#i'm almost 12k words into it so it should be out soon

[m3l0nfl0at]

hey blondie - k. tsukishima

tsukishima kei x f!reader ; brothers best friend! tsukki x yamaguchi’s sister! reader, accidental meetings, kind of slow burn, grumpy x sunshine trope, loosely based off of hey blondie by dominic fike, fluff, angst, sendai frogs team cameo!!, overprotective brother yams, yapper gf x listener bf, they both misunderstand each other at times, and 12k words

summary ; accepting a blind date with your coworkers brother leads you to meeting one of your brothers friends. will you hit it off? or will your brother's overprotectiveness prevent you from being with each other?

melody's recommended melody ; hey blondie playlist

Feeling something bump you on the back of your head, you turn around quickly to be met with Akiteru’s gaze. Your eyebrows lifted in confusion while shrugging your shoulders. He points his finger downward at the paper he threw at you. Following his finger, you see the jumbled up piece of paper lying on the floor. Uncrumpling it with a huff to find Akiteru’s messy handwriting, “Blind date with my brother tomorrow?”. You lift your eyes up to see him staring at you in anticipation, knowing that Akiteru has been trying to set you up with his brother since forever. Now normally, you would politely decline saying you wanted nothing to do with dating. However, seeing all of your friends introduce you to their newfound partners, you think you’ll take a chance on Akiteru’s brother.

Checking the box that says yes, crumpling the paper up, throwing it back to Akiteru. You find him slowly unfolding the paper with both eyes shut tightly. His uneasiness soon turned into celebration, feeling victorious that he finally got you to agree. Taking note of the time you see that it’s lunch time, gathering your things to head out only to be stopped. Akiteru hands you his brother's number, telling you to text him when you get the chance. You grab it curious on why Akiteru was so fixated on getting you together with his brother. Not thinking much of it, you stuff the paper in your pocket deciding to deal with the situation when you get back. As you start to get a quick bite you get a call from your brother, “What’s up Tadashi?”.

“Well if it isn’t my sister who finally answers my calls! Do you know how long I’ve been calling you for?”, you giggle at your brother's frantic tone. “Sorry Yams, I was busy with work but what’re you calling for?”, you hear a sigh from your brother. “I know this is when you take lunch. I'm near your work and want to meet up at that new cafe?”, open the door to said new cafe. “I’m already here, so hurry up. Since you’re so deprived of Vitamin me.” Yamaguchi goes quiet, hearing only the mutter of city life behind him. “Sorry.”, Yamaguchi laughs. “Yeah, you should be. See you in five!”, hanging up the call to order for your brother and you.

Sitting down after retrieving your order to only hear the little bell on the door jingling, looking up to be met with a green head of hair. “Took you long enough, Tadashi. You took so long that my lunch break is over.” Yamaguchi stares at you wide eyed, as you start grabbing your things pausing halfway. “Oh man Yams, you should see your face! I’m joking, sit down before my lunch is actually over. I have like a whole hour for lunch, don’t worry about it.”, Yamaguchi sits down pouting, upset that you made him look like a fool. “So big brother, anything new and interesting with you?”, you look up at him while sipping your coffee, almost burning your lip. “I told you to stop drinking things that are so hot! You’re going to burn your taste buds!”, he grabs the cup from you, placing it down. “Nothing is new, Yachi and I went to go watch our friend play volleyball yesterday. Oh! I fixed the copier today, so that’s new today, I guess.”, you giggle. Wiggling your eyebrows, “Yachi, huh? Who’s that, a new girlfriend?”. Yamaguchi chokes on his drink, furiously waving his hands around, “No! No! We’re just friends! I swear!”.

“What about you, huh? Anything new sis?”, you hesitate about telling him that your coworker is setting you up on a fake date. “Well, not really but you know my friend, Hana, she got married last week. Oh, and Sayuri got a new girlfriend! So, yeah I think your copier story has got me beat this time.”, you look blankly at the pastry you picked up. Yamaguchi looks at you pitifully, thinking of someone who he could set you up with. Yet, it didn’t help that he only had a handful of friends plus they were all off limits. None of them were good enough for you, not even Tsukki. You’ve never even met them before so it’s not like he can just randomly tell all his friends, hey did you know I have a sister! Shaking off the thought, “Well, love comes when you least expect it right?”, you nod knowing you were in no rush.

Yamaguchi’s phone rings, he holds it up before excusing himself to go outside. Staring at him through the glass to find him red-faced. Taken back, you try to read his lips only to make out the words, no way and no you can’t come. You laugh at your brother refusing someone until you see him deflate, knowing that whatever goofy tactics he did ended up failing. Dragging his feet all the way back into the cafe, “What was it? Did the great copier break again?”. “No, it was my friend. He said he wanted to join us, even though I told him no.”, you laugh knowing your brother has always been a pushover. “Well, is it so bad that your sister finally meets your friends?”, your brother nods. “Yes, it is bad. They’re boys, I don’t trust them. You can meet Yachi and that’s it everyone else is off limits!” Yamaguchi crosses his hands making an X.

“What are you even saying?”, you look up to find a stranger with tousled blonde hair and half rimmed glasses. Yamaguchi freezes, slowly lifting his gaze up to the stranger. “Is this why you didn’t want me to come? You were meeting someone?”, you freeze but not out of fear. “I’m Yamaguchi’s sister, nice to meet you!”, the stranger stares at you before sending you a soft wave, his face puzzled. “Well look at the time. Tadashi, it was nice seeing you but I got to go! Let’s meet up soon, okay.”, you get up quickly, worrying you won't make it to work on time. Tsukishima looks to where you were sitting before looking at Yamaguchi, “Spill.”.

Yamaguchi lets out a deep exhale, “Ok, yes I do have a sister. Regardless, she’s off limits so don’t even think about it Tsukki!”. Tsukishima rolls his eyes at Yamaguchi’s refusal. Of course he thought you were… aesthetically pleasing to look at. Yet, Tsukishima still respects Yamaguchi and decides to not protrude where he’s not welcomed, it’s not like he’ll actively seek you out anyway. He’s sure if he did Yamaguchi would reject every time he tried. Going about their day, the pair stay in that quaint cafe. Tsukishima pretending he didn’t just meet you for the sake of Yamaguchi. While you quickly walk your way to work trying to forget the handsome stranger's face.

Heading into work, settling back into the flow as you suddenly get interrupted, “Have you texted him yet?”. You turn around watching Akiteru question you, “No, I'm sorry I went to lunch with my brother but you know what I’ll text him after my shift.”. As Akiteru starts walking away you remember what you wanted to ask him, “Hey Aki, can I ask you why you’ve been wanting to set me up with your brother?”. He turns around placing his hand on the back of his neck, “My brother is kind of…reserved. He doesn’t really go for things. Seeing your personality, I figured that maybe you can take him out of his shell a bit.”, you think about his answer and debate if you could be with someone the opposite of your outgoing nature.

Well, you never know unless you try! You smile at him, thanking him for being honest and saying you look forward to meeting his brother. You grab the piece of paper from out of your pocket, inputting it into your contacts before sending out a quick message. “Hello, Is this Akiteru’s brother? He told me to contact you regarding our date, are you available tomorrow night? (‘•.•’)?” Putting your phone away to continue your work day, feeling confident as to what’ll come out of this date.

Back at the cafe, Tsukishima’s phone vibrates on the table interrupting Yamaguchi mid conversation. Tsukishima glances down looking at the notification being from an unknown number, picking it up seeing your text. “Who is it, Tsukki?”, he quickly replies, placing down the phone. “Nothing, my brother set me up on a blind date with his coworker.”, Yamaguchi perks up excited to see Tsukki show some initiative on his love life. “What? You? You agreed to a blind date with someone your brother picked for you?” Yamaguchi chuckles a bit at Tsukki’s abnormal behavior. “Shut up, Yamaguchi.”

Just as quickly as the day started, it ended. Beginning to pack up your things to leave so you could make the train. Walking to the station looking down at your phone to see a response from Akiteru’s brother. Not paying attention you bump into someone, “Oh, I’m so sorry!”. Looking up to find the stranger at the cafe, your brother’s friend. “Just be sure to watch where you’re going. I don’t think Yamaguchi would want you hurt taking the train.”, you freeze at his monotone voice. You see him heading the same way as you, not wanting to think you’re following him you decide to lurk steps behind him.

As you see him taking the same local train you were, dammit! Hoping on looking for a spot anywhere but near him. Glancing around to find none, deciding to stand holding onto the bar above. Pulling out your phone glancing at the text Akiteru’s brother left, “I’m available. Did you have a place in mind? Call me Kei, my brother talks very highly of you so no need to be formal.”, you feel hopeful especially since he sounds so nice over text. “Let’s do hotpot! The weather is getting slightly chillier, it’s the perfect season for it! ���( •̀ ᗜ •́ ৻)”, sending it excited for tomorrow. Tsukishima faintly chuckles at your joyful response, agreeing that the weather was getting slightly chillier enough to enjoy hot food.

Looking over at the stranger you met earlier today to see him zoned into whatever was on his phone, the train comes to a stop. He looks up catching you staring at him, you wave. He looks around to make sure you’re waving at him. You knew your stop was next, deciding to overcome your nervousness you sat next to him. “Hey, I’m Yamaguchi’s sister! I know I left abruptly earlier, sorry about that. You’re Yamaguchi’s friend, right?”, Tsukki blankly looks at you taken aback by how friendly you are. “Yeah, I’m Yamaguchi’s longtime best friend. My name is Tsukishima by the way.”, you repeat his name to make sure to keep it stored. “Well Tsukishima, it’s really late what’re you doing out so late at night?”, you cock your head to the side, curious. “I could ask you the same thing.”, he raises an eyebrow in your direction. You pout, “Well don’t tell Yams but I usually leave work this late. Now, your turn.”. “I practiced a little too late, I wanted to practice on my jump float serve.”, you quirk up knowing that that was Yams signature move in high school.

Before being able to respond you feel the train come to a stop, looking to see your stop was already coming up. “Man, I was looking forward to talking to you more. Maybe get some dirt on Yams but it seems like the universe has a different plan, my stops approaching. It was nice talking to you Tsukishima!” You get up and wave goodbye seeing him wave back this time. Tsukishima realizes he never got your name, doubting Yamaguchi would give it to him. He feels a bit exhausted after that conversation, you were the embodiment of energy. It kind of creeped him out, you were like a combination of Yamaguchi and Hinata. Pulling back out his phone to respond to his blind date, “Hotpot sounds good, send me the address and I’ll meet you there tomorrow at 7:30.”

Getting ready to leave, you make sure to stop by Akiteru’s cubicle, letting him know to give you good luck. He sends you off with two thumbs up, telling you not to worry and if Kei does anything let him know so he can reprimand him. Walking to the station you look at your phone texting Kei that he is still able to make the date to which he responds with a simple yes and see you soon. Getting onto the train, you see Tsukishima sitting down already. “Is this seat taken Tsukishima?”, you smile at him. He looks up to you shaking his head allowing you to sit down, “You know I didn’t get your name. All I know is that you’re Yamaguchi’s sister.”. Sitting up you realize you never told him your name, urgently telling him and apologizing for your manners. “What brought you on the train this early today?”, you giggle as Tsukishima calmly manners your conversation from yesterday. “I have a blind date actually, I didn’t want to tell Yams yesterday because he gets all overprotective.”, Tsukishima pauses.

Suddenly everything goes in slow motion. Were you Akiteru’s coworker? No way that’s bizarre, maybe you have a different blind date? You look over to Tsukishima seeing him stare into oblivion, poking his shoulder. “Earth to Tsukki-”, “Do you know Akiteru?”, you laugh. “Yeah I do, he's my coworker actually, why?” Tsukishima pauses, staring at you deeply waiting for it to click in your mind. You stare at him oblivious, before it suddenly dawns on you why he would know Akiteru and how he suddenly had the same facial features as him. Laughing to fill the awkward silence from Tsukishima, “Who could’ve guessed? I mean I should’ve, you resemble Akiteru! Whew, I feel relieved. I’m not going on a date with a complete stranger.”

Tsukishima panics mentally, Yamaguchi said you were off limits. Should he say now that you guys can’t be anything but friends? Can he even be friends with you? How should he go about this? “Don’t overthink so much Tsukishima! My brother won’t care, let’s just enjoy our hangout together!” hearing you take off the label of a date eases him a bit. Deciding to just stop the overthinking mess in his head to enjoy this hangout with you, a hangout that’s all it was. “It’s not like we have to tell my brother anyway. He keeps Yachi and him a secret anyway.”, Tsukishima looks over at you surprised. “He says Yachi doesn’t like him but they both attend all my games together. If someone as oblivious as you can figure that out then I feel bad for Yachi.”, you look at him offended.

“I’m not oblivious! I just use my brain only for work. Anything after that doesn’t need much thought.”, Tsukishima grimaces at that. “Any improvements on your jump float serve?” Tsukishima is surprised your brain remembered that small detail. “No actually, now I see why Yamaguchi practiced religiously. It’s like just when I’m about to do it, I hit it and instead serve regularly.”, you place your elbow on your stomach thinking back to Yams practicing. Remembering how relentlessly he trained to hit that complicated serve. “Well knowing how hard Yams worked in high school he was like on level twenty.”, Tsukishima questions what you’re about to say next. “Whereas you’re like level five, don’t get so down on yourself. It’s not like you suck at volleyball, take your time.”, he’s shocked how realistic you are while also being so aloof.

“If you were paying attention, mister, I'm so oblivious. Then you would know our stop is next, see I pay attention. Come on, let's get our things together.”, you smile, grabbing Tsukishima’s hand. He falters, shy by the sudden physical touch. You look back, seeing him nervous before pulling back your hand. “Oh, I’m sorry! I should’ve asked before grabbing your hand.” Tsukishima brushes off saying it’s fine as he clasps his hands together. Following your lead to the hotpot place, Tsukishima learns you only allow yourself a hotpot twice a year. You tell him he should feel lucky that you’re sharing this rare experience with him to which Tsukishima side eyes you.

Entering the hotpot restaurant you say hello to the owner who welcomes you and Tsukishima kindly. Tsukishima likes how friendly you are, it allows him to sit back and observe. He prefers not talking too much instead enjoying the rare opportunity to be silent. However, you snap him back into reality as you let him choose what broth he wants to go into the hotpot. After picking an equal amount of veggies before heading to sit down at the table. After settling in, Tsukishima starts cooking the meat, adding that he doesn’t really have a big appetite. You wave him off saying it’s fine, “Let’s get to the good part Tsukishima. Have any good dirt on Yamaguchi?”

Tsukishima looks up at you to see you grinning evilly with your chopsticks in hand placing the veggies in the broth. He really thinks to himself if he did have dirt on Yamaguchi only thinking of one story. “Yamaguchi drunkenly admitted one time that he had a crush on Akiteru.”, you blink before belly laughing. “Oh my gosh, is that why he never let me hangout with you? Maybe we should try getting them together! Oh but he likes Yachi now.” you deeply think how to redeem Yams love life. Tsukishima playfully rolls his eyes, “What about you? Why did Yamaguchi keep you a secret for so long huh?”, you look at him surprised that he was so blunt. “Well, Yams told me it’s because he didn't want any of you making a pass at me. You know the overprotective type but I guess time has a different plan, huh?”

Tsukishima fiddles with his fingers after plating all the beef, knowing he was thinking so much you lift up a baby corn. “These are my favorite, the veggies have been cooking for a while so they should be perfect! Here try.”, Tsukishima closes in, taking your offer and trying the baby corn off of your chopsticks. He agrees that the veggies are done and cooked to perfection, lifting up a thumbs up. You visibly light up at Tsukishima’s agreement to which he smiles just a bit. Even though you and Yamaguchi don’t really look alike, he sees it in the mannerisms you share. Both liking affirmations that you’re doing something right, opening up to people more when you feel comfortable with them, and both sharing the same smile.

Tsukishima leans over to grab more vegetables and broth, just because he wants to see you smile again he praises you for the tasty broth you picked saying he was suddenly feeling really hungry. Not much to his surprise you light up and Tsukishima feels satisfied, when he gets home he’ll have to thank Akiteru for making him go on this date after all. You lift up the broth with your ladle, Tsukishima stops you. “That’s way too hot. You’re going to burn yourself.”, you look at him puzzled. “How do you know that?”, Tsukishima questions if you’re just oblivious or if you have poor eyesight. “The steam coming out of it? Let it cool down first.”, you listen, looking at him as he nods. Lifting it again only to realize he was right, the temperature allowed you to really take in the flavor. That bastard!

Not wanting to give him the satisfaction you changed the conversation. “I know you play volleyball but what’s your position?”, Tsukishima glances at you. “Middle blocker, I essentially just block the ball. Not very flashy, I know.” You stop him, “What that’s awesome! That’s why you’re super tall, it gives you the advantage! Plus, I would watch all the rallies with Yams. Men's Volleyball players spike that ball hardcore, meaning you would have to keep a really steady arm.” you stop yourself realizing your rambling. “It might not be flashy but you’re a part of the team so it’s important.”, Tsukishima agrees. Happy that you made his insecurity into something positive.

That night, you and Tsukishima continue to talk about various things from your siblings, your past school life, and your jobs. This is where you find out Tsukishima actually works near you at the Sendai museum. You hype up his job even more than you did him being a pro volleyball player. Tsukishima didn’t talk often, he gave the occasional nod and even some small input here and there but it never felt forced. He was actually paying attention to what you were saying, putting importance on every single word you were saying. Talking to him felt comforting even if he just stayed quiet, you liked someone who just listened to you talk about the random things in life.

After finishing up your hotpot, you bid a goodbye to the owner, thanking them for the delicious meal. They laugh saying to enjoy the rest of your night. You find Tsukishima glancing over at you holding your bag. You walk over to him, “So are you taking the same train as me again?”, Tsukishima nods. “I’m taking the same route as you. It would be rude of me to not walk you home. I can’t let my friend's sister walk home alone, it wouldn’t be safe.”, you accept his offer as he links your arms making sure not to get lost in the crowd. Making it to the train he offers you a seat, sitting down next to you, handing you your bag.

You didn’t know if it was the broth or the hard day at work but you were exhausted, glad that you ended the day with a new found friend. Feeling your phone vibrate you take it out to see a text from Tsukishima, he points to your phone when you look at him confused. The text read, Are you tired?. “Did you really save me on your phone as Kei?”, you nod. “You told me I could call you Kei, did you redact that statement?”, Tsukishima glances anywhere but at you. “No, you can call me Kei.” you laugh, you guess Yams isn’t the only pushover. You text him, I’m tired. (っ,-) My stop is next though so I’ll be fine! ദ്ദി(• ˕ •マ.ᐟ). “How do you come up with those things so fast?”, “If I teach you will you start sending them back?”. “No, no way.”

On the train ride you learned that Tsukishima isn’t really enthusiastic unless it’s about Volleyball, he never has a big appetite, and he loves music and dinosaurs. To which you added that your favorite dinosaur is a Pterodactyl due to always wanting to fly instead of being tall. Tsukishima sidney’s you thinking you made a dig at him, to which you start laughing. You tell him later to text you his playlist, wanting to hear his music taste but Tsukishima rejected saying he doesn’t just share that information with anyone. Approaching your apartment, you declare that you will get close enough one day that he’ll have no problem giving it to you.

“Well blondie, we’re here! Thanks for walking me, I mean you’re right who would mess with me when I have a six foot personal guard dog.”, Tsukishima huffs brushing off your comment. “When can we hang out again?”, Tsukishima is surprised you wanted to hangout again due to him being mostly silent this date. He didn’t think you would find him interesting enough, “I guess we could meet at the cafe tomorrow for lunch?”. He fiddles with his fingers, “Ok! I take lunch at one so make sure to meet me there. Don’t leave me waiting.” You walk off forgetting something, “Thank you Kei, I had a lot of fun.”, you walk up to your door waving to him before closing your door. He watches you close the door before calling Akiteru, “Hello, Kei. What’s up?”. Tsukishima takes a breathe, walking back to the station, “Thanks.”. “Thanks for what?”, Tsukishima hangs up not wanting to get gushy over the phone, opting to instead put on his headphones.

Walking to your office in the morning you expected Akiteru to question you. However you did not imagine that he would be sitting in your cubicle waiting for you. Akiteru hands you a cup of coffee as you settle into your workflow. “How was it?!”, you flash a smile towards him as Akiteru stares at you wide eyed. “It went well! Tell me about it!”, you think about telling him, debating whether or not you should. “We went to get some hotpot and we’re going to hangout today for lunch. That’s about it.”, Akiteru lights up, excited about the potential of your relationship.

“I don’t want to put a label on anything but I want to be friends first. So sorry Akiteru, you’re going to be playing the long game.” He deflates at your comment expecting a love at first sight story. Akiteru thanks you for your intel because he knows Kei would never tell him anything. You sip on the coffee Akiteru brought you almost instantly burning your tongue. Remembering last night where Tsukishima stopped you and Yams scolding you the day before. Placing down the coffee cup with a huff. Of course they were best friends, they both nagged at you like they were the same person. Thinking of Tsukishima, you pull out your phone to see if he ever texted you back last night about what cafe you guys were going to be at. “Did you forget already? The one we first met at, you need to pay more attention.” You huff, he even reprimands you while texting. Reacting to the text with a thumbs up, anticipating your lunch break.

Hours go by slowly as you spend every hour glancing at the clock. As soon as the clock strikes 12:00 you get up to head to lunch, telling Akiteru you were heading out. Walking to the cafe you feel your phone vibrate, “You’re late.”, you know that tone anywhere. “I’m actually on time, you’re earlier. It’s a five minute walk, just sit down and look pretty you’ll be fine.” you hang up on him, laughing at your remark. As you were putting your phone back in your pocket you feel it buzzing again. “Kei-“, “Kei? Who’re you talking too!”, you freeze, Yamaguchi called. “Keitru, Akiteru, sorry my coworker was bothering me.”, you hesitate wondering if he’ll believe your cover up.

“Whatever, want to meet up for lunch?”, you open the door to the cafe, Tsukishima waving you over. “Sorry Yams, I’m actually with my coworker eating lunch.”, Tsukishima glances up blankly, scared. “Oh that sucks, ok well maybe some other day then.” You exchange kick goodbyes, hanging up. “You should totally see your face, Kei. You're paler than you usually are, chill out. Let’s go order!” Tsukishima gets up as you both leave your belongings in the booth. Tsukishima orders first and you’re up next ordering something iced to which Tsukishima glances at you sideways. He pays again, even though he paid for a hotpot last time.

“Why’re you getting your coffee iced?”, you look at him questionably. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”, he chuckles knowing you were going to tell him anyway. “I burned my tongue on some coffee in the morning.”, now he laughs. You roll your eyes, of course the only time he laughs is at the sake of your misery. You go to retort but he suddenly gets a call, he doesn’t make the same mistake you do. Actually looking at the caller ID, flashing his phone to you which shows the screen that said Yamaguchi. Now it’s your turn to laugh as you watch him accept the call, paler than a ghost, “What is it Yamaguchi?”.

You hear a loud “Tsukki!” over the phone as Tsukishima backs up from his phone. You beg him to put it on speaker to which he mouths no. As you start pouting he rolls his eyes, switching to speaker. “Tsukki, do you want to go to lunch together?”, he pinches the bridge of his nose. “No Yamaguchi, I’m already at lunch with someone.”, you hear Yama gasp. “Tsukki you’re with someone else?”, Tsukishima agrees with Yama. “Well I can join! Who is it with?”, Tsukishima trips over his words. “I’m with my brother.”. Yamaguchi goes silent as you giggle silently, knowing the lore between Yamaguchi and Akiteru.

“Man, first my sister and now you too. Well, I’ll leave you to it Tsukki! Have fun!”, Tsukishima hangs up. Eyes zeroing on you, furiously. “I’m never doing that again.”, you laugh at how scared Tsukishima is of Yamaguchi. “Anyways Kei, how is your day going? Besides almost dying at my brother's phone call.”, you look at him taking a sip of your drink. “Well the museum got some new properties for the new exhibit opening up.”, you urge him to continue. “It’s nothing cool, just a couple of exoskeletons of prehistoric animals.”. “Tsukishima, you have to work with me here. Please, I bet working at a museum is awesome! It’s like Night at The Museum!”, Tsukishima lifts a brow. “No way, you’ve never seen Night at the Museum?”, he shakes his head as you realize what your next hangout is.

“Basically this guy works at a museum as a guard and everything in the museum comes to life. It’s awesome.”, Tsukishima huffs. “It’s not like that at all, at least what I do isn’t. However, I really doubt anything comes to life, sorry.”, you laugh rolling your eyes. “Then tell me mister my work is nothing cool, what is your job?”, he thinks for a minute really thinking of something that won’t sugarcoat his job. “I file the paperwork for all new objects, I do bidding offers on new items for upcoming exhibits, and I give little kids tours. Does that sound interesting?”, he takes a sip of his drink thinking he finally exceeded in making his job sound lame. “So let me get this straight, you do bidding wars, talk to adorable children almost every week, and get to over analyze pre historic objects?”, he nods. “That doesn’t sound lame at all, you fraud!”, he shakes his head, disagreeing with you.

Only you could find the right words to make his job sound more exciting than it is. “Man your job is so cool, what’s the oldest thing you’ve ever bid on?”, you light up. Every time Tsukishima talks to you, he realizes just how much you remind him of that pipsqueak Hinata, are you and Hinata secretly related instead of Yamaguchi? “Nothing too crazy, I recently won some 400 year old armor the other day. That should be coming in soon along with a couple of swords and stuff.” you let your mouth hang open in shock. “You’re telling me that you’ve held a real sword before and you don’t think that’s cool!?”

