#i’ve been a mess as of late and i JUST WANTED A COCA COLA

[scooterfish]

you know it’s bad when the food delivery forgetting my drinks sends me into absolute crying hysterics

[theobxhummingbird]

Not so sneaky. -Luke Patterson x Reader.

Summary: Luke’s shirts go missing, and rushed Y/N seemed to know where they are.

A/N: Anonymous asked about an imagine with reader stealing Luke’s clothes, then wears them, and Alex realizes, so here it is. Enjoy it readers.😀😀😀

 It had become a habit, to always sneak one shirt, every time Y/N comes to Luke’s house. Or it simply doesn’t have to be his house; the studio where Sunset Curve performed, always had Luke’s shirts he left behind. And, normally, he was getting very confused on where they disappeared. He knew exactly where his stuff is placed and he never had a problem with losing his belongings. But it frightened him, that they might’ve got stolen. Though, Alex’s sister, didn’t really refer to it as stealing, more as a friendly borrowing. She had imagined herself in his shirts, or him giving her one since forever, due to the years of having a crush on him. Her and Luke were connected because of the band, since both her and Alex play in it; well actually, Alex does, but Y/N comes as Luke’s back vocals. Though she never dared to wear them in public, she still wore them to sleep, or when she was only in the walls of her room.

-Are you going to rehearsal today? –her mum popped her head in the room.

-Rehearsal! –her figure straightened up from the bed, at the realization that she’s late. –Mum---damn it, Alex will kill me.

-Slow down my child, he just left.

-Then---why---didn’t---he tell me he’s going? –she barely even put her socks on right.

-I don’t know, and am definitely not going to interfere in any of your arguments. Dad and I need to watch the news. –she blew her a kiss, and disappeared from the door.

-What type of remote couple are you jeez? Watching news at the age of 40.  –she said, and threw on whichever shirt came to her hand first. And she thought it was just a plain white T-shirt, not knowing it’s Luke’s. She quickly took her bike from the garage, and was off to rehearsal. Y/N had never been so late to something, always avoiding getting into any type of argument with her brother, who hated people being late. Though the others could wait, he was a tough rock to deal with.

-I’m here. –she jumped in the room, and shut the door behind her, -I’m so sorry I’m late, mum reminded me of rehearsal. For else my brother didn’t even care about me.

-You’re 17 Y/N and mature enough for your own meetings. If you blame me for your own inabilities, then you better leave the band. Or, get yourself an alarm clock. –he said from behind the drums.

-Yeah I don’t need one, I have you; you never shut up. –she took her guitar and got behind the microphone.

-Oooh, slow burn; she roasted-. –said Reggie, but stopped getting fluttered when a glare from Alex shut him. –Yeah, that look says everything, I better not interfere in the sibling fight.

-Nice shirt. –said Luke, placing the microphone next to hers. Her eyes darted at her stomach, to only realize that she should never rush things, even if she’s very late. Alex heard Luke, and was going to later analyze the entire thing, but for now, they needed to focus on playing.

--

-Hey, Y/N, -he said, while they were on an eating break, -is that shirt new?

-Y-yeah, yeah it is. I bought it yesterday. –she cleared her cough, but could see from the corner of her eye, that Luke was hardly holding back a laugh.

-Luke, didn’t you have the same shirt? I think I remember well.

-I don’t know. Maybe. –he smirked, and continued stuffing his mouth with fries. Y/N started to fan herself with her hand, pulling the collar of the shirt because she couldn’t breathe.

-Or is that your shirt? 

Y/N was now choking on her water. Luke tapped her back, and when she stabilized herself finally, there was an answer, 

-Why would I take Luke’s shirts? Are you crazy? I don’t take clothes from you, then why would I from Luke?

-That’s because I don’t let your stinky nose mess through my stuff, Y/N.

-Ha Ha Ha. It’s like I want to wear your clothes. 

She was sinking in embarrassment, and Luke was having fun with it. He realized there was something up with her for a long time, but it took him a few of her weird actions, to prove to himself, that Y/N might have a little crush on him. Not that he didn’t; she was a nice, fun, smart and a talented person, but he never thought about them dating, because Alex was his very close friend. Though girls like girls, always planning their wedding from the moment they catch feelings for a guy, and Y/N was no different of course. Like every normal teenage girl, she sometimes thought about the feeling of being in a young relationship. 

Alex didn’t seem to be persuaded by her words though, he took his pen from the music journal, as if he’s going to write something, and secretly marked a line on Luke’s shirt. He didn’t know if she’s going to take it later, but really hoped she will, so he could write a conclusion in his head, that his sister and Luke are dating in secret. Or at least, that’s what he thought. 

Y/N rocked the high notes, and it left everyone to only praise her. Luke was mind blown, and sometimes came to her microphone, so they could sing together, which made Alex way madder, that he threw one of his drumsticks and it hit Luke right in the head.

-Dude, -he held his head, -why did you do that?

-There was a big bug on your head, god knows what it can do to you. I saved your life, unthankful. 

-Wait, I’ll go find some ice. –said Y/N, dropping the guitar at the stand, and jumping off stage.

-Ice, ice baby. –Reggie started to sing. –Ice, Ice baby. Alright stop, collaborate and listen Y/N is back with a brand new ice pack-

- Oh my god, shut your cassette tape of a mouth, -he said to Reggie and turned to Y/N, - Hey! He can get it himself.

-You hit him in the head, and it sounded as if you hit a pumpkin bro, I’ll help him.

-I’LL help him. You stay on your place. –he got all sassy, and when he left the room, the only thing that came to his head was a coca cola can from the freezer in their studio. And that’s what he came back with.

-I got hot even from the hit. –Luke slipped his hands under his shirt, and took it off, tossing it on his backpack. Staying shirtless next to her, and even touching his knee to hers, made Y/N turn into a red traffic light. Alex observed the entire thing, and she tried not to be obvious, though even Reggie and Bobby were aware of everything. -Yeah---we’re going home. Come on Reggie. –said Bobby, and said bye to the boys with their handshakes, as well as Reggie

.-I’m going to get my backpack, and then we’re leaving. –said Alex, and went to the little couch they had, to pack away his stuff. Y/N went to the bathroom quickly before they leave, and Luke had a crazy idea of shoving his shirt into hers without her or Alex knowing. It was really fun to him, to see her wearing his clothes, and now it was obvious where they disappeared.

-Come on Y/N, let’s get home before mum starts to panic and look for us with a whole police crew. –said Alex, when Y/N settled her backpack on her back. –Bye Patterson.

-Bye, Alex, bye Y/N

.-Bye Luke. –she didn’t even meet his eyes, and just followed her jealous brother out the door.

--

It ticked in him, the whole night, trying to know if she took his shirt. But it was really hard to know if she did, when there was music blasting at midnight as she tried to clean her room. He couldn’t wait anymore, impatiently tapping the floor with one foot. His parents were going to sleep, and warned her about putting headphones on, and she followed their order. Which for Alex, seemed like a great opportunity. He sneaked into her room, and even crawled to her backpack, and unzipped it, revealing what he was looking for. The same shirt Luke wore at rehearsal. The sound of the vacuum cleaner was filling the room, making her not hear a thing even more. He stumped his foot on the off button, and turned it off, as she still continued vacuuming.

-What is wrong with this? –she took her headphones off. –Oh, was my room that dirty that something got stuck?

-Maybe a shirt got stuck, take a good look. –he said from behind her, which made her jump.

-Youuuu-ALEX! Stop coming in my room without permi-

-wHy WoUlD I WeAr LuKe’S sHiRt? –he mocked her.

-Okay, I didn’t put that there. It’s really the first time I’m seeing it in my bag

.-I don’t believe you.

-I was in the bathroom, and when I came back we left. You were watching me the whole time.

-Nah huh, I don’t believe you. –he tossed the shirt, as it landed on her face.

-Whatever, I’m telling the truth.

-You lied earlier, though.

-Yes, I did. It was Luke’s shirt, okay? I took it because I was cold.

-I can’t even imagine the collection of his things you have put in a box in your closet. “I’m never washing this” “I’ll put it in a glass box so it never loses its scent”

-Get out already. –she took a cushion and threw it his way, but Alex was gone, so she missed him. –You’ll see Luke Patterson. 

She opened the doors of her closet, and stuffed every single clothing she owned from Luke, and left her house, with a text message to Luke himself, to wait for her in the park near his home. Luke got excited. He spritzed some perfume, as well got dressed into some fresh clothes; fixed his hair, thinking Y/N will confess her feelings. But she didn’t know the facial expression that stormed her off the house, after getting annoyed at Alex.

-Hey…-he said with a wide smile, but his face dropped when she threw the backpack against his chest

.-These are all your clothes that I’ve borrowed from you. Take them all, and don’t worry they are washed.

-You didn’t have to do this-

-Yes I had to. I don’t want to be the reason behind you and my brother getting into a fight, because of a shirt I never put into my backpack today.

-Yeah---sorry---I did it. But only because it made me happy to see you wearing my clothes.

-Then I won’t be doing that anymore. I have my own. 

-You really didn’t need to call me here to only give me my clothes. Or is there another reason why you’re here? –his chest arose in hope, and it dropped, waiting to hear the three words.

-No…there isn’t. I came here to ONLY give you the clothes, and go home.

-Okay, -he drew circles with his foot, -then I guess it’s all up to me.

-Wha- she couldn’t even say it properly, because he caught her face and pulled it towards his, attaching their lips together. It felt like Christmas, or New Year fireworks lit up in her. It was like being reborn or, nailing a high note. Those feelings all at once took a hold of her, and she couldn’t feel the tips of her fingers that didn’t know where to position in the moment, of how confused she was. Luke on the other hand, seemed like a professional in the whole thing. When they split apart, he placed the backpack on her back, as well as a few kisses to her cheeks. For a final, he pinched her nose, and intertwined their hands together.

-Come on crazy, I’ll walk you home. I don’t care if Alex gets mad, I love you and it’s all that matters.

-I-I don’t know what to say. –she still couldn’t proceed the situation. But she was walking; that she was aware of.

-Come on gorgeous, I know our feelings are mutual. It’s obvious. You love me too.

-Not---that---it’s not---true.

-Hah, I knew it, go on. –he was happily acting like a little kid.

-Okay…I like you, a lot. A lot, a lot, and it’s the reason I’ve been so weird with you lately. -I knew it Y/N, just didn’t want to rush you into it, because I could really even think about dating you because of Alex. But know if I think wisely, Alex doesn’t matter because it’s our relationship.

-Oh how he will matter when a drumstick comes flying your way.

-Uff, -he rubbed the place, -it still hurts you know?

-Awww, c’mere. –she pulled his hand, and placed a kiss to the place Alex threw the drumstick.-It’s nice to know I’ll have you around from now on.

-Yeah to secretly sneak shirts in my backpack, and then my brother arguing with me forever. It’s nice for you of course.

-At least one of us is having fun. –he wrapped an arm around her shoulder, and squeezed her into him.  

[avintagekiss24]

Home > Steve Rogers

|| pairing: 1940′s!steve rogers x black!reader

|| word count: 3,224

|| warnings: angst, fluff, hurt/comfort, mention of war, mention of Bucky’s death, canon divergence/canon adjacent

|| challenge: @cake-writes​ 1940′s challenge: “Loose lips sink ships”

|| square filled: @star-spangled-bingo​ 2020 O5: Steve’s Compass

|| note: I totally forgot about this challenge, lol. I signed up for it last year and it just totally slipped my mind until today. Which is why I’m posting so late (here in the US anyway) so I can make the due date of today, May 8th. This is canon adjacent? Canon Divergence? I don’t know, lol. All I know is it’s 1945 and Steve never crashes his plane. He goes home to get his girl. The timing might be a little off. I went off the MCU timeline, where he gets injected around 1939? When he’s around 21 years old.

The song reader is singing is Lover Man by Billie Holiday and her outfit is also inspired by Billie. I’m not sure of the gif credit, I got it from google. If you know, or if it’s yours, please let me know so I can credit you! Line credit once again goes to @writeyourmindaway​!

Brooklyn. 1945.

“The night is so cold and I’m so all alone. I’d give my soul just to call you my own.” 

You sway slowly as you croon into the microphone, the band playing behind you. You scan the small room, packed with bodies, all eyes on you as you sing. They sip on their drinks under the dim lights and there’s a low murmur from the people at the bar, but even they turn and lean against it to watch you, putting their orders on hold for just a few minutes. It’s still amazing to you - a transplant negro girl from Louisiana - having all these faces staring back at you, admiring you. Black faces, white faces, tan faces, it didn’t matter. They were all here for you.

The bar is a small one but word spread fast and within months, not a chair or table or stool could be found empty on a Friday or Saturday night when you were there. The cops don’t even really bother you or Sam, the owner and one of the first people to notice your talent, anymore. Some even stop by for a drink and a quick song. 

Your eyes flutter shut, “Got a moon above me but no one to love me. Lover man, oh, where can you be?” You hear the door creak open and close seconds later, but continue to sing, “I’ve heard it said that the thrill of romance can be like a heavenly dream. I got to bed with a prayer that you’ll make love to me.”

There’s a sudden commotion. You pop your eyes open, squinting as you try and make out the dark silhouettes in the corner. A few heads turn at the voices and loud shhhh’s ring out throughout the room. The noise dies away from the door, but the bodies are still crowded around - Jimmy, the bouncer, James “Rhodey” Rhodes, the bartender and maybe Sam, you can’t tell. In the center of them, a mess of blonde hair. 

----------

“Steve,” Sam whispers hard, “She doesn’t want you here, you know that.”

Steve’s shoulders slump a little as he takes a deep breath, “I haven’t seen her in six years.” He answers slowly, softly, “Please.”

Sam and Rhodey exchange glances before Sam takes a deep breath. He tosses his eyes back towards the stage to watch as you sing. Quick memories flash back to him from years before. Steve helping, well trying to help, set up the place when Sam first bought it. You and Steve slow dancing together in the middle of the empty floor. The three of you kicking back with ice cold Coca Cola’s, daydreaming about how big this place was going to be one day. 

He cuts his eyes back to the tall blonde in front of him. He didn’t believe it at first, when he saw a picture of him in the papers. The sickly, five foot something Brooklyn boy was now a towering six foot man. Rippling muscles, no lingering cough, a straight spine… this wasn’t the Steve Rogers that left for war. This is Captain America standing in front of him now. 

“Sam,” Steve starts, “Rhodey, you know me.” He pleads, “Please, just a minute of her time, that’s all I ask.”

Rhodey lets out a breath and throws his hand on his hip, “Just let the boy stay. He gets outta hand, Jimmy’ll throw him out.”

Steve cuts his eyes towards the burly Jimmy. He’s big, but he’s no match for the new, improved Steve Rogers, “I don’t want to hurt you, Jimmy.”

“Shit,” Jimmy swears under his breath, “I’ve read all about you. I don’t want you to hurt me neither.”

“One drink.” Sam warns, his eyes stern, “One drink and you gotta go. I don’t want her getting upset over the likes of you.”

Steve throws up his hands, “One drink.”

“You got it?” Sam asks, turning towards the soft-hearted Rhodey.

“I heard ‘ya. One drink, that’s it.”

Sam turns on his heel and moves off without another word. Rhodey waves Steve with him, walking back behind the bar to grab a tall glass, “Sip it slow, Rogers.”

Steve tips his head towards the older man and accepts the golden liquid that’s slid his way. He brings it to his lips and takes a small, slow sip as he turns to face the stage. His eyes soften immediately at the sight of you. You’re just as beautiful as he remembered, although, a little more grown up now. You’re in a black sequin, form fitting dress - low cut to expose your… one of his favorite parts of you. A large white flower is pushed into your hair and a small smile quirks onto his face. He used to love bringing you flowers. 

He closes his eyes so he can hear you, just like he used to. Suddenly, it’s 1935 again. The two of you, with Bucky pulling up the rear (only there for you and Steve’s protection), walk slowly home from school. They’d wait for you everyday, right around the corner of your school, and as soon as the two of you were out of eyeshot of anyone, he’d link his fingers with yours and kiss you right on your cheek. With your fingers laced together, your arms swinging gently, you’d sing some old song, one he’s never heard before, one you’d have to explain to him as an old southern spiritual. Bucky would always know the songs, but he wasn’t as sheltered as Steve. He was worldly already at seventeen. 

Steve lets out a slow breath as he lets the words of your song seep into him.

Strange as it seems

Someday we’ll meet and you’ll dry all my tears

Then whisper sweet little things in my ears

He has every intention of doing just that. 

----------

“A- huggin’ and a-kissin’, oh, what we’ve been missin’. Lover man, where can you be?”

You smile as the band finishes and the room erupts in applause for you. You thank the band, extending a hand of your own for them before you announce a short intermission for a quick smoke and a drink. Jimmy helps you off the stage and ushers you towards the bar, where you’re met with a large smile and a ready made Manhattan. 

“That was beautiful, doll.” Rhodey compliments, handing you a cigarette before striking a match, “Just beautiful.”

“You’re too kind,” you giggle as you lean forward, placing the cigarette to your lips for him to light, “I was a little flat.”

He waves you off, scoffing quickly, and gives you a wink before he moves to another patron. You take a drag of your cigarette and let out the smoke slowly before flicking the butt and bringing your drink to your lips. You hum lightly as the sweetened liquor slides down your throat and settles in your belly, giving you an instant warmth. You swear, you don’t care where you go, Rhodey makes the best damn Manhattan in all of New York. 

“You sounded amazing up there.”

You freeze as the voice sounds to your right. Your lips part as the familiar voice swirls around your brain, activating a part that you thought you had left behind. You turn towards the owner and gasp at the person staring back at you. You recognize most of him. His eyes, that wispy blonde hair that he used to sweep away from his forehead, those big ol’ ears. But, that strong jaw, the height, the thickness… you didn’t believe it then -  the stories, the pictures -  but God, you can’t deny it now. 

Doesn’t make you any less mad.

You drop your eyes back to the glass in front of you and take another drag of your cigarette, “Thank you.” You say flatly. 

“I always knew you’d make it one day.” Steve says softly, “I knew people would love you.”

“Not the right people apparently.” You snap back.

You close your eyes and rub your temple as the anger you buried six years before starts to resurface. You feel his eyes on you, those same blue eyes that you used to see your forever in. You turn back towards him, blinking quickly. You don’t say anything, you just stare at him while he stares back at you. Anger flashes through you again as he gives you those puppy dog eyes, trying to make you feel bad for him. 

“Why are you here?” You ask bluntly, “I told Sam I didn’t want you here.”

“I wanted to see you. I had to.”

“For what? Hmm? To spring something else on me, Steve? You have a wife? A kid on the way?”

He sighs as you practically scream at him, “It’s been six years, you can’t honestly still be this mad at me.”

“A lifetime could pass, and I still wouldn’t want to see your face.” You stand, grabbing your drink, “Give the Germans a message for me, hm? Tell them that if you’re still breathing, they aren’t doing their job so well.”

You turn and push through the crowd of bodies before he can say another word. You finish your set some hour or two later and stay behind for a little attention, after all, you are a single girl. You feel those eyes on you the entire while but you pay him no mind. You laugh, you flirt, you nuzzle in a little closer than you usually would - pull on a few ties. A twenty seven year old girl should be a wife. The man you thought would make you an honest woman decided war was the better option. 

It’s almost midnight before you decide to head home. It’s a nice night, the sky clear and full of bright stars, so you wave Sam off when he offers to walk you home. He insists, but you know this neighborhood like that back of your hand. You wouldn’t feel safer in any other place in the world. So, he wraps your fur scarf around your neck and sends you on your way with a quick kiss on the cheek and a smile. 

You’re not but ten steps away from the bar when you first notice the presence behind you. You stop to light another cigarette before you call out to him, “I don’t need you to follow me.”

“I’m gonna walk you home.”

“I don’t need you too.” You reinforce.

“I’m going to walk you home anyway. I’ll keep my distance, I promise.”

You sigh heavily. The persistence of him hasn’t changed and the pounding headache you have won’t let you argue. You walk slowly, taking in the fresh air and the calm night as the one and only Captain America follows you home. He keeps his distance, just like he promised. Once you climb the steps to your stoop, you turn again, watching as he stops at the bottom of the steps. 

“I’m home now, thank you.” You say flatly again, clearing your throat.

He nods gently, “My pleasure.”

You blink at him, your lips parting as words threaten to fall from them. You open your mouth wider, even inhale to begin to speak, but you can’t. The words just won’t come. The memories of your last night come flooding back to you - the screaming, the tears. If you walk out that door, don’t you ever think about coming back. Do you hear me, Steve? Don’t you ever come near me again!

Your eyes start to water at the thought. You have to turn your head away from him, you have to stare down the street to try and stop the tears from falling. It doesn’t work. You drop your head as a single tear slips down your cheek and splatters on your patent leather pumps. Your chin trembles as you glance back up towards the sky and hold your hand over your mouth.

“Let me make it up to you,” he says, his voice full of emotion, “I can fix it.”

“We had plans, Steve.”

“I know that,” he answers quickly, “You aren’t seeing anyone, are you?”

You scoff, crossing your arms over your chest, “Loose lips sink ships, Captain.”

He takes a deep breath, “I don’t really care if you or not. Let me fix it - I can fix it.”

“Fix it?” You shout as all of the pent up emotion you’ve held in for all these years comes pouring out onto your cheeks, “Fix it? How are you going to fix it? I’m just supposed to forget that you walked out on me? That you chose killing Germans over starting a life with me?”

“You don’t understand-”

“I don’t need to understand! You and Bucky both, you just -” 

Your words come to halt at the mention of his name. Steve drops his head as he swallows hard and has to close his eyes. Bucky’s mother didn’t even have a body to bury. You couldn’t breathe when you heard the news. His sister, Rebecca, came to tell you and you just… you hadn’t ever felt a pain like that. James Buchanan Barnes was good to you - loved you like you were one of his own. Not only had you lost the love of your life, you’d lost your best friend now too. 

You clear your throat, “You both just left. No warning, barely a goodbye and poof. Gone.”

“I thought about you everyday,” Steve says, his eyes still closed, “Every damn day. You were the only thing that kept me alive.”

You laugh sarcastically, “Don’t say that. I had nothing to do with keeping you alive, that shit you got pumped into you did.”

He shakes his head emphatically, “You kept my heart beating. That’s what I mean. I was fighting for you, and for Sam, and my mom and dad. I had a duty,” he stresses, his voice breaking under it, “You don’t understand what that meant to me, being able to fight.”

You roll your eyes but he continues anyway, “It had nothing to do with my love for you. I could have done it better, yes. I could’ve communicated with you better, yes, but it had nothing to do with how much I loved you. How much I love you even now… despite you wanting me dead.”

You sigh heavily as your words from earlier in the evening, “I didn’t - I didn’t mean that.” You answer softly.

He flashes a knowing smile, “Yeah you did.”

You roll your eyes again and shrug. You glance back down the street, sniffling softly as you hug yourself. You can’t lie to yourself, you are glad he made it home in one piece. You blink back at him, finding his big, wide, blue eyes on you still. He takes a step closer, resting his hand on the railing. He pulls something from his pocket, running his fingers over the gold cover before he pops it open.

He takes another breath as a small smile spreads on his lips. He turns it towards you and holds it out for you to take. You eye him suspiciously for a few seconds, but you take a step, and then another, and another until you’re within reach of the round object. You take it from his fingers and bring it to your eyes, taking a breath when you see a picture of yourself staring back at you.

“That’s my compass. I used it every day - I saw you every day. You are why I made it home.” He says softly, his watery eyes bouncing between yours, “I’m home now - for good, and that’s how I can fix it. I willingly offer you every day of my life from this minute on. Whatever you want, whatever you need, I’ll get for you. I’ll protect you, I will love you, I will honor and treasure you. I’ll give you every piece of me.”

You hold a hand over your chest, for fear that your heart will leap right out of it. You drag in deep breaths as you shake your head, “I don’t know you anymore. I don’t know you.”

“You know me,” he answers quickly as he pushes up the stairs to meet you, “I’m still me, just in a new body, that’s all.”

“I don’t want this new body. I loved you just as you were.”

