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etheraltides · 17 days ago

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BITTER SWEET ᥫ᭡࿔

Pairing: Rafe Cameron x kook!thornton!Reader

Summarize: Rafe Cameron, a rising name in the business world, desperately needs a date for the wedding of the year. With a major investment deal on the line and his image at stake, he finds himself reluctantly turning to the last person he ever expected for help: Topper’s little sister, a girl he’s bickered with since he could remember.

Warning(s): cursing, mention of grief, drugs.

A/N: I hope y’all like long chapter ‘cause your girl seriously got carried away with building things between them. Feedback is always heart warming <3!

˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⊹ ࣪ ౨ৎ˚₊ Chapter three: Can we call it truce? ˖ ᡣ𐭩 ⊹ ࣪ ౨ৎ˚₊

The hum of the engines filled the cabin, lulling most of the passengers in the business class into a calming state. Most, that is, except for you. You sat beside Rafe, trying to focus on the book at hand, your foot tapping a frustrated rhythm on the floor as he sprawled beside you enough to invade your space, oozing an insufferable amount of calm. Even with the extra room, it felt cramped - his very presence seemed to fill the air in the whole plane. His breathing was annoying you.

Rafe, meanwhile, stretched out his legs, his arm draped across the armrest to the point his fingers would brush your knees if you moved just a tide bi, his gaze lazily drifting away from his phone towards you. "You look like you're about to combust or something." He murmured, his voice dripping with amusement. "What? Didn't that douchebag do a good job with you?"

You gritted your teeth, resisting the urge to smack him across the face with your self-improving book, slamming its cover closed. The last thing you wanted was to have everyone looking at you as you shared your lovely words with Rafe. "Why the fuck are you so obsessed with him? Sounds like someone isn't getting laid..." You gave a cynical smile, thriving as you noticed the smirk dropping from his lips instantly. Now, that'd always be priceless. "I wouldn't be, if you didn't act like you owned half of my seat as well."

"C'mon, don't be dramatic." He stretched out further, nudging your eyeglasses as you tried to dodge your head but of course, his long arms would reach you. His smirk widened when you shot him a warning glare, almost as if daring you to do something. "You're by choice, remember? I can always tell Topper about that broken touron... Plus, I paid for both seats so I technically can be as comfortable as I wish."

"Barely." Your eyes narrowed, fingers clenching around the book. "One wrong move and I'm asking for a different seat."

Rafe raised an eyebrow, his smirk deepening enough to grace you with a dimple. A ridiculous dimple that'd be adorable in anyone but not on him. "Go ahead. Maybe you'll find a seat in coach where you belong."

That was it. Without thinking, you raised your hand, drawing the attention of a flight attendant passing by as you smacked your book against his chest with the other, a small satisfied smirk on your lips as you heard him groan.

"Yes, miss? Can I help you?" The attendant's polite smile faltered as she glanced between you, clearly sensing the simmering tension. Even a senseless person could tell. Anyone but you two.

"Yes, actually." You leaned forward, using your best sweet voice but not even it couldn't hide the clipped tone completely. "Could I switch seats? I'm afraid I'd be more comfortable elsewhere."

The attendant looked at you, then at Rafe, and back again, her expression sympathetic but warry. "I'm sorry, miss, but we're at full capacity here in business class. I could check for a seat in coach, but..." She trailed off, her eyes shifting to Rafe's amused expression as he tried to cover his laugh with a cough.

The tension in your shoulders tightened, your jaw clenched as you forced a smile. That’s what you get for trying to be a good human being. “Never mind, I'll manage.. Thank you."

You could feel his gaze lingering on you. amusement sparkling in his eyes as he leaned back, satisfied. "Looks like you're stuck with me." He murmured, his finger hooking on top of you glasses again only to push them lower on the bridge of your nose before you slapped his hand away.

You ignored him, staring ahead and steeling yourself. Yet as the minutes passed by, his presence beside you felt unbearable. You could feel his gaze every now and then, could sense his satisfaction in your discomfort. When the plane finally touched down, you were nearly ready to explode and take the first flight back - but then you remembered your part of the bargain and something strange tugging at your chest.

Hours later, in the quietness of your hotel room, you inspected your dress in the mirror, mind turning over the insanity of this arrangement. Why had you agreed to this? You hardly owed him anything, especially not this. And yet, here you were, preparing yourself to play a role in his life that the mere thought of the idea made you want to throw up. Maybe, deep down, you'd wanted to help, wanted to see him succeed just this once - he had recently lost Ward so... Maybe you could cut him some slack just this once. But as you took one last glance in the mirror, your couldn't shake the creeping doubt that this was all a huge mistake.

By the time you arrived at the beachside reception, you were determined to remain calm, to put up with Rafe and all of this madness for one weekend. You'd view it as one of your college projects. A small leaf of kindness to a boy who lost his father. "I'm doing these for Topper." You thought to yourself. It'd be one less thing for Topper to deal with.

The sun was setting over the ocean, casting a warm golden glow over the guests. It was exquisite honestly. Small tables dotted the pavemented area, surrounded by low, flickering lanterns and decorated with delicate pinkish flower arrangements. The sound of waves mingled with the soft music being played by the band as people chatted and laughed. You inhaled deeply, letting the salty ocean breeze wash over you. It felt good to be away from home. You loved Outer Banks but the way people were always paying attention and gossiping about the smallest steps of each other made you feel like someone had a hand on your throat, cutting your air from time to time. Here, despite a few familiar faces, you didn't have to be Thorton's perfect girl nor live under your mother's pressuring expectations 24/7. Even if you were here to play a fake part, it felt a bit more freeing than being your family's fake part at home. You smoothed down your dress. You could do it and you would enjoy this weekend.

Rafe held back a smile as he shook the man's hand, his heart pumping with adrenaline and pride as South Carolina's biggest real estate agent said he'd love to see some of the properties Ward had left for Rafe back in Charleston either to sell or rent. Rafe needed money after his deception with the Golden Cruise and wouldn't use most of the properties now in his name - that'd be some easy way to make money. The man excused himself with a squeeze on Rafe's shoulder and for what felt like hours, he finally had a moment to breathe.

His gaze shifted through the crowd, looking for a specific familiar face he hadn't seen since they arrived at the hotel - part of him was afraid you'd turn your back and be on your way to Outer Banks now without a word. You hadn't come outside your room when he knocked earlier, though he hadn't exactly waited around to see if you'd answer. He counted to thirty before sending you a text with the location and hour. But now, with the deep hues of the setting sun casting an amber glow across the venue, he spotted you. Faster than he'd like to admit.

You stood on the edge of the terrace, deep in conversation with a small group. The soft fabric of your dress catching the light and floating with each of your movements and the kisses of wind. Rafe's jaw tightened as he took you in, the vibrant color of your dress constrasting with your sunkissed skin and the effortless confidence setting you apart from the crowd. Your lips curled into an easy, practiced smile as you listened to an elder woman, but your eyes held a spark he'd seen many times before - sharp, observant.

A guest brushed past him, and he blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. Shaking his head slightly, he turned and made his way over the bar, feeling the strain of your reality settle in his muscles. You'd worn him thin on the flight, the words you exchange a mix of cutting remarks and barely veiled insults. And yet, here he was, his gaze drawn back to you as if on a string.

While he waited for the drinks, he glanced your way again, just as you glanced toward him - though you looked away just as quickly, a subtle arch of your brow signaling that your attention was far from amused. Rafe's lip twisted into a smirk, though he couldn't shake the strange irritation knotting in his chest.

When he finally turned back with the drinks in his hands, you were nowhere near where he'd last seen you. Annoyed, he scanned the crowd, his brows drawing together. He had texted you to don't be all over the place by yourself, not wanting to risk you doing something wrong that would fall on him. Then, across the terrace, he saw you.

You finally managed to take a breath from your grandma's acquaintances, the tension ebbing away from your shoulders until you felt a hand on your lower back, guiding you forward. You could know it was him before you even looked. That scent of warm spices with a touch of amber. His touch was infuriating to raise a few bumps on your skin. His breath brushed your ear as he leaned closed. "Try not to get too lost in the view, sweetheart." He murmured. "We're her for business, remember? I need you around."

You bristled, shifting away from his touch. "I'm perfectly aware, Cameron. You think I'm talking to them because I'm having the time of my life?"

He laughed under his breath, the sound grating before he sipped on his whiskey. "Relax. You're wound so tight, it's a miracle you haven't cracked yet."

You gritted your teeth, sending him a glare. The comment hit a bit deeper than he probably meant to. "Maybe I wouldn't be if I weren't stuck here with you."

His eyes glinted with something unreadable. "Right. Because I'm such a nightmare." He gave you a once-over, an annoying cockish smirk curling at the edge of his mouth that could barely go unnoticed. Barely. "That's rich coming from the one rolling around with low-life tourists... Just don't embarrass me, alright?"

Your mouth fell open, anger flaring as you held the urge to roll back your eyes. Shit, he would never let you hear the end of it, wouldn't he? Well, you had tried to be civil but he wasn't really helping so two could dance. "Embarrass you? I think I should be the one saying that giving your... history."

"Let's hope so." He said, shrugging nonchalantly but you could notice his jaw clenching, the way he quickly brought the glass to his lips again. You had got him. "This is my reputation on the line, after all."

Of course, he'd give the last word. You felt the urge to shove him, to break through that self-assured arrogance. But instead, you squared your shoulders, grabbed the glass from his hand, and turned your back on him, weaving through the crowd on your own. The farther you were from him, the better. How dared he? Embarrass him? You? He should be thanking you and making sure you were content enough to don't simply abandon him, and not acting like an asshole. "But that was Rafe Cameron." You reminded yourself.

As the evening wore on, you found yourself talking to a few guests, your confidence growing with each conversation and familiar faces. This was more your territory than Rafe's. Some of them you knew because of your grandfather, the others because of your mother, having seen them in the events your family hosted throughout the year - coming from an influential family had its perks as much as it had its downs - but, of course, you wouldn't tell Rafe yet. Then, you notice someone.

Mr. Rossi’s eyes crinkled at the corners as he spotted you. He made his way through the small crowd, his gray hair neatly combed back, a hint of cologne trailing behind him.

“Ah, you have grown so much since we last saw you,” he said, his voice rich with genuine affection. He extended a hand, firm yet welcoming. His grin revealed lines carved by years of smiles.

Before you could respond, Mrs. Rossi appeared at your side, her silk dress rustling softly as she leaned in, pressing a light kiss to your cheek. “Look at you,” she whispered with a warmth that made you feel instantly at home.

You took his hand, giving it a confident shake, your eyes sparkling. “Mr. and Mrs. Rossi, it’s so good to see you both!” A touch of nostalgia filled your voice, mingling with excitement. “And not just that,” you added, a playful lilt coloring your words as you shifted your weight, leaning slightly forward. “I’ll be taking my grandfather’s place in the upcoming tennis match this year, so... you two better come prepared.” You finished with a wink, your smile broadening as a flush of warmth crept into your cheeks.

Mr. Rossi let out a hearty chuckle, the sound resonating in his chest. He squeezed your hand before releasing it, exchanging a glance with his wife, who raised her eyebrows in mock alarm. “So, you’re the partner he’s been bragging about all lately.” He said, his tone laced with pride. He leaned slightly closer, his eyes narrowing playfully. “I guess we better watch out, love” He said to Mrs. Rossi, who nodded with a conspiratorial smile, the corners of her eyes crinkling with mirth.

“Oh, we’ll be there.” She said, a teasing note in her voice as she crossed her arms gently. “But don’t think for a moment we’ll go easy on you.”

The three of you laughed, the sound weaving seamlessly into the lively background, quickly launching into conversation. You remembered Rafe detailing every single thing about the business partner he wanted to attract but you'd never linked that with Mr. Rossi, an old good friend of your grandpa. You wanted to laugh at the coincide of it all, ignoring the small part of you that worried he'd bring this eventually with your family around.

It wasn’t long before Rafe appeared, a new drink in hand, eyes narrowed as he assessed the scene before him. His gaze swept over Mr. and Mrs. Rossi, then settled on you, a flash of frustration momentarily darkening his features. He took a slow sip, composing himself before approaching with a casual stride, masking the tightness in his chest.

You felt the subtle shift in the room before you saw him, the energy becoming taut. A mischievous smile played on your lips as you glanced his way, catching his eye. Without hesitation, you reached out, your fingers curling around his forearm to draw him closer. “I imagine you’ve already met my boyfriend.” You said, the word ‘boyfriend’ laced with a playful edge that danced just shy of sarcasm.

Rafe’s expression softened as he took his cue, slipping seamlessly into the role. “Not formally.” He said smoothly, a spark of amusement flickering in his eyes as he glanced at Mr. and Mrs. Rossi. “Rafe Cameron.” He added, offering his hand with a practiced charm that belied the tension beneath the surface.

Anne’s eyes lit up as she clasped Rafe’s hand, her touch light but approving. “You’ve got yourself a keeper, Mr. Cameron.” She said, her smile sincere as she exchanged a knowing look with her husband.

Rafe chuckled, a low, rumbling sound. “I try my best,” he replied, casting a sidelong glance at you. “Though she makes it an interesting challenge.”

Mr. Rossi nodded, a hint of businesslike interest crossing his face. “Speaking of challenges, I hear your office has been making waves recently.” he said. “I’ll make sure to pay a visit while I’m in town for the match.”

Rafe’s eyes flickered with a moment of surprise as he processed the unexpected connection but remained composed. “We’d be glad to have you,” he said, keeping his voice steady.

You squeezed Rafe’s arm gently, catching the subtle tension in his jaw. “Looks like we’ll be keeping busy.” You said lightly, breaking the moment with a smile.

Mr. Rossi chuckled, the sound deep and warm. “Indeed. I look forward to seeing just how much you both can juggle.”

The laughter that followed softened the air, weaving seamlessly into the lively atmosphere. Then Mr. Rossi checked his watch, saying it was time for his speech, joking about how he didn't want his daughter going bradzilla for his small delay.

You bit back a laugh, turning to Rafe. "You don't look happy, boyfriend." The word rolled off your tongue sweetly, a pout on your lips as a hint of mockery shone in your eyes.

Rafe's jaw clenched, and he took a slow sip of his drink, his gaze unwavering as he watched you. "You're awfully smug for someone who almost ended up in coach."

"Oh, come on." You retorted, leaning a little closer, your fingers opening the first two buttons of his shirt as you adjusted the collar, feeling a rush of confidence. God, it felt great to have the upper hand on him. "You needed me here tonight more than you imagined, huh? I'm the reason Rossi even bothered with you for more than a call from his secretary and an invitation to this."

He raised an eyebrow, his eyes looking down at your manicured nails on his shirt before he met your eyes, amusement flickering in them but it was laced with something darker. "Don't flatter yourself too much. He had already invited me here to discuss business. You're just playing your part to make me look more... stable."

"Sure... I'd hate for you to realize he'd avoid you in this crowd but yeah, suit yourself. Maybe I should get a cut of whatever deal you're hoping to land here."

Rafe smirked, leaning close enough that his breath ghosted over your cheekYou should push him away. Nope, couples don't push each other away. Playing your part. "Maybe you're enjoying this a little too much. I hate to say it but you look like you're having fun, princess."

Heat prickled at your cheeks as you realized his nearness, but you refused to back down. Couples don't push each other away and as he said, you were here to play your part. "Maybe I am. Pretending I'd choose you willingly has been quite the challenge though. I deserve a medal for this, maybe a Nobel."

Rafe chuckled, low and dark, your hand felt the vibrations on his chest as you tried to recall when you had rested them there. "Keep telling yourself that.”

You found yourself mingling with Mr.Rossi's daughter and her friends as the evening unfolded, laughing over shared stories about her soon-to-be-husband and single days while you sipped on champagne, letting yourself unwind in their easy company.

Across the terrace, Rafe nursed another glass of whiskey, his gaze wandering lazily around the crowd as he tried to pretend to be listening to whatever the man has been telling him for the past few minutes. He caught sight of a few men gathered nearby, theirs heads turned in one direction as they didn't bother to keep their comments to a low tone. His curiosity piqued - anything that wasn't the man talking the details about his basic sanitation network company. Rafe followed their line of sight and he froze, his glass top mid way to his lips.

There you were, surrounded by a group of women, your laughter light and genuine as you gestured with your hands excitedly, oblivious to the attention around you. You looked radiant, a far cry from the guarded, defensive person he was used to sparring with.

For a moment, Rafe felt his breath hitch. You looked... Happy, and there was something about that image, about you, that made his chest tighten in an unfamiliar way. He couldn't tear his gaze away, struck by how beautiful you looked when you weren't rolling your eyes or trying to push him away. Honestly, he couldn't even remember seeing you this carefree... Ever.

Then he caught the voice of one of the men beside him, a dark-haired guy leaning over to murmur to his friend. "Shit, man... I may shoot my shot. It doesn't look like she's with anyone here."

Rafe felt an unexpected, sharp pang on his stomach that quickly irradiated through him, and before he knew it, he was turning to the man with an arrogant smirk, an unmistakble edge to his voice. "She's taken, actually. My girl."

The man raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise and dissapointment crossing his face that had Rafe's smirk widening. "Really? Lucky bastard, hm. If I were you, I'd be as close as possible to her." He gave Rafe an amused nod, his eyes briefly running over your figure one last time before he turned back to his friends.

Rafe felt his grip on the glass tightneing, his knuckles turning white as he clenched his jaw. He was here for business. To show a clean image - he reminded himself.

As he dawned the rest of the liquor, the words that just spilled from his mouth echoing in his mind. My girl. His jaw clenched as the licour hit his throat, the reality of what he'd implied without thinking twice settling heavily on him. He wasn't jealous. Of course not. This was all just a part of the act, part of maintaining the appearances. He was just making sure they didn't ger the wrong idea - that was all. Definitely.

