#if you are not a passenger on the salty express

[improbable-outset]

📄 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐒𝐚𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐱 𝐇𝐢𝐦, 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐇𝐞’𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐡 𝐆𝐞𝐚𝐫

Miguel O’Hara x Fem!Reader

𝐀𝐎𝟑 | 𝐌𝐲 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐬 | 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 5.7k

𝐓𝐖 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐖: Street racing, Friends to More? (You’re more in denial than he is though 😒), smoking, one (1) ass spank, EVENTUAL SMUT, car sex, brief breast play, unprotected sex, buying ice coffee as aftercare.

𝐀/𝐍: That summary is so corny lmaooo

𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: Miguel��s idea of a good time: a high-speed joyride. Yours? Riding him until the sun rises

For someone who lived in the chaotic heart of Nueva York, your days were just as predictable as the last during high school.

School work, your part-time work, and family took up most of your time. Your world was one of routine and stability, with little room for the unexpected.

Then came Miguel O’Hara who tilted your world enough to knock you off balance from your usual routine with his enigmatic self.

Just like yourself, Miguel kept people at arm's length and low maintenance, most of the time. Albeit, his stoicism was what drew you into him. He didn’t pressure you into talking but he still kept you around, drawing you further into his world.

However, in moments of adrenaline, he became an ambushed thrill seeker. And things took a turn when he got into cars, more specifically street racing, which only amplified this side of him.

It started off during college years with one impulsive bet and he got addicted to the thrill pretty quickly. Soon, he developed rivalry and friendly competition with other drivers.

If it hadn’t been for Miguel, your life would’ve remained a series of quiet lonely nights with nothing much to look forward to. As a matter of fact, you would’ve never gone anywhere near a street race or anything this risky.

But after graduating college with no more academic stress to think about, going to these races has become a routine for you.

You found yourself surrounded by different cars outside an abandoned warehouse by the docks, their sleek bodies illuminated by the dim streetlights.

The air was charged with anticipation along with the guttural roads of engines as divers burned rubber. The scene was alive with energy but amidst the chaos, Miguel’s voice managed to cut through to you.

“Stop whining and just sit back, por favor.” Miguel snapped, his voice strained, as if you were pushing him to his limits. He was already behind the wheel with the window rolled down.

You’ve been begging him to sit on the passenger seat while he had been preparing for another race. But no matter how many times you asked, you were still met with the same answer.

“Those dirty benches are so uncomfortable,” you complained further. You were standing outside of his car with your hands resting on the edge of the open window.

Miguel’s grip tightened on the steering wheel, enough for the veins to bulge slightly as he turned to you.

His expression was a mixture of frustration and resignation. “Could you just listen to me?” He sighed, his voice softened but still firm. “This race is going to be shorter, so you won’t be sitting there for long anyways.”

You crossed your arms over the window frame as you leaned in, accepting defeat.

“Fine…” you huffed, still feeling salty about the uncomfortable bleachers you had to sit on. Hopefully, you could find a good spot this time around. Though, you didn’t turn to leave just yet, “Oh and by the way, is there anything I can give you if you win?”

Miguel furrowed his brow inquisitively “Why? What’s the occasion?”

You flashed your teeth in a grin that tugged on his nerves. “I’m feeling extra generous. So what do you want? And be sensible, please.”

You emphasised the last sentence with a firm tone.

He paused longer than you anticipated but you could see he was thinking. Either he was skeptical about the sudden generosity or he was coming up with an answer. “What about those tamales you made the other day again,”

“Oh uhm,” you chewed on your lower lip. That wasn’t an answer you would have imagined he would give. “I was thinking you’d ask for something more tangible,”

“Food is tangible,”

“Yeah…until you eat it and it’s gone.” You quipped. The first time you tried to make tamales, it didn’t turn out well. But Miguel still finished off his serving and gave you a positive verdict.

At the time, you assumed he was only being nice to spare your feelings. You didn’t expect him to actually like it so much that he would request for you to make it again.

Suddenly, you remembered his wish list that he saved. “What about those gloves you’ve been eyeing instead?”

He pulled a face. “You’ll get me those? No complaining that it’ll hurt your pockets?”

“Yep, I think I owe you after I accidentally broke your mug anyways,” you said, almost too eagerly. At least buying some gloves would avoid another mess in the kitchen.

“Alright, I accept. Just don’t expect me to lend you any of my stuff for a while.”

You pressed your lips together in mild annoyance before you spoke hesitantly, “…I’m gonna take a seat now,”

You turned your heels before you ascended up the stairs and took a seat on one of the bleachers. The seats were metal and you could feel it digging into you. A few people brought blankets to sit over it— you regretted not doing that.

The crowd was a mixture of seasoned racers, newcomers, and regular spectators, all feeding off the thrill of the event.

Despite being surrounded by a diverse group of people, you still felt out of place. It might stem from the fact that your sole purpose here was because of Miguel.

You weren’t too interested in the other cars or in placing bets. Hell, you weren’t that enthusiastic about racing as much as Miguel.

But regardless of that, you would still attend these events just to watch him. You kept your focus on his car, positioned perfectly for an optimal view.

It was Miguel and another driver— a 1 on 1 race. The flagger stood between the two cars with both hands raised, signaling the drivers to get ready. Your pulse quickened as you waited in anticipation, both cars revving their engines.

Finally, finally, the flagger lowered his hands and immediately both drivers slammed their foot down on the gas, launching them both forward and leaving a trail of smoke behind— almost tangible with its raw energy of the race.

The acceleration was impeccable; both cars became a blur as they sped down the road. The sound of the engines roaring and tires screeching reverberated in the open space, vibrating in your chest.

The other car was fast, but Miguel’s driving skills and raw power of his car gave him an advantage. His movements were fluid and precise as he manoeuvred each turn with unflinching accuracy.

His car was a few feet ahead of his opponent and close to the finish line. In a matter of mere seconds, his car crossed first and a chorus of cheers and screams erupted from the crowd.

You watched his car pull up to the side before he killed the engine and stepped out. Immediately you leaped to your feet and dashed towards him with exhilaration.

His adrenaline was infectious, fuelling your own excitement. You wanted to get to him first before people formed a crowd around him and share the moment of victory.

As you drew closer to him, he turned towards you. The last thing you saw was his growing smirk before you collided against his chest and wrapped your arms around him in a tight embrace.

The impact knocked the winds out of him, literally, before his back hit against the hood of his car. The sudden action stunned him into momentary silence before he let out a low chuckle.

After recovering from his surprise, you felt his arms wrapped around you to pull you closer. For a while, you stayed like this, with the fabric of his clothes rubbing against your face. He wouldn’t let anyone else do this and you knew that.

“Not gonna say anything?” He teased, still having his arms around you. “And here I thought you’d be excited for me,”

“My ass hurts,” you mumbled against his chest.

“Uh huh. That’s what you’re complaining about?” You felt one of his hands reach lower to smack your rear in retaliation. “Not gonna congratulate me for winning?”

“Oh yeah…that too hmm.” You said in feigned disinterest just to prod him further. You could sense that he was amused by your obvious acting. He loosened his grip on you slightly, just enough to look down at you with a growing smile.

“I just won that race, you know?” There was no hint of annoyance or anger in his tone as he said that. He was mirroring your unserious attitude.

“So I guess I’ll be getting you those gloves now,”

“That also means you’ll be dishing out your wallet for me,”

“That’s not an issue. I think I’m more financially sensible than you are,”

“Sure…it better be a good brand and not some cheap gas station ones,” he remarked as he opened the door and stepped back inside his car.