He grabs your hands, bringing the backs of your fingers to his lips as you cry, “I know you did baby. Give me a chance, baby doll. Please? You’ll like this new body once you see it, I promise.” He smiles. 

You don’t. Deep in the back of your mind you want to believe him. You want to fall into his arms and have him kiss your tears away and make love to you until you can’t stand it anymore. You want to wake up in his arms tomorrow and every day after that until you take your dying breath - but it’s not that easy. You were idealistic in highschool and stayed that way right up until the day he left, but you aren’t now. You can’t afford to be. It’s still only 1945. He’s still a white man, you’re still a negro woman. You’re still not able to mix, not that boldly anyway.

“It’s not that easy.” You whisper.

He rests his forehead to yours, “It is that easy,” he whispers back, “Let me prove it to you.”

“No, it’s - they won’t leave us be. You can’t be with me - “

“Don’t you talk like that.” He says sternly, “I dare anybody to say anything to you. I’ll throw ‘em through a goddamn wall.”

“Steve - “

He cuts you off, bringing his finger to your lips. You close your eyes and take a few deep, calming breaths. God knows you want to believe him. You’ve been so angry for so long. He places his large hand to your chest, resting his palm right over your heart.

“I can make you love me again.” 

You inhale sharply as you look up at him, “I never stopped loving you, Steve. I never stopped.”

You moan when he crashes his lips to yours. He lifts you from your feet with complete ease, an ease you’ve never seen him display before, and crushes your now much smaller body to his. You wrap your arms around his shoulders as you kiss him back hard, pulling back only to tilt your head before diving back in for more of him. You press your hands to the sides of his face as you catch your breath, his lips moving down to your chin and to your neck, placing kisses on every inch of exposed skin. 

You dig into your purse, pulling out your keys. He pulls back - out of breath, his lips flushed red and swollen as he stares up at you. You push your keys into the palm of his hand and wrap your legs around his waist as you nuzzle your face into the crook of his neck. You close your eyes as he holds you tight, cradling an arm underneath your behind before he walks up to the front door of your building. He slips the key inside the lock and twists, pushing the door open, before you direct him to your humble apartment. 

You wake up in his arms the next morning, and every day after that until you take your last breath. 

[ffakc]

The Weather Outside is Frightful - a Jeffrey Dean Morgan fanfiction

@negans-attagirl @jdmbbycakes @iluvneganandjamie

“For Rhinebeck, we’re looking at up to five inches per hour! Make sure you’ve got your milk and bread, folks, it’s going to be a doozy!” the weather man proclaimed. My husband changes the channel to our favorite trashy reality TV channel.

“I’d like to get five inches per hour,” I mutter for myself with a smirk and snuggle up under a fuzzy blanket.

“What did you just say?” Jeff laughs.

“Oh, nothing,” I sigh. Jeff is still giggling to himself. My silver fox leans over and growls in my ear.

“If you wanted to have sex, all you had to do was say so,” he kisses my neck with an obnoxious “MWAH!” sound.

“You’re so damn cute,” I try my best to climb onto my husband’s lap.

“How are you so hot even in your jammies, baby girl?” I grab his cheeks and kiss him.

“I don’t feel very hot,” I gesture to my VERY pregnant belly. Jeffrey scoffs.

“Nonsense! You’re carrying OUR child, that’s the most badass thing a lady can do!” he kisses my lips sweetly as he rubs the taut skin, “I love my girls.”

“We love you too, Daddy,” I smile and rock my hips against Jeff’s thigh. I moan with delight.

“Think about it this way, you’re rearranging your organs to bring a life into this world! How cool is that?”

“Jeff, that’s gross,” I laugh.

“I guess you’re right,” he chuckles. “So, what do my gals want for dinner, hm?”

“If I had my way, Pizza Hut stuffed crust. I’ve been craving that for a good week now. But I’m not about to make a delivery driver trek through this,” I climb off my man’s lap and rub his knee.

“Sweetheart, I’ve got a massive four wheel drive. Do you want pizza? I’ll get you pizza,” Jeff smiles, standing up off the couch.

“Yes please, Daddy. You’re so sweet.” I pull up the website on my phone, “What do you want?” I run my fingers over my stomach, which is now growling.

“You know I’m not picky,” Jeff grabs his keys and uses his remote start to warm his beast of a truck.

“Extra red onions, black olives, and sausage then,” I reply, Jeff hands me his card and kisses my forehead. “Ooh, and maybe a syrupy sweet fountain Pepsi?”

“You better be suckin’ on a breath mint then before you get near these lips! Also, Pepsi? Really? Oh, you better be fuckin’ messing with me.” I rest my sore feet on the ottoman and nod as Jeff pets my hair. “Fine, whatever. I’ll get you horse piss.” I laugh. That man is hopelessly addicted to his Coca Cola. “Anything else while I’m out?”

“Maybe a pregnancy test? I’ve been feeling weird lately,” I joke.

“Oh my god, you’re so annoying,” Jeff rolls his eyes with a grin and pulls on his flannel jacket, placing an unlit cigarette between his lips.

“Drive safe! I love you,” I blow him a kiss.

“I love you too, baby girl.”

***

“That’s your Daddy,” I trace my fingers over my belly, watching a rerun of Grey’s Anatomy that happened to be on. “He’s already wrapped around your little finger and he hasn’t even seen you in person yet,” I giggle. “We are so excited to meet you, baby girl.”

“Dinner is served, darlin’!” Jeff calls out and sets the pizza on the counter. I sit myself up a little straighter. Little flutters ripple across my abdomen.

“Jeff! Babe, come here!” I gesture to my stomach.

“Watching Daddy, hm? Wow, I miss my dark hair,” Jeff laughs and gets to his knees on the floor in front of the couch. I place his hand on my stomach and gently press my hand on top of his.

“Do you feel that? As soon as she heard your voice, she started moving.” Jeff gasps as a wide smile crosses his lips.

“I’m so in love with her already,” he kisses the little lumps where I assume a hand or a foot poked through. “That’s my daughter, my fucking daughter. It’s still so surreal to say. I’ve wanted a little girl for God knows how long,” he lowers his voice to a whisper, “I’ve loved you since the moment Mama said she was pregnant with you. Don’t you break your daddy’s heart, sweet pea.”

“I can’t imagine bringing a child into this world with anyone else,” I reply and kiss my husband deeply. “Alright, I suppose I should get up!” I grab Jeff’s outstretched hand and he pulls me off the couch. I place my pizza on a paper plate. Jeff looks me up and down.

“Look how fucking cute you are, doll. Daddy loves giving his gal what she wants,” my husband remarks and kisses my cheek. I sink my teeth into the greasy pizza and moan with delight. “Is it everything you hoped it would be?”

“God, yes. The grease makes my soul happy,” I laugh. Jeff sits on the barstool at the kitchen counter.

“So, umm, yeah,” my husband clears his throat. “Usually I couldn’t give two shits what people say on social media, but...” Jeff heaves a heavy sigh. “I was scrolling through Twitter while waiting for pizza and I saw a few comments here and there about how I’m too old for this,” he places a hand on my stomach.

“That’s stupid,” I roll my eyes.

“They say I’m too old for you too,” he grabs his phone and adjusts his bifcocals, “‘Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s going to be 72 when that kid graduates and his sugar baby’s going to be 42. You ever think about how weird that is? Ew. Poor kid.’ I keep telling myself it do-“ a single tear falls down his face as he places his phone back on the counter.

“It doesn’t matter, Jeffrey,” I cup his cheek my hand and kiss him. “Aww, baby, come here,” I hold his head against my chest. “You already cherish this baby with every ounce of love you have and that’s literally all our girl could ask for, is a Mommy and Daddy who want nothing more than to love her with all their hearts. Age is but a number, sweetheart. My dad was older when he had us kids and it didn’t affect his parenting one single bit. Also, calling me a sugar baby when anyone who follows me on any social media platform knows I never shut the fuck up about how much I love my husband.” Jeff laughs to himself. “I’d have to be in REALLY deep with the sugar baby thing if I let my sugar daddy put a living, breathing child inside me.”

“Yeah, you are absolutely right,” Jeff sniffles and kisses me. “They can call me ‘old’ all the live long day, but coming for my incredible wife and unborn child? I don’t take too kindly to that. That hurts. I swear, I think your pregnancy hormones are affecting me too,” he teases and flicks his tears away.

“I don’t blame you! That shit is rude and uncalled for!” I exclaim and take a bite of pizza. “Sorry, I got distracted,” I wipe my mouth with a napkin. “What can I say? I’m eating for two.”

“You are indeed,” Jeff smiles, he murmurs something to himself and gives my backside a squeeze. He nibbles his pizza.

“What’s that, Daddy?” I look up at him with innocent eyes and take a long sip of my drink.

“I said, ‘that ass’,” You’ve gotten so curvy, baby. Pregnancy looks real good on you. Who gave you the right to be so damn sexy?” I wiggle my hips as wetness pools between my thighs. “You’re lucky I don’t just shove this pizza off the counter and fuck you right here.”

“Don’t threaten me with a good time,” I smirk. I pull down my top slightly, revealing my overgrown and engorged breasts.

“Baby doll,” Jeff whines. I run my fingers over the zipper of his jeans, earning a moan from my gorgeous older man. He places one veiny, strong hand on my hip and the other in my hair as he kisses me deeply. His hand travels to my belly as his breath shudders against my lips.

“I love these new curves,” Jeff groans. “Why does this big, round pregnant belly turn me on so much?”

“Because you know it means you bred me so good?” I suggest, squeezing my breasts together. “Making my tits bigger, making my hips wider.”

“God yes. What can I do to make my gal feel good tonight?”

“Well, I’ve had another craving that isn’t pizza,” I trail my fingers down his chest, “A hot, steamy shower with my hands in your hair and your mouth on my needy, wet pussy. Oh Daddy, I need you.”

“Oh my,” Jeff clicks his tongue, his face flushing slightly, “You know how much I love devouring that sweet pussy. I could do that all day, every day if you’d let me.”

“I’d let you!” I pipe up, and Jeff laughs, dunking his crust in pizza sauce. “Just don’t put any pepper flakes on your pizza,” I wink and Jeff laughs even harder.

“Good lord, you really think I’d do that to you?”

“I don’t know, maybe! Now, let’s finish dinner, dessert is waiting for you,” I rub my husband’s shoulders and he lets out a satisfied groan. I throw my plate in the trash, “I’ll meet you in the shower,” I whisper against his ear. Jeff shoves the rest of his food in his mouth and chases after me. I crank the shower up as hot as it can go, Jeff grabs me by the waist from behind and rubs against me as he kisses my neck. I can feel how hard he is in his fitted jeans. I slip out of my clothes and my husband does the same, his cock throbbing as he slides out of his underwear.

“Look at what you do to me,” Jeff gestures downward.

“Oops,” I step under the water. I brush two fingers over my clit and whimper, then offer them to Jeff. He sucks them seductively. “Look what you do to ME.”

“Fuck girl, you taste so sweet,” his hands rest on my pregnant belly as I wrap my arms around his neck as we kiss.

“I need to sit down,” I remark and bite my lip. I sit back on the shower bench.

“That’s my good girl. You sit back and relax, pull my hair, and let Daddy enjoy himself. Don’t you move a muscle, let me do all the work, sweetheart,” Jeff ghosts his hot breath against me, smirking up at me. He knows exactly what he’s doing. He lets out a low growl of pleasure.

“You tease,” I whine, “Please Daddy, please. I need it, Jeffrey.” Jeff buries his face in what’s his. The water falls softly against his tanned skin.

“You taste so damn GOOD, girl,” Jeff rasps. A little bit of Negan slipped out with that statement. He breathes heavily as his mouth overtakes my most sensitive parts. His fingers curl inside me. My whole body jerks.

“Jeff! Oh my god!” I gasp. My silver fox groans loudly.

“Oh Princess, I want to make you scream. I want you to make an absolute fucking mess on my face,” he spreads my legs as far as my exhausted body can go and circles my throbbing clit with his ever-flickering tongue. God, what a talented tongue my gorgeous husband has.

“Jeffrey! Jeffrey, oh fuck! I’m so close, baby. Please, baby. Please, I need you so damn bad,” I plead, grasping onto his graying locks. He sucks gently as if I’m his favorite lollipop and smirks up at me. “FUCK!” I cry out, “JEFF! OH MY FUCKING GOD!” I can’t hold back, profanity and filthy, wet mouth sounds fill the air. My orgasm hits me like a powerful earthquake, a tidal wave of pure ecstasy. As if a surge of lightning coursed through my entire body. Jeff pants, planting soft kisses on my inner thighs. I stroke his hair as he kisses me passionately, my legs still trembling.

“Was is it as good for you as it was for me?” Jeff smiles.

“Oh god, better than I could have ever imagined, Daddy. I love you so damn much,” I breathe heavily.

“I love you more than anything. You make me the luckiest, Mrs. Morgan.”

[jisungsmochi]

the diner boy - hrj

diner boy renjun + new diner girl reader

slight enemies to lovers ! 

a/n: this is the first instalment of my nct dream job au (?) basically each member will be the worker / the reader will be the worker. it’s a fun idea i’ve had but never actually bothered writing so i hope you all can enjoy it hehe! 

word count: 2.8k

//

it was your first day of your new waitressing job at your local diner. it was your very first job, and to say you were nervous was a complete understatement. you always strived to be better than what you could usually handle. thus, causing you to overthink and often dramatise certain situations.

as you tied the apron behind your back, you turned to meet a familiar face.

‘fancy seeing you here, stalking me now?’ the voice teased, as the boy who owned it, leant against the counter, wearing the same apron.

‘don’t get any ideas, it’s my first day’ you sighed. 

renjun had always teased you, since your first day at the school. you were a new kid at the start of the year, and found it pretty easy to make friends. renjun, however, disliked how all of his friends were practically pining for your attention. he didn’t see why you were any special from any other new student so instead, to stray away from the constant praise you received from his friends. he decided to not be so nice to you. always teasing if you were late, if you had something in your hair, softly barging past you in the halls.

you were completely aware of his disliking towards you but you tried to not let it get to you. so when you saw that he happened to be working in the same diner, you were just about to quit right then and there.

‘well since it’s your first day, i’ll be sure to make things very difficult for you’ he smirked, watching as your eyes widened.

‘what do you mean?’ you struck back, folding your arms over eachother.

‘i’m the assistant manager so, whatever i say, you do’ renjun had this look in his eyes that you could only describe was mischievous. you were in for one wild ride.

your first shift consisted of you tripping multiple times and spilling plenty of both hot and cold beverages on the floor. then having to mop the floor as well as bus down each table on your own. it was clear that the diner was understaffed, yet renjun didn’t bother to help you at all. you huffed in exhaustion as you finished wiping down your last table for the day. renjun watched as you slowly wiped the sweat from your forehead before glaring at him and making your way to the break room. he wanted to follow you, but your slight slam to the door signalled that wouldn’t be the best idea.

he felt slightly guilty that he didn’t help you at all. but he wanted to stick his ground. he couldn’t give in so easily.

the next shift, you came in feeling exhausted from your first one, but still determined to do your job. renjun stopped you before you entered the back room of the diner.

‘nice work yesterday’ he taunted, blocking you from entering.

‘would have been nice if you decided to help but clearly being nice isn’t something you can do’ you groaned, trying to push past him, grabbing for you apron.

‘yeah yeah, try not to spill any drinks today okay’ he let you past as you gave him another scowl,

‘dickhead’ you muttered under your breath but renjun still heard. a part of him felt hurt by your words.

this shift was slightly better than the first. you were still on edge but it wasn’t completely noticeable by the patrons. you often glanced at renjun, who, for the first time it seemed, was serving customers. he had a surprisingly friendly smile and often laughed along with whatever banter the customers were throwing at him. he made it look so easy. he caught you glancing, giving you a smile as you quickly looked away and continued wiping down tables.

it was getting dark as you and renjun closed up the diner. you made sure everything was in its place before grabbing your jacket and backpack. renjun wanted to stop you before you left, to talk. about anything. but he didn’t know if you would do the same.

‘oh crap’ you groaned, watching as rain began to fall.

‘problem?’ renjun walked up next to you, slightly startling you.

‘uh yeah i caught the bus here and i don’t have an umbrella, i’m gonna be soaked’ you sighed, going through your backpack for any type of protection from the rain. renjun thought to himself for a moment, unsure of what to say to you.

‘i can drive you home’ he suddenly offered, causing you to halt your actions and look up at him. you weren’t sure if he was serious, but he was looking right back at you. renjun hates you, or so you thought. why would he offer to take you home?

‘i’m offering one last time, or else you can go get soaked’ he tapped his foot on the tiles. there’s the renjun you know.

‘yeah okay, thanks for offering’ you mutter, placing your phone into your bag and following him to his car. you watched as he pushed back some of his hair that was dampened from the rain. he looked quite stunning in your eyes.

‘enough staring, don’t get my car seats wet’ he yelled at you over the rain. you rolled your eyes, laying down your spare apron on the seat before getting into the car.

‘oh i wasn’t being serious’ he chuckled for what seemed like the first time you had witnessed.

‘just drive’ you retorted, running your fingers through your damp hair. renjun looked over at you, how you looked so cosy in your large winter jacket. he shook his head to rid of this thoughts before starting the car and following your directions home.

not much was said before the occasional ‘left here’ ‘right there’ but you both enjoyed the company, even if you both couldn’t admit it.

as he pulled up to your driveway, you began collecting your things.

‘thanks for the ride, i appreciate it. see you tomorrow’ you turned to him.

‘it’s fine, you just owe me one day’ he smirked as you rolled your eyes.

‘can’t you just take my gratitude?’

‘ehh where’s the fun in that?’ he was impossible.

‘i’m gonna leave now, bye’ you shut his door, practically bolting to your front door. you still heard his engine running, turning back to see him waiting for you to enter your home. you gave him a wave to signal you were fine, as he left your driveway.

renjun was an interesting guy. definitely one of a kind.

after a few weeks of working at the diner, you had began to get a hang of things. you weren’t totally perfect just yet, but you were well on your way. it became a thing for renjun to drop you home when it got too dark or the weather was bad. you didn’t mind, he began to refrain from making his usual comments during the car rides, and always made sure you entered your house before leaving. you wouldn’t talk as much during your shifts, due to the constant hustle and bustle of the job. but the occasional smiles and waves, sufficed for you both.

one day you were both working, a group of teenagers entered, interrupting the prior calm and collected atmosphere. you and renjun both sighed and looked at eachother.

‘you gonna handle them?’ he stood next to you behind the counter.

‘may as well, you finish up with table 10’ you told him as he nodded before giving you a small thumbs up and attending to his table. you took a deep breath before approaching the group and asking if they were ready to order.

luckily enough for you, that process when smoothly, despite their constant bickering over eachother.

as you were serving them their drinks, you suddenly tripped over one of their feet, causing you to spill the contents of the coca cola on the nearest patron. you instantly fell to the ground, some of the drink staining your white shirt. the group was enraged by the clumsiness, many of them just ranting to eachother, except for one boy. he stood up and began shouting at you, complaining about your ‘poor service’. this caught renjun’s attention as well as many of the other tables. he immediately rushed over to you, helping you up, before facing the boy.

‘look i understand that she made a mistake but that is no way to talk to a woman’ renjun gritted through his teeth, trying to remain using his customer service voice.

‘i don’t need to listen to you, i’d like to speak to the manager’ the boy chuckled at renjun’s efforts to ease the situation.

‘well our manager isn’t in today, but you can talk to the assistant manager, if you wish’ renjun retorted, you watched the confrontation intently.

the boy just nodded, renjun gave him a smirk before stating,

‘well continue with your complaint, you’re talking to the assistant manager’

the boy’s face dropped, as well as his friends. you slightly giggled to yourself as the group decided to up and leave the diner. renjun turned back to you,

‘are you alright?’ for the first time, he properly expressed his concern for you.

‘uh yeah, i’m okay, i’ll go get a mop to clean this mess, i’m so sorry’ you apologise to him, before he stopped you by grabbing your forearm.

‘no, just go and clean yourself up, i’ll get someone else to clean this mess. you can have the rest of the day off’ he gave you a softened smile, in which you returned.

‘thank you so much’ you exclaimed before heading to the back room.

he was your saviour that day.

renjun was late on a particular day, which had you worried. he was usually always here before you were.

‘hey, johnny, where’s renjun?’ you question, wiping down some of the washed dishes.

‘he’s taking a day off, something about preparing for an important family dinner’ johnny shrugged, observing your concerned look.

‘you wanna see him don’t ya?’ johnny teased, pushing his shoulder against yours.

‘what? no! that’s ridiculous’ you mumble the last part, was it really so ridiculous?

‘oh come on, you’ve been glued to him at work lately, it’s cute’ johnny just kept going on, which made you silent. maybe he really was telling the truth.

‘anyways, renjun forgot his payslip along with his travel card here, after your shift can you take it to his house? i’m working over time’ johnny handed you renjun’s belongings, not waiting for you to answer before leaving the kitchen. you stared at the items in your hand before shaking your head and placing them into your backpack. you said goodbye to johnny before exiting the diner and getting into your car to renjun’s house.

you hesitated before ringing the doorbell, remembering that johnny had said that he has an important family dinner.

maybe you could come by tomorrow, you thought. but it was too late as your hand had already pressed the doorbell. you heard some shuffling before the door swung open, revealing a neatly put together, renjun.

‘oh hi y/n, what are you doing here?’ he questioned. you stood silently for a moment before answering,

‘you forgot your travel card and payslip, i just came to drop them by’ you smiled as you handed him the items. he thanked you softly before someone else approached the door.

‘renjun sweetie who is at the door?’ a woman, who assumed was his mother, spoke from behind him.

‘uh a girl from work’ renjun responded. you kind of felt deflated after his response, you were just a coworker to him? not even a friend?

the woman’s face came into view, greeting you with a large smile, resembling much of renjun’s.

‘oh hello! renjun doesn’t really talk much about his work, it’s always like some kind of secret!’ his mother jokes and renjun gives her a playful glare. you stand awkwardly, laughing along.

‘have you eaten yet? we are just about to have dinner, i can pull up a chair for you!’ she persisted, as renjun tried to stop his mother from pulling you inside the house.

‘mum, y/n probably is really busy and has to go home’ renjun tried to argue as you were getting dragged by his mother,

‘actually i didn’t have any plans’ you shrug as his mother led you to a seat at the table. the rest of his family greeted you, including his grandparents and older sister. you greeted them kindly, trying your best not to stick out like a sore thumb. renjun just shook his head before sitting next to you.

dinner conversation didn’t seem like a problem for this family. everyone had something to talk about, something you weren’t used to. renjun chuckled along with all of his family’s jokes and stories, you couldn’t take your eyes off of him.

maybe he just looked so glorious in this moment, you just couldn’t stop.

‘so y/n! are you good friends with our dear renjun?’ his sister began teasing, as his parents and grandparents eyes fell onto the both of you.

‘um i mean, i guess so! we’ve been working together for a few months now, he’s pretty much taught me all i know’ you compliment and renjun just smiles without saying a word.

‘that’s our boy, so helpful and kind’ his grandpa exclaimed as the rest of the family laughed along. you couldn’t help but have this feeling in your stomach, a feeling you felt when you were truly happy.

dinner ended on a light note, everyone dispersing to do their own things. as a guest, you offered to help with the dishes but renjun’s mother declined your offer, only to pack you dessert for when you went home. you held the tupperware box in your hands, making your way to the front door, after bidding goodbye to everyone before renjun stops you. he leads you out to the front of his house, asking you to sit with him on the steps.

‘what’s up?’ you smiled, clinging onto your sweater sleeves due to the soft breeze.

‘i’m glad you decided to stay, even though my mother kinda forced you’ renjun started as you laughed.

‘it’s been a while since i’ve brought a friend to my house, and i’m glad that it was you. you got along with them pretty well’ he looked down at his feet.

‘it’s just my charm! but you weren’t such a fan of me when we first met’ you decided to poke at him.

‘yeah, i know, and i’m sorry. you were just so bright and optimistic and all my friends were drawn to you. i just didn’t understand why, but um, now i think i know’ he looked over at you, palms sweaty as he rubbed them against his jeans.

you gave him a small smile, scooting closer to him so your sides were against each other.