But as he looked towards you, he couldn't deny the surge frustration that rose in him when he saw another guy approach your group, a bright smile on his face as he joined in the conversation. He watched as you smiled back, looking genuinely delighted, your laugh seemed to pull everyone around you into your orbit. His fingers tightened around his glass again, and he felt a strange mix of pride and irritation twist inside him.

After a few minutes of watching, he couldn't take it anymore.

"Excuse me." He patted the sanitation guy on the shoulder without sparring him a glance nor bothering for a reply. He strode over, inserting himself into the circle with a charming smile, though his gaze was focused entirely on you. The other women greeted him with polite nods, but you turned with an arched brow when you felt his arm circling your waist, pulling you closer to the side of his body as if he had every right to.

"Having fun, baby?" He murmured, his eyes scanning your face, noting the soft flush in your ceeks - either from the champagne, him or your laughing, he couldn't tell. "Seems like you're doing better than I expected on your own."

"Why, jealous?" You teased, not missing a beat, a smirk curling at your lips as you caught the slight edge in his tone.

Rafe's smirk faltered for a split second before he forced a scoff. "Of you? Hardly. Just keeping an eye on things. After all, you are here with me, remember?"

Your gaze narrowed as he was the one to excuse himself earlier when both were walking around together and chatting with the other guests. The glint of amusement in your eyes told him that you weren't taking his words to heart. "Oh, I remember..." You replied, tilting your head to the side. "Just didn't realize you'd be so... attentive."

He shifted, suddenly a bit unsure. "I'm just... Making sure everything goes smoothly tonight, alright?" He muttered, sounding more defensively than he expected. "Look, it's not like I care who you're talking to or anything. We just have an image to keep."

You arched your brow, a playful smile tugging on the corner of your lips as you leaned a little closer, dropping your voice just low enough for only him to hear. "Good. Because I almost thought you were jealous, Rafe."

Rafe scoffed, straightening up and immediately tearing his gaze away from his lips to the ocean behind you. "Please. Like I'd be jealous over you... this." He waved a hand, gesturing vaguely at your figure, thought his eyes betrayed him, lingering a moment longer than he intended. Stupid dress.

The band started playing something softer and Lia, Mr. Rossi's daughter, grabbed the champagne glass from the people's hands, handing it to the first waiter that walked by. "Come on. I want all the couples dancing to this. I'd love to have it on footage."

You furrowed your brows, glancing over at her and then Rafe. The idea of dancing with him sounded absurd, even more in a crowd, making you hesitate for a moment but the mischievous glint in his eyes pulled you in.

Rafe held out a hand, his expression challenging. "What's wrong? Afraid you're going to catch feelings?"

You rolled your eyes, but before you could second-guess yourself anymore and make it suspicious, he took your hand and you let him lead you to the dance floor, feeling your heart speeding up. It's okay. It's just like midsummer - you repeated to calm yourself even if you always panicked during dances on midsummer, afraid that’d take a wrong step and all the heads would turn and see you.

The moment his arm wrapped around your waist, drawing you close, you felt a spark of electricity run through you. It was probably your anxiety, right?

The world around you seemed to blur, the hum of conversations fading into the background as he kept you close, his grip strong but not bruising. Firm as he pulled you into a gentle sway, his gaze locked onto yours with something that made your heart race a bit more. His hating gaze looked a bit different...

For once, you weren't fighting, weren't throwing sarcastic comments at each other. You were simply... around, moving in rhythm, caught up in a moment you hadn't ever thought possible. His hand was warm agaisnt your bare back, his touch not letting you move too far from him as he guided you.

Rafe's voiced dropped to a murmur, his gaze softening as he looked down at you. "You don't always need to be at my throat, you know?"

You raised an eyebrow, a soft laugh escaping. Honestly, you couldn't even remember why it started but you were sure he had given you a reason. "And miss out on all the fun? Never."

He huffed a quiet laugh, the corner of his mouth curving upward as he shifted his weight, leaning a fraction closer. The playful defiance between you seemed to thrum in the small space left between your bodies. A ghost of a smile played on his lips, but his eyes narrowed, holding yours with an intensity that sent an unexpected shiver down your spine. “Careful, you might start to like me.”

For a heartbeat, silence settled between you, thick and humming, before you felt the corners of your mouth twitch, shaking your head as a disbelief chuckle left your lips.

“Shut up.” You chuckled, your arms wrapping around his neck tired of holding resting his shoulder because of the height difference.

But as you looked up at him, the warmth of his hand on your back, you couldn’t shake the feeling that, even if it was just for a moment, you’d both let your guard down – and neither of you had hated it.

You and Rafe had just stepped off the dance floor, still laughing over the memory of Topper’s ridiculous stunt at last year’s family gathering. The thought of him, trying - and failing - at impressing everyone with his off-key karaoke performance that he had trained for weeks, was enough to keep the laughter bubbling between you.

“Honestly.” Rafe laughed, shaking his head. “He’s lucky he didn’t break something. I’m not even sure how the microphone survived the entire thing.”

You snorted, your amusement lighting up the moment and you quickly covered your mouth, cheeks heating as you waited for Rafe’s teasing but he did none, the crease on the corner of his eyes deepening as his smile stretched. “I think the whole room aged ten years listening to him butcher that song. We should’ve charged tickets.”

Rafe’s smile softened, and for a moment, the usual tension between you both seemed to melt away. But before you could tease him further, a man approached, his expression serious, as if he’d been waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

“Rafe.” the man said, clapping him lightly on the back, his tone overly familiar. “I just wanted to say how sorry I am about your father. Losing him like that… it must be incredibly hard.”

Rafe’s smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. He couldn’t even remember this man’s face. Probably someone that saw him and his dad in one of those award parties. “Thanks.” He replied, his tone polite but distant.

The man seemed to ignore the subtle shift in Rafe’s mood, continuing on with his monologue. “Yeah, I can only imagine. Your father was a legend - everyone respected him. I mean, not many people could’ve built what he did. A huge legacy. It must feel like a heavy burden, huh?”

Rafe’s jaw tightened, and his eyes flicked to you. You could practically see the frustration building in him, but the man kept talking, completely oblivious to the discomfort he was causing or simply not caring enough.

“You know, the pressure of living up to someone like that…it’s gotta be tough. Everyone’s always expecting you to fill those shoes, to carry on the family name. I don’t know how you manage it, but it must be exhausting.”

The tension in the air was palpable, and Rafe was clearly struggling to stay polite. But before he could respond, you couldn’t take it anymore nor risk Rafe loosing his cool here out of all the places.

“I need air,” you blurted out, voice sharp and breathless. You placed a hand on Rafe’s arm, pulling at him urgently. “I feel like I’m gonna pass out or something. I just— I need to get out of here, baby.”

Rafe looked at you in surprise, his brows furrowing for a second before he caught onto it. He stood straighter, clearly thankful for the distraction. You gave him a small but determined nod, practically dragging him away from the conversation.

“Come on, let’s get to the beach. Now.” you added, not giving him a chance to argue. You tugged him harder this time, the tension in your voice sharp, hoping it was enough to convince the man to leave him alone for the night.

The man was still rambling, oblivious to Rafe’s discomfort. “It’s just… it’s not easy living with that kind of legacy, right?”

Rafe turned back to him with a forced smile, cutting him off before he could say more. “Sorry, we really need some air.” He said quickly, his hand around your waist as if you needed to be supported to the way. “She’s not feeling well, and I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to stay in the crowd.”

Rafe shot the man a tight smile. “Thanks for the condolences.”

The man looked confused but nodded. “Of course. Take care, Rafe.”

As you pulled Rafe toward the beach, you didn’t stop until you were far enough away from the terrace. You let out a shaky breath, your frustration turning into a quiet laugh of disbelief.

“You okay?” You turned your head back, looking at Rafe cautiously once both had put enough distance between the man, almost reaching the beach.

He turned to you, a flicker of frustration crossing his features. “Yeah. Just… feels like everyone wants to remind me of it tonight.” he said, glancing back to the party before he glanced at you, chewing on his bottom lip as he tried keep his emotions at bay. He had lost the count of how many people came to talk to him about his dad and how impossible would it be to fill in his shoes. “You really saved me there.” He rubbed the back of his head.

“It was nothing.” You shrugged, letting out a long sigh as you felt the breezy air in your face.

Rafe gave you a grateful look, his stiff posture relaxing a little. “No, I’m glad you stepped in. That guy was relentless.”

You stopped just before you could step onto the sand and bent down to slip off your heels, the sound of your dress rustling as you lifted the hem to avoid dragging it through the sand.

Rafe’s gaze lingered on you, a mixture of admiration and confusion etched across his face as you balanced your heels in one hand. For a fleeting moment, you noticed a hint of something in his eyes, something that made your heart race. You released his hand to free up both of yours, but the sudden loss of his warmth sent a strange ache through you, as if you were missing it. Must be the chilly wind.

“Are you coming or what?” you called over your shoulder, a teasing lilt in your voice that made him smile.

The sound of the waves, rhythmic and calming, filled the space between you, casting a serene contrast to the fading noise of the party behind. The cool night breeze touched your skin, making you feel both exposed and comforted, wrapped in the solitude of the beach.

Rafe stood beside you, his features illuminated by the silver glow of the moon. Without a word, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blunt, rolling it between his fingers with easy practice just to make sure it was tight in place. You watched him discreetly, curiosity stirring as he flicked the lighter and brought the flame to the tip. The brief burst of light illuminated his features – sharp jawline, focused eyes, the way his lips curved slightly as he took a drag.

You couldn’t look away, your eyes tracing the path of the smoke as it curled and rose, dissipating into the cool night air. It felt almost intimate, watching him like this, and you swallowed, trying to steady your thoughts when he turned and caught your gaze.

“Want some?” His voice broke the silence, low and inviting as he could sense your eyes on him.

A rush of nerves surged through you, mingling with anticipation. “I uh… haven’t smoked before. Topper always said it’d look bad for the family and that mom would disown me if she ever found out” you admitted, the corners of your lips lifting in a faint, rueful smile though your voice was quieter than usual, small.

Rafe’s brow arched, the shadow of amusement flickering in his eyes. If only you knew the things Topper did whenever he magically disappeared from the parties. “And what do you think?” The question was casual, but there was an edge of something deeper beneath it.

You took a breath, letting the salt-laced air fill your lungs. “I think I’m done caring about that.”

His smirk grew, and for a second, the intensity in his gaze softened. “Good.” He took another slow drag, the orange ember glowing against the dark, and held it out to you. His fingers brushed yours as you reached for it, a spark of contact that sent a shiver through you.

“Just inhale slowly, let it settle,” he said, his voice steady, a grounding presence in the rush of your heartbeat.

You brought the blunt to your lips, eyes flicking to him once more as you mirrored the movement you’d seen him make. The smoke tasted sharp, unfamiliar, and you exhaled with a cough, eyes watering slightly. Rafe’s smirk turned into a grin, warm and teasing. Almost proud.

“Not bad.” he said, amusement lacing his words. “Better than most the first time.”

A laugh escaped you, loosening the last of the tension. “I’ll take that.”

The two of you walked slowly, the cool sand shifting beneath your feet as the night deepened. The warmth from the smoke spread through your chest, lifting the weight you hadn’t realized you were carrying. You glanced at him out of the corner of your eye, catching the way the moonlight traced the strong lines of his face.

“Do you smoke often?” you asked, more to break the silence than anything else and you wanted to slap yourself for the question. Really?

Rafe’s expression shifted, a brief shadow crossing his features. “Not really. Only when I need to clear my head.” He looked out at the horizon, where the dark sky met the shimmering waves as he took the joint from your fingers, taking a long drag. “It helps keep the noise out.”

A quiet understanding settled between you. “I can’t imagine how hard it’s been” you said softly, your voice carrying the weight of what you didn’t say. “Losing your dad…”

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, his guard slipped, cracking enough to allow you to catch a glimpse of the raw ache beneath. “Yeah.”

For a moment, the space between you felt smaller, the silence charged with shared vulnerability. You took another drag, the taste still foreign but less jarring, and exhaled slowly as Rafe’s eyes returned to yours, something unreadable in their depths.

Rafe’s eyes lingered on yours for a moment longer before he shifted his gaze back to the horizon, the moonlight casting a silvery sheen over the waves as they rolled in. For once, the silence wasn’t biting.

You took another careful drag, this time holding it a bit longer before exhaling, just like he did earlier, but you were still unable to get rid of the cough completely. The warmth in your chest spread further, easing the last traces of tension from your body. It was strange and exhilarating to be here, outside the lines your mom had always drawn for you, with him of all people.

Rafe broke the silence, his voice softer, almost contemplative. “You know, you don’t have to be ‘perfect’ all the time.” He glanced at you from the corner of his eye, a hint of something unreadable in his expression. “It’s okay to let people see the real you. Acting like a human being and all.”

The words hit deeper than you expected. You looked down, your toes digging into the cool, damp sand. “I don’t even know who that is half the time" you admitted, the confession slipping out before you could stop it, swinging your heels softly to distract yourself from the embarrassment in your chest.

Rafe turned to face you fully, his expression serious but not hard. “Maybe it’s time you find out.”

The sincerity in his tone made your heart stutter. You met his gaze, and for a moment, everything else fell away - the distant party, the rolling waves, the cool bite of the night air. It was just the two of you, standing on the edge of something that felt completely new.

Before you could say anything, he took a step closer, close enough that you could see the faint stubble on his jaw, the way the moonlight caught the flecks of grey in his blue eyes. The scent of smoke and saltwater surrounded you, heady and grounding, mixed with his perfume.

“Rafe…” Your voice came out quieter than intended, the space between you charged with tension.

He searched your face, a soft smirk tugging at his lips. “Yeah?” His voice was low, a whisper meant for only you.

The truth is, you didn’t know.

You felt the urge to close the gap, to see what would happen if you let yourself fall just a little further into this to see where would it go. But before you could move, he reached out, fingers brushing your cheek as he tucked a stray strand of hair behind your ear. The touch was fleeting but sent a shiver down your spine.

What was happening?

“I kinda like this version of you.” he said, the honesty in his tone making your heart thump wildly.

For the first time in a long while, you felt seen - not as the person everyone expected you to be, but as yourself. The realization was both thrilling and terrifying. You looked up at him, a smile tugging at your lips. “Maybe I do too.”

Rafe’s eyes softened, and without another word, he wrapped his arm around your shoulder, his fingers placing the blunt in front of your lips. The two of you walked without a hurry and direction, the few glasses of champagne you had earlier and Rafe's glasses of whiskey distracting both of you from the situation, from what it looked like and what it could possibly mean.

The air between you felt different now, the silence thick with something unspoken, the kind of tension that crackled in the spaces between your words. Rafe’s eyes lingered on yours a moment longer than usual before he shifted his gaze back to the horizon, where the moonlight kissed the waves in a dance of silver and blue.

A strange warmth bloomed in your chest, spreading through your body like the soft glow of embers catching fire. The world felt sharper - every scent, every sound more pronounced. The night air nipped at your skin, but it felt distant, almost dreamlike.

Then it hit you like a wave crashing against the shore: you had just smoked weed. You, the one who had lived carefully, each step monitored, each decision weighed against the unspoken expectations of your family, had done something completely impulsive. The absurdity of it made your lips twitch, and before you could stop it, a small laugh bubbled up from deep inside.

You covered your mouth quickly, but it escaped anyway - another giggle, this one louder and harder to contain. You shook your head, eyes wide with disbelief, and tried to stifle the sound, but the harder you tried, the more it slipped free.

Rafe's gaze flicked to you, his lips curling into a grin as he watched you. “There it is” he teased, a knowing lilt in his voice. “I was wondering when the giggles would show up.”

You shook your head in mock exasperation, still unable to stop the fits of laughter, feeling your cheeks burning in embarrassment. “I can’t believe I just did that. I actually smoked weed. Oh my God. Don't tell Topper!" You looked at him with wide eyes, pointing a manicured nail towards his chest.

Rafe arched his brow, his head leaning down until his breath was touching your ear. “What’s your bargain?”

You blinked for a second, before you pushed his chest away, letting out a dramatic “Ew, Cameron!”

Rafe chuckled, his voice warm in the cool night air. “Welcome to the club, sweetheart. It’s liberating, isn’t it? Letting go for once?”

You nodded, the last of your giggles dying down as you met his gaze. There was something in the way he looked at you - understanding, maybe a little deeper than you expected. It made your chest tighten in a different way now.

“Yeah..." you whispered, your voice softer than before. “It really does.”

The next few moments passed in a quiet, comfortable silence, the only sound being the soft rush of waves against the shore. Every so often, a burst of laughter escaped you, and Rafe joined in, his chuckle easy and carefree.

By the time you reached the hotel, the city hummed with late-night life, a symphony of distant laughter and the occasional honk of a cab. The mix of champagne and weed had left your steps unsteady, your senses softened around the edges. Somewhere along the way, Rafe’s arm had slipped around your waist, steadying you as you swayed with a giggle. The warmth of his touch felt too natural, too easy for two people who supposedly couldn’t stand each other.

“You think we’ll make it to the room before I collapse in a heap of elegance?” you teased, the words slurred with playfulness, though a flicker of doubt clung to the end.

Rafe smirked, casting a sideways glance down at you. “At this rate? You’re lucky I haven’t thrown you over my shoulder already,” he said, voice threaded with a teasing edge, but there was a softness there, something almost protective, that he quickly masked.

You leaned into him, the movement instinctive, your giggle breaking free as you stumbled slightly. “Oh, please. I’m fine.” you quipped, tilting your head up, your eyes catching his. Without thinking, your hand pressed against his chest, fingers curving around the muscle beneath. You blinked in surprise before watching your brows at him. “Damn, nice boobs.”

His eyes widened for a split second before he threw his head back in a laugh, the sound reverberating through him and into you. “Jesus, Y/N.” He felt the heat rise in his cheeks, an unfamiliar sensation he brushed off with a roll of his eyes. He caught your hand as it lingered, the playfulness replaced for a heartbeat with something charged, before he let it go with a chuckle. “Keep that up, and I’ll start charging for these services.”

“So that one was on the house?” you asked, your grin lopsided, unable to hide how much you were enjoying this rare break in your usual dynamic.

Rafe’s gaze softened for a fleeting moment, the walls you both kept between you forgotten under the haze of laughter and the city lights. “Depends. Will you keep assaulting me?”

The two of you burst out laughing, the sound a contrast with the rather quiet lobby but none of you could care less. For once, none of you were being bothered by the image that you were supposed to keep and the animosity felt like a distant memory, replaced by the sharp realization that maybe pretending wasn’t the hardest part after all.

Once inside the hotel, you both went straight to your hotel rooms. You fumbled for the key cards, sliding one into the door, but the red light blinked mockingly. You tried again, turning the card. Still no luck. Your frustration began to mount as you tried once more, and then again, but the door stubbornly refused to open.

Rafe stood back, watching with a bemused smirk. “Having trouble?”

“Are you serious right now?” you muttered, glaring at the door. “These damn things are broken, I swear.”

“Sure, sure,” Rafe said, his grin widening. “You’re not just the problem, huh?”

You shot him an exaggerated glare but couldn’t help the laughter bubbling up again. “I swear, it’s not my fault.”

“Right.” Rafe teased. “Because nothing is broken when you get involved.”

He glanced over at you, his brow furrowed. “Great.” he muttered, pulling the card out and trying it again, only for the light to flash red, mocking him. He tried once more - still nothing. His expression darkened with frustration.

“Rafe, are you sure you know how to use those?” you teased, leaning against the wall, an amused grin tugging at your lips.

He shot you a half-amused, half-annoyed glance. “I’m not an idiot.” he said, giving the card one last try before slapping it against his palm. “It’s the damn door.”

With a sigh, he turned to the door across from yours - the one that led to his room - and gave it a shot with his card. You leaned in just enough to watch, your curiosity piqued. He slid his card in, turning the handle with the same precision.

Nothing. Again.

“Well, that’s just great!” he muttered, letting out a punch on the door before he . He looked over at you, his expression a mix of disbelief and annoyance.

You snickered softly, crossing your arms. “Looks like we’re both stuck.” you said, your voice laced with teasing. “Are you sure you paid for the rooms, Cameron?”

Rafe shot you a playful glare. “I blame the hotel staff” he replied, rubbing his forehead as if this whole situation were somehow their fault. He shoved the card back into his pocket. “Let’s check the front desk.”

As you both headed toward the elevator, you couldn’t help but notice the faint frustration in his eyes. But there was something else there, too - a glimmer of something you couldn’t quite place. Maybe it was the way he’d been looking at you all night like he was trying to figure you out, or maybe it was just the ridiculousness of the situation.

The receptionist smiled sympathetically, taking the cards from you and swiping them through the system. You glanced over at Rafe, your eyes landing on his red, bloodshot gaze, and blinked in surprise.

“Damn, dude. What happened to your eyes?” you asked, voice a mix of shock and amusement.

Rafe shot you a side-eyed glance. “Shut up.” He muttered, but there was no hiding the playfulness in his voice.

You paused for a second, a small laugh escaping as your mind quickly connected the dots. “Wait, wait. You’re high as hell, aren’t you?” you teased with a grin, whispering as you thought the receptionist wouldn’t hear but the poor lady did a good job at pretending.

Rafe raised an eyebrow, smirking even more. “You’re real observant one, huh.” he replied dryly, his eyes narrowing as he watched the receptionist typing on the computer, ready to cause a scene.

Just as you were about to keep joking, Rafe suddenly pulled out his phone and snapped a picture of you. You blinked, a little surprised, but he just raised the phone to show you the screen with a smug look on his face.

There, right on the screen, was a close-up of your face – your eyes bloodshot and glowing red.

You froze, staring at it for a moment before your face broke into a laugh. “Oh my god, really?” you said, trying to stifle your giggles.

You leaned in to get a better look at the photo, your own laughter bubbling up. “That’s cute. We’re matching, Cameron!” you joked, raising an eyebrow.

Rafe shook his head, still grinning. “You’re ridiculous,” he said, but there was warmth in his voice.

The receptionist checked the system again, then looked up, a surprised smile on her face. “Actually, I see that your rooms has been upgraded.” she said. “Mr. Rossi made special arrangements for you. You’ll be staying in one of our premium suites, with an incredible coastal view.”

Rafe exchanged a glance with you, both of you processing the unexpected news. "Upgraded?" you repeated, still a little disoriented. "Wow... really?"

The receptionist handed you two new key cards with a smile. “Yes, enjoy your stay. All your luggages and belongings have been transferred already.”

“Guess we’re living the high life now,” Rafe said with a grin, taking the cards from her.

You snorted at his words, still buzzing with laughter. “Yeah, right… Literally.”

You both headed to the elevator, your footsteps light as you approached the suite. As the door opened, you brows shot up. A king-sized bed sat in the center, surrounded by luxurious vintage furniture. The floor-to-ceiling windows revealed a panoramic view of the coast - moonlight glimmering on the water, the soft rumble of the waves reaching your ears.

But then you looked at the bed again, and your stomach sank as everything clicked into place. You slowly turned to face Rafe, wide-eyed.

“Wait… we’re sharing this bed?” you asked, the realization slowly sinking in.

Rafe snorted. “Guess so. Unless you want to sleep on the couch.”

You shook your head quickly. “No, I’m not sleeping on the couch. But how are we going to-?”

“What? Afraid you’ll be tempted?” He arched his brow, a teasing smile on his lips as he already move to his side of the bed, kicking off his shoes.

You scoffed, rolling your eyes. “I’ll take the bed. You can take the couch.”

“Not a chance.” Rafe cut you off with a raised hand. “I’m not sleeping on the floor either, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

You paused, thinking it over. “Okay, here’s the deal. You take one side, I take the other. No crossing the line, no touching. Agreed?”

Rafe crossed his arms and leaned back against the wall, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “I’ll agree to those terms, for now.”

The two of you stood there for a long moment, an unspoken tension between you, both looking each other in silence as if in some sort of staring contest.

“Fuck, whatever.” You sighed, running a hand on your hair as you could feel your eyelids too heavy. “I’m too tired for this shit.”

The soft click of the bathroom door broke the silence as you stepped out, the quiet only punctuated by the steady thrum of your heartbeat. You hesitated, taking a deep breath before moving. The silk ivory nightdress you wore was far too short to be comfortable with someone else in the room. The fabric brushed high on your thighs with each step, and a delicate lace traced the neckline, dipping low enough to tease. A matching robe hung loosely around your shoulders, but it offered little coverage - just the pretense of modesty. You had packed it for the warm weather but you didn’t imagine you’d share a room with him.

You’d taken your time getting ready, hoping that by now, Rafe would be asleep. But as you tiptoed around the bed, trying to slip under the covers unnoticed, the soft click of the lamp switch made you freeze.

Warm light bathed the room, casting shadows that flickered along the walls. You felt his eyes on you, burning with a heat that made the silk on your skin feel even thinner. Rafe was propped up on one elbow, his hand the back of his head and eyes sharper than they should be at this hour. The smirk that curled at the corner of his mouth sent a shiver through you.

He let his gaze travel slowly, unapologetically taking in the way the nightdress hugged your body. The ivory silk clung to your curves, highlighting the bare slope of your shoulders and the length of your legs. The lace skimmed the line of your chest, delicate and inviting. His eyes lingered where the fabric dipped and rose, tracing every detail as if he were memorizing it.

“Couldn’t sleep…” He said, voice low, the tease there but edged with something that made your breath catch. “But I see I might now.”

A nervous laugh escaped you, and you pulled the robe a little tighter, though it did nothing to ease the warmth spreading through you. “I didn’t think you’d still be awake.” you said as if trying to explain yourself, feeling like a deer caught in headlights.

Rafe’s smirk morphed into something deeper, eyes glinting as he pushed himself to sit up, muscles flexing under the thin cotton of his shirt and you’d never admit your gaze wandering to the contour of his muscles. “With you bringing the bathroom down? Not a chance.” He paused, the humor giving way to a quieter, more intense look. “You know, you don’t have to hide.” he said, nodding toward the robe that you tightly wrapped around you as you were almost curling on yourself.

Your fingers hesitated on the fabric, heart pounding as his words settled between you. The buzz from earlier, the laughter and sharp words, had dulled into a warmth that made your skin tingle. Still clouded with the weed and the drinks, you take a deep breath and take off the robe, quickly sliding under the covers and pulling it up your chest.

“If you’re trying to make peace between us,” he murmured, eyes darkening as they met yours. “this is a damn good way to start.” The playful lilt in his voice didn’t quite mask the heat simmering beneath it.

You rolled your eyes, but the corner of your lips lifted. “I thought the blunt of peace was already shared.” you said, voice soft but daring. The tension between you crackled, unspoken and electric.

Rafe’s eyes darkened, his jaw tightening as he exhaled slowly. “Fuck…” he muttered under his breath, the word low and rough, like it slipped out without permission. He dragged a hand through his face, eyes looking to the ceiling as his head hang back before he shifted, grabbing a pillow and placing it firmly between you on the bed, quickly turning off the lamp.

“Good night, trouble” he said, the nickname rolling off his tongue with a mix of teasing and resignation, as if trying to convince himself more than you.

The corner of your mouth lifted, heart still racing as you pulled the sheets over you. “Good night, idiot.” you whispered back, the space between you feeling smaller than ever, despite the pillow.

The room settled into silence, but the tension hummed beneath it, making sleep a distant thought.

⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆

TAGLIST: @megiiite @melsunshine @maybankslover @wearemadeofstardust0 @lilithblackkk @slutforoldermen @louxmcl @peter-parkers-gf @yootvi @v4mp1rr3

#rafe cameron imagine #rafe cameron oneshot #rafe cameron x reader #rafe cameron one shot #rafe cameron #rafe cameron fanfic #rafe cameron fanfiction #rafe cameron outer banks #rafe cameron x you #rafe cameron series

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mishelkie-art · 6 months ago

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These were supposed to be done and posted by the end of May for MerMay, but the last drawing (Jinbei) ended up taking longer than expected. I actually started these in May of 2023, inspired by the mermaid designs in the live action Little Mermaid. I didn't want to post anything until at least all ten of the Strawhats were done, as I tend to pick and drop projects depending on my motivation, and I kinda got paranoid about potentially keeping people waiting for the next drawing 😅 Most of these are also the second time drawing the Strawhats as merfolk, and I'd like to post those as well for comparison. As for what kinds of animals they are:

Luffy - Mako shark

Zoro- Tiger shark

Nami - Goldfish/barracuda hybrid

Usopp - Sailfish

Sanji - Betta fish

Chopper - Leafy sea dragon

Robin - Zebra shark

Franky - Humpback whale

Brook - Chimera/ghost shark

Jinbei - Whale shark (obvs)

Vivi - Nile perch

I think these choices fit the characters for the most part, for Luffy through Brook, most of them were the same as the first time I drew them as merfolk. The ones I changed were Nami, Franky, and Brook. For Nami, I thought goldfish suited her well for name and colors, but then I read somewhere that barracuda liked shiny things, and I decided to include that as well, making her a hybrid of the two. Franky was originally a lionfish as a nod to Sunny, but I wanted to diversify the designs more and show that not all merfolk are part fish, but can be part aquatic mammal as well.

Brook was originally a random fish I don't remember, maybe a pike? But I'd seen a video about chimera and heard that they're also called "ghost sharks" and like, I couldn't think of anything more fitting 😆 For Robin, I think an octopus would've been more fitting overall, but these designs originated from a specific AU I had in mind, which is why she's a shark instead. Jinbei was obviously going to stay a whale shark, but I still had to redesign him so he'd fit with the others, and overall, I feel he may be the weakest of the designs as he was the last one I did and I was rushing to have them all done 😓

With Vivi, I did like her original design, but I felt that for a character who comes from a country inspired by Egypt, it didn't really come across in her design. I made some slight changes that could hopefully convey it more, but also differentiate her face more from Nami's.

I think overall, the designs I'm most happy with are Zoro, Nami, and Chopper. With Chopper I had this vision of fins shaped like sakura flowers and tree branches and I adore how he came out 😍🥰❤ But overall I am happy with how everyone looks, but I think improvements can be made. I'll make a separate post that shows the difference between my original designs and the new ones and include it in an edit.

Edit: 2017 vs 2024

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petpenname · 8 months ago

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Heartache

pairing: Ellie Williams [brother's best friend] x fem reader c.w. : smoking summary: you have had your eyes on your brother's best friend and band member forever, but you'd never think she would actually talk to you? a/n: this was a submission + I'll make more parts if it gets a good response!

The air in your room hangs heavy with humidity. A slight breeze from your open window blows through, fluttering your various posters and decor hanging on your walls. And over you, sprawled across your bed, flipping through social media, you were honestly bored out of your mind. Three weeks into summer and your closest friend was away for vacation, leaving you alone… and bored.

Cycling through your socials again you get fed up with the lack of entertainment and toss your phone on the floor with an exacerbated sigh. You lay on your bed, wondering what you should do to fill the void of dopamine when the sound of music begins to fill the house. A mixture of rock, indie, and midwest emo songs rang out from your garage, conveniently positioned directly under your room.

Your brother's band got around to practicing, you assumed. You didn’t even realize your brother was home, he had gone out earlier this morning after your parents left for work. The music got louder and you suddenly had an idea of what you wanted to do, and it wasn't staying here and listening to your brother's shitty garage band. You gather your sketchbook, some pens, headphones, and a few other things into a bag, throw on a hoodie and a pair of shoes and head downstairs. You were headed to a river spot in the woods near your house. It was a commonly frequented spot by you, and your friends but not known to many. Perfect for a little seclusion and wading in cool water.

You walk down stairs and almost instantly are hit with the strong earthy smell of smoke. You linger for a second and decide that your trip would be improved with a joint, hoping your brother would front you something, you enter the loud garage.

Your brother and his band mates, all two of them, were unaware of your entrance. They were playing as loud as possible (maybe not as well as possible) but they were producing sound! Your brother slamming away on the drums while the guitarist, and bassist/singer were in their own worlds.

“Hey!” you yell over the trio.

“HEY KAI!” You shout once more at your brother. Who, without skipping a beat or stopping, yells back.

“WHAT DO YOU WANT?”

This got the attention of the other two band members who did stop upon seeing you standing there, amps silencing to white noise feedback.

“Can I get a joint?” you ask.

“You got money for a joint?” Kai laughs.

“Can you just front me one?” you reply back flatly

“Why should I?”

“If you give me one I wont tell mom you were smoking in the house again.” You counter.

“It’s the garage so technically not the house and whatever you know they wont do anything”

“She can have one of mine?” a voice sparks up behind Kai, drawing your attention to the guitarist. A girl named Ellie. She and Kai had been longtime friends and bandmates. You barely knew anything about her other than she was in Kai’s grade, one above yours, but you knew her. You knew her eye color, her favorite flannel she wore a little too often. You knew she got a new guitar last year, and a fresh tattoo this year that shined under the garage light as she held up a joint in your direction.

You also knew that this was one of the only times she had ever spoken to you. Not like you were around each other often but you almost felt like she would try to avoid you when she was over. Shocked, but with adrenaline pumping you took your chance, walking over to Ellie. She still had her guitar hanging around her, flannel sleeves rolled up, her hair was a bit disheveled from playing, strands falling out of her half up hair do.

She hands you the joint with a sideways smile, and her eyes glint a bit.

“Thanks, you’re so much nicer than my brother” you scoff, giving her a smile back. You turn to leave, flipping off Kai as you bound out the door, leaving the band members commotion in the garage. Not seeing Kai chuck a drumstick at Ellie who dodges it with a laugh.

The success of getting a joint over shined the butterflies fluttering in your stomach from that look she gave you. The sun hit your face as you got outside and you were only looking forward to your solo date in the forest.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The sun was setting slowly, but from where you were in the woods shade had taken over your spot. You had smoked, worked on your art, and walked along the water looking for rocks. Hanging out in the forest for a few hours always rejuvenated you in a way you couldn’t explain. But you started to get cold and decided now was a good time to head home. While packing up you realized you had pretty bad cotton mouth from the joint, so you planned to stop by the corner store.

It wasn’t a long walk but by the time you got to the corner store it was dusk. Street lights started sparking up like stars in the night sky. You opened the glass door and walked in, perusing the aisles for any snack or drink that could satiate your munchies. You were contemplating between an iced tea or a soda when the doorbell rang as someone walked in the store. You barely noticed the bell, or the girl walking up behind you until she spoke.

“Did you enjoy your smoke?”

You jump, previously lost in your thoughts, you turn around to see Ellie standing there. She was wearing a hoodie now, her guitar in its case strapped to her back.

“Oh my god you scared me!” you say, almost dropping the bottles in your hands.

“Sorry! Didn't mean to!” Ellie laughs, moving around you to open the fridge door next to you and grab a coke. “Funny running into you here” she says, a little awkward you note.

“I mean my house is only a few blocks away,” you laugh.

“Mm ya i guess so, you getting both of those?” Ellie looks down at the bottles in your hand.

“Oh um, I'm getting this one.” you hold up the iced tea & go to put back the soda. Before you could think Ellie takes the iced tea from your hand and starts walking towards the front of the store.

“Hey wait!” you look at her confused.

“Oh do you want something else princess?” Ellie turns back to look at you with a smirk.

Sparks ignite in your stomach, confused but now flustered, your mind swirling. You finally get a word out, “no, just that” and Ellie turns back to walk towards the cash register.

You follow her, not really knowing what to do or how to act. Ellie and you had barely spoken to each other before this. And now she's acting so casually around you, and what did she call you? Everything happened so fast you barely caught it but reflecting back now, did she call you princess?

Ellie pays for the two drinks and you walk out together, taking your ice tea from her once outside.

“Thank you, you didn't have to do that” you say, unscrewing the top and taking a refreshing sip.

“Don't mention it” Ellie says, “So are you going back home now?”

“Mhm yeah, what about you?”

“Yeah I was, but it's getting dark now, i’ll walk you back home first” Ellie says with a smile.

“Who said chivalry was dead” you joke, it was a nice gesture, as much as you were confused by Ellie’s sudden intentions you couldn’t help but feel a type of way when she looked at you. Her green eyes danced over your face like she was memorizing your features. You wondered if she always looked at you this way?

She had. Ellie for the past few years had been keeping such a distance from you because when you were around she felt her whole body tense up. She felt like she was on fire if you looked in her direction. And god help her if she tried to speak around you, she ended up tripping over her words and losing her train of thought. Truthfully, she didn't know what magical queer fairy blessed her with the confidence to talk to you today. But she had taken in a chance earlier in the garage, and when she saw you in the store she knew it wasn't a coincidence.

The walk back to your house was short, only a few blocks. You and Ellie joke together and talk about summer plans in the meantime. Both of you slightly high still, making your balance shifty, occasionally you would brush shoulders, sending sparks down each other's spines.

When you get to your house you stop at the walk way, a little awkwardly since you knew Ellie had been in your house before.

“Thanks for walking me home! And buying me this, um and the joint '' you say, taking in all of Ellie’s courtesy today, a little unsure what to do with yourself.

“Any time!” Ellie says with a smile, she fidgets where she stands for a second before reaching her hand up to your face. She tucks a small strand of hair behind your ear, without breaking eye contact.

“Have a good night y/n” and with that she turns around and walks away, putting up her hood.

She left you solidified on the sidewalk, body unmoving but nerves on fire with a simple touch. You float for the next hour or so, barely registering going into your house and up to your room. Trying to make sense of what had just happened, and why now? And why so suddenly?

Later that night you receive a notification on Instagram

* @www.ellie followed you *

#ellie williams #ellie williams x reader #ellie x reader #ellie tlou #ellie williams smut #ellie smut #the last of us

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kiame-sama · 2 months ago

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Humans Are Extinct- (Yandere!TWST x Fem!Reader) Monster AU pt 4

(Since my computer died, I will use some of the other monster AU art I haven't used in a chapter yet instead. Hopefully I can rustle up another computer soon or get Ol' Peepaw Sammy (my 10+ year old laptop) to run my drawing software without having a heart-attack.)

Warnings: collaring, aggressive kindness, yanderes are rampant in this story, invasion of privacy, romantic yanderes, platonic yanderes, monster AU, some history for the monster AU, mention of Humans being eaten, Teachers and Crowley are going to have a ROUGH time, more characters being introduced, reader insert, fem reader, Driders, Crows, Minotaurs, Shadow-men, Selkies, Dragons, Fae, Bats, Harpies, Unicorns, Nemean Lions, Grim is less boisterous/confident in this AU given his rough life but he is still the sassy and clueless kitty-creature we all love, reader is called several affectionate pet names by platonic yanderes (Pup/Cub/Chick)

~~~~~~~~

"So... What happened here?"

You cuddled your new monster friend close to you as you looked upon the building you had been carried to by Rook. He had been swift to return you and the cat-monster you befriended to the building the supposed teachers had been leading you towards. Even as you sat on the large spider's back and stared up at the building, you could see the apparent change that had overcome it.

It mostly looked the same as it had when you had run away from it, but there were several improvements and adjustments that had been made in the short time you were away. Where the windows had been boarded up, they were now all clean and fixed. Where the siding of the building had been in obvious disrepair and even falling off in some places, it now looked like it had received a needed bit of care and reconstruction.

"I can answer that!"

You let out a yelp at the sudden interjection, unconsciously reaching out to Rook's torso and clinging to the spider-man in fear. The way you yelped made your sudden visitor giggle in amusement at your behavior. Hanging from what appeared to be a dead tree branch above you was that same pink and black haired guy that had been in the Dragon's nest with you. He had an impish smile as he regarded you, that smile slipping ever so slightly as his eyes flicked over you and how tightly you held to Rook.

Rook was actually both amused and felt endeared by the fact that you grabbed onto him in a bid for protection from the Drider. It was so very sweet to him to see he had earned some goodwill and trust from you by rescuing you from the Undying Ursus Minor. Even when you relaxed upon realizing who was speaking, you very clearly held tightly to your soft companion, Grim.

"Oh? Did you make a friend out in the forest?"

The Bat Fae dropped from the branch, righting himself before he even hit the ground as he approached your little group. He took a long moment to look at Grim before he gained a kind of impish smile.

"I'll have to inform Malleus about your new charge. We wouldn't want this little one getting burned to a crisp by Malleus. Besides, I know how protective and adoring Children of Man can be when it comes to their cherished companions. The last human I met died for their companions."

Grim seemed unsettled by the Bat's presence and you could feel the way his torn wings seemed to pull closer to his body. Maybe it was the fact that the Bat had wings that were a lot like Grim's, and maybe it was the fact that this newcomer had been so keen to startle you. Regardless, you felt a strong need to protect your new friend as he was the only one who didn't seem to have some kind of twisted agenda planned for you.

"Anyway, Malleus and the other Housewardens showed up after you ran away- not a wise move, might I add- so several of them decided you should be somewhere safer than an old run-down building. Malleus did most of the fixing, but it seemed even Schoenheit was keen to make several additions to your accommodations. They're still mostly here, Malleus went back to his nest to give you some space."

You carefully slid off of the back of the large Spider man, noticing the unusual softness of his fur along the back of his Spider body. There was a kind of intimidation you felt now that you were back on level ground, as the height of Rook's Spider back did make you feel somewhat safer. Now you were on level ground and felt very small next to the blond who towered over you.

In some ways, you wanted to question the unusual Bat, but it quickly became clear you were not going to get that chance as the more adult-appearing men approached. The Crow was in the lead and was flanked by four others that seemed to be older than the monster men you had encountered en masse when you first entered this twisted nightmare land. Two of the men you recognized as the two who came with the Crow to retrieve you from the odd Dragon that had claimed you. The other two were unfamiliar to you, but no less beastly than the first.

One of them seemed to be an older man somewhere in his fifties with gray hair and clear creases along his brow and mouth. Attached where his lower half should have been was the body of some kind of big cat, a pair of oddly large wings sprouted along the shoulders of the cat body and the lower back of the man. He almost seemed to walk with a slight limp as his back leg had clearly suffered some kind of damage in the past.

The second newcomer was a man that seemed to be wreathed in shadows. All you could really make out from the darkness was the skeletal white mask adorning his face, lining up on the same place his own skull would be. His bright purple eyes pierced through the darkness and gleamed like gemstones beneath the brim of his top hat. He seemed younger than the others, but you found it difficult to accurately gauge his age due to the shadows that wrapped around him.

"Now that you're done racing off with no regard to your own health, foolish little chick, it seems I must have a lengthy conversation with you regarding the dangers that are ever present to someone as magically lacking as you."

~~~~~~~~

Several Housewardens and even a few Vice-Housewardens gathered nearby the Ramshackle building and watched the interaction curiously. It was true many had all pitched in to make the decrepit building a bit more liveable for you, but it was nowhere near the level of quality they believed an extinct species should have. They did what they could in the short amount of time they had, busying themselves with the project instead of charging headlong into the forest like many wanted to.

Rook and Lilia had excused themselves from the stern lecture the Crow was giving, opting instead to retreat to the nearby group. Many of those present took interest in Rook, as they could detect the scent he now carried due to carrying the fragile Human back to the safety of campus. A few even tried to take a subtle sniff of the Drider in an attempt to catch more of that uniquely Human smell.

"Roi du Poison, your faithful Huntsman has returned victorious with the little Human completely safe and sound!"

Rook was quick to take his place next to the peacock Harpy, practically beaming from the joy of another successful hunt. For all the beautiful muses Rook had claimed, he was closest with his muse Vil Schoenheit as the peacock Harpy had been one of the primary driving forces in Rook's life. From learning to care for his own appearance to taking care of Vil's pin feathers, he had few he could thank half as much as Vil.

Vil gave the slightest of smiles at having his second in command back by his side, his feathers ever so slightly rousing and fluffing out to show the Harpy was pleased. For all the eccentric behavior his Vice-Housewarden showed, Rook was nigh irreplaceable to Vil. Just knowing Rook had been the one to rescue the little Human was also another source of pride for Vil as it was another source of envy from the others.

"At least Rook can be trusted to bring the Human back promptly. I doubt the same would have been said of you, Leona."

The Nemian Lion was standing away from the group, but the clear way his ears angled back showed he was annoyed. Leona knew he wasn't trusted around the Human without supervision. He and anyone else from Sunset Savana would have to prove themselves 'domestic' to even be considered.

It was Sunset Savana that continued to eat Humans the longest and thus had been branded by the other Kingdoms and Queendoms as barbaric monsters. Leona didn't often pay attention in class- especially boring ass History- but even he knew the way Humans had been adored by so many others. Riddle went as far as not letting Leona out of his sight the second they arrived at the rundown excuse of a dorm. He knew the others wouldn't trust him around that fragile Human even with supervision.

"Piss off, Birdy."

Rook was not thrown by Vil's casual sniping towards Leona, the two proud Housewardens always seeming to be at odds. Instead, the Drider turned to the red-haired Unicorn with a pleasant smile.

"Roi du Règles, you will be pleased to know mon Trickster is Mademoiselle Trickster. You mentioned earlier you could sense her purity, non? That would make her a Human Maiden; the ideal boon companion for a Unicorn such as yourself!"

"Is she? Then it seems I must endeavor to even greater heights to protect her. No doubt the common rabble here will be eager to get at the only Human and only female on campus."