You followed suit and hopped onto the passenger’s side. “What kind of woman do you take me for?”

“The kind that probably won’t get me the brand I want.” He started the car and pulled out of the edge. “Just be glad it’s gloves instead of something actually expensive.”

He drove further away from the crowd of people until you reached a more quiet side of the docks. He killed off the engine before he reached over to his jacket pocket.

He pulled out the last cigarette packet, but the moment he put it between his lips, you reached over and grabbed it. Fortunately, he wasn’t holding it with his teeth, so you managed to take the stick out of his mouth before crumpling the paper between your fingers.

“Aye— what the shock was that for? I was gonna smoke that,” he scowled. snapping his head to glare at you.

“I know,” you rubbed the tobacco grit between your fingers before it landed on his lap.

“And I don’t even have a new pack on me,” he huffed out in irritation before leaning back against his seat to sulk for a moment.

You were going to say he looked like a child right now, but you decided to spare him the teasing after the mess you made on his lap.

“Good, I don’t want to stain my hands again,” you said, looking at your soiled fingers before rubbing them clean on your clothes.

“You really are a pain in the ass sometimes…”

“Yeah? You’re lucky I didn’t use a water gun this time,”

His muscles tensed at the reminder, like he had just been pricked by a thorn. The colour drained from his face, his annoyance giving way to his dread as he recalled the last time you doused him with a water gun after he tried to light a cigarette.

“Please don’t use that thing on me again,” he shuddered, you could almost see the flashback behind his eyes he remembered how soaked his clothes were that day.

After you both graduated from college, Miguel developed a habit of smoking. You didn’t know if he picked it up from someone else’s influence or if it was from stress.

At first, you didn’t think much of it until you saw how many sticks he would smoke a day. From that point on, you made it your mission to get him out of his habit before he fell further into the addiction rabbit hole.

“Well, I don’t need to now, but I got this just in case,” you reached for your own jacket pocket and pulled out a mini water gun toy. You could see from the clear plastic that it was filled to the brim.

Miguel’s face fell further at the sight. “Oh my God. Where did you get that from?”

“There was a small kiosk selling these toys,”

“Okay. Okay I won’t smoke anymore. Just put that thing away…”

You aimed for his neck and pressed on the trigger to spray the water. The water pressure force wasn’t as strong as the bigger water guns you had back at home, but it still did the job.

Miguel jolted at the sudden spray. He rubbed his neck that was now wet. “I just said I won’t smoke, why would you spray me?”

“That was a warning,” you replied, the soft sound of the water sloshing inside added to your taunt.

“Dios…At least give me the water gun before I deck you,” he extended his hands out to reach for the water gun so he wouldn’t get sprayed again.

But you knew better and pulled your hand away so the toy was out of his reach.

“Yeah…I’m not falling for that,” you knew that if you handed it over, he’d likely use it against you until it was empty.

“Do you really have to act like a parent with my smoking habits?” He groaned, still annoyed about being sprayed.

“You know that no one else will have the patience to do this,”

“Siii, but you’re so annoying when you do it,”

Something struck you at that moment, maybe it was realisation or an awakening. The moisture in your mouth dried instantly and your voice dropped to a more serious tone. “One day you’ll miss me doing it when I’m not around anymore,”

His face warped, like he had just tasted bile. “¿De qu�� estás hablando?

“You know we won’t be this close when you settle down,”

You knew he wouldn’t be this free-spirited once he tied the knot with somebody. It was why you never held your tongue and always tried to savour every moment with him, making each one memorable while keeping him on his toes, so you’d have no regrets.

But at the same time, you kept a lingering guard up and braced yourself because at any given moment, he will drift away from your life without even realising, leaving you stuck in a cycle of longing.

Miguel scoffed at your words. “Like I’d ever be in a relationship, and I’m perfectly happy with that,”

You rolled your eyes, not convinced in the slightest. “That’s a lie,”

“What are you talking about? You know I don’t want to be tied down to some prissy girl that’ll just nag at me all the time,”

A romantic relationship with Miguel never really crossed your mind but as you listened to his words, you found yourself slipping into a dangerous territory of what-if’s.

Being friends with Miguel was like standing in front of an unmasked door, behind which lay different shelves that were locked up with different keys, all revealing different sides to him.

You’ve known Miguel for a long time and you got to witness many of those sides; his pressure-cooker moments, his happiest times, and even his vulnerable self, despite his hard exterior.

So it was only natural for you to be curious on how he might behave as a life partner. Would there be a completely different demeanor that you’ve never seen in him before?

You couldn’t recall him flirting with any girls either even though he had slept with some. It was hard to imagine, but you had to ask.

“Hypothetically speaking, what if that prissy girl was me?”

His expression changed with shocking duality, you almost didn’t recognise this side of Miguel. You couldn’t pinpoint where your words had struck him the most, his heart or his head. But you could definitely see how conflicting he was.

“You…you don’t know what you’re saying. How would I even respond to a question like that?” His voice almost slipped as he spoke.

Maybe the question was too broad, so you took a more direct approach. “Okay, simple question: would you tie me down if you had the chance?”

He let out a sigh before his lips formed a tired smile. “You’re not giving me any options to avoid this, huh? Always looking for the upper hand.”

What was that supposed to mean? He was avoiding a direct answer, for sure.

“No, just curious…”

“Yeah, I probably would…” he finally admitted. You would think you would be surprised by his answer, given his closed off behaviour and his reluctance to any intimate connections, but you weren’t.

“Why’s that?” You asked.

“Probably because you’re the only one that stuck around when no one else did. You don’t get super clingy, and yet, you somehow manage to piss me off.” He sighed, you almost didn’t catch his lips curled up. “But despite that, I still find it endearing. Maybe I like having you around me more than I let on,”

You were taken back by his statement. You've never heard him talk about you like that before. Sure, he had reiterated multiple times that you’d piss him off in the past, but this time it sounded almost…affectionate, in his own gruff way.

But you didn’t want to look too surprised so you masked the effects of his words with a joke. “Ohhh, was it the water gun?”

“Could you shut up about the water gun for five minutes?” He seethed through his teeth, exasperated.

He turned his head away and from the reflection of the side mirror, you could see him squeezing his eyes shut and pinching the bridge of his nose.

Seeing Miguel annoyed like this was one of the things you were used to witnessing from him. But right now, you couldn’t help but notice that he was holding something back.

Maybe it was because he had just confessed that he would date you and he was pissed off that you coaxed that information out of him. You couldn’t tell.

But you didn’t expect him to turn in his seat and pull you into a firm, almost desperate hug. You could feel his breath fan against your skin as he buried his face in the crook of your neck.

You wrapped your arms around his form and patted his back, a gesture that felt intimate and oddly routine. You knew that initiating an embrace like this was outside of his comfort zone, and yet he still melted under your touch.

“I’m not going anywhere,” you murmured softly.

Miguel’s grip on you tightened in response to your words before he pulled away to look at you, his eyes searching your face. “Cállate y bésame entonces.”

You tilted your head and you couldn’t hold back a witty remark when you said “Just a peck?”

Miguel didn’t say anything at that, instead he gave you a low scowl before his lips connected with yours with a quiet intensity. The kiss was neither hesitant nor overly passionate but something in between— like testing the waters.

Everything was deliberate from the way he pulled you closer to his hands sliding up to cradle your face. His touch kept you grounded in the moment.

You were grateful the kiss was kept at a controlled pace rather than it being more sensual— or you would’ve lost your senses.

The kiss broke naturally and left you both breathless. Miguel’s forehead rested against yours while still holding your face.