‘can i tell you something?’ you mumble, leaning your head on his shoulder, as you felt his posture stiffen.

‘yeah sure’ he replied, waiting for you to speak, nervously playing with his fingers.

‘i kinda have a crush on you’ you admitted, not looking at him. you felt his hand pull your head off his shoulder. you looked at him, with uncertainty.

he reciprocated the same look, nibbling at the side of his cheek before saying,

‘i kinda have a crush on you too. i just didn’t know how to say it’ he admitted. both of your faces lit up with immense joy. you pulled him close to you, wrapping your arms around his neck, nuzzling into his shoulder.

‘i’m so glad’ you mumble as he softly rubs your back.

you both pull away, smiling at eachother like complete dorks.

‘i can’t wait to see what happens next’ he grins as he leads you to your car,

‘same here, i’ll see you tomorrow’ you quickly press a soft peck to his cheek, watching as his blush covered his entire face.

‘oh and by the way, don’t tell johnny just yet, we can’t let his ego be bigger than his head!’ you added as renjun just shook his head and nodded,

‘you got it, get home safely’ renjun waves as you enter your car and begin to drive off.

he watches as your car completely exits his driveway, before heading back inside his house.

‘renjun! your girlfriend is so pretty! we like her alot’ his grandmother greets him as he enters the door,

‘she’s not my girlfriend just yet, nana, someday soon’ renjun responds as a warm feeling takes over his body as he rushes to his room to text his friends about the good news.

thank god you started working at the diner, otherwise renjun would have had to pretend to hate you for much longer.

the endddddd i’m sorry the ending kinda sucks 😓😓

[danetobelieve]

The Case Of The Invisible Man || Agatha and Winston

When: late september Who: @detective-keen & @danetobelieve Where: WCPD Summary: Winston and Agatha work on a confusing break in together. Warnings: n/a

The smell of cold Luigi’s Pizzas wafted up into Winston’s nose as their slender fingers reached beneath the lenses of their spectacles and rubbed their eyes. Reaching out, Winston collected the mug of semi warm coffee from their desk and watched the triple speed CCTV footage roll by. They were working a homicide case with Agatha. Which was good. Out of so many of their colleagues, Agatha was a safe person to work with. She didn’t have anything to do with the supernatural, not as far as Winston could tell. Not to mention that she  was really good at their job and generally just pretty excellent company. Yawning, Winston grabbed a piece of pizza and was about to bite into it when they spotted something on the screen and paused, squinting at it. “Am I imagining things or does that guy kind of look like our perp?” Winston wasn’t convinced all of a sudden. They were pretty sure that their perp wasn’t blonde. “I think if I have to look at these screens for any longer I might put my face through them.” 

An obnoxiously loud yawn followed Winston’s. The detective grimaced as she pictured her mother frowning about it. Agatha remembered, ever since she was a kid, her mom being hellbent on having her daughter and husband follow some rules of etiquette, and she and her father completely ignoring most of those rules, much to her great displeasure. “Mmmh?” She stretched her arms above her head, glancing at them, then at the screen. “You need new glasses, dude” she had to admit that they kinda looked similar to the perp, but was she really going to miss an opportunity to mess with Winston? She reached over to grab pizza, unpausing the video in the process. Which would be when a particularly ugly dressed person showed up on camera. “Wow Winston, you could have told me you were on the tape,” cackling, she grimaced at the taste of cold pizza. Ugh. Ew. “Or is this what you meant by putting your face through the screen?”

Doing their best to keep a straight face, Winston failed pretty fundamentally. With coffee dribbling out of their nose, Winston had to reach for a tissue. They’d laughed so hard at Agatha’s jest that they had all but ejected the coffee from their nose all over the desk surface. Quickly cleaning up their mess and wiping their face clear of coffee, Winston grinned. “Hey, I had my prescription checked like a year ago and it was fine, I don’t know about you but I don’t make enough to constantly be checking my glasses and making sure they’re perfect.” They were joking, well, not really, they weren’t exactly paid much at all. “Hey, I know that I have a bad sense of fashion, but even I’m not THAT bad.” Winston flicked the speed of the tape up by another notch and watched several people file past the camera, still nothing. They had hours of footage to work through from multiple vantage points, but they’d also been doing this for a while and it was getting tedious. “Had I known that I was going to be judged for my poor decisions in dress sense then I would’ve maybe made more of an effort to look less sloppy, but we can’t all dress as well as you can Nancy Drew.” 

“Dude, nooooo,” Agatha moved away her things to make sure they wouldn’t get coffee-d courtesy of Winston. “I mean, that’s on me for being so hilarious,” she held her palm to her chest, and with a shit-eating grin on her face, she said : “my bad.” Agatha reached for napkins next, and helped them clean up the desk, shaking her head as Winston  spoke of their salary. She couldn’t hold back her grimace as she tried to imagine what this station could be paying them. “Clearly whoever decides your paycheck never saw what happened when Dennis Nedry didn’t get paid enough : people died.” Okay, they were eaten by dinosaurs, but Agatha was pretty sure that any IT worker could hurt a lot with just a computer. She doubted that someone sweet like Winston would ever do that, but she was convinced that if they wanted to, they could. Her eyes were on the video, but her mind was elsewhere. She hated being stuck here staring at a screen, even if it was part of the job. “Why thank you. Just to be clear I was not comparing you to Dennis Nedry, you’re more like Q, or that guy from WatchDogs, what was his name again?” She brushed a wrinkle off her pantsuits and blew a raspberry. “Uuuuuuuuugh. Come on.”

“Hey hey hey, if you’re going to say funny shit then I’m going to shoot coffee out of my nose, I don’t make the rules I just play the game.” Winston couldn’t help their grin as they wiped the dribble of coffee from their nose. “That is definitely on you, definitely your bad.” Winston loved working with Agatha, she was one of the few people in the station who seemed to actually get them and she was good at her job. “It’s fine, I’ve only just started, we’ll see if I still think it’s fine later on, but for now, it’s fine. Luckily I don’t have any evil plans to take dinosaur embryos illegally but you never know, if I find some I might change my mind.”  Pausing for a moment, Winston thought back to their days playing Watchdogs and grinned. “Do you mean Raymond Kenney?” they asked curiously. “I don’t know if I truly have the hair to rival Raymond but I appreciate the comparison. I do like to think of myself as a literal Doctor Who, just general all around genius but that’s a comparison I would happily take.” 

 “You know what’s worse than coffee? Coca Cola. You don’t want to snort that out of your nose, it’s the worst,” she advised. Clearly, this was something she had to learn the hard way, but she was not about to give those juicy details. Agatha cleared her throat and put down the cold slice of pizza. “Speaking of frozen embryos, I think I have some ice cream in the freezer here?” Obviously she was not dumb enough to leave a tub of Ben&Jerry’s in the precinct’s fridge looking like one, and when she came back with the thing in her hand, it was stored in a tomato stained Tupperware marked “Codfish brandade.” Handing a spoon to Winston, she sat down in her chair and slumped a little, getting comfortable. “YES, him. And you know, I’m sure you could get the same hair with a little bit of perseverance,” she smiled as Winston mentioned the Doctor. “Can I please be your companion? They are always nicely dressed. Check. And they work well with them. Check. We get in the Tardis, and arrest this douchebag right as he walks out of the store. Deal?” 

“Coca cola or cocaine?” Winston asked with a grin. Of course they were joking. Winston was not a hardcore party person and they definitely weren’t into drugs. Working in law enforcement meant that it was pretty hard to be into drugs. “I don’t really want to be snorting anything in or out of my nose.” Grinning Winston took a spoon off of Agatha and scooped up as much ice cream as they could, stuffing it directly into their mouth as they watched the footage trawl by before their eyes. “You can definitely be my companion because I’m pretty convinced that most of the time it is the companions that do all of the hard work. Besides you are very well dressed most of the time and you’ve got a good work ethic. I think if anything I’m maybe not the one who is qualified to be a timelord, I haven’t got the whole travelling in time thing down at all. But, I’ll get there.” Winston wished that they could travel in time. There was already a lot that they would change. “So, deal.” They scrolled through the footage, pausing and squinting at the screen. “For real though, does that guy not look a little …” Winston didn’t have a better word for it, “... weird?” The cameras opposite Miriam’s shop might well have picked up on something. 

“I’m gonna pretend I did not hear this,” Agatha jokingly glared at them, but her smile couldn’t stay away for that long. “You… drug… person… you,” yes, linguistics were her passion. “Me neither. Preach. Noses are for smelling pretty flowers and burritos,” she agreed, picking some ice cream from the tupperware as well. Falling silent, Agatha simply listened to Winston as they spoke of Doctor Who. “The Doctor would be nothing without their dear companions, let’s be real,” pushing a strand of hair behind her ear, she grinned as Winston explained that he would eventually manage to time travel. “I’m sure you will. And when you do, we’re paying Amelia Eahart a visit. She was too cool for us all,” her cheerful demeanor vanished, however, the moment they spotted a strange man wandering past Myriam’s shop. “That guy is… well weird, but…” What the fuck was he doing? Either he was drunk, either he was searching for evidence that the place was empty. “... What the hell?”

Giggling, Winston had to admit that they were glad they were getting to work with Agatha on this. They didn’t love all of their colleagues. “... please continue to pretend you didn’t hear anything because of course there is nothing for you to have heard, there’s no way I’d ever do drugs working here, I don’t think that I could deal with the look of disappointment in the Sarge’s eyes.” Grinning once more, Winston’s eyes darted back to the bank of monitors that they were sat in front of. “Nothing at all and I don’t think that I would get very far into this investigation without my own faithful companion.” Winston’s eyes moved to the guy moving past Miriam’s store, he seemed to be peering inside and then a second later he disappeared. Winston blinked a few times and rewound the tape, watching it over and over as the man seemingly vanished. Winston had seen Marley do that before, when the cultists had been a problem. “Surely he can’t have disappeared,” Winston wasn’t sure how much of this Agatha would believe, she wasn’t exactly the most open minded in regards to the supernatural. 

“Oooooh, so you would do drugs if you worked elsewhere, is what you’re saying?” Was she always this nitpicky, or was this something she picked up from interrogating perps? Who knew. She did have a history of being a pain in the ass when she wanted to, either way. “Only a monster could deal with that kind of look,” she agreed. Of course she would agree. Agatha spent a lot of time making sure her case files were perfect, her solved case percentage never too low, and her global appearance spotless. “I don’t know. I’m sure you could be a great addition to the detective team if you wanted to,” and went to the Police academy, which she doubted would be their jam. “Either way I’m glad you work with us pumpkin,” she smiled brightly at them, smooching them on the shoulder. All that wholesomeness was gone however, as she watched the guy appear and vanish again with each rewind. “What the actual fuck.” She checked the timer and frowned. It did not look like it had been cut, but she did not trust that. “Someone tampered with the camera,” she sighed. They were not looking for one guy, but two. “Someone tampered with the camera,” she repeated, in disbelief. Ughhhh, just when things were getting easier. “Anyway, let’s ID that motherfucker, then we can find whoever’s making the camera flick like that.”

“Oh 100%, if it hadn’t always been my dream to fix all the cases that you worked by working out how the technology is implicated in their murder then I would be a drug lord, snorting massive piles of weed and smoking cocaine cigarettes, that’s how it works right? You chew on Meth?” Winston was obviously joking. They were a stickler for the rules and they weren’t about to start doing a multitude of chemicals that could fundamentally alter their perception of reality. At least not willingly. Besides, Agatha didn’t need Winston’s help solving cases. She was very capable. “I- working in the field isn’t something that I’ve ever wanted to do and besides, I’m good with technology, I feel like I can do more from behind the keyboard then behind the wheel of a patrol car or behind the handle of a glock.” Winston wasn’t about to point out that there was literally no way that the footage could’ve been looped or anything like that, it wouldn’t help. Something that they had learned in their time working with the WCPD was that there was some people who were intent and determined to believe that things didn’t exist, even when they clearly did. It was like the opposite of religion. “I mean, maybe someone tampered with the camera but we can definitely run facial recognition on him.” Winston began the process, “hopefully he’s in some databases somewhere.” 

Cackling, Agatha managed to shake her head left and right at Winston’s obvious nonsense. “Alright, we finish this and then we can smoke coke,” although considering what they had just seen, it would probably not be for a little while. She nodded as Winston explained that they did not plan to actually work as a police officer, and that was absolutely fine by her. That life was not meant for a lot of people. “It’s good to know your strengths and what you really want in life,” she gave him a small smile, even though what she was seeing didn’t make her one bit happy. “I hope he is, because we did not find one single fingerprint in there,” which suggested that this fella knew what he was doing. Now only time would tell if he was robbing Ms.Flemming for personal reasons. The facial recognition software could take time however, and it was not long before she started to sing and chant : “Winston, catching the bad guys, Winston, justice for the good guys,” in loop. Clearly, she would never be a rapper, and maybe that was a good thing. 

“Oh Aggie you’re too good to me, I’m going to smoke a whole bottle!” Winston grinned at their tomfoolery, it was good to be able to work casually with someone, refreshing compared to some of the boomers that worked in this station. Not to mention all of the weirdos too. “I mean, it’s possible that he could just be wearing gloves that the cameras aren’t sensitive enough to pick up, you can see that everything here is kind of grainy, I don’t think the resolution is all that good…” Winston wondered what this guy could be. There were a dozen things that could’ve done this. Glamours, charms, magic spells and god knows what else Winston had yet to come across. As the facial recognition search began to tick through, Winston wondered if there was something else going on here. Had Miriam upset someone that she shouldn’t have? Honestly, Winston was more concerned for the person they were trying to catch than Miriam, they were very aware of what she was capable of. “Don’t quit your day job Aggie.” Winston was about to make another hurtful comment when the database pinged. 

“A whole bottle? That’s going to cost us so much,” Agatha gasped, dramatically putting her hand to her chest. “A whole bottle, Winston, you are the most criminal. The criminalest,” she started laughing again. How they managed to get work done despite this, she did not understand, but they did get work done, and it was a lot more fun than having to work with some people. Yes, she did mean the critics. “I mean, we’re lucky we even have footage. What I don’t understand is…” She blew a raspberry, obviously exasperated. “If he vanished like that, then he knew about the camera, and looped it before it could let us see him get in the shop. But why not loop it before he even appears on tape?” And who could mess with an ATMs camera like that? Not a lot of people. Now she was not expecting a lot from the database. “Oh piss off…” She trailed off, having heard the familiar ping. Let us be lucky, she thought to herself. “Huh? Not the guy’s first theft,” she crossed her arms over her chest for a second, uncrossing them to get a better look at the file. This was odd. The database recognized this guy, but it looked like all records of his wrong doings had been erased. “Oh, fuck me,” she hit her desk with her palm, and took a deep, long breath. “Fuck,” she whispered. Well now, her best bet was to call the station who was the first to arrest that guy.

Grinning gently, Winston chuckled gently and turned back to their work. They couldn’t keep contributing to this joke and getting work done because if they did then they would be here all night. “Maybe you’re right, maybe only half a bottle.” Adjusting their glasses a little, Winston blinked a few times and tried to think of a way that could be explainable in Agatha’s head. They weren’t about to try and suggest the supernatural to her now. That wouldn’t help, but it might be worth letting Miriam or someone else in the know … well know that this wasn’t completely mundane. “I guess it could just be a glitch, that sometimes happens with old hardware that has been in place for too long, it starts a feedback loop where it draws previous data into the footage, but I wouldn’t have thought that this ATM camera would struggle from that.” Scratching their chin thoughtfully, Winston sighed. “If they knew about all of this and they did all of this, and that is a very very very big IF, then it just means that they want us to be seeing this and they want us to know about this, which doesn’t seem to make any sense either. This was a dead end with Agatha here. Winston wasn’t sure how they could truly investigate this “I guess if this isn’t his first theft then maybe he would have some experience of how he could do this, is there any information about what his previous MO’s have looked like or what he’s doing or why he’s doing it?” But then it became clear that there was no information on it. “I can try and go through the logs and work out why the database has been wiped, or if it is just blocked from our clearance level and access, but it’s going to take me some time to work it all out.” 

Leaning on her hand, Agatha shook her head and sighed. “That makes sense, I suppose,” yawning, she looked at her watch and blew a raspberry again. It was getting late, and while she enjoyed company, they probably wanted to get back home as much as she did, although she didn’t doubt that Winston could do some of their magic and surprise her too. “But why?” She rubbed at the back of her neck, feeling a headache coming : the more she thought about this, the less she felt like she was getting closer to the end of the case. “Maybe she knows that guy,” pursing her lips, she zoomed in as best as she could on the recorded footage and printed that picture along with the joke that was this guy’s criminal record file. Maybe she could visit the shop owner and see if she knew whoever was on that video. “I don’t know, it feels like he’s taunting someone,” either he was taunting the police, or he was taunting Myriam. Either way, there was a good reason he allowed himself to be seen. “I’ll pay her a visit,” wouldn’t be going home quite yet. “Do you mind doing… your thing while I’m gone? If you want to wait until I’m back for her shop that’s fine too.” She would hate for them to stay here and have Myriam tell her all she needed to know about this guy after all. It didn’t sound fair, at all.

“I don’t know why yet, but we’ll work it out. There’s always an answer, you just have to dig deep enough to find it.” It was late and Winston was ready to leave. They assumed that the same could be said for Agatha. After all they had been working for a while and the sweet embrace of their bed was beckoning them. But they knew that sometimes work simply had to come first and they would always prioritise their job. “I think that you should definitely pay her a visit, and I can definitely keep working on this while you’re gone.” Without Agatha here Winston was sure that they could find some spell that would help them get more information on this Mara and where he was from. Maybe they could check with some of the more in the loop members of the team to see if they had come across anything or they could access some information that had been wiped. Nothing that had been on a hard drive was actually permanently gone. Winston knew that as well as any other computer geek, the only difference was that Winston had a whole other way to get things off of hard drives. “Hopefully I will have something when you're back.” 

[lovemesomesurveys]

What's your favorite accessory?:  I haven’t worn any in awhile. What is the last article of clothing you bought?:  A shirt I bought online. What does that article of clothing look like?:  It’s black and says “Keep your distance” on the upper left side and on the back in big letters it says, “Thank you for keeping your distance.” Which is better: candy necklaces or Ring Pops?:  Not a fan of either one, honestly. What's your favorite kind of soda?:  Coke or Dr. Pepper.

What program do you use to play your mp3s on?: I use Spotify on my phone for music. If you've taken the SATs (or PSATs/ACTs/etc), what was your score?: I never took them. How much wood can a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?:  A lot. Do you honestly care how much the woodchuck could chuck?:  Not at all. What time do you wake up every morning?:  More like late afternoon around 3ish :X What was the last movie you rented or bought?: We rented You Should Have Left on On Demand last month. Do you play Dance Dance Revolution?:  I never played that. I can’t. If so, what's your favorite song to play?: What do you think of the Kool-Aid man?:  I don’t think anything about it. Do you like Dane Cook (he's a comedian)?: I know who he is, but I’ve never really heard his stuff. Have you had a song in your head today? What is it?:  Not so far. Have you ever humped someone to greet them in school?:  Uh, no. I don’t greet people that way. Who would you rather have sex with: Prince or Billy Idol?:  Prince has passed away, but regardless I wouldn’t want to have sex with either one of them. What was the last concert you went to?:  Green Day back in 2009. What is the next concert you are going to?:  I don’t have any plans for one as of now. There aren’t any concerts right now anyway and who knows when there will be. What is your favorite board game?:  I just love board games. Do you think Jade Puget is really awesome?:  I had to Google who that was and while I am familiar with the band they were (are?) in, I don’t know who he is. What's your favorite punctuation mark?: Period. And that’s on periodt! ha. What foreign language do you take in school?:  I took Spanish all 4 years in high school and 1 semester in college. Have you ever read any of the Chronicles of Narnia series?: Nope. Do you hate Harry Potter as much as I do?:  I don’t hate Harry Potter. How many times have you seen the movies in the Star Wars series?:  Several times. What is your favorite anime?:  I don’t watch anime. Do you own a lava lamp? Blacklite? Fiber optic lamp?:  Nope to all the above. Do you write it as "favorite" or "favourite"?:  Favorite. How many bracelets do you own?: I don’t know exactly, but quite a few. How many bracelets are you wearing?:  None. What's your favorite flavor of Pocky?:  Chocolate banana.  What's your favorite way to wear your hair?: I just always throw it up in a bun. What brand of gum do you most often chew?:  I haven’t had gum in years, but I used to always get either Orbit, Stride, or 5 Gum. Do you believe in the Zodiac somewhat?: Nope. What's your Zodiac sign?:  Leo. What's your Chinese astrology sign?:  I don’t know. If you were to attend an art school, what subject would you major in?: I wouldn’t attend an art school. How old is your PC?:  I have the 2017 Macbook Air.  Do you have any 16-bit video game systems in your house? (ie Sega Genesis):  No. When was the last time you got some film developed?:  Uhh. I have no idea, it’s been several years. What was on that roll of film?: If you were to get a tattoo tomorrow, what would it be of?:  I’ve wanted to get ‘free bird’ for a long time. When you turn 18 (or already have), what did/will you do on your birthday?: I turned 18 13 years ago D: Anyway, I went out of town to one of my favorite cities with my parents, brother, and cousin and spent the day there. Can you use a hula hoop?: Nope. What is the longest distance you've ever walked?: Years ago a former friend and I went all over San Francisco by foot (er, by wheels for me). Do you wear eyeliner?:  When I wear makeup, yeah. I haven’t worn any makeup in like 3 years, though. Has anything been bothering you physically lately?:  Of course. Always. How about mentally?:  Always. Do you already have an idea of what you wanna do for college?:  I already went and graduated. What's your favorite kind of fruity candy?: I’m not a fan of fruity candy. How long do you think you could do jumping jacks non-stop?: I can’t do any. What do you usually use your tokens on at the arcade?: I haven’t been to an arcade in several years, but aren’t tokens just used for the games? What else would I use them on? What's your favorite kind of fruit?:  Bananas. What's your favorite kind of Coca-Cola or Pepsi (Vanilla, lemon, lime, etc.)?:  Regular Coke. What do you think of eyeball jewelry?:  Eyeball jewelry? What kind of deodorant do you use?:  Secret. The powder fresh one. Have you ever had a lemonade stand?: No. What's your favorite font?: Cambria, Georgia, Verdana, Tahoma, and Times New Roman. What size and color do you use with it?:  Typically just 12 and black, but it depends on what I’m doing. Like, I often do my Bible studies on Google Docs, so in that case I’ll switch up the font color. What's better: glitter or rhinestones? Rhinestones because they’re not a big, annoying mess like glitter is. Glitter is really pretty, though. If you were given a $50 gift card to an art store, what would you buy?: Some nice markers and pens.  Do you like taking pictures of yourself?: No. Are you fairly photogenic?:  I’m not at all. What was your first job?:  I haven’t had one. If you could have wings, what kind would they be (bird, insect, bat...)?: Omg I saw “if you could have wings” and instantly thought of chicken wings cause I’m hungry lmaoooo. Anyway, uhhh I guess I’d have bird wings. What do you order at your favorite fast food place?:  Depends which fast food place I go to, which would either be Chick-Fil-A, Jack in the Box, Taco Bell, or McDonald’s. What kind of sauce do you get with chicken nuggets?:  Ranch and BBQ. Do you like making sandcastles at the beach?: Nah. I like just chillin’ at the beach. If you had a tricycle/big wheel when you were a kid, what did it look like?: I didn’t. Did you have streamers in the handlebars of your bike?:  Would you put streamers on your bike now?:  I don’t have a bike. What is your favorite McDonald's toy you've ever had?: I used to love those mini Beanie Babies and Barbies they'd give you. <<< What was your favorite toy that you broke when you were a kid?:  I don’t recall. How do you like your hamburger?:  With cheese, mayo, mustard, ketchup, and pickles. What's your favorite kind of juice?:  I don’t like juice. What is your favorite belt you own?: I don’t own any belts. What is the most obscure thing you've found at a thrift store?: I don’t go thrift shopping. What's the weirdest thing you've seen while taking a walk?:  Uhhh. How often do you go for a walk?:  I don’t go on walks. What does your discman look like?:  Discman? Wow, this survey is really old.  What is your favorite kind of Pop Tarts?:  Frosted brown cinnamon sugar and frosted strawberry. When was the last time you colored in a coloring book?:  A couple months ago. If you were able to sell your soul to someone, how much would you charge?:  I wouldn’t do that for any amount. What would you buy with the money?: What instrument's sound makes you smile?:  I love the piano. Do you like to be tickled?:  No. Does tickling turn you on?: No.