Tsukishima blushes, confused as to why you’re so convinced of making his job seem cooler than it was to him. “Kei, you’re so cool. You’re a pro-volleyball player who works at a museum? So not only are you athletic but you’re also super smart? I see why my brother hid you from me.”, Tsukishima chokes on his drink. You patted his back making sure he was okay. Tsukishima gave a thumbs up, looking down at his fingers. He’s received compliments before just not like this. Not compliments that felt like they’re permanently going to be etched in his mind. Or compliments that felt so heavy on his heart that he wanted to explode in embarrassment.

“Oh look at the time! I hope I didn’t keep you too long Kei! My work isn’t too far but I’m not sure how far your commute is?”, he waved his hand not wanting to concern you with that. “Bye bye Kei! We can hangout this weekend! Movie date at mine!”. You left Tsukishima to deal with all the glances of nosy people who overheard you. He picks up after him heading back to his work, texting you “If we’re both picking movies then we have to watch Jurassic Park.”. His eyes bulge out of his sockets, “Deal! I’ve actually never seen it before. (ᵕ—ᴗ—)”. You wait for Tsukishima’s reply, shocked when you look at your phone. “Lame.”

The weekend approached, texting with Tsukishima on and off about what you had planned to do on your date. He wasn’t really surprised when you didn’t end up telling him, chalking it up to it being a suprise. Tsukishima rolls his eyes at your response, heading out with his headphones and bag. Opening the door and locking up, “Hey Tsukki! Where are you headed to?”, he turns around seeing Yamaguchi and sighs, upset that he locked the door for nothing. “I’m going to my brothers for the day. I won’t be back till later so don’t wait up.”, Yamaguchi nods, unlocking the door and stepping in saying goodbye to Tsukki. Closing the door, Tsukishima lets out a breath, maybe he shouldn’t keep doing this. What’ll happen if Yamaguchi finds out, is keeping this a secret even worth it?

Tsukishima’s thoughts cloud over his head, he doesn’t even know how he ended up at your door. Lost in the music and his thoughts, he pulls out his phone double checking if he had the correct address. Knocking once he’s confirmed everything, you open the door, sparkles and all. While he wasn’t going to exaggerate saying all his thoughts just magically went away, being with you did lessen the weight on his shoulders. With you he wasn’t in his head all the time, more present in the moment. When you took in Tsukishima’s quietness you opened the door wider, “Don’t leave me hanging Kei, we have two movies to get through and some cake to make!”.

You know Tsukishima was abnormally quiet, you didn’t want to bother him though. Tsukishima didn’t seem like the person to open up so easily. So instead you choose to distract him, pulling him by his sleeve to your kitchen seeing all the ingredients displayed nicely. “We’re going to be making strawberry shortcake!”, Tsukishima looks over to you. “Did you ask Yamaguchi what my favorite dessert was?”, you blankly stare at him. “No way it’s my favorite dessert too! As if Yams would ever answer any of my questions about you. Plus, it’s super easy to make!”

“What Jurassic Park are we watching?” Tsukishima snaps out of his daze. “The very first one, it’s the only important one anyway.”, you whisk all the wet ingredients together missing the Tsukishima that was more vocal than usual at the cafe. Deciding to do what you do best, fill the silence for the both of you. “I wouldn’t take you as someone who likes something as sweet as Strawberry Shortcake.”, Tsukishima laughs. “I may not be the cheeriest person but that doesn’t mean I lack taste.”, you chuckle looking over to Tsukishima. Starting to see things you haven’t seen before like how he has the faintest smile lines or how he has a scar in between his fingers, most likely from volleyball. These details don’t really stand out to you but once you start looking at Tsukishima as more than just your brother’s Pro-Volleyball player friend, you’ll see that maybe there's more to him than you think.

“Can I ask what you like about strawberry shortcake?”, you say with a soft tone. Tsukishima looks at you, fully taking in your expression before answering. Curious if you were actually asking what he likes about the strawberry shortcake or what he likes about you. Yet you showed no change in your emotion, he debates whether or not to be blunt and define what you're asking. Not willing to put his pride aside, he decides to find common aspects in you and strawberry shortcake. “It’s very vibrant and pretty. It’s not overly sweet, more like sweet in a refreshing way. Every time I take a bite it’s like being at ease, nothing else but me and the shortcake.”, you turn around confused. “Are you attracted to the shortcake Kei? Why are you so detailed?”, Tsukishima’s speechless and embarrassed. You really were just talking about the shortcake. “I was expecting, it’s so yummy or I love strawberries! However, I think you might be in love with strawberry shortcake, maybe you should marry it.”, you pat him on the back then place the cakes in the oven.

Tsukishima fills the awkward silence with what he knows best, music. Playing his monthly playlist, you turn around quickly lighting up at the music playing. You look at Tsukishima but he hastily looks away, feeling very vulnerable at this moment. Your heart pumps in joy, knowing that Tsukishima trusts you enough to share something he loves with you. “Is this ADOY?”, Tsukishima glances down at his fingers, nodding. “You’re right, you’re a man with taste.”, you playfully wink at him. “I saw them live last year, they were so cool! This song is my favorite!”, you reach out your hand in Tsukishima’s direction while singing along. He looks up, shaking his head, accepting defeat and retracting your hand. Feeling that Tsukishima might not be the dancing type. Until Tsukishima reaches for your hand as it almost completely retreats, linking it together with his. You both swayed back and forth, spinning until you felt dizzy as the cake scent filled the room. Laughing when you had to go on your tiptoes to reach your arm over him. At this moment, his thoughts were now completely gone.

As the music stops, you hear your timer beeping. You slowly pull away your hand with a smile, cautious not to cause any misunderstandings. “Oh Kei, you have to come look at this. It’s beautiful!”, Kei looks at the cake not understanding what you’re seeing. Nodding anyway, you put the cake away to chill as you grab some snacks so you can watch Jurassic Park while the cakes chill. “Kei if this movie sucks, you’re so taking me to hotpot again.”, Tsukishima rolls his eyes. “If it sucks it's because you’re uncultured, not because of me.”, you smile happy that he’s back to normal.

“You’re telling me this all happens because some jerk turns off the power in the park?”, Tsukishima nods. “Ok, but who’s smart idea was it to be like “Hey, let’s replicate dinosaurs!”? They’re extinct for a reason!”, Tsukishima questions your opinions. “At least the T-Rex saved them at the last minute. Not all dinosaurs were bad.”, you agree with Tsukishima. “That is until the new ones where they do the exact same thing again!”, Tsukishima chuckles, shaking his head. “No, the Chris Pratt one’s don’t exist, forget those from your brain altogether.”, you laugh. “Well at least my movie won’t scare the crap out of you but first, let’s frost that cake!” you grab Tsukishima’s hand, dragging him to the kitchen.

Grabbing the piping bag and handing it to him, Tsukishima looks at you questionably. “You can’t pipe frosting dino boy?”, his face falls. “Here let me show you, since you’re so clueless without me.”, you press down on the piping bag. Really concentrating on how to delicately place the frosting, Tsukishima watches you. Really glancing at your concentrated face more than your piping technique. “See it’s easy, even though it looks kind of crooked that doesn’t matter.”, you look up to see Tsukishima grinning. You’re taken aback, having never really seen Tsukishima smile before, curious what’s got him smiling. “You must really like strawberry shortcake, if it makes you smile that much.” He shakes his head, scoffing. Tsukishima couldn’t love something, that’s lame.

He picks the piping bag from you copying exactly what you were doing, he backs up noticing that his piping was off. He looks back to see if you were watching, disappointed to see you snickering. Going behind him to help him, “You’re putting too much pressure Kei! Here, softly and pick up, see!”. He feels your hands encapsulate his, your hold firm but yet so gentle as if putting too much pressure would mess up the cake. Blushing at your frame behind him, you slowly let go letting him handle the rest of the frosting. “There you go Kei! You’re the best!”, you flash him a thumbs up, he scoffs in return but you see the blush lightly decorating his face. You smile going off to fetch the strawberries that he cut. Placing them down on the cake while Tsukishima frosts. Grabbing some frosting and placing it on Tsukishima’s nose, he eyes his nose in disbelief, grabbing it and spreading it back onto your cheek. You laugh going to your sink to wash your face, grabbing a knife and some plates.

“Are you ready for the best strawberry shortcake you’ve ever had?”, Tsukishima lifts a brow. “You did hear me when I said this is my favorite dessert right? Meaning I get this often.”, you nod still stubbornly confident. “Meaning I’ve eaten this many times and am a very harsh critic.”, you close your eyes smirking. “Tsukishima, you underestimate my baking abilities. My brother says I have the best shortcake recipe ever.”, he stays quiet. “Your brother's favorite food is soggy fries, I don’t think I trust his opinion.”, your shoulders fall. Cutting a piece and handing it to Tsukishima, feeling defeat in talking up your baking abilities. He takes a bite and falls silent but you notice this small sparkle in his eyes, “I made you eat crow! Tell me Tsukishima, it’s the best! Come on, tell me.”, you wag your finger waiting for his compliments.

Tsukishima avoids eye contact, “It’s not as bad as I thought it was going to be, I’ve had better.”. You lean closer to him, “I’ll accept your feedback but you have to look me in my eyes and say it.”. Tsukishima’s voice falters as he tries to look you in the eye, he notices your eyes zeroed in on him, wanting to prove him wrong. “It’s ok, I’ve had better.”, you laugh calling his bluff. “Well since it’s so bad, I’ll let you take the leftovers home. Any objections?” Tsukishima stays silent, no rebuttal. “That’s what I thought blondie, come on take your cake and let’s watch the superior movie.”

“That is nothing like working at my job. Maybe if I was more delusional and romanticize everything like you do it would feel like that but no, not even remotely close.”, . “I know that this is not what your job is like, duh, it’s a kids movie. But you have to admit it was more entertaining than Jurassic Park.”, Tsukishima shakes his head. You huff, Tsukishima sure was prideful never admitting you were right. “You know if you don’t say i’m wrong then you’re saying i’m right.”, you smirk getting close to him.

Tsukishima laughs, “I aspire to be as wrong and delusional as you one day.”. You stutter back, before getting really close to his face, “At least I can admit when I'm wrong blondie.”, you smirk. Tsukishima’s jaw clenched, his voice lowers as he moves more into your personal space only a couple of inches separating you two. “Are you saying I’m stubborn?”, you smile, knowing he’s playing right into your game. Whispering in a sarcastic tone, “Well look at the state of you, not wanting to admit that I’m right. What would you call yourself Kei?”. You inch closer to him, he stares at your lips, “Tenacious, I would say I’m tenacious.”. You chuckle, holding eye contact with him, not wanting to let him win in making you feel timid.

Kei looks at you then down at your lips, you start to tilt your head. Waiting for Kei to lean in, giving you the green light to continue. He leans in slowly, you start to anticipate feeling his lips on yours. Wondering how he would kiss you, would he kiss you softly? Just as you start leaning in you back away, interrupted by Tsukishima’s phone ringing. You feel yourself deflate, laughing. Of course, the universe was against you. Tsukishima pulls away, groaning as he picks up the call. “What do you want Kogane?”, his voice very sharp and his hands rubbing his brows. “Yes Kogane, I know practice is tomorrow, what about it?”, he now answers very calmly and sarcastically.

Tsukishima looks over to you before quickly fleeting his gaze somewhere else as if he didn’t just try to kiss you. “No way. I’m not going to put it on speaker Kogane.”, he rolls his eyes. “I should’ve never shared my location with you. Fine, I’ll ask her. Don’t call me back.”, you laugh wondering what he was going to ask you. He hangs up, suddenly standing up right, “Want to come to my practice tomorrow?”. Tsukishima watches as your eyes sparkle, happy that he asked you. “Of course! It’s going to be so sweet! I can see your block and you can show me that new serve you’ve been working on!”

Tsukishima gets up after looking at the time, cursing himself for losing track of time. Grabbing his tote bag, “Don’t get your hopes up, I haven’t fully aced it yet.”. You get up going to the fridge, handing him the cake you packed for him. “With me there I think you’ll kill it!”, you wink and open the door. “Be safe Kei! I can’t wait to see you at practice tomorrow!”. Tsukishima watches as you close the door feeling nervous that you’re going to watch him practice. He puts on his headphones listening to the song you were dancing to earlier, smiling. Heading home and text you on the bus where his practice is and a playlist of his. “We’re officially best friends! The famous Tsukishima Kei sent me his playlist! (ó﹏ò｡)”, he locks his phone. Rolling his eyes and smiling at your dorky response.

Arriving home, he hears Yamaguchi still awake. As he places his things on the table, trying to make space in the refrigerator. “You’re finally home Tsukki. Oh? What’s that big container?”, Tsukishima glances back at him. “Shortcake.”. Yamaguchi jolts up, voice raising, “Can I have some Tsukki?”. Tsukishima nods, “Get some before I put it away.”, Yamaguchi scrambles to find a plate and utensils. “This is so good Tsukki, it reminds me of my sister's shortcake! She makes it the best!”, Tsukishima tenses up. “Whatever Yamaguchi, I’m going to go to my room.”, he places it back in the fridge. Quickly retreating to his room to ignore any further questions or comments. He reflects on the day he had with you, anticipating tomorrow as he listens to the same song on repeat.

Walking to the gymnasium Tsukishima sent you, humming while feeling your heart bump out of your chest in excitement. You were never really allowed at Yamaguchi’s games due to your presence making him more nervous. Reaching the gym, walking in to look around, bumping into a stranger, immediately apologizing. He turns around as you look up to him, noticing he kind of looks like a mix of the Pokémon, Dodrio and Farfetch’d. “Sorry miss but interviewers aren’t allowed in here.”, you clear your throat. “Sorry, I just came from work but I’m with Tsukishima, he invited me to watch his practice.”, you scold yourself for coming straight from work. The man perks up in excitement, “You're her!”. You slightly start to shake your head, “Yeah, I’m her? All good things said, I hope.”, the stranger laughs before extending his hand out to you. “I’m Koganegawa, Tsukishima’s teammate.”, you reach out shaking his hand. “You’ve heard about me?”, your chest tightens. Feeling surprised that Tsukishima talks about you since he seemed like the type to keep his personal life quiet. “Oh, we had to drag it out of Tsukishima that he is seeing someone.”, your heart speeds up.

Were you seeing Tsukishima, is that how he described it? You hadn’t thought about it that way, everytime you were going on these dates, you just felt so comfortable that it didn’t even feel like a date. Usually when you went on dates you felt uncomfortable and uneasy but with Tsukishima it felt simple. Shaking your head, paying attention to what Koganegawa is saying. “He was showing up to practice less uptight and leaving practice earlier than usual. When we asked he turned all flushed, we knew something was up.”, he leaned in whispering. “He must really like you if he wanted to keep you a secret that bad.”. You force down your foolish grin, opting to laugh instead, Koganegawa starts laughing with you, finding you and Tsukishima’s relationship adorable. “Ok, Kogane, that’s enough. We’re scrimmaging in ten, get ready.”, you tilt over Koganegawa’s silhouette to see Tsukishima walking over to you. He suddenly stands taller than before, as if he's trying to one-up Koganegawa.

He comes up to you, placing a hand on your back, your eyes widen in surprise. Is this really the Tsukishima who was awkward when you grabbed his hand? Looking up at Tsukishima, who shows no change in his face yet his body language says everything you need to hear. “I’ll show you to the bleachers, Kogane tell Kyotani I’ll be there soon.”, Koganegawa nods, bidding you both goodbye. You laugh taking Tsukishima’s hand off your back, “Jealous much, Sulkyshima?”. Tsukishima turns away, rubbing the back of his neck, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”. Following him to the bleachers, “Whatever you say Tenacious Kei.”, wiggling your brows at him. Tsukishima suddenly regrets ever asking you here, especially if you were just going to poke him while he’s down.

Reaching the bleachers you glance down amazed, seeing all of his teammates getting ready for the practice match. Tsukishima fiddles with his hands, “Best seats in the house for my supposed “Good Luck charm”.”. You glance back grinning ear to ear, “Do well Tsukishima!”. Everyone from below you looks up to see Tsukishima ears turning the deepest shade of red. He nods, heading down knowing that his teammates were going to be picking on him as soon as he gets down.

“Do well Tsukishima!”, Kyotani fakes an obnoxious female voice. Tsukishima stops before facing him, “Who’s cheering for you Kyotani?”, he says smirking. Kyotani quiets down, retreating back to his position. Tsukishima looks up at you in the bleachers, watching you admire the whole gymnasium and the decorations that adorn it. Catching him look at you, sending him double peace signs and smiling. He feels his brain short circuit, sending you a discrete peace sign back not wanting to get any further attention. He hears a whistle blow, his brain instantly focuses on the game ahead of him wanting to put on a good show for you.

You watch as Tsukishima shuts down a couple of blocks, some he deflects to bounce off his hand. Scared to cheer but internally screaming for Tsukishima every time he helps score. A timeout gets called and you watch the teams gather together to rework their strategy. You see Tsukishima shocked with how tiny he looks compared to his other teammates. Even though he isn’t the tallest on his team, his shoulders were still pretty wide. You see why he’s a blocker now, you feel yourself start to get flushed. You smack your cheeks, giving yourself no time to get flustered instead focusing on the game below you.

You continue watching the game, excited that it’s now Tsukishima’s turn to serve. He looks at his hand then to you, you flash him a thumbs up with shiny eyes. Taking a deep breath before hitting it over, accomplishing a jump float serve for the first time. You celebrate because even though it’s picked up by the other team, he did it! You guess you really were his good luck charm. The ball gets passed back to Tsukishima again, watching him serve again but with more confidence than last time. In your head screaming one more point, watching as the ball floats over hitting the ground.

Celebrating as Tsukishima looks over to you as you mouth the phrase “good luck charm” and puff out your chest. Tsukishima covers the bottom of his face so you can’t see his small smile. He feels proud at this moment, winning for you, even if it’s just a scrimmage game. Although he wouldn’t admit that he won or prolonged the game just for you specifically, never. The coach calls the team together, congratulating the team who won before dismissing the team. You look at Tsukishima who waves you to come down. Excitedly jumping down the stairs, jumping into Tsukishima.

“That was awesome! You were like BAM! and BOOM! That serve was unlike anything I've ever seen! It looked regular but then it turned at the last minute! You’re awesome Tsukishima!”, Tsukishima backtracks. “Um, I’m not that great! I guess I was just having a good day today.”, you shake your head. Koganegawa and Kyotani appear behind you, clasping their hands together to mimic you and Kei’s stature. Tsukishima pulls away from you, “I can show you how to serve. Maybe not a jump float but something new for a beginner.”, grabbing Tsukishima’s arm quickly. “Let’s go!”

Tsukishima excuses himself to go get a clean ball for you as you see Koganegawa behind you. “Kogane! You were awesome in the scrimmage too! When you spiked the ball down it was so cool!”, Koganegawa laughs, feeling confident. “It’s called a setters dump. I’ve gotten pretty good at it. You can only do it every once in a while though!”, you feel your heart jump in excitement. Fascinated with the world that was volleyball. Tsukishima comes up behind you, tapping your shoulder. You turn to see Tsukishima guide you to the line. “The net looks so far away from here!”, you glance back at Tsukishima. “You got this!”, you hear Koganegawa cheer for you.

You send him a thumbs up feeling a little bit better now that you have an audience. Tsukishima rests his head near your head, placing the ball in your hand, fixing your arm. He slowly talks through the way to throw the ball and when you should hit it but you’re too focused on him being so close and feeling his heartbeat on your shoulder. He suddenly backs away, watching you from the sidelines now. You throw it up, hitting it over, only for it to hit the net. Sulking that you missed, Tsukishima laughs. “It’s your first time, you’d be naive to think you’d be able to hit it over instantly.”, you sneer at him. “Hey! Not naive, I was just optimistic!”, you square up to Tsukishima trying to copy his posture. Kyotani and Koganegawa walk up to you,

“Don’t worry he sulks when he misses too. I’m Kyotani.”, you wave, saying hi and introducing yourself back. “He’s so pessimistic, he needs someone who balances him out. Right Kogane?”, Kogane agrees with Kyotani, focusing on practicing his serves. “Shut up Kyotani. Come on, pass the ball.”, you look at Tsukishima questioning what he’ll do next. “You’re going to pass to me next, miss optimistic.”, smirking as he grabs a ball from Kyotani. You look him right in the eye, “Ok, you’re on. Don’t go easy on me either blondie.”.

“For someone who was so confident, you’re not the best.”, you pout. “I’m not a professional volleyball player, okay?”, Tsukishima notices you’ve both been practicing for a long time. Kyotani and Koganegawa both left, leaving you both in the gym alone. “Want to serve one last time, I’ll guide you through it.”, you nod. Wanting redemption for what was your last sucky serve, you can’t tarnish the Yamaguchi lineage. Tsukishima comes up behind you aligning his body with yours, softly grabbing your hand. Placing the ball in your hand, as he guides you to throwing it. Lifting both of your other hands up to hit it, watching it go over the met with additional strength from Tsukishima. You gasp, feeling victorious.

Looking behind to see Tsukishima smiling down at you. You freeze, feeling your hands become sweaty and your ears ringing. Without hesitation he softly grabs your face, you lean in tired of waiting for him to make the move. Feeling your lips meet, dancing against each other as sweetly as you both did in the kitchen. You smile into the kiss wrapping your arms around his neck as he bends down a bit. Kissing as if it was second nature to both of you, feeling comfortable and vulnerable in this moment. The way Tsukishima always felt hanging out with you, vulnerable but yet so comforted in your presence. Not wanting to pull away but slowly losing your breath, you feel him pull away first, wanting to see your face. He looks at your kiss bitten lips, the flush slowly decorating your face and your eyes glossed over with happiness.

When you pull away all you see is reluctance, Tsukishima’s brows are furrowed, his posture is tight, and he can’t meet your eyes. “I have to close up the gym. You should walk home before it gets dark.”, you reach out to Tsukishima but he just pulls away, retreating quickly to the locker room. You stand there for a couple of minutes wondering if he’ll come out but he never does. You pick yourself up and walk home, wondering what happened in that millisecond of you kissing and backing away. Did he want to keep going, did he not want to kiss you, did you misread his actions? You spiral all the way home, texting him as soon as you get home. “Are you okay? Did I do something wrong Kei?”

Tsukishima was still standing in the locker room when he got your text, he watched you leave the gym. He couldn’t help but think that this all got the best of him. He’s going behind his longest friend's back, kissing his little sister. What was he thinking? Yes, he believes you should date anyone you want by why him? Him out of everyone? He knew he messed up when your text had no personal touch to it, at first he thought he misread the ID. Hesitant to answer, scared of betraying Yamaguchi any further but also scared that he’ll hurt your feelings even more.

Yamaguchi was dear to him, Yamaguchi was the one to always snap him out of whatever mental issues he was going through, he shouldn’t pursue this further. He shouldn’t betray the only one who knows the best and worst of him. However, when he thought of you nothing even held a candle to you. Nothing was dearer than you, you supported him, comforted him, made all his faults sound positive. How could he just break your trust like that, he might have been an asshole in high school but he will not allow that to happen again. He won’t let you see that side of him, you don’t deserve it.

Feeling a vibration on your bed you look to your phone, seeing a notification pop up. “I’m fine, I just need to get something off my chest. Tomorrow, can we talk?”, you let out a sigh. Relieved that he even texted you back, “Sure but don’t scare me like that again Tsukishima! (•̀⤙•́ )”. He texts you his address, knowing that Yamaguchi won’t be home till later since he didn’t have a day off. You go to sleep feeling lighter than you did earlier. Curious as to what was going on in Tsukishima’s head. While Tsukishima was charting up all the possibilities to break his problems to you politely as he could.

Knocking on Tsukishima’s door, biting at your lips in nervousness. You watch him open the door as you take in his appearance. His hair is all out of order,, the bags under his eyes are more prominent than ever, and he’s still in his pajamas. Your heart crumbles at the sight, wanting to relieve him of whatever troubles he was having but scared to push him. He welcomes you in and you see Tadashi’s shoes and clothes misplaced everywhere. “Why do you have so much of Tadashi’s clothes?”, you side eye him. Was he cheating on your brother with you? Is that why he pulled away! Oh god this is why he pulled away! “Are you together with Tadashi?”, Tsukishima’s eyes widen looking over at you. “What? No! What are you even saying?”, you still remain stiff not believing him. “We’re just roommates. Did your brother not tell you that he lives with someone?”, you relax just a bit. Sure, they 're just “roommates”, they’re always just roommates. “Show me his room then if you’re just “roommates” then.”. Tsukishima rolls his eyes, walking you to his room, where you walk in and see no signs of your existence, did he really want to hide you that badly.

Tsukishima sees your eyes start watering, following your eyes to see you glancing at all the pictures above his desk. None featuring you or your family, you make a mental note to ask him about that later and reprimand him in the future. Turning to Tsukishima, “Okay, I believe you for now. Next, tell me what’s on your mind because you look awful.”, paying back to him his blunt comments. “I’d prefer we don’t speak in Tadashi’s room. Seems a bit odd.”, you look around nodding. Not wanting to think about your brother at this moment, following Tsukishima to his room. Sitting next to him on his bed while he gathers all the words he rehearsed all night, fiddling with his fingers. You watch as he trips over his words the first couple of times and decide to comfort him. “Tsukishima, you won’t hurt my feelings no matter what you say. You’re my friend no matter what, I’ll harbor no hard feelings. I just want you to be truthful with me, okay?”, you see him nod.

Giving him the confidence to start living outside his mind and speak up, “I don’t regret kissing you yesterday. I regret what’s going to happen after though.”, you look at him intensely. Waiting for him to finish, knowing he’s done with his talk when he stops playing with his fingers. “I thought about it and I like you as more than a friend, I like being with you. However, when we first met Tadashi told me not to go anywhere near you, something about you being off limits.”, you feel your eye twitch. Your brother proclaimed you were off limits while he hid you like the plague. If Tsukishima wasn’t being so vulnerable right now you would’ve raced to him and scolded him. Opting to instead take a deep breath and hold all your comments for the last minute. “I’m nervous that if I get with you, I’ll be giving up my friendship with Yamaguchi.”, he stops playing with his fingers, giving you the okay to talk.

“I appreciate you being so considerate of my brother’s opinion but I’m my own person. Tadashi doesn’t own me, he can’t decide who I like and don’t. I like you too, Kei. I understand though if you don’t want to go through with this relationship if you’re sacrificing a piece of you. I’ve waited for this long, I can wait longer for someone as perfect as you Kei.”, you kiss his cheek getting up for his bed. “Let me know when you’re ready, Kei.”, you start walking to the entrance looking back at him. He nods, glad you’re giving him time to thoroughly think his decision through. He hears the door click, still feeling your lips on his cheek. He goes to lock the door and sit on the couch in silence, letting the clock pass by. Waiting for Yamaguchi to come home, as he contemplates every possible decision in his head. The good outcomes, the bad outcomes, and even the extreme ones, letting them all occupy every corner of his brain.

He hears the door click, “Tsukki, I’m home!”. Yamaguchi turns on the light, jolting when he sees Tsukishima on the couch. “What are you doing? Is this how you spend your days off?”, Tsukishima slowly looks up to where Yamaguchi is. Instead of being overtaken by nerves instead tired, tired of waiting, tired of hiding, and tired of not having you by him. “I like your sister.”, Yamaguchi laughs, waving off Tsukishima’s absurd comment. “Tsukki, did you not sleep today? You met my sister for a second a couple of months ago?”, Tsukishima gets up. Walking to Yamaguchi slowly, “Your sister and I have been seeing each other for those couple of months, secretly going on dates.”. Yamaguchi looks around before meeting Tsukishima’s eyes, “Tsukki, are you sure you're okay? My sister hasn’t mentioned you once?”.

Tsukishima nods, “I wanted to keep it a secret knowing that you said she was off limits. I came to terms the other day that I liked her, I don’t want to hide it anymore.”. Yamaguchi brows furrow because suddenly it all makes sense, from Tsukki staying out late to you ignoring his lunch dates, and the final straw the shortcake. Yamaguchi fastly paces to his bag, grabbing his phone and dialing your number. “Hello Tadashi, What’s up?”, Yamaguchi hands the phone to Tsukishima angrily. “I told him.”, you freeze hearing Kei’s voice over the phone. “Is it true? No, scratch that, why hide it from me?”, you scoff. “The same reason you hid me from your friends, Tadashi. Look, I’m at a cafe near your apartment, I’ll head over right now. Tadashi don’t do anything stupid, please.”, you hang up.

To be honest, Yamaguchi wasn’t upset at the fact you both liked each other more at the fact you both hid everything from him, did everything behind his back. Yamaguchi sits on the couch angrily tapping his feet, awaiting you to arrive. He hears a knock on his door, watching Tsukishima open the door. You smile at Tsukishima, knowing it must’ve taken a lot out of him to tell your brother. “Get in here, now.”, your brother ruins the moment as per usual. Not letting him take hold of the conversation in anger, “Stop, first I want you to calm down.”, Yamaguchi looks over at you frustratedly. “Calm down, you're seeing my best friend and hiding it from me!”, you shake your head. “I didn’t mean to go out with Tsukishima on purpose, okay? My co-worker is Akiteru, when I accepted the date I didn't know they were brothers. It was just a simple fortunate event!”. Tsukishima sees you rambling but he’s never seen you rambling quite like this, this rambling is more like the nervous kind.

Yamaguchi suddenly points at him, snapping him out of his analysis of your unseen behavior. “Speaking of Akiteru, you! You don’t see me sneaking off with your brother! Don’t you hold any form of shame?”, Tsukishima clears his throat. “I wouldn’t mind if you got with my brother because that would be my brother’s decision not mine.”, Tsukishima glances back at you. You feel your breath ease, knowing exactly what Tsukishima is hinting at. “He’s right, it’s my decision. I like Tsukishima and I want you to support me and him, together.”, Yamaguchi glares at you, reluctant to let you and Tsukki get off so easily. “You’re right, I shouldn't hold a grudge against you, you’re a grown woman. You, however, Tsukki apologize to me. This is not very best friend-like behavior.”, you scoff at Tadashi's childish behavior. “Tadashi, stop it.”, you wave away Tadashi knowing he’s just grasping at straws.

“I’m sorry Yamaguchi.”, you and Yams both look at each other than look at Tsukishima, frozen. “You’re right I should’ve told you. I was scared to lose you as a friend.”, Tadashi trips over his words before you stop him knowing Tsukishima wasn’t done talking yet. Tadashi stands there surprised that you know Tsukishima’s body language despite only knowing each other for a couple of months. “More importantly I wanted my relationship to grow with your sister first before I told you anything, I’m sorry for that.”, Tsukishima looks at you. Hoping that you see that you’ve changed his mindset a bit. Yes, he’s tenacious but he’s also pessimistic and not one to admit he’s in the wrong. With you though, he thinks he can improve those parts of himself.

“I’m asking you as my best friend, if you could support us?”, Tsukishima grabs your hand, linking it together with his. As you stumble a bit at the sudden touch but quickly recover and stand up straight. Tadashi looks at you both, nodding. “Okay but you have to name your first born Tadashi.”, you go to hug him, choosing to ignore his comment. “Can I meet the rest of your friends, properly. Start letting people know you have a sister jerk! I’m off the market now, you know so you don’t have to worry!”, Tsukishima rolls his eyes thinking how dorky you sound. You pull back to go by Tsukishima’s side. “So, you apologize now Mr. Tenacious?”, Yamaguchi looks around awkwardly. “I’m heading to my room, don’t be gross!”, you roll your eyes. “I don’t apologize for just anyone, you know.”, you laugh. “Oh, so I should feel extra special since you apologized just to be with me?”, Tsukishima smiles. “Yeah something like that.”, pulling you to him. Kissing him felt even better than last time, he felt free not being held back by secrets or thoughts, overwhelmed by the senses of you.

“Hurry up Kei, we’re already the last ones there!”, Tsukishima rolls his eyes. Not really excited to meet up with his old friends, knowing they’ll just embarrass him. Grabbing his hand and dragging him to the restaurant, “Do you think anything new has happened with Hinata and Kags?”. Tsukishima lets out a breath, “From joining the olympic team, I don’t think so? They just have more of a reason to lose more brain cells over volleyball.”. You smile, “You have to be nice, Stingyshima.”. Tsukishima looks at you in disbelief, “Not you too. See, this is why I was reluctant to meet them. You’re going to start with the name calling.”, you kiss his cheek. “At least I mean it in a loving way, now stop sulking and let’s have some fun.”

Tsukishima and you enter, being greeted by your brother and Yachi first, then making your way to Hinata and Kageyama. Watching as Kageyama and Tsukishima have a weird stare off, Hinata and you laugh at how awkward the two could be. “Hinata, have you learned any new tricks?”, you glare at him excitedly. “Oh nothing too new, Kageyama and I just have to rework our quick but that’ll come naturally.”, you smile excited to see the two work together again.

Tsukishima sits next to you, grabbing your hand under the table. “Don’t worry, these freaks will have their quick down easily. It’s like second nature to them.”, Tsukishima adds slyly. Riling up the pair, “Damn it, Tsukishima.”, Hinata adds. You squeeze Kei’s hand letting him know to cut it out. To which he deflates, knowing he got caught. “What about you Yachi? Design anything new lately?”, she nods. “I designed a new ad to help support the Sendai Frogs actually.”, she pulls out her phone showing the picture to everyone. “Wow, Yachi, this is great!”, you look over the poster and see how it highlights everyone on the team.

“Your teammates look great on this Kei.”, you feel him glare at you. “You’re giving them too much credit.”, you smile. “Yachi, we should talk to our management and maybe get you to design something for the olympic team!”, you fall back watching the conversation flow. Your brother was grateful to have such good friends and you were grateful to now be a part of their group too. Taking a look around, feeling comfort in the conversation, Tsukishima lays his head on your shoulder. The conversation falls silent, “Has Tsukki gone soft?”, Tsukishima looks over. “Shut up Yamaguchi.”

divider credit to @/saradika-graphics, @/thecutestgrotto, @/animatedglittergraphics-n-more and @/princessantisocial

taglist: @0tsukie

˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚ melon's marginalia: happy (late) birthday to my pookie pie! i’m kind of on the fence with how this turned out but i’m a tsukishima girly like nothing is ever perfect, okay? ty for reading!! ♡

@m3l0nfl0at on tumblr. All Rights Reserved. Do not steal, copy, or translate any of my works.

[soaps-hoe-141]

Drowning In The Depths

More art by @foreverrunningfree Everyone say thank you cause this shit cute af

Part 11

Pairing: Captain Price x Male!Reader

WC: 12k

Synopsis: Come rot ya teeth. Both of them are being vulnerable, this shit as rare as a double rainbow (heh get it cause it's pride...I'm sorry).

Warnings: You will need to see a dentist after this chapter, I'm sorry. They needed, they deserved it, and so did I.

Pulling the phone away from your ear you blinked at the ended call screen for a few short moments. What the hell? Why…Just why? Why was it always in the middle of something? Shock and frustration were mixing in your head, making you grip the phone a bit tighter than you should have as you stared ahead at the wall. This was absolutely some bullshit. You felt your jaw tense, teeth clenching together as you tried to fight back that little worm of anger starting to wake up in the back of your mind. 

The bed shifted under your knees as John sat back down and you watched as he leaned back against the wall with a frustrated sigh, apparently he was in agreement with your unspoken thoughts. This wasn’t an unusual thing to you, getting called away in the middle of something important, but it had been a long time since you’d experienced it and you had to admit that the annoyance was beginning to turn into something akin to nerves. Especially when the brunette beside you growled out in a low tone, "Bloody hell." Your eyes darted nervously to him, worried he was about to blame you for this.

Well not so much worried, that was maybe the wrong word. It was more like you were expecting to catch the blame. It was always your fault, especially when it was work calling you. Your ex-wife had made that clear enough, it didn’t matter if the same thing had happened more than once now and it hadn’t been you getting called away. It certainly didn’t matter than when it had been John getting called away you hadn’t blamed him in the slightest. This still felt like it was somehow your fault, like you could have changed Laswell’s mind on when she would call you. Doubtful, that woman definitely had a mind of her own.

Instead John just growled out again and shifted uncomfortably on the sheets, "Every time, every bloody time." Shit here it comes. Your eyes darted to the phone in your hand and then back to him slowly, just in time to see him run a hand down over his face. His fingers audibly scratched against the short brown hairs along his jaw, smoothing them down where they had canted up slightly.

Your eyes slid down to where his cock laid against his stomach now as he ignored it stubbornly, unable to hold his gaze in the oncoming hurricane of what would soon be his anger directed at you. It was obvious he was aching as he shifted his hips against the bed and you saw his freehand grip into the muscle of his thigh in an attempt to still ignore it. Ignore the pulsing and twitching against the skin of his stomach. The throbbing that you could feel mirrored in your own cock. God this was gonna be bad.

John cleared his throat, trying to raise your gaze to his. The Brit shifted forward in his attempt, finally earning a quick flick up of your eyes for his troubles. When your gazes met he took a breath and gave you- Wait was that a smile? His mouth turned up at the corners, it was a tight smile but a smile nonetheless. The nerves began to melt away almost immediately, and you watched as he shook his head before tucking his erection away and the Brit asked calmly, his tone only what you could describe as soft, gentle, "When did you get a phone?" He buttoned the jeans back as you continued to watch him. Almost incredulous about how well he was taking this.

That wasn't an accusatory question, it was simply a curious one, akin to a conversation starter. Your own brows furrowed a bit still expecting the other shoe to drop but he merely raised his brunette brows slowly. He was expecting an answer from you rather than just deadpan silence, you’d forgotten about needing to provide a response in order to carry a conversation for a moment. Your eyes blinked at him a couple times as you fought to regain control of your mouth.

Finally you got your thoughts and limbs back under your control. You pulled the jeans back up over the swell of your ass, ignoring the painful throb at the base of your erection. Clearing your throat you sat down beside him with a deep breath. You looked down at the phone in your hand and finally muttered, "Today actually. Wade gave it to me earlier today. I didn't know anyone even had the number, especially not fuckin Laswell." You reached out to hand it to him instinctively. Any time your ex-wife had mentioned your phone it'd been because she wanted to go through your things.

Sure there wasn't anything on it at the moment but it was still a reaction you couldn't quite suppress. John though just glanced down at it in confusion before he shook his head and gave a light huff of amusement, "No, love, I believe you. Just worried this'll mean we have twice the interruption possibilities in the future." Future, that was good. Future meant he wasn’t at least directly blaming you.

Slowly you pulled it back towards you with a slow nod. You couldn’t stop the sigh of relief, still lingering on how he’d said “Future.” Future meant this wasn’t just a few good kickin of the boots, this was something he didn’t plan on stopping, at least not soon. You hid the relief in your eyes though, the last thing you needed was for him to think you were attached or something…Right? 

Quickly you looked through the phone for the first time since you’d gotten it. Funny enough everyone on the team was already in the contact list, must have been Wade's doing. It was a team phone so you gotta have the team’s numbers, at least it made sense. You typed out a quick message to the number listed in John’s contact, shooting him a simple text. A bit curious to see if the number was actually his or not. Sure enough a second later a little ding came from his bedside table and he smiled a bit, not bothering to look in its direction. “Wade really came prepared with this one.” You gave him a small smile then, catching the lines of worry around his eyes just as they melted off his face and he gave you a nod in answer. 

That primal look in his eyes was gone for the moment as he relaxed against the wall his bed was shoved against. What was he worried about? You? That made something in your stomach do a flip, it felt odd to say the least, but it wasn’t entirely unpleasant. "You better get going then, Laswell doesn't like to be kept waiting. And she doesn't call for just any reason," your eyes widened just a smidgen as you remembered what had interrupted the two of you. Laswell, yes, that's right. You had people to interrogate and a role to play.

Sliding the phone into your pocket you took a breath and glanced down at the tent that was visible in your boxers without your pants buttoned up yet, "Almost forgot about that.” You huffed in sardonic amusement before continuing “I'll uh, if you want I can come back?" You offered hesitantly and he gave you another curious look before you quickly added, "Or not, whichever is fine. I don't have to. Just thought, nevermind-" Starting to scoot off the bed you felt a strong hand grasp at your forearm then, halting your progress as his head tilted a bit.

A little, warm smile was visible in his eyes as he leaned forward, managing to actually catch you off guard. John pressed a soft kiss against your mouth, much more gentle than the one you'd shared earlier. As he pulled away his fingers ran through the hair at the nape of your neck before he spoke again, "If you have time, of course I want you to come back, sweetheart. You're always welcome here, yeah?" His brows rose expectantly, nodding a bit of encouragement until you joined him in nodding along. Refusing to let you remain stoic, wanting to make sure that you did in fact know you were wanted. 

The Brit took a deep breath and a low sigh left his mouth as the hand in your hair pulled you forward, your forehead pressing against his. Neither of you really wanted to leave, that much was obvious, but the both of you knew that work was work. When was it not? When did it not always pull you away from the best things in your life? There’d been a lot more than just leaving John eight months ago that this job had taken from you by force.

Finally though you heard him force out a quick, "Good." One of his large hands slid around to cup the side of your face tenderly, such a drastic contrast to the man who had been about to fuck your brains out not even five minutes ago. He leaned back against the wall again with another sigh and nodded towards the door before he said, "Go see what she needs. When you're done though come back here, can't forget to get your stuff, yeah? It'll be safe here. I won’t let anything happen to it. I swear by it, love. " You didn't even have to look at him sideways in order to get his reassurance, he just gave it without prompting. A proffered encouragement that normally you’d have had to beg for. John was so very different from anyone you'd ever encountered before. Drastically so.

Letting your tense muscles relax you gave another quick nod, "Ok. Yeah I'll just come back," you stopped yourself before you said something stupid but you could feel the slightest hint of a smile playing at the corner of your mouth. It was suppressed though, hidden behind that disappointment that you couldn’t stay here and finish what had been started. Well not really suppressed, more like it was muted. Like the difference between color TV and black and white. It was still there, you could still see it, but you missed some things, it wasn’t quite as eye-catching or vibrant. It was…Hollow.

Still though you forced yourself to move as you slid to the edge of the bed, pausing as you reached it. Your eyes flicked to the legs stretched out beside you, before you glanced back at his curious blue hues again, “I’m sorry.” John shook his head and was already opening his mouth to answer but for once you beat him to the punch, “But thank you, for helping with that.” His mouth shut slowly before he took in a deep breath like he was about to answer before he stopped himself and gave a single nod with a soft smile.

Standing from the bed you reached down to work on buttoning your own pants back. This damn team was gonna give you blue balls before it was all said and done. That wasn’t a worry, that was a fact. There’s no way it wasn’t going to, with how many times these fuckers interrupted the both of you it was a miracle it hadn’t happened yet.

You palmed yourself through the fabric, letting out a deep sigh as you adjusted yourself trying not to think about what you could have been doing if it wasn’t for that fucking phone call. John huffed out behind you, and when you glanced back you saw him doing the exact same thing. Apparently he too was feeling that throb that was refusing to subside. Taking a deep sigh you flexed the muscles in your arms and thighs before you zipped the jeans and fastened the belt again. This was gonna be torturous, almost certainly.

When you glanced back once more John had his face to the ceiling, his eyes shut as he took in a few deep breaths, his jaw tense and the muscles in his neck flexing. Restraining himself from doing something you were almost certain was akin to every time you’d fucked the air because of him. There was a slight grimace on his face that melted away when he realized you weren’t moving anymore. His eyes opened quickly before his blue gaze fixed on you and he tilted his head. Giving him a small smile you cautioned, “Gonna give yourself blue balls there, John. Be careful,” his gaze narrowed as you started to back up towards the door.

He sat up from the wall slowly, sliding to the edge with his gaze still firmly on your slowly retreating form. “Hier, Cerberus,” the dog hurried out from under the table he’d settled underneath once more to join you. A smirk found your mouth before you added to him, “You’ve still got my picture. Don’t think I forgot about it, have fun…Sir,” there was a shift from him on the bed as your eyes darted to the table, his gaze following just as quickly.

The picture he’d tried to take from you sat underneath where you’d left his phone. You heard the light chuckle but sadly you didn’t get the pleasure to see it. The door shut behind you with a thud and you smiled at the ground, face warm and a smile you could no longer hide spread across your face. You glanced up at the sky, a warmth that wasn’t embarrassment or arousal flooded you, something foreign and unknown. It made your heart ache in your chest, but in a way that felt so good it was kind of insane how wide it made you smile despite yourself. God what was he doing to you?

It felt like you were a disney princess and you’d just met your handsome prince for the first time or some bullshit like that. Whatever it was the kids liked to imagine they would run off into the sunset with nowadays. What kind of idiotic, immature emotions were clouding your mind when it came to him? You weren’t sure in all honesty. However, you knew they were good ones, at least good enough to make your mind whirl. It may have been a fucked up fairytale but it was your fucked up fairytale. Not to mention all the sensations rushing through you right now were enough to make you forget how stupid it was to feel like this. This was yours to fuck up now, and there was no way you were letting that man get away. You doubted there was a thing in the world that could keep you from getting your happy ending now.

Shaking your head with a smile plastered to your face, you returned your eyes to the world in front of you. You jolted yourself out of your thoughts, cheeks burning and stomach turning more than a few flips as you headed down the stairs and off on your path. The faster you got this job done the faster you’d be able to get back to him, back to the happiest you’d ever been in your entire life. Work face Speck, get it together. Your smile dropped and you raised a hand to run over your face, clearing it of the easy smile that had been stuck there moments before. Taking in a deep breath you glanced down to the Dutchie at your side as you made your way towards one of the buildings on base. Get your head in the game, there's no telling what you were about to have to do now.

You walked quickly through the hallways, somehow managing to remember the twists and turns all the way back to the interrogation room that had held Labeeb not too long ago. There was a guard standing by the door a little bit down the hall just as there had been the last time. You, however, moved to the other door and raised your knuckles. Your closed fist knocked against it and waited for a few moments. It didn’t take long though before it swung inward, Laswell standing there in front of you before she stepped aside and let you into the room. As you stepped inside your eyes flicked to the one way glass with a sinking feeling creating the beginnings of a pit in your stomach.

One of al-Mustafa’s wives and his son were sitting in a chair in the middle of the white walled room, with a plain metal table in front of her. They'd gotten his first wife, Munisa, a woman in her late thirties from Sierra Leone. At least it hadn't been the second wife with the three daughters, sure that one had been talkative, but every word she'd said had been a lie. Not to mention wrangling three children had made her somewhat immune to things like sleep deprivation and audio torture. The last thing you wanted was to be taking a knife to anyone, that was always a last resort.

You'd held all three of those women and the six children for a week, this was the same woman you’d threatened to kill already, she was never going to tell you anything. She had no reason to, so what was Laswell planning on doing? They hadn’t seen you yet sure, they’d been blindfolded on the way back to base from the warehouse and it was doubtful they would have recognized your voice seeing how easily you changed accents, but this still felt like a bad idea. The confusion was written on your face plainly as Laswell crossed her arms and gestured to the woman through the glass, “I need you to translate.” Really? That’s what had been so damn important she couldn’t wait till John and you were finished? Sure she hadn't known what you were doing, but she'd said ASAP, that you needed to get there now, so why the fuck was it something as stupid as just translating.

The annoyance must have flashed over your features momentarily because you could have sworn there was an amused smile playing at those lips. Like she was privy to information she had no need to know…She probably was, “Something wrong, Speck? Do you have something better to do?” Well no but actually yes. Someone better to do was a more accurate statement.

Your eyes narrowed at her for a moment sensing that somehow she knew, or at least suspected. Shit, had Soap gotten to her as well? Suddenly she gestured for you to follow her, “Play it like you did Labeeb. Relay my questions to her and, what was it you called it last time? Playing your role?” You gave her a slow nod at the questioning tone and she smiled before continuing, “I’ll let you go about it how you see fit. Just get me the information I need.” You followed her out of the observation room, so you did have a real reason for being here then even if you didn't like it. She was using you, that’s fair though, you were a tool. The point of the spear, or at least that was what the Navy had taught you. You stopped as she did in front of the door of the interrogation room, “And I’ll be in there with you, so no going off the rails this time.”

Oh just fuckin great. So now you get another pair of eyes looking over your shoulder. When were people going to learn to just let go of the leash when it came to you? You watched as she typed in her code for the door before she turned the knob. She paused though holding it closed as she turned to look back at you for a few moments with her brows raised expectantly and you finally sighed and nodded, “Yes ma’am. I will stay on the train tracks this time, alright?”

Her smile was pleasant enough as she pushed open the door with a nod. You added in your own thoughts though this time, 'Not like you could understand me if I didn't though.' A hint of that rebelliousness that had made you such a talented leader when you were still a SEAL peeking through your thoughts even as you fought to smother it. Just get the job done, Speck, no need to complicate shit. It was already complicated enough. “Sitz, Cerberus, bleib,” you whispered quietly to the dog, watching him take a seat beside the door before you followed the CIA agent inside.

When she stepped inside though not only did your attitude completely change, hers did as well. You stayed behind Laswell until she broke off to take a seat in the chair across from the woman and her son. As she sat down though you stayed behind the middle aged woman, just out of sight, her young son sitting in her lap with her arms wrapped protectively around him. His back rising and falling slowly as he slept in her arms.

Your jaw tensed at the sight. It had been nearly impossible to look at them the first time you’d taken those women and their children. Now, to look at this sleeping boy wrapped up in his mother’s arms, how did Laswell expect you to make it through this. Especially after you’d unwrapped all those emotions and memories with John and exposed your vulnerability once more. Hell just seeing that kid’s small body made your chest hurt, like an elephant was sitting directly over your heart and refusing to move. There was no way you were gonna make it through this, fuckin hell.

No, Speck. Not now, you had a job to do. You’ve done it how many time before? Just one more time, that’s all you needed. Just one more time and this was all going to be over. So do it. Laswell’s voice sounded first from the table as she addressed the woman, “Munisa?” A dark set of eyes lifted from the table she’d been watching studiously to look directly at the blonde woman in front of her. She didn’t seem to notice there was another person in the room yet, that was fine though, it gave you time to come to terms with your own thoughts. To put your own demons at bay and get your head back on right.

She was definitely one of the women you’d held captive for four days. Jesus fucking christ you couldn’t even look her in the eyes. Hell you could barely even look at her reflection and she still hadn’t even noticed you were there. How was she going to react when she did notice you? Her voice as she spoke made your brows furrow for a moment. She wasn’t hoarse anymore, she was recovering at least. Fuck, get it together Speck. That hadn’t been you, that had been a role you had to play. Quit thinking about it. The past is the past. Three foot world idiot. Play this role now and you never have to look at her again. “No English,” her tone was unsure and cautious, almost distrustful. Still you stayed silent, no need to draw attention to yourself before you were ready.

Laswell nodded quickly to the woman before she answered in English, “I know you don’t speak English. I’ve brought a translator.” You relayed the blonde’s words in Temne, a Niger-Congo dialect. The woman visibly tensed the moment she heard your voice, her shoulders and spine going rigid in the chair. Hell even her arms tightened around the little boy, pulling him tight to her chest. The reaction only made your gaze fall from her reflection, trying to forget what you’d done to cause that and failing miserably. There was no forgetting what you’d done, just get through this.

Your eyes slid back up just as her dark hues darted up to find you in the one way glass, her eyes going wide even as you watched her breathing start to quicken. Oh yeah, she definitely still remembered you. No doubt about that. Somehow you managed to keep away any visible reaction the moment you knew she was watching, and even your voice stayed steady as you translated the agent’s words to the woman. You had done your research on her before you’d met her the first time. Originally she had been from Sierra Leone, in particular the northern province. And as she eyed you, you saw the fear that so many innocents felt when they saw you. She was not the first person to fear the sight of you though, and she likely wouldn’t be the last.

Her hands were near shaking now as she hid her son’s face from your gaze. “Get him out of here. I don’t want that devil anywhere near my son again.” She spoke to Laswell but she couldn’t communicate with the American. Her words were frantic, but there was no meaning there. You watched her as she tried to get it across in Temne, but the blonde woman merely furrowed her brows and looked up at you as if she was oblivious to what you had done to cause the fear in those eyes. As if she couldn’t see terror hidden in those dark, inky pools. Hell Laswell didn’t know though. Sure she could make a good educated guess, but she didn’t really know.

Since you didn’t know the extent of her English you maintained the role even as you spoke to the CIA agent across from her, “She is afraid of Americans, ma’am. This woman does not wish to be corrupted by your country’s loose morals.” Your accent had obviously been from the deep south just a minute ago when you were talking to Laswell outside. Now though it was obviously more local. Not quite recognizable to any particular region, but it was certainly as far from American as one could get. That skin was now shed and you’d slid into a new one, one that had your gaze darkening in a silent threat at her. Play the role and get this shit over with.

Shifting your gaze back down to the woman, you listened as Laswell spoke again, “Tell her not to be afraid. We only wish to ask her a few questions and then she will be free to go.” You nodded slowly and you weighed the words in your mind. Wondering how you could put this without relaying Laswell’s exact words. How to construe the meaning to further your own cause? A silent moment passed as Munisa glanced up at the glass and then back to the blonde woman waiting to hear what she had to say on what was almost certainly bated breath.

Finally you settled on, “We leave when you answer our questions. She can’t understand you, and if you try to tell her something that I don’t like…” Your words trailed off as you watched her in the glass, her eyes darting nervously back and forth between the blonde’s sky blue eyes and your own hues. Munisa started to shake her head slowly, about to refuse to cooperate until you said again, “You know what I am willing to do, think of your son.”

Dark pools flicked down to her son as her grip tightened on the sleeping form clutched in her arms once more. Laswell’s head tilted curiously as she looked up at you wondering what it was you had said even though you were sure she understood the gist of it all. When she looked back up at the blonde woman there was a look almost of acceptance in her eyes. There was nothing she could do but cooperate, not without risking her and her son’s life. The American woman had played her cards right once more. She had used you once again to her own gains, your past which was darkened with the blood of the innocent aiding in her quest to hunt down Al-Mustafa.

Munisa sat a little straighter, her arms still wrapped around her son as she pulled him down into the safety of her bosom. Finally she spoke again and you listened as she did her best to project confidence into her voice, “I will answer her questions. Do not touch my son, you demon.” Under any other circumstances you might have laughed, you definitely would have smiled, but not here and not now. She deserved respect and you wished you could have given it, but it wasn’t your place.

Turning your eyes to Laswell you finally stepped around the table, taking a seat beside the blonde as you translated simply, “She will answer your questions. What do you want to know?” Your eyes narrowed when you noticed the woman across from you swallow hard, she understood that, or some of it at least. You’d have to be careful with your words both in English and in Temne. When you looked back to Laswell you could see the recognition in her eyes as well.

Good. That meant you wouldn’t have to police her words as well. The American woman sat forward then, the file in her hands hitting the table now as she began the interrogation in earnest. “You are the wife of Amaan Al-Mustafa, correct?” You translated for the woman as she gave a slow, cautious nod in the affirmative. “Munisa I need for you to answer me verbally for my records,” again you translated Laswell’s request.

The woman sighed before she gave another, firmer nod and answered, “Yes I am one of Amaan al-Mustafa’s wives. He has two others, but I am his first wife.” It took you a moment to translate the words in your mind. The Niger-Congo dialects were so hard to work through sometimes considering they weren’t actual languages themselves, rather they were just different ways of saying certain words. It made your thoughts pound as you sorted through what she had said, taking a few moments as you stared at the woman now sitting across from you. Both women’s eyes were on you now as the silence began to stretch on, neither really understanding why you still weren’t saying anything. Munisa even went so far as to pull her son closer to her as she watched you, afraid she might have said something that you didn’t like.

Finally though you managed to give Laswell a translation, telling the blonde, “She is only one of al-Mustafa’s wives. He has two more.” Quickly your eyes darted to the darker skinned woman who met your gaze for only a moment before shooting her eyes down to the tufts of curly hair that her son sported. “I believe the other two are named Reema and Raita, they are sisters.” At the mention of the other two women you saw a momentary chink in her carefully created exterior. It wasn’t that much different than your own carefully constructed armor. Your eyes narrowed for a moment as you watched her before you asked her, “What is it? Are you holding out on us, Munisa?” Her jaw tensed as her mouth pressed to the soft, wiry curls atop her son’s precious head.

She started to shake her head, but when she glanced up to find your cold gaze she stopped mid shake. Had her head and neck not been covered you knew you would have seen her throat bobbing as she swallowed. Oh yeah she was definitely holding onto a piece of information, and it was your job to get that information no matter what it took. Sliding the chair back slowly you stood up, stepping around the table to sit on it beside her. Close enough that you could have reached out to touch her if you were so inclined. More importantly though you were closer to the boy now, she jolted at the change and immediately shifted the boy to her other shoulder.

It was a futile attempt to keep him away from you. Your brows knitted together in annoyance even as the little boy began to finally stir from his sleep after his mother had moved him so abruptly. Fuck, just stay quiet kid, please don’t do anything stupid. You couldn’t hurt that kid, no matter how much you tried to bluff and scare her, that was a line you couldn’t cross. It was a line you would toe but the idea of hurting that little boy was hitting too close to home.

Your own son hadn’t been much older than him when you’d last seen him. The memory of holding him as a baby still sat so close to your heart there was no way in hell you’d ever be able to bring yourself to harm the little boy in front of you. Your two kids were the only light you’d gotten from your marriage with Rachel. They were truly the only reason you’d ever even married her and stayed married. How could you put that behind you and harm this innocent child? You couldn’t.

When a pair of chocolate brown eyes lifted to find your face it felt like you were frozen. Hide it, don’t let her see it. If she sees the weakness you will lose every bit of leverage you had over her. She will know. Role, play your role, that’s it play the role. A smile lifted the corners of your mouth, but it never reached your eyes. Laswell stayed silent behind you, a faint memory now as you slid comfortably back into the skin she’d put you into. “Tell me what you’re hiding Munisa,” still her eyes stayed on the table in front of her, not able to bring herself to find your eyes.

She diligently stared back at you, even as her son whispered, “Mommy? What is-'' The woman stopped her son from speaking, trying to pull the boy back down to her chest as she did her best to keep him quiet. The child struggled in her arms though, rarely did children know what was best for them. He pushed himself up off his mother’s chest as you and Laswell both watched her struggling to control the child. Munisa was nearly frantic now as she fought to hold onto the boy. This was about to get out of hand, it was time to intercede. Time to get this over with.

You pushed up off the table and your hands slid underneath the boy’s arms, lifting him off his mother’s lap. The panic in Munisa’s eyes then was obvious, her entire body freezing in her chair. Halfway between standing and sitting with one hand braced on the table and the other on the back of the chair. You held the boy in your arms, narrowing your eyes down at her for a moment before you turned to look at the wide eyed child in your arms. He too was frozen as his gaze darted back and forth between you and his mother. Something that wasn’t quite fear but more like caution in his eyes now. “Munisa,” the woman finally seemed to breathe and forced herself to sit back down in the chair, “What are you hiding?”

Even as you held the boy in your arms she was quiet. There was no chance in the world her loyalties for al-Mustafa were stronger than her protectiveness over her own son. Your gaze shifted back to the boy in your arms who was still watching you with a cautious look, “Your name is Umair yes?” You couldn’t even help the softness that came through in your tone. It only seemed to add fuel to the woman’s fear though. A snake whispering falsities to her son. The little boy nodded in answer then and you gave another soft smile that you somehow managed to keep out of your eyes again.

Moving with the boy in your arms behind his mother and towards the door you felt the woman’s eyes on your back as you moved. Stopping at the door you put a hand on the handle before asking, “Do you like dogs, Umair?” The child in your arms nodded again, the caution beginning to melt away now, and you started to open the door, “Would you like to meet my dog, Umair?” He gave you an excited nod then, nearly vibrating in your arms with expectation. But when you pulled the door open and started to step out, looking down at the dog who hadn’t moved an inch from his place, there was a gasp behind you.

Your eyes shot back to the woman who was standing up now, about to move in your direction before Laswell grabbed her by the shoulder and stopped her. “Stop, please don’t take my son. I-” she stopped herself again, almost as if it was a trained response. It probably was, al-Mustafa always did strike you as the rat bastard type even before you even knew what he looked like. “I can-” again she stopped, seeming to debate with herself but when you looked away from her down to the dog at your feet, the panic seemed to overwhelm whatever block was stopping her from speaking finally. “I can give you Amaan!”

The moment that name came out of Munisa’s mouth, bright blue eyes shot up to find you, waiting for the translation even though she already knew what it was the woman had offered. Cerberus’ head was in the door now, looking up at you with his head tilted. Even he was a silent threat, a monster that this woman had seen the last time she’d been under your control. “She said she’ll give us Amaan,” Laswell nodded slowly and looked towards the woman as you asked her, “How can you give us Amaan? I need a guarantee, Munisa.” Her mouth opened for a minute, her eyes darting between you, her son, and the American woman beside her.

It took a few seconds before she managed to answer back, “He…He is…Amaan will be with Reema and Raita and I can find them for you. I swear it. You dismantled all his contacts in the country, they are the only other people he knows here who aren’t dead. He sent them to a different warehouse with their children, it’s why they weren’t there when you assaulted the building.” You watched her carefully for a few seconds before you glanced down at Cerberus and motioned for him to follow you inside the room. Closing the door you looked at the boy with his wide brown eyes and took a step closer to the woman.

You stopped though when your eyes narrowed, “What do you mean you can find them? Do you not know where they are?” The dark hues flicked back and forth between Umair and you, relief obvious on her face now that you weren’t actively trying to leave with the boy.

Munisa took a moment to compose herself before she finally answered you, “They, well we, all have microchips. Amaan knows where we are at all times. It’s how he found us at that safehouse with the man.” What the fuck? “And I can access that for you, I will give him to you. Just please, do not hurt my son. He is innocent.” Well that was the truth. The poor boy never should have been caught in the middle of this, hell she never should have been caught in the middle of this either.

Wait. Back it up for just a moment. “You are microchipped?” She nodded, your eyes slid over to Laswell where she was still holding Munisa by the shoulder. Quickly you relayed the information to the blonde woman, your stare hardening as the American lost her composure for a moment, seeming almost shocked by the revelation. You certainly were. That man treated them like fucking dogs, hell he treated them more like cattle than dogs. At least most dogs were treated halfway decent.

You’d seen the scars that marked that woman’s body beneath the layers of fabric covering her. God you hated him more than you hated even yourself probably, and that was hard as hell to do. Laswell jumped back into the conversation then, well the interrogation anyway, “Ask her how to access the locations. And ask her where the microchips are located, we need to remove them as fast as possible.” You took another step closer before relaying the questions to the dark skinned woman.

She sighed and her hand settled near where the bone of her hip would have been. No wonder you hadn’t seen it the first time. Yes you were a monster, however you were far from that kind of monster. “I need a computer to access the locations.” You relayed the information to Laswell who was quick off the block. Her phone appeared in her hand with a flick of her wrist, like a magic trick you'd seen from that traveling circus guy one time when you were a kid. 

Laswell typed out something quickly before looking back up, "Give the boy back. I will handle the rest, Speck. Be ready to go soon." Your eyes shifted to the boy who was starting to squirm in your arm, your shoulder beginning to ache with the weight of him there. You still weren't healed all the way and you'd nearly forgotten about it until just now. After you'd been holding this precious, young child for long enough to make Soap's stitches sting where they were holding the skin together in your arm.

Munisa's wide eyes still looked between you and her son, her hands raised out in front of her, a pleading look in her eyes. "Yes ma'am," you managed to get out before shifting the boy in your arms and holding him out. The woman snatched the child from you, pulling him into her chest as she hid his face away from you again. Cerberus' weight leaning against your still healing thigh was all that kept your mind from wandering now. The only thing grounding your thoughts.

Lifting your chin you stamped a look of pure neutrality on your face and stepped back, pushed the handle down, and left the room in stride. The guard standing at the door glanced at you for a quick moment before muttering, "Good evening, sir." Their back was stiff, their arms stuck to their sides as they stood at attention. You gave a simple nod to them even despite your own feeling of what you could only describe as exhaustion. It wasn’t in you to be rude to someone who didn’t deserve it though, not when you weren’t having to be ‘Speck’. Thankfully a nod seemed to suffice as their eyes returned to the wall across from them.

Cerberus’ weight against your leg drew your eyes away from them, seeming to pull you out of your raging thoughts once more. God you hadn’t seen your own kids in two years, nearly three now. Turning down the hallway and walking mindlessly through the maze of corridors you couldn’t stop your wandering thoughts. Emma would be almost twenty-one now, a junior in college. Well she might be graduating early actually, she’d mentioned that the last time you’d spoken to her. God that’d been such a long time ago now. Hell Logan was almost eleven now or wait…

You pulled the phone out of your pocket with what was almost panic as you checked the date. Fuck. He’d turned eleven already, two days ago. Yet another birthday that his father had been absent from. A twist of pain churned your stomach at the revelation. You couldn’t even manage a simple facebook message to your own kid? Rachel had been right to call you a deadbeat father. What was it she’d said again? “Just like your real dad, should have known.” A sigh left you as you navigated through the phone, adding the one app you actually used. The last string of connection you actually had to your children and your family back in the States.

Putting in your login you scrolled through your ex-wife’s page, looking at the latest pictures from Logan’s birthday party. His light brown eyes brought out your own smile, even as you continued to feel that ache deep in your gut. A knife of pain you couldn’t escape even as you pressed the button to turn the screen off and shoved the phone back into your pocket. Never should have agreed to get close to Munisa’s boy, never should have opened that damn app, and you never should have even tried to pretend you were straight. All of this heartache could have been avoided if you’d just been truthful with yourself back then.

One hand was on the head of the big Dutchie beside you, the other shoved into the pocket of your pants, finger running against the corner of the phone absently. Your eyes were glued to the tiles passing underfoot. You were so engrossed in said tiles that you didn’t even notice the approaching man ahead. Not until you ran smack into him anyway. A solid chest slammed against your own, jolting you out of your quickly deteriorating thoughts. Your gaze shot up to those almost too familiar ocean blue eyes before you blinked once and took in the sight of him.

His head tilted curiously as he watched you, a firm grip finding the bone of your hip as he steadied you, "Everything ok, love?" Not really but it was nothing he needed to worry about, and nothing that could be fixed by simply talking about. You'd abandoned your children to be here, abandoned your family so you could risk your life over here. There was no fix, nothing he could do, so as far as he was concerned…

"Yeah, I'm good. I's just thinkin," that seemed to spark interest in those eyes. Shit. Should've just left it at, you were good. Say something before he asks, if he has to ask you won't be able to lie about it. The furthest you can get from what you'd just done and what you'd been thinking about, "Bout you." The curious brows lowered and a small smile softened his features. 

And like magic your own thoughts began to shift and your tight, nervous smile began to loosen and mirror his own softness. Just the idea of thinking about him turning you into a nearly giddy mess. Your mind wandered to how you'd left him, disheveled and wanting, with your picture within arms reach of where he'd been on the bed. "How'd you like that picture?" A knowing grin found your face when his cheeks started to go red beneath that brunette beard, his eyes darting down the hall as he pulled away from you.

His hands settled on his hips as he watched you for a moment before he sniffed and lifted one hand to wipe nervously at his nose. The same hand smoothed down over his mustache and then scratched at the hairs along his jaw. Damn, that’s what you wanted to do. Just run your fingers through those short hairs that always felt like pin pricks against your skin when he was kissing along your exposed flesh. When you ran your fingers through them though it always felt so soft, so soothing, like when he held you close enough you could feel his heartbeat like a soothing melody against your cheek.

A deep voice jolted you from that dangerous train of thoughts, drawing your eyes up from where you’d been watching his hand running through his beard and back to his blue depths. When you gave him a questioning tilt of the head he did a poor job suppressing his smirk before he said again, “I loved that picture, sweetheart.” He nodded his chin down the hall the way you had come, beckoning you to follow him. Quickly you fell into step beside him with Cerberus at your hip. The small, knowing smirk should have annoyed you but instead it only drew you closer. It made you want to kiss it away. Now there was a thought.

John may have gotten to have his fun but you’d been called away to do some less than enjoyable things. Now that he was here it was all you could do not to jump him in this fuckin hallway. You’d always thought that maybe it was just because you had some good self control, or at least a modicum of self respect. Yeah that was a blatant lie. You’d just never been completely head over heels infatuated and attracted to someone else.

The brunette beside you had completely unraveled the idea you had begun to believe that maybe you just truly weren’t attracted to anyone. Like you’d put yourself above those kinds of feelings. Sure there had been McCann but you’d never acted on those desires and even that had taken years to grow into something more than friendship. Whatever this was with John it was burning hotter than the sun and you knew it was going to consume you if you weren’t careful. Hell, let’s be honest, it was already consuming you, the only option now was to just ride it out and enjoy.

“Are you listening to me or are you still thinking?” Again the man beside you jolted you from your thoughts. Son of a bitch you’d gotten distracted again. You shot him a quick look, finding him already watching you as the two of you took a turn towards the squad room.

Taking in a breath you lifted your chin and offered him an apologetic smile, “Sorry bout that, John.” He shook his head about to say something along the lines of ‘Don’t worry about it,’ or ‘It’s ok, love.’ You didn’t give him the chance though, quickly saying, “I’m listening now though. You’ve got my undivided attention.” You leaned towards him as you walked, your shoulder brushing against his and your lips nearing his ear as you added, “I promise, angel.” The flush in his cheeks, which had finally begun to recede, returned in an instant and he smiled a bit wider, clearly still enjoying the name you’d given him.

There wasn’t a chance in hell you were about to let him think that you didn’t care about what he had to say. You’d been on the receiving end of that for twenty years, you knew how that felt. No one deserved that shit, especially not him. This man deserved the world and you’d give it to him if you could.

He stopped outside the squad room and put in the code for the door before he pushed it open and repeated himself, “Laswell texted me and said we had new intel finally. I’m guessing you had something to do with that, eh?” You gave him a quick nod in response as you followed him into the squad room. At least you didn't have to nearly kill someone to get the information this time.

The squad room was devoid of the others, either they were on the way or they hadn’t gotten the call yet. That was fine, you didn’t want to deal with all of them right now anyways. You’d had enough of their bullshit for one day already. John didn’t even know that they all knew. Fuck, they all knew. You really should tell him that they all knew exactly what both Soap and Ghost had seen in their Captain’s bunkhouse. God that was gonna be a hard conversation to have to say the least.

Not right now though. John still wasn’t done talking, pay attention, “I didn’t think you’d have time to go back to my bunkhouse so I went ahead and fixed the shirt back how you had it. Everything’s inside it and I locked the door, it’ll be safe in there.” This man was a fuckin dream, no one deserved him, especially not someone like you. God he was perfect.

John slid a key into the lock of the door to his office before he opened it and led you inside, “Laswell was about to call all the boys in, probably within the hour, anyway.” Again you gave him a quiet nod to show you were listening, unsure how else to engage in the conversation. It was still weird having someone trying to talk to you rather than just talking and expecting you to listen. You felt almost like you were navigating a minefield of what to do and what not to do. Except you had the overwhelming feeling that Price would never explode at you the same way that your ex-wife would have.

You didn’t notice the quiet look he leveled at you, concern riddling his expression for just a moment before he hid it when your eyes found him once more. “You sure you’re ok, love?” A simple nod and smile were all he received in answer before you took a seat in one of the chairs in front of his desk. Just smile and nod and eventually he’ll believe…right?

He leaned back against the desk, his hands bracing on the edge as he fixed you with a narrow eyed look. Well damn. Yeah he wasn’t believing your smiles and nods anymore. You’d been quiet for too long and he was on to you. Speak, now, or he’ll drag this shit out of you by force, “I’m fine, Price.” That name had him shifting against the desk, his face going blank as he receded into his own thoughts for just a quick moment before you managed to add, “Kinda disappointed I didn’t get mine today since you’ve been keeping me so well satisfied but other than that I’m just…peachy.” You couldn’t help the small smile that turned up the corner of your mouth at that. He didn’t understand it, but you did, and it served to make the heartache just a bit lighter.

A bandaid over the emotional pain you’d just been fighting so diligently to hide from him. The hint of a smile on your mouth, what had been a mask moments before, was now turning more genuine by the second. Even if you didn’t truly feel it at first just pretending seemed to go a long way as you focused on the brunette and the expression he wore which was quickly becoming more and more flustered. God he was adorable, he was everything you’d never experienced before, and he was quickly becoming the only source of happiness in your otherwise lonely and dull life. Shit.

John huffed and shook his head, his hands releasing the edge of the desk and they were about to cross over his chest before an impulsive thought shot through you. Your hand reached out and took his of its own volition, without even consulting with your mind for its opinion. You held the weight of it in your palm, your eyes tracing the lines along the back of his hand, the faded scars and the popping veins and the dark hairs that covered his skin like a fine dust. It was an experiment with the feel of both of your calluses rubbing together, the rough texture of dry, well-used hands running across one another. It was a foreign feeling to hold another person’s hand, especially a man’s, but it felt…good. Warm. Heat seemed to radiate off every part of his body, warming what you hadn’t even realized was ice in your veins until just now.

The open wounds of your soul stitched together merely by his presence alone. A balm for your aching soul with the addition of his touch. It was a soothing sensation that you usually only felt running over your thighs and hips when the both of you were naked and panting and needy. Now though, with it running against the worn and torn skin along your own palm it wasn’t nearly as sensuous, but damn if it didn’t feel ten times more intimate than anything you’d had with him recently. 

Hell it was reminiscent of the first night you’d met this man who was changing your life one step at a time. When you’d been sitting on his couch and he was doing everything in his power to keep you wanting for more from him. It wasn’t like you’d never held hands before, it wasn’t a foreign concept to you, but his was the first you’d ever actually wanted to hold before and been able to hold without the possibility of guilt or shame swallowing you whole like a pit in the earth. There was truly never any shame when it came to John Price, not unless you were the one making it anyway.

Swallowing hard, your gaze shot up, looking up at him beneath long eyelashes to find him watching you with a quizzical expression. Curious as to what you were doing, but obviously pleased to be the one you were doing it with. You couldn’t blame him, it was doubtful you’d have done this with anyone else but him. Was this what all those old country songs were about, or any song really. Not the slow and sad ones but the other ones, the ones you watched couples dance to at bars. The ones who always made your chest tighten while a longing for something you’d never experienced before rose in your chest. 

“What’s your favorite song?” The question escaped you before you could stop it. Your brows furrowed and your forehead wrinkled up at the memory of the pain that sat right at the tip of your sternum where your xiphoid process sat just beneath the skin. It traveled upwards, making your throat tighten almost painfully before you forced it down, still watching him carefully. Though you did release your grip on his hand then, sitting back in the chair with a nervous glance down at your still warmed palm. The scratch of where his calluses had run along the length of your own still fresh in your mind.

Your question must have caught him off guard just as much though because he didn’t answer even when you finally looked back up at him. His face was set in stone, his expression and features chiseled into the wall of granite he’d been carved out of, marred only by the occasional scar and the dark, flat moles that occasionally dotted his skin. It was almost like he didn’t understand the question so he didn’t want to answer, or maybe he wasn’t sure how to answer. It was your turn to be a bit more forceful though it would seem, “I asked what your favorite song was, John. I’d rather not have to ask again.” The ocean hues were boring into you as they narrowed now, his intense gaze setting your face on fire though his mirrored your own. A light flush working its way onto his skin.

Ignore it and he will answer, don’t give into him this time, stay strong. That was probably the hardest thing in the world to do though. Not give in to him? John Price? The man who you literally couldn’t deny anything, even when your life was in danger. Even when he had a gun to your head. It felt like an eternity of this. His blue gaze stuck on your face, eyes watching and examining with deliberate slowness. Almost like he was trying to throw you off as much as your question seemed to have thrown him.

Finally though he cleared his throat and gave you an unsure shrug, “Don’t really have a favorite song, love. Just listen to whatever strikes my fancy at the time.” You leaned over, resting your elbow on the arm of the chair as you watched him now, your hand raising to rest your mouth against the back of the knuckles on your hand. He shifted against the desk again before his arms finally managed to cross over his chest without you impeding their progress this time.

There was a weakness there, you weren’t certain what it was causing it but you could see it. Your relentless gaze picking away at it as he tried to hide it, tried to hide his shifting hips and his gaze that would flick away for half a second before finding yours once more. It was barely noticeable, almost like it wasn’t happening at all. Had you been of weaker mind and spirit you might have believed that it wasn’t, that it was your mind playing tricks on you.

At least up until he sighed and muttered, “Quit looking at me like that.” Huh? Your face lifted back up, hand dropping to hold onto the arm rest. You tilted your head curiously. He finally couldn’t help it, his mouth splitting into a smile as he said simply, “Don’t even know what you’re doing, do you?” You shook your head in answer and he relaxed finally, you could see the muscles untense and his posture slouch just a bit, “Feels like you’re interrogating me. Mind not doing that, Speck?”

Your face broke out into a wide grin then, “Oh, is that what’s got ya all shifty and flustered?” John huffed in amusement and shook his head. His fingers were still digging into his biceps though and when they tightened you knew you were right. “Just tell me whatcha like to listen to, angel.” His mouth tightened into a thin line, his eyes shutting for just a moment as he controlled some kind of urge.

Of course you didn’t know why he was controlling it but maybe he just wasn’t in the mood, or maybe yall didn’t have the time. Whatever the reasoning was didn’t matter though because he finally gave in, his voice dropping almost a whole octave as his gaze landed on you once more, “I like a little bit of everything. Ever since that night we met though I’ve been…” He stopped and watched you for just a moment before he asked, “Why don’t I just play it for you, eh love?” Oh now that was interesting. You couldn’t help but sit forward in the seat at the offer, a nod signaling that yes he most definitely should just play it for you.

He fished in his pocket for his phone as you stated quickly, “I haven’t heard any good music in years. Most I’ve gotten the privilege to hear was some damn elevator music during my time in the UK.” You smirked a bit at that, it wasn’t a humorous smirk though, it was one almost of disdain for the financial situation you’d found yourself in over the past few years. There was a quizzical look in the other’s eyes before you shrugged and gave him an easy smile to ease what you took almost as worry from him, “I can’t afford any of those apps and I haven’t been back in the US for a while. And any music out here I can’t really enjoy, not like the music back home. I’m too worried I’m about to get shot in the head every damn second I’m outside the wire. And the music’s good, but it’s not…It’s not what I grew up with, ya know?”

John’s hand lowered slowly with the phone still in it, the heavy phone finding the desk beside where he was leaning against it. You held up a finger though, glancing to the side in thought before you corrected, “I take that back actually. Soap was kind enough to serenade all of us in the showers when we got back. So I have heard that ‘music’ if you can call it that.” Your eyes darted back to his face to find his soft little smile, a pleasant reminder of the good that surrounded you when he was near.

The Brit chuckled a bit and nodded, “I can imagine. That’s why I always get in and get out as fast as possible. Anything to avoid listening to Katy Perry and Celine Dion on a loop. Kid has a set of lungs on him. I can tell you that.” Your smile turned genuine once more and you gave a short laugh. John’s smile widened and he leaned forward, grabbing your hands before hauling you out of the chair. Widening his stance until your hips were slotted perfectly between his thighs, “What kind of music do you like then, love? Pop? Rock? Or uh I think Ghost likes that loud stuff, heavy metal, you like that?” Your gaze slid down from his eyes to his mouth before returning to those deep pools you could have drowned in, and would have willingly if he’d asked.

His head tilted questioningly before you shrugged and answered, “You mean like when I’m back in the US?” John nodded in answer, his hands snaking around your waist, thumbs rubbing circles against the point of your hip seemingly absent-mindedly. You were anything but. It made your skin run hot, a searing burn running directly up from where he’d planted his hands at your waist and flushing across your cheeks in red hot waves. Swallowing hard you had to force your mind to focus, your mouth opening to answer though for the first couple tries it stayed stubbornly silent. At least until you managed to answer, “Guess I’m a bit of a cliche, John. Country music usually, new and old, I don’t really discriminate.”

John gave a slow, almost appreciative and understanding, nod. One hand slid up your side, on a warpath north. Your shirt caught against his palms and bunched in certain places before it crossed the threshold at the collar. Fingers were sliding over the muscle of your neck before stopping at the line of your jaw, “That’s not a cliche. Just a by-product of circumstance. I imagine it’s comforting to hear the music of home, sweetheart.” His fingers were still resting against your jaw as his thumb ran against the point of your chin. Barely more than a soft swipe over the facial hair that had grown there.

His mouth turned up in a gentle smile before he pulled gently at the hairs there and whispered, “The beard looks good on you.” The fingers holding your face pulled you down towards his mouth, but before you could reach what you so desperately sought he stopped your downward descent and whispered in front of your lips, “I mean it. Looks amazing,” your eyes darted between both of his, seeking sincerity and of course you found it. He was always sincere. John Price did not give idle or false compliments, he sought the truth and he told the truth. Always.

The grip on your chin loosened and he let you finally press your lips to his. Soft and sweet, so much of what you never knew you needed from someone. This wasn’t the ‘tough love’ you were so used to receiving, this was a tender sort of care. His hand slid around to the back of your head, your eyes squeezing shut as you leaned into him. John’s free hand rested at the small of your back, holding you close as the two of you enjoyed one another. You were losing yourself in him, in his touch and the way your facial hair rasped against his.

When he pulled back it took you off guard, leaving your mind feeling as if it was missing a vital piece of itself. An ache starting in your chest as he watched you, until you managed to open your eyes and find his soft gaze. Your eyes glanced down to where your hands were bracing on either side of his hips against the desk. Finding his blue hues once more with your head tilted questioningly and your mind on the verge of annoyance at being stopped for the second time today. And this time it wasn’t even some out of the loop third party, it was the fucker you were trying to…well…fuck.

The hand at the small of your back was suddenly gone as John reached for his phone once more. You hadn’t heard it ring or buzz, what the fuck was he doing? Why were you being left high and dry? What was so damn important on that fuckin phone that he felt it was necessary to leave you wanting?

And then the music started. The annoyance that had begun to appear on your face falling away like the drop of a hat. Your expression went blank as the melody rolled out of the phone’s speaker. You stared down at the screen for a few seconds, the album cover for Cody Johnson’s On My Way To You staring back at you as it played. It was clear you weren’t sure what he was doing, or even how to react as your eyes returned to his face.

John couldn’t help the small smile on his mouth as he set the phone back down on the desk and asked, “This one good? This is your kind of music then?” Your confused expression changed then to almost a bewildered amusement, a short chuckle leaving you before you saw the amusement mirrored in his eyes as well. His hands found your hips again before he stood from where he’d been sitting on the desk, pushing you back a step as he muttered, “I’ll take that as a yes then, love.”

Your arms slipped around his waist as you sighed and nodded, “Yeah John, this is my kinda music.” He gave a satisfied nod, seemingly proud of himself. The lyrics were turned into a whisper, somewhat muted by the snort you couldn’t muffle and the expression on the brunette’s face that you couldn’t quite place. “How did you even get this? You got one of them fancy apps or somethin?” John shrugged as his hands slid a bit further around, his forehead leaning down to rest against yours even as you felt the fingers digging into the flesh of your backside.

It wasn’t completely unexpected when you felt him rock you a bit in his arms, your foreheads pressed against one another and his hands keeping the two of you locked together. It may not have been what you initially wanted but you had to admit, this was just as good. Maybe it was even better, actually. A soft smile found its way onto your lips as you listened to the words playing.

Your eyebrows rose as you suddenly felt his chest vibrate against yours and he hummed along to the song, not quite believing what you were hearing even as he whispered the words, “All the damage done, I was just passin’ time, kinda just passin’ through, on my way to you.” It was shocking enough to hear the Brit singing a country song, it was even more shocking to hear him sounding so familiar and so easily American as he did it.

Brunette brows rose as he watched you during the short silence in between the verse and the chorus. His eyes squinted ever so slightly as he held his smile at bay. The deep voice went quiet as the two of you returned to listening to the song, his arms rocking you steadily though not actually in time with the music. Just enjoying the dancing and the closeness that it brought without having to worry about being on beat.

Lips pressed lightly to your forehead before he pulled you closer, your cheek resting on his shoulder and his chin on yours. Your throat felt tight and only seemed to get more so as you strained to get out the words, “All the boats I’ve missed, all the hell I’ve cause, all the lips I’ve kissed, all the love I’ve lost, I thank God for that, I guess he always knew, I was on my way to you.” In all your life you’d never felt the need to cry so much. Hell you’d never been so close to someone that you felt comfortable doing that. It was an overwhelming sensation though, a feeling you couldn’t hold onto anymore though.

The tears slipped down your cheeks in rivulets, staining the shoulder of his shirt. And as the two of you continued to dance slowly to the music, even as the song changed, you could feel even him relax against you. It wasn’t just you. John was feeling it too. Tears were soaking your shoulder as he found comfort for whatever it was ailing him in your touch. Two halves of a whole that had finally been pieced together to put two of what seemed like the most distanced of people in one another’s path. And thank God for that.

[deans-baby-momma]

Law & Love Chapter 9

A/N: This chapter and the next might be triggering to some so here's my warning. READ WITH CAUTION! I don't know how to warn against what is in this chapter without revealing what is in this chapter.

THEN

I see his finger squeeze the trigger and I close my eyes as the sound of a gunshot reverberates through the diner.

NOW

'Am I dead? Is this Heaven? Is that why there's no pain?' is on repeat in my head. I'm terrified to open my eyes. I don't know what to expect if I do. 

So, instead I use my other senses to determine what the hell just happened. The air is permeated with the stench of burnt sulfur; my ears are ringing from the close proximity of a fired weapon and I can feel my heart thumping erratically against my chest.

Wait, if I'm dead and in Heaven, why is my heart beating?

I slowly open my eyes to see Joey laid out on the dining room floor, a puddle of blood spreading out from under him. Wait, who shot him?!

I turn to see Deb crouched on the floor, in the same spot she had been, her shoulders shaking as she cries.  

Looking back toward the kitchen, Pops is standing there with a spent shotgun in his hands, smoke still rising from the barrel.

"Are you okay?" he asks.

Before I answer the bell over the door rings and Hoyt enters with a couple officers I recognize from my visit to the station. I look past them for Beau but Jenny smiles sadly and shakes her head.

He ain't coming?! His new girlfriend has been held at gunpoint and almost murdered and he couldn't even bother to come check on her?!

Beau is out of breath and panting as he finally reaches the peak of the mountain that the victim fell from, after being shot. 

"You didn't tell me we would be going on a 12K through that Grand Canyon-" Beau says to his associate, Cassie Dewell, a Private Investigator, as he joins her at the crest of Dead Man Falls. "-I'd worn my marathon boots and brought some oxygen."

"It's funny because you kept going on and on about how you were 'born for the outdoors' the whole way up here," Cassie snarks.

"I ever tell you how flat Texas is?!"

Cassie rolls her eyes at the Sheriff's theatrics and begins looking around. She sees something and steps closer. "There's footprints over here," she announces and then peeks over the ledge. "There's a water bottle down there."

Beau helps Cassie climb down where she uses a napkin to grab the evidence before climbing back up to join him at the top.

They both examine the water bottle and all the stickers and labels for different locations. 

"This is a well-traveled canteen, " Beau states.

"Hmm. And all the places the missing backpackers family said he'd been," Cassie tells him. "This is proof he was here."

"Didn't you say Sunny Barnes' camp was somewhere around here?"

"Yeah. Thinking we should check in, give her an update."

"That's exactly what I was thinking," Beau agrees.

"Oh, so you weren't...You weren't at all thinking about spying on your daughter?" Cassie jokes. 

"'Spy' is a harsh word," Beau defends himself but could tell Cassie wasn't buying it at all. "I mean, I'd just like to maybe say hi, see how she's doing."

"Riiiight," Cassie says with a smile.  "So, spying?"

Beau rolls his eyes and grins. "Let's go spy on

my daughter. Yep."

The Sheriff's phone rings as they begin their descent but as soon as he pulls it from his pocket, he loses reception.

By the time Detective Hoyt hangs up the phone, Deb has come to her senses and has me sitting at the counter with hot tea steaming in a mug. 

"Drink this," she tells me. "It'll help with your nerves."

The officer who had arrived with her is speaking to Pops across the room and I see the old man nod and then go into the kitchen and pull something from a shelf.

"As soon as I saw the gun, I started recording."

Pops hands the mobile device to the officer and he looks over at Jenny, questioningly. She nods and he walks out of the diner.

"Officer Harris is going to take the recording to the station and log it as evidence," she explains to me. "I called Beau. He's up in the mountains with Cass, working on a missing persons case and reception is shifty. I left a message for him to get here as soon as he can."

She places her hand on my shoulder. "Is there anyone else I need to notify? Do you have any family in the area?"

I shake my head no and close my eyes,  trying to ward off the tears that are threatening to fall. The traitorous drops escape anyway and drip to my cheeks before trickling down and falling to my lap.

"Can you tell me-" she asks quietly. "-do you think he was your stalker?"

"Yea," I answer softly. "He admitted to it."

I force myself to look at the now-empty spot where Joey's body had landed.  The EMTs were quick to load it up and get it out of here when they arrived; probably could tell both Deb and I were close to losing it and wanted to help alleviate our distress.

"He thought we were together," I tell her. "He heard me telling Deb about staying with Bea-Sheriff Arlen- and freaked out. Admitted to everything; the break-in of my car, the gifts. Said we had a connection, we were meant to be."

"Did you also witness his confession?" Jenny questions Deb.

"Uhhhh…" Deb hesitates in answering. "Uh, no. I can't say that I did. I'm sorry Y/N, but as soon as I saw the gun, I froze."

I nod my head in understanding and Jenny looks suspiciously at her. "Deb Wilhawks, right? You live on Sycamore Street, right?"

"Yea?"

"Joseph Bryant,  our suspect lives on Sycamore also, right? Do you-I mean, did you know him?"

"Well yea sure," Deb says but I notice a slight tremor in her voice. "Helena isn't that big of a town, everyone knows everyone."

"Isn't it true that you and Joey live in the same building? Just about a year ago, you and Mr. Bryant were involved in a civil dispute over animals in the building?"

"Yea, he complained that his girlfriend was allergic to my cocker spaniel, Buddy."

"That's right," Jenny says as she stands and begins reading Deb her Miranda rights.

"Deborah Wilhawks, you are under arrest for aiding and abetting Mr. Bryant in stalking and threatening the life of Y/N Y/L/N."

"Wait," I jump up, in shock at the surprising turn of events. "What the hell is going on?"

@spnbaby-67 @sea040561 @delightfullykrispypeach @larajadeschmidt13 @atc74 @vicariouslythruspn @squirrelnotsam  @sandlee44 @blacktithe7 @hoboal87 @mogaruke @supraveng @deandreamernp @akshi8278 @lyarr24 @kazsrm67 @chriszgirl92 @deanwithscissors @raisinggray @fanfic-n-tabulous @hobby27 @deans-spinster-witchs-favorites @yvonneeeeeeee @tmb510 @fallenlilangel99

If your tag has a mark through it, that means nothing is coming up for your screenname.

[oldsilverblood5]

Regret

Valerie glared at the numbers in painful silence, as she had been doing for the better part of an hour by now. It was too silent in her bedroom for her to focus and she found herself missing the playful banter of her friends in the background. She didn’t think she’d actually miss Sam’s meat rants but couldn’t help but recall the way the girl had been going on about pushing for a vegan friendly alternative in the school’s cafeteria the last time she saw her. Until her scanner had alerted her to a ghost in the area and she left them all behind saying she needed the bathroom and would meet them at their usual table for lunch.

The teen groaned and let her pencil fall onto her textbook. She stood and went over to her main blaster. It had been damaged in the fight with Skulker and repairing it was higher priority than her math homework right now.

She pulled out her toolbox, but her mind was really only on the fight.

She kept replaying it in her head, seeing every moment and trying to figure out what she could have done differently to prevent the way it ended.

Skulker had been prowling around the roof when she found him, eyes on the tech on his arm and totally distracted. She took the first shot, catching him by surprise, and took out his jetpack. While all ghosts could fly, Skulker had always used his jetpack to get around. At first, they didn’t know why, but Maddie had hit it once in a previous fight several months ago and they learned that he actually needed it. For some reason, this ghost didn’t have the same natural ability of flight all other ghosts did. He could still fly, but he was incredibly slow, and it seemed to drain his energy faster. This was a weakness all the hunters picked up on and now whenever he came back, they aimed for his jetpack first, taking away his easiest form of mobility. Though he had recognised this and got better at dodging while also building stronger versions, this one didn’t stand a chance at Valerie’s clear shot.

After that, the fight really got started. Skulker wasn’t a very powerful ghost, but what he lacked in power, he more than made up for in his ingenuity. The hunter built gadgets and weapons to aid him in his battles and it made him one of the tougher ghosts they fought. This difference made him a scientific curiosity to her mentors who could not stop theorising about him, but all of them could agree it made him a frustration.

Not once had any of them even come close to catching Skulker.

However, he’d never been a major concern until now. Skulker was a hunter and a collector. He went looking for rare or valuable finds, usually in the form of certain ghosts and sometimes the hunters’ tech. He was a regular ghost in their town, but he usually left after he got what he came for. Even though that meant he wasn’t around to torment the humans like so many others seemed keen on doing, it was a sort of wounded pride to the hunters that he would come and go as he pleased. There’d already been several people saying they were incompetent at their jobs if Skulker could do what he wanted, and it pissed Valerie off.

So, she went at him with everything she had, fully intent to catch him once and for all. Then Phantom turned up, another ghost they just couldn’t get a hold of, and before Valerie knew it, she was so full of rage at these two beings that insisted on making her life difficult and she had her blaster turned up to full power, more power than it could handle and even though it was so satisfying to watch the bigger ghost crash into the building, she realised her surroundings far too late.

She remembered the shock at seeing the destruction around her. Damage was a normal thing in ghost attacks, but Valerie had no idea it was that bad until Skulker was out of her sight. The cafeteria was destroyed; windows were smashed, walls were straight up missing, and part of the roof had collapsed. Another large whole sat in the side of the building where Valerie had just blindly shot at and she remembered the shock in her limbs as she finally took it all in. Damage from ghost attacks was normal, she knew that. That’s just what happens when you fight powerful beings with destructive abilities. But Valerie just couldn’t get it out of her head that this was her fault. It had been her weapon that took out that entire wall. So what if the fight wouldn’t have started if Skulker wasn’t there, and that he caused his own fair share of damage, that part was her fault. She should have been paying attention to where she was aiming, she shouldn’t have used such a powerful blast in an area where something was bound to be destroyed.

But that guilt didn’t even come close to what she felt the moment she realised there was still someone inside, and that she had basically delivered Skulker right to them.

Tears blurred her vision and she had to put down the shaking tool to cover her face. A sob wrenched its way out of her throat as the sounds of his screams echoed in her mind. She wanted to blame Phantom, she really did, but she was the one who blasted the ghost right next to them.

She was the one who put Danny in danger.

Why of all people, did it have to be Danny?

The boy who comforted her when she lost her home and her friends. The boy who welcomed her into his life without pity. The boy who gave her the truest friends she’d ever had.

The boy she swore she would protect.

She’d promised herself. She’d promised his parents. She was supposed to keep him safe.

But she froze. The shock at what had happened stilled her body and she couldn’t move even though he was in pain. By the time she had come back to her senses, Phantom had already taken care of Skulker and was kneeling in front of Danny. She tried to be angry at him, but it was hard to after he’d saved her friend’s life. Trusting Phantom to take him to the hospital though, was incredibly difficult for her. If it weren’t for the fact that he could get Danny there faster than she could, she probably would’ve refused.

Valerie thought back to what Phantom had said in the hospital waiting room. About working together when they have the same goal. Working with a ghost wasn’t an idea she would normally entertain, but her guilt over what happened to Danny and the realisation that it could have been avoided had she actually been willing to listen to Phantom, was fresh on her mind.

It’s not like what he was proposing was anything new. Phantom had helped them in the past whenever a particularly dangerous ghost appeared in town, it’s what he had been doing with Skulker in the first place, but those times were really just circumstantial. They didn’t exactly work together, but if Phantom was able to help incapacitate the stronger ghost or lead him away from populated areas, the hunters didn’t complain. But they didn’t trust his plans or listen to his advice. And after a while he just stopped trying to talk to them. Valerie and the Fentons were glad when he finally stopped, that he’d realised his help wasn’t wanted or needed. It meant they had to deal with him a little less.

But now all Valerie could think about is what would have happened if Phantom had felt he could tell the Red Huntress that there were people still inside. She told him he should have told her, and the hunter wanted to believe she would have listened. But deep down, Valerie knew, she wouldn’t have even let the ghost say the words.

[saturnsorbits]

Play Away: Part One

Fandom: My Hero Academia, Warnings: Angst, Mentions of Cheating, Complicated Relationships, KiriBaku, Smoking, Mentions of Recreational Drug Use: Weed, Violence (There's One Minor Fight), Smut, Panty Stealing, Spit, Sero has a big cock cliche used as a plot device (He also has a jacob's ladder bc I'm incapable of writing him without one). Word Count: 12k.

-> Series Masterlist

'So...' Sero blows smoke out of his nose, sending it billowing in loose ribbons through the air.

He'd ushered you outside as soon as he had spotted you sniffling in the corner of the cafe, abandoning his coffee order in favour of pulling you outside and lighting up. He offers you his cigarette out of politeness and stares, tired smirk itching at his lip. The smirk vanishes when you slip the cigarette from his fingers and raise it to your lips.

You take a drag, filling your lungs to the brim before passing it back and sighing. 'We're on a break.'

'Oh, what?' Sero chokes, shaking his hand to tell you to keep the cigarette for yourself before reaching into his pocket and lighting a second. 'What the fuck happened?'

You swallow the bile rising in your throat. 'Second thoughts?' You shrug, trying to ignore the fact that your eyes have started to fill.

'You or him?'

All you have to do is look at him.

'Shit.'

'That's one word for it, yeah.'

Sero snickers. 'If you break up, don't think you get to forget that I exist... I'm not losing custody just because pretty boy has his head in his ass.'

You don't know if it's the nicotine, or Sero's lazy charm, but a giggle bubbles up your throat and breaches your lips. It catches you off guard and you almost double over from the shock. As quickly as the laughter takes over you, it's gone again, leaving you feeling emptier than before.

'Hey.' Sero flicks your forehead right between the eyes. 'I mean it. If he ditches you, he's an ass.'

The spot where he flicked you aches, sending a dull spark through your skull, but strangely the pain is a comfort. 'Thanks, Han.'

'It's what I'm here for?' He shrugs.

'Sero!' Kaminari waves, before jogging over to where you're hidden slotted in-between two cafe's. 'Bakugo's going to kill you when he finds out you've smoked before we eat.' His mouth pulls downwards as he reaches you, stopping short of the smoke that billows from Sero's mouth. 'You know he hates it.'

He flicks up his eyebrows and presses an index finger to his lips. 'What daddy doesn't know won't hurt him, will it?' Stooping to his bag on the floor, he lets you take what's left of his cigarette from between his teeth as he removes a can of deodorant from within. He flips off the lid, letting the plastic clatter to the floor before dousing himself in it and making everyone around him choke.

'You know he'll still be able to smell it on you, right?' Kaminari cocks an eyebrow and glares.

Clouds of antiperspirant fill the air and Kaminari gags as the powder touches his tongue, drying it out. He waves his arms wildly, attempting to clear the air. 'Are you coming? I thought Bakugo said you wouldn't be able to make it.'

Sero's palm connects with the back of Kaminari's head with a smack.

'What the fuck was that for?' Kaminari's shoulders scrunch up as his own palm comes up to cover the stinging.

Pinching his nose, Sero sighs. 'We're doing lunch. The four of us.'

You guts twist. Bakugo had given you nothing, but radio silence for the past three weeks. Evidently the boys, and Kirishima, were not getting the same treatment.

'Is something up, because I feel like I've just put my foot in it -.'

That earns Kaminari a second slap.

'Fuck, alright okay – keep your damn secrets.'

'We should go...' Sero cuts in, curling his fingers into a fist, he taps his knuckles against your shoulder. His fist unfurls, becoming an open palm that latches onto you and squeezes. 'I've got a twenty-bag, if you're up for an old fashioned hang out, later?'

You nod. Right now, you can't think of anything you need more than good company and you're not going to turn your nose up at a little calming herbal remedy either.

'I'll come to you? Should be finished up with these idiots before five.' He grins, but it doesn't quite manage to cover the concern in his eyes.

'Sounds good.'

'Sweet.' He turns on his heel and cups the back of Kaminari's neck, thumb ghosting the red mark he's made as they both turn heel and head back towards the cafe where Kirishima is presumably waiting for them.

Inhaling deeply, you let your back hit the brick wall behind you. It's when you're left alone that it gets bad. Another reason you're thankful for Sero's impromptu hang-out invite. The world closes in on you. You've stopped trying to keep the tears at bay, you know there's no point. You settle back into your sorrow all too easily as it wraps it's long arms around you again, swaddling you in the inescapable despair that has dictated your existence for the last few weeks. All you feel is hollowness. It scrapes you out leaving you numb and gasping for air. You lift Sero's stump of a cigarette to your lips, taking one final pull before dropping it to the floor and crushing it with your heel.

'It's bad for your lungs, you know.'

The sound of his voice makes you want to be sick. You swallow, hard, squeezing your eyes shut to rid them of tears. 'Don't pretend to care,' you snarl.

Kirishima smiles.

It makes you want to punch him.

'I'm just -.'

'Well fucking don't, alright.' You drop your gaze and bite your tongue. 'The boys are already waiting inside for your stupid lunch date, so just fuck off.' Venom drips from your voice. Your tone is borderline violent as you harden your jaw to stop a stream of curses from flying from your mouth.

Kirishima glances to his feet and for a second, you think you can see the faint lines of regret etched into his forehead, but his expression changes too quickly for you to tell. He lifts his head. 'He's not spoken to me any more than he's spoken to you.'

'Shouldn't you be trying to jump one of the other boys? Or was it just Katsuki you were after?' Looking at him hurts.

'I know I deserved that.'

'Yeah, yeah. You do.'

He shuffles his feet, toeing the concrete beneath his shoes as his lips part.

You can see his mind whirring, see that he's trying to string a sentence together that will convey what he actually feels, how everything inside him feels torn and twisted.

Mouth snapping shut, he decides against it. He knows whatever he says now, no matter how much he means it, will be tarred by the kiss, by the betrayal he played a part in. Hanging his head, he offers up a weak smile before heading off towards the cafe.

You're glad that he leaves without you having to push him. In all honesty, you don't know what you would have done had he stayed and tried to explain himself. You haven't been able to look him in the eye since Bakugo told you. Although, no-one could exactly blame you for it. He was the one who had kissed your boyfriend and left you feeling as though someone had ripped out your insides. Something squirms inside of you. The problem was you could understand it, why Bakugo had kissed him back. Kirishima Eijirou was a God of a man. You'd know him as long as you had Bakugo, which was long enough to learn that Kirishima was everything that everyone wanted and more. It was just his perfect little face and glistening abs, Kirishima was charming and charismatic and so hideously in tune with everything around him that he made most people feel special without even trying. How were you supposed to compete with that? You hauled in another breath and stopped the shaking of your hands by slipping them behind your back and pressing them to the wall. Then, you let yourself cry.

Hand reaching for the door of the cafe, Kirishima pauses. He can see Sero, his hand wrapped around a large mug in the far corner of the cafe. Kaminari is opposite him. They look small spread across the large four-seated booth they've acquired, with only the pair of them to fill the seats. Something hollows out in Kirishima's chest as he takes a cursory glance around the cafe. Bakugo hasn't shown up.

From the corner of his eye, he can see Kaminari waving at him, calling him over beyond that glass. He throws open the door, steps into the warmth of the cafe and weaves his way over to the table.

'Heard from Bakugo?' Kaminari takes a sip from the edge of his cup and burns his tongue, hissing when the liquid hits it.

Kirishima slips into the booth, modifying the disappointment he knows is plain as day on his face on before responding.

'Sorry I'm late.' Bakugo's bag lands on the leather bench before he does. He looks tired. Purple bags cling to his eyes betraying the forced straightness of his spine. 'Anyone ordered yet?'

The boys shake their heads.

'Right. Everyone down for the usual?' Almost as soon as Bakugo sits down, he's back on his feet again. He slips his wallet from the back pocket of his jeans and avoids Kirishima's eye before turning on his heel and making towards the counter.

'I'll, erm...' The excuse dies on his tongue before it's fully formed and Kirishima slips from the booth, following as quickly as he can on Bakugo's heel. He hauls in a deep, deliberate breath trying to calm the surge of nerves in his intestines. The feeling wiggles about in his stomach and squirms. He tenses his abs in an attempt to squash it, but it just makes it worse. The hairs on the back of his neck prickle, a whole new sensation overtaking his chest as he shuffles to a stop beside Bakugo in the queue. 'Hey...' Kirishima wraps his shoulder. 'Can we talk?'

Rolling his shoulder out of the other man's grip, Bakugo pulls his eyes up from his shoes. 'Is it about lunch?'

Kirishima swallows.

'Then no.'

Sero is quiet. He watches the scene unfold from his seat in the booth, sipping lazily at the lip of his mug and ignoring Kaminari's frantic taps on his shoulder.

'You can't just ignore me forever...' Kirishima's hand is back at Bakugo's shoulder. The rounded muscle warming his palm, making his skin itch.

Bakugo bites down on the inside of his cheek. His head was spinning. Looking at Kirishima is hard. His gaze drifts to his lips, drawn to the plush skin like a magnet. They were softer than he had expected. His hands too had been gentle as they pulled at his scalp, despite the force he usually saw him train with. The thought of kissing him again hollows out his chest and makes his teeth clench. Then, it's eclipsed by the guilt. Your voice echoes in the back of his head, the image of your bottom lip quivering as you'd asked him if he had kissed back ensnares him. Bakugo shakes it off. 'I need time, what part of that is hard to understand?'

'The part where that meant you starting to blame yourself.' Kirishima steps back. Tilting his head he watches as the air catches in Bakugo's throat. 'I was the one who kissed you, it's my fault and -.'

'Leave it.' Bakugo tries to keep his eyes sharp when he stares back into Kirishima's face, but as soon as he sees the small pond of tears nested in the lip of his eyelid he caves.

'No.' Kirishima bites his lip.

There's a hollow in Bakugo's chest again as he takes hold of Kirishima by the shoulder and pushes his way back through the cafe. He doesn't stop until he's barrelling through the door, Kirishima still in toe, and slipping down the thin alleyway beside the shop. 'Kat – fuck – stop it – what are you -.'

Bakugo releases Kirishima, throwing him back against the wall. ‘Why won't you just stay out of my head?' He pacing, fists balled up at his sides, shoulders scrunches up by his ears.

'Kat -.' Kirishima reaches for him, then thinks better of it.

'You had to go and fuck it all up, didn't you? Had to make me fucking – make me.' There's a bubble in his throat, the words jam behind it and choke him bringing tears to his eyes as he struggles to spit out what's really got him so worked up.

'Had to what?'

Bakugo stops. 'Had to make me fucking want you.'

The admission hits Kirishima in the chest. His eyes widen, mouth dropping ajar as he stares at the man in front of him.

There's only a moment that elapses between them, a moment of them stood still, facing each other and frantically trying to predict each others movements. It makes Kirishima's fingers itch, makes him want to sing and be sick all at the same time. Then, Bakugo is on him. He presses him against the wall, forcing Kirishima's back against rough brick. Even through the thin fabric of their shirts and the thick wall of pectoral muscle, he can feel his heart beat. It races, hammering wildly against his ribs and encourages Kirishima's to do the same.

'I – I...' Bakugo's voice comes out in a hoarse whisper. His voice tickles Kirishima's ear, his lips almost brushing the exposed junction of his neck as he speaks into his skin.

Kirishima's frozen. It takes a second to unlock his arms, to force his body to relax enough that he can move and as soon as he can, he wraps his arms around Bakugo's shoulders. 'Hey – hey – it's okay... It's...'

'I want you so fucking bad.'

The little panic that had swelled in Kirishima's stomach vanishes. His hand tangles into Bakugo's hair, palm cradling his head just like he had done the first time. There's something inside of him that hates it. He hates how his body seems to slip perfectly into the concave turn of Bakugo's chest, hates how his lips hovering my his ear make goose-flesh out of his skin. He hates it because he knows he's not his. 'Kat, I -.'

Bakugo pulls back. His eyes are bloodshot, the strips of skin along his cheekbones raw and wet. 'I hate you.'

'I know.' Tears fall over Kirishima's lid, only to be wiped away with a quick swipe of Bakugo's thumb.

'Can I kiss you?' Bakugo leans in, placing a hand around the back of Kirishima's neck.

'But -.'

'Please...' His voice dies in his throat, but then Kirishima is nodding and his body is moving without him telling it to. The kiss is messy, desperate as he licks into Kirishima's mouth.

For a moment, they only breathe each other, losing themselves to skin and heat in a frantic attempt to steal as much of each other as possible. Kirishima's hands bunch up in Bakugo's shirt, tug him close as the other man slips his thigh between his legs. When they pull away, they're panting.

Bakugo rests his forehead against Kirishima's, his eyes screwed shut. 'I still hate you.'

Kirishima swallows. 'I know.'

'It's not fair.'

'I know.'

'I still love her.'

The thing in Kirishima's stomach squirms again. It tightens, threatening to wriggle up his throat and choke him. He chews his lip. 'I know.'

'I ordered lunch, by the way.' Kaminari lifts his head from his phone as soon as Bakugo and Kirishima slip back into the booth. There's a collection of plates sat atop the table, the food steadily going cold. 'Where the fuck did you two get off too?'

Bakugo clears his throat, but Kirishima beats him to it.

He places a hand on his thigh under the table, obscured from view. 'I needed to ask him something -.'

'And you couldn't just ask him in line?' Kaminari arches an eyebrow.

'It was – uh – personal.'

A smirk twists Kaminari's lips. 'If you wanted sex tips, you should have asked me.'

Bakugo snorts, then pauses. 'Where's Sero?'

'He went to see where you two had gotten off to, then said he had to go.' Shrugging, Kaminari picks up a fork and skewers a piece of pork on his plate, stuffing it into his mouth. 'Think it was a work thing.'

Slipping his leg from under Kirishima's palm, Bakugo shuffles to the edge of the booth. 'A work thing?'

Under the table, Kirishima reaches for Bakugo's thigh again. His fingers ghost his jeans before Bakugo shifts and is once again out of reach.

'Sure -.' Leaning over the table, Kaminari hovers his fork over Bakugo's plate, pointing at a disappointing looking piece of beef. 'You gonna eat that?'

Bakugo pushes the bowl forward before standing. 'Have it. I've got to go.'

The knocking on your front door is loud. Three taps and then two, followed by a slow beat that you don't quite recognise straight away. You slip off the sofa and drift down the hall, throwing open the door to a familiar shock of messy, black hair.

'Hey -.'

'Why didn't you tell me?' Sero looks angry. His jaw is wound tight, lips pursed and pressed together, but the anger doesn't quite make it to his eyes. It dies in his iris' where it's drowned by concern.

'Tell you what?' You swallow and step aside, letting him stride down the hallway and into the kitchen. It's a little familiar, hurrying after him, catching him leaning against the sink when you finally round the door.

Sero cocks his head, eyes glued to yours as he sighs. 'Tell me that Bakugo is fucking about with Kirishima?'

'I – uh.'

The colour drains from his face. 'You didn't know?'

'Yeah... We're, um, we're on a break.'

Sero's head drops into his hands. He rubs his eyes, fingertips digging into tender flesh and then peeks from over them. He can't stay angry, not when you're looking at him like that. 'Why didn't you tell me?'

You shrug. There's tears forming in your eyes, you can feel it.

'Fuck, Baby. Come here.' Pushing off the sink, he wraps you up forcing you against his chest. His chin rests on the top of your head, his hands clinging to his own elbows as he forms a protective circle around you with his body. 'You should have told me.'

As soon as your cheek meets the hard muscle of his chest, you start to cry. Your tears drip from your chin and roll down the leather of his jacket only to collect in the wrinkles that litter it's surface.

'Want me to go beat the shit out of him?' He prises you from him and holds you back at arms length. 'I'm bigger. I bet I could give him a run for his money.' Raising his eyebrows, he doesn't drop them again until a smile cracks your lips.

'You'd lose.' You giggle, wiping at the corners of your eyes, sleeves quickly becoming soaked.

'I'd... Yeah, but it would be with honour.'

You roll your eyes.

He huffs. 'Spoil sport. You wanna talk about it, or?'

'No – I -.'

Sero reaches into his jacket pocket, removing a small plastic baggie. 'Not even if I offer to share?' He shakes it making the small bud inside shimmy from side to side, grinning as he does.

'I...'

'If you don't want it, I can always find someone else to get high with.'

'Shut up.' You shake your head, but reach for the bag anyway, skimming a finger along the inside of the zip-lock to pop it open. 'Strawberry Sherbet?'

He chews the inside of his cheek. 'It's your favourite, right?'

'It was.'

'Was?' Drifting to the sofa, Sero begins to unpack his pockets. He throws an assortment of recycled skins, a scuffed grinder and pack of filters to the coffee table before throwing himself to down too.

You join him, tucking your knees up to your chest as you watch him work. He's got a trained hand, deftly snatching the baggie from between your fingers as he sets to work. 'Haven’t smoked for a while...'

He chuckles. 'Bakugo get a stick up his ass about it?'

'Something like that.' You crane to peer over his shoulder watching as he grinds down the bud and begins to roll. 'You?'

He shrugs. 'Not the same without you.' then, chuckles when he catches your mouth drop open slightly. 'You know, I would have stopped everyone hanging out with them if I'd of known.'

You sit back on your haunches. 'They were your friends before I was -.'

'Doesn't matter. It's a matter of principle.' He licks the skin, tongue peaking just past his teeth before offering it out to you. 'Mouth's dry.'

Sticking your tongue out, you let him move the paper across the muscle almost going cross-eyed as you try and watch.

'You want first pull?' Twisting the skin, he offers out the blunt.

'Rollers get first drag...'

Shoulders bouncing, he presses the blunt between your fingers. His skin ghosts yours, rough calloused fingers dragging across your knuckles bringing a smile to your lips. 'I insist.' Retracting his hand, he digs about in his pocket again before removing a lighter.

You let him cup his hands around the end of the joint and spark the lighter before you suck in, letting the smoke fill your lungs. It burns, familiar and yet strange in your throat as you take a second, greedier drag. You sit there for a while, basking in the smoke and the lightness and then, he's speaking again.

'You wanna talk about it now?'

Something rattles in your chest, the new comfort of old habits bolsters your confidence, making it easier to speak. 'I just can't believe I didn't see it.'

He inhales, blowing smoke out of his nose. Rolling his shoulders, he wriggles from his jacket and drapes it over the back of the sofa. 'Didn't see what?'

'Kirishima.' A snort leaves your throat as your body begins to relax, the gentle haze from the weed unlocking your joints and allowing you to sink into a couch cushion, your knees still pulled up tight to your chest. 'He's always been... You know, you and Kami used to take the piss in school asking them when they were going to finally date -.' You huff, head falling onto your knees, eye sockets pressed by the bony parts of your patella. 'I was so fucking stupid. Everyone else could see it – I -.'

Shifting on the couch, Sero watches you speak carefully, rearranging his limbs to spread out. 'I don't think it's all Kiri's fault.'

You peek over your knees. 'What?'

'Uh, I – I saw them outside the cafe today.' He rubs the the back of his neck, fingers tangling in the hair at the nap of his neck. 'It – it didn't exactly look like Kiri was the one making the moves.'

'What!'

Sero hands the joint back and waits patiently for you to take a second and third drag. 'He had Kiri against a wall. Looked like they were arguing at first, but then...' He trails off, reaching for the joint again.

'They looked like they were arguing?'

'Bakugo was shouting.'

'But they kissed?' You shift, uncomfortable, laying your knees flat on the sofa.

There's a soft haze in the room when you slip the joint between your lips for the sixth time. The room is warm, too warm, making your skin dew gently under your jumper. Reaching for it's hem, you tug it over your head completely unaware of how the t-shirt underneath catches on your bra.

Sero chokes, disguising it as a cough. 'You guys are on a break, yeah?'

You speak from under the cotton, voice muffled as your wriggle to get the material to let go of your arms. T-shirt still ridden up, your chest heaves, breast reddening in your struggle. 'Yeah. Said he needed to figure things out.' Finally, you manage to free yourself. The jumper loosens around your elbows allowing you to finally yank it off and toss it somewhere beyond the back of the sofa.

'Ah.'

'Yeah.' You fumble with your t-shirt when you realise how it's risen up and panic, pulling to back down to cover your modesty.

'I was quite enjoying the view...'

There's a lazy smirk on Sero's face when you manage to look him in the eye again. He's leant back against the arm, the joint caught between his fingers, a thick stream of smoke drifting lazy from out of his mouth.

You grit your teeth. 'Kat never liked us hanging out, did he?’

'Nope.'

'Why?'

A snort leaves Sero's throat knocking his head backwards on his neck. His eyes have glossed over, bright iris' somehow brighter in the low light of the living room. 'He used to think I had a thing for you.'

'And - ' Your mouth is dry, heart hammering in your chest. 'And, did you?'

He laughs, just laughs.

'It's not funny!' You hit out at his arm, desperate to dispel the sudden tightness that wraps around your joints. The pit in the bottom of your stomach opens up when your hand connects with the toned muscle of his bicep. He's lean, less muscled than Bakugo, but, firm and trim none-the-less. It makes something twist in your stomach. The dull slap that rings out has you scrambling back to the other side of the sofa and tucking up your knees again.

'It's a little funny.' The effect the conversation is completely lost on him. He flicks up his eyebrows.

'Fuck off.'

He reclines impossibly further, looping an arm behind his head as he watches you from the other side of the couch. 'What are you going to do?'

The sudden conversational change freezes your blood in your cheeks. 'I don't know. I – I don't think it's really my choice.'

'But, say he wants you to take him back – Would you -.'

'I don't know.' Your voice is quiet, hiding in the folds of your throat. The weed is still making your head fuzzy, making your body feel light and your chest not as heavy, but that doesn't stop the sickness that begins to swirl like fog in your stomach.

'You should leave him.'

His voice hits you like a slap in the face.

Sero shrugs. 'I mean it.' He finishes off the blunt, grinding the stub into the top of his grinder to put out its embers. 'I could get past the whole 'questioning his sexuality thing', fuck...' He runs a hand through his hair. 'Been there myself, but I didn't go around sticking my tongue down other people's throats to make sure.'

You chew the inside of your cheek. 'So I didn't catch Kami sucking you off in the dorms then, no?'

'Wasn't my tongue he had down his throat though, was it?' He smiles, blushing, but he doesn't look embarrassed. 'But, me and Kami was a bit of fun, I wasn't dating anyone...' Pausing, he looks at you. 'I wouldn't have cheated on you.'

'What are you saying?' You've leant forward, legs tucked under your body leaving you to teeter precariously on the edge.

Sero sighs, then, he's moving. He shimmies closer, stopping only when the rough material of his jeans is scratching against the exposed flesh of your knees. 'I'm saying he fucked up. It's not fair to keep you here hanging on while he goes and plumbs the depths of Kiri's fucking oesophagus.'

You resist the urge to reach out, to touch the slices of flesh you can see peaking from under the rips in his jeans. 'You did like me, didn't you...'

'What give me away?' Sero chuffs.

The press of his thigh against you is making you dizzy. 'Why didn't you do anything?'

He shrugs for the up-teenth time and closes the gap between you. Brave enough to do what you're not, he draws a line with his fingertip across the bone of your knee. 'Bakugo called dibs.'

You roll your eyes at the boyish rule, but you don't stop his delicate circles on your skin. It feels good, the feather-light touch of his fingertip, the way he breaches your thigh only to retreat again to safer territory. You speak to your knees. 'He still has dibs.'

'I think you lose dibs when you cheat on your girlfriend instead of just being honest with her.' His finger breaches your thigh again. It runs the length of your muscle and stops at the lip of your skirt as if he's considering venturing underneath. He doesn't, instead he brings his eyes up to meet yours. 'You're on a break, yeah?'

'Yeah.'

'So...' He's leaning in, his body angled at a solid 45 to leer over you. His breath fans your cheeks, his eyes flickering from the plush bump of your lips to your eyes.

'So.' You don't move back. Maybe it's the dazed look of lust in his eyes, or the way you can tell, just from the way he's controlling his breathing that the only thing he wants right now is you, but whatever it is it makes your stomach run warm.

'Let me kiss you.'

'I -...' The air lodges in your throat.

At once, Sero recoils. His once splayed limbs are retracted, pulled back into his body as he retreats back to his side of the sofa. 'Forget it. I'm being selfish.' Reaching for the grinder, he lifts the lid and begins to roll a second joint, trying to shake off the violent pull of your body. He knows it's wrong. Knows that he shouldn't be making half-cocked advances on you in your moment of weakness, but he'd be lying if he said he didn't want it: want you. 'Want another one?'

You watch him roll the second joint, watch how this time, his hands shake and struggle. He doesn't ask you to lick the paper this time, he just offers you the finished product along with the lighter, refusing to move an inch towards you. You light the joint, take a short drag and then unfurl yourself to move beside him. 'Hey...'

He looks at you on reflex, eyes growing wide when he realises just how close you are.

Reaching up, you cup his chin. Your fingers curl around his jaw, gently encouraging it open as you shimmy back up onto your knees to get a higher vantage point. The new height lets you crane over him, lets you tilt his head back and breathe into his mouth. Smoke pours from your lips and into his, propelled by the slight breeze of your breath.

Sero accepts it. He lets you tilt his head back, lets his mouth fall open to let his lungs fill with your air. There's something intimate in it, about breathing you in like this.

'I've always wondered... Y'know.' You smile, cutting off his smoke. The weed makes it easier, reduces the voices in your head to a whisper and drowns out your reservations. For the first time in weeks, you're thinking about one thing, one thing that isn't Bakugo's lips on Kirishima's and it feels good

'Wondered what?' He hasn't moved, his head is still tilted back with your hand at his jaw.

'If the rumours are true.'

'Rumours?'

'About your... Y'know.' You glance down at the crotch of his jeans. There's a notable bulge there, a discernable strain against the denim that has your mouth watering.

He laughs, low and smoky before slipping the joint from between your fingers. 'You want to know if I'm hung?'

There's something rough and playful in his eyes, something that you would have never seen in Bakugo’s – it makes it easier. You nod, catching your lip between teeth.

'You sure? I don't want t -.'

'I want to.'

With that, he leans back, stretches out again and loops his arms behind his head. 'Go find out for yourself then...'

Sero cocks an eyebrow, but holds your gaze. The blunt is still trapped in his fingers, burning a steady orange as he raises it to his mouth. 'Come here.'

You obey a little too easily. Twisting, you open your hips to straddle him and come down on his thighs, just before his clothed cock.

He snickers. Taking one of your hands from his shoulders, he slips it down his body. His palm presses you close, forces you to take in every inch of his chest and stomach as he slides you further south.

The metal of his belt buckle is cold and sharp when your palm mounts it, but the sudden change in temperature is soon rectified when he pushes your hand against his cock. The feel of it makes heat pool in your stomach. You lick your lips, shuffling on his lap as you reorient your palm for a better grip

'Live up to the hype?'

You swallow the small whimper making its way up your throat as he makes his cock twitch into your hand. 'Can't tell.' You tug at the zip on his jeans. 'Let me see.'

He nods and hands you the blunt, freeing his hand to work at his buckles. The belt falls away easily, it's worn leather creaks, letting the buckle slip to the cushions allowing Sero to pop the top button of his jeans and pull down his zipper.

'Are those?' You stifle a giggle and point, gently peeling back the edge of his jeans to reveal the bright red shocks of the underwear underneath.

'Spiderman.'

'I didn't even know they did these in adult sizes.'

'You're getting a bit mouthy for a girl who's just asked to see my dick.' Reaching for your hand again, he pushes it back against his cock and bucks up, forcing you to take hold of it over the material of his boxers. 'You feel that...' He bucks again. 'Fuck – Think you'll be able to take it?'

You nod, although you're not sure you can.

'Atta girl.' Leaning forward, he catches the blunt between his lips and takes a drag before he's sitting up straighter and encouraging your head back to repay a favour.

His lungs hold more smoke than yours, and your body fills quickly leaving you almost choking on his breath as he continues to feed you the clouds. You take everything he gives you, greedily inhaling despite the burning of your insides until you're sure you can't take any more.

Handing back the blunt, he smirks. 'Put it out, don't want your place burning down when you forget about it.'

Your eyebrows pinch together. 'Forget about it?'

Licking his lips, he leans into your ear and smirks against your skin. 'Only thing you’re going to remember after this, is my name baby.’

His words send a shiver up your spine. It pushes your shoulders together and forces your hips down, pressing against his thighs. You do as your told and crush the end of the blunt against the lid of the grinder before turning back to him. 'You think you're that good, huh?'

There's something vicious in his eyes when he leans in. His lips are centimetres from yours, but he doesn't close the gap. He lets you come to him. 'You wanna find out?'

You do. You want to find out so bad it makes you squirm. Gingerly, you close the gap pressing your lips against his. The kiss is slow, delicate. He lets you lead, lets you press your chest to his and moan into his mouth when he accepts your tongue.

When you part, he's smiling. His hands cinch around your waist, knead the flesh there for a second before his lips are finding yours again. The second kiss is eager, more urgent, with Sero licking into your mouth and biting at your lip. He slips under your shirt, fingers skating across your stomach and approaching the covered fat of your breasts. He pulls back. 'Take this off. Wanna see you.'

Nodding, you let him retreat back to the hem of your shirt and help you out of it. He strips it from you easily, tossing the material somewhere beyond the sofa.

'Look at you.' His eyes devour you, eat away greedily at your body as you wriggle on his lap. Reaching up, he tracks a hand back up your side and slips under the edge of your bra. In an instant, he's kneading your flesh and brushing a thumb over your nipple.

The new sensation makes you keen. You're not sure if it's the weed enhancing each touch, or if it's how Sero's fingers tweak at your skin, but you're shamelessly forcing your chest into his hands non-the-less. Moving your hands behind your back, you un-clip your bra, tugging it quickly over your shoulders in an anxious attempt to increase his access to your body.

A soft curse breaches his lips as his other hand comes up to take its place on your chest. He kneads for a second, feels out the weight of you in his palms before leaning down and placing a kiss on your clavicle. His tongue follows his lips, but he only spends a second at your neck. He latches onto your nipple like a new born. Sucking anxiously against you, his tongue ripples against the underside of your nipple massaging the gland in his mouth.

'Ah – Oh, God... Shit.' The sensation catches you off guard. Your back bends, curves into a near perfect 'C' as he works his magic at your chest.

Your moans only spur him on, the feel of your writhing against him, of your body warm and pliant in his hands, in his mouth, runs straight to his cock and makes him ache.

Hands finding their way into his hair, you tug at his scalp desperate to bring him impossibly closer. He chuckles around your tit when you squeal, the noise shaking your chest enough that Sero feels it against his nose. The noise calls your attention, makes you look down to where his body meets yours and the sight makes your stomach lurch.

His eyes are blown, iris' almost vanquished by the black of his blown pupils as he locks onto yours. He doesn't stop. Instead, he holds your gaze, staring up at you as he pulls another moan from your throat and laps lazily at the nipple when you squirm and tug again at his hair.

'Hanta – not enough – want -.' Your words are lost, drowned out in your throat as your body priorities breathing over speaking.

With that, he releases you. Laying one final lick along your sternum, he plants a well placed kiss between the junction of your neck and shoulder, then, he's lifting you up and laying you down.

'Off.' Your hands shoot up, slipping under the neck of his t-shirt and tugging limply at it.

Sero obliges, he tears the shirt from his body leaving it to join yours on the floor.

In an instant you're touching him again. Your hands get greedy, smoothing over the solid muscle of his chest and stomach, feeling over the dips and lumps of muscle that litters his body diligently.

His stomach twitches when you move over the muscle below his belly button and he has to suppress a harsh snort that threatens to leap from his throat when you dig in a finger.

'Didn't know you were ticklish.'

'Mmm, not.'

You dig in another finger, twisting the digit for the same reaction. 'You sure?'

Biting back another giggle, Sero lowers his hand to your sex and thumbs at your clit causing your whole body to buck.

A stream of moans leave your mouth with the new pressure, your hand abandoning his stomach to wrap around his wrist and urge him to touch you again.

'And I didn't know you where so needy, guess we're learning a bunch tonight, huh?' There's something light in his voice, something mischievous that makes your heart tense in your chest.

'Just fuck me, Hanta – s'not funny.'

'Oh.' He draws a lazy circle with his index finger. 'Isn't it?'

'No.' You try in vain to get him to move again, to press against your clit like he just had, but he holds you fast and stops your attempts. 'Please...'

'Need to prep you first, Baby Girl, okay?'

The pet name makes you moan. You wriggle, hips lifting to press into his hand as he cups your sex. You need him, need him to open you up and stretch you on his fingers, his cock – anything. You tell him as much, you crane your neck to look at him as he shimmies down your body and slots himself between your thighs. 'Need you... Hanta... Want -.'

'I know.' He kisses your thigh, nips at the plush flesh as he inches his way closer to your core. He slips your underwear from you gently, asking you with a breath to lift your hips for him. As soon as your underwear is free from your body, he lifts it to his nose and inhales deep.

'No – what are you doing -.'

Reeling back on his haunches, he takes another deep breath. His tongue peaks out from behind his teeth and prods at the seat, tasting your essence on the thin cotton. 'You smell so good... Fuck -.' Another inhale, another lick that heats your face. 'Don't act so shy... You're driving me crazy.'

'Stop it – just -.' Your attempt to sit up and take back the item is stopped short as his free hand slips over your cunt. He administers one slap, his fingertips grazing your cunt with just enough pressure to make you lurch and lay back down. The connection makes your clit tingle, sends numb shock waves up your legs that ease you back into submission.

'I'm keeping these.' Sero grins before stuffing your underwear into the back pocket of his jeans.

This time, you don't argue.

He settles back to the sofa on his stomach and comfies himself. Large hands loop under your legs, encircling you to keep you steady as he finally lowers his head to your cunt. 'Don't want to hurt you, need you to be stretched for me – okay.'

You moan, chest heaving as you feel his breath ghost your clit. The first thing he places on your cunt is a kiss. His lips pucker and peck at the sensitive bud, giving you the subtle relief of his skin on yours for only a second before his tongue follows.

He has to tighten his grip on your hips when he begins to eat you out. Your body spasms, lurches into his mouth as he begins to lick, nip and suck at you like a man starved. He can't get enough. Your cunt is drooling, coating his tongue and chin in slick that makes his mouth water. 'Hanta.' His name lingers on your lips. 'Hanta, more.' Your cunt is fluttering, clit tingling as every muscle in your body tenses and rolls. You're pretty sure your riding his face just as much as he's fucking your with his tongue, but you can't stop.

'Want my fingers?'

'Yes, fuck – need something inside – need.'

He kisses your clit, blowing cold air against your folds that make you squirm before slipping a finger inside of you.

His fingers are long. They curl deftly inside of you, stroke against the spongy roof of your cunt and already you feel like you're done. There's a heat in your stomach that spreads, taking over your entire body and makes you reach out and grab for the man between your thighs. When he adds in a second finger, you think you see stars. The static on the back of your eyelids threatens to consume you as try and push away the tightening that erupts in your stomach.

'Don't hold back on me, huh... Come on, want you to cum on my fingers – can feel you, know you want to.....' He leans down, suckling against your clit again as he feels your walls fluttering around his digits.

You're powerless. You have no choice, but to hold onto his hair as your orgasm crashes into you like a train. Your thighs shake, hips bucking uncontrollably as he continues to work your body to its end. His ministrations increase, the suction on your clit growing painful as you slowly come down and collapse back against the cushion.

'That's my girl.' He kisses your clit again, peppering your thighs with nips as he watches you come back to your senses slowly. 'There she is... Did so well for me...'

You sit up, perching on your elbows to peer at him from his place between your legs. A whine leaves your throat when he drags his fingers back through your folds, collecting the remnants of your orgasm on his fingers.

He reaches up, pressing his fingers to your mouth and grins when your mouth drops open immediately to take him in. 'Think you're ready to take me now?' He watches you intently as you suck him clean, making sure to collect every drop of yourself from his skin.

You nod.

'Fuck, okay.' Sero sits back on his knees and wriggles out of his jeans. It takes only a second for his boxers to join them on the floor. His cock springs free and slaps against his stomach, smearing pre-cum all over his navel.

Something in your stomach twists and you swear you can feel your intestines moving to make space for him as you gawk. He certainly does live up to the rumours. Sero's cock is terrifying. It's flushed, it's head flared and a dark pink, leaking pre-cum that catches the light and glistens on his skin. The shaft is thick, pulsing and decorated with a series of three silver bars that shift under his skin. You reach out, brushing your fingertips across the metal making him shiver.

'Careful.' He cautions, eyes burning as he watches the curiosity blend to lust on your face.

'Pretty...' You mumble, voice lost in the back of your throat as he pulls his cock back allowing you to stare.

Something warm fills his chest, the compliment making his head fizz as he palms himself, giving it a few healthy strokes and somehow getting it to stand a little straighter. There's a touch of apprehension in his voice when he looks down at you, concern knitting his brow despite the way you wriggle and lift your hips eagerly. 'Sure you can take it?'

'Just fuck me already.'

'Condoms?' He quirks an eyebrow.

You shake your head.

'No you don't have any and we should stop, or no you don't -.'

'Want you raw.'

'Fuck.' Your admission hits him in the chest. 'You sure?'

You nod desperately. Your body is aching, you cunt pulsing and empty and begging to be filled. 'Yeah – please. Want it. Want all of it.'

He laughs, chews at the edge of his lip and then falls to a hand beside your shoulder. It smells like strawberries as he leans down and presses a kiss to your lips. 'Tell me if it hurts, okay?' There's a soft edge to his voice now, something you hadn't heard before while he was teasing and it makes your stomach warm.

'Please...' You whine and reach down, letting your fingers brush against his abs before wrapping around his cock. Lining him up with your entrance, your breath catches in your throat when you feel him press in. The head of his cock pushes past your folds, pushes back against the tightness of your cunt and you whimper with the sudden fullness.

Sero kisses you, swallows you moans and then stops. 'You okay?'

You nod, earning yourself another inch. It burns, hurts good as he forces your body to mould to his each time he sinks in a little deeper.

'Breathe... Okay.'

Another deep breath gets you another inch and you cry out and squirm. Your pretty sure you can't take any more, that even one more centimetre would break you clean in two, but you tell him you can take it when he asks, beg him for the last few inches of him that remain outside of your body – desperate to have all of him, no matter how much it hurts.

'Holy fuck.' He's panting as he bottoms out, his hands are knuckle-white as he clings onto your hips and tries to stop his hips from hopelessly rutting into you. It's the first time in his twenty-something years on this Earth that someone has been able to take him – all of him, although he's not about to ruin the moment to announce it now. Your cunt wraps him, squeezing and clenching and he has to bite his tongue to stop three pre-mature little words from trickling over his lips. There'll be time for all of that later, after he's felt you cum on his cock. Fuck, he can't wait to feel you come apart around him. 'Not gonna last long.' He breathes against your neck, straining still.

'Don't care...' You speak through gritted teeth and reach around him, pressing your hand to the small of his back.

He fucks you slowly. It takes everything inside of you not to scream, not to let the pleasure bubbling in your chest leak from your mouth and deafen him, but he has no trouble filling in your quietness.

'Feel so good – shit – so fucking – tight – baby...' He kisses you, nips the skin at your neck and bites down as he picks up his pace. 'Taking me so well, so good -.'

Your cunt's already aching, sore from your first orgasm and the fingers he'd stretched you on, but your stomach's already tight again, a slow burn inching it's way up from your cunt and making you see stars.

'Fuck – gonna.' He chokes, slams his hips into yours causing his balls to slap heavily against your ass. Whatever he means to say afterwards gets stuck in his throat as he cums spilling inside of you like a God-damn fire hose. 'Shit.'

He shuffles back in an attempt to pull out of you, but you stop him. 'Stay.'

'Inside of you?'

'Don't want to be empty.' You know it's stupid, but losing the fullness he's given you makes your cunt cling to him tighter.

'Okay.' He kisses your temple, smiling against your hair. 'Okay, Baby.' Lowering himself, he settles over you, his cock still buried deep in your heat as he watches your eyes flutter shut basking in his stretch.

You're almost asleep, succumbing to the aching in your thighs and stomach and the feeling of Sero's cum leaking from around his length, when you're jolted awake again.

The knock at the door is loud, starling both of you from your after-glow, but it's the voice that follows that makes your blood run cold and Sero's boil in his veins.

'Babe...'

Another knock.

'Hey, I know you're in, the hall light's on.'

Your breath sticks in your throat, your eyes wide as Sero moves his eyes from yours to peer over the back of the sofa and towards the door.

'I need to talk to you. Please.'

Sero sucks in a breath as if he's about to speak, but you slam a hand over his mouth before he can.

He chuckles and then presses his tongue against your fingers, licking at the insides of your fingers and slobbering down your skin, forcing you to retract your hand. 'Can't leave him stood there forever.'

'I -.' You're shaking. Reality hits you like a bus and your body rejects it. Panic seeps through your pours and turns you out making your brain swim with thousands of little voices that scream and shout into the abyss. You cling onto Sero, try and calm yourself by hauling in a shallow breath, but none of it works.

'I'll handle it, okay...' He knocks you gently from your panic with a kiss. He steals your breath and breathes it back into you, unlocking your muscles. Moving back, he slips his cock from your cunt and groans when he loses the sensation of your tightness wrapping him.

'No.' Your voice is a whisper as you try and cling to him, to pull him back down to you, but he grips your elbows and stops your shuffling.

'I'm just going to see what he wants...' Unfurling himself from your grip, he wriggles to the edge of the sofa and snatches his t-shirt from the floor. It takes him a few seconds to hop around the living room, collecting his clothing from the floor and slipping back into it. His socks stay off. 'Be back in a minute okay.' He reaches over the back of the sofa and strokes your cheek, locking eyes with yours. 'You've done nothing wrong. Okay.' Then, he's gone and padding down the hallway to get the door.

You scramble to get dressed, despite the fact you can feel Sero's cum leaking down your thighs. There's a hammering in your chest that reminds you of the last time you had a panic attack, but Sero's words keep you from teetering over the edge.

'Please – Princess – sorry, fuck – just let me in. Okay.' Bakugo's head hits the wood of the front door. His chest is heaving, voice cracking as he tries to call out to you. It startles him when the door finally opens, but what startles him more is the tall figure blocking his way. 'What?'

'Don't.' Sero leans on the door jam, one hand dug into the pocket of his jeans, the other one wrapping the back of the door, pressing it to his side and blocking the view down the hallway. 'What do you want?'

'What are you doing here?' Bakugo counters.

'Looking out for a friend.' Sero is unwavering. 'Thought she'd need it since you're going around sticking your tongue down Kirshima's throat.'

'You saw.'

'Hard not to.'

'You don't -.'

'Oh, don't start with that bullshit.' Rolling his eyes, Sero raises his eyebrows. He's comically calm considering he can see taste you on his tongue. 'Are you done?'

'Did you tell her?' Bakugo looks at his shoes. He digs a toe into the pavement and shoves his hands into his jacket pockets, shoulders coming up around his ears as if he's trying to recede into himself.

Sero sighs. 'Of course I fucking told her.'

'Fuck.'

'She deserves better than this. You can't put someone on hold like that.' He doesn't mean to sound venomous, but he doesn't fight it either. Instead, he straightens himself pushing himself up to his full height in an attempt to look something close to intimidating.

'I know – just. Just let me in.' Bakugo throws his hand against the door in an attempt to push it open, but Sero's arm behind it stops him. 'I need to talk to her.'

'Yeah. No.'

Bakugo's eyes steel. 'What?'

'She doesn't need to hear you grovel when I can still smell him on your breath.' There's something close to possessiveness rearing its head when Sero moves to slam the door in Bakugo's face, something violent that swirls in his stomach and threatens to make him do something stupid.

'Hey...'

Your hand on the small of Sero's back stops him from taking Bakugo's nose off with the door. He stops, melting slightly under your touch. Images of your hands digging into the meat of his shoulders, of the feeling of your nails digging into his scalp spark at the base of his skull dispelling enough of his anger to not just slam the door anyway.

'It's okay.' You nod to him, tangling your hand into his t-shirt as he steps aside, letting the door fall open. 'Katsuki.'

'Hi.' He's chewing the inside of his cheek, his eyes not quite meeting yours as a smile flickers on his face before dying out. Something leaps in his chest when he sees you, something he'd almost forgotten about until it attempts to knock him off his feet. 'Can – can I come in? I just, we need to talk.'

Nodding, you turn and make your way down the hallway.

This time, it's Sero and Bakugo who find you leaning against the sink. Your arms are folded, hands pressed to your stomach as you try and silence the ache in your hips. It makes you feel guilty, looking at Bakugo as he slips into the room while you're sure you can still feel the shape of Sero's cock in your cunt.

'Can we talk... Alone?' Bakugo stalks around your sofa, eyes glued to your knees as you try and not wither under his gaze. 'Without him.'

Sero swaggers into the room and takes up post by the breakfast bar. He looks like a guard dog. His back is to you, his arms folded, chest puffed out slightly in an unconscious show of God knows what. 'What? Scared I'll point out that you seemed a bit keen this afternoon at lunch?'

'You don't -.' Bakugo snaps. His fists are clenched by his sides, his teeth pinned tightly together in his mouth as he forces himself to look away from Sero.

'Don't what – get it?' There's a sneer on his lips when he spits it out.

Bakugo sniffs the air, pacing around the back of the sofa before throwing himself down on it. 'Have you been smoking?'

'Needed to relax a little.' You shrug and push back against the sink. There's a sinking feeling in your stomach as you watch Bakugo play with his fingers. He looks sheepish, like a school-boy waiting to be shouted at by the principle. His unease infects you, makes you shuffle your feet on the kitchen's cold tile and cling a little tighter to your stomach.

'Oh.'

'I know you don't like it -'

Bakugo shakes his head. 'I don't think I've got much of a leg to stand on these days.' It takes him a second to finally work up the courage to look at you properly, but he drops your gaze just as quick. 'I just -.' He leans over, readjusts his seating with a palm on of the cushions and jolts when his hand meets something wet. 'What the -.'

Your eyes go wide, the hole in the pit of your stomach opening enough to swallow you whole when you watch Bakugo lift his hand.

There's strings of white coating his fingers, sticking his index to his middle. He reels back, his chest hollowing out as he stares at the liquid clinging to his hand.

For a second, everything stands still. You're not sure who's more mortified, but there's a hollow laugh from Sero that tells you it's a toss up between you and Bakugo.

'Do I even want to know?'

'It's uhm -.'

The muscle in Bakugo's jaw tenses. 'Is this what you're here for?' He wipes his hand on the cushion, effectively cleaning himself off before he's standing and striding over to Sero, his face glowing red with every step. 'Slimy fucking bastard.'

'What?' Sero doesn't move. His arms are still crossed across his chest, the same lob-sided grin twisting his lips as he angels his chin down to look at Bakugo. Despite the fact that Bakugo looks fit to murder him on the spot, Sero yawns.

Bakugo doesn't think twice. There's too much going on in his head, too much pressure to think straight or form coherent thoughts, so he doesn't. He reels back an arm, bicep bulging as he rocks back on a left foot and brings his fist to Sero's jaw.

The punch connects. It bends Sero back, forcing his neck to snap sideways with a horrific crunch. He cups his jaw, prods at the skin where Bakugo's knuckles had kissed and then spits blood onto the hardwood. 'You know what...' He moves his jaw in his palm, working out the violent shooting pain erupting down the length of his head. 'You've always had that violent streak, haven't you? Never thought you'd actually have the balls to hit me though.'

The second punch hits Sero's shoulder.

He deflects it, catches more of it with the muscle of his bicep than Bakugo had intended and manages to turn. Curling his body round, he reaches for Bakugo and takes fistfuls of his hoodie. Wrenching him from the floor Sero uses his height and sends Bakugo sprawling, stumbling backwards until he hits the couch with the back of his knees and almost goes toppling over its edge.

It takes barely a second for Bakugo to re-orient himself. 'Couldn't wait to get your dick wet could you?.' He springs up and makes towards Sero again before you manage to slot yourself between the two men.

It's not like in the novels, where the cute, female protagonist enjoys it when her love interests vie for her attention, scrap in the school yard to prove themselves worthy. It's violent and scary as you watch two friends attempt to rip each other to shreds, to use their fists to explain the storms in their chests. 'Katsuki – stop – what the – Katsuki!' Your hands reach out, curl around Bakugo's shoulders and attempt to keep him at bay, but he pushes forward.

'You're really going to hide behind her? Really gonna -.'

'For fucks sake Katsuki, stop!' You scream, digging your nails into the flesh beneath his hoodie. Forcing your palms against him, you lock your elbows to keep him back. 'What the fuck -.'

'So you're defending him now?'

There's something wild in his eyes, something untamed and red-hot that scares you when you lift your chin to look at him. 'Kat...'

'I can't – I thought we were fucking friends.' Bakugo looks around you, catching Sero as he leans back against the breakfast bar.

'And I thought you weren't a cheating piece of shit, guess we've all learnt something lately.'

Bakugo pushes back against you, his arm pulling back, hand curling into a fist as he readies another punch.

You slam your fists into his shoulders. 'For fucks sake, will you two stop!'

Sero chuffs. 'It wasn't me that -.'

'Just fucking stop!' Arms shaking, you push Bakugo back. Your jaw is tensed, but that doesn't stop the tears beginning to well up in your eyes. 'Stop. I can't – I can't do this – okay.' Sero reaches out, his fingers graze your shoulder, but you recoil. It's as if the touch burns, as if the reality of the last few hours carves itself out of your stomach.

He pulls back, eyebrows knitting.

'Just – just go... Okay.'

'But -.'

'I'll be fine – I - I'll call you later.' You turn, glance back over your shoulder, pleading that he'll take the hint and not make this harder. A small smile creases your lips and he relents.

'Okay.' Swallowing, Sero steps forward and presses his lips to your cheek all the while keeping his eyes locked onto Bakugo. 'Make sure you call, okay.'

You nod, shaking as you watch him collect his jacket from the back of the sofa and skulk out of the room. He doesn't glance back, even though you watch him go and then, the door slams shut. The noise shakes you, makes your whole body feel like jelly as you stumble back to lean against the breakfast bar. It's too quiet now, the room void of the raised voices that had ricochetted around it a moment ago.

Bakugo clears his throat. His jaw is still clenched, but his fists have become flat sheets again that press against his hips. He swallows, catches your eye and then, he's approaching you. 'Did you let him fuck you raw? Let him cum in you?' His eyes are aflame, but you know he won't lay a hand on you. Not in the way he laid a hand on Sero anyway. His chest is heaving, the vein on the side of his neck pulsing violently.

'Katsuki – I -' You stutter, feeling his breath fan hot on your cheeks. His proximity makes you flush. 'You know what.' Collecting yourself, you clench your jaw letting the hurt that had been building in your stomach for weeks rise to the surface. Sero's words bubble inside of your head: 'You've done nothing wrong'. 'I'm not the one who threw all of this away. I'm – I'm not the one who fucking cheated Katsuki. That was you -.' You poke him hard in the chest, hard enough to bend your finger and make the joint scream.

Reaching up, Bakugo takes hold of your jaw squeezing enough to bruise. 'I don't want him touching you.'

'Should have thought about that before you decided you didn't want me.' There's tears in your eyes as you refuse to back down, refuse to drop your eyes from his as he stares at you.

For a second Bakugo stops breathing. It's the clearest he's been able to think for weeks. His whole body screams for you, his thighs ache, his chest heaving as he watches the tears gently roll over your eyelids and stain your cheeks. He wipes it away. 'I never said I didn't want you.'

'But -.'

His lips come crashing down on yours, his hands gripping the back of your head. Nipping your lip, he pulls back just enough to be able to see your face in focus. The faint knowledge of Sero's lips on yours, of his hands on your skin, his cock in your cunt makes a new possessiveness flare in his stomach. It's animalistic. The urge to reclaim, to make sure you know that he'll never compare, that no other man could replace him ignites and makes his cock stir in his jeans. 'Did you cum?..' He bites your neck, licks over the sting and moans against your skin. 'Can't make you feel as good as I can – can't – no-one can fuck you like me... No-one.'

You tangle your hands into his shirt. You know you shouldn't want this, shouldn't feel your cunt clench when he forces another kiss into your mouth, but there's no denying it. 'Katsuki.'

'I'm here...' He kisses your jaw, his lips hot and searing against your skin. '

Your head is spinning. You've been breathing Bakugo's air for far too long by the time he finally releases you from the kiss.

His hands grope at you, knead into the fat of your hips and ass as he forces your back roughly against the breakfast bar. Growling, he nips at you lip before reaching up to take your chin. 'Open.'

Autopilot has your mouth dropping open. Your tongue flattens, eyes drawn to Bakugo's as he spits it into your mouth.

The second time he spits into your mouth, he does it slowly. The droplet hangs from his lips and drips, steadily towards your tongue.

'Good girl.' His grip loosens to a hold, caressing the turn of your jaw with a thumb. 'Such a good girl for me.' There's a flicker of fondness in his eyes when you swallow, it eclipses his iris' and makes your stomach feel warm. His hand slips from your jaw and moves to the back of your head.

You whimper, pulling him closer.

I'mma take care of you, okay... Make you forget him.' He growls, pulling you back to look at him again. 'Going to make you mine again.

There's a heat exploding in your stomach that makes your knees threaten to buckle, but you can't deny that you've missed Bakugo's touch no matter how desperate it is. 'Katsuki.' You brace your palms on his chest and push back. 'Katsuki...'

He releases you and steps back, hands no longer on your neck, but wrapping your elbows.

There's something swimming inside of him when you stop and really look. He looks tormented, dark rings around sad eyes that mix with the inky unease echoing in his iris'. It breaks your heart. So you hold him, you wrap your arms around his neck and bury your nose into his t-shirt. 'Not like this...' The words are encased in a small, broken whimper that barely makes it through the material of his shirt, but you know he's heard you. 'Please, not like this...'

His grip softens immediately. There's no tension in his fingers now as they press to your skin, no anger behind the loose grip he holds on your arm. 'Fuck.' It's a sob, one that leaps from his chest unexpectedly as his body comes crashing down. He wraps you up, arms circling your waist as he pulls you into his chest and smothers you. 'Fuck.'

Moving your hand in smoothing motions over his back as he lets out another choked cry.

He reels back. 'I fucking cheated on you, I – Fuck.'

The words hang in the air for a moment, waiting for either of you to process them, but neither of you move. It's too much to acknowledge, even as a known truth it burns like battery acid to think about and up until now, you hadn't. Not really. You'd doused it all in confusion and hurt to distract from the fact of the matter and the fact was, he had, he had cheated, shattered your trust and now, now you had to deal with that.

You can feel his fingers digging into your skin again as if he thinks the sobs shaking his chest might be enough to dislodge you completely from his embrace. 'Yeah.' Is all you can say.

'I'm so fucking sorry, I – I -.'

Burying your head into his neck, you submit to the crushing waves of sickness that swirl in your stomach. You're too far gone for denial now. 'I know.'

'But – I -.'

'I know.' Slowly, you untangle yourself from him, unwrapping his limbs from yours with delicate touches and calm breathes until the only parts of you still touching are your hands. You twist your fingers with his and let them hang there, a bridge connecting you to each other loosely, but definitely. 'Listen, I -.'

'I meant it.' He shrugs, using a shoulder to wipe away the tears that have managed to spill out onto his cheeks. 'I still want you... I never -.'

'Stop.'

'I never stopped, I just – I fucked up -.'

'Katsuki...'

'I know I fucked up, but I don't – I can't lose you, I -.'

'Katsuki, stop.' Squeezing his fingers together, if the pressure hurts him he doesn't let it show. You take a deep breath, steel yourself and then, speak. 'I think you should leave.'

'What?' He squeezes back, harder, like it's a competition.

'I – I can't. I just...' Carefully you unpick the knot in your chest, try and unravel the mess of emotions bundled there. Sero's words float around your head. His voice couples with the memory of his fingers on your skin, of his tongue, his cock. You hadn't hated it and you hadn't thought of Bakugo once. 'I need time. Time to – to process...'

'I get it.' Bakugo doesn't drop your hands. 'I -.'

Untangling yourself, you squeeze his fingers to yours one final time before letting go. 'I - I just – I...'

There's something about the disconnection, of the lacking warmth of your hand in his that sends him scrambling. He swallows, panic inching up his throat as you seem to float further away from him. 'I love you.' He affirms, keeping his distance.

'I -.'

He smiles, chewing the inside of his cheek.

'I love you too.' Reaching up, you cup his cheek, closing the gap that has opened up between you. There's tears spilling over your cheeks now, but you're making no attempt to stop them. There's no point.

'Can -.' A faint chuckle bubbles up Bakugo's throat. 'Can I kiss you? Just once. Before I go.'

You nod, anxious to have him close again despite the hole opening up in your chest.

Bakugo leans in slowly, savouring the soft fanning of your breath over his cheeks before slotting his lips against yours. He kisses you slowly, mapping out your mouth and committing it to memory. It's strange, your mouth is familiar and yet, it feels as though it's the first time again as he swipes a tongue across your bottom lip and asks for permission to enter.

You grant him it, jaw dropping open to let him lick inside and then, you're pulling back and breathing your own air again.

'I should go...' Bakugo mumbles.

Resting your forehead against his, you cling to him a little tighter. 'I'll call.'

There's something heavy in the air when Bakugo untwists your bodies for a final time and steps back. He shoves his hands into his pockets, an extra barrier to prevent him from reaching for you again. 'Okay...' He nods before turning on his heel and reluctantly turning down the hallway.

You follow on his heels, trailing after him until you reach the door.

He pauses, teetering on the edge of the doorway until he manages to convince himself to step out into the open air. The cold nips at his skin, causing goose-flesh to cover his arms.

'Katsuki.' You reach for him one final time, pressing a final kiss to the side of his mouth then, let him go and step back into the house.

A smile falters on his lip and for a second, it looks as though he might say something, but he doesn't. Hauling in a breath, he turns and forces himself to walk away from you.

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[stellaris-archivum]

Jelo, i hope you are well

where is detained chapter? I need it so much hahha I've been checking since yesterday, I hope you can get it out soon.

blessings, mua 💕

pd: english is not my mother language ;; srry

RIGHT! so about that...

i didn't really forget (i swear), i have a draft ready. it just happened that i got busy with school and valorant (especially valorant) since i really missed playing the game (having not played for 2 months because my laptop broke) and i missed our favorite baguette man (fuck his nerfs fr) that i didn't realize i haven't done my rewrite yet.

i'm afraid that the update will be postponed for a little bit, but if i can get my head straight and finish my college stuff and stop playing every chance i get, i might get the update out on january 15th (or if it doesn't work out for me, well, on the 30th)

here's a snippet from my draft as an apology (it might not appear on the update but it should give you an idea <3)

also, here's a fun fact!

the draft for chapter 3 was actually part of what i originally intended for chapter 2 alone. the draft has over 29 pages (with 12k words). chapter 2 covered almost half of the draft. i'm really sorry for the delays but if it's any consolation, it's going to be as long (if not longer) than chapters 1 and 2 combined. probably.

thank you for reading my work and i hope to continue making you want more! all the love <3

-iris

[captainjanegay]

Where I’m Meant to Be | Stucky | Meet-Cute, Slow Burn, Friends to Lovers, Kid Fic, No powers AU | Chapters 3/? | 12k words | Ao3

Summary: Bucky is a single dad coming back from a work trip with a very bored, very whiney 7-year-old girl. A mysterious stranger with a kind heart and a notebook full of doodles comes to the rescue.

A/N: I was pondering whether I should leave the dance recital for later or just go with it and I decided that I had no idea how else could this third chapter go, so here it is! I hope you'll like it and as always I wanted to thank you so so much for all the love and kind words :') They all make my heart melt and make me actually excited (even though still anxious) about posting next chapters :') Thank you so much to everyone who has read, commented, liked or reblogged this fic, it means the world to me ♥

I was worried this one is going to be shorter but I've added some last minute Natasha content because who doesn't love Natasha content? I certainly do. Enjoy and see you all next time ♥

.

Chapter 3 

(4.4k words)

Bucky is nervous. It feels almost as if he is the one who’s going to dance in front of all those people in less than an hour. Although he thinks it would be less anxiety-inducing than watching Alex's performance. It’s not like he doesn’t believe in her. If there’s one thing that Bucky is sure of, it’s that his daughter is talented and brilliant and that she’s going to be amazing. He just knows how important it is to her, so he wants everything to go perfectly. Which is why in the last two minutes he has sent at least four messages to Clint to make sure he won't be late. 

Each time Clint told him to fuck off and not be a dick. There’s still over thirty minutes left before the recital starts and objectively Bucky knows Clint would never miss something that’s so important to Alex. It doesn’t stop him from worrying, though.

With a sigh, he slides his phone into his back pocket and looks around the lobby. Not that many people are around yet and Bucky is not that surprised. Besides the parents, there are rarely any other people coming to those things. Sometimes not even all the parents do. Alex probably has the biggest support group even on the smallest events. And Bucky doesn’t even need to drag anyone forcefully. They’re just lucky enough to have plenty of supportive friends in their life and thinking about it makes Bucky really emotional sometimes.

The door opens and Bucky’s eyes skip that way automatically. The man that walks in is tall and blond-haired, dressed in an old-school brown leather jacket and a scarf wrapped haphazardly around his neck. He hovers by the door for a few moments and looks a bit lost, scanning the lobby.

“Steve?” Bucky says and the man’s head turns towards him quickly.

When Steve's eyes land on Bucky, a big smile blooms on his face.

“Bucky, hi!” Steve says, walking over to him.

“You came.” Bucky points out with a smile. Steve made it clear on a few occasions that he will, but actually seeing him here is still a bit of a surprise.

“Of course. Didn’t want to let Alex down. Or you, but mostly her,” the sincerity in his voice warms Bucky’s heart. Steve rubs at his neck in a nervous gesture and reaches to his messenger bag. “I’ve actually— You’ve said how important to her it was so I— I’ve made a little something for her, I hope that’s OK?”

Surprised, Bucky looks down and sees that Steve is holding an open folder. Inside, there’s a drawing made with coloured pencils and when Bucky sees it his breath catches.

It shows Alexandra in full ballerina gear, with a big fluffy tutu and a little tiara on her head. There’s a huge smile on her face and her eyes are sparkling in the spotlights. She’s caught mid-pirouette. Even though it’s just a drawing, it’s so dynamic Bucky half expects her to start twirling across the page. Around her there is a confetti of musical notes and roses being thrown her way, some of them scattered on the stage in front of her. It’s so beautiful Bucky’s fingers twitch forward to touch the drawing but he quickly catches himself.

“God, Steve—” he starts but he has no idea what to say next.

“I just— I don’t know, I wanted to have a little gift for her? The dancers are given flowers after their performances, but I— I don’t know, I can just—,” Steve mumbles.

When Bucky finally tears his eyes away from the drawing, he notices that Steve has an honest to God blush on his cheeks and he’s still rubbing his neck in that nervous gesture. A sudden urge to wrap this amazing, kind man in a hug overwhelms Bucky. He manages to stop himself. Instead, he puts his hand on Steve’s bicep and squeezes lightly.

“It’s beautiful. I can’t even— My god, it’s amazing. Alex will go crazy when she sees it. I bet she’s gonna make me hang it somewhere,” Bucky lets out a chuckle. “And I’ll gladly do that, it’s really wonderful.”

A shy smile appears on Steve’s face as he closes the folder and carefully tucks it into his bag. “It’s nothing, just a little drawing.”

“Maybe for you but she’s gonna be over the moon. And I can’t believe that you really came and did this drawing and— You’re amazing, Steve.”

The blush on Steve’s cheeks only deepens. He looks down, refusing to look into Bucky’s eyes and he opens his mouth to say something.

But before he gets the chance, there’s some commotion on the other side of the lobby. When Bucky looks that way, he sees Clint and Scott arguing about something, the former holding a phone in front of his face. Walking calmly behind them are Hope and Cassie, both with similar tired yet fond expressions on their faces.

“Hi guys, you’ve made it!” Bucky greets them with a smile.

“We did! Clint kept rushing us cause apparently you’ve been bugging him for the last hour not to be late,” Hope says giving Bucky an one-armed hug. 

“I—,” Bucky stutters. “It wasn’t an hour. Besides I wouldn’t if I knew he was picking you up.”

“Of course it was an hour and of course you would, Barnes. Don’t lie and pretend you're not a crazy person,” Clint says, looking up from the phone. 

Clint’s eyes skip from Bucky to Steve, who moved half a step back and is watching the commotion with a polite smile on his face. When Clint looks back at Bucky, he wiggles his eyebrows with an awful smile. 

Bucky never wanted to smack him so badly. 

“You won’t introduce us?” Clint asks.

Sending him one last hateful look, Bucky glances at Steve, giving him an apologetic smile.

“Sorry. Here’s Scott, his fiancee Hope and his daughter Cassie. And this idiot is Clint, sorry about him. Guys, this is Steve, a… friend, we’ve met recently.”

“It’s nice to meet you all,” Steve says with a smile.

“Wait, what Steve? How is James making friends, I didn’t know he could do that?” comes a voice from Clint’s phone, making Bucky groan.

“We’re just as surprised, Nat.”

Clint turns his phone around, showing the screen with Natasha’s slightly glitchy face on it. She quickly scans the new surroundings and her eyebrows shoot up when she notices Steve.

“Oh hello,” she greets with a signature Natasha smile, kind but slightly wolfish and possibly intimidating to strangers. "I'm Natasha."

“Um.” Steve sends a confused glance Bucky’s way, but says. “Nice to meet you too, Natasha. I’m Steve, the new friend. Apparently that's an achievement for Bucky.”

If Bucky felt sympathetic for Steve for being ambushed by his friends, he’s not anymore. Instead, he groans again and ignores the small smirk that Steve sends him and Natasha’s “I like this one!”.

“Can you all just shut up and proceed to the hall, please?” Bucky gestures towards the door across the room. “Since we’re all here already and the show is going to start soon we can as well take our seats already.”

When they don't move, Bucky ushers them forward, waving his arms as if they were a flock of chickens. Sometimes it feels like they are. Eventually, they do move and Bucky sends a small smile towards Steve who hangs back waiting for him.

"So, um—," Steve starts, looking at the small group in front of them before glancing back at Bucky. "Your wife couldn't come?"

Steve's voice is conversational so he seems surprised when Bucky halts to a stop.

"I'm—” Bucky furrows his brows in confusion. "I don't have a wife."

"Oh." Steve looks both confused and embarrassed now. "I'm sorry, I didn't— I just assumed, since Alex mentioned her mum a lot and— sorry."

"Oh no, Bucky's single," Scott says, apparently hearing the little exchange.

"And desperately ready to mingle," Clint prompts helpfully, throwing a grin over his shoulder.

It feels like Bucky has been doing nothing but groaning in distress during the past few minutes. "I'm not desperate—"

"I'm the mum!" comes Natasha's chipper voice from Clint's video call and he kindly turns the phone around. "Not the wife, though. James's too insufferable as anything but a friend. And likes men too much for that."

"Tasha, for fuck's sake," Bucky says loudly, getting a dirty look from some random mum who overhears him.

He pointedly doesn't look at Steve throughout this whole exchange. Why do his friends hate him so much? He doesn't deserve to be treated like this.

"Can we just—" Bucky takes a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose, "not talk about this and to the performance, please. It's starting soon."

It's Hope who stops this madness and decides not to ignore Bucky's obvious discomfort. With a smile directed at both Steve and Bucky, she takes Scott by his elbow and turns him around, pushing Clint slightly towards the hall. They don't object. Bucky has never been more grateful for her.

It's not until a few minutes later when they are all seated in the hall, surrounded by the quiet murmur of different conversations before the show, when Steve leans closer from his seat next to Bucky's.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," Steve says quietly.

Bucky chances a look at him. The lightning is dim but the distance between them is small enough for Bucky to make out the dark blush dusting Steve's cheeks.

"It's not your fault my friends are idiots," Bucky jokes to lighten the mood. "Should've worn ya' before I've invited you."

Steve laughs at that. "Still, though. Shouldn't have just assumed things."

"It was a perfectly normal assumption to make." Bucky points out. "Really, don't stress about it. It's all good."

For a moment, Steve doesn't look convinced but eventually he nods and smiles. Bucky reciprocates the gesture. For a moment they just look at each other but their attention is soon drawn towards the front of the room. Some more lights above the stage appear when the owner of the studio walks in with a smile, asking everyone to take a seat. Her introductions are pretty standard and she keeps them short. Soon enough, the main show begins.

It’s really entertaining, even considering the fact that the age of the performers varies between 4 and 12 years old. They’re dancing in many configurations, the smallest dancers mostly in big groups and Bucky smiles the whole time, watching their — sometimes still clumsy but oh so cheery — dancing. Two of the oldest kids perform an amazing pas de deux to the music from Sleeping Beauty. They dance to a lot of contemporary music and loads of Disney songs, to Steve’s great delight. Bucky only shakes his head with a disbelieving smile when he hears Steve singing along to A Whole New World under his breath. Feeling Bucky’s eyes on him, Steve only shrugs and laughs quietly.

Alex is in two group dances and she has her own solo performance. She’s brilliant in all of them. And it’s not just Bucky’s biased opinions, because the hall erupts in loud applause when she finishes her solo with a bow and a huge smile on her face. Watching the concentration on her face, mixed with the absolute joy of dancing makes Bucky teary-eyed and by the end of her last performance he doesn’t even try to stop the tears. All the pride he feels, threatens to tear him apart. He would be the proudest even if she sucked but the fact that she manages to awe everyone in the room makes it all so much better.

After the recital is over, some of the guests leave to wait in the lobby but Bucky and his friends stick around in the hall, moving closer to the stage. Soon enough, Alex bolts from backstage, still in her dress and everything and launches herself into Bucky’s arms.

“You were incredible, my love!" Bucky says, hugging her tight and kissing the side of her face. “I’m so proud of you! You made me cry real tears, you were so beautiful.”

“Thanks, papa,” Alex laughs, leaning away a bit to look at him, her eyes sparkling with joy.

Soon enough, she gets whipped away from Bucky’s embrace by Clint who starts spinning her around the room, both of them shrieking loudly. They earn some disapproving looks by doing that, but they couldn’t care less. Bucky only watches them with a fond smile, laughing and getting emotional again when Alexandra notices the huge bouquet they’ve bought just for her. She talks briefly with Natasha - the video conference was on during the whole performance so even though Nat couldn’t be here in person, she could still watch the whole thing. Natasha apologises for not being there but promises to make it to the next recital that is supposed to happen around New Year’s Eve and she points out how proud she is every two words.

Bucky lets everybody congratulate his little girl and shower her with the love she deserves. He’ll have plenty of time to do that at home. So he takes a step back and stands next to Steve.

Steve, who waits politely, probably not wanting to interrupt as he just watches it all with a smile on his face. But when Alex’s eyes finally land on him, matching big smiles bloom on both of their faces.

“Steve! You came!” Alex exclaims, bouncing closer to where Steve and Bucky are standing.

“Of course I did,” Steve says and he crouches to be on Alex’s eye level. “You were incredible! Thank you so much for inviting me, it was so worth it. And I have a little gift for you.”

Hearing that, Alex starts bouncing on the balls of her feet in excitement and she watches as Steve retrieves the drawing. The moment her eyes land on it, she lets out a small gasp. Just like Bucky did before, she moves her hand as if she wants to touch it but stops, afraid to ruin it. When she looks up at Steve, her eyes seem a little watery.

“It’s for me?” she asks and when Steve nods, she carefully takes it from his hands. “I love it! Thank you so much, Steve!”

With that, she wraps her small arms around Steve’s neck. The movement catches Steve off guard, almost enough to make him lose his balance and Bucky laughs at the surprised look Steve sends him.

“You’re so welcome, Alexandra,” Steve says eventually, rubbing her back. “I’m happy you like it. Thank you again for inviting me.”

“Papa, look!” Alex yells, moving away from Steve and proudly showing Bucky the drawing. “It’s me!”

“It is!” Bucky agrees, hugging her close one more time. “It's my wonderful little ballerina!"

***

After the performance, they all decide to go to a restaurant for a celebratory dinner. Steve tries to flee but both Clint and Hope — which comes out as a bit of surprise to Bucky — nag him to join them. He sends a look at Bucky, probably hoping Bucky's gonna back him up.

He doesn't. Instead, both he and Alex send Steve their best puppy dog eyes saying that they'll love if Steve came along. Steve is not able to resist such power.

Bucky's not sure why he insists so hard on Steve coming with them, not really knowing what to expect. It turns out he had nothing to worry about. Steve fits right in with their little group. The evening is very nice and they all feel comfortable in each other's company. Bucky's a bit afraid at the beginning, when Clint starts asking some pretty nosy questions and is being his horrible self. Everyone except Steve has gotten used to it and they know that Clint is the best friend one can have but for some reason, he sometimes hides it quite well. But Steve doesn’t seem to be judging or getting annoyed in any way. Quite the opposite. It also turns out that under all of Steve’s gold-heartedness hides a little asshole with witty comebacks and good-natured jabs at whoever tries to mess with him. He can totally keep up with whatever Clint’s up to at any given moment.

It's enough to say that Clint absolutely loves it.

They don’t stay at the restaurant for too long. They can’t since Alex is tired after all of today’s excitement. She tries very hard to hide it, though. Fortunately for her, Bucky knows her better and he saves her from crossing the line between happy and miserably exhausted. No matter how nice the evening is going so far, they should go. So for the sake of Alex’s pride, Bucky says he’s getting tired and the two of them are probably going to head home. It's not even a lie. Considering he's only 29 and it's not even 10 p.m. it's kind of sad that he really does feel a bit sleepy. Alex tries to protest but it’s weak, which only proves Bucky’s assessment of her energy levels was correct. Of course, everyone else jumps to their feet almost immediately. They exchange hugs and thank-you’s and more congratulations for Alexandra and finally some goodbye’s as they all go in different directions. 

The short walk home wakes Alex up a bit. And because it's still her big night, Bucky lets her stay up for a little longer than usually when they finally get home. They cuddle on the couch and watch How to Train Your Dragon together, while sharing a bowl of ice cream. Of course their private little celebrations can’t start until the drawing from Steve is safely put away in Alex's room with promises that Bucky will hang it tomorrow.

About halfway through the movie Alex drifts off to sleep, curled safely on Bucky's lap. He takes a few extra minutes stroking her hair, trying not to think too much about how big she's getting or that soon she won't be so happy about cuddling with her papa anymore. Eventually, Bucky picks her up gently and carries her to her room. He finishes the movie and gets himself an extra scoop of ice cream before he heads to bed.

The next morning Alex almost drags him out of bed, rushes him through breakfast and almost pushes him out of the door. All that because he promised they're gonna shop for things they need to put the portrait from Steve on the wall. Bucky is not even mad. It is a gorgeous piece of art and he's really happy that Alex is so thrilled with it.

A few hours, some drilling and vacuuming tons of dust later, he snaps a picture of the drawing hanging proudly on the wall above the chest of drawers in Alex's bed. He attaches it to a message.

To: Steve Guess who got bullied into an IKEA trip at 10 in the morning on a Saturday just to buy a frame? Saturday, 12:30 A.M.

From: Steve Sorry? :) Saturday, 12:31 A.M.

From: Steve I'm honoured she likes it so much, though. Saturday, 12:32 A.M.

To: Steve I bet you're not sorry at all, you jump out of buildings for fun, you can't be trusted. Saturday, 12:37 A.M.

From: Steve I did NOT jump out of a building, stop saying that! And what happened to "you're amazing, Steve"? Saturday, 12:40 A.M.

To: Steve ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Saturday, 12:41 A.M.

***

After all the emotions from yesterday, Saturday passes in a nice yet uneventful way. Alex falls asleep on her feet at barely half past seven, but it’s no surprise that the tiredness has finally caught up to her. She doesn’t even try to argue when Bucky suggests she should head to bed earlier. After tucking her in, he lays down on the couch for a second, promising himself that he’ll do the dishes before heading to bed. Suddenly, it’s past 10 P.M. and he’s mindlessly watching some late-night reruns of Say Yes to The Dress. He’s not even surprised at this turn of events.

The noise his phone makes blasts in the quiet of the living room, making Bucky jump. He’s in such a rush to turn off the ringing that he drops the phone on his face, accidentally answering the incoming video call.

“Hi, dimwit. Did you just drop your phone on your face again?” He hears Natasha’s amused voice.

“I’ve never dropped a phone on my face in my life, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Bucky answers as he rubs his aching nose that has taken most of the impact.

Natasha only rolls her eyes at that. “My girl already asleep?”

“Yeah, went to bed before 8 p.m. and i bet she’ll sleep in tomorrow. She was positively exhausted today.”

“I’m not even surprised. She deserves some rest though, she was so brilliant last night,” Natasha says with a sad smile. “I hate that I couldn’t be there.”

“Don’t do this to yourself, Tasha. She understands,” Bucky tries to convince her. “Besides you’re gonna be here for Christmas, right?”

Natasha is not reassured. She thinks she hides it well enough for Bucky not to notice, but he’s known her for too long. She sighs but then answers with a small smile. “Yeah, I will be home for most of December. I’ll need to go to Cali for a bit, as always, but I should be back for Christmas.”

“That’s great,” Bucky smiles. “We miss you here and you’ll be just in time to see Alex in the Nutcracker, you know that one’s even more important to her.”

“Can’t wait. She’s gonna outmatch me sooner than I’ve expected.”

“She will and I don’t even feel sorry for you. She’s just so incredible. Like with your skills and my brains and also my good looks she’s destined for great things. I feel kind of bad for other kids,” Bucky chuckles but he only half-jokes.

In response he gets a raised eyebrow from Natasha. “I think you’ve meant my skills, my brains and my good looks and your—,” she waves her hand towards him dismissively. “I mean, I’m sure there’s something, we’ll figure it out at some point. Maybe it’s your love for Say Yes to the Dress, who knows.

“I’m—,” Bucky tries to defend himself but the grin on Natasha’s face tells him it’s a lost fight. He didn’t expect Natasha to recognise the background noise of his TV but then — it’s Natasha, so he should have. “You’re so full of shit, Romanoff.”

“I’m not. You are though,” Natasha says and when Bucky sends her a questioning look, she explains with a cheeky smirk. “I can’t believe you haven’t told me you’ve found yourself a new, smoking hot friend!”

“You know what, I don’t have to put up with this, I’m gonna go to bed,” Bucky sighs, but he makes no move to actually hang up.

Natasha only laughs triumphantly. “Oh my, why are you so defensive all of sudden? I didn’t say anything bad, did I?”

“You’re something bad in general, so I’m always prepared. Why are you all so obsessed with Steve? I have to put up with Clint already, so please, leave me alone.”

“We just care about you! And since you’ve been stuck with just us for ages, we’re excited there’s someone new, kind and handsome in your life!” the grin on her face makes Bucky groan out loud. “He seems nice and I hope you’ll be able to get to know him better. In a lot of ways.”

“See? This is exactly what I meant. I can’t believe I’ve been friends with you for so long.”

Another laugh escapes her mouth but her eyes soften when she looks back at him a moment later. “Really, though. You can’t be alone your whole life. And don’t bullshit me saying that you have Alex, you know that’s not my point. You’re just a huge softie who needs someone to make heart eyes at, it’s basically in your blood.”

Bucky chuckles in disbelief, not sure how this conversation got to this point. “What are you even talking about? I’ve known Steve for way too little for you to say all this. I’ve seen him in person twice. Twice, Natasha.”

“I’m not saying it has to be Steve, I know you’ve just met him. It was just a side note, completely unrelated to Steve. If anyone’s making a connection here, it’s you. So maybe you should think about that.” Natasha looks at him pointedly and when Bucky tries to chime in, she doesn’t let him. “Also on a completely unrelated note, Steve seems like a good guy, if you think about dating. And if you think about casual, he’s also smoking hot.”

“You’ve already mentioned that,” Bucky points out. “And you’ve only seen him via video chat.”

“Well, he is and it was clear even through Clint’s shitty camera.”

It’s hard to disagree with that. Even though Natasha is insane and he is not going to date anyone in the near future, let alone Steve whom he barely knows. He can objectively agree that Steve is unfairly attractive, though.

“Before you go all defensive and mean again — I just want you to be happy, James,” Natasha says. “And maybe having around someone who’s not Clint would be good for you.”

Bucky shakes his head with a chuckle. “You might have a point. But dating is not really on my priority list and I don’t think it’s a good time to change that now.”

“Ugh, whatever,” Natasha groans. “I really hope it won’t turn out that our daughter actually inherited your brains, because you’re an idiot.” She takes a deep sigh and changes the topic. “But let’s get to the important things now — is it just me or the dresses he shows this Caroline chick are getting uglier and uglier?”

“Oh God, I know, right? I don’t think I can handle another one of those monstrosities.”

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