feel Leo pressing back against him, his own motions broadcasting his indecision about whether he wants Jake’s hand and his cock more. So Jake holds him tighter and thrusts a little firmer, because Leo shouldn’t have to choose between the two when Jake will give him both.

                It’s not the hard desperate fucking he thought his homecoming would devolve into, instead it feels intense, meaningful in a deeper way he hadn’t anticipated considering they’re both admittedly new to this. He thinks they’re doing pretty well though. He can feel it when Leo starts getting close, his body jerking in tiny increments, making choked little sobs. Jake groans, lets himself speed up his thrusts and hand a little, then he feels the hot slick slide of come on his hand and he grunts, digs his teeth into the curve of Leo’s shoulder and allows himself let go.

                He lies there, heart racing and feeling hot and sticky but completely uncaring and with no intention of leaving Leo for longer than a few seconds. He carefully pulls out, fumbles for the towel and wipes his hand and Leo’s stomach and cock as gently as can, keeps his chest to Leo’s back, his lips placing kisses and his mouth whispering words of quiet adoration so good for me baby, gorgeous, thank you for letting me take care of you… He means every word of it and he hopes Leo understands the emotions that underly it all. Leo’s hair is still damp from the shower and no doubt sweat, his eyes are wet and Jake runs the pad of his thumb over the apple of one of his cheeks, bends down to place the softest of kisses on his eyelids and tip of his nose.

                “So good for me… Here, have a drink… come on,” Jake coaxes, because Leo is almost asleep. He’s adorable and sleepy and Jake wants to protect him and keep him forever. Turning off the last light he slips back into the bed, wrapping the sheets and blankets around them both as he holds Leo to him and falls to sleep easily.

CHAPTER TWENTYNINE

[harry-sussex]

This was, no joke, the best moment of my entire life. I have been waiting so long for this. I never thought it would happen.

I had originally planned to volunteer with the UK branch of my job today, but when I saw the announcement, I knew I had to do this instead. I decided to get dinner at the pub, Dog and Duck, last night to look inside and try it out - I got bangers and mash and some fish (sans chips) as an appetizer, and it was legitimately so good. I also tried the Timothy Taylor’s Landlord Beer – you can see William in the photos from today right behind the tap. My server’s name was Bernie, and you can see her in some photos with William and Kate today too – tiny woman, short gray hair cut into a bob.

I set earlier alarms this morning but due to the time difference / jet lag, I didn’t make it here until 10am. I popped into a Tesco Express on the way to grab some flowers at @avidroyalfan’s advice – yellow of course, the brightest bunch I could find.

I made it over to the area around the pub and there were barricades and policemen everywhere. There was also a black Range Rover parked at the far end of Frith Street – the street they mentioned in the press release yesterday. It thought it was mildly crowded when I got there, but it didn’t even begin to compare to the crowd that had gathered closer to their arrival.

I really had trouble picking where I was going to stand – I didn’t want to be behind anyone, I just wanted to be up against the barricade, but given that the crowd was so relatively sparse on Frith Street (as opposed to right across from the pub on Dean Street) when I got there, I wasn’t sure they were going to come my way. I was also praying that I’d be on Kate’s side of the road if they came by – you guys know I love William, but if I had a chance, this once in a lifetime chance, I needed Kate. I went with my gut, a little further down the road than where the crowd at the time had started to assemble, so I could be right against the barricades. From the moment I got to the barricade, I was literally shaking, and I am not exaggerating – you can see it in one of the videos.

I passed the time talking to some lovely people – some of whom planned to be there and some of whom happened to stroll by. I met a lovely woman, Cath, who took tons of photos without me even asking – she just saw how excited I was and took the photos to send to me. Another woman named Teri did the same – just out of the kindness of their own hearts. Those are most of the photos you guys are going to see – I took a bunch while Kate was walking around, but I didn’t want to put my own camera in her face if she was standing right in front of me.

I stood for more than four hours start to finish and I do not regret it in the slightest. I thought a lot about what I was going to say to her if I had the chance – I’ve thought about it so many times over the years, but what could I really say that would summarize more than 10 years of pure admiration and adoration in 30 seconds or less? What could I – an American in London all the way from New York – possibly say to the UK’s next queen to tell her how much she’s meant to me for all these years?

There was a policeman right in front of me – his name was Thompson – who was subtly dropping hints about what was going on. He couldn’t say much but he did hint at the time we could expect them to arrive – about 12:45pm. He ended up pretty close – he told me that he got randomly assigned to the event today and that he (and basically the entire police force) would also be at the coronation. He also confirmed that they would be walking down Frith Street, where I was, though he wouldn’t hint at which of them was going to be on my side of the street.

By the time they arrived, the crowd had literally quadrupled – maybe even more. People were on the rooftops and hanging out of windows. Very few of them had flowers. Businesses let people go on their steps to get a closer view. A helicopter was circling above for security. There were policemen and RPOs everywhere. I thought William and Kate were going to drive right up to the pub but instead they walked from the far end of the street – I suppose because they took the tube. Speaking of the tube, that’s the exact line I took this morning. That’s also where the (absolutely enormous) press pack was assembled.