“Move to the backseat,” his order came out as a rough whisper. However you were still dazed from the kiss that you didn’t pick up what he said at first.

“What?”

“The back,” It took a moment for his words to fully register in your head. Once you clocked on what was happening, you felt your adrenaline spike.

Though you couldn’t bring yourself to question it further since you were more focused on the uncomfortable position you were in with your body still being twisted to face him.

You nodded, not trusting your own voice, before you shifted out of the passenger seat. Everything felt more electric as you opened the back door and both slid inside.

You slipped off your jacket and placed it on the seat beside you before you felt Miguel’s hands on your hips. He guided you onto his lap so you were straddling him and facing him directly.

The backseat offered more room and allowed more natural closeness.

“You know,” you began, trying to put some levity into the moment, “this is a bit dramatic, even for you.”

Miguel gave you a blank look, unamused by your comment. “Coming from someone who carries a water gun in their pocket,”

Before you could retaliate to his words, he pressed his lips on yours again. With the current position he had over you, he could deepen the kiss just by tilting his head so his lips locked in firmly.

You couldn’t help but lace your fingers through his locks as he kept kissing you. His hands hike up under your shirt, resting his hands over your bare waist and pulling you closer to him. You shivered at his touch.

He pulled away to look at you with caution. “May I?”

Out of instinct, you nodded mutely

He lifted your shirt up higher, pushing both sleeves over your shoulders but didn’t take it off all the way. Instead he let it hang around your neck, too desperate to touch you further to finish the job.

You were expecting him to yank your bra off. But instead, he pulled each cup down gently, gradually exposing each breast. It was a pleasant surprise given that you were accustomed to rough treatment from previous partners.

But experiencing a different side, specifically from Miguel, evoked a feeling that you couldn’t quite pinpoint. A fluttering sensation took flight in your stomach before you felt a slickness in your panties.

Were you seriously getting this turned on by his gentle touch? The thought almost sounded absurd, yet the soft caress of his fingers made your heart race in ways you hadn't expected.

He pulled you forward into him again and buried his face into your chest. You felt his hand slide over your back to unhook the bra clasp and allowed it to slip off. He peppered wet kisses over each breast.

You gasped when you felt his tongue flickered over the stiff nipple, arching your back further into his mouth. To add onto the mounted pleasure, he started grinding up against you so you could feel his hard on beneath you.

You pulled yourself away so he could fumble with his jeans and pull the flier down. The scene folding in front of you was making your head spin as he managed to get his pants fully off before he looked back up at you.

You couldn’t help but wonder what was going through his head right now but judging by his heavy breathing and how staggering his movements were, it was safe to say that he was as much of a mess as you were.

You pulled your own pants along with your soaked undies before you shifted closer and hovered over his throbbing cock.

Sinking yourself lower, you felt yourself burn up as you stretched out to accommodate his thickness. Miguel’s head hit the back of his seat with a shaky groan. Your silky walls were pulling him deeper eagerly until you felt his balls clench with your ass.

“Guide me ... I've never done this before,” You didn’t know why you didn’t say anything beforehand, but the feeling of him buried deep inside you made you quickly realise how real this moment was.

You noticed the flicker of surprise in his eyes before it quickly vanished. You weren’t a virgin. You’ve both had your fair share of experiences with your separate partners. But you’ve never topped anyone like this— especially in a car

“Okay…just relax and…start lifting your hips and then drop back down,” there was a startling shift in his tone to something more tender yet raw.

Hearing him talk you through it made you wonder how often he had done this in his car. But you forced yourself to dismiss the thought further before you opened the door to jealousy. You never had room for that and you weren’t going to start now.

You lifted yourself up, but not too high that he would slip out, before you dropped back down. He was reaching your deepest heat and feeling the friction from his dick in this position was dizzying.

Immediately, a breathless groan erupted from his throat and his grip on your hips tightened. He had to gather himself before he spoke again.

“Good…just do that again,” his approval went straight into your head but you managed to keep yourself controlled.

You repeated the same action until you were fully accommodated to his dick inside you and found a rhythm you were comfortable with.

You wanted to savour every moment and feel the pleasure you were taking from him. As you kept rocking your hips, both your moans and labored breaths filled the car.

“Is this okay?” You breathed, as if the noises he was making right now weren't obvious enough.

“Sí. Just like that,” he struggled to spatter out as you kept moving.

You tried to control your breathing, focusing on keeping a steady pace with your hips rather than the overwhelming desire pooling in your stomach.

Everytime he would utter more words of encouragement, it sent a shiver down your spine, making it increasingly difficult to maintain your composure.

His eyes seemed to linger onto yours longer than what you were used to and it made your heart stutter. You didn’t like the effect he was having on you just by his eye contact alone so tried to block it out by dropping your gaze to where your bodies were connected.

That only did you a disservice, however, because now all you could think about was his confession from earlier with his words replaying over and over in your head.

A sharp gasp slipped out from you when you felt him piston his hips up against you in sync with your pace. The sudden thrust from him caught you off guard and almost lost your grip.

He picked up on your reaction and stopped immediately, rubbing your hips apologetically. “Sorry, did I hurt you?”

You wouldn’t say it hurt you but the sensation definitely felt like a jolt. “No no, you just caught me by surprise. Could you do that again?”

You could sense something inside of him snap before he reacted to your words immediately. He jerked his hips up against you and began a somewhat controlled pattern. But he didn’t let his desires overwhelm him at the expense of your comfort.

No matter how attentive he was to you and your needs, you couldn’t bring yourself to lean into his touches for too long, afraid that you’d get too attached.

Every fiber of your being was screaming at you to give in and let your emotions take over. Yet, a small part of you grappled with caution, afraid of losing control and ending up getting hurt.

Soon, you couldn’t keep up with his pace but his hip thrusts alone were enough to give you the friction that you needed from his cock.

You buckled against him with each thrust, sending your body into a frenzy. You could feel yourself losing control and letting him do the work.

You’ve never felt anything like this before. Blood was rushing to your ears, thumbing in sync with your pulse, making it hard to think. Maybe it was the lack of ventilation in the car, or the confined space combined with both your laboured breaths.

No that can’t be it, you thought. The heat spread through your body was too intense to be explained away so easily.

Miguel, what have you done to me?

You were going to ask Miguel to slow down or maybe ask why you were feeling this way but all that could come out of you were desperate whines.

As your body moved on its own, reacting to the sensation you couldn’t quite place, a moment of clarity hit you like a wave. All the thoughts and emotions that you’ve been pushing away tonight came crashing down with an undeniable force.

That was when you realised that taking a step further with your relationship with Miguel didn’t sound so bad. You could come around to the idea of having him as more than a friend. It was risky but it didn’t have to be complicated.

Maybe you could do more than just test the waters with Miguel. As your climax built, it wasn’t just a physical release. It was an emotional awakening.

“Don’t hold back,” his words were direct but enough to coax you further. “That’s it, let me hear you,”

The moment you felt yourself contract around him, Miguel pulled your face in and latched his lips onto yours almost desperately.

That was enough to fully tip you over the edge. The tension that had been knotting in your stomach finally snapped as you reached your climax.

Your body shuddered and arched against him as you felt yourself unravel. Your body slumped onto his chest from exhaustion.

Miguel gasped, giving one last jerky thrust upwards before he reached his own peak, filling you with his hot release. His broken moans almost came out as a whimper as he buried his face into your neck.

He lifted you off his cock, almost reluctantly, before you both came down from your high. The stretch from his dick was still present, even after pulling out. You definitely were going to be sore for a while.