It was then a certain displeased yell split the air, originating from the Human in question. The shout unsettled the various students present and even managed to make Riddle almost rear from the sudden interjection.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!"

~~~~~~~~

You stared incredulously at Crowley, your hands resting over the collar that now sat securely on your neck. Despite how you pulled and groped at the material, you couldn't find a way to unlock it and free yourself from the new and rather dehumanizing feeling of being collared. Even Grim got himself a matching Collar, though his looked more like a pristine bow. Both his collar and your collar had a little device hanging where the tags would be on a dog's collar.

"You've made it more than abundantly clear that you will wander away to areas that can be dangerous to your health if you are allowed to freely roam. I can't have you ending your life prematurely simply because you didn't have the sense to stay away from something dangerous. That collar of yours will make it much easier to dissuade you from going places you shouldn't."

Grim was still trying to wriggle out of his collar while you glared angrily at the overgrown Crow who put it there. You eventually had to stop Grim as the little cat-creature was beginning to thrash and could hurt himself if he wasn't careful. Luckily, the little beast soothed with your touch and stared up at you through his mismatched and scarred eyes. Even though you wanted to lay into Crowley for daring to put a collar on the two of you like you were some kind of pet, the man who had introduced himself as Divus Crewel spoke up.

"I know you don't like the collar, but try to think of it from our perspective, sweet pup. You aren't a normal sight here or anywhere in our world. If certain ne're-do-wells caught wind of a Human living on our campus, they may try to poach you if given the chance. We don't want to give them the chance."

You frowned angrily at the men but also somewhat understood where they were coming from on the matter. Though you really couldn't grasp the concept of Humans being extinct- given the fact you came from a world where Humans were the only truly sentient species- you did somewhat understand where they were coming from. Classifying an animal as endangered only made an increase in the demand for pieces of said animal. They were certain Humans were extinct, so you were more than just a prized commodity to collectors and hunters alike.

"How does the collar help against poaching? If someone wanted to get me with an arrow or a knife, a collar doesn't do anything to stop that."

"That is true in most cases, but your collar is enchanted. The collar keeps track of your location and will alert us as well as the Housewardens if anything does try to harm you. It can't stop a full attack, but it can deflect minor magic."

"Why did Grim get collared too?"

"Because, though I am loathe to let a beast of the forest stay with you, it is better you have some kind of magical protection with you. His skills are subpar compared to a Housewarden, but it is still more skill and magic than you have available to you. Best to keep track of the both of you."

Grim didn't fight his collar anymore, but he certainly didn't look happy as his little torn wings drooped and his ears angled downwards. He was clearly quite displeased but didn't seem too upset despite the fact he did not sign up for this kind of treatment. Once he resigned himself to the collar, he slightly perked up and raised his lopsided gaze to meet that of Crewel.

"Hey, seal-guy, does this mean I have to go to classes with my Hench-Hooman like a student and stuff?"

"It would be ideal to have (Y/n) attend classes, if only to keep her around professors and prevent the loneliness from negatively impacting her health. Humans were known to be a social creature, after all, and with no other Humans around the other students would be the next best thing."

"... So does that mean I can actually be a fancy-pants student and become the greatest mage to ever live?"

"Whatever keeps you by (Y/n)'s side. Though it may behoove us to enlist the aid of other students as well... They will have to prove themselves first, of course."

Crowley nodded along to Crewel's words as if they were the most obvious thing and you vaguely got the impression that the Crow really didn't realize what he was agreeing to. Though he was the Headmage- which to you meant he was the head of the school- he seemed far less aware of the situation as a whole and leaned on the other professors for that information. Something about him made you wonder why he was so eager to keep you on school grounds. It made you think back to his comment about the last human he met and you wondered if that had anything to do with how keen he was to keep you yet seemed keen to let the others take point in explaining things to you.

It was during this thought that the older looking man spoke, his voice aged and almost fatherly in how he spoke to you.

"Naturally, you are still the only true expert on Humans, being one yourself, so we will have to ultimately trust your judgement. I am of a mind with Divus that we should not be allowing a forest beast unrestricted access to you, but you seem to trust this Grim. Should you need something, you have but to ask us one of us. I also feel Mr. Rosehearts, Mr. Hunt, Mr. Draconia, and perhaps even a number of others would be keen to aid you. Don't ever go to Savanaclaw for aid. Though it may have been several hundred years ago, many of those from Sunset Savana and those of specific beastman lineages were instrumental in the extinction of Humans. Better to be safe than sorry with your safety."

He had been introduced to you as Mozus Trein, the History professor. Though you were curious as to why he seemed so fond of you, you figured it had something to do with you being Human and his natural love and fascination with history. You had to admit, it was nice that he didn't talk to or about you like you were a pet or some kind of exotic toy- an exotic animal, maybe, but not a pet. Most of the professors seemed to be of a similar mind- minus the Crow- and that somewhat helped put you at ease with them.

"So, does that mean it will only be Grim and I in here? No one else?"

"Well, the ghosts may pay you a visit and check in on you. Would you like someone to spend the evening here as well? I understand this is a new place and some company may put you at ease. It is my understanding that Mr. Draconia has already made a secondary nest in this dorm for you to use at your leisure, no doubt the others added beds or various furniture as well."

"No, I kind of like the fact that it's just me and Grim, I was just wondering because all of them are here," you gestured to the group of Housewardens and Vice-Housewardens nearby, "so I didn't know if they were staying or not. It is getting super late at night..."

"They should be returning to their dorms soon, though Housewardens and Vice-Housewardens are not bound by the same curfew as the other students."

He glanced at the others before back at you, a serious look of concern painting his features.

"Are you certain you would rather be alone tonight? Some wayward fools may try to enter the dorm when we leave."

The genuine concern in his expression and tone made you seriously consider his words. It was true that you didn't really feel very safe with anyone other than your small companion Grim, but the wizend professor did have a point. His prompting paired with the fact that you had made many poor choices for yourself this night did more to sway you than expected. You looked at the several monsters waiting nearby and had to conceed that someone keeping an eye out was not a bad idea given the already rocky start to your time in such a world.

"... I think you might have a point, actually..."

"How about this; you choose from the Housewardens and Vice-Housewardens who helped fix up this old dorm for you. Clearly they have at least shown they care for your wellbeing enough to put in an effort to make it livable. I will say now- however- should you choose Leona, I will choose someone else for you. I would love to say all our students are safe, but that just isn't the case and we can't take chances with you."

"That seems fair... But how do I know which one Leona is?"

"Leona is the Nemean Lion- ah, but I forget, you don't have Nemean Lions where you're from, do you?"

You shook your head. You could recall that there were Greek myths of Heraclies slaying a golden lion known as the Nemean Lion, but nothing like the monster men you have met.

"I will point him out when you decide who you feel is safest to stay with you."

"Okay. Grim, want to help me choose?"

The stout creature smiled eagerly in response to your question, holding up his front legs for you to pick him up. He was not like a cat in the sense that he was thrilled when you held him, but he did seem to enjoy your warmth and the fact he didn't have to walk when you carried him. As you cuddled Grim, professor Trein began to lead you to the group.

It was easy to feel somewhat safe with the older man and you kept close to his side as you two approached the group of fellow students. They all looked curious at the fact that you and the professor had approached them first. Perhaps you were going to thank them or ask them for something else to help you settle in.

"Listen up, you lot. I would hope others have enough common sense to leave (Y/n) here alone, but we all know that isn't going to happen. Since you are the ones that actually showed up to ensure our only Human is safe, it is safe to assume you care what happens to (Y/n). We feel it would be best to have either a Housewarden or a Vice-housewarden remain here for the evening in the event someone tries their luck."

Professor Trein then glanced back at you, nodding his head towards the group in clear invitation to approach. As you drew close, you couldn't help but take note of how all eyes quickly fell on you. Some of the people there were familiar to you, and some were not.

Rook was among the familiar, same with the Harpy that stood next to him. The only one whose name you recognized was Rook's as he had been the only one to actually introduce himself to you.

"... Can I choose Rook? He's the only name I know..."

"I would happily accept, Mademoiselle Trickster, but there is one far fairer and better than I at all but hunting. I suggest you choose Roi du Poison, the beautiful Vil Schoenheit."

The spider man made a sweeping arm motion to his side towards the Harpy, as if he were presenting the bird-man to you. The bird in question seemed surprised by the sudden introduction but took it in stride and instead turned his purple eyes to you. As you locked eyes with him, something odd happened. His feathers seemed to quiver before the feathers atop his head raised, his tail feathers doing the same to create an almost dazzling display of iridescent colors. He was clearly a peacock bird-man, but what didn't make much sense to you was why he was showing off for you. You didn't think you were really worth showing those feathers to since you weren't a bird like him.

"You are welcome to choose one as fair as me, little Human. I will ensure your safety to the furthest of my capabilities."

It almost seemed like the peacock were trying to make himself seem like the best choice, showing off colors and strength in an effort to have you choose him. If anything, you weren't the only one who was surprised at seeing such a display from the peacock. The others seemed almost shocked by this showing of feathers but someone was clearly far less than pleased upon seeing Vil posturing for you.

"Absolutely not! I refuse to allow anyone who does any kind of display dance for her to be permitted anywhere near her. I would have your head if you weren't my senior, Vil! Such a maiden should not be accosted by eager men who only see her as a breeding toy. Professor, I demand you override this choice and select me to guard this Human. I shall uphold every rule the Queen has set and I will not allow such tomfoolery to burden this Human."

Vil seemed angered by this as his feathers ruffled and stood on end, eyes glaring angrily at the offending Unicorn man. The wickedly sharp tallons on the ends of the bird's fingers seemed to only be sharper when displayed with such clear disdain for the Unicorn. It seemed like a fight was on the verge of erupting before Grim's voice interrupted them.

"I don't like any of them! Maybe the spider-drider-guy, but this is my Hooman which means I should choose who protects us!"

"Are you-? What the hell is a 'Hooman'? She is a Human, not 'Hooman' and I don't appreciate your casual disrespect for her species-!"

It was during the Unicorn's rant that you interrupted, feeling angry that the man would dare talk to Grim like that. Sure, you found it odd that the cat creature called you Hooman, but you certainly didn't mind it either. Even above all of that, Grim was your friend and these men were not.

"And who said it was your place to correct him? I know what I am and I think it's cute he calls me Hooman. What I don't appreciate is how you think you can yell at him! He can call me Hooman if he wants, you are not afforded the same privilege! And I have a name. It's (Y/n) (L/n), so don't you dare ever call me anything else."

Your sudden snapping at the Unicorn clearly surprised and unsettled him as he took several steps back, almost seeming like he was about to rear from your yelling. Even though his blue eyes stared in absolute surprise, you felt no need to back down and if anything you wanted to chase off the delicate Unicorn for daring to raise his voice at Grim. A light chuckle met your ears and drew your ire away from the Unicorn and to another familiar grinning face. It was the pink and black haired Bat.

"Keeheehee, seems she doesn't like you very much Riddle. Or, it could be that Humans are traditionally a pack-bonding species and little Grim is now her pack. Clearly Riddle isn't your choice, so who actually will be?"

You frowned at this question and went back to looking at the group, Grim seemed to be doing the same as he purred and snuggled down into your arms. From those you now knew, you still figured either the Bat or Rook would be best. It was then someone else caught your eye bringing you to a halt as you stared at them.

He had sun kissed skin and dark mahogany hair. Even as he stood in the light of the moon, he almost seemed to have a golden glow that wrapped around his scowling figure. When he noticed you looking at him, his bright green eyes narrowed ever so slightly before looking away from you. His actions were as if he were trying to dissuade you from picking him despite the fact he was among the group. You vaguely recognized him from the many who you first saw when you came tumbling out of the coffin.

"Choose someone else, Mousey. They won't let you pick me, I might gobble you up."

"I'm not a-"

"Yes, you are. You are a little Mousey herbivore of the only sentient species Nemean Lions dared to feast upon."

"Nemean...? You're Leona?"

"I'm surprised you even care enough to know my name. Leona Kingscholar, second prince of Sunset Savana and Housewarden of Savanaclaw. Careful, Mousey, you aren't safe around me. I may not have tasted Human before, but I'm willing to break several laws to give it a try."

He almost seemed like he was trying to actually get you away from him, a look of vague sadness hiding behind his smouldering emerald eyes even as he glared at you. There was more to this tale than he was telling but you knew he wasn't going to give you the information you wanted. With another long look at the golden Lion, you turned you gaze back to the group as a whole.

"I guess... Since the Dragon- Malleus, if I'm remembering properly- isn't here, I'll pick the Bat."

"Aww, I'll be sure to let Malleus know you wanted to pick him. I'm sure he'll be pleased. I can keep an eye on you and make sure those other whippersnappers don't come sniffing around. Keeheehee, cute that you call me Bat, but I also have a name if you feel like using it. Lilia Vanrouge, at your esteemed service, (Y/n). Malleus is my primary ward, but he certainly wouldn't be too displeased if I kept an eye on his hoard as well."

You nodded, wondering just why the Dragon decided you were one of his but not willing to question Lilia as to the true motives just yet. It almost seemed like those present fixed Lilia with a jealous sneer as the Bat happily joined your side. Trein simply nodded, accepting your choice as it was not Leona- whom he planned to berate for threatening you- and was a fairly safe choice. Lilia was of the few who had encountered a Human before in his many centuries, so no doubt he would be safe around you.

"It is decided then. I shall see you in my class tomorrow, (Y/n). Do not hesitate to reach out to me should you need anything. Your other professors and I will be working on getting you a phone to communicate with us faster. For now, sleep well, little cub."

#kiame-sama #yandere #x reader #yandere x reader #reader insert #tw yandere #yandere twst #yandere twisted wonderland #my monster au #twst monster au #Humans Are Extinct TWST AU

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yoredoesmore · 5 months ago

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Is it cool if I request Hoshina Soshiro x Fem reader but Hoshina saw the reader drawing him on her sketch book a place can be anywhere.

Ok bye!

a/n: what a cute little request! Thank you so much for submitting something ^^

pairing: Hoshina x fem!Reader

summary: reader draws her vice captain as a cat (=^･ｪ･^=)

genre: fluff/romance/comedy [wc: 1.1k ]

enjoy!

Vice Catnip Hoshina | Hoshina Soshiro

It was one of those days again, where peace and quiet consumed Tachikawa Base. Most of today's schedule consisted of training sessions and important battle discussions– two activities that did not demand your presence as Operations Sub Leader. Your workload consisted of finding new information on the Kaiju and Improving the suit's functions.

Therefore you sat in the cramped space of your office, mind trapped in a cloud of concentration. You normally felt nothing but joy when pursuing your job. Every little achievement, be it fixing a small issue or handing in a report, made the pride in your heart grow. But today that energy had left you.

You felt little to no joy nor motivation, the mere thought of picking up the next file caused you immense stress. All you wished for was to lie down on your bed and enjoy the beautiful spring weather. But your next break was hours away and the way things were looking right now, with the huge pile of papers that sat in front of you, you wouldn't be out of her before midnight.

“Ugh..if only I wasn't alone.” You sighed, hands reaching for your mechanical pencil. While thinking about what piece of work to tackle next, you dragged your pencil over a ripped piece of paper, scribbling whatever came to mind. You found out that this was quite therapeutic and helped you blow off some steam sometimes.

As you looked down to see what you created, you were met with an abstract doodle of a cat.

You smiled.

The cat was holding a fish in her hand and her mouth sat wide open to devour it. Your eyes moved across the drawn lines, with nothing in mind at first, until you realized that its teeth looked awfully familiar. Two sharp fangs, where have you seen those before..?

Almost immediately an image popped into your head, the very face of your beloved Vice Captain. It was quite absurd, comparing Hoshina to a cat, yet the more you thought about it the more the resemblance struck you– until you were fully convinced that the Vice Captain looked just like a cat.

In any normal situation you would have allowed yourself a quick laugh and move on with your duties but for some reason imagining Hoshina as a cat was quite hilarious, thus you entertained yourself further with the thought.

“The Vice Captain as a cat..what would he look like exactly?” Your hands reached for your pencil case where they pulled out an eraser. Now fully equipped you felt ready to bring your imagination to life. You scribbled and drew and erased, trying to create a perfect reflection of your mind. Twenty minutes went by without you realizing, this new activity having you in quite a hold. You were so deep in thought that you didn't even hear the door opening.

As you drew the final line a hum of satisfaction escaped your lips. Your gaze admired the art you had put on your notebook, pride shining in your eyes.

“Is that supposed to be me?”

You froze.

The pencil you were holding on so tightly only seconds ago fell out of your hands, connecting with the cold floor and the blood in your body turned to ice as you finally perceived the new presence behind you. Slowly turning your body around, you were met with the curious face of your Vice Captain.

“No.” Was the only response you found yourself being able to come up with.

“But it says Vice Catnip at the bottom, slightly inappropriate if I might add but I'll let it slide because it's a good drawing.”

Ten minutes ago you were giggling and laughing at the slightly inappropriate pun you came up with. You spend a good amount of time thinking of cat related words that would either match Vice or Captain– Vice Cat-tain would have almost made it on the paper but the pronunciation felt off.

If only you would have gone with that one.

You sat there in silence, neither of you saying anything. Hoshina patiently waited for you to explain yourself but the only thing you wished to do was take the paper and rip it into thousand little pieces.

“It's you..” You finally managed to admit. You mentally prepared yourself to get the scolding of your life. Hoshina was not the type of guy who took any type of mockery lightly but instead of teasing words, you were graced with a heartfelt laugh. The man reached his hand out to grab the paper and give it a more thorough examination.

“Please don't look at it!” Your protest fell on deaf ears as the Vice Captain dragged his eyes over every line, carefully analyzing your art work. You were no match for him either. Desperately you tried to snatch the paper out of his grip but every time you lifted your hands, Hoshina pulled away at the last second. After two minutes you simply gave up and accepted your fate.

“I'm not mad if that's what ya thinkin.” He suddenly said, returning the art piece.

“You are not..?” Your hands reached out to receive it.

“It's quite cute. Me as a cat, never imagine that.” His little laugh slightly eased the tension in the air, allowing you to relax. Placing the drawing down, you started to explain to the Vice Captain how you ended up in this situation, so that he wouldn't get the wrong idea. To your surprise, he showed quite a lot of consideration and even admitted that he liked it when his colleagues joked around like that with him.

You laughed and chatted for a little longer, until all humiliation was forgotten.

“Ya figured what cat I would be?” Hoshina suddenly asked, catching you off guard.

“Hm..let me think. Probably the type that meows really loud for no reason.”

The look Hoshina gave you was priceless. “I meant..the breed.”

What is wrong with me??

Hoshina broke out into another fit of laughter while you were trying your best not to drown in a sea of shame. This was your first time interacting with the Vice Captain in such casual way. Although you have done nothing but humiliate yourself so far, this was rather nice. It was a good distraction from work and definitely worked better than random scribbles.

Bonus:

“Come again?"

“Looking at someone's drawing without their permission is quite rude, so it's only fair..” Your voice became a mere whisper at the end, yet Hoshina still heard everything clearly.

“Only fair, huh?” A long sigh escaped his lips as he cleared his throat.

Is he actually going to..

“Meow.”

You gasped.

The look on the Vice Captains face was picture worthy. To think that he'd actually comply and meow for you, it made your heart jump.

“Vice Captain..” Kafka stood at the door, accompanied by Reno and Shinomiya. They had come by to ask Hoshina something important but were instead met with something horrifying.

“..Did you just..meow?”

“No.”

#yoredoesmore #hoshina soshiro x reader #anime fanfic #soshiro hoshina #kaiju no. 8 #x reader #fluff #romance #hoshina x reader #request #hoshina would make a great cat

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kozachenko · 3 months ago

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[Click for better quality]

Ok yay I'm back from my vacation yipeeeeeee. I started this drawing of Keiki before I left and I was half considering just giving up on it.... until I did a short study of facial planes and then got motivated to work on this again! I'm glad I didn't give up on it though, as I'm actually really happy with this one!

Artist's Notes;

So as I mentioned in my last post about Touhou 17, I wanted to finish this by the game's five year anniversary but with how progress was going I didn't want to rush this so I decided to take a long break from it. Mainly because of the face. For a while now I was kind of feeling like I was stagnating with my drawings, not really in the clothing but in the bodies. There was something about the way I was rendering them that I just wasn't happy with, and after talking with someone else about this issue, I realized that the reason I felt this way was because the faces were too flat and didn't match the rest of the drawing and that I needed to find a way to make the rendering of the face feel consistent with everything else. So after doing a short study of the plains of the face (I used this 3D head model from art station as a reference for my short study, please go give this person some love as they are a lifesaver) I went back into this drawing and applied what I learned here. It was only after that that I finally became motivated to finish the piece, and while it started off as just a simple character sketch like Saki and Yachie's were, the moment I added in Keiki's little fire dragon I knew I had gotten in too deep and now here we are with a full on background. OK it's not super crazy or anything, but it gets the job done and it's better than there just being an empty void behind her. It's rare moments like this when I use brushes other than the Clip Studio Default Charcoal Brush and use the Clip Studio Default Paint Brushes as well (god bless the oil paint and dry gouache clip studio brushes, they were amazing). I don't know why but painting fire has always been really fun for me, there's something oddly satisfying about it y'know? I do think that another reason for this problem was because I was drawing faces like I would in my more sketchy style that didn't mesh well with my lineless style, so I'm glad I've started remedying that.

After adding in the fire dragon I had an idea to kinda make it feel like splash art in the way the composition works... probably because I have been playing Reverse 1999 again and it has taken over my brain. I do feel like Keiki's tools get a little lost in the composition, and I didn't fully render the metal parts of them mainly because I didn't feel like they needed it, but that's just something for me to improve on later down the line.

If you guys are wondering where I went for my vacation, I went to New York and got to go to the MET and the Museum of Natural History. In both places I found Kofun period stuff and I was so happy to see it you have no idea. I remember one of the Haniwa I saw had some neat face paint under the eyes that I tried to replicate with the makeup under Keiki's eyes in my drawing, though I think I'll gave to figure out how to draw makeup on characters because this reads more like blush to me than anything. While drawing this I also looked up some references of Kofun period jewelry and really liked the stuff I found, which also meant that now she has proper Kofun earrings instead of earrings shaped like Kofun tombs. I put some of the things I referenced with a closeup of Keiki's face as well down below. I made her outfit more reminiscent of the outfit I gave her at the beginning of the year with the buttons and all, though I do want to try and draw her in some more period accurate clothing like the Haniwa I took a picture of at the Museum of Natural History. I wish I could find a way to make her handercheif look better though as I wish I made it a little bit bigger, though I think I'm saying this because I've looked at this drawing for too long lmao. Once again something to work on for when I next draw her. Also want to get better at rendering hair, as some details (like the little strands in front of her ears) kinda got unreadable due to the similarities in colour lol.

Now you may have also noticed the little cracks I added onto Keiki's face, and that's because I have fallen in love with the idea of Keiki's body being made from ceramic and that she crafted her body herself. While they aren't very visible I also tried to add some doll joints to her body, which is an idea I played around with in the past but never went to far with. I also want to get better at rendering cracks in ceramic, porcelain, etc, as I'm not sure how those read in the drawing. I also have a headcanon where the cracks in Keiki's face show up because of heightened emotions, and while Keiki is aware of this and does her best to make sure her face doesn't break off.... she will still end up with at least a few cracks during any given day, and she can often forget to repair her own body quite frequently so Mayumi has to remind her quite a lot. Mayumi even taught herself some basic sculpting techniques to help repair parts of her body that are so badly damaged to the point where Keiki can't repair them herself, i.e. if both her arms broke off, Mayumi would put them back together for her so Keiki can at least have something to repair herself with rather than nothing. I also like to imagine that if Keiki created her own body, if you took a look at Keiki from the beginning of her life she would look completely different compared to now.

BTW If you guys are wondering what a very very angry Keiki looks like....ok in order for this to make sense have any of you read volume 11 of Land of The Lustrous? Am I bringing back some memories for those of you that have? Ok good, glad we all got that mental image brewing in our minds, I'll probably draw a version of Keiki that is somewhat inspired by that one day as it's an idea I've had for a little while now. And to those who haven't gotten to that volume yet and are confused.... don't worry about it, just keep reading :)

#touhou project #art #fanart #touhou fanart #touhou 17 #keiki haniyasushin #wily beast and weakest creature #touhou #東方project #own art

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felmonth · 1 year ago

Text

(Edited and slightly better developed! Will be updated until further notice)

Hey, neighbors! I am alive! XD

AAAAH! I finally managed to finish Tom's sheet, but for Au "Actors," the author of this AU is @ frillsand. I've been wanting to create drawings related to this AU for a while now, and there are still comics that I want to share.

Wally won my heart -cries- 😭💘, of course, haha. I'll be sharing with you all the comics that come to mind regarding this AU.

WARNING: Before proceeding, this may contain sensitive content, you have been warned. I hope you enjoy the extended blog and the extra mini-comic to lighten the mood.

Well without anything else to say about it...let's start with Tom Sweetheart, the stylist!!

Tom Actor's Story:

In a town called "Titirilquén," Tom Sweetheart grew up alongside his mother and brother Diego Sweetheart. They depended on each other for everything. They didn't own a television, but they would find TVs on in stores where mostly there were news and interviews with celebrities. Both of them dreamed of becoming actors inspired by the experiences shared by those celebrities on television. Their school further fueled their interests, as it offered a theater subject and a variety of art-related courses.

At school, Diego exhibited a captivating personality in his school theater performances, earning admiration from everyone. However, Diego felt uncomfortable because nobody paid attention to his brother, who was also improving with each performance and costume. Therefore, Diego decided to involve his brother in everything to make him stand out just like himself...

Over time, the school grants Diego a special scholarship that involves working in one of the largest studios in Titirilquen despite being very young. This news greatly delights Diego, so he mentions it to his brother about this opportunity to become what they wanted to be at that time. Unfortunately, those who gave Diego the opportunity were very disappointed when he brought Tom to work with him, so they reluctantly accepted Tom only because Diego requested it.

When Diego was not around Tom, they assigned him different tasks than what an actor should do, completely deviating from the agenda that Tom had planned for the week. This led him to become overloaded with tasks, but he didn't complain because he thought it had to happen when living the life of an actor.

Diego and Tom were the first young actors (They were about 20 years old, Diego 22 and Tom 20) in the Titirilquén studio. They initially performed in a few presentations for a museum, and then the director decided to create a program with them. Both did their best until they became somewhat more known thanks to the news in their town, and Tom was no longer as ignored as when he first joined. They reached a broader audience, leading them to want to learn more about the people in their town. So, they started learning sign language and refining their voices for musical sections to begin a small program aimed at families.

Both were directed by the same assistant, "Ron," but due to unforeseen circumstances, he had to retire because he had to move to another country for another job opportunity where he could earn more money to support his family. They had a new assistant, a woman named "Jenny" (She was 24 but was not interested in working with puppets.) and from this moment, problems arose. The new assistant was serious and easily stressed when the director had to tell her what to do. As a result, she left the job of directing to the two young actors.

This assistant was starting to have too many problems with the brothers, she envied that both brothers mentioned the previous assistant's actions. However, they did not say this with bad intentions but rather so that he could do his job well, since the director was demanding regarding what should be on the schedule of both brothers. Over time, the work environment between them improved, but something was missing in the assistant's life, the brothers did not say many things to her or chat with her, but instead spoke only among themselves.

One day, Jenny overheard a conversation between the two brothers about the previous assistant. Jenny misinterpreted this as a threat to her job and felt worthless to both brothers. He decided to come up with a plan with his fellow students. The plan was to put one of the brothers in a problematic situation so that she could do something to help them and get recognition for it because according to her, the brothers did not value her.

The chosen target was Tom, as Jenny considered him weak and incapable. After finishing his singing section of the show, Tom left the studio to take a break and have a drink.

He noticed that his co-workers near a restaurant were calling him to chat, Tom without noticing any suspicion in them, approached them with great joy, because he admired what his co-workers were doing in the studio.

And being recognized and starting a conversation by them was a great joy for Tom, since he always lived underestimated as just a simple doll who cannot stand out among humans.

Unfortunately, there were ulterior motives. While they were talking to Tom normally, they took him behind the studio, which looked like an alley, and there a cruel scare developed. These coworkers mentioned negative things when they entered the alley and Tom felt uncomfortable by his coworkers' sudden mood swings. He tried to back away, but was easily caught. While saying negative things, they gradually destroyed parts of his body, including arms, legs, wrists, and fingers. They showed no concern for the little puppet's screams and fear because, to them, he was just a doll that couldn't feel pain, or so they claimed, they made fun of him for being too dramatic when he screamed.

When this situation came to an end, the group of companions left, leaving him alone, Tom remained on the ground, crying without understanding how the situation took such a sudden turn. Just a few moments ago everything was fine and now he was helpless on the ground, motionless. He could only see the cotton sticking out of his body and his limbs outside his body, he could only move his head at the moment, he felt completely useless. He prayed that his brother would find him and help him, but then Jenny appeared, pretending to be worried about Tom. She helped him in this terrible situation and took him to the emergency tailoring service.

Now, with Tom recovered, he was mentally depressed and shattered. He looked at his stitched-up body and felt very insecure about venturing into the streets inhabited by humans. He didn't want to go through a similar situation again, so his only support rested on Jenny.

Tom was immensely grateful to her for helping him in this terrible and stressful situation. After a few long minutes of silence, he told his assistant that he didn't want to continue his acting career. This surprised Jenny, but she said nothing and just listened, offering ideas. She felt quite good about helping Tom in these moments of stress. She informed the director about this decision, and of course, he was very concerned and saddened, especially when Tom requested not to inform his brother.

When Tom was discharged on the same day as the accident, he didn't want to go home because a thought crossed his mind: he had always depended on his brother and was only causing him problems. So, with a heavy heart, he decided to distance himself from his brother. The assistant supported all of Tom's ideas, including the idea of complete separation. She was happy that Tom depended on her, so she found him a job outside the country without consulting him.

From Diego's perspective, after the accident, he found it strange that his brother didn't appear on the show. He asked the director why there were sudden changes in the program and why his brother wasn't there. The director decided to be tough with him, saying they hired him and not his brother. He gave Diego new rules for the new direction of the show. Diego was devastated by this news. He considered quitting his job but thought better of it; he wanted to see his brother at home.

When he arrived home, there were no traces of his brother or his belongings. He tried calling him, but there was no phone coverage. In his desperation, he contacted the authorities to inquire about his brother, but they only started working after at least two days of being missing.

This situation was stressful for Diego and his mother. They were very worried and considered various possibilities of what might have happened. Tom decided not to tell them anything when offered a call by the authorities and declared that he wouldn't return home. His family was concerned because they heard a weak voice through the phone, but it was all they could do as the studio was too secretive with the information.

Both brothers remained separated for a long time. For Diego, nothing was the same without Tom, and the show looked depressing. Despite this, he maintained a forced smile for his audience. Children asked a lot about his brother, leading him into deep depression.

Tom, moved to another country, working in a new studio as a stylist. He adopted a fearful, anxious, and panicked attitude, afraid of everyone. To distract himself, he overloaded himself with work, trying to maintain composure by breathing deeply. He couldn't stop thinking about his family, and he knew what he was doing wasn't healthy, but he wanted to stay away for a while.

Well, that's roughly the story. It's long, but I feel that now it's better understood than before. Thanks for staying to read and loving Tom Actor! -cries-

Curious facts about Titirilquén today:

Lately, I've been hooked on a series called "31 minutos," so I included some things from that series. I highly recommend it, it's in Spanish, but there are English subtitles available. Titirilquén is from that show.

Titirilquén doesn't have hospitals because literally no one gets sick there. However, there are places like Mrs. Juanita's service, who takes care of the damaged puppets in this town.

Titirilquén was a town of only puppets but tired of being anonymous and as an unknown town, they decided to include people in their town, building a civilization, the negative of the town only benefits the humans that its own puppet inhabitants.

Facts about Tom:

(Diego's data was deleted to create his respective sheet)

He is 27 years old now.

He speak spanish but he learned English thanks to Jenny.

He is very naive, and that works against him, as he decides to trust everyone.

He has a puppet friend in this studio and his name is Lulu but he affectionately calls him "Wolfy" After going through hell with Jenny, he dates Wolfy but that's when he realizes he doesn't want a romantic relationship.

When he first arrived at the studio, the studio people confused him with Wally, so since that day, some just call him "Pink Wally." (This is due to his height, skin tone and hair shape, so Tom changed his look to messier hair to not look like Wally)

Tom is a very good worker, but he always hides after finishing his work and doesn't get distracted by anything while working. If a human talks to him, he ignores them, but if it's a puppet, he takes time to chat.

Despite hiding, he is found by children, most of whom are human.

He misses being an actor but is very afraid.

Alongside his brother, they worked on a children's educational program called "Sing until Counting to 3." They taught children songs that included sign language. However, when they leave, the program is completely forgotten by the director.

Tom and Diego are not the same height, Jack has to bend down to hug and talk to him.

Tom usually wears makeup, always in pink or fuchsia, which is his favorite color.

Tom often sees little due to his poor eyesight, so he sometimes needs glasses to see clearly, but he usually doesn't use them because he finds them unnecessary.

Tom has fallen in love with Jenny because of her concern for him but by the time they are "boyfriend and girlfriend" Jenny ignores him, she is with him out of pity. Sometimes Jenny yells at him and hits him when he is loving with her.

As you can see, Tom is afraid of humans, and you rarely find him crying in studio places where people don't live, or even paranoid. If you find him in this situation, make him feel comfortable because he is completely unstable at that moment.

People consider him strange and curious because he often hides and is fearful, and they don't understand why he behaves like that. (It doesn't mean he avoids bad situations with the studio's humans; some of them respect the puppets, while others decide to hate them.)

Tom in this Au has a human brother, in the style of muppet protagonists. His name is Diego Sweetheart and they are both very close and have achieved many things together by working as a team. Diego is very attentive to his puppet brother, caring for him and trying to understand him as best he can.

Will Tom manage to become an actor again? Will his life improve? Will his brother Jack locate him after a long time? Will Tom continue to call himself unfortunate? Find out in the next episode... *Felmonth bids farewell to the viewers watching the video.*

NOW, COMIC! YAY!!

Title: "First unlucky day"

Reference movie: "White Chicks"

I don't know what Janet's design is like, I didn't find any reference, so I made it with what I found.

And well that was all, I hope you liked everything, I did the best I could and as always if there are questions ask without problems.

Bye byeeee!

Extra: It is assumed that in this unplanned part, Wally told Tom "Consider yourself unlucky for working with me from now on." (No canon for me xD but extra)

Bye uwu)/💐

#draw #drawing #art #my artwork #welcome home arg #welcome home #welcome home fanart #wh wally #welcomehomeproject #welcome home oc #welcomehomeau #welcome home artist #welcome home actor au #actor wally au #wallydarling #wally darling au #wally darling fanart

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emjayewrites · 3 months ago

Text

hey there, delilah • jude bellingham (5/6)

SYNOPSIS: Real Madrid football star Jude Bellingham has had a big crush on Delilah "Lila" Hamilton, the younger sister of Formula 1 legend Lewis Hamilton, for a while. As their budding romance unfolds, will they be able to navigate the pressures of fame and family dynamics?

PAIRINGS: Jude Bellingham x Delilah "Lila" Hamilton (face claim Rayan Xasan)

WARNINGS: cursing, f1/football b.s., overly protective siblings, eventual smut (18+/minors dni)

TAGLIST: @dreamingjude @foreverisntenough @nichmeddar @hopefulromantic1 @lettersofgold @judesbabymamas @perfecttrashface @alika-4466 @cocobutterqwueen @leilaxaliel @ispywithmylileye @vile-harlot @bellinghaalands @certifiedlesbianbaddie @yeea-nah @empressdede @saturnville @pinkcatcus @shepgurl @neewrites @trentswrld @taytropicana

A/N: Please let me know if you like to be removed/added to the taglist.

The Weimarer Land Spa and Golf Resort, nestled in the picturesque outskirts of Blankenhain, served as the perfect base for England's Euro training camp. The luxurious resort boasted top-notch training facilities, including multiple pristine football pitches, a fully equipped gym, and a high-tech recovery center. The players also had access to an 18-hole golf course, spa facilities, and gourmet dining options to help them relax between intense training sessions.

On a crisp morning, Jude and his teammates gathered on one of the immaculate pitches for their daily warm-up. The air buzzed with excitement and nervous energy as they prepared for another grueling practice session.

The players started with light jogging, gradually increasing their pace as they circled the pitch. They then moved on to dynamic stretches, focusing on loosening up their muscles and improving flexibility. Ankle rotations, hip circles, and arm swings were followed by more football-specific movements like high knees and butt kicks.

As they transitioned into passing drills, Jude found himself alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold and his roommate, Eberechi Eze. The three young players couldn't help but engage in some playful banter as they knocked the ball between them.

"Oi, Trent," Jude called out as he received a pass, "seen your barber lately? That trim's looking a bit dodgy, mate."

Trent rolled his eyes, a grin playing on his lips. "Fuck you. Not all of us can have a personal stylist on call 24/7."

Eze chimed in, "Yeah, some of us have to make do with what we've got. Speaking of which, Jude, when are you gonna hook a brother up with that LV sponsorship?"

"Off of it," Jude laughed, deliberately misplacing his pass to Eze. "You wish, mate. Maybe if you score in the opener, I'll consider putting in a good word."

"Oh, that's how it is?" Eze retorted, chasing after the ball. "Just wait 'til I nutmeg you in front of everyone. Your LV deal'll be mine before you know it."

Their laughter echoed across the pitch, drawing looks from some of the other players. Trent was about to fire back with another quip when a sharp whistle cut through the air.

"Alright, lads!" Gareth Southgate's voice boomed across the field. "That's enough fucking around. Let's get serious and start our real work for the day."

The three friends exchanged amused glances before jogging to join the rest of the team, ready to throw themselves into the day's training session.

A grin spread across Jude's face. "Alright, Trent, I'll hook you up with my barber. Maybe then you won't look like you've been cutting your own hair with safety scissors."

Trent nudged his friend on the shoulder, earning a hearty laugh from Jude. "I hate you so fucking much."

As the training session progressed, the players were split into groups for various drills. Jude found himself waiting alongside Trent for their turn at a passing exercise.

"So," Trent began, a mischievous glint in his eye, "how's things with Miss Hamilton?"

Jude felt his cheeks redden at the mention of Lila. "She's good, yeah. Miss her though."

"Bet you do," Trent teased. "When's she coming to watch?"

"She'll be at the opener in Gelsenkirchen," Jude replied, unable to keep the excitement out of his voice. "Was texting her last night actually. She's in Milan right now, finishing up some big business deal."

Trent's eyebrows shot up. "Business deal? What kind?"

Jude shrugged. "Dunno, mate. She didn't even tell me. Said it was all hush-hush for now."

Their conversation was interrupted as it was their turn for the drill. As they jogged back to the end of the line, Trent brought up Southgate's plan for family visits.

"Heard about the visiting rules?" he asked. "Southgate's paranoid about another Baden-Baden situation."

Jude nodded. "Yeah, 48 hours after matches. Bit strict, but I get it. At least some family's allowed to stay nearby. My mum's one of them."

"Lucky," Trent muttered. "My lot's stuck with the 48-hour rule."

As they continued their drills, Jude's mind wandered to Lila. He was grateful for the time they'd have together, even if it was limited. The thought of seeing her after the opener gave him an extra boost of motivation as he threw himself into the rest of the training session.

The day wore on, filled with tactical discussions, more drills, and a practice match. By the time Southgate blew the final whistle, the players were exhausted but satisfied with their progress.

Jude headed back to the locker room, and he pulled out his phone, smiling at a new message from Lila. Despite the grueling day, knowing she'd be there soon made everything feel a bit better. The locker room was filled with the usual post-training chatter when Bukayo Saka's voice suddenly rang out above the rest.

"Oi, Dec! Play that shit!" Saka called to Declan Rice, who was fiddling with a bluetooth speaker.

A moment later, the opening beats of Central Cee and Lil Baby's 'BAND4BAND' filled the room. Several players immediately perked up, bobbing their heads to the rhythm.

"Yes, bruv!" Saka exclaimed, starting to rap along with the lyrics.

Marcus Rashford joined in, matching Saka word for word. "We can go band for band, fuck that, we can go M for M…"

Jude shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips as he watched his teammates' impromptu performance. He pulled off his sweaty training kit, tossing it into the laundry bin.

"Not feeling it, Jude?" Eze asked, noticing Jude's lack of participation.

Jude chuckled. "Nah, mate. I'll leave the rapping to you lot. I'm more of a shower singer myself."

When he headed inside the showers, he could hear Phil Foden attempting to hit some of the high notes of a song from Queen, much to the amusement (and mock horror) of the others.

The hot water was a welcome relief, washing away the grime and tension from the day. By the time Jude emerged, dressed in his team tracksuit, the locker room had mostly cleared out.

He found Trent waiting for him in the corridor, phone in hand.

"Ready for lunch?" Trent asked, falling into step beside Jude as they headed towards the dining room.

"Starving," Jude replied. He glanced at Trent's phone. "What you looking at?"

Trent grinned, holding up his screen to show the Raya app. "Just checking out some potential matches. Want to help?" Jude gave him a shrug as a response. "What do you think of this one?" Trent asked, holding up his phone to display a photo of a stylish brunette.

Jude glanced at the screen, taking in the woman's profile. "She seems nice, mate. Good taste in music by the looks of it. Into indie rock, eh?"

Trent nodded approvingly. "Yeah, caught my eye. How about this one?" He swiped to another profile, this time a blonde with a radiant smile.

"Yoga instructor, vegan chef… bit different from your usual type, innit?" Jude observed with a smirk.

"Trying to broaden my horizons," Trent replied with a chuckle.

"Dickhead," Jude muttered with a bemused sigh.

They entered the dining room, picking out their lunch - grilled chicken, quinoa, and a variety of steamed vegetables, all carefully portioned according to the team nutritionist's guidelines. Finding a table, they settled in to eat.

As Jude was about to take his first bite, his phone lit up with a FaceTime request from Lila. His face instantly broke into a wide grin.

"It's my baby, it's my baby," Jude sing-songed, making Trent roll his eyes good-naturedly.

"Go on then, lover boy," Trent teased.

Jude answered the call, his face lighting up at the sight of Lila. "Hey, beautiful! How's Milan?"

"Busy but exciting," Lila replied, her voice slightly tinny through the phone speaker. "Just finished the meeting. How was training?"

"Brutal," Jude groaned dramatically. "Southgate's working us to the bone."

They chatted about Lila's day and Jude's training. At one point, Jude turned the camera to include Trent.

"Say hi to Trent, Li," Jude said.

"Hey, Trent!" Lila waved. "Keeping this one in line?"

Trent laughed, leaning into frame. "Trying my best, but it's a full-time job. Your boy here can't stop gushing about you, by the way. It's getting a bit sickening, really."

"Oi, shut it," Jude protested, but he was grinning.

Lila giggled. "Aw, Judey Bear, you softie."

The conversation continued, filled with laughter and easy banter. Jude and Lila made plans for her upcoming visit, while Trent occasionally chimed in with a joke or comment.

As they wrapped up the call, Jude's expression was noticeably brighter. "Bye, baby. Can't wait to see you. I'll phone you later, alright?"

After hanging up, Trent raised an eyebrow at Jude. "You two are disgustingly cute, you know that?"

Jude just shrugged, unable to wipe the smile off his face. "I know."

Trent shook his head in disbelief. "I still can't wrap my head around it, mate. One minute you're crushing on her Instagram, next thing you're proper boyfriend and girlfriend. What's your secret?"

Jude grinned, taking a bite of his lunch. "Just my natural charm, I suppose."

"Come off it," Trent scoffed. "Give us your game card, then. Share the wealth."

"Nah," Jude replied with a firm headshake. "Can't let my secret weapon go public. Got to keep some mystery, you know?"

Just then, Bukayo Saka approached their table, tray in hand. "Alright if I join?"

Trent put on a mock serious face. "Sorry, mate. You can't sit with us."

Saka promptly flipped him the bird before sitting down anyway. "What are we chatting about then?"

Jude filled him in. "Just Trent being in awe of my relationship skills."

"Ah," Saka nodded, a smile spreading across his face. "Speaking of, Tolami can't wait to meet Lila. She's proper excited about it."

Jude nodded, his expression brightening at the mention of Lila. "Yeah, Lila mentioned that. They're following each other on Insta now. I reckon they'll get on well."

"It'll be nice for Lila to have someone to hang out with during the matches," Trent observed. "You know, when she's not too busy swooning over your football skills."

Jude rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress his grin. "Shut up, you mug."

Saka leaned in, a mischievous glint in his eye. "So, Jude, when are you going to let me meet the famous Lila? I need to make sure she's good enough for our star midfielder."

"Oi," Jude protested, but he was laughing. "You will meet her soon enough. Just... try not to embarrass me too much, yeah?"

They continued to talk about a plethora of things, including their love lives and excited chatter about the upcoming tournament. As they finished their lunch, Jude couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation. The Euros were just around the corner, and soon, he'd have Lila by his side to share in the excitement.

Life was pretty good if he'd say so himself.

The day had been a whirlwind for Lila. It started with an early morning photoshoot at Versace's headquarters, where she modeled pieces from the upcoming collection. The energy on set was electric, with Donatella herself overseeing the shoot and offering words of encouragement.

After the photoshoot, Lila attended a series of meetings with Versace's marketing team to discuss the rollout plan for her ambassadorship. They covered everything from social media strategies to potential event appearances. Lila's head was spinning with information, but she felt exhilarated by the opportunities ahead.

In the afternoon, she had a final fitting for the custom Versace gown she would wear to the announcement dinner. As she stood in front of the mirror, draped in the stunning creation, the reality of her new role truly began to sink in.

Throughout the day, Lila's thoughts kept drifting to Jude. She longed to share this experience with him, to see his proud smile and feel his supportive embrace. Despite the excitement of the day, she found herself counting down the hours until she could hear his voice again.

As evening approached and Lila prepared for the dinner, she felt a mix of anticipation and nerves. She was about to step into a new chapter of her life, and while Jude couldn't be there physically, she carried the warmth of his support with her.

Now, as Lila sat in the private dining room at Cracco Restaurant, surrounded by Versace's top executives and creative team, she felt a sense of accomplishment and gratitude. After months of secrecy and hard work, it was finally official - she was Versace's newest ambassador.

The space was adorned with sleek, modern decor that complemented the restaurant's innovative cuisine. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over the gathering.

Donatella Versace stood to give a speech, her presence commanding the room. "I've known Lila since she was just ten years old," she began, her voice warm with affection. "She would join her brother Lewis at our fashion shows, her eyes wide with wonder. Now, to see her not only as our ambassador but also launching her own label, Petite Soeur… I couldn't be prouder. We at Versace are thrilled to begin this collaboration."

As the evening progressed, Lila savored each moment, from the exquisite seven-course tasting menu to the animated conversations about upcoming projects. Once the evening wound down, Lila's driver escorted her to a sleek black Mercedes. The city lights of Milan twinkled as they made their way through the historic streets to the Bulgari Hotel Milano.

The hotel, housed in an 18th-century palazzo, exuded luxury from the moment Lila stepped into the marble-floored lobby. Her suite, with its blend of contemporary design and classic Italian opulence, offered a stunning view of the private garden.

Lila received a notification. The official announcement of her ambassadorship had just been released across all of Versace's social media platforms. Within moments, her phone exploded with calls and messages.

Amidst the flood of notifications, Jude's name popped up. She answered immediately.

"FUCK YEAH!" Jude's voice boomed through the speaker, making Lila laugh.

"Easy there, you almost burst my eardrums," she teased.

Jude's excitement was palpable. "I'm so proud of you, Li! My parents saw the news too - they're proper chuffed for you."

Lila felt a wave of gratitude. She recalled their meeting at the Champions League match - Denise's warm embrace, Mark's kind words, and Jobe's playful banter. Their sincerity had touched her deeply, making her feel instantly welcome.

"It means so much that your family is happy for me," Lila said softly. "They were so lovely at the match. I was nervous about meeting them, but they made me feel so welcome."

Jude's voice softened. "They adore you, Li. Mum hasn't stopped talking about how sweet you are since that day. But babe," he continued. "The internet's going mental over it. You're trending everywhere!"

Lila grinned, still trying to process it all. "It's a bit overwhelming, to be honest. But in the best way possible."

"You deserve all of it," Jude assured her. "God, I miss you. Can't wait to see you this weekend and celebrate properly. You're definitely getting celebratory head."

"Jesus Christ, Jude!"

"I'm serious, Li. Fuck...I can't wait."

"I can't wait either," Lila replied softly, her cheeks flushing as she remembered their time in Ibiza. "So, tell me more about training," Lila prompted, stifling a yawn. "How's Southgate working you lot?"

She made herself comfortable on the plush king-sized bed, nestling into the soft pillows. The city lights of Milan twinkled outside her window, creating a cozy atmosphere.

Jude chuckled, the sound warm even through the phone. "Still brutal, if I'm honest. But it's good, you know? Feels like we're really coming together as a team."

They chatted about the dynamics of the England squad, Jude sharing funny anecdotes about his teammates and their off-pitch antics. Lila listened, occasionally interjecting with questions or laughter. As the night wore on, their conversation drifted to more personal topics. They talked about their childhoods, their dreams for the future, and the little things that made them happy.

"You know what I also can't wait for?" Jude said, his voice soft and slightly drowsy.

"What's that?" Lila murmured, her own eyelids growing heavy.

"To watch the sunset with you in Gelsenkirchen after we win our first match," he replied.

Lila smiled, warmth spreading through her chest. "That sounds perfect."

Their words became fewer and farther between, replaced by comfortable silences and the soft sound of their breathing. Neither wanted to be the first to hang up, content in the illusion of closeness despite the miles between them.

"Jude?" Lila whispered after a particularly long pause.

"Mmm?" came his sleepy response.

"I'm really happy," she said simply.

"Me too, Li," he murmured. "Me too."

The night deepened and their breathing synchronized, both drifting off to sleep with their phones still connected. In the quiet of their respective rooms - Lila in her luxurious Milan suite and Jude in his training camp accommodation - they shared a moment of peace, connected by the invisible thread of their growing relationship.

The last thing Lila heard before sleep claimed her was Jude's soft, rhythmic breathing, a comforting lullaby that carried her into her dreams.

lilahamilton • posted on their story 6 hours ago

story comments:

judebellingham: no fucking way 🤯 I’m so proud of u!! 🫶🏽

lewishamilton: congrats peanut!!

fencer: that’s what I’m talking about lil sis!!! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

foreverjudebellingham: yay lila!!

tolami_benson: congrats babe 🥳

england: absolutely crazy! congrats lila! 🎉

versace: 💕💕

The Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen buzzed with anticipation as fans filed in for England's Euro 2024 opener against Serbia. The atmosphere was electric, with chants and songs echoing through the stadium. Flags waved, faces painted in red and white, as the excitement built to a fever pitch.

Lila made her way through the crowd, her heart racing with anticipation. She was dressed in an oversized black leather jacket, a cropped England jersey with Jude's number, high-waisted jeans featuring a red stripe and lion emblems on the sides, and Adidas trainers. Her eyes scanned the sea of faces, searching for Tolami.

Suddenly, she spotted her. Tolami stood out effortlessly in the crowd, her presence commanding attention. She was taller than Lila's petite 5'3" frame, with lustrous black hair styled in a middle part and curled, falling just below her shoulders. Her deep brown, blemish-free skin seemed to glow, and when she smiled, her megawatt grin lit up her entire face, causing endearing crinkles around her warm brown eyes.

As Lila approached, Tolami lifted her black cat-eye sunglasses, placing them atop her head in a casual, effortlessly cool 'it girl' manner.

"Lila!" Tolami exclaimed, opening her arms for a hug.

The moment they embraced, Lila felt an instant connection. Tolami's hug was warm and genuine, and Lila knew right away that they were going to be fast friends.

"It's so good to finally meet you in person!" Lila said as they pulled apart.

Tolami nodded enthusiastically. "I know! I feel like I already know you from all our chats. But girl, you're even prettier in person!"

As they made their way to their seats, they chatted animatedly about everything from their boyfriends' pre-match rituals to their own matchday outfits. Tolami's personality shone through - friendly and warm, but with an underlying strength that suggested she didn't take any nonsense.

The energy in the stadium continued to build as kickoff approached. When the teams emerged onto the pitch, both Lila and Tolami jumped to their feet, cheering loudly. Their eyes were fixed on Jude and Bukayo as they lined up for the national anthem.

When the match began, Lila and Tolami were on the edge of their seats, their hands often finding each other's in moments of tension or excitement. They gasped collectively as Jude connected with Bukayo's cross in the 13th minute, heading the ball into the net.

The stadium erupted, and Lila and Tolami were no exception. They leapt to their feet, screaming in joy. On the pitch, Jude and Trent's celebration was iconic - both dropped to one knee before placing a splayed hand over their face, a move that would be replayed on highlight reels for days to come.

"Yes! That's my man!" Lila shouted, her voice hoarse with excitement.

Tolami hugged her tightly. "And assisted by mine! They're unstoppable together!"

The match progressed, and they rode the emotional rollercoaster together - celebrating England's strong first half, then biting their nails as Serbia pushed back in the second. Tolami's running commentary was both insightful and hilarious, keeping Lila laughing even in the most tense moments.

When Harry Kane's header was brilliantly saved, hitting the underside of the bar, both women groaned in unison. "So close!" Tolami exclaimed, squeezing Lila's hand.

The final minutes of the match were nail-biting. As Serbia pressed for an equalizer, Lila and Tolami clung to each other, barely able to watch. When the final whistle blew, signaling England's 1-0 victory, they erupted in cheers, hugging each other tightly.

"What a start!" Tolami exclaimed, her face beaming with joy.

Lila nodded, her eyes shining with unshed happy tears. "Jude was incredible out there. And Bukayo with that assist!"

"We have to do this again for the next match," Tolami said as they walked out.

Lila agreed enthusiastically. "Absolutely! Maybe we can grab lunch before the game next time?"

They made their way to the area where the WAGs and other supporters waited for the players. Tolami sighed, running a hand through her hair. "This two-day post-match policy is killing me. Southgate's strictness is next level."

Lila nodded sympathetically. "I know. Jude's been complaining about it too."

As they approached the waiting area, Tolami brightened. "Oh, let me introduce you to someone. Lauren!" She waved to a blonde woman nearby. "Lauren, this is Lila, Jude's girlfriend. Lila, this is Lauren Fryer, Declan's girlfriend."

Lauren suddenly chuckled. "You know, Lila, we both have Judes in our lives." Lila looked confused momentarily before Lauren explained, "My son's name is Jude."

"Oh!" Lila laughed. "That's adorable. Judes seem to be pretty special, huh?"

Their laughter was interrupted by Lila's attention being drawn to a group of girls in the corner, whispering and giggling. Their gaze was fixed on Lauren, and their expressions were far from friendly.

Lila felt her temper flare. "What the fuck do you think-" she began, but Lauren's hand on her arm stopped her.

"Girl, it's not worth it," Tolami said softly.

Lauren nodded. "Yeah, I appreciate it, but I realized my mental health is a lot better when I just ignore them. Besides," she added with a smile, "here come our men."

Sure enough, the players were emerging from the locker room, all clad in the team's tracksuit. Some of the girls in the corner began to fawn and scream, clearly trying to catch the attention of the single players.

But Lila only had eyes for Jude. When he spotted her, his face lit up, and he jogged over. In one smooth motion, he swept her up in a bear hug, lifting her off her feet. His lips peppered her cheeks with kisses as he spoke.

"God, I missed you," Jude said, his voice muffled against her hair. "Did you see the goal? That was for you, babe."

Lila laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I saw it. You were brilliant out there."

As Jude set her down, keeping an arm around her waist, Lila caught sight of the group of girls from earlier. They were watching her and Jude with barely concealed envy. But Lila found she didn't care. She was exactly where she wanted to be, with the man she cared about, celebrating a victory that felt like it belonged to both of them.

Jude looked around at the other WAGs. "You ladies been taking care of my girl?" he asked with a grin.

Tolami laughed. "More like she's been taking care of us. You've got a firecracker here, Jude."

Jude's arm tightened around Lila's waist. "Don't I know it," he said, his voice warm with affection.

The other players joined their partners, and the atmosphere became festive. The victory had everyone in high spirits, and for a moment, the strictness of Southgate's rules seemed far away.

Bukayo approached the group, his arm wrapping around Tolami. Lila's eyes lit up, her inner Arsenal fan barely contained.

"Bukayo! Brilliant game," Lila said enthusiastically as they shook hands.

Bukayo grinned. "Thanks! And it's such a pleasure to finally meet you, Lila. Jude here won't shut up about you."

Declan Rice joined them, exchanging greetings with everyone. "Hey, anyone up for some pints and food?" he suggested.

Bukayo pulled Tolami closer. "Respectfully, I'm declining. I miss my girl and spend too much time with your stinky arses already," he joked.

Jude nodded in agreement. "Same here, mate. But next time for sure," he promised, offering fist bumps to Bukayo and Declan.

After they said their farewells, Jude led Lila away, and she glanced around. "Where's Trent?"

Jude chuckled. "Probably talking up one of the groupies, but nevermind that, focus on us," he said cheekily, guiding her towards the exit.

Outside, a small crowd of fans and paparazzi awaited. Camera flashes went off as Jude signed autographs and took photos with fans, always keeping Lila close. Finally, they made it to the parking lot where Lila's rental car waited.

Once inside the car, Jude pulled Lila into another kiss. This one was slow and deliberate, his tongue tracing the outline of her bottom lip. When he pulled back, he wore a wide grin.

"Looks like both of us deserve celebratory head tonight," he said with a wink.

Lila rolled her eyes, but couldn't suppress her smile. "You're fuckin' impossible," she said, starting up the car.

"Impossibly charming, you mean," Jude retorted, settling into his seat.

As they drove away from the stadium, the excitement of the match still buzzing between them, Lila couldn't help but feel that this was just the beginning of an unforgettable summer.

lilahamilton • posted on their story 12 hours ago

story comments:

footballwags: yes!! we needed this duo!!

britishvogue: you and tolami are literal goals!! ⚽️ 🥅

judebellingham: thank you baby 💕🥹

tolami_benson: my baby boo 💖✨

jobebellingham: go jude!!

landonorris: get in there, jude!!!!!

f1: so happy you’re having a great time but we miss you on the paddock, lila 😢

Jude woke up feeling on top of the world. The euphoria of winning England's Euro opener still coursed through his veins, mingling with the warmth of having Lila by his side. Last night had been perfect - a celebratory dinner filled with carbs and laughter, followed by hours of cuddling and exploring one another bodies.

Celebratory head, sixty-nine, whatever one wished to describe it....he'd enjoyed it plenty. Lila was a fast learner, eager to please him just as much as he wanted to please her. Thus far, he's been marching to the beat of her drum - listening aptly to all of her wants, needs, and desires without crossing any boundary lines. Jude knew all about Lila's lack of experience, but he also knew that being her first was serious business.

The most serious. She was sweet, shy, and curious, which he never had in any flings besides his first time and he wanted nothing but the best for her.

As he scrolled through his phone, Jude couldn't help but smile at the flood of congratulatory messages, but mixed in with the positivity were the inevitable naysayers - people questioning whether he was too young for a serious relationship, wondering if Lila was just another WAG, or worse, accusing her of being with him for fame.

Jude's jaw clenched. He was determined to prove them all wrong. This wasn't just some fleeting romance; he was committed to Lila. He'd been crushing on her for so long, admiring her from afar, and now that they were finally together, he'd be damned if he let anyone or anything mess it up.

His DMs were flooded, more so than usual. Among the fan messages were an increasing number from groupies, their advances more bold now that his relationship was public. Jude ignored them all. He had eyes only for Lila.

A notification caught his attention - Lewis Hamilton had followed him on Instagram. Jude's heart raced for a moment, and the fan in him was excited to be noticed by the racing GOAT. But reality quickly set in. This wasn't about a simple liking to Jude per se; this was Lewis keeping tabs on the guy dating his little sister.

The thought of Lewis watching his every move online was intimidating, but Jude refused to let it scare him off. He was in this for the long haul, ready to face whatever challenges came their way - overprotective brothers included.

As Lila stirred beside him, Jude put his phone down. Social media, public opinion, even Lewis's watchful eye - none of it mattered in this moment. What mattered was the girl next to him, the connection they shared, and the future they were building together.

Jude was ready to show the world, and himself, that he was capable of balancing his career and a relationship. With Lila by his side, he felt invincible, ready to take on the Euros, the doubters, and anything else life threw his way.

Lila's eyes fluttered open and his heart swelled at the sight of her.

"Morning, beautiful," Jude murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.

Lila stretched, a sleepy smile spreading across her face. "Morning. What time is it?"

"Just past eight," Jude replied, checking his phone. "Fancy some breakfast?"

Lila nodded enthusiastically. "God, yes. I'm starving."

They perused the room service menu together, debating the merits of various breakfast options.

"Croissants are a must," Lila insisted.

Jude grinned. "Agreed. And maybe some eggs? I need my protein."

After placing their order - a spread of croissants, fruit, eggs, and plenty of coffee - they settled back into bed, chatting about the previous day's events.

"I still can't believe that goal," Lila said, her eyes shining with pride. "The whole stadium went wild."

Jude felt a warmth spread through his chest at her words. "It was a team effort, really. But I won't lie, it felt amazing."

Their conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door - their breakfast had arrived. They set up their impromptu picnic on the bed, the smell of fresh coffee and pastries filling the room.

As they started to eat, Jude couldn't help but marvel at how comfortable this all felt - sharing a lazy morning with Lila, enjoying a simple breakfast together. It was a pocket of normalcy in their otherwise hectic lives.

"So," Jude said, taking a sip of his coffee, "what's next on your agenda while I'm off being a football star?" His eyes twinkled with playful mischief.

Lila rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "Well, Mr. Star, I've got a few things lined up. There's a Versace photoshoot in Positano next week, and then I'm headed to Barcelona for Lewis's race."

"Ah, supporting the other star in your life, eh?" Jude teased, leaning in to steal a quick kiss.

Lila laughed, her fingers lingering on his cheek. "Jealous?"

"Of your brother? Never," Jude grinned. "Though I might be a bit envious of Barcelona. The weather there is gorgeous this time of year."

"Speaking of gorgeous," Lila said, her tone turning more serious, "you were amazing in the match yesterday. How are you feeling about the next one?"

Jude's expression became focused. "Feeling good, actually. The team's in great form, and that win has really boosted our confidence. But we can't get complacent. Every match is crucial."

Lila nodded, understanding the pressure he was under. "You'll smash it, I know you will."

Their conversation drifted between Jude's upcoming matches and Lila's projects, punctuated by soft kisses and shared laughter. Despite the whirlwind of their lives and the constant public attention, in moments like these, it was just the two of them - Jude and Lila, enjoying each other's company and planning for their future.

As they finished their brunch, Jude pulled Lila close. "I'm going to miss you when you're in Barcelona," he admitted softly.

Lila snuggled into his embrace. "I'll miss you too. But I'll be cheering you on from afar, and I'll be back before you know it."

Jude smiled. "I know. And when you get back, we'll enjoy another repeat of last night, yeah?" Lila's face flushed and she ducked shyly into her hand. "No, no, don't be bashful now," he continued to tease, removing her hands from her face. "You felt so good, babes. That fuckin' mouth of yours is going to be the death of me."

"Is it?"

"Hell yes," he growled, rolling her over to smother her with kisses. She let out a surprised yelp that dissolved into a satisfied moan when one of his hands cupped her breast. Leaning forward, he captured a nipple into his mouth, swirling his tongue around the perimeter of the bud until it hardened. As usual, Lila arched herself into him, her hips grinding to create delicious friction between herself and his boxer-covered sex. "Baby...cut that out."

Jude's murmurs against her skin made Lila shiver with anticipation. He loved her reaction to everything he did - her eyes and face were very expressive, unable to hide her true emotions, and he relished making her feel loved, cherished, and desired.

"J-Jude....p-please...." she moaned as she writhed beneath him.

"What? Tell me what you want."

"You."

"Me?" He glanced up to lock eyes with her and he wished he didn't. Her doe-like brown eyes were darkened to this seductive obsidian and filled with unbridled lust.

Fuck me, I turned her out.

And to think he didn't even give her all of the goods yet.

"Baby, please," she pleaded, jutting out her bottom lip for added effect. "Can you....uh.....lick me again?"

A small smile appeared on Jude's lips at the innocent tone of her voice. She was beginning to enjoy having her little pussy eaten, and Jude would always happily oblige.

"I'll lick you until you're hoarse and wrung out. How does that sound, babes?" he whispered, his breath hot against her skin.

Lila's eyes widened slightly at his words, a flush of excitement spreading across her cheeks. "That sounds... incredible," she murmured, her voice breathy.

Jude's smile widened, a mixture of affection and desire in his gaze. He shifted down the bed, positioning himself between her thighs. His hands gently parted her legs, revealing the glistening folds of her sex. He could see how wet and ready she was, her arousal evident in the slickness that coated her inner thighs.

He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her inner thigh, his eyes never leaving hers. "Tell me if it's too much, alright?" he said softly.

Lila nodded, her breath hitching as she felt the first brush of his lips against her sensitive flesh. "I will," she promised, her voice trembling slightly.

Jude's tongue flicked out, teasing her clit with gentle, feather-light strokes. Lila's hips lifted off the bed, a moan escaping her lips as the first sparks of pleasure shot through her body. He continued to tease her, his tongue moving in slow, deliberate circles that had her shaking beneath him.

"Jude... oh God..." she moaned, her hands tangling in his curls as she pulled him closer to her center.

He increased the pressure and speed of his tongue, licking and sucking her clit with a fervor that had her seeing stars. Lila's moans grew louder, her body arching off the bed as she felt herself climbing higher and higher.

Jude's fingers joined in, slipping inside her wet heat and curling upwards to find that sweet spot that made her cry out in ecstasy. He worked her skillfully, his mouth and fingers moving in perfect harmony to drive her wild.

Lila's breaths came in short, ragged gasps, her entire body trembling with the intensity of her pleasure. "Jude, I'm so close... please, don't stop..." she begged, her voice desperate.

He had no intention of stopping. Jude doubled down, his tongue and fingers moving faster, pushing her closer and closer to the edge. "Cum for me, Lila," he murmured against her skin, his voice a low, sexy growl.

That was all it took. With a loud, keening moan, Lila shattered, her orgasm washing over her in powerful waves. Her body convulsed, her hands gripping Jude's hair tightly as she rode out the pleasure.

Jude didn't stop until she was a trembling, boneless mess. He kissed his way back up her body, his lips lingering on her sensitive skin as she came down from her high.

Lila's eyes fluttered open, a lazy, satisfied smile spreading across her face. "That was... incredible," she murmured, her voice still breathless.

Jude chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "I'm glad you think so, love. I aim to please."

She laughed softly, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him down for a tender kiss. "You certainly succeeded," she said against his lips.

_______________________________________________________

Despite the comfort of the hotel bed, Jude and Lila decided to venture out and explore Gelsenkirchen. There was a slight chill in the air, unusual for summer, which gave them an excuse to walk close together.

"I heard about this place called Alma Park," Jude said as they left the hotel. "It's supposed to be pretty cool - an amusement park built in an old coal mine."

Lila's eyes lit up. "That sounds amazing! Let's go!"

They made their way to Alma Park, marveling at the unique setting as they arrived. The park was a perfect blend of industrial heritage and modern entertainment, with attractions spread out across the former coal mine site.

"This is incredible," Lila said, taking in the sight of roller coasters and other rides set against the backdrop of old mining structures.

Jude grinned, excited to see Lila so enthused. "What should we do first? There's mini golf, trampolines, paintball..."

"Ooh, escape rooms!" Lila pointed to a sign. "Fancy testing our teamwork skills?"

They spent the next hour in an escape room themed around the mine's history, laughing and working together to solve puzzles. After successfully "escaping," they moved on to mini golf, where Jude's competitive side came out.

Jude and Lila were halfway through their mini-golf game, when a young boy approached with his father.

"Excuse me," the father said politely, "my son is a huge fan. Would it be possible to get an autograph?"

Jude smiled warmly. "Of course, mate. What's your name?"

The boy, no more than eight, looked up with wide eyes. "T-Tommy," he stammered.

As Jude signed the boy's cap, Tommy found his voice. "You were brilliant yesterday! That goal was amazing!"

"Thanks, Tommy. Maybe you'll be scoring one day, eh?" Jude winked, handing back the cap.

Tommy beamed, clutching the cap to his chest. "Thank you so much!"

As they reached the back nine, a group of girls in their early twenties sauntered over.

"Oh my god, it's Jude Bellingham!" one squealed. "Can we get a picture?"

"Of course," Jude said politely, maintaining a respectful distance.

He posed for the photo, and one of the girls twirled her hair. "You were so hot on the pitch yesterday," she purred.

Another chimed in, "Yeah, do you want to hang out sometime? We could show you around town."

Jude felt Lila tense beside him. He cleared his throat. "I appreciate the offer, but I'm actually trying to enjoy some time with my girlfriend," he said firmly but kindly, wrapping an arm around Lila's waist.

The girls' faces fell. "Oh... girlfriend. Right," one muttered as they walked away.

Jude turned to Lila, giving her a reassuring squeeze. "Sorry about that."

Lila nodded, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. Jude made a mental note to address this later, determined to reassure Lila of his feelings for her.

"Hey, want to grab a pretzel?" Jude suggested, hoping to lift her mood.

They found a quiet bench to sit and eat. Jude watched Lila pick at her pretzel, concern etched on his face.

"Li, what's wrong?" he asked gently.

Lila sighed. "I... I got jealous," she admitted. "Those girls were so confident, so forward. And there will always be girls like that around you."

Jude took her hand. "Lila, look at me. I'm not worried about other girls. The only girl I'm concerned about is Delilah Marie Antoinette Hamilton."

Lila's eyes widened at the use of her full name, a bright smile spreading across her face.

"My whole name, Jude? Seriously?"

"Of course," Jude said softly. "You're the only one for me, Li. Never doubt that."

Lila leaned in, pressing a quick but tender kiss to his lips. As they parted, Jude rested his forehead against hers.

"All mine."

judebellingham and 3 others - VELTINS Arena

liked by lewishamilton, trentarnold66, england, and others

judebellingham: Good start. P.S. If you guys didn't know....she's all mine - and I'm all hers 🔒 tagged: england, lilahamilton, trentarnold66, and adidasfootball

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Lewis woke early in his Los Angeles home, the California sun already warming the air. After a long, intense run through the hills, he returned home, sweat glistening on his skin. In the kitchen, he prepared his post-workout vegan protein shake - a blend of plant-based protein powder, almond milk, banana, spinach, and a scoop of vegan peanut butter.

As he sipped his shake, Lewis scrolled through his Instagram feed. His thumb paused on a photo of Lila and Jude at the recent England match. The internet was buzzing about their official relationship status, and Lewis found himself tagged in countless posts and comments.

He sighed, conflicted emotions swirling within him. On one hand, he was happy to see Lila smiling and thriving. On the other, the protective big brother in him couldn't help but worry. Jude seemed like a decent guy, but the world of professional sports could be brutal, especially when it came to relationships.

As he continued scrolling, a comment caught his eye. Nicole Scherzinger had left a supportive message on one of Lila's recent posts. Lewis felt a twinge in his chest - a mixture of nostalgia and lingering affection. Despite their breakup, Nicole had always been kind to Lila. It was one of the many things he had loved about her.

Shaking off thoughts of his ex, Lewis's attention shifted to the flood of posts about Lila's new role as Versace's ambassador. Pride swelled in his chest as he saw images of his little sister looking confident and radiant in Versace designs. But that pride was tinged with a hint of hurt. How had he not known about this beforehand? He made a mental note to call her later to congratulate her properly and maybe gently probe about why she'd kept it a secret.

Lewis was so engrossed in his thoughts and the social media storm surrounding Lila that he almost missed the sound of footsteps. Looking up, he saw a woman walk into the kitchen, wrapped in nothing but a bed sheet. Her long dark hair was tousled, and her tawny skin glowed in the morning light. It was Amara, an Afro-Cuban model he'd been casually seeing since the new year.

"Morning," she said with a sleepy smile. "I hope you don't mind I stayed."

Lewis shook his head, offering a small smile. "No, it's fine. Coffee?"

As he prepared a cup for Amara, Lewis's mind wandered to the upcoming fundraising dinner at Emma Grede's home for the Fifteen Percent Pledge. He was looking forward to supporting such an important cause, but couldn't shake the feeling that his personal life was becoming increasingly complicated.

He thought about Lila and her budding relationship with Jude, about Nicole and their past, about Amara and their undefined present. Was he ready to settle down? Did he even want to? Or was he content with the casual arrangements that seemed to fit his nomadic, high-pressure lifestyle?

With a deep breath, he pushed those thoughts aside. Right now, he had a guest to attend to and a busy day ahead. He had to prepare for the fundraiser, make some calls about upcoming races, and somehow find time to reach out to Lila.

"So," Amara's voice broke through his reverie. "Any plans for today?"

Lewis turned to her, grateful for the distraction from his swirling thoughts. "Actually, I've got a fundraiser tonight. For the Fifteen Percent Pledge. You know about it?"

As he explained the organization's mission to Amara, Lewis felt a sense of purpose settle over him. Whatever complications existed in his personal life, he knew he could always find meaning in using his platform for good.

"That sounds exciting," she said as she took a sip of her coffee. Amara glanced at him over the rim of her mug and gave him a wink, and he smiled.

Amara, even though she was a model and influencer by trade, he couldn't deny how comfortable he felt around her. The casualness of their relationship was good for him and his busy schedule; he never had to commit or do things way out of his reach.

Lewis appreciated the simplicity of what he and Amara had. There were no expectations of romantic getaways, no pressure to attend family gatherings or red carpet events together. He could focus on his racing career, his investments, his production company, and his fashion endeavors without the added complexity of a traditional relationship.

Yet, as he watched Amara move around his kitchen with the ease of familiarity, he couldn't ignore the twinge of loneliness that sometimes crept in. Seeing his younger siblings and friends navigate successful relationships made him wonder if he was missing out on something.

His thoughts drifted back to his ex, not because he wanted her back, but because he missed the depth of connection they once shared. The fleeting endorphin rush of one-night stands had lost its appeal, leaving him craving something more substantial.

Could Amara be the answer? Lewis wasn't certain, but he kept her around for a reason. She was discreet, intelligent, and shared his values. Their pillow talk often revolved around their similar backgrounds - both raised by strong single mothers, both understanding the importance of family support.

He wondered if Lila would approve of Amara, if she'd see her as a good fit for him. The thought of introducing Amara to his family crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed it. Was he ready for that step? More importantly, was Amara?

Their relationship existed in a comfortable gray area, undefined yet meaningful. Lewis found himself curious about Amara's thoughts on their arrangement. Did she want more? Was she content with things as they were?

As he watched her, Lewis realized that only time would tell if this could evolve into something deeper. For now, he was grateful for the balance Amara brought to his life - a touch of warmth and companionship amidst the whirlwind of his career.

Lewis cleared his throat, a hint of playfulness in his voice. "So, I've got this race coming up in Barcelona..."

Amara raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"Mhm," Lewis nodded, a slight smirk playing on his lips. "And who knows? Will be nice to have a certain person also there...."

"Lewis," Amara interrupted, her tone amused but firm. "Are you trying to invite me to your race in Barcelona?"

He chuckled, caught out. "Maybe. What do you think?"

Amara shook her head, smiling. "Just be direct, Lewis. It suits you better."

"Alright, alright," he conceded. "Would you like to come to Barcelona for my race?"

Amara tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Well, I have a fitting and some meetings in Paris, but... I could probably make it work. When's the race?"

Lewis told her the date, and Amara nodded. "I'll see what I can do to rearrange things."

"Great," Lewis replied, trying to keep his tone casual. "I'll have my team book your flight then."

"Okay," Amara said with a teasing nod, mimicking his casual tone.

Lewis mockingly rolled his eyes, earning a chuckle from Amara.

"Now," she said, leaning against the kitchen counter, "are you going to make me breakfast, or do I have to fend for myself in this fancy kitchen of yours?"

Lewis grinned, already moving towards the fridge. "I suppose I could whip something up. Any requests?"

"Bacon and eggs will be nice," she began to joke but quickly noted his scowl, "or avocado toast."

His frown turned into a pleased grin. "Good girl. Thought I had to kick you out with that one."

"Never," Amara kissed her teeth at his thinly veiled threat. "You like this pussy too much to do all of that." She shook her hips seductively for added effect and he didn't waste any time wrapping his sweaty limbs around her body. "Ew! You stink, Lewis!"

"Let's go clean me off then," he murmured temptingly against her skin as he placed her mug on the island's counter. Lewis then led her to the bathroom.

"What about breakfast? I'm hungry!" she complained, pouting like a petulant child.

"I'll feed you this dick, baby; you'll be fine."

TO BE CONTINUED.....

#emjayewrites #lewis hamilton #lewis hamilton fanfic #lewis hamilton x black!reader #lewis hamilton x black reader #lewis hamilton x black oc #f1 x reader #jude bellingham fic #footballer x reader #football x reader #jude bellingham x reader #jude bellingham x black reader #hey there delilah

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