I could tell when they arrived, even though I couldn’t see them right away, because the roar of the crowd and the sound of dozens of cameras clicking said everything I needed to know. As I was a bit further down the street, I didn’t get the greatest view, but it didn’t matter – you could see Kate from a mile away. That jacket was bright in and of itself but she literally glows. There’s just an inherent radiance about her that cannot be explained unless you see it in real life – she’s ethereal in photos, but they don’t even begin to do her justice. She’s radiant. Also, you can see that her hair is perfect no matter how far away you are. As they turned the corner to get to the pub, I was able to crane my neck a little bit to see them get closer to the door, and I saw The Hand with my own two eyes. William placed his hand on Kate’s lower back to guide her inside – we’ve seen photos millions of times, but seeing it with my own two eyes was unreal. Completely surreal.

They spent far less time inside the pub than I would’ve thought (unless time was flying because I knew they were coming), but again, you could hear them come out the door just by virtue of the roar of the crowd. Thompson the policeman then told me that Kate was coming to my side of the street. I thought I was shaking before – nope, not even remotely compared to how I was when I heard that she was coming my way. I saw William first across the street – he went through relatively quickly but I could somewhat hear him saying “nice to meet you” over and over, shaking hands, laughing, the usual. He’s huge – I always knew he was tall but he’s massive, tall and broad. You could tell from twenty feet away - he’s huge. At one point, I literally blurted out “he’s not wearing blue!” once I saw the brown coat. He was on the side of the road that had more people, and he moved along at a solid pace - it’s definitely true that Kate is a chatter, no wonder they gave her the side of the street with fewer people. She would’ve been outside for 3 hours if she was greeting the amount of people on William’s side. He’s honestly such a good sport – he was shaking hands, standing on his tip toes and craning over the barricades to greet as many people as possible. I could very clearly see the faces of the people looking directly at him – you can tell they absolutely love him. Such genuine smiles. The pure adoration and happiness in their eyes said everything one needs to know – those people absolutely love him like their own.

When Kate turned the corner from the pub towards where I was standing, I swear to god my heart jumped right into my throat and my stomach dropped. God, she’s beautiful. Like I knew this, it isn’t news, the entire world is perfectly aware that she’s one of the most beautiful women on the face of the earth…. but she still managed to stun me anyway. She’s radiant. Absolutely gorgeous.

Somewhere along the way, as she moved down the line of people in my direction, it occurred to me that I was legitimately going to meet, or at the very least greet, Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales, after all this time, after so many years… I am not exaggerating when I say I was physically shaking. You can see it on my face in the photos even as she approached, before she came near me – I wasn’t panicking, I was just in awe. I’ve always known she was real of course, but she’s… actually real? Do you know what I mean?

She was moving so slowly compared to William – I swear he was already 75% of the way through his side of the crowd by the time Kate got to me. That’s when I really noticed that she is just so chatty – I didn’t notice her just greeting someone and then moving on quickly. She was so engaged. Every single person I could see was like entranced by her very presence - she’s literally such a vision. It’s not just me, it’s not just us – people are completely fascinated by her.

And then.

She came closer and closer – as I was on her left, I could see the ring. It’s huge – like, it’s big on camera, but the thing is enormous. I could not believe for the life of me that she was right there. I made sure to stick the flowers out enough and stand up straight and believe me when I say I didn’t have to remind myself to smile or make eye contact – I could literally feel myself beaming (right before she got to me):

When she came over, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Before I knew it, Kate was reaching to shake my hand and saying “nice to meet you” and I literally still cannot believe it. I handed over the flowers and I said to her:

“It’s nice to meet you, I just wanted to tell you that I have admired you for so long and that I also studied Italian Renaissance art history just like you did.”

When I said that I admired her, she said “oh, thank you!” as I continued to ramble about the art. She was still holding the flowers. I cannot believe that there are so many pictures of Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales holding bright yellow flowers that I got for her while smiling ear to ear – she handed them off before she moved onto the next person, so she is definitely smiling at me in those photos.

She then asked me if I liked studying art, and I said of course – she responded “me too!” After that, she asked me if I used it in my career, and I said no (which I don’t) but my master’s was a passion project. She then asked where I flew from (the accent, I guess) and I told her that I came from New York. She said that it was such a long way to come and that she was surprised at how many people have traveled so far for the big weekend. She touched my arm so sweetly for like the quickest second; she then said that it was going to be such a big event and that she was looking forward to joining the celebrations and that it was going to be good for everyone.

The last thing I said to her was “also, I ate in the pub last night because I heard you were coming!” and she responded with “oh that’s great, how was the food?” It was legitimately fantastic – I told her so – and she said that they would have to come back and try it when there were fewer people around.

It was then time for her to get moving so I just said “it was so nice to meet you” again and she said “nice to meet you, have a nice day!” Right before she moved on and as she was saying goodbye, she handed off the flowers and went on her way.

The whole thing lasted maybe two minutes, but I will remember it for the rest of my life. Her eyes are so green and she’s just so stunning up close and I just cannot believe she was that close to me and that we were able to talk and she is everything I have ever dreamed she would be and more. Just so sweet and gorgeous and engaged in what we were talking about – she didn’t just say “hi” and “bye,” you know? She listened to what I said and responded back without generalities… everything I ever dreamed of and more. I thought I couldn’t love her more – I do now. She has made my entire day and my entire life and I will literally never forget the vision of Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales, Catherine Elizabeth, someone I have adored for more than a decade, standing in front of me.

I am so happy I could cry. I was stunned after - literally could not believe what just happened to me. Take a look at the video below - you can see part of our conversation and then just the pure shock at the end. My hands were literally shaking.

Once the shock wore off, I did in fact cry. They say never to meet your heroes – why not? How could you go wrong meeting someone you have idolized when that someone is Kate?

[breannasfluff]

“Everything okay?”

Time’s voice isn’t what Wild expects when he surfaces in the river. The fish in his teeth, still wriggling, means he can only nod. He bites a little harder as the scales slip. 

The old man watches as he kicks to shore and drops more fish on the rocks. With a flash of blue, they disappear into the slate. They’ll stay in the same condition until he needs them; a bonus for fresh food on the road. 

Wild keeps an eye on Time as he finds a flat rock and pulls out a knife. The fish in his mouth is finally transferred as he cuts off the head and quickly guts it. Another slice separates the filet from the spine and he carefully pulls it off, plucking stray bones. 

“How did you catch the other fish?”

Right, Time is still watching. Well, he’s halfway through taking off the skin; not too much longer. “Bombs. Fastest way to fish.”

The old man pales, then looks faintly green. His jaw works, likely trying to decide if it’s worth chastising him about his methods. Wild doesn’t really care; it’s efficient and leaves less to chance.

Fish prepared, Wild pops a strip into his mouth and holds out another to Time. “Want some?”

“Raw?”

He shrugs. Lots of things can be eaten raw, depending on how desperate he is. Sometimes it’s not safe to build a fire to cook and he has run out of prepared meals before. 

Time takes a piece, but clearly regrets it as soon as he bites down. 

Wild snorts at his face, still working through the fish. 

With effort, Time swallows. “I don’t think that’s for me. Try Wind next time.”

He doesn’t point out that Time wasn’t exactly invited in the first place; it’s nice to share when he can. 

The old man watches the steady inhale of food and Wild can’t help the self-consciousness creeping along his back. 

“Where’d you learn to prepare fish like that? Raw, I mean?”

“Lurelin village. They do some great things with fish and citrus.” He switches to signing as he eats. ‘If I saw fish, they were easy to catch on my journey.’ He pats the slate. ‘I just wish they weren’t so slimy.”

“I’d imagine so,” Time says faintly. He’s rolling a question around and Wild waits him out. He’s working on the second filet when Time says, “You learned to eat a lot of things on your journey.”

It’s a statement, but he nods anyway. 

“Did you…always have enough to eat?” The old man asks like he doesn’t want to know the answer. 

‘I got by.’ Food was…hard to come by, sometimes. He learned to stock up; to hoard every apple or mushroom to tide him over when food was scarce. The Gerudo desert once cost him all the food in his slate and he ran out before he got to the Great Fairy Fountain shrine to warp back. Coupled with near-constant sandstorms stalling the slate; it was a bad time. 

When he first emerged from the shrine, everything was a question of edibility. The slate could identify ingredients but didn’t tell Wild how they should be prepared. 

Time’s still frowning, but further comments are stalled as Hyrule wanders down the stone path with a wave. “We wondered where you two went.”

‘Fishing,’ Wild signs, considering the remains of his fish. 

Time throws an arm around Hyrule as he approaches, letting the smaller hero lean into him. “Wild was telling me how he learned to prepare raw fish. Have you tried it before?”

“When we visited Wind’s time I did. The fish in my time aren’t…the best for eating.”

Hyrule may be bad at cooking, but he’s not a picky eater. Wild perks up at a possible ally. “What’s the strangest thing you’ve eaten?”

“Oh, um.” He’s embarrassed, shooting a darting look up at Time. “You know…lots of things.”

“Rocks, for me.”

“Rocks!” Time jerks, arm slipping off Hyrule’s shoulder. “Please tell me you’re joking.”

With a grin, Wild shakes his head. “The Gorons eat rock roast and, well…”

“This was after your amnesia, right?” 

The champion stares Time dead in the eye and shakes his head.

Read the rest here!

[obxsummer]

Gut Feeling // The Pogues

as john b's younger sibling, it was your job to make sure he didn't do anything too stupid. when he leaves with ward to go on a fishing trip, you find out just how cruel the cameron family can be... little did you know john b was finding out the exact same thing.

john b x gn!sibling!reader, platonic!pogues

warnings: the usual shitty cameron parenting, verbal threatening, no use of y/n, tried to keep things gender-neutral but let me know if I missed something!

a/n: sorry if things are out of character, I couldn't really find a way to make this flow the way I wanted. thanks for your patience with this request anon!

navigation 

--

John B getting pushed off the Hawk’s Nest was definitely not on your bingo board for this year. Ward Cameron offering to be your legal guardian on top of that wasn’t even a thought in your mind. So what the hell was going on?

Your bond with your older brother, John B, was unshakable. Only a year separated you in age, yet your connection ran much deeper than that. You were best friends as kids, guardians of each other's secrets, and steadfast anchors in each other's lives. Everything only became more intense when your father disappeared. 

Sharing friends was expected, as well as the fact that where there was one of you, the other wasn’t far behind. Everyone in OBX knew the Routledge siblings traveled as a pack alongside their friends. 

Topper shoving John B off the ridiculously tall spot created more than just sprained joints and concussions. Sarah told her dad, and to your dismay, Ward Cameron, was suddenly in front of you, offering to be your legal guardian.

The offer hung heavy in the air as the older man dismissed himself for the two of you to take some time. The expression on your face must have said everything since John B instantly tried to assure you. "Listen, I know you're skeptical, but we're running out of options here. Ward can help us."

You stared out the window, a mix of worry and doubt tugging at your heart. "I don't trust him, John B. There's something off about him." The idea of being in Figure Eight, away from your friends, was terrifying. 

John B let out a heavy sigh, his gaze fixed on the ground. "I get that feeling too, but we need his help. We need to keep DCS off our backs. Nobody said we had to stay there all the time. It’s just a cover."

Despite your hesitation, you nodded, knowing that he had the right idea. The bond between you and John B was your anchor, and you were willing to trust him, even if the circumstances were far from comforting. “I’ll go where you go, JB. But I really have a bad feeling about this.”

--

Moving into the Cameron house was extremely awkward. The walls felt unfamiliar, and Ward's presence seemed to loom over you. The first change came when you and John B were assigned separate bedrooms, a decision that made your unease grow.

Standing hesitantly in the doorway of your new room, you looked at John B with a mixture of concern. "Why can't we share a room?"

Ward exchanged a glance with John B, and the unspoken conversation between them only fueled your anxiety. Was this John B’s decision? "It's important for both of you to have your own space," Ward said, his voice carrying a hint of finality. “Gives you time to grow in your own way. You don’t share a room at home now, do you?”

“I’d feel a lot better by him,” You replied without any regard for your ungrateful attitude. It seemed like Ward was doing a great job at driving a wedge between you and your brother. And even though you did have your own rooms at the Chateau, being separated here felt much worse. Usually, there was just a wall between you, not three hallways, a set of stairs, and locked doors. 

“We can share a room, Mr. Cameron, it’s really no-”

“You will have separate rooms. That is final. I already have a lot on my plate getting you two adjusted, please don’t make it harder.”

As night fell, the unfamiliarity of your surroundings only intensified your discomfort. Unable to bear the thought of being separated from John B, you found yourself sneaking into his room. The floor became your refuge, a makeshift bed where you sought solace in his proximity.

Your unease didn’t disappear overnight. The gold was still waiting to be pulled out of the well and when Ward interfered with the plans for that too, your anxiety resurfaced. You couldn't shake off the feeling that something was amiss.

You had been standing awkwardly on the sidewalk when Ward approached John B and Sarah to bring up the idea. He finally acknowledged your presence. "This trip is just for John B and me. Some bonding time while we talk things out, man to man about dating my daughter…"

John B leaned over, ruffling your hair affectionately even though he wasn't a major fan of this himself. "It's just fishing, Birdie. I'll be back before you know it." He could tell you didn’t like being here by yourself and he didn’t blame you. “Plus, Sarah will be here. You guys could hang out?”

Despite his attempt to reassure you, the feeling of unease clung to you like a second skin. "Promise you'll call if anything goes wrong?"

John B's eyes softened as he nodded. "I promise. Can always hang with JJ and them too, you know. Figure out some plans.”

He hinted toward what you were supposed to be doing the following morning: pulling the gold out. 

With a heavy heart, you watched them head out to the dock the next morning. It felt so silly to be worried about being alone without John B. You retreated to your room, the morning sun casting golden rays across the floor, hoping for the best.

Minutes dragged on like an eternity as you cowered in the suffocating darkness of the room. Every creak of the floorboards, every rustle of leaves outside, sent shivers down your spine. The air was heavy with fear, your heart beating in a frantic rhythm as the minutes ticked by.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and your heart jumped into your throat. Ward's sinister smile greeted you, his presence casting a shadow that seemed to engulf the room. 

“What are you doing here?” You asked, confused by his presence. “Where’s John B?”

He completely ignored your question and threw the light on as he stepped closer. "I think we need to have a little chat."

“Don’t touch me!” Your breath caught in your throat, and you stumbled back off the bed, your hands pressing against the closet wall as if it could shield you from the threat before you. His grip on your arm was like a vise, cold and unyielding, as he pulled you into the dimly lit room. 

"You see, I have a problem here," Ward hissed, his eyes locking onto yours with a predatory intensity, "Your father thought he could outsmart me from the gold. I killed him for it. You and your brother don’t stand a chance, especially if I take you out one by one…but just how do I go about it?"

As he spoke, his words were a twisted dance of intimidation. His threats were like icy daggers, each word digging deeper into your psyche, igniting a firestorm of panic. The room felt like a cage, and you were trapped in its suffocating grasp.

Your heart raced, your breathing shallow as your mind raced to find an escape route. The weight of his words bore down on you. The room seemed to close in on you, the walls narrowing as Ward's presence loomed over you. Your dad. Ward Cameron killed your dad.

Before you could respond, the door swung open, and another figure entered the room—Rose Cameron. Her demeanor was cold and calculating, her eyes scanning you with an unsettling intensity.

Ward's gaze flickered between you and Rose, and a knowing smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "You remember Rose, right?"

You felt a knot of unease tighten in your stomach. Rose's presence seemed to amplify the danger, and you couldn't shake off the feeling that you were trapped in a spider's web.

Rose's voice was silky, her smile masking an undercurrent of manipulation. "Ward and I are only concerned for your well-being, sweetie. We want what's best for you. You don’t have to worry about going back to the Cut ever again, okay?"

The words felt like a strong hand tightening around your throat, and you backed away, your heart racing as you tried to maintain some semblance of control. "I don't need your concern, I need my brother."

Ward's laugh was chilling, his amusement a stark contrast to the terror that gripped you. "John B’s gone. Why do you think I took him out on the boat? Easier access to dump the body where someone won’t find it."

A wave of panic crashed over you, and you instinctively turned to flee, only to find Rose blocking your path. The realization struck you like a lightning bolt—this was a trap, and you were caught in their twisted game.

Before you could react, Ward lunged forward, his grip like a vice as he forced you into the closet. The sound of the lock clicking shut sent a shock of terror through your veins, and you pounded on the door, desperation fuelling your efforts.

"Let me out! Let me out of here!" Your voice cracked with fear, each thud against the door a desperate plea for escape. “John B!”

From the other side of the door, you heard Ward's voice, his tone taunting. "You're not going anywhere. This is where you'll learn your place. And stay quiet until we finish digging out the gold. Actually, thank you. Without your help, we wouldn’t have even gotten this far."

The reality of your situation hit you like a ton of bricks. Trapped, alone, and at the mercy of their manipulation, you felt a surge of panic rise within you. You were a pawn in their game, a helpless victim in a twisted power play. And they knew about the gold.

As you sat in the darkness, the silence was deafening, broken only by your ragged breaths. The taste of fear lingered on your tongue, and you knew that escaping this nightmare would require every ounce of strength you possessed.

You waited until silence covered the house before slamming your body against the closet door. Pain radiated through your shoulder, but you remembered JJ’s direction on kicking a door out before putting it to practice as best as you could.

The adrenaline coursing through your veins was a lifeline, propelling you forward as you lunged for the door and finally broke the lock free. Panic fed your speed, and your heart pounded in your chest as you burst into the hallway, your breath ragged and harsh.

As you fled down the corridor, the taste of freedom was tantalizingly close. You turned a corner, your pulse racing, and then… silence. Panic surged as you realized you were trapped in a dead-end hallway, the walls closing in on you like a vise.

Footsteps echoed ominously behind you, and you whirled around to see Rafe's approaching shadow—no time to spare. Your heart hammered in your chest, and desperation surged within you. With a gasp, you spotted the open doors to the upstairs balcony. Adrenaline-fueled strength carried you forward, and you sprinted toward them. 

“Where do you think you’re going?” Rafe’s voice taunted as he started to round the corner. You pushed yourself over the balcony rail and tried your best to hang on as you slowly slide down the column to the ground. Until you lost grip, that is.

The world outside spun in a blur of green and blue, and your body collided with the ground, the impact sending shockwaves of pain through your limbs. Dazed and disoriented, you scrambled to your feet, your breath coming in ragged gasps. 

Rafe's voice echoed behind you, but you didn’t dare look back. 

The sound of your own breath, the rustling leaves, and the pounding of your heart filled your senses as you ran. You thanked JJ for dragging you through these paths as kids so you never got lost by yourself. 

And then, suddenly, your foot caught on a root, and you were tumbling, colliding with something solid. Pain radiated through your limbs as you groaned, disoriented and breathless. You looked up, blinking away tears, only to find yourself staring into a pair of familiar eyes.

"Birdie?" John B's voice was a mixture of disbelief and concern as he rushed to your side, his hands reaching out to steady you.

Your heart raced, emotions swirling within you as you tried to process what was happening. Your eyes widened in panic, and your hands shot up defensively, a guttural gasp escaping your lips as you stumbled back.

John B's expression shifted from surprise to a gentle concern, his voice cautious. "Hey, it's me, it’s me. You're safe. I'm here."

The flood of emotions was overwhelming, and your chest heaved as you struggled to catch your breath. Slowly, you lowered your hands, your vision clearing enough for you to see your brother's worried eyes, the deep lines of concern etched into his forehead.

"John B?" Your voice trembled, a mixture of disbelief and relief coursing through your veins. “You’re alive?”

He nodded, his voice soothing as he extended a hand toward you. "Yeah, it's me. You're okay now."

You felt your legs give way, the tension and fear of the past hours finally catching up with you. John B caught you, his arms wrapping around you protectively as he eased you to sit. He held you close, the warmth of his embrace grounding you in reality.

As the tears spilled over, you clung to him as if he were the lifeline you had desperately needed. He whispered reassurances as he held you close, reminding you that you were with him and everything was fine.

Gasping for breath, you clung to John B as if he were your anchor in the storm. Tears streaked down your face, your voice trembling as you struggled to find the words to explain the terror you had just experienced.

"John B, I… I couldn't stay there. Ward…" You choked on the words, your voice a fragile whisper. “He said you were dead.”

John B's arms tightened around you as he gently brushed a strand of hair away from your face. "Shhh, take your time. Just tell me what happened."

Taking a deep breath, you began recounting what had just happened—how Ward had cornered you, the sinister threats that were enough for you to kick a door out, and the desperate flight through the woods. As you spoke, you finally let your shoulders sag in relief. Your brother was okay.

John B's grip on you tightened even further, his voice shaky when he realized how fucked up this whole thing was. "He attacked me on the boat. Said he was the reason Dad is gone and… he-he tried to get me to share the gold with him - lashed out when I said no."

As the reality of the situation settled in when you didn’t answer, John B's protective instinct kicked into high gear. He helped you to your feet, his gaze never leaving yours. "Are you hurt? Did he… did he touch you?"

You shook your head. "I'm okay. He didn't… he didn't hurt me."

John B's features softened with relief, but his anger remained simmering beneath the surface. "We're getting out of here. Right now. Let’s go find the others."

Your friends were waiting at the Chateau when you arrived. They attempted to share their progress with the tools to remove the gold but you and your brother moved past them wordlessly

Kiara, Pope, and JJ filed into the house instantly. "Guys? What's going on?" Kiara's voice carried a note of worry. It only got worse when JJ got shoved aside by your brother. “John B!”

John B's gaze darted around the room, his eyes finally settling on yours before he looked away, his jaw clenched tightly. Without a word, he made his way past your friends, his steps determined as he headed for the door, this time with JJ’s gun in his hand.

“Where are you going?” You screamed after him in shock and ran onto the porch. This was not what you figured he would do. 

John B ignored your shouts and kicked JJ’s dirt bike to life before speeding off with no explanation.

JJ exchanged a confused glance with the others. "What's up with him?"

You groaned and flopped on the couch, the heaviness of the truth threatening to consume you. "Ward... Ward killed Big John."

The room fell into stunned silence, the weight of your words hanging heavily in the air. Kiara, Pope, and JJ stared at you in shock, their expressions a mix of disbelief and horror.

JJ's voice was barely a whisper. "What?"

Tears pricked at the corners of your eyes as the memories flooded back, the pain of the past resurfacing with a vengeance. "He was investigating something about the Royal Merchant, and Ward killed him when he wouldn't agree to share the gold."

Pope's voice was filled with anger and disbelief. "That son of a..."

Kiara's hand covered her mouth, her eyes wide with shock. "Oh, my god."

As the truth settled in, the room seemed to close in around you, suffocating you with its weight. John B's abrupt departure on the dirt bike now carried a new layer of meaning—if he killed Ward, they would turn this all on your brother.

Hours passed, each moment heavy with the weight of the revelation. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a somber glow across the Chateau. No one spoke, the tension growing with every passing minute.

Kiara eventually got up to grab you something to eat in hopes of calming your nerves. You appreciated the gesture but as you huddled together between JJ and Pope, the reality of the situation began to sink in. 

What the fuck were you going to do now?

--

navigation

read my outer banks x the summer i turned pretty crossover

[shinsorokiri]

The Rockstar and The Farmer

Sam x Reader

Genre: fluff

Word Count: 2.5k

Warnings: language, spoilers for Jodi’s heart event, mutual pining, Sam being chaotically smooth

A/N: Yes I’m aware I said I’d hopefully have part two up by the end of the week, yes I am aware it is like three weeks later, everybody makes mistakes and I make big ones frequently. Part 3 will be out eventually, I promise. That being said, enjoy this very late posting of part 2! :)

part [1] 2 [3?]

“Seb, Abigail, and I are gonna unload our gear, so I’ll see you in like… an hour? Or so?” You nod. “Yeah, see you then,” you say, getting up and off the bus. 

You walk back to your farm, being welcomed by your animals almost immediately. You go check up on them and make sure they’re all happy and okay before going inside your house to grab the fish you put on ice for Jodi. You check the clock and see that it took you a decent amount of time to check your animals and decide to start walking over now. You take your time, taking the scenic route and waving to Leah as you pass by her home. You check your watch, making sure

You knock on the door before letting yourself in. “Jodi?” you call out, and she dashes out from the kitchen. “Ah, I’m so glad you came, (Y/n)! And you brought the fish! Wonderful,” she exclaims, and you hurry over to her, handing her the fish. You begin to take it out of the cooler you brought it in while Jodi turns slightly towards the hallway that leads to her two sons’ rooms. “Sam! Could you come in here and help clean this fish?” You hear a pause before Sam’s voice responds, quieter than usual but loud enough for his mom to hear, though you don’t know if she picks up on the subtle annoyance in his tone. “Yes, ma’am.” You hear footsteps and the familiar creak of his bedroom door opening while you take the fish out of the cooler and hold it in your hands, presenting it to Jodi. “Wow, it looks wonderful… and it smells so fresh!” she takes it out of your hands and into hers before smiling at you, “Thanks so much for doing this, (Y/n).”

“No problem, I can help you with cleaning the fish, too, if you’d like,” you offer, and Sam’s eyes light up. “Yes!”

“No!” Jodi and Sam look at each other, and she sighs. “Sam… (Y/n) is our guest, we can’t make them help clean the food they came here to eat.” Sam frowns, disappointed that he’s going to have to gut and clean this fish with his mom instead of his crush best friend. You feel a tinge of disappointment as well, and before you even process, you’re speaking, you blurt out, “Oh no it’s fine! You were kind enough to invite me tonight so the least I can do is help you prepare the meal! Besides, I’ve gotten pretty good at gutting fish, I bet I could teach Sam here a thing or two.” Sam raises his eyebrow at you, obviously amused. “Who said I need someone to teach me?”

“Me, Sam. I know you, and you always need someone to teach you,” you tease, and he rolls his eyes, but the smile on his face gives him away. Jodi watches, her own smile spreading when she seemingly changes her mind. “Oh, fine. You two clean the fish, and I’ll get some sides and all the other ingredients ready, okay?”

“Okay, Jodi,” you say, as Sam takes this fish from his mom, and you follow him into the kitchen. “I have been gutting fish ever since we moved here, farmer, let me show you a thing or two,” he brags and you giggle, rolling your eyes. “Please, Sam. Show me everything I already know.”

“Hey now, did you know that you can do this?” Sam begins to cut into the fish when the knife slips and falls to the floor. You both jump out of the way, and Sam quickly wraps his arms around you, pulling you back to make sure you’d stay safe. You ignore the fuzzy feeling that spreads through your chest and giggle. “No, Sam, I actually didn’t know I could gut the floor while simultaneously gutting a fish,” you joke, and his face turns bright red. “My hands got all slimy from the fish!”

“Yeah. Mhm, okay,” you laugh, bending over to pick up the knife and walking over to the sink to wash it off. “I’m being serious I am so good at gutting these guys,” he whines as you walk over to him and the fish, drying the knife off. You grin at him. “I believe you, but… maybe I should hold the knife,” you tease, standing in front of the fish and getting ready to cut into it. He sighs. “Fine, but I can still show you my tips and tricks… here,” he says, wrapping his arms around you from the back and holding onto your hand with his. You’re grateful that you’re facing the opposite way from him so he can’t see your dopy grin, but Jodi sees it. You and Sam interacting had always put a smile on her face, but especially now. She was excited to see what might come from all this subtle flirting going on between the two of you. And she’d be lying if she said she didn’t find herself encouraging this subtle flirting. She never thought she’d enjoy watching her son gut a fish this much.

With your help, you and Sam managed to gut the largemouth bass in record time, and Jodi shooed the two of you out of the kitchen so she could cook. “Come on, I have a new song idea and want you to hear it, we should have enough time until the casserole is ready,” Sam says, grabbing your hand and pulling you to his room. You feel your face heat up as Sam’s hand effortlessly intertwines with yours, and smile because you’re about to hear a new Sam original. “Can’t wait to hear Goblin Destroyer perform this one at their next show, you grin, and he chuckles a bit. He let’s go of your hand and scratches his neck. “Well, actually, this is more of a song for me…” he lets you know, quickly turning around and inaudibly mumbling, “and someone else…” You take your seat on his bed, pulling your knees up to your chest and resting your face on your knees. You grin at him as he picks up his guitar and turns to you. He begins to strum his guitar and opens his mouth, getting ready to sing, when suddenly there’s a knock at his door. A tiny little knock. You and Sam glance at each other and he smiles apologetically. “Looks like I’ll have to show you the song after dinner, then,” he places the guitar back on it’s stand and opens the door. “(Y/N)!” Vince yells, running in and hopping up onto Sam’s bed and giving you a hug. You laugh and hug him back. “Hi, Vince!”

Sam stands by his door, leaning against the wall, observing the way you interact with his younger brother. He grins softly. He’d be lying if he said it didn’t warm his heart to know that Vincent loved you almost as much as him. Almost. He realizes that his eyes go from focusing on you and Vince to just you. He’d been trying to make more subtle moves to hint at his interest in you recently, and he’s really hoping that you’ve been picking up on it. But for some reason, it’s getting increasingly harder for him to not just straight up confess to you. In fact, he has a letter telling you to meet him at 8 in front of his house all written up and in his jeans pocket right now. Of course, he’s nervous about how you’ll react, but he really just wants to be able to wrap his arms around you all the time and keep you close to him. He wants to be able to refer to you as his partner with Sam and Abigail and actually mean it. He wants the rest of the people in Pelican Town to know that the farmer who moved here is a part of the community just as much as he is. He just wants you—

“Why are you staring at us like that?” Vince's little voice pulls Sam out of his trance and his eyes widen. “I wasn’t staring.”

“Yes, you were.”

“Was not.”

“Was too.”

“Was no—”

“OKAY! DINNER’S READY EVERYONE!” Jodi yells, cutting the brothers off. You chuckle, watching Vince immediately run out to get food. You look over at Sam, whose face is still red, by the way, and get up off his bed. You walk over to him and tug on the sleeve of his jean jacket. “Come on, rockstar. Let’s go eat.” He grins slightly and follows you out to eh kitchen, sitting next to you. Dinner tastes great, you immediately start asking Jodi a ton of questions about the recipe, which she happily answers and agrees to write it down for you. You already have your mind swimming with ideas to add ingredients that might add more flavor or give the dish a new spin. You almost feel like a part of the family. It ends too soon, though, and before you know it, you’re yawning up a storm. “Oh, (Y/n), you must be tired. You did a lot of running around today,” Jodi mentions, and you wave your hand, shaking your head. “I’m fine, I promise, but it is about time I should head out. I need to go make sure all the animals are all snug and safe,” you say, standing up. “Let me help you clean the table first,” you say, starting to grab your plates. “No, don’t be silly! I can handle that. Sam, why don’t you walk (Y/n) home?” Jodi suggests and Vince jumps up. “Can I go?!”

“No, Vinny, you’re staying here. It’s nearly your bedtime,” Jodi says, and Vince whines. You give him a goodbye hug and make your way to the front door, putting your shoes on. “I’ll see you tomorrow! Thank you so much for the delicious meal!” you yell as you walk out of the house, Sam closing the door behind the two of you. Although it’s summer, it’s a very chilly night. And silly you, you left our jacket at your farm. You shiver slightly, and Sam notices. “Here,” he shrugs his jean jacket off, wrapping it around your shoulders. “Oh, no, Sam I’ll be fine—”

“No, no, no, you’re cold, you’re wearing it,” he insists, and you smile softly to yourself. “Thanks.”

“No problem, (Y/n/n).” The two of you walk past Marnie’s ranch, and you watch as fireflies light up the night. “Today was fun,” you say, and Sam nods. “So fun. Thanks again for coming to my show… and for coming to dinner… and helping me gut that fish and not my foot,” he says, causing you to giggle. “Of course. You know I’ll always be at your gigs. Oh! Speaking of you didn’t play me that song!” you exclaim, halting and turning to him. He lets out a small laugh. “That’s okay. I’ll show you another time. You wake up at like 5 in the morning and it’s almost 10:30. I’d rather get you home and in bed,” he says, grabbing your arm and pulling you to walk again. “Aw, so thoughtful,” you tease, before yawning again. “Mhm, and you said you weren’t tired.”

“I’m just used to being tired, comes with the farm.”

“Maybe you should sleep in a little later? Take a nap during the day?”

“Can’t,” you shake your head, “if I’m not caring for the animals, I’m planting crops, and if I’m not planting crops, I’m in the mines, and if I’m not in the mines, I’m fishing, and if I’m not fishing—”

“You’re taking care of the animals… I know. I guess I just worry about you sometimes. You do a lot, you deserve a break,” he shrugs, and you sheepishly grin, looking down at your feet. He’s right, you do overexert yourself. But you have to fix up the Community Center before that idiot Lewis sells it to Joja. You know you have to move quick. “Well once I have the best farm in Pelican Town, I’ll rest,” you say, and Sam rolls his eyes. “(Y/n/n), you already have the best farm in Pelican Town. You’re the farm of Pelican Town,” he says, and you shrug. “Can always be better.”

“I swear one of these days I’m gonna force you to lay down and do nothing all day long. Mark my words.”

“Words marked. I’d like to see you try though,” you say, and he scoffs. “Oh, I won’t just try, I will succeed.” You giggle as you walk onto your land, passing by the little pond by your coop. “Mr. Quackers, if you don’t get inside the coop and stop swimming around so help me Yoba, I will only let you swim in a bucket,” you shout out to your duck, who quacks at you, but seemingly understands the threat. Sam laughs as he waddles into the coop, and you close the door that lets the birds out. None of your babies are getting eaten by anything tonight. Or ever, for that matter. “Mr. Quackers?”

“Yeah. He also responds shockingly well to just Quack. He knows I’m serious when I call him his legal name though,” you grin, and Sam shakes his head. “I can’t believe he actually listened to you.”

“I just have a way with my animals,” you brag, shutting the open barn door after seeing all your animals are safe and sound inside. You glance to where your stable is and see your horse asleep with your dog asleep next to her. “Well, looks like all my animals are accounted for. Thank you for walking me home, Sam,” you grin at him as you get to the front door of your little farmhouse. He grins back. “No problem. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Yeah, for sure… oh wait! Your jacket!” you start to shrug it off as he begins walking away. “Nah, it’s fine. I’ll see you tomorrow anyway. ‘Sides, it looks better on you,” he says, turning around and shooting a wink at you. You feel butterflies erupt in your stomach, and heat start spreading through your face all the way up to your ears. “I’ll get it to you tomorrow!”

“Or you can hold onto it for a bit, really, I don’t mind,” he insists, and you shake your head. But there’s no hiding the smile that breaks out across your face. “G’night, farmer!”

“Goodnight, rockstar,” you say, waving at him as he turns and begins walking home. You walk inside your home, your dog rushing past you when he hears the creaking of your door. You grin and lock your door for the night, slipping your shoes off. You’re about to take Sam’s jacket off when you stop. Maybe you’ll wear this to sleep in tonight. Just because you might as well get as much use out of it before returning it to him. Obviously. That’s a good reason to sleep in it. You change into your pajamas, before slipping the jacket back on and getting under your covers. You breathe in Sam’s cologne, noticing it’s more comforting than it usually is right now, and start drifting off. You don’t even hear your mailbox opening or notice your pup staring at the window for a moment before lying his head back down and falling asleep curled next to you. You fall asleep, with only one thought in your head. 

‘See you tomorrow, rockstar.’