The car was starting to feel stuffy now with the limited space and the intensity of the moment in the car.

Miguel broke the silence, his words wrapped with vulnerability, “Don’t ever leave me,”

There was a foreign warmth that spread across your chest but instead of masking it, you caved into it. “Wouldn’t dream of it,”

You leaned in and pressed a soft kiss on his forehead, something you never thought you would do. But the tranquility of the afterglow didn’t last long when Miguel’s hand subtly slipped into your jacket pocket, where you kept your water gun.

Without breaking eye contact, he retrieved the toy, with so much stealth, you barely registered what was going on. By the time you realised, your reaction time was too late.

Miguel had already aimed the water gun at you. Your eyes widened in shock and a sudden burst of adrenaline surged through you, triggering your flight or fight.

“Ay ay ay!” You exclaimed before you were sprayed on the neck. The smugness from him was almost palpable now as he kept spraying you.

“That’s what you get for surprising me while I was smoking,” he gave a wolfish grin.

You squirmed beneath him, trying to avoid the spray of the water tickling your neck, but his aim was relentless.

“¡No es divertido cuando el uno que no se divierte eres tú, eh?" He taunted, echoing your earlier words.

“Okay okay I got it—” you yelped. The spray halted abruptly, and you quickly wiped your neck.

When you turned to look at him, you saw the water gun was now spattering, nearly empty. You couldn't help but snicker. “That doesn’t hold a lot of water, you know.”

He rolled his eyes and tossed the toy aside. He shifted in his seat under you as he was becoming uncomfortable.

“I need to get out of this car,” he muttered.

Oh.

You took this as a hint to climb off his lap to adjust your bra before pulling your shirt and pants on. He did the same, getting himself fully situated again then reaching over to open the door.

You were immediately overwhelmed with the crisp breeze against your flushed skin. You took a few deep breaths, taking in the fresh air.

The dock was desserted now with the crowd from earlier long gone, the only evidence from the event were the tire tracks on the floor.

Stepping outside made it easier to clear your head and think straight. Looking at Miguel, you realised those moments of excitement and fondness towards him weren’t just from the height of pleasure, but they were anchored in something deeper.

Your heart started raced as you watched Miguel, who was leaning on the car door silently. His hand hovered over his mouth absentmindedly, an old habit as a smoker.

You sucked in the air between your teeth before you spoke. “What are you thinking about?”

He hummed before leaning in closer to you. “You…and how annoying you are…”

You frowned. “I’m serious,”

“Oh well…” he started, his eyes still on you before they dropped to the ground. “I was just thinking how unfair it is that you made me feel so good and then you shut it off while I have to deal with the aftermath,”

You felt a chill thread down your spine. “What makes you think that?”

“You don’t seem affected by this like I am, you just got out of the car like it was nothing,”

Yikes.

You hadn’t realised how nonchalant you must’ve looked while you were in deep thought after getting out the car. You swallowed dryly and opened your mouth to speak before the situation was blown out of proportion.

“Well you’re wrong…and that’s not the post-sex talking.” It felt cathartic saying that out loud, almost like the words solidified your feelings.

“Dios…” he muttered to himself, his face flushed with embarrassment. It was ironic having him be more emotionally exposed than you were right now. He looked back at you with a sheepish expression, his voice sounding slightly nervous now, “So you feel the same? You’re affected by it as well?”

You scoffed at his obliviousness, but you couldn’t blame him. You hadn’t exactly been explicit with your feelings. “Yeah, you really had an influence on me,”

Miguel turned his face away to conceal his bashfulness, but you could see it clearly. It was refreshing and this tender side of him would be a memory you’d keep locked in your head. “You…can’t say stuff like that and expect me to stay calm,”

You took a moment to gather your thoughts. “Well, we don’t have to figure it out now,”

You looked out into the horizon and noticed a glow from afar. “The sun is rising,” you said. “Do you wanna get some ice coffee?”

Miguel looked at your kind of sight before he turned to you. “Yeah, I think we both need it after…that,”

He pushed himself off the car, took your hand, and lead you to the passenger side. Once you were in, he took his seat behind the wheel.

Miguel started up the car before driving off, leaving the dock side and heading into the awakening city. The ride was quiet now, with the newfound tenderness that hung in the air as you tried to locate the nearest coffee shop before the rush hour began.

Maybe you could discuss things properly after some caffeine.

This fic is literally the embodiment of Shut Up and Drive by Rihanna

Water gun inspired by this vine

[jsprnt]

it’s difficult to communicate with a cute boy when you don’t speak each other’s language fluently

arda güler x jude’s younger sister

A/N: missed writing so much! based on this request, thank you babes! ❤️ (physical features are not specified!)

W/C: 1.574

"I'm outside, hurry up.."

you scream at your incredibly slow older brother through the phone. squinting as the july sun beams through your windshield, into your eyes.

"you're so impatient, you guys-" your brother huffs, his voice low and hushed.

"I'm not the impatient one! mister jobe over here, just ate an entire bag of sweet-and-salty popcorn in one sitting!"

you turn you head, giving jobe a nasty look, in turn, receiving a jab from your irish twin.

"stop! we got it to share!" you shout, rubbing your arm.

"now he's hitting me, come on, or I'll kick him out of the car!"

You scream, fighting back the urge to open the passenger door and kick your brother out to the curb.

"I'll be there in five, behave.."

"It's never just five minutes with you, and I'm not a dog, so I won't 'behave'-"

before you can end your sentence, your older brother hangs up on you. leaving you speechless as jobe snorts at you.

"fuckin' rude ass.."

you mumble, leaning back into your car seat.

"here, sis.." he suddenly says, nice enough, tipping the bag of popcorn just enough for you to see the contents.

it's not much, but it is something..

"thanks.." you reply, sticking your hand into the bag, and retrieving the sweet-and-salty goodness, popping the crunchy snack into your mouth.

five minutes turn into ten, and before you know it, it's been over half an hour.

"look! finally.."

you look up from your phone when jobe suddenly speaks. sighing in relief when you spot jude walking out of the real madrid training center.

"Is he alone?" you squint, moving your head to see.

"he's with brahim, and arda.."

you perk up at the names, immediately following his gaze to the three guys, all carrying their toiletry bags. indicating they'd just finished training.

the second name uttered by your brother, had your heart stuttering instantly. you try to hide the smile creeping up to your face, and pretend like you're still pissed at your older brother for being- extra late.

though, seeing the boy you've been crushing on for a couple months, next to him- maybe, just maybe you'll forgive jude for being so late.

you clear your throat, trying to act like seeing arda hadn't thrown you off a bit, and roll your window down as jude walks over to you.

"you're late.." you mutter, trying to scold your older brother, very discreetly.

you squeal when his hand comes up your face, his palm stretched over your face to shut you up.

"and I'm paying dinner, again, so shush.." he mutters, pulling his hand back when you slap his arm.

"paying for food is your duty as an older brother. it's not like you earn money to buy things for yourself.." you bite, smiling when jobe chimes in.

"yeah, big bro- she has a point.."

you grin at your big brother's expression, though your face falls when he starts talking to his teammates.

your eyes flicker to arda, noticing he'd gotten his hair cut since the last time you saw him.

you had been crushing on him since the day you two met, when you picked up jude after one of his spanish classes, and drove arda home too. out of the kindness of your licenseless-older-brother's heart.

arda didn't even speak that much english, nor did you speak any turkish.

spanish wasn't totally out of the question for the both of you, since you both were learning the language after moving there.

safe to say, you knew the guys communicated in a strange mix of spanish and mostly english. whatever was understood, went.