What brand of condoms do you usually use?: I haven’t had to use any. What was the last CD you bought that you really liked?: I don’t even remember the last CD I bought. When was the last time you had a papercut?: Like a month ago, actually. Hurt like a mofo. I literally heard it slice through my finger D: Who's one person you absolutely hate and why?:  No one but myself. What makes you think a person is absolutely obnoxious?: If they’re arrogant, cocky, and rude. What was your favorite Pokemon?:  I liked Jigglypuff. Did you watch the Power Rangers when you were little?: Nah, I didn’t get into it. What's better: Ben and Jerry's or Dairy Queen?:  To be fair, I’ve only been to DQ like once and it was when I was a kid, so I can’t say for sure but I do like Ben & Jerry’s. If you could go over to someone's house right now, who's and why?: I wouldn’t. Are you good at playing ping-pong?:  Never played. Do you like to chew on things?:  I only like to chew food. What's a nervous habit of yours?: Picking at my nails. Do you like to paint your nails?:  I used to. It’s been a few years since I last painted them. Would you be able to fit in a kiddie pool?:  Yeah. What makes you giggle with glee?:  I don’t giggle with glee. When you read the comics in the paper, what do you go for first?: I haven’t done that since I was a kid, but I loved the Peanuts, Family Circus, Blondie, and Garfield comics.

[letsgsantana]

tagged: sam evans &. santana lopez

when: nov. 15th - 16th.

notes: discord text.

tana: the thigh hickey you gave me has almost disappeared. 

tana: which means you need to re-up on moi. 

tana: and I’m craving churros. Hot, from Ted’s by the cafeteria. 

tana: and possibly you.

sam: churros and hickeys. what a combo 

sam: anything else you want me to fetch you before i come and fuck you into the mattress?

tana: is your neck free for business, or is two o’clocks still ripe on there? 

tana: wow, did you get that from some 80’s porn?

[a beat] 

tana: and to return the favor I might have bought some coca-cola lip smacker for you to kiss off.

sam: you did a pretty good job the last time because it's still there for everyone to see 

sam: it's annoying that no one believes that i burned myself on a curling iron sam: no, more like early 2000s amateur stuff 

sam: oh, you're spoiling me here, santana

tana: I’ve always had a soft spot for ‘I was here’ tokens.

tana: that hair screams blow dry. That mark screams some A-list lips. 

tana: awe, so the the golden age of porn, iyo? 

tana: you’ve possibly earned a treat or two.

sam: you know, you're not as dominant in bed as you are on text 

sam: i quite like this versatile santana that i'm getting 

sam: thank you! that's what i keep saying! sam: care to give a hint of what those treats are?

tana: I'm lonely, so I sub out for a brat. [erased] 

tana: you've caught me off-guard. And it's been a minute since I've had a hot minute.

tana: and you might be above average. 

tana: and I haven't even showed you the beginning of what ten plus years of cheering has done for my versatility.

tana: either the baking kind, the me kind, and possibly an impression request kind. 

[a moment later] 

tana: or all of the above.

sam: i'm not at all complaining, i quite like taking charge. especially if it makes you beg 

sam: oh, you need to show me soon, because i want to see this 

sam: i can give you all three of those 

sam: what impression would you like to see? i personally think a sean connery one would go down well with you

tana: a mess in life, and in-control in the bedroom? respect. 

tana: i have a thing for dorks with big hands that feel good around my throat. tana: well, well, someone's working for that number one spot. 

tana: are you trying to turn me on wit a sean connery impression? 

[after a moment] 

tana: explain.

sam: i gotta get something right, and with these lips, it was bound to be that sam: good, i wasn't sure if the choking was too much, but i'm glad to know that we were on the same page with that 

sam: can't deny that i want to be your number one 

sam: he's james bond, duh?

tana: you're in college, so at least you can add that to your list of accomplishments.

tana: if you saw my incognito google pop up, you'd blush, Sammy. It was just barely enough. 

tana: moved on to porn with a touch of romcon? a hoe with a heart. my hero. tana: if this means I get to dress up as a bond girl and you never speak of this to anyone. I may be seriously entertaining this.

sam: i'm sure that the american museum of natural history will be impressed with the fact that i can make you cum three times with my mouth and another two times with my dick 

sam: no? i think it might be time for us to welcome a safe word into this, because i don't want to hurt you 

sam: some people would call it a gentleman in the street, a freak in the sheets, but a hoe with a heart does the job 

sam: oh my god, yes please! 

sam: also, i'm pretty sure just the sight of you being a bond girl would make me cum, so there's that

tana: well duh. It’s few and far between a woman gets that kind of pleasure from a man. Gotta mark it down when it does. 

tana: jinxy. What do you think? 

tana: i don’t think your hoe energy ever strays too far, so it’s best stick to factual nicknames. 

tana: well, I do like cum. Especially yours.

sam: do i make the top ten list of best ginsburg lovers then? 

sam: jinxy? i can work with jinxy 

sam: then you haven't seen my gentlemanly ways - we can always change that if you want 

sam: oh? what makes mine so special?

tana: no.

tana: and that's because I don't have a lovers list. But some of the best sex I've had here? Consider yourself lucky, because yes. 

tana: also lovers list? what wattpad fanfic are you neck deep in, dork. 

tana: I mean sure, but he better be just as hot and charmin-[erased] 

tana: I wouldn't mind, as long as he's as hot as hoe sam.

tana: there's a lot and you look hot. and you've usually got my hair in your fist while you're cumming on my face.

sam: i'm flattered. /and/ it is definitely reciprocated. a lot 

sam: "forbidden" - it's about harry styles and louis tomlinson. it's not very good though 

sam: yeah, i think you're gonna see more of gentleman sam than hoe sam from now on

tana: I know. 

tana: sounds terrible. 

tana: why’s that?

sam: do you know tina cohen-chang?

tana: ya.

sam: yeah, i like her and i kinda fucked it up

tana: oh god. 

tana: have you been sleeping with me while you’ve been with her? 

tana: is that your girlfriend?

sam: she's not my girlfriend 

sam: i'm sorry. you're not the only that i've been seeing. there's kinda been a lot of people 

sam: i'm really sorry

tana: oh. 

tana: well, if you’re single. Who cares. 

tana: if I wanted to sleep with anyone else, I would have already. No apologies about it.

sam: it's more than that, you know? like, we've been going on dates. 

sam: i just didn't realize that we were actually..."dating" 

sam: you just deserve to know that

tana: you probably didn’t realize you were dating because you weren’t... 

tana: why are so mopey, babe? 

tana: you fucked around, and I guess accidentally got into a relationship.... tana: how long have even known tina? 

tana: I’m just saying, people who jump into relationships in college usual need therapy, not a partner.

sam: we've known each other for like almost two months, which is ridiculous because i didn't want this to happen so fast, but like, guess my feelings just caught up with me one night 

sam: oh, girl, if i could afford therapy i would've done it a long time ago. i've got some huge baggage

tana: you could save the date money to go to a therapy fund. 

[.....] 

tana: sam, you seem caught up in....something.

sam: that's probably the best advice anyone's given me lately 

sam: no, i'm not caught up anymore, i got the zipper out of my nut

tana: looking back my reaction to your relationship might have not been the best. My bad. I should have just thrown 

in response and be done with it, but. Like.... 

tana: you’re sleeping with everyone then suddenly in a relationship because you went on some dates and found out that meant you were dating someone... tana: sounds like deflecting and micro-managing in an unhealthy way. 

tana: we were just talking about you giving me a facial. I’m just saying. That’s one hell of a turn around.

sam: it was never explicitly a relationship. we never said anything. and she'd hinted a couple of times at knowing about me seeing more people than just her sam: i told her that i was falling in love with her - it was incredibly random when i said it, i just blurted it out without even thinking about it, or ever having thought about it actually. 

sam: and then she lost her virginity to me 

sam: i don't know what's going on, i just know that i miss her

tana: you need to put down the watt pad fanfiction ‘cos it’s tripping your brain into thinking you’re in love with someone. missing someone doesn’t mean you should be in a relationship with them, it means you miss them. 

tana: I’m just saying. Figure this out inline at the medi-whatever line for some healthcare, and fast track to a therapist office for an appointment. If you need company I’ll offer mine, and critics on your impressions. I’ll even bring the churros this time. 

tana: but partying, sleeping around, then poking your head up from the land down under because you’ve randomly had the thought to love someone out of your line-up? Babe, just no. 

tana: but most of all, breathe.

sam: It's not like that. Missing her means more to me than just that 

sam: I don't know for sure if I'm falling in love with her - I think I am. Because I know I've never felt this way before about anyone. And it's confusing as hell, but she does make me feel a way that no one else has done before 

sam: But I agree - it's gone way too fast. And no one seems to get that 

[...] 

sam: I don't particularly want to talk about this anymore though. I just want to know if you and I are still...okay? It might just be me, but it sounds like you wouldn't mind hanging out with me, even if I'm not fucking you

tana: how many times before have you said you liked a girl? And that it was more than any other of the girls before them? 

tana: were you just dating her because she’s the only one who said yes, or because you only wanted to date her. 

[.....] 

tana: just think on it. And again, breathe. And stop randomly telling people you’re in love with them, amateur hour. 

tana: I’m not sure yet. It might be hard for me to see you and not get wet. But maybe if you impress over text I’ll let you take me to get a beer so I can platonically roast you.

sam: This is the first time 

sam: No, to start off, it was just a casual thing between us. She was obviously a virgin, but there were some pretty heavy make-out sessions going on. We made a deal, to get to know each other better - for her safety of not just losing her virginity to some random guy. And so we ended up just going on a lot of dates. I genuinely wanted to get to know her better 

sam: I'm breathing. Thank you 

sam: Just call me beef, because I'm yours to roast all day and all night, Santana

tana: sure jan. 

tana: so you guys have rush delivered every step of the way. please don't get divorced before 25. 

tana: you want to get to know everyone better. [erased] 

tana: definitely not hanging out with you now that your 'beef' is off the table. 

sam: She's not talking to me right now, so I don't think we gotta worry about that 

sam: Listen, I was never that nasty. It was only on the kitchen counter those two times, and that was because you were wearing that red lacy thong and nothing else, and I've got a weak spot for that

tana: good. 

tana: Well excuse me for picking up on how much you liked me spread. I thought the all access, all the time, with the crotchless red thongs would be appreciated.

tana: although, you still owe me a pair. You can gift those when you're single in a couple of weeks. 

tana: if I don't like them, you can take them back. if I do, you can tell me if the guy I've replaced you with will. I'll even spread them for you.

sam: As much as I enjoy this conversation, I think it's time to shut it down 

sam: Please do let me know if my replacement is any better than me though. I want to know if anyone can overtake these lips

tana: true, tell sean connery I said down boy. 

tana: of course I will.

tana: what are you doing?

sam: Sean Connery? My dick? 

sam: I just got back home, after practically following Tina around all day. Well, walking her to all of her classes and trying to get her to talk to me, but with my testicle still aching, I was more limping than anything else 

sam: Probably just gonna put "Bob's Burgers" on and try and fall asleep to that. Maybe open a bottle of Jack. 

sam: You?

tana: you do know that's creepy, not romantic. 

tana: an entire bottle? stick to a cup. it's been a long day for you. 

tana: I might go to an open mic night. People love vintage shit there and I need to peddle my shop some more.

sam: She went out last night, I got her a coffee this morning to hopefully make it better - I had a purpose, don't worry. It's not like I was stalking her 

sam: Hmmmmmm, a bottle sounds more appetizing though 

sam: Oh yeah? If you want to swing by afterwards, you're welcome to. We can just watch a movie or something

tana: this is so lame [erased] 

tana: so not as creepy. good. 

 tana: sounds like alcohol poisoning. 

tana: I don't know if you've proved movie only worthy. We'll see, evans.

sam: Not like full-on creepy. I try to only keep it semi-creepy 

sam: Sounds like a good time 

sam: Well, I guess I can also offer you a cup of Jack, if you want, so it's not just a movie that you came around for

tana: which is why you just need to be full-on single. 

tana: also, question. why are you following her around like you have something to make up for? 

tana: glutton for punishment? 

 tana: I haven't drank in a week. I'm a little scarred from post-halloween.

sam: I don't want to be 

sam: Well, first of all, I hurt her. And now she's not really replying to my texts, in the sense that she's not.../talking/ to me or hearing me out. So, I figured it'd be easier if it was face to face. But it's not like she stopped to talk or anything 

sam: Something like that 

sam: Scarred? What are you scarred from?

tana: that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be. 

 tana: I know you hurt her, but again, why are you following her around like you need to make-up for something? 

tana: you were single and hooked up with people. 

tana: if she’s upset about that, that sucks, but that still doesn’t mean you did anything wrong. 

tana: pick something other than alcohol. 

tana: I was hungover all weekend. It sucked. I’m too weak for all that.

sam: I played her and made her feel like there was more between us, that's why sam: I did everything wrong, Santana 

sam: Weed? 

sam: You gotta end it where it started - with more alcohol. A cold beer the next morning is the only way to get through a bad hangover

tana: did you tell her you weren’t seeing anyone else? Or did she assume and set herself up for disappointment? 

tana: I’m not saying you don’t suck, but it’s NOT all on you. 

tana: I don’t like that she’s putting this all on you- [erased] 

tana: I want to puke at the thought. 

tana: which is why I’m detoxing with pot.

sam: I didn't say anything about seeing other people, but I also didn't say that I was only seeing her. She kept hinting at maybe knowing that she wasn't the only one, constantly reassuring me that I was the only one that she was seeing - despite going to the halloween party with Brody 

sam: What makes you say that? What have I not done wrong? 

sam: I can do weed. I mean, I'd probably still keep the bottle of Jack around, but I wouldn't drink all of it, y'know?

tana: sounds manipulative. 

tana: hold on. 

 [**santana taps his icon and presses the call button. She brushes her hair behind her ear and traps her phone between her ear and shoulder as she pours some oatmeal in a bowl. When he picks up, she doesn’t spare him time for a hello-] 

tana: you’re single, you fucked around. There’s nothing wrong that. Someone else’s assumptions and wants aren’t your problem. She was reassuring you because she wanted reassurance, which meant she knew you were fucking around. 

tana: guilting you about it is wack, Sam. But next time don’t be so fast and loose with your dick. 

 [a beat] 

 tana: and next time don’t let someone convince you, you’re in the wrong for having a sexual appetite beyond them while you’re single. You didn’t play her, she played herself. 

tana: oh, and hi. My fingers were hurting.

[Sam wasn't sure exactly what was happening. He was mid-reply, about to send Santana a confused text to what she was doing, when his screen changed and he saw that she was calling him instead. Sighing, he braced himself for what was about to come, clicked on the green phone to accept the call and opened his mouth to say hi, but was quickly cut off by Santana's rant. He wasn't quite sure what to say after everything that she'd told him, and was just silent for a bit] 

sam: Hi 

[He finally said, and sighed] 

sam: I'm not entirely sure what you want me to say here. Several people are telling me that what I did was wrong- hell, I feel like what I did was wrong anyway. I know we never made it exclusive, but I did tell her something that sure as hell sounded like that was what we were

tana: what did you say, and when?

[Sam let out a deep sigh. This was probably the 20th time he explained it to someone] 

sam: A couple of nights ago we went up on the rooftop of my apartment building to look at the stars, and she told me to tell her a secret. I'm not good with secrets, I either tell people everything, or I don't tell them at all. But, she was also kissing my neck and it was a lot, you know? 

[Sam paused for a bit, bringing his hand up to rub his tired eyes] 

sam: So I just blurted out that I was falling for her. I mean, if I was in her position, I would assume that it meant that the person was cutting off everyone else. Like, it's pretty serious, you know?

tana: babe. If tina didn’t know that a love confession from you didn’t mean you guys weren’t together, one, she doesn’t know you at all, whether she has a rolodex card of secrets on you or not. Two, that’s not how dating work. Case in point- you. And honestly, a lot of guys. 

 tana: so, again. You BOTH have your own parts in this train wreck. You randomly blurting out you love people for no reason, and her trying to manipulate her way to a relationship instead of being blunt and saying, ‘I want to be with you.’

sam: I don't know what to tell you, Tana

tana: why do you think you need to tell me something...? I’m comforting you, not the other way around.

[There was a silence as Sam took in what the girl had said, thinking it through.] sam: You're comforting me?

tana: rude! [she practically yelled] 

tana: but um, ya.I’m trying.

[Sam removes the phone from his ear, holding it away from him for a second, as he hears Santana yell at him. Then he puts it back to talk to her] 

sam: No, it wasn't meant like that! I just meant more that...I've had to explain myself over and over again with people, and I guess I was just expecting the same with you

[sam couldn’t see it, but she frowned. It didn’t feel right. The blame being put on him, and the exhaustion in his voice.] 

 tana: stop explaining yourself. You’re not the only wrong in this situation. Are you right? Not particularly. But you’re not wrong for having a sex life while single. You are wrong for not communicating more, and dropping L bombs out of the blue. Just like she’s wrong for playing games, instead of just saying how she felt, just so she could have you chasing her around campus for no good reason. 

tana: I’ll be over in an hour. One cup of Jack. That’s your limit.

sam: Tell it to the people who think it's alright to be all up my business about this, please. 

 [Thinking about it for a moment, Sam sighed] 

sam: Actually don't, I think it's best if I just deal with them myself. 

 sam: Three cups. I can have three cups of it. I bought it myself, it's mine

tana: who is all up in your business? 

 [her eyebrows crinkled together, annoyed for him.] 

 tana: don't worry. I have to leave my important to really warm-up for a good run through someone's soul. 

 tana: sam, you're trying to not touch on me. one cup, we don't want to blame it on the a-a-a-lcohol, moment. 

 [she snickered, cracking open an egg as her griddle started to warm up.]

sam: It doesn't matter, just forget that I said anything. 

 sam: Yes, but I'm also in a lot of pain with my testicle and alcohol numbs the pain. See, logic?

tana: okay.... 

[she sighed, debating on pressing the issue and on the whim she went with:] tana: if you need a place to vent, I'm here. No offense, but I'm cruising on side-eye with most people, and going full snixx for anyone is going to take a lot of encouragement. 

tana: so you're going to have a lot of focus on your crotch, drink a lot of alcohol, and not try to flirt with me. [there's a pause] 

tana: Shaky logic.

sam: Thanks, Tana, I might take you up on it sometime. It means a lot to me as well, you know? For now though, I'm done, I think I've talked about this enough. I kinda want to just move on to the next part of this entire shabang [Sam pauses, hearing what she's just said and swallows hard. She had a point that he hadn't thought of.] 

sam: I mean, it's not like I can do anything anyway with my dick, because of how sore it is, but if you prefer, you're welcome to come over tomorrow instead?

tana: hopefully single, but knowing you... 

tana: I was serious about taking the steps to get public healthcare or w/e the poor term is. 

 [santana snickers, her voice drops a little and get's breathy] 

tana: sammy, you know how much I enjoyed sucking your dick, and you know how good I was at it. let's not tempt one another.... [she sighed[ 

tana: i'll text you later and let you know if I'm coming by.

sam: Well, I am most definitely single right now, and with no game-plan whatsoever, so there's that. Also, yeah, I know. I'll look into it. It's not just this whole thing that requires therapy. I've got a lot of baggage that needs to be dealt with [Biting his lip, Sam can feel himself growing horny and groans] 

sam: You're tempting me right now, this isn't fair. It's not like I'm teasing you with anything. 

sam: But yeah, sure, let me know so I can put some sweatpants on before you get here

tana: good. Single is good. 

tana: and making decisions based off what YOU want, with discretion on how it’ll effect others is even better - or at least that’s what I’m told. tana: down boy, [she sang in a sing-song voice] neither I or my cleavage is there yet. Keep the pants off. See you in a couple hours. [She smiled, then hung up.]

[squidpro-quo]

AN: As part of a trade commission with Melon from @pk_herokid, I wrote a todobaku college au, feat. cooking and videos (because apparently I’m on a youtube cooking kick, and just in general)

Bakugo dragged himself back to his dorm room in the late fall afternoon, burying his face in his shawl and wishing he’d taken a purely design class again instead of caving to his mother’s advice on advertising. How was he supposed to market things when he felt it should be self-evident when something was worth buying or not? He could’ve just made his things and been done with it, but no, he’d insisted he could do it all, from the bottom up. Screw his past self, honestly.

Stepping into the common room, he shucked off his backpack and threw it on the couch before falling across it himself. He didn’t feel like locking himself in his room at the moment, he just needed to think things through for maybe ten minutes, lie down and prioritize. 

He closed his eyes and nodded off faster than he could’ve imagined. The noise of bowls softly clinking woke him, the smell cinnamon drifting past and he bolted upright to see the sunset through the windows and the guy from down the hall standing at the kitchen counter in front of a camera on a tripod under the lights. His head was bent as he poured a pair of egg yolks into the bowl and started to whisk with quick, practiced movements. Bakugo rubbed at the back of his neck, trying to work out the crick while he struggled to remember the guy’s name. He’d met him on the first day doing laundry, noticed the sick scar across his face and immediately found out he wasn’t one for many words. It was eerie to find him silently filming himself cooking at almost six at night. 

And in the ugliest outfit Bakugo had ever had the unpleasant experience of seeing. Whoever told the guy that that shiny pumice yellow jacket went well with anything should be thrown out onto the street and left to fend for himself against the other rabid freshman. The shirt was even worse, just plain tan which nevertheless managed to clash horribly with every color in sight. Thank whoever was paying attention that the camera wasn’t pointed at him or whoever ended up watching the video would die from witnessing those crimes against fashion. 

Otherwise, it was a crime to let him wear those things anyway. He had the kind of face that could make you feel like you were watching a mountain shrouded in fog, immovable and yet serene. Not that Bakugo would ever entertain those kinds of ridiculous poetic ideas. Even as his mind jumped straight to the adage that strange did always draw the eye, and the guy had plenty of that with his eyes and hair combined. 

Resisting the urge to leap straight to accusations of colorblindness and idiocy, Bakugo cleared his throat instead. The guy, his mind finally clicked on the name pasted on the paper next to his door: Todoroki, didn’t react and instead switched to kneading the dough without even a glance in his direction. 

“What are you doing?” He wasn’t about to be ignored, and besides he was rather curious. 

Todoroki finally looked up and leaned across the counter to press a button on the camera with one floury finger. He shrugged, the awful jacket scrunching from the movement.

“Filming a video. How to make cinnamon bread.” 

“For class?” Bakugo could understand the minimal effort in his style department if it was just for a grade, some of the projects professors gave out at this point in the semester were purely busywork at best. 

“No, it’s for a cooking channel. Is it bothering you?” Todoroki cocked his head to the side, that damn blue eye looking way too piercing for the fact that he still had a bunch of flour stuck to his cheek. 

“Not the filming, no. Why aren’t you explaining what you’re doing? Are you going to do voice-over instead?” He was getting more intrigued despite his earlier goal of just informing him of his travesty of a wardrobe. 

Shaking his head, Todoroki kept kneading with steady strokes and the way his hands worked the dough was mesmerizing. That didn’t make his answer any less acceptable, though.

“What do you mean you’re not doing voice-over? Music, then?”

Todoroki looked at the far corner as if considering his idea and finally shrugged his shoulders. 

“Could add some.”

“Add some!? You weren’t planning to? No instructions, and you weren’t even considering music.” He’d thought he was bad at marketing but this guy was failing even the common sense ones. Pushing himself off the couch, Bakugo rolled up his sleeves and slammed his hands onto the countertop as Todoroki continued with his slow, methodical motion. The smell already permeating the air around him was so good, even without being baked yet, but Bakugo forced himself to focus. He was going to put his skills to use, and not just because his interest was piqued beyond belief that this guy had decided to do a cooking video with such an odd format. 

“You going to stop me if I mess with your setup?” he asked, pointing at the camera and trying to pretend like he wasn’t asking permission from some coca-cola wannabe with no fashion sense to speak of. 

“No.”

At least he was a straightforward guy, Bakugo could appreciate that, if not what he was wearing. Wiping the flour residue off the camera’s top, he aimed it straight at Todoroki, who reacted only with a raised eyebrow. 

“Now they can actually see all of you and not just disembodied hands. You need to tell them what the fuck it is that you’re doing, no one’s a mind reader here, especially not through a camera. And take off that jacket.” 

“Why?” Todoroki nevertheless dusted his hands off on his pants like some chaotic bastard who didn’t care about his clothes and started to pull the horrible article of unmentionable clothing off. 

“Because it’s making my eyes burn in their sockets and no one’s going to focus on what you’re cooking if you wear it.”

“Okay,” Todoroki said, looking at him blankly with the jacket in hand hanging by his side. “And it’s baking.

“Throw it in the corner, some moron will come by and take it when they need something to burn.” 

Todoroki laid it on the stair railing silently, before repeating himself. 

“I’m going to bake it, not cook it.”

Bakugo looked over his shoulder at him from where he was fiddling with the camera’s focus and realized he should probably reply. If this was the guy’s sticking point, then so be it. 

“Good, tell your viewers that too, cause I guarantee there will be morons watching.” He took in Todoroki’s thin beige t-shirt, the floury pants and sighed. “Lose the rest of it too, that’s a disaster right there.” 

Todoroki looked down at himself, pulling the edge of his shirt out as if to inspect its color and realize just what he’d put on. But when he turned back to Bakugo, he shrugged. 

“If you don’t like this, then you won’t like the rest of what I have.” The smallest smirk pulled at his mouth as he shot back, “And I know people don’t cook in their underwear or this would be a different type of video.” 

Bakugo didn’t know whether he hated that the guy had the nerve to suggest that kind of thing when wearing the most unappealing outfit ever or if he should deal with the heat in his face from the immediate picture that had appeared in his imagination and how much he wouldn’t have minded that wardrobe change. 

“I’ve got a better idea. And better clothes.” He plowed on, deliberately not thinking about the conjecture that could be taken from his offer. It was purely for the class assignment, he had an idea for advertising and it certainly was not because Todoroki would look good in them. “Here, give me a minute.” 

He left before Todoroki could get another word in edgewise, though by the way he went back to kneading his dough with a faint smile, maybe he hadn’t wanted to. Which Bakugo was not going to read into either. 

His room was strewn with half-finished projects, his hedgehog-shaped pincushion resting on the windowsill and fabric patterns hanging from the sides of his bed while the walls were covered in designs. It was an absolute mess but thankfully that was just the ones in progress, those that were already done he’d categorized carefully in his limited closet space. 

He riffled through the shirts and pants sections, mentally checking combinations on Todoroki in his mind. It was a little too easy to imagine, considering he’d only really exchanged more than a dozen words with the guy fifteen minutes ago but he was jumping in headfirst and his brain was already submerged in thoughts of the guy, so why not. 

Finally satisfied with what he’d picked out, he got back to the kitchenette area in time to see Todoroki closing the oven door on his creation. Bakugo froze to the side of the camera view, suddenly overcome with a rare moment of disappointment. He’d thought Todoroki would maybe wait for him, give him time to find what he needed, but he squashed down the feeling and headed straight for the backpack he’d forgotten on the couch at the beginning of this whole debacle. He’d just grab it and go, no need for anymore interaction with the candycane imitation and if the pattern held, they’d never end up speaking about it anyway. 

“Bakugo,” Todoroki called as he made to pass by on his way back to his room, “You’re not going to help?”

“With what?” Bakugo asked, more roughly than he’d maybe intended but he didn’t have the patience for anything else at the moment. He’d gotten excited, carried away in the brief exchange, and maybe his sleep-addled brain had created a scenario that would be the perfect solution to the problem that he’d fallen asleep to avoid but he wasn’t about to partner with someone who didn’t him to. 

“I have a quiche recipe planned next. I thought you wanted to join?” Todoroki gestured to the ingredients he hadn’t yet put away, before pointing at the clothes hangers in Bakugo’s clenched fist. “Are those the better ones?”

Bakugo stared at him blankly and finally nodded, holding them out for Todoroki to take. 

“Don’t worry about messing them up, better than an apron covering them,” he muttered, letting his bag drop to the floor beside the fridge. He wasn’t sure what to do now that he’d handed them over, considering the quiet consideration Todoroki was giving the pieces. 

“Set up the camera how you like,” Todoroki said, leaving the kitchen in the direction of his own room. 

Bakugo looked around the empty kitchen, hands drumming at his sides before he finally scooted the camera into position and started to play with the settings. He didn’t want to consider how much he already cared about this random project that he wasn’t even sure would come to fruition but it was something to do tonight besides staring at his homework and maybe, just maybe, something would come of it. Todoroki wasn’t the worst person to partner with for this, he’d glanced at the notebook splayed open on the counter’s corner and seen the detailed notes and measurements, along with apparent variations for flavor combinations and even with his rudimentary knowledge composed mostly of boiling pasta, he could recognize diligence when he saw it. 

“Ready?” Todoroki strode back into the kitchen with the sleeves rolled up on his new shirt and Bakugo fought not to combust on the spot like a cauliflower that had an up-close meeting with a blowtorch. 

“Looks good.”  He couldn’t have said whether that comment was meant for the camera, the clothes or Todoroki himself but that was about all he could get out in the moment. He’d made good choices in picking out the clothes, but even his mind’s eye couldn’t quite compare to seeing them on him in person. There was going to be more than one snack on screen for this video. 

He shook his head, pointedly keeping those thoughts in a separate file for later and tuned in to what Todoroki was saying. 

“ —to be with me?”

“With you?” Bakugo’s brain revved back up again, jumping to conclusions involving food that hadn’t been prepared by Todoroki but was just as delicious, involving more candlelight and maybe a tasteful violin or two. 

“Yeah, in front of the camera? Or not?” Todoroki asked again, raising an eyebrow as if he knew something might have distracted him from paying attention. The way the collar of his button-down brushed against neck was too much, seeing him wearing his clothes, well not necessarily his clothes but still his clothes, Bakugo had to gather his thoughts and fast. 

“If you actually explain the steps and all, sure. I’m not here to look like an idiot in silence.” He met Todoroki’s eyes and his customary scowl lessened despite himself. 

“It’s not as weird to talk when there’s someone else. Here, let’s start.” Todoroki handed him a bowl and leaned forward to press play on the camera. Bakugo only hoped his flushed cheeks wouldn’t show up too much on the video. 

“Welcome to our video…”

If you want to know more, prompt me here

[serpentupemotions-blog]

I’m With You |Sweet Pea x Cora Chase (OC)| 

Part One 

“Tell me you don’t, it feels like you do. Opening up can open some wounds.”

Cora Chase doesn’t really know what to expect when she moves back to Riverdale, only that it’s been thirteen years since she’s been gone and she wants to rebuild her relationship with her father. She definitely doesn’t expect to be thrown into a friendship with Sweet Pea, the boy looking for a job at her father’s auto shop.  

Warnings: In this part, only swearing. I will update the warnings with each part. 

Word Count: 4,500+

A/N: Thank you so much to @steve-harringtonnn for helping me with editing and planning and also for just listening to me talk about this fic almost constantly for the past couple weeks!

Cora kicks her legs up, placing her feet on one of the only empty spaces on the cluttered desk, crossing legs legs at the ankles. Leaning back, the old office chair creaks loudly, the leather covered arms cracked and peeling from years of wear. Straining, Cora stretches to reach for a pad of sticky notes, grasping them along with an old ballpoint pen.

‘Buy a new desk chair’ Cora scribbles on the paper, ripping it off and slapping it against the wooden desk before tossing the sticky notes and pen back somewhere amidst the mess of papers.

Cora looks around, taking in the state of the front office of Riverdale Auto Shop. It didn’t seem like it had ever been dusted, cobwebs draping from the exposed ductwork on the ceiling. Walls were covered in old license plates, photos of muscle cars, vintage metal signs for Coca-Cola, Harley Davidson, Esso and one overly sexualized woman advertising motor oil. Cora furrows her brows at the vintage ad, making a mental note to take it down once she found a hammer to rip the nails out. Her eyes land on a bowl of lollipops sitting on the edge of the desk, fishing one out and unwrapping it. Candy for any children that got dragged along with their parents to the auto shop, one could assume. The candy was long past the best before date based on the stale flavour and oddly tacky texture.

The jingle of the bell above the door draws Cora’s attention and she looks away from the Chevrolet clock that she had been staring at, attempting to determine if it was even still moving or not. Cora watches a tall guy step through the glass door, clutching a paper in his hands, stopping a couple feet into the office.

Cora takes the lollipop from her mouth, smiling as she watches him stand nervously halfway across the room her from her. “Hi.”

“Hi,” he replies, remaining planted where he was standing.

“Hi,” Cora says again, twisting the lollipop stick between her fingers as she waits for him to say something.

“I was coming in to ask about the job opening,” he says, evoking a slow nod from Cora.  

“Right,” she comments, swinging her legs off the desk and sitting up straighter. This was a place of business, after all.

He hesitates before taking a couple steps closer, fiddling with the paper he was holding in his hands. “Do I talk to you about that? I have my resume here.”

Cora extends her hand across the desk with a smile, taking the paper as he hands it to her. Turning it around to face her Cora leans back in the office chair, scanning over the document in her hands. “Nate,” she comments, glancing up when he shifts suddenly at the sound of his own name.

“Sweet Pea,” he says, his voice sounding uncertain.

Cora opens her mouth slightly to say something before shutting it again, narrowing her eyes at him, head tilted to the side ever so slightly. “What did you just say?”

“Oh,” he says quickly, “no, I wasn’t, like, calling you that or anything. That’s what people call me…Sweet Pea.”

Cora laughs softly and nods at his correction of her assumption. “That somehow went in an even weirder direction than I thought it was going to go,” she states, bemused, twisting the chair side to side as she stares up at him. Sweet Pea. “Why?”

“Just a nickname that stuck,” he mutters. “So, should I just leave that with you?” he asks nervously a few minutes later, gesturing towards the resume that she was still holding.

Cora sets the resume down on top of one of the many stacks of papers on the desk. “Sure,” Cora says while spinning around in the desk chair. Placing her hands on the desk top she stops herself from spinning to face him, “I don’t know if you can tell, but I don’t actually work here.”

“I, uh, okay. I figured. Should I come back later…or should I call the police, did you break in?”

Cora laughs and shakes her head. “Please don’t call the police, that would really inconvenience my plans to steal the Camaro they just finished working on.” Pushing the chair back she stands up and steps out from behind the desk. “Stay there, I’ll go get the guy you want to be talking to about this,” Cora says before pushing open the door that connected the office to the shop.

“Hey, dad,” Cora says, walking up to where her dad was standing, leaning over the open hood of an old truck with one of his employees. “There’s someone here asking about a job opening.”

He nods, grabbing a shop towel from on top of the nearby tool carts. His blue coveralls were covered in grease stains, the patch with ‘Joe’ stitched into it was barely hanging on anymore. Cora was pretty certain her dad, the owner of Riverdale Auto Shop, could, and should, get new coveralls. But Joe was low maintenance to the extreme and if the coveralls still fit, he was still wearing them. “And he stuck around even with you in the front office? Brave guy,” he chuckles and turns to walk through the shop towards the office.

“That’s sexist,” Cora says, trailing after him. “Why would you just assume that it’s a guy applying for the job? I said nothing to indicate that. Women can work in auto shops too, in fact, maybe you should focus on hiring women.” She walks through the door separating the office and shop after her dad. “I’m sure there’s lots of women in this town interested in cars, but it’s assumptions like the one you just made that make women feel like it’s weird for them to want to work in the automotive industry.”

When Cora finally stops talking both Sweet Pea and her dad were staring blankly, waiting for her to stop rambling before starting their own conversation.

“Sweet Pea, I didn’t know you were looking for a job,” Joe says, extending his hand and gruffly shaking Sweet Pea’s. “You must have just graduated, right? My daughter’s the same age as you, she just graduated too.”

“Yeah, I had my last day of classes two days ago,” Sweet Pea says, nodding. “I didn’t know you had a daughter.”

“That’s me, I’m his daughter,” Cora chimes in, walking back around behind the desk and flopping back into the office chair. “How do you two know each other?”

“Oh, I’ve known Sweet Pea since he first got his motorcycle. When was that? Did you even have an actual license then?” Joe stops to chuckle at the recollection before continuing with his story, “That bike needed more work than it was actually worth, but he was in love with that thing so he would come in after school and we would work on it together.”

“I couldn’t afford to pay anything so your dad made me feel like I was doing the work so I wouldn’t have to pay for it. I’m sure I was more trouble than I was help.” Sweet Pea chuckles, looking down at the ground with a smile on his face.

Joe claps his hand on Sweet Pea’s shoulder. “Not at all. You were such a quick learner; a very hard worker. It’s been awhile since you’ve been around though.”

Cora forces herself to smile, to hide the sudden sense of sadness that washes over her. After her parents split she left Riverdale with her mom. She could still remember that day so vividly. Her mom had picked her up early from preschool with the car packed full of luggage, to go see grandma and grandpa her mom had said. Since that day Cora had seen barely seen her dad. Christmas visits, the occasional camping trip during the summers, spring breaks she would come and spend with her dad in Riverdale. Once she graduated Cora decided to move back to Riverdale, even though she barely considered it moving back since she left when she was only five. Cora had wanted to develop her relationship with her dad, but now she was overcome with the feeling that she may never be able to make up for all those years she lost out on.

“When can you start? You’ll be perfect for the job,” Cora hears her dad ask and she slowly stands back up, walking around the desk and towards the front office door, hoping to sneak away while they were still talking. “Cora, where are you going?”

Cora gestures towards the door, her keys and wallet clutched in her hands, still inching closer to it. “To explore Riverdale, I guess. I’ve been here for almost twenty-four hours so I should really go take in the sights. See what’s changed, what I missed out on all these years.”

Joe nods, smiling suddenly and waving his hand out in a gesture that signalled to wait for whatever more he had to say. “Sweet Pea could show you around, he-,”

“No,” Cora interrupts, shaking her head with wide eyes, trying to telepathically communicate for him to shut up. “No, I’m sure he doesn’t want to spend his afternoon showing me around this place. It’s not a big place, I can manage on my own.”

“I don’t mind,” Sweet Pea says, shrugging casually.

“You’re just saying that because you want the job. I will not be a pawn in your masterplan to secure yourself a job at this place,” Cora states dramatically. “But seriously, I can show myself around.”

“Cora, he’s offering to show you around, don’t be rude,” Joe warns. Maybe it was possible to make up for all those years of being gone after all, considering he was acting like Cora was still a kid.

Cora chuckles at the absurdity, shaking her head. “He’s not offering, you offered and he’s simply going along with it,” Cora says, receiving silent stares in response. “Fine,” she huffs, turning to look at Sweet Pea, “let’s go.”

“Don’t stay out too late,” Joe calls as Cora walks through the door, laughter evident in his voice. He had been enjoying treating Cora like she was still fifteen since the moment she got to Riverdale. When she had pointed it out she got the typical, “you’ll always be a kid to me” speech that parents seemed to be so fond of.

“So, where am I dropping you off?” Cora asks once she was in her car with Sweet Pea, turning the key in the ignition and pulling on her seatbelt.

“What?”

Shifting the car into reverse she backs out of the parking lot and onto the quiet Riverdale street. It seemed like most streets were like that in this town; quiet. The pavement was in desperate need of repairs, crumbling potholes scattered around the road. “Where am I dropping you off?” Cora repeats, glancing over at Sweet Pea. “Like, your house or a friend’s house, strip club, drug den, I don’t know what you’re into.”

“You don’t want me to show you around?”

Pulling onto the side of the road Cora shifts her car into park, shifting in her seat to face Sweet Pea. “I won’t tell my dad that you didn’t actually show me around, it can be our secret.”

Sweet Pea chuckles, shaking his head. “Did you have better plans that I’m interrupting? Because when I showed up at the shop it didn’t seem like you were doing anything exciting.”

“I’m sure you have better plans…and I don’t appreciate those judgments. Staring at that clock was beyond riveting.”

“Well if that’s your idea of riveting I’m certain I can show you a great time,” Sweet Pea says, fingers absentmindedly drumming against the door panel.

Cora can’t stop the giggle that bubbles past her lips. “Are you flirting with me, Nate?”

Sweet Pea clears his throat suddenly, shifting in his seat as his fingers stop moving on the door panel.

“Why does that bother you so much?” Cora asks curiously, her eyes searching his face for an unspoken answer.

Sweet Pea shrugs, turning his head to the side to look across the small distance of her car, eyes locking on Cora’s. “Nobody ever calls me that, it’s just weird.”

Nodding slowly at the explanation that seems to be just an attempt to brush off a real answer, Cora straightens back out in her seat. “Okay, Sweet Pea, where are we going then? If you’re going to show me such a good time.”

“Well we should definitely start at the strip club and then we can make a stop at the drug den,” Sweet Pea chuckles as he watches Cora unbuckle her seatbelt, the material sliding across her body.

“I knew it,” she laughs, wrapping her fingers around the door handle and pushing the door open. Stepping out onto the gravel of the side of the road the warm June sun beats down on Cora’s skin. Leaving the door open Cora walks around to the other side of the car, Sweet Pea quickly clueing in and hopping out as well.

“Have you had lunch?” Sweet Pea asks after he was situated back in the car, Cora in the passenger’s seat and Sweet Pea behind the wheel now.

“No,” Cora says, reaching over and pressing the button on the door panel to open the window. Cora reaches her arm out, forearm resting on the ledge of the window as the warm air whips against her skin.

“Then our first stop has to be Pop’s.”

Leaning her head back against the leather headrest Cora turns her head to look over at Sweet Pea. “Aren’t you hot?” she asks suddenly. Dressed for the prospect of a job interview, not for trekking through town on a hot summer day, Sweet Pea was wearing a long-sleeve black button-up, sleeves pushed to his elbows to try and escape some of the heat.

The corner of his mouth lifts slightly, glancing across the car momentarily before returning his eyes to the road. “I don’t know, am I?”

Cora laughs softly and shakes her head. “Shut up,” she mutters, rolling her eyes. “Seriously though, you’re going to end up with heat stroke or something.”

“Are you trying to get me to take my clothes off?” Sweet Pea asks, looking at Cora as he slows down before coming to stop at a four-way along the main road in Riverdale.

“Well excuse me for being concerned…put on some more layers, see if I care,” Cora laughs, the car rolling forward as Sweet Pea takes his foot off the brake, driving through the four-way stop. A couple minutes later Sweet Pea pulls into the parking lot in front of the diner. Whenever Cora came back to visit her dad they frequently ate at Pop’s, her dad’s lack of cooking skills made up for with meals at Pop’s. “Oh my God, it feels like it’s been forever since I’ve been to Pop’s,” Cora comments as she pushes the car door closed.

“You’ve been here before? So, I’m already doing a pretty terrible job showing you around,” Sweet Pea comments, holding the door open for Cora to walk inside ahead of him.

“You’re doing a great job,” Cora assures him, walking through the open door, thankful for the slightly cooler air in the diner. The diner was busier than she remembered it ever being before, most of the people seemed to be teenagers, escaping the heat of the summer day with their friends during summer break she would presume. Cora slides into to the vinyl covered booth near a window in the back corner, a waitress quickly coming by to take drink orders from Cora and Sweet Pea before hurrying on her way to the next table.

A silence falls over the booth between Cora and Sweet Pea. Cora shifts in her seat, picking up the chocolate milkshake and taking a quick sip, the glass clinking noticeably in the silence as she sets it back onto the table. “Let’s play a game.”

“A game?” Sweet Pea chuckles, raising his eyebrows as he waits for her to continue.

“Yeah,” Cora states, a smile on her face. “First, imagine the absolute perfect girlfriend…or boyfriend,” Cora hesitates, trying to read Sweet Pea’s reaction, receiving only a straight face. “Okay, so they’re perfect, except…they hate your friends. Do you make it and stay with them, or do you break it and dump them?”

Sweet Pea is quiet for a minute, staring at Cora expectantly. “That’s it? That’s the game?”

“Oh my God,” Cora groans, laughing as she leans back against the booth. “Yes, and you’re playing. So, what’s your answer?”

“Break up with her, I don’t want to deal with the shit that her hating my friends would bring.” Sweet Pea shrugs, taking the hint from Cora’s nodding that he was expected to come up with something for her. “He’s perfect except your family doesn’t like him.”

“Make it,” Cora says, voice a little quieter as her demeanour shifts momentarily, quickly regaining her bubbly self and continuing with the game without further explanation.  

Playing with the straw in her empty milkshake glass Cora leans against the back of the booth, looking across the table at Sweet Pea. “She’s perfect except she runs everywhere she goes, never walks.”

Sweet Pea chuckles, hesitating momentarily. “Make it.”

“Seriously?” Cora giggles, eyebrows raised. “That’d be exhausting!”

“We’d just have to stay home a lot,” Sweet Pea laughs, shrugging. “He’s perfect except the only movie he’ll watch is The Hangover.”

Cora ponders the suggestion for a moment. “Make it. We’ll just watch TV shows instead of movies…She’s perfect except she can only speak in rhymes.”

“Break it,” Sweet Pea says quickly, barely a moment of consideration, making Cora laugh in response. “He’s perfect except he’s terrible in bed.”

Clearing her throat nervously, Cora sits up straighter, fingers letting go of the straw she was playing with as she draws her hands closer to her body. They had been playing ‘make it or break it’ for the past half hour, Sweet Pea hadn’t been thrilled about it in the beginning but him playing for this long indicated he must have been having some fun with it. It had remained fairly innocuous up till this point, he never does the dishes, she never laughs at your jokes, he never lets you pick the music. “Does it make me seem like an asshole if I say break it?”

Sweet Pea smirks and shakes his head. “No, I think you saying you would break up with someone who always wears the same outfit makes you more of an asshole.”

“I don’t want to date a cartoon character,” Cora exclaims defensively, leaning against the back of the booth. “It’s too weird, buy a different outfit!”

“Can I get you two anything else? Refills?” The young waitress standing by the table draws Cora’s attention.

“No thanks, I’m okay,” Cora tells her, looking back to Sweet Pea for his answer.

Sweet Pea shakes his head, glancing at his phone. “No, could we actually get the bill, please.”

“Separate or together?”

“Separate,” Cora answers quickly, the waitress nodding before walking away from the table.

“I didn’t realize how long we’ve been here. I’m not a very good tour guide,” Sweet Pea chuckles, “but I have to get going, I’m meeting some friends out by Sweetwater River.”

The waitress returns with two bills, setting them down with a quick mention of paying at the till near the door before disappearing quickly again.

“Don’t worry about it, I didn’t actually need a tour, I think my dad is just trying to make friends for me,” Cora says with a smile. “Sounds like fun,” she comments on his plans, beginning to slide out of the booth.

“Do you want to come?”

Cora hesitates, looking over at him curiously. She had enjoyed the afternoon and hopefully Sweet Pea had too, but she wasn’t sure if it was just a kind gesture rather than a genuine offer. “No,” Cora shakes her head, “I’m not going to intrude on your plans with your friends.”

Sweet Pea stands up from the booth, picking up the bill from the table as he does so. The two of them walking down the row of booths in the direction of the door. “Is it intruding if I invited you?”

“Your friends didn’t invite me,” Cora points out, stopping and waiting by the counter as she looks up at Sweet Pea. “Go have fun tonight, sounds like you’re going to be starting a real adult life working at the shop soon, have one last teenage celebration of freedom.”

Turning to the waitress as she walks over, Cora pulls out her debit card from her wallet, paying for the bill and waiting for Sweet Pea to do the same. Together they head back out into the parking lot, the afternoon sun slowly sinking into the evening, the air still brutally warm against her skin.

“What are your plans? Do you have any real adult life plans?” Sweet Pea asks, walking beside Cora in the direction of her car.

“Plans?” she asks, as if the word was entirely foreign to her, a smile on her face. “Don’t have any right now. I’m going to see how long my dad can handle having me around,” she jokes.

“Try and stay on his good side,” Sweet Pea comments, getting back into the car with Cora. “It’s nice to have some new people in Riverdale.”

Cora smiles nervously, nodding quickly. “Yeah,” she mutters, swallowing hard as she starts the car. Her mind races through her Rolodex of easy to talk about topics. “What’s your favourite kind of car?” she asks, trying to figure out something to ask that would interest him enough to not question the way less-than-subtle shift.

Sweet Pea turns his attention to Cora, eyebrows furrowed slightly, clearly aware of the change in subject. “I’m actually more of a motorcycle guy,” he tells her.

Cora glances over at him as she drives down the main street of Riverdale, back towards the auto shop, grateful that he had accepted the change in topic. Turning her attention back to the road she listens to him talk about motorcycles, his motorcycle, the kind of motorcycle he wanted, his best friend’s motorcycle, not following anything he was saying, but enjoying listening to his enthusiasm regardless.

Shuffling into the kitchen Cora rubs her eyes tiredly, desperate for a cup of coffee. The sound of talking brings her to a halt, blinking a couple times to be sure she was seeing things correctly. Her dad was sitting at the small kitchen table, a plate with eggs and toast in front of him and Sweet Pea sitting at the table across from him, breakfast in front of him as well. “What’s going on?” Cora asks groggily, walking across the old linoleum floor to the counter where the coffee maker sat with a half-full pot of coffee.

“Good morning,” her dad chuckles, “Did you not sleep well? You look tired.”

“You’re not supposed to tell people they look tired, it’s like telling me I look like shit. I slept fine, by the way, I just need coffee.” Reaching into the cupboard she pulls out a faded yellow mug, filling it before turning around to face the kitchen table and leaning against the counter. “That doesn’t answer my question though, it’s seven in the morning, why are you here?” Cora asks, eyes on Sweet Pea.

“It’s Sweet Pea’s first day at work, I invited him over to catch up,” Joe answers for him, “please don’t be rude to our guest.”

“Your guest,” Cora replies with a smile, walking over and dropping down into the only chair left at the tiny table. “I would never invite guests over before ten.”

“Well some of us have jobs,” Joe says, and Cora’s eyes widen, a quiet laugh escaping as she glances at Sweet Pea.

“Is that a hint?” she jokes, looking back to her dad.

Joe chuckles, pushing his chair back and walking to the coffee pot to refill his mug. “No,” he tells her. “Though I’m sure you’re going to get bored eventually.”

“So, it was a hint,” Cora says with a smile, her dad shaking his head in defeat as he sits back down at the table. “Excited for your first day?” Cora asks, her attention now turned to Sweet Pea, sitting on the other side of her.

“Yeah,” he nods, bringing another forkful of his scrambled eggs to his mouth.

“I guess you have to say that with your boss sitting right there.” Cora takes a sip of her coffee, grimacing slightly. “Wow, I didn’t think it was possible for me to not like coffee,” she mutters, slowly lowering the cup back to the table while looking at the almost completely full mug sitting in front of Sweet Pea.

“What’s wrong with it?” Joe asks defensively.

“I don’t think you’re supposed to drink motor oil, even if you own an auto shop.”

Sweet Pea chuckles quietly and Cora looks over at him with a smile, the sound of him laughing at her joke making her feel inexplicably happy. “Have a good first day,” she says to Sweet Pea, pushing her chair back from the table, grasping the mug of coffee and carrying it to the sink, pouring the liquid down the drain before walking out of the kitchen.

Balancing the cardboard tray with three paper cups of coffee Cora pushes the auto shop door open, the bell above the door jingling as she makes her entrance. The desk was unsurprisingly empty but only a minute passes before the door between the shop and office opens, Joe was halfway through the door before he comes to a stop. “Oh, it’s just you.”

Scoffing playfully, Cora shakes her head. “Good to see you too, dad,” she laughs, walking over and lifting one of the cups from the tray. “I brought you coffee, it doesn’t taste like tar, so I’m not sure if you’ll like it.”

“Thank you,” Joe smiles, his eyes fixed on the two remaining cups in the cardboard tray.

“The other one is for Sweet Pea,” Cora tells him, her dad nodding with a knowing look on his face.

“Coffee break is in five minutes, you can go hang out in the break room and wait for him if you want.”

Taking her dad’s suggestion, she heads to the break room, a small windowless room with an old wooden table, covered in ring-shaped stains from years of coaster-less use. Not a single chair around the table matched, some were old office chairs, some were kitchen chairs, a couple plastic outdoor chairs. Décor was not Joe’s strong suit. Sitting down in a chair near the end of the table Cora takes her own cup of coffee from the tray, bringing it to her lips and taking a sip while she stares at her phone. Absentmindedly she busies herself with scrolling through Instagram till chatter in the hallway catches her attention and she looks to the door, watching the guys who worked for her dad stream into the break room. A slight smile spreads on Cora’s face when she sees Sweet Pea walk into the room, chatting with one of the guys who worked at the shop. Despite her dad introducing her to everyone who worked at the shop, Cora could no longer remember many of them, the many, quick introductions escaping her mind.

Sweet Pea notices Cora quickly, walking over slowly and dropping down into the chair beside her. “Hey, what are you doing here?”

Cora pulls the coffee out of the cardboard tray, setting it down in front of him with a smile. “I brought you a coffee…to make up for my dad trying to poison you with the worst coffee I’ve ever tasted this morning.”

Sweet Pea’s lips curve into a smile, looking at the cup of coffee in front of him. “Thanks,” he says, his voice surprisingly quiet as he looks back at Cora with an unfamiliar seriousness in his eyes, contrasting with the smile on his lips.

“Yeah, no worries,” Cora laughs nervously, unsure of his change in demeanor. “I should get going though, leave you to your first day camaraderie building,” she says with a smile, standing up from her chair and heading for the break room door. Before walking down the hallway Cora glances back over her shoulder, her eyes locking momentarily with Sweet Pea’s eyes. Giving him one last smile, Cora turns around to hurry down the hallway before anyone had the chance to notice the warmth creeping up into her cheeks.

Thank you so much for reading. I hope you enjoyed it! Part two should be posted next Thursday! 

[dearskz]

look at me pt.1

Genre: slight angst, fluff, school au, unrequited love au

Pairing: reader x jeongin (i.n) ft. hyunjin

Length: 1,622 words 

Description: Will you ever look at Jeongin as anything else besides a best friend? (third-person narrative)

Author’s side note: This song inspired this scenario :) ALSO DON’T FORGET TO STREAM I AM YOU!

Part 2 (masterlist) 

Some people spend their entire lives searching for ‘the one’. Jeongin was lucky enough to have known his ‘one’ his entire life. She was the one who defended him from bullies. She was the one who understood him more than he understood himself. The one who has always been by his side no matter the circumstances. Sounds perfect right? There’s just one slight problem: she doesn’t know that she’s the one. Not yet at least. Jeongin plans on telling her today, Valentine’s Day.

For them, Valentine’s Day has always been the total opposite of romantic. It was the day where they would go to each other’s houses in their PJ’s and watch horror movies while eating chicken feet until completely knocking out due to food coma. It was a tradition that they swore to never break, but Jeongin is going to have to break his promise today.

There were several instances where Jeongin was very close to confessing to y/n, but the thought of risking a 13-year friendship just wasn’t worth it. Jeongin and y/n have known each other since kindergarten when Jeongin was 4 and y/n was 5. One day y/n noticed a small, chubby Jeongin being teased for his size on the playground and decided to stand up for him. Although having a 1-year age difference, they managed to stick together like glue, always waiting for each other after class, walking home together, doing the typical things that best friends do. Sure they had a couple of friends in their grade, but no one understood them better than each other. Seeing that most of the people they knew were superficial and materialistic, it only made sense that they gravitated towards each other since that was one of the few things they hated in life.

The relationship y/n and Jeongin shared was special and irreplaceable. They did everything and anything together. They also kept no secrets from one another, which is why Jeongin ultimately chose to risk it all. His love and admiration for y/n was the only secret he has been hiding from her since they met. It was hard not to fall in love with y/n. From her kind heart and intelligence to her captivating eyes and breathtaking smile, she gave Jeongin a reason to look forward to school. His little secret has been killing him for years and he couldn’t bear it any longer, he needed to know if y/n could look at him as something more than a best friend and more importantly, a little brother.

It was the dreaded bro-zone that many of the less-fortunate fall into. Jeongin was desperately hoping he wasn’t one of them. He knew that it was something that was out of his control though. He would still love and respect y/n regardless, yet he had the slightest amount of hope that she felt the same way.

“Good morning sunshine! Can you believe the number of chocolate wrappers scattered all over school? I wish I had a broom to clean it up.”  Y/n appeared beside Jeongin’s locker, shaking his thoughts and bringing him back to reality.

“Ah glad to see you realizing your dream of being a janitor early.” Jeongin poked teasingly at y/n. Although she was older and often very motherly towards him, he still loved to joke around because he loved seeing her reactions.

“Bold of you to assume that I’m starting now, I’ve been training since day one. Janitors don’t get enough appreciation, they’re hard-working motherfuckers.” Y/n snapped back while shaking her head.  

Jeongin chuckled, “Yo, straight up facts. I’ll buy you your first uniform.”

“How sweet of you,” y/n laughed and lightly punched Jeongin’s shoulder, “So, what do you have planned for us today on the most romantic day of the year?” Y/n said as they made their way down the hallway towards their classes.

Jeongin pulled out his imaginary list and adjusted his invisible glasses, “Let’s see, after school, we are going straight to the convenience store to get some garlic parmesan chips with garlic dip, because who are we kissing amirite? Then we get to my house, order some chicken feet, sundae (Korean blood sausage), and coca-cola. A side of kimchi and pa muchim (Korean scallion salad) to go with it of course.”

“dELicIOUS. I love it when I have to brush my teeth and tongue to the depths of hell to get rid of stinky breath.” Y/n joked. “What movies do we have lined up today?”

“We got The Shining, The Babadook, and Carrie. Some cult favourites, as usual.”

“Carrie? We watched that 3 Valentine Days ago, and we watched The Babadook when it came out.” Y/n squinted at Jeongin in disbelief. It wasn’t like him to forget things like this. “What’s up Jeongin?” Y/n stopped in her tracks, stepping in front of Jeongin to prevent him from avoiding her question.

Jeongin fiddled with his backpack straps. He knew he should’ve chosen different movies but he was so focused on his confession that their movie marathon completely slipped his mind.

“Nothing, nothing! I just thought we could watch them again, I know how much you loved Carrie.” He looked y/n in the eyes and gave her a small smile in an attempt to hide his small lie.

Y/n raised her brow and sighed, “Alright, well I guess I can’t argue with that.” She spun around and began walking again.

Jeongin let out a breath of relief and followed, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow in the process.

“You know Jeongin, I always wondered what would happen to our tradition if we found someone we liked. I realized throughout our 13-year friendship that you never told me about your crushes.”

Jeongin was slightly taken aback by your statement. ‘That was because I was always crushing on you,’ Jeongin thought to himself. His cheeks flushed but thankfully, y/n was still staring down the hall ahead of her. “Well... I guess we’re just going to have to find out.”

Y/n whipped her head towards Jeongin so fast that she could’ve broken it, “What do you mean by that? Don’t tell me, YOU LIKE SOMEONE?” Y/n’s face lit up and her eyes began to sparkle. “OHOHOHO WHO IS IT? SPILL THE TEA.”

“You’ll find out by the end of the day.” He kept his gaze on the students at the end of the hall, he knew that if he looked at her, he would’ve given in to those beautiful deep eyes of hers.

“You’re confessing today?!.” To be honest, Y/n was kind of hurt by the fact that she didn’t know about his supposed crush until today, the day he was going to confess. How could he not tell his best friend? “Lucky bastard, they better be special because not just anyone deserves to be crushed on by my best friend!”

“Yeah, special..” He smiled softly at y/n before they reached her classroom. They stopped in front of the door and y/n turned to Jeongin.

“Well, see you at lunch! Good luck with your bio test. REMEMBER, THE MITOCHONDRIA IS THE-”

Jeongin rolled his eyes, “POWERHOUSE OF THE CELL! YES THANK YOU, as if we haven’t learned that every year since 6th grade.”

Y/n giggled, putting her hand on Jeongin's shoulder making his heart flutter a little, “I was just testing your knowledge, you’re gonna ace it, I know it!” She flashed him a warm smile, her eyes turning into little crescent moons and the apples of her cheeks becoming pink and round.

~~~

*Ring ding dong*

The bell rang as y/n sat down at her desk, pulling out her textbook and pencil case when she heard the chair next to her creak. She turned her head to see what made the noise and was met with a familiar face.

“Already pulling out the homework? You know that if the teacher isn’t here 15 minutes after class starts, we can leave right?” He playfully nudged.

“Hyunjin you know that’s a myth, and I’m on student council, I have to set a good example our fellow classmates.”

“You didn’t do last night’s homework did you?”

“No sir, I did not.” y/n admitted, lowering her head in shame.

“Here,” Hyunjin put his notebook on y/n’s desk, “just copy mine. Hurry before Mr. Park comes.”

Y/n gasped, “Oh my gosh you are a lifesaver, bless your soul. I owe you one.” She beamed as she furiously copied last night’s math equations.

“Okay, then how about going on a date with me this Friday night?”

Y/n choked on her spit, “A date?!” She felt her heart race at 100 miles per second while she was trying to process what just happened.

“Sorry, is that too much to ask? You don’t have to say yes, there’s really no pressure.” Y/n looked up and noticed a rose tint appear on those squishable cheeks of his, “I just have a lot of fun hanging out with you at school and kind of want to spend more time getting to know you better outside of school.”

“Hyunjin I…” Y/n’s mind went blank. ‘How do I respond??? What if I mess up?’ she thought to herself.

“I know its sudden… how about this, give me your answer at the end of the day. I won’t be offended if you say no so don’t worry about it too much!” He smiled, putting his hand on top of hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze before taking his notebook back.

“Wait Hyunji-” Y/n was cut off by a loud slam, almost jolting her out of her seat.

“Good morning class! Sorry, I’m late!” Mr. Park came in winded and visibly exhausted. “My morning jog was longer than I expected. Please open up your textbooks to page 325.”

[wineanddinosaur]

VinePair Happy Hour: What’s Your Favorite Drink Hack?

This month, VinePair is exploring how drinks pros are taking on old trends with modern innovations. In Old Skills, New Tricks, we examine contemporary approaches to classic cocktails and clever techniques behind the bar — plus convention-breaking practices in wine, beer, whiskey, and more.

From opening wine bottles with lighters to concocting recipes with unlikely ingredients, most folks probably have a trick or two up their sleeves for making or drinking their favorite beverages. And, of course, the VinePair team is no exception.

From an even simpler simple syrup recipe to a tip for making foamy cocktails sans egg white, read on for the VinePair staff’s ultimate list of the best drinks hacks.

“My favorite hack is using a boot to get the cork out of a wine bottle! You put a wine bottle into a boot with a thick sole and bang the sole against a wall until you slowly start to see the cork coming out. Just keep an eye on the cork… otherwise you’ll have a really unfortunate mess.” —Lily Nelson, video and social media producer

“My favorite drinks hack is adding a bit of salt to most of the cocktails I make. It’s a flavor enhancer — that’s true with cocktails just like food.” —Zach Geballe, “VinePair Podcast” host

“Lately, I’ve been swapping out the spirits in classic cocktails as a fun way to enjoy old favorites. My newest go-to has been shaking up Piña Coladas with tequila instead of rum.” —Katie Brown, associate editor

“For a foamy/frothy cocktail, if one wants an egg white-free version, use Fee Brothers Fee Foam, which is inexpensive, lasts for a while after opening, and can be used in multiple drinks as a little goes a long way! —Allison Kuklinski, manager, brand partnerships & activations

“It’s a simple one, but I think my favorite drinks hack is using Simply Limeade in cocktails. Originally a childhood favorite, lemonade’s underrated twin has now provided an endless wave of fun cocktails and is truly so refreshing. I also love to add a pinch of kosher salt to my drink (whether it’s spiked, sparkling, or served on its own) to really activate the lime juice. An honorable mention also goes to Dr. Brown’s Cel-Ray (Celery Soda) which, when added, creates a true extravaganza!” —Emma Cranston, assistant editor

“I never manage to keep simple syrup on hand, so a recent trick I picked up is quickly blitzing some together in the blender when I need it for cocktails. It’s faster than making it on the stove or even dissolving with hot water because it doesn’t require any cooling time. It’s admittedly not the best method for a rich or infused simple syrup, but it works pretty well in a pinch.” —Joanna Sciarrino, executive editor

“When wine has gone a little off, I like to mix it with some Coca-Cola for a Kalimotxo like they do it in the tapas bars of Spain” —Keith Beavers, tastings director

“I know this gets old but my favorite drinks hack is salting the ice! When salt touches ice, the ice cubes will melt at a temperature lower than the freezing point of water. Thus, it cools your drink faster. Come on, who doesn’t love a cold drink?” —Elgin Nelson, editorial intern

“Basically every time I have a bottle of wine with no opener, which is embarrassingly too often, I place the bottom of the bottle in a sneaker. I lightly tap it against a wall and until the cork begins to come out enough for me to remove it myself!” —Jenna Barry, marketing intern

The article VinePair Happy Hour: What’s Your Favorite Drink Hack? appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/vp-happy-hour-drink-hack/

[johnboothus]

VinePair Happy Hour: Whats Your Favorite Drink Hack?

This month, VinePair is exploring how drinks pros are taking on old trends with modern innovations. In Old Skills, New Tricks, we examine contemporary approaches to classic cocktails and clever techniques behind the bar — plus convention-breaking practices in wine, beer, whiskey, and more.

From opening wine bottles with lighters to concocting recipes with unlikely ingredients, most folks probably have a trick or two up their sleeves for making or drinking their favorite beverages. And, of course, the VinePair team is no exception.

From an even simpler simple syrup recipe to a tip for making foamy cocktails sans egg white, read on for the VinePair staff’s ultimate list of the best drinks hacks.

“My favorite hack is using a boot to get the cork out of a wine bottle! You put a wine bottle into a boot with a thick sole and bang the sole against a wall until you slowly start to see the cork coming out. Just keep an eye on the cork… otherwise you’ll have a really unfortunate mess.” —Lily Nelson, video and social media producer

“My favorite drinks hack is adding a bit of salt to most of the cocktails I make. It’s a flavor enhancer — that’s true with cocktails just like food.” —Zach Geballe, “VinePair Podcast” host

“Lately, I’ve been swapping out the spirits in classic cocktails as a fun way to enjoy old favorites. My newest go-to has been shaking up Piña Coladas with tequila instead of rum.” —Katie Brown, associate editor

“For a foamy/frothy cocktail, if one wants an egg white-free version, use Fee Brothers Fee Foam, which is inexpensive, lasts for a while after opening, and can be used in multiple drinks as a little goes a long way! —Allison Kuklinski, manager, brand partnerships & activations

“It’s a simple one, but I think my favorite drinks hack is using Simply Limeade in cocktails. Originally a childhood favorite, lemonade’s underrated twin has now provided an endless wave of fun cocktails and is truly so refreshing. I also love to add a pinch of kosher salt to my drink (whether it’s spiked, sparkling, or served on its own) to really activate the lime juice. An honorable mention also goes to Dr. Brown’s Cel-Ray (Celery Soda) which, when added, creates a true extravaganza!” —Emma Cranston, assistant editor

“I never manage to keep simple syrup on hand, so a recent trick I picked up is quickly blitzing some together in the blender when I need it for cocktails. It’s faster than making it on the stove or even dissolving with hot water because it doesn’t require any cooling time. It’s admittedly not the best method for a rich or infused simple syrup, but it works pretty well in a pinch.” —Joanna Sciarrino, executive editor

“When wine has gone a little off, I like to mix it with some Coca-Cola for a Kalimotxo like they do it in the tapas bars of Spain” —Keith Beavers, tastings director

“I know this gets old but my favorite drinks hack is salting the ice! When salt touches ice, the ice cubes will melt at a temperature lower than the freezing point of water. Thus, it cools your drink faster. Come on, who doesn’t love a cold drink?” —Elgin Nelson, editorial intern

“Basically every time I have a bottle of wine with no opener, which is embarrassingly too often, I place the bottom of the bottle in a sneaker. I lightly tap it against a wall and until the cork begins to come out enough for me to remove it myself!” —Jenna Barry, marketing intern

The article VinePair Happy Hour: What’s Your Favorite Drink Hack? appeared first on VinePair.

Via https://vinepair.com/articles/vp-happy-hour-drink-hack/

source https://vinology1.weebly.com/blog/vinepair-happy-hour-whats-your-favorite-drink-hack

[wowreddie]

Affection

 pairing: Reddie

summary: it’s basically the relation development between the boys. pure fluff.

words count: 3.1k

warnings: curses (F-word, homophobic terms, ect.) slight angst.

notes: listen to “Affection” by Cigarettes After Sex while reading this it’s awesome. I didn’t really re-read so excuse me if some misspelings annoy you!!

Puck.

That noise drew Eddie’s attention.

He hopped from his bed to his bedroom window, only to be welcomed by his stupid best friend, with a handful of rocks in his hand. He opened the window and leaned forward to the fresh October air, looking at the curly haired boy a couple of feets below him.

« What the fuck are you doing here? »

« Oh, Eddie Spaghetti! » he replied, « I didn’t expect you here! I thought your mother would open the window for me! »

Eddie cringed at the thought, as always, but still slightly grinned, so Richie couldn’t see that his jokes secretely kinda made Eddie laugh.

« Shut up, you asshole. What are you doing here? Have you ever heard about a god damn door? »

Richie grinned, ajusting his coke bottle glasses on his freckles dotted nose.

« Just let me fucking in already! »

Eddie rolled his eyes, but opened the window a little wider so Richie could enter his room easily.

They sat on Eddie’s bed, like they usually did every Sunday evening. That was like their little meeting of the week. They usually hung out with the rest of the losers, but they always met up at Eddie’s place on Sunday. They started doing that in the first place because they thought  they didn’t hang out alone enough, they loved their friends but they wanted some best friend time alone. So, the whole week, they hung out with the losers, and on sunday evening, they hung out with each other.

« So, Eddie Spaghetti, »

« Don’t call me that! »

Richie rolled his eyes, but carried on with his question.

« anyway. I brought comics and some coca-cola. Do you have glasses? » he asked, a plastic bag full of paper and plastic in one hand, and his small rocks in the other.

« Yeah, you can wait here. »

Richie dropped the bag on the bed and walked up the window, as Eddie left the room to go downstares. Then, one by one, Richie threw the rocks outside, watching them land on the cold, dirty ground.

« Stop that, you’re going to frighten the birds. »

Richie turned around to see Eddie, standing in front of him, with two empty cups in his right hand.

« Now let’s close this fucking window before I get sick. »

It was now 8pm, and they still had 1h30 before Richie would have to go home.

Eddie was lying on his bed, a comic in his left hand, a half empty coca-cola cup in his right hand. He looked like he was about to fall asleep. His hair was all messy and unkempt. He looked like a mess, and Richie was the only one he didn’t mind to expose himself like that to.

Richie was on the chair, uncomfortably sitting and looking around, not really knowing what to do. He wanted to ask something to Eddie, something he’s been wondering for a long time now, but he didn’t know how to ask. He didn’t wanted the conversation to turn awkward and ruin the moment.

« Hey, Eds. »

« Don’t call me that, Richie, » Eddie reminded with an exasperated sigh.

« can i ask you something? » he seemed nervous, and Richie being nervous wasn’t usual.

« yeah, what is it? »

« Have you ever thought about hum.. well, your sexual orientation? » Richie glanced at Eddie, and he really seemed unsure of what to do.

For a second - well, more like thirty - Eddie didn’t know what to say. of course, he did. he always did. he knew he wasn’t straight. but was he ready to admit it? he pondered for a couple of seconds. was he ready to come out to his best friend yet?

« I mean… yeah, obviously. Everyone has. I’m.. pretty sure im straight. »

« Oh, » Richie simply responded. he sounded… almost disapointed.

« What about you? »

« Um. Well. Pfft! I’m obviously straight! I mean, l-look at me! Do I actually look l-like I’m a fag?

What the fuck? Was he stuttering? No. That couldn’t be happening. His name wasn’t fucking stuttering Bill.

What Richie said really hurt Eddie. It was… rude. I mean, obviously, his question was stupid. Richie was definitely not gay. He was everything but gay. He wasn’t even a virgin anymore. He told everyone about it, he always joked about it. But he didn’t have to be mean. He sounded rude, mean, and homophobic.

« Right. Sorry. » Eddie looked down, and tried as hard as he could not to cry.

« I’m going to the bathroom. » Richie announced.

And as quickly as he spoke, he was gone.

Eddie stayed lying on his bed, still shook from the previous events. He tried really, really hard not to cry. Even if Richie wasn’t there, he would notice it when he would be back. When Eddie cried, it was noticable. After struggling for several minutes, he silently broke into tears.

What the fuck even was that night. He just wanted a normal evening with his best friend, and there he was, crying in his bed. Because he was gay. And he was so fucking scared.

Damn it, what the fuck even was that night

« hey, Eddie. » Richie was back in the room, only to be welcomed by a crying mess on the bed.

« are you… crying? »

Eddie looked at him, quickly drying his tears, with a serious face.

« no I’m not. »

Richie grinned, looking down at Eddie’s hands, on his knees.

« damn, Eddie spaghetti, you look even worse than your mom when I broke up with her. »

Eddie giggled, rolling his eyes. « shut up, asshole. »

Richie sat next to the sad boy.

« seriously, Eds, what is it? You seemed okay when i went to the bathroom. »

the boy sighted and wiped his tears, lying down on the bed.

« It’s nothing, Richie. Don’t worry. »

« Eddie. » RIchie had now this unexpected and unusual serious look. « you know you can tell me anything. »

he started crying again. « please don’t hate me, Richie. »

« hey, look at me, you morron. » Richie took Eddie’s chin in his hand, so he could look at him in the eyes « I won’t ever, in the whole god damn history of our friendship, hate you, Eddie Kaspbrak. »

Eddie smiled, closing his eyes. He felt a warm feeling in the pit of his stomach.

« fine. » he looked at his friend, tears filling up his eyes once again. « I’m gay, Richie. »

the boy frowned.

« that’s it? That’s why you’re crying? »

« well, » Eddie sighted, « look, it’s so much harder than you think, Richie. It took me so long to understand and accept it, and you’re just scared that everybody will turn their back to you. I’m scared, Richie. I’m so scared. » Eddie looked at Richie, a hopeless look in his eyes.

Richie understood.

« Eddie, you know that we’re never going to let you down, no matter what. We love you, Eddie spaghetti. » The boy opened his arms. « C'me here. »

Eddie hugged him.

since that night. The boys were so much closer. They were always holding hands, or hugging, or just touching each other’s skin in general. The whole losers club noticed it. There was clearly something going on between them. One day, Beverly, Richie’s best friend, thought it would be a good idea to talk to him about it. as they were in math class, fifth period, she threw a piece of paper with a message on it at Richie.

« Richie, I need to talk to you about something. can we meet at the quarry, after school?»

he looked at her and nodded, to show her that he could.

« What has been going on with Eddie, lately? »

the curly haired boy looked at her, frowning his eyebrows in a curious way.

«What do you mean? »

The girl looked at him, clearly unimpressed.

«Richie Tozier, stop acting like you don’t know what I’m talking about.»

Richie lost his curious frown. He was now facing her, sadness crossing over his gaze.

«Drop it, Beverly. It’s nothing. »

The red head looked at his friend, slightly surprised.

He called her Beverly, and when he did, that wasn’t a good sign.

She decided it would be better, for now, to stop talking about it. But she would definitely come back to him, she knew the boy would need to clear this out, and he wouldn’t do it alone.

But then he started crying.

«What the fuck is wrong with me, Beverly? What the fuck is wrong with us? God, we’re fucked, we’re so fucked. »

He took his head in his two hands, slightly pulling at his hair. Beverly sat next to him, placing her left hand on his friend’s back. After a couple of seconds, he crawled in to Beverly’s shoulder and cried as they hugged each other tightly, Beverly comforting his friend with nice words.

«Don’t worry, Rich. I’ve gotcha…»

After a while, when Richie stopped crying, he started:

«I don’t know what’s happening between me and Eddie, Bev. »

«Don’t you think you should talk to him about it? »

She looked at him, with a warm and comforting gaze. He shrugged, not really sure of what he should do.

«Bev, a boy isn’t supposed to like another boy, right? What’s wrong with me, then? »

She looked at him, a sudden wave of tears filling her eyes, but not letting them fall down her cheeks.

«There’s nothing wrong with the two of you, Richie. It’s completely normal and healthy to like boys. Look at me. »

The boy turned his head and looked at Beverly right in the eyes.

«Do not ever listen to those homophobic bitches. Homosexuality is okay. »

The kids could feel the cold feeling of the fresh wind on their pale, wet skin as they were running around the water of the quarry. The wind was soft, but cold enough to keep them under the water. They weren’t really doing anything, besides jumping, swimming, talking, laughing. There was a pure atmosphere flying around them, like a sweet blanket of joy resting over their shoulders. They could’ve stayed here for days and days. Anyone who would’ve passed by that day would have discovered what pure joy felt like.

«Shut up, Richie! »

«What? You all know it’s true! »

They were all laughing again at a stupid rumor Richie heard about a girl in their grade.

«Guys…» Beverly started, a playful gaze on her face. «wanna play truth or dare?»

«why would we play truth or dare if we already know everything about each other?» Stan pointed out and Beverly agreed, since she was aware that she knew even more than the others about the group.

«yeah, I know,» she sighed. «but I want to play something!»

«I want to play truth or dare,» said Ben and all of the losers agreed.

«okay. But it’s still irrelevant!»

« I wanna start! » yelled Beverly.

She made a small wondering pout, looking at every loser’s faces, before choosing the lucky one.

« Bill, » she said as he looked at her.

« what’s your weirdest habbit? »He frowned at the stupid question

. « I don’t know… sometimes I pick my nose, » he said with a shrug.

« Ew!!! » Eddie screamed with a disgusted face. « ew, ew, ew! That’s disgusting. Don’t you ever try to touch me again. »

They all laughed at Eddie’s childish reaction.

« Well, Eddie, what’s your weirdest habbit? »

The boy blushed, trying to act natural even though they all spotted him and his red cheeks.

« Shut up, Bill, I don’t have weird habbits. I’m not a freak. »

« he sleeps naked, » muttered Richie under his breath so no one could hear him except Bill and Eddie. But the problem is, everyone heard.

« beep bEEP RICHIE! Shut up, you fucking dipshit! It’s not true! » said the boy as his cheeks were hotter than ever. The others all bursted into laughs as Stan started:

« It’s okay, Eddie. Everyone has their dark secrets. »Eddie wasn’t laughing.

« I’m done, » he started as he was swimming towards the rocks where his stuff were.

« Oh come on, Eddie spaghetti, it was a joke! »

« Screw you, trashmouth, » Eddie snapped as he took his towel and dried his body, then put on his shirt.

« Nice shot, Richie, » Beverly said, disappointing.

« Oh come on guys. I’m not the one who laughed! »The kids all shrugged.

« Do you think he’s mad at us? » asked Bill.

« I don’t know, » answered Beverly. « He seemed cool with us, I think he’s mad at Richie, » she confessed as her gaze flew over everyone’s face to end on Richie’s.

« Don’t look at me like that! »They all looked at him.

« What? » he asked, hesitant . Stan rolled his eyes.

« go talk to him, idiot. » Richie raised his eyebrows.

« Oh my god, this is so stupid. he probably isn’t even mad. » he still stood up and walked/swam towards the huge rock where all of their stuff was.

« where the fuck have you been, Eds? i’ve been looking for you for like, hours! » Richie cried, almost laughing. Eddie looked at him angrily.

« I was here the whole time, dipshit. » the small boy sat up-straight on his bed as he looked at Richie, standing in front of him, in his room. « what the fuck are you doing here? »

« wha… » Richie mumbled, slightly confused. « oh, god, you’re actually mad at me? »

Eddie frowned. « of course i’m… » he stopped here, thinking it over. he wasn’t mad at Richie. « no, » he muttered. Richie frowned, starting to worry.

« are you okay, Eds?»

« don’t call me that, you know I hate it. » Eddie looked at his best friend. « you know what my real bad habbit is, Rich.»

« what do you mean? » Richie asked, genuinely confused.

« i like boys, » Eddie complained in a sight as he hid his face in a pillow.

« Oh come on, Eddie, » Richie exclaimed in exasperation, «this is ridiculous.»

Eddie looked at him, a surprised and offended look on his face. « No it’s not!»

«yes, it is, Eds! stop overthinking it, you’re not alone in the fucking boat!»

«what do you mean?» asked Eddie, unsure.

«i mean,»  answered Richie ,« you’re not the only gay on the planet, Eddie. chill out.»

Eddie looked at his best friend, doubtful. «ugh, fuck you, trashmouth.»

«what!? I’m telling you the truth. you’re talking like you’re the only one on earth going through this, like you were some kind of freak or something.»

Eddie ghasped, offended. «no I’m not! I-» he stopped, then sighted. « I know, I’m sorry. i souldn’t be constantly ranting to you about it, it’s just that you’re the only person im out to - i mean, it’s obvious since you’re my bestfriend - but still, i just don’t really know how to get through it and accept myself and shit. but i mean, - still sh-

« Can I ask you a question? » Richie interrupted the boy next to him.

« You just did, dumbass. »

«…Shut up. »

« What is it? » Eddie said as his curiosity started to grow.

« I- do you- I- I mean… well. Let me start this over. What’s happening between us? »

Eddie closed his mouth. he frowned, not really sure of how to react to that question.

«what do you mean, ‘what is happening to us’?»

«I mean this, Eds.» Richie took Eddie’s hand and kissed him on the cheek. « Why fo we keep doing that? »

now Eddie did not expect that. he unconciously held Richie’s hand.

« Well.. I mean, that was.. a kiss on my cheek? » he asked like it was a trick question.

« Well thanks, captain Obvious. I mean why are we doing this? » Richie answered with a dumb face.

« I don’t know, Richie, why are you asking me this? I was talking, you interrupted me. »

« Because I, I… I don’t think I can keep going like this anymore. » he sighted . « Sometimes I want to kiss you… »

Eddie’s face features softened as he smiled. « Sometimes I want to kiss you too, Chee. »

« Did you just call me 'Chee’? »

Eddie blushed. « Yeah, I like that nickname. It’s cute, isn’t it? »

« You’re cute. »

Eddie blushed harder.

« So… you want to kiss me? »

« Yeah, » Richie answered with a cocky grin.  « I mean, you look a lot like your mother. »

« Shut up, asshole! » Eddie yelled but still laughed. « That’s disgusting. »

Richie laughed, sitting next to Eddie on his bed. Really close.

« Yes, I want to kiss you. Is it a bad thing? »

« I don’t know, » Eddie answered with a toothy grin, « is it? »

Richie leaned closer to Eddie. « Why don’t we try and find out? »

« Good idea. » Eddie did the same.

« Right now? »

« Right now. »

And that was it.

They were kissing.

And Richie put his hand on Eddie’s collarbone and Eddie inserted his right hand  in Richie’s hair and pulled slightly on it and Richie let out an almost inaudible moan and holy fuck it felt amazing.

When Eddie broke the kiss for air, he put his forehead on Richie’s, and smiled. Richie put his hand on the boy’s cheek and brushed his thumb with affection.

« Eddie, you know I love you, right? »

« I love you too, Rich. »

« No, I’m serious. You mean so much to me, Eds. Meeting you, was the best thing that ever happened to me. I can’t even imagine my life without you. » he chuckled. « I know this is fucking corny as hell but I’m serious, I love you so much. » he pecked Eddie’s neck with his lips.

The boy underneath him help his head close to his heart. « I know, Richie, I feel it too. »

« I love you, Eds. »

Not minding the nickname, Eddie kissed Richie’s lips.

« I love you too. »

hOLY SHIT I FINALLY FINISHED IT. I swear I’ve been working on this for the past month. please give me your feed back! I need it so I can get better at writing nsjnd anyways I hope you liked it!!

 @camithestrangeloser @tapetayloe

[russellthornton]

What Is A MILF? The Surprising Truths & Thoughts Behind Its Meaning

‘MILF’ is code for Mother I’d Like To Fuck. But there’s really much, much more to it. Here’s a unique take on what is a MILF exactly.

If you’re a dude you’ve probably used this term more times than you care to admit. Walking down the street with your boy, you see an unusually attractive older lady and you’re like, ‘Bro, check out that MILF.’ But if you’re wondering, what is a MILF, it’s time to educate yourself.

What is a MILF?

It’s just one of those words we like to say. It rolls off the tongue like sweet honey… Sometimes we say it for humor. Other times the word MILF is just… definitive. The truth. There’s even a male equivalent—‘DILF’, which is code for Dad I’d Like To Fuck.

Primarily, being a MILF/DILF means you’re older but still look remarkably attractive. MILF is sort of similar to the term cougar, which is a woman who is independent, older, and likes her meat younger.

But MILF/DILF are different in that those terms suggest you have parenting responsibilities. Which could also suggest you’re in a committed relationship… [Read: How to make an older woman fall in love with you]

Which is why the term MILF feels kind of taboo

Let’s take it back…

#1 ‘You low-down Mother Fuckers.’

– US soldier to his draft board, 1911

#2 ‘You see this cat, Shaft is a bad mother

(Shut your mouth)

But I’m talking about Shaft

(Then we can dig it)’

– Isaac Hayes in his song ‘Shaft’, 1971

Another controversial term: ‘Mother fucker’ was used as early as the late 19th century. But throughout the years, mother fucker was softened into minced oaths such as:

– Motherfugger

– Mother for you

– MOFO

The cool thing about this word is that you can’t say it, and even when you do you’re expected to make it cryptic. Unless you really don’t give a fuck and want to make your feelings clear… *‘Mother fucker, I dare ya! NO, I double dare ya!’*.

The funny thing is most people don’t think about ‘mother fucker’ in terms of actually having sex with a mother. Counter-intuitively, they associate it with awesomeness OR sometimes with offensiveness. [Read: What’s in it for the older woman dating the younger man?]

‘That movie was mother fucking amazing.’

Or

‘Yeah, well, fuck you, you dumb mother fucker.’

THEN the internet hit and these things happened…

– Lots and lots of porn

– Lots of sexualized material on TV/movies/media

– Even more sex on social media, which popularized acronyms for sex like: mofo, ons, dtf, bdsm, bbw…

– Lots of new dating sites/apps that made dating/sex a whole different ballgame

– Everything became a candidate for ‘LOL cool’, e.g. Stiffler’s mum in American Pie

This is why I think the word MILF is sort of an evolution of the phrase mother fucker. However, it’s also a very unique and ultra-modern word. Let’s take a deeper dive into its meaning…

#1 Milf is short-code. People need short codes to speedily distinguish between categories of things in the world. MILF generally makes it clear that the mentioned person is an older woman.

If I’m with a buddy on a crowded street and want to let them know about an older lady with a gorgeous look, I’ll say, ‘MILF dead ahead, 8 out of 10.’ He knows to skip over the faces under 30 and search for the hot 35+ year old. It’s simply a matter of critical timing. [Read: You guide to scoring yourself a MILF]

#2 A MILF is the wet dream. Teenagers going through puberty may be unable to attract or connect with girls their own age. For example, an adolescent who spends too much time watching porn and doesn’t have good social skills…

Due to his inexperience, he might naturally be drawn to a more maternal, nurturing figure—thinking she will mother him up unconditionally and acceptingly.

#3 A MILF is emotionally developed. Maybe you’re bored of club life and people with stringy attention spans. You want more depth. You can find depth in young people, but many higher order character traits take a lifetime to build. And it’s a never-ending journey. So, some people will consider a person to be a MILF if they meet the emotional connection criteria.

#4 A MILF is very cute or hot. There’s a somewhat universal attractiveness level spectrum, whether or not we like to admit it. In other words, people can generally agree on whether someone looks attractive or not and roughly what level of attractive they look, even if they’re not specifically ‘their type.’

This might sound controversial, but if you’re honest with yourself you may agree *ever heard the phrase ‘she’s out of his league’?*.

Things like facial details symmetry and body shape all factor in. And with that said, some people age better than others and stay looking attractive for longer. Which means that they stay looking remarkably attractive for longer. Note that the word GILF *for grandmother* isn’t popular, because there’s less chances a woman will stay looking hot at that stage of her life *although there are many exceptions*. [Read: The 30 traits of hot women that men love]

#5 The MILF is a new kind of woman. Women had massive inequality pre-world wars. Post-world wars, they slowly gained more rights. Today they’re more on an equal footing with men societally than they have been in any other time. In some arenas, such as within education, they outperform guys. It’s no longer a given that a woman’s role in society is to get married and to have children by a particular age.

Customs are unclear—more open-ended. Women have more independence and make their own sexual decisions with less social repercussions. Words like MILF pop into existence in times like this. People aren’t so sure that an older lady is probably someone else’s wife or that she won’t be DTF. [Read: The meaning of DTF and signs she’s feeling it]

#6 The MILF is straight to the point. Being messed around by a 22-year-old Colombian chick who doesn’t know whether she’s coming or going? One of the appeals of MILFs is that they don’t play games with you.

It’s a popular belief that if a MILF doesn’t feel you she won’t take your info or reply to your messages. But if she is into you she really means to follow through and may even initiate things, because she’s confident enough in her own skin and knows what she wants *she probably also works out if you’re the real deal faster*. [Read: The pros and cons of dating a woman in control]

#7 A MILF might not be a mother. I’ve never been walking with a friend and we see a hot older lady and my friend says: ‘That is either a hot MILF or a hot cougar.’ He probably doesn’t care if she’s mothered offspring. What’s important is that she looks like she could mother offspring.

We’re usually attracted to people that look capable of passing on genes to create healthy offspring. When we notice curvaceous hips or a buxom chest, this is us looking out for signs of genetic health. The hips don’t lie.

#8 The 20-year-old MILF? Of course, a woman in her 20s could be a MILF. But you often hear ‘baby mother’ used more in that situation. A MILF is a bit more like a fine wine… something that takes a given amount of time to develop properly.

Though I saw a girl who was 22 and had a toddler. It was the first time I’d dated a mother, and I definitely used MILF more than a few times.

#9 The 30-35 MILF. A popular MILF imagery is the ‘dirty 30s’ MILF who is sexually ravenous or a recently divorced single mum. She’s rediscovering who she is and is going yolo. She may be dating several guys at the same time and looking for completely no strings attached sex. [Read: 17 important guidelines for NSA sex]

#10 The conqueror’s trophy MILF. To get with one, you may need to be direct. You should also know what you want. She’s seen too much in her time to be won over by timidity. To add to this, she’s not a commonly ‘available’ demography. Think about it this way: the market tends to value things based on supply and demand. So, if something is in high demand, but seems to be in relatively short supply, it’s going to increase in value.

There are simply fewer older and hot women still dating compared to younger women. So, this literally makes MILFs a hot product. And hunters of MILFs get a sense of self-validation from knowing they won something difficult to get. It’s competition.

Say you’re 20, and a MILF you come across is 45. Chances are it’s less socially acceptable for her to get with you. There’s more in your way in terms of natural social obstacles. So, if you proceed to get her despite this, it says something about your tenacity and abilities.

#11 A MILF can have dirty affairs. I think being a parent tends to make you mature sooner, both emotionally and spiritually, whatever your age. This is because of the higher amount responsibility you bear. When a MILF does anything she does it properly. That means a sweeping, mature, lusty affair. By comparison, a ‘baby mother’ is more likely to bring drama and angry ex-lovers who carry guns. This is simply because younger people generally have less life experience than older folk.

By the time you’re in your 30s you’ll have more perspective on some of life’s absurdities. So, a MILF is more likely to have emotional control and able to keep a dirty secret. [Read: 15 dirty ways to have the sexiest rough sex ever]

#12 A MILF understands sex and sexuality. Think of a hot 20-year-old girl… It’s not hard to get the feeling that her body as it is just popped into existence one day and she woke up with an uber-slim waste line and a perky bubble butt. She didn’t go to the gym for it. She might even have a diet of cigarettes and Coca-Cola.

The same thing is likely to be the case with that girl’s sense of her own sexuality. She’s not matured fully yet. She doesn’t yet know what she likes and enjoys, or what she really appreciates in a partner.

A MILF’s sexuality is practiced. It’s deep, subtle, knowing. She truly appreciates sexuality to a level that shocks you. A MILF may dress modestly and show her sexuality in subtle ways. Her sexuality may seem to emanate from her sleekly and stylishly. However, when you make a moment of intense eye contact with a MILF, there’s a knowingness there.

Don’t get me wrong, people can be impulsive and naïve whatever their age, but wisdom and skills generally tend to form with time.

[Read: Cougar dating: 10 rules to dating an older woman]

Hunters like to explore. They know that variety is the spice of life. Understanding what is a MILF and the slightly taboo off-limits temptation can only be addressed in a socially acceptable way through code.

The post What Is A MILF? The Surprising Truths & Thoughts Behind Its Meaning is the original content of LovePanky - Your Guide to Better Love and Relationships.

[the-fauxpas]

six / spice night

uni AU co-written with @ineffably-styles

a story of late nights, unorthodox household plants, and a trip to Vegas that changes everything

“All right then!” Niall clapped his hands, a dangerous spark in his eyes. “Hope you're ready," he grinned and Savannah thought he looked almost sadistic. "Never have I ever..." he trailed off glancing carefully at everyone in the room. His eyes lingered slightly longer on Savannah and Harry before his lips quirked up into a semi-smirk. "Let's start off with an easy one. Never have I ever slept with anyone in this room."

chapter five / story page

“Someone please remind again me why we’re here,” Savannah groaned, reaching over and swiping a drink from Reyna’s bag. She’d come packed with bagged sandwiches and everyone’s favourite drink along with bottles of water in a neatly organised backpack that she’d made Zayn carry.

“I want to be here about as much as you do,” she grumbled in reply, trying to shield her eyes from the glare of the sun. “And I forgot my sunglasses too, can you believe how shit this day is already?”

“Hey, cheer up,” Zayn laughed, also grabbing a drink from the bag. “Look, we just scored a goal.”

“We did?” Reyna squinted at the scoreboard, where sure enough, the point tally had risen by one in favour of UCL. “When did that happen?”

“I’m guessing just before our side of the field started cheering,” Alexa mused sarcastically as she finished off her sandwich, earning herself a swat from Reyna. “Hey! You’re the one who asked.”

“I didn’t appreciate your tone of voice,” she replied as Zayn chuckled.

“I feel like bringing you guys here was a big mistake on Louis’ part,” he said thoughtfully.

“You got that right,” Savannah replied tiredly, eyes trained on the field. The only thing that she could gather was that the side she was supposed to be cheering for were in the blue and that one of their players was in possession of the ball. “Look, something’s happening!”

“That’s Harry,” Zayn explained. “He’s got the number 10 jersey on.”

“That makes him the attacking midfielder, right?” Reyna asked, biting into the sandwich she had in her hand. “What?” she asked, when the others shot her an astonished glance.

“Since when do you know anything about football?” Savannah asked, glancing at the field when the opposing team’s supporters started cheering.

“That was bullshit!” Reyna yelled in return. “Louis didn’t even tackle him! The twat faked it!” she grumbled. “I couldn’t sleep last night,” she explained to her friends.

“So you ended up on Wikipedia,” Alexa supplied.

“Figured I might as well learn something for today,” she shrugged. “You know how I hate not knowing things.”

“Yeah, but we’ve got Zayn to teach us,” Savannah pointed out.

“Uh, yeah,” Zayn scratched the back of his neck. “I mean, I could try and explain things to you, but chances are I’ll be wrong. I told you guys I was never any good. I used to always accidentally scrape the ball with a part of my hand and that’s like an automatic free kick for the other team. Eventually they ended up putting me in goal. They figured I couldn’t cause much damage from there. Too bad I’m like super skinny and have next to no muscle mass, so I was a pretty shit goalkeeper too,” he grinned.

“So when you said you stopped playing, did you actually stop playing or were you dropped from the team?” Reyna teased, making Zayn laugh.

“Nah, I actually quit. They threw me a party and everything, but I always suspected that was more because they were glad to be rid of me than for anything else.”

“Well, it’s -”

“That was a blatant penalty! What the fuck is the ref doing just standing there. There’s a whistle in your mouth for a reason, BLOW IT!” Reyna suddenly yelled.

Savannah looked towards the field, noting the way a group of players had huddled around a fallen body, they moved apart a little and she was able to spot that it was Harry who was wincing a little as someone prodded his ankle.

“Is he all right?” she asked worriedly.

“I think so,” Zayn replied, equally worried. “Yeah,” he sighed in relief, the worry clearing from his face as Harry clambered back onto his feet. “He should be fine.”

“What happened to him?” Alexa asked, settling back into her seat as a free kick was handed to their team.

“Illegal tackle,” Reyna answered, still scowling at the field. “The twat should have been given a yellow card for that.”

“It wasn’t that bad, Rey,” Zayn laughed.

“Harry could have been hurt,” she insisted. “It was dangerous,” she crossed her arms across her chest.

“Got a bit of a crush on him, do you?” Zayn joked, making Reyna scoff.

“According to Louis, Harry’s their best striker. I’ve got money riding on this game and if Harry’s hurt then we’re not very likely to win, are we?” she grumbled, cracking open a bottle of coca cola.

“So you’re more worried about losing the game than an injured friend?” Alexa asked, her tone holding a little bit of judgment behind it.

“Bones heal,” was all Reyna said, before glancing at the disapproving look on her friend’s face. She rolled her eyes. “Fine, if you had to pick between a painting from eons ago that no one’s ever seen before, preserved in pristine condition and Harry not breaking a leg, which would you pick?” she asked.

“The painting,” Alexa replied without blinking.

“Exactly my point.”

“Yeah, but Lex’s choosing a priceless painting, you’re just choosing yourself,” Savannah cut in, the three of them completely tuning out of the match, leaving Zayn the only one who was paying any attention to the field.

Reyna snorted. “Please, if you were given the choice of never owning another plant again or Harry breaking his leg, you’d choose the broken leg,” she said to Sav.

“While that may be true,” Savannah paused. “Yeah, I’ve got no defense. I’d choose the broken leg. Like Rey said, bones heal,” she smiled sheepishly.

“All I got from this conversation,” Zayn mused, interrupting the three of them, “is that you’d all let Harry suffer from a broken leg if it meant getting what you wanted.”

“Wouldn’t you?” Savannah challenged as Reyna crossed her arms and stared him down. Alexa was the only one who seemed to have any sense of shame for her choice.

“Let’s put it this way, if I was given a choice between passing my biochemistry unit and Harry not breaking his leg, I’d pick passing.”

“So basically, we’re all selfish.”

“Yeah,” he grinned. “At least we’re all in this together.”

“Don’t you dare start singing High School Musical,” Alexa glared at Sav and Rey.

“Us? Never,” they said simultaneously, donning an innocent expression.

Lex merely shook her head. “How long until this game is over?” she asked Zayn, leaving Reyna and Sav to grin at one another happily.

“There’s another 15 minutes game time, so maybe around 20 minutes?” he posed it as a question.

“So that’s at least another hour till they’re out of the locker rooms,” she sighed.

“That was a bullshit call!” Reyna yelled suddenly, making her friends jump in response.

“You’ve really gotta warn people before you yell like that, Rey,” Alexa sighed.

“It’s not my fault the referee is shit. I bet he went to a public school.”

“Hey! I went to a public school!” Savannah said indignantly.

“Yeah, but you’re different. You’re going to college, that shitty ref is not,” she grumbled, pulling out a bottle of water.

“Actually,” Zayn squinted down at the field. “I think he’s a professor at King’s.”

“That’s bloody worse! Bias is a real thing people,” Reyna ranted.

“You don’t even like football,” Sav said, exasperated.

“That’s not the point. Do you want us to lose against King’s?” she glared at her friends, who shot her equal looks of disdain at the mention of their rival university. “Exactly, then I think it’s time we cheer because Harry’s just about to score another goal,” she said happily, just as the crowd around them erupted into applause.

-

“So, what did you guys think of the match?” Louis asked, bounding up to them as he, Harry and Niall finally walked out of the locker rooms.

“It was good,” Reyna shrugged. “Glad we won.”

“How’s your ankle, Harry?” Zayn asked, before Louis could say anything in response to Reyna’s less than enthusiastic response.

“Just a little banged up,” he shrugged.

“It’ll match his face soon,” Niall grinned gleefully.

“Piss off,” Savannah glared at him, her cheeks pinking up as everyone glanced at Harry’s bruised face.

“So, where to now?” Alexa asked, while Harry glared at them all, seeming thoroughly unimpressed.

“I need to head home to shower,” he muttered. “Dunno about the rest of you.”

“You didn’t shower in there?” Reyna gestured roughly behind them as they all began to walk towards their respective vehicles.

“God no,” Harry screwed up his face in disgust. “It’s a mess in there.”

“Also, last time he showered, his clothes were stolen,” Louis pointed out helpfully.

“Don’t remind me,” Harry scowled. “Bloody King’s students. I don’t understand why anybody would go to that rotten college in the first place.”

“Rotten,” Louis snorted. “My nan uses that phrase when she’s talking about teenagers. You know what I predict for you, Haz?” he held his hand up to his head the way Sav had seen psychics do at carnivals. “I predict that you’re going to be an angry old man yelling at children to get off his lawn.”

“Shove off,” Harry grumbled. “I love kids.”

Alexa sighed loudly, garnering everyone’s attention. “Is anyone actually going to come up with something to do because if not, I’ve got a couple of tv shows calling my name on Netflix.”

“We’re going down to the bar to celebrate,” Niall said quickly.

“Now?” Reyna put her hands on her waist. “It’s barely mid-afternoon. I’m not going to the bar at this time like some sort of alcoholic. Give me a week or two more of classes and then you’ll find me day drinking,” she joked.

“We can meet at Zayn and Niall’s?” Louis mused. “For pre-drinks.”

“Why at our place?” Zayn frowned, thinking back to last week’s party.

“Because, it’s closest to the bar,” Harry backed Louis up.

“So it’s decided, then. We’ll meet there around five-ish?” Savannah waited until everyone was in agreement, albeit grudgingly in Zayn’s case, before she turned to face Louis. “We carpooled with Zayn, think you could drop us off home since you’re heading that way anyway?” she asked.

“Yeah, sure,” he smiled, twirling his keys around his fingers before unlocking the door and allowing them all to climb in. Savannah swore mentally as Louis cut Harry off as they made their way out of the parking lot and watched as Harry flipped them the bird in return.

It was going to be a long drive.

-

“Never have I ever…” Niall began, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“Fuck no,” Louis spoke up, taking a swig from his beer bottle. The group had all reconciled back and Zayn and Niall’s for a couple of drinks before heading out to a bar down the road. Where they had managed to find the energy after a football match, Savannah didn’t know, but she kind of wished she had that come exam time.

“Why not? It’ll be fun,” Niall argued, watching the random cricket match that was playing in the background.

“I agree with Niall… it’s better that watching that rubbish that he and Louis have got playing,” Reyna spoke up, shooting daggers at Louis who was not listening to a word that she was saying, his eyes trained on the TV. “Besides, it’ll let us all get to know one another on a more personal level,” she grinned.

“Right, cos knowing that Niall wet the bed until he was twelve is really something we can all bond over,” Harry rolled his eyes sarcastically.

“Oi!” Niall yelled. “You said you wouldn’t tell anyone!” he grumbled, before switching the subject back to the game - much to Sav’s disappointment. “So, are we playing then?”

Savannah glanced around anxiously at everyone else. If there was a drinking game that she hated, it was Never Have I Ever.

"I'm in," Harry spoke up, distracting Savannah from her thoughts. She turned her head sharply towards him, her eyes wide. She couldn't believe he'd just agreed to a game Niall had suggested - she couldn’t believe Reyna had either. From the short amount of time that she’d known Niall, she’d pretty much gathered that he and Louis’ suggestions often went ignored...except for tonight, apparently.   

"I’m in too, I guess," Zayn shrugged, rolling his eyes. "Not like I had anything important to do before you lot hijacked my flat," he said sarcastically.

"Fuck off, Z," Niall scoffed. "You’ve been sat in your room playing with paint since we got back."

"I wasn't playing with paint, you tosser," Zayn crossed his arms. "I was working on an art project."

"Really?" Alexa turned towards Zayn, her attention piqued at the mention of art. 

"Not now Lex," Reyna groaned from where she was frowning over at Louis, her eyes flicking from him to the television remote in contemplation. “We know how much you love art, but once you start you’re pretty much dead to the world for the next few hours.”

"I can show you some of my stuff later if you'd like,” he said, glancing at Lex. “They're not very good though," he warned as an afterthought.

"I'm sure that's not-"

"Excuse me," Alexa was cut off by Niall, and Savannah felt her shoulders slump. "You two in?" Niall asked Savannah and Alexa.

“Yeah, ok,” Alexa nodded, making Savannah sigh when everyone turned to stare at her. “Don’t have much of a choice now, do I?” she said bitterly.

“Louis,” Reyna tapped him on the shoulder. “Turn that bloody game off and join in with the rest of us.”

“It’s England versus Australia, Rey,” Louis said, barely glancing away from the television screen.

“All the more reason to turn it off, England sucks,” she snorted. “Cricket is worse than football, if you ask me,” she retorted, trying to grab the remote that Louis held away from her reach.

“You are the most uncultured person I know,” Niall muttered, re-entering the lounge with a tray filled with various alcoholic drinks - Savannah hadn’t even realised he’d left the room.

Louis turned away from the screen long enough to roll his eyes. “The only sport you’d willingly watch is the tennis,” he raised a brow, daring Reyna to argue with him. When no argument came, he continued, “And personally, I’d rather stick pins in my eyes than sit through another year of the Wimbledon.”

“You can always check the score later, mate,” Zayn said from where he’d taken a seat beside Alexa. They’d all rearranged themselves into a small circle in the middle of Niall and Zayn’s lounge room after Harry had moved the small coffee table to rest against a wall.

“Bloody hell,” Louis huffed. “Fine. But I’m only agreeing because it’s looking like England is getting their arse handed to them.”

“As usual,” Reyna commented, only to be ignored.

“So you’re playing?” Savannah asked miserably.

“That’s what it looks like,” he grumbled, grabbing a beer from Niall. “Budge up,” he ordered, before dropping onto the floor between Savannah and Reyna.

“Who’s going first?” Alexa asked.

“We’ll go in a circle,” Niall grinned, pouring everyone a shot and handing them out evenly.

“Shots? Really, Niall?” Savannah rolled her eyes, taking her glass from Louis. “You’re going to poison us all.”

Niall let out a loud laugh and Savannah found herself wondering if he’d maybe snuck in a few drinks beforehand. “That’s just to loosen us up, Sav,” he explained. “We’re not going to take shots after every question. That’s what the beers are for. Bottoms up,” he said cheerily before knocking back his glass. “I’ll go first then Zayn, Alexa and so forth,” he waved his hands dismissively, eager for the game to begin.

Savannah sent out a silent prayer before following suit, making a face as the alcohol burned its way down her throat. She considered asking for another shot, but decided that getting piss drunk probably wasn’t in her best interests tonight.

“All right then!” Niall clapped his hands, a dangerous spark in his eyes. “Hope you're ready," he grinned and Savannah thought he looked almost sadistic. "Never have I ever..." he trailed off glancing carefully at everyone in the room. His eyes lingered slightly longer on Savannah and Harry before his lips quirked up into a semi-smirk. "Let's start off with an easy one. Never have I ever slept with anyone in this room."

"Wait," Louis interrupted loudly. "Do you mean shagged or actually slept? Because if it's just slept then I've slept with most of you at least once. Sometimes twice, if you're lucky," he stated slyly.

"Shagged," Niall said immediately. "I definitely meant shagged." And Savannah was sure he had momentarily glanced over at her as he said so.

She bit her lip to hide a groan as she took a swig from her beer, refusing to look over at Harry. She knew, theoretically that everyone probably already knew about the two of them but confirming it during a drinking game just seemed a lot more confronting to her; as if she was sealing the final nail on her own coffin, dramatic as that may be. So when she took a swig of her beer, she might have taken a little bit more than was necessary.

Zayn was next and she felt like she’d be a lot safer with anything he could throw at her. “Never have I ever,” he paused in the contemplative manner that she thought only he could pull off, “gotten into a physical altercation,” he shrugged.

“Fight. You mean you’ve never had a fight,” Louis rolled his eyes. “There’s no need to be so bloody formal while we’re playing a fucking drinking game.”

“Oh, piss off,” Zayn retorted. “Fight, then,” he rolled his eyes.

Then came Alexa’s turn. Savannah assumed that most people would feel comforted knowing that it was their best friends’ turn, feel safe even. But Sav found herself breaking out into a nervous sweat because while they were her best friends, they were also the ones who knew the most about her - which meant they could, with a single sentence, essentially ruin her life.

“Never have I ever pretended to regret sleeping with someone,” Alexa said quickly and Savannah breathed out a breath of air as not only she but Louis, Niall and Harry also took sips of their beer.

It was her turn next and she was determined to make Niall drink again - not that it seemed like he cared. She rather thought he was hoping he’d get to drink himself. “Never have I ever failed to make someone orgasm,” she smirked, raising a challenging brow as all four boys glanced down and away from everyone else. She was delighted when they all brought their drinks up to their mouth and took long drawn out gulps. She was even more giddy when she spotted the significant pinkness she could spot on Niall’s usually pale cheeks.

Louis cleared his throat. “Right,” he said awkwardly. “My turn. Uh, never have I ever made friends with a one night stand.”

As expected she and Harry took sips, Reyna doing the same and collectively surprising everyone in the room.

“What?” she shrugged. “He was a nice lad.”

“Who was it?” Lex asked curiously.

“Someone from uni,” she waved her off, returning back to the game. “My turn,” she said cheerfully. “Never have I ever had to ask someone if we’d shagged because I wasn’t sure.”

Savannah, Zayn, Niall and Harry all took a sip, sparking a discussion as to with whom and when and how it had happened. The only one who had been willing to disclose any of the details was Niall who launched into a detailed story about a girl he’d met named Olivia.

Harry and Savannah shared a mutual grimace - whether at Niall’s story or the reminder that neither of them had been sure what had happened the first night they’d met, she wasn’t sure - before turning away and back to Niall who was still in the middle of a story. She sighed, tracing the neck of her beer as she waited for Niall to finish his tale complete with hand gestures and sound effects that no one really wanted to see or hear.   

“It’s my turn, innit?” Harry spoke once he was done in that deep, slow drawl he had. “Never have I ever,” he paused for a second, as if choosing his words carefully, “lobbed a textbook at an innocent person’s face.”

He turned to grin at Savannah, his face expectant.

“I hate you,” she deadpanned before taking a long gulp of her beer, glaring daggers at a smug Harry. “Can’t leave that in the past, can you?”

Harry scoffed, pointing a finger to the bruise that was still quite prominent on his cheekbone. “I’ve been walking around looking like a tosser who’s been socked in the face. I’m never letting you hear the end of it.”

“It does look pretty bad, mate,” Louis piped up unhelpfully. Harry’s attempts at telling the story to Louis himself had completely failed - Zayn had already texted him earlier about what happened - which meant that Louis had given him shit for getting hit in the first place, and also for not telling him about it as soon as it had happened.

“Thank you so much, Lou. Thanks for your input. It was appreciated greatly,” Harry said sarcastically.

“Alright, this game looks like it’s pretty much over,” Alexa interrupted them. “Are we ready to head off?” she asked, checking her phone for the time. “It’s almost half eight and we want to get good seats.”

Everyone started to get up and gather their things. Savannah helped Reyna pack away the empty bottles of beer, and lingered behind the group while everyone filed out of the door. Harry was still by the kitchen counter, shrugging on his jacket.

“I really am sorry about this, you know,” she said, waving her hand in the general direction of his cheek.

“I know,” he replied. “It’s ok, really. I’m just taking the piss,” he reassured her upon seeing the worried look on her face. “Come on, we should go. Don’t wanna be late.”

-

The atmosphere around the bar was buzzing by the time they all got there and Louis and Reyna immediately disconnected from the group to find them a table large enough to fit them all. In the end, they managed to all squeeze in a booth towards the front of the room, right in front of the mic stand after Reyna had done some negotiating with the previous two occupants. 

“Look, we’ve got a perfect view of the stage,” Louis commented, setting a handful of beers down on the table and seating himself beside Harry. 

“They are pretty good seats,” Harry agreed. “We got lucky.” 

“Yeah,” Savannah snorted. “Lucky is one way to put it. What’d you promise them, Rey?” 

“Nothing,” Reyna shrugged. “I asked nicely if they could pretty please move so we could sit.” 

“Right,” Lex dragged out the word, “‘cause that always works, doesn’t it?” 

“So I might have bribed them a little,” Reyna shrugged. 

“With what?” Savannah asked, sipping on a beer while she watched the guy up on the stage try his hand at some standup comedy. 

“Told him Louis would buy them a bottle of whatever they want,” Reyna shrugged, following Savannah’s line of sight. “This guy sucks.” 

“You did what?” Louis demanded. “And yeah, he does suck. Even I could do better than him.” 

“I told them to put it on your tab,” she grinned. “Not like you can’t afford it.”

“Can we go back to the part where Louis claimed he could do better than the lad on stage?” Harry cut in. 

“Yeah,” Zayn nodded. 

“I’d pay to see that happen. And for the inevitable show that would follow from the crowd’s reaction.” 

“Oh please,” Louis scoffed, “I’ll be the best act up there tonight.” 

“Oh no-” Alexa muttered under her breath, predicting what was going to happen before it did. 

“Then prove it,” Harry said simply, challenging Louis with a smirk while the others watched on gleefully. 

“You’ll have to do better than that, Styles,” he huffed in reply. “I’m not doing this without some form of payment.” 

“500 quid.” 

“Deal.” In a flash, Louis got up and disappeared amongst the tables, no doubt on his way to find the sign up sheet. 

Reyna sighed. “Look what you’ve done!” she glared at Harry and Zayn accusingly. “You’re paying the tab if he embarrasses us all.” 

“I’m out, I’m already five hundred quid down because of this mess,” Harry replied, looking stubborn. 

“Like that was anyone’s fault but yours,” she replied, rolling her eyes before looking over at Zayn. 

He sighed, “Fine.” 

“Is that how you rich kids play?” Savannah spoke up sarcastically. “Bet away the amount of a person’s life savings?” 

Everyone at the table looked away uncomfortably, the silence broken by a loud screeching coming from the microphone as the owner of the particular bar got up to introduce the next act. 

“Wasn’t that just incredible?” he yelled encouragingly to the crowd only to be met with a light splatter of polite applause. “Now our next act is someone a bit more local to us. Enlightening us with his favourite one-liners and punny jokes, we have Louis Tomlinson!”

Louis’ entrance on stage was met with loud, raucous applause - which, Savannah thought, might have been due more to the fact that he frequented the bar every Thursday night rather than his success as a local comedian.

“Good evening, fellow comrades. I hope you’ve been enjoying the acts so far,” Louis began into the microphone. He waited for the cheering to die down before continuing, “Now I’m going to start off the night by asking you all to honour one of our own, Mr Harry Styles.”

“Oh no,” Harry muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing as Louis smirked in his direction from the stage.

"Harry's been having, well, let's just say he's been having some 'performance' issues lately. So I just wanted to reassure him - publicly - that it’s completely normal, and yes, there are medications out there to help with that. A moment of silence for Harry Styles, everyone."

“I’m going to kill him,” Harry muttered, loud enough for everyone to hear.

“Well, can you do it after he’s done?” Reyna requested, casually sipping at her drink with one hand and holding her phone up with the other. “I’d really like to get this all on video in case he’s shit.”

“I dunno, he seems to be doing pretty well up there,” Savannah shrugged, as the crowd started laughing at something else Louis had said.  

“For now,” she shrugged, looking quite confident that he’d mess up soon.

“So anyway,” Louis was saying, “it’s quite hard thinking of a funny joke when I’ve got the friends I’ve got. You know, since they’re the biggest jokes anyone will ever come across.”

“I’ll help you kill him,” Reyna leaned over to whisper to Harry.

“No, no, but really,” Louis spoke into the microphone, trying to quieten the crowd’s laughter a little. “My friends can be funny sometimes. Once, when I was quite drunk, I texted Reyna - she’s the one with the phone, guys and gals. I told her that she was my moon and stars and she texted me back - and this is a direct quote - she said, ‘thank you. You’re my pluto’, then she linked me to an article about how pluto no longer existed.”

“I remember that,” Savannah snorted.

“Yeah,” Alexa agreed. “Reyna was quite proud of it. She showed it to everyone who’d listen.”

“Louis did the same thing,” Zayn leaned back, draping his arm over the booth behind Alexa.

Savannah smirked into her drink, turning her attention back to the stage. “Look’s like Louis’ done.”

“Thank god,” Harry snorted. “If I had to listen to another one of his jokes, I was walking out of here.”

“Then you wouldn’t be able to kill him,” Zayn said casually.

“Reyna would do it for me.”

“True,” she agreed. “I probably would have.”

“What would you have done?” Louis asked, sliding back into the booth.

“They’re planning your murder,” Alexa answered him.

“I can’t believe that was actually funny,” Savannah piped up, completely taken by surprise and ignoring the current conversation. “Like, people were legitimately laughing at you.”

“I like to think they were more laughing with me,” Louis shrugged.

“They’ve got shitty taste then, don’t they?” Harry grumbled in reply, still slightly annoyed that he was the first one to be roasted out of the group.

“Aw, don’t worry Harrykins,” Reyna started, cooing at him as he glared at her. “Erectile dysfunction affects about-”

“-please stop talking,” he groaned, running his hands through his hair as he sunk deeper into his seat.

“Alright, alright,” Alexa tried to calm the group, always the voice of reason. “Let’s all just agree that Louis surprised us all and that he did something that none of us would be willing to do.”

“Pft, I could do that,” Harry said stubbornly.

“Really?” Zayn perked up, leaning forward interestedly.

“No, not this again,” Savannah cut in. “We’re going home now,” she told them all decidedly.  

“We’ll talk about this later,” Zayn told him as they all made their way out of the bar, leaving Louis behind to pick up their tab.

“We’re not going to be talking about anything,” he said, charging in front of the group as they made their way down the street back towards Zayn and Niall’s.

“What’s the plan now?” Louis asked, catching up to them as he shoved his wallet back into his pocket.

“We’re going home,” Reyna said, gesturing to herself, Sav and Lex.

“That’s no fun,” he grumbled in reply. “You guys are grandmas.”

“Come again?” she challenged in reply, the cogs turning in her head as she prepared for a fight. Savannah quickly pulled out her phone and ordered an Uber, just in case they needed to make a quick escape.

“Let’s just pretend I never said anything,” Louis said quickly while Harry snickered at his response.

“That’s what I thought,” Reyna replied smugly. Savannah waved to the car pulling to the kerb, before walking up and greeting the driver.

“Let’s go,” she said quickly, opening the door and moving to get in.

“Hold up,” Louis called, halting her mid-movement. “You guys are coming to the party next weekend, right?”

“What party?” Alexa questioned curiously.

“The one at Harry’s,” he replied matter-of-factly, shrugging slightly.

“What? What party? I didn’t plan a party,” Harry piped up quickly, eyes darting from his phone to Louis.

“I did,” Louis said casually, hands in his pockets as he turned towards the street and headed in the opposite direction.

“Wait, Louis-”

“We should go,” Savannah said quickly, climbing into the car. “Good luck,” she said to Zayn, gesturing towards the image of Harry scrambling after Louis while the latter seemed to not notice him.

“Thanks,” he replied sarcastically, waving as he jogged after the pair.

AN: hi guys, sorry again for the one-day lateness but it’s up! let me know what you think xx