"can the guys join us?" jude suddenly says, breaking you out of your trance.

"you're paying, so I won't object.." jobe says, leaning back into his seat, and pulling his seatbelt on.

"sure, why not?"

not even twenty minutes pass, and your already parking your little volkswagen polo into the parking lot of the restaurant.

'a perfect first car for my daughter, especially in a new country..' your dad had beamed at the spanish dealership. shaking the dealer’s hand like he'd just bought a brand-new mercedes.

the ride to the unfamiliar restaurant is less awkward than you'd imagined, with two of your older brother's friends in the backseat. mainly lively due to your, suddenly very talkative brothers.

"we're here.." you speak, killing the engine and collecting your handbag.

your eyes dart to the building, and back to your outfit.

you'd never been before, and could only arrive correctly due to jude screaming a couple of directions in between his gossip session.

you sigh to yourself, your pretty summer dress was definitely better than the basic tee and sweatpants worn by the guys.

turning, you reach over to open your door, gasping when the door is opened by someone else.

you look up, making eye contact with a certain age mate of yours. you smile up at him, like it's on instinct, getting out of the car as he holds the door open for you.

"thank you, arda.." you speak, trying to hide the nervous tremble in your voice.

there was something about that smile that made you want to cheese over him all the time. and his brown hair, which looked golden in the sunlight, or the language barrier that made it extra difficult to get closer to him.

but, if your older brother could do it, you could too..

"have you been here before? to this restaurant?" you ask, eyes expressive as you watch him close your car door once you've stepped out.

"yes, two times.." he answers in his thick turkish accent, making eye contact with you.

"was it good?" you continue, eyes flickering to your brothers and brahim already walking into the restaurant.

noticing, you both speed up your pace, your handbag dangling from your hand, and in between you both.

"very good, delicious.."

you chuckle at the movements he makes to express himself, finding it absolutely adorable to his already sweet personality.

"that's good. I trust your taste.."

your words earn an awkward grin back, and you clear your throat. holding yourself back from completely crossing the line.

"you're insanely slow today.."

you hold back a surprised gasp when jobe grabs onto your hand, unaware of your moment with arda. your brother drags you towards a reserved table, and you sigh in reluctance before plastering a smile on your face and greeting the hostess.

the next couple minutes are filled with laughter and chatter, you glance across the table often. conveniently sitting across from arda. you notice the quick glances he takes, and grin to yourself.

taking a second bite of pasta, you look at your bothers. sneaking a bite of jobe's food when he's not looking.

you freeze when you hear a lone chuckle, looking up with red sauced lips to make eye contact with a smiley arda.

he quirks up a brow, looking down at his pizza, before sliding the plate closer to you.

"share?" he suggests with a smile, making you nod eagerly.

"deal.." you say, sliding your plate closer to him. before snatching a slice of the pizza.

"delicious..." you mutter, covering your mouth when you chew down on the cheesy goodness.

arda nods back excitedly, glancing at you with the most tender look in his eyes.

you gulp your food down with an ice-cold lemonade, watching as arda tries your pasta.

"very good.." he finally says, looking at you with a thumb pointing up. giving you the universal sign for 'good/okay'.

though, your cute food tasting moment is interrupted by jobe pricking his fork into your pasta, ruining the mood.

"can I have a breadstick?" he mutters, mouth full.

"I thought you said that you had a new diet for next season?"

"it's a breadstick. come on, sis.."

"okay- you're making it sound like I'm restricting you. eat all you want, damn.." you mutter, chuckling when you make eye contact with arda.

"you want one?" you ask, holding the breadbasket out.

"no, thank you.." you hear him say, before you're distracted by the rest of your food.

later, when dessert is ordered, and you're staring at your empty plate of food when it's being taken away, your phone pings.

you look up, unlocking your phone quickly before reading a pop up message.

'receive a note from 'arda's iphone'?'

you look up at him, quirking up a brow at the smiling boy.

you accept quickly, eyes scanning the message.

'you me, dinner again? I will study english for you.'

you almost lose your composure at the phone number underneath the sweet message, your face and body heating up.

your eyes lock, and you try to nod as discreetly as possible.

you save the number quickly, sending him a message, and watch his phone screen light up.

you grin to yourself, both of you sneaking glances at each other.

flustered enough, to not notice the look both your brothers and brahim are sending you two.

your older brother is protective as ever, though confused about what he should worry about.

arda was a good kid, and there was no way in hell he could give him the 'older brother talk' in your stead. 

"your dessert, miss..”

you tune out the waiter, mind drifting to the message arda sent. 

cute, you think.

what should you wear on your first date with him?

[g0ldenzinnie]

Princess Treatment x NCT 127

Featuring: Nct 127 Hyung line Genre: Fluff, suggestive, sweet boys and a little of them being dom. Word count: 2.7k Note: Sorry for the delay but here they are, soon I'll publish the maknae line and then the Johhny fic. Hope you like it <3.

Taeil x cooking for you. 

Even though he has the money to buy you a whole restaurant, he cooks for you every time he can. And I don’t mean cooking fried eggs and rice for dinner. I mean plates worth three Michelin stars. He would make you try new and extravagant things. However, every single one of them is cooked magnificent under his hands. 

“Try this” He spoke, offering you a spoon with sautéed vegetables. You were sitting on the counter with your legs crossed. Watching your boyfriend getting inspiration. You bend over and eat his creation, being delighted with the result. 

“Taeil, it’s so good.” You said smiling. He was looking at you determined. “Really? He asked looking at every detail of your expression to see if you were telling the truth. “Because I think it’s salty.” He says, trying another spoon, leaning his head and nodding. “Yeah, it’s salty.” 

“Baby, it’s fine. Now can I help you please? I feel useless here.” You said getting down from the kitchen counter and facing the other vegetables he had on a kitchen board. But you couldn’t even touch them, since Taeil wrapped you in his arms and took you away from his working area. You tried to resist, but he made his grip stronger. Smiling at how cute you looked, trying to get away from his arms. 

“You won’t move a finger my love. You are my princess after all.” He then leaves you on the door of the kitchen and places a kiss on your forehead.

 “Now, please relax on the couch, watch your series and your dinner will be there in no time.” He said smiling brightly to you. You sigh and roll your eyes. “Fine. But next time, dinner’s on me.” You reclaim while you direct to the couch. But both of you knew Taeil would still cook for you anyway. 

You were watching half of the episode of your series when Taeil arrives with two plates. He then comes with a fancy bottle of wine and two glasses. Maybe the dinner looked fancy, but you would still sit on the couch with the coffee table as your dining room. 

That is the thing you loved about being with Taeil. He felt like home, a comfy and warm home. But still he would never make you feel ordinary. 

You talk about everything, Taeil listening carefully as always, asking you questions about your day or the gossip of your workplace. His focus is completely into your words. As if it were some kind of sonnet. When you finished talking and eating, you tried to get up to clean up the dishes, but he stopped you, pushing you to the couch. 

“Baby, at least let me clean the pl-” You were interrupted by a kiss on your lips. He smoothly takes the plate from your hands and leaves it on the coffee table. Guiding his hands now to your tights, going up slowly to your waist. “They can’t wait.” He said close to your lips with a playful smile. You chuckle before kissing him back. 

Johnny x Princess Passenger. 

Johnny's favorite dates were when you just got into the car and drove. It didn’t have to be somewhere in particular. He just needed you in the passenger seat, some music and the road. So, everything you asked for in the car was yours. You wanted to drive through? Right away. You wanted to put on the music? Ok for him. You wanted just to sleep? Bend the seat, he’ll be quiet. 

For him, you could be doing anything and still love your company in the car. But he had one condition. As you know your boyfriend very well, he is very clingy. He needs to touch you to feel easy. And that includes even when you are in the same car. It can be touching your hand, or your thigh, or something else. Even though you love that about him, you would still tease him some days. 

And today was definitely one of those days.

It was 10:00 PM, when Johnny called you. It was a surprise since you thought he would be working till late at night. “Hello?” You responded confused on the phone. “Let 's ride.” Your boyfriend responded with his usual excited voice. You can already imagine that playful smile on his face at the other side of the line. 

“I thought you were working late.” You said while putting your shoes on. “Well, I am…” He said on the speaker. You try not to laugh, because you know your boyfriend. “And?...” You responded, making him continue. “Well, I escaped.” He confessed. You laugh. “Johnny, one day you will get fired.” You said getting up from your bed. You heard the laugh of Johnny through your phone.

 “Just get your ass in my car. We’re going to get ice cream.” The thoughts in your head disappeared when you heard the magical word. “Yay! Ice cream!” So now you were in his car eating your favorite ice cream, hearing pitch perfect. Your life couldn’t get any better. “Give me some.” Johnny asked while driving. You handed him a spoon, and naturally like a professional he ate it with his eyes on the road. You found that so hot about him. 

By instinct, he then leaned his head towards your hand. Looking for your caring,  As I mentioned before, you were feeling a little playful. So instead of letting him feel your hand as you usually did, you removed your hand. 

Him, completely confused, tries to catch your hand again. But you put it out of his reach, again. “Hey, what’s gotten into you?” he asks, looking at you weird. “Nothing” you say while holding your laughter. He nods and tries another move, this time reaching your tight. His grip was firm and secure. You bite your lip, knowing that he is just trying to provoke you. You loved when he grabbed your tight like that. 

But still you removed his hand. You let out a little giggle when your boyfriend again tried to touch you. Letting him know that you were just messing with him. So he decided to pay you back. This time he used a little more force into his grip. Leaving your skin with red marks. You hold a moan biting your inner cheek. Johnny smirking at your reaction. 

“If you take out your hand one more time, I’m gonna have to pull over and punish you princess.” 

Taeyong x Giving you flowers 

It was believed that victorians gave the yellow tulips the meaning of “there's sunshine in your smile.”

This man would remind himself that every time he encountered you, he would have to give you flowers. And not just any kind of flower. Every time he gave you one, this would be different than the last one. 

And every single one of them had a specific meaning. He would probably investigate what kind of flower is and the meaning of his color. And do you think these flowers come alone? No, no. There is always a little note with a rhyme he created just for you. 

You were at your work cafe when you suddenly felt two taps on your shoulder and turned to find no one. You shrink your eyebrows, thinking you definitely feel someone calling you. To your surprise, you turned around and found a beautiful bouquet on your face. The man holding them was hiding behind them. But of course you knew who it was. 

“Tae, I thought you were on practice.” You say holding the bouquet and finding Taeyong behind with a smile. “I was, but that doesn't stop me from seeing my princess.” You smile sweetly hearing those words and looking at the flowers. 

They were beautiful yellow tulips. Taeyong, seeing your smile, grins for himself and says “That’s the smile.” You look at him confused, not understanding what he said. “What?” He shakes his head and just gets closer to you, placing a short and sweet kiss on your lips. 

“Nothing baby, c’mon I only have 10 minutes.” He quickly takes your hand and runs to one of the tables in the coffee shop. 

During those 10 minutes you talk about nonsense. Taboo topics like the gossip in your workplace and in his. Some drama that happened with the members, ending in another hilarious fight between Haechan and Doyoung. 

You laugh when Taeyong tells you this, imagining the dynamic duo screaming like they usually do. But you didn’t notice the moment you started laughing, Taeyongs chest filled with the air, gasping at how beautiful you looked right now. 

It’s just when you laughed, you took his breath away. It was like a hundred start lights were blinding him every time your smile appeared. And he was delighted by it. Without him noticing, he raised his hand to take yours. 

His gaze softened, focusing on you and you only. You stop giggling and look at him confused. “What?” He shakes his head, smiling now. “Nothing just… I love you so much.” You smile and intertwine your fingers with his. “I love you too.” He responds smiling and leaning closer to kiss your lips, but he was interrupted by your boss. 

“Y/n, stop smooching and get your ass back to work.” She says from the board. Your boyfriend giggles and looks at you mischievous. “Someone is calling you.” You sigh and nod. 

You get up from the chair, grabbing the flowers. “Thank you.” He smiles and caresses your cheek. “Of course princess.” He kissed you and left waving his hand like a little kid. You waved him back and went back to work.

 Afterwards, when you were alone and more calm, you checked the card that was attached to the flowers. When you read the message you blush and feel a warmness in your chest. 

"Her smile shines like rays of sunlight on a gloomy day, just like an angel, with every smile, she shines away the rain clouds, making my heart sway.”

Yuta x dress you. 

This might be understood as he chooses all of your clothes, but no. He literally dresses you. He must put on your clothes all the time. Zip your dress, put on your hoodie, lock your necklace, anything. 

But his favorite thing in the whole world is to tie your heels. He has something with your legs, So whenever he finds an opportunity, he touches them. And you knew it, so you used it every time for your own pleasure. 

One night, you were preparing yourselves for a gala party of the company. Yuta was tying the aces of his shoes on the bed, wearing a black suit that fit him in a way that should be illegal. The first two buttons of his black blouse were open, making his chest clear to the open. You bite your lip, watching your sexy boyfriend being totally naive of his reaction to you. 

So, since this morning you have been feeling a little… playful, you decided to tease him a little. You walked smoothly to him, Yuta still unaware of your presence. Just when you were in front of him, he raised his gaze. 

“What’s wrong darling?” He asked softly. You smiled in return, looking down at him. Slowly you raised your leg, leaving it discovered because of your black long leg cutout dress, until your heel was between his legs, pressed against the mattress. 

You gave him an innocent look, that both of you know it was fake. Still, he smiled wide looking at you up and down. He loved this act of yours. You smile in response and ask softly. “Would you help me baby?”

He analyzes your leg, going down slowly, finishing in your unwrapped heel. He chuckles, shaking his head. “You’re trying to provoke me, princess?” He says before straightening to have a better posture. You just shrink your shoulders. “I don’t know what you are talking about.” He giggles at your act of innocence.

His hand went to your leg slowly. Caressing your calf with his thumb, sending you chills to your core. He then reached out for your heel. Tying it like a professional, since he has done this so many times. 

After finishing, he gets close to your ankle leaving a soft kiss on your skin. You chuckle at the sensation, making your boyfriend have his known playful smile. He tapped your leg twice. “The other one, please”. 

You obey him by changing the leg. He makes the same process. His thumbs moved gently, like your skin was made of glass. You close your eyes, feeling relaxed and aroused by his movements. As you always did. 

But you suddenly feel a little puncture on your leg. You let out a little scream and open your eyes, to find Yuta giggling. He had just bitten you. You gasp looking at him outraged. “Meany” You say smiling. “Teaser” He responds by getting up quickly, wrapping you in his arms and starting to kiss your neck. 

You giggle and try to stop him. "Baby the gala." He separates and smiles playful. "Don't think you're getting away with this. The night has just started princess."

Doyoung x pays for everything

This man doesn’t even let you take out your wallet. You find amazing the ability Doyoung has to pay that fast. Whenever you try to pay, he already has his card in his hand, saying that “he got it.” It happens in restaurants, fairs, malls, even in gift shops. You can’t escape Doyoung’s money.  

Even when he was not present. 

You were facing yourself in front of the hairdresser mirror. With your new haircut, that you would still be trying to settle with. You wanted a change for this year, so you thought that your hair would be the perfect victim. 

“So what do you think?” Your aunt asks, owner of the hairdresser. You always got your hair with her. She had an undisputed talent. 

“It 's amazing. Thank you auntie.” You respond, getting up from the chair. “So how much do I owe you?” You turn around, facing her. When you do, you find a nervous face. Shrinking eyes and a tense smile. 

“Yeah well, about that…” You look at her confused, but in just two seconds you got your answer. “No he didn’t” You say angry. Your aunt gives you an expression of defeat. “I told him it wasn’t necessary, but he insisted. And he gave me, well, a good tip.” 

Of course he did, you thought. You thanked your aunt once again and went directly to your shared apartment you had with your boyfriend downtown. Knowing he would be there, to finally face him. 

After a 10 minute walk, you finally reach your apartment, finding Doyoung on the couch. He gave you a wide smile, analyzing your look and instantly loving it. “Someone is looking gorgeous.” He says flirty getting up to embrace you with a hug. 

“Thanks to you.” You say in a not so motivated way. He separates from you, looking confused. “What do you mean?” 

“You paid my aunt for my haircut.” He didn’t change his confused look. “So?” He asks you. You sigh and separate to go to the kitchen. “I wanted, for once, to pay for something by myself.” You turn quickly. “It’s not that I’m not thankful.” Doyoung shrinks his eyebrows. “Good, because you don’t seem like it.” You close your eyes in desperation. 

“That is not what I wanted to express.” You pause for a moment, and sight. “I just… I just feel like I’m taking advantage of you.” You feel your chest heavy, finally confessing that you felt guilty everytime he wasted his money with you. 

But for him, it wasn't a waste. He got close to you, slowly to not scare you. You long for an exhausted or tired face on your boyfriend. But you only find a sweet and dearing face. Doyoung takes your face gently, caressing your cheeks with your thumbs. 

“My princess, you can use me in any way you want.” He got close and gave you a peek on the lips. “It will never bother me.” You giggle and shake your head. “That doesn’t make me feel better.” You respond, wrapping your arms around your neck. He chuckles and gives another kiss on the lips. This one is deeper and stronger. He separates, giving you little kisses on the cheek and starts to talk in your ear.

“Maybe you’ll feel better when we go out and eat in a nice restaurant. So everyone can see that new haircut of yours.” You smirk, taking your boyfriend's face, for him to see you. “At least let me pay for dessert.” 

He then smirks and leans his forehead against yours. “You are the only dessert I need.” 

[wonyowonyo]

Sanctuary (H. Yunjin X M! Reader)

Hello there again! Another lsrfm fic by yours truly. This one is a request by (@dav1233555) that was long overdue, so once again I apologize for taking too long! And that also apply to other requests that are currently queued hehe, apologies for the long wait as I'm currently busy with other stuff going on! Anyways, enough about yapping; this one was abt 4.3k words, hope yall enjoy! I'll see yall on the next one. wonyo out!

As the sun began to set on the bustling streets of Seoul, Huh Yunjin, a member of the popular K-pop girl group Le Sserafim, couldn't help but feel a mix of exhaustion and excitement coursing through her veins. She had just finished a grueling practice session with her group, her muscles aching from the hours of intense choreography and vocal training, but the thought of spending the evening with her beloved boyfriend, Y/n, was all the motivation she needed to push through the fatigue.

Yunjin's eyes scanned the crowded street as she walked out of the practice studio, searching for the familiar face of her partner. It didn't take long for her gaze to land on Y/n, who was waiting for her by their car, a bright smile lighting up his features. Yunjin felt her heart skip a beat at the sight of him, and she quickened her pace, desperate to reach him.

"Hey, love," Y/n said, his voice warm and inviting as he opened the car door for her. "You look stunning, as always."

Yunjin couldn't help but blush at his compliment, playfully rolling her eyes as she slid into the passenger seat. "You're biased, but I'll take the compliment," she teased, her lips curving into a smile.

The drive to the beach was a familiar one, a route they had taken countless times before, but the excitement Yunjin felt was still palpable. She had been looking forward to this evening all week, the thought of spending some much-needed quality time with Y/n just what she needed to unwind and recharge.

As they arrived at the secluded spot along the coastline, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore and the warm, salty breeze immediately put Yunjin at ease. She slipped off her shoes, feeling the soft sand between her toes, and walked hand in hand with Y/n along the shoreline, their fingers intertwined.

The sky was painted with hues of pink and orange as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the ocean and the surrounding landscape. Yunjin couldn't help but feel a sense of serenity wash over her, like she was exactly where she was meant to be.

She turned to Y/n, who was watching her with a look of pure adoration, and Yunjin felt her heart swell with emotion.

"I'm so grateful for this, for us," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the sound of the waves.

Y/n's eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled back at her, his grip on her hand tightening ever so slightly. "I'm grateful for you, Yunjin. You're the sunshine that brightens up my day, every day."

As the stars began to twinkle in the night sky, Yunjin and Y/n decided to head back to his cozy apartment, where they spent the rest of the evening cuddled up on the couch, watching their favorite TV shows and sharing snacks.

At one point, Y/n turned to Yunjin, his expression almost wistful. "Hey, can I ask you something?"

Yunjin looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Anything, love."

"Do you remember the first time we met, at that music festival years ago?" Y/n asked, a faraway look in his eyes.

Yunjin's face lit up with a smile, the memory of that fateful day flooding her mind. "How could I forget? You were so awkward and charming, I couldn't help but be drawn to you."

Y/n chuckled, a faint blush creeping up his cheeks. "I was so nervous, I think I stuttered through our entire conversation."

"But you still managed to ask for my number," Yunjin teased, playfully nudging him with her elbow.

"I knew from that moment that I wanted to spend more time with you," Y/n said, his voice filled with sincerity. "And now, here we are, living our best lives together."

Yunjin's heart swelled with emotion as she looked at Y/n, her gaze filled with adoration and affection. She knew that their relationship wasn't without its challenges – the K-pop industry was notorious for its demanding schedules and intense scrutiny – but in this moment, she felt like they could conquer anything as long as they had each other.

As they continued to watch TV, Yunjin snuggled deeper into Y/n's embrace, feeling his warmth and comfort envelop her like a gentle hug. She knew that this was where she was meant to be – in his arms, surrounded by love and support.

The night wore on, and the TV show they were watching faded into the background as they began to open up to each other, sharing their hopes and dreams, their fears and vulnerabilities. It was one of those heart-to-heart conversations that only happened when you felt completely safe and trusted with someone.

"I'm scared, Y/n," Yunjin confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm scared of not being able to balance my career and our relationship. The demands of this industry are so relentless, and I worry that I won't have enough time or energy to devote to us."

Y/n held her tighter, his grip reassuring and comforting. "We'll figure it out together, love. We've made it this far, and I know we can face anything as long as we have each other. Your career is important, but so are you, and I'll always be here to support you, no matter what."

Yunjin felt a wave of relief wash over her, her worries slowly dissipating as Y/n's words sank in. She knew that he was right – they had weathered the storms of her demanding idol life before, and they would do it again, side by side.

As the night drew to a close, Yunjin felt a sense of peace wash over her. She knew that she wasn't alone in this journey, that Y/n would always be there to support her, to love her, and to cherish her.

In this moment, surrounded by the silence of the night, Yunjin knew that their love was pure, true, and strong enough to overcome any obstacle that came their way.

————————————————————

The next morning, Yunjin woke up feeling refreshed and energized, the fatigue from the previous day's practice session a distant memory. As she stretched her limbs, she couldn't help but glance over at Y/n, who was still sleeping peacefully beside her, his features soft and relaxed.

Yunjin reached out and gently brushed a stray lock of hair from his forehead, a tender smile playing on her lips. She loved these quiet moments, when she could simply observe Y/n and bask in the warmth of his presence.

Suddenly, Y/n's eyes fluttered open, and he greeted Yunjin with a sleepy smile. "Good morning, my love," he murmured, his voice thick with sleep.

"Good morning," Yunjin whispered back, leaning in to press a soft kiss to his lips. "Did you sleep well?"

Y/n nodded, his arms wrapping around Yunjin's waist as he pulled her closer. "Mhm, better than I have in a while. Having you by my side makes all the difference."

Yunjin snuggled into his embrace, relishing the feeling of being surrounded by his comforting warmth. "I'm so grateful for that, for us," she murmured, her fingers tracing patterns on his chest.

Y/n pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head, his lips lingering for a moment. "And I'm grateful for you, Yunjin. You bring so much light and joy into my life, and I can't imagine it without you."

They lay there in comfortable silence for a few moments, simply enjoying each other's presence and the tranquility of the morning. Yunjin could feel the tension slowly leaving her body, replaced by a sense of contentment and peace.

Eventually, they reluctantly dragged themselves out of bed, knowing that Yunjin had a busy day ahead of her. As they prepared for the day, Yunjin couldn't help but feel a twinge of anxiety at the thought of returning to the demanding schedule of her idol life.

Sensing her unease, Y/n reached out and gently squeezed her hand. "Hey, it's going to be okay. I know it's not easy, but we'll get through this together, like we always do."

Yunjin gave him a grateful smile, her fingers intertwining with his. "I know, and I'm thankful to have you by my side. You always know just what to say to make me feel better."

They shared a final, lingering kiss before heading out the door, Yunjin's heart feeling a little lighter and her steps a little more sure. As she made her way to the practice studio, she couldn't help but reflect on how lucky she was to have someone like Y/n in her life – a partner who understood the demands of her career, who supported her unconditionally, and who made her feel loved and cherished, no matter what.

The day was long and grueling, with endless hours of rehearsals, vocal training, and choreography. Yunjin's body ached, her muscles protesting with each movement, but she pushed through, fueled by her determination and the thought of seeing Y/n again later that evening.

As she finally stepped out of the practice studio, Yunjin felt a sense of relief wash over her. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm, golden glow over the city, and the familiar sight of Y/n's car waiting for her was a welcome sight.

"Hey, love," Y/n said, a bright smile on his face as he opened the car door for her. "You look exhausted, but as beautiful as ever."

Yunjin couldn't help but chuckle, the tension in her shoulders easing as she slid into the passenger seat. "You always know just what to say to make me feel better."

The drive back to Y/n's apartment was filled with comfortable conversation, Yunjin sharing the highlights and challenges of her day while Y/n listened attentively, offering words of encouragement and support whenever she needed them.

As they arrived at their destination, Yunjin felt a sense of relief wash over her. This place, Y/n's cozy home, had become a sanctuary for her, a safe haven where she could truly be herself, away from the prying eyes of the public and the demands of her idol life.

"I don't know what I'd do without this place," Yunjin murmured, her gaze sweeping over the familiar surroundings as they stepped inside.

Y/n wrapped his arms around her from behind, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple. "And I don't know what I'd do without you, my love. This place is our haven, our refuge, and I'm so grateful to share it with you."

They settled onto the plush sofa, Yunjin snuggling into Y/n's embrace as they turned on the TV, the soft glow of the screen casting a warm light on their faces. Yunjin felt her muscles begin to relax, the tension slowly melting away as she allowed herself to be enveloped in Y/n's comforting presence.

As they flipped through the channels, Yunjin suddenly remembered their conversation from the previous night, the one where she had confessed her fears about balancing her career and their relationship.

"Y/n?" she began, her voice soft and tentative.

"Hmm?" he hummed in response, his fingers gently tracing patterns on her arm.

"About what I said last night… I want you to know that I'm truly grateful for your support. I know it can't be easy, dealing with the demands of my idol life, but you've always been there for me, no matter what."

Y/n pulled her closer, his grip reassuring. "Yunjin, you don't ever have to thank me for that. I love you, and I'll always be here to support you, no matter what challenges we face. We're in this together, remember?"

Yunjin felt a lump form in her throat, overwhelmed by the depth of Y/n's love and devotion. "I love you too, so much. I don't know what I'd do without you."

They fell into a comfortable silence, simply enjoying each other's company and the warmth of their embrace. Yunjin knew that as long as she had Y/n by her side, she could face anything the world threw her way.

As the evening wore on, they decided to order in some of their favorite takeout, filling the apartment with the enticing aromas of their favorite dishes. Yunjin's stomach growled in anticipation, and Y/n couldn't help but chuckle at the sound.

"Looks like someone's hungry," he teased, pressing a playful kiss to the tip of her nose.

Yunjin playfully swatted at him, her lips curved into a smile. "Well, maybe if someone didn't keep distracting me from eating, I wouldn't be so hungry."

Y/n raised his hands in mock surrender, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "My apologies, my love. I'll be sure to let you enjoy your meal in peace."

They settled in to enjoy their dinner, their conversation flowing effortlessly as they recounted the highlights of their day and made plans for the weekend. Yunjin couldn't help but marvel at how seamlessly their lives had become intertwined, how every moment she spent with Y/n felt like coming home.

As they finished their meal, Yunjin leaned back into the couch, letting out a content sigh. "I don't know how I'd get through this without you, Y/n. You always know how to make me feel better, no matter what."

Y/n reached out and gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, his touch feather-light and tender. "And I'll always be here, Yunjin, to support you, to hold you, and to love you, no matter what. We're in this together, remember?"

Yunjin felt a surge of emotion wash over her, and she leaned in, pressing her lips to Y/n's in a deep, passionate kiss. In that moment, she knew that as long as she had him by her side, she could face anything the world threw her way.

As the night drew to a close, Yunjin and Y/n cuddled up on the couch, their limbs tangled together as they watched the stars twinkle outside the window. Yunjin felt a sense of peace wash over her, her worries and anxieties from the day melting away.

"You know," Y/n began, his voice barely above a whisper, "I remember the first time we met, at that music festival all those years ago. I was so nervous, I could barely string two words together."

Yunjin chuckled, the memory bringing a smile to her face. "And yet, you still managed to ask for my number. I was so charmed by your awkward charm, I couldn't say no."

Y/n pulled her closer, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "I knew from that moment that I wanted to spend more time with you, to get to know you better. And now, here we are, building a life together, facing the world side by side."

Yunjin felt her heart swell with emotion, overwhelmed by the depth of the love they shared. "I'm so grateful for you, Y/n. For your unwavering support, your patience, and your love. I don't know what I'd do without you in my life."

"And I'll always be here, Yunjin," Y/n murmured, his fingers gently tracing the outline of her face. "Through the good times and the bad, the highs and the lows. We'll face it all, together."

As the night wore on, Yunjin and Y/n continued to share their dreams, their fears, and their hopes for the future, their conversation flowing effortlessly. Yunjin felt a sense of security and belonging that she had never experienced before, and she knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, she would face them with Y/n by her side.

As the first rays of dawn began to peek through the curtains, Yunjin snuggled deeper into Y/n's embrace, feeling the weight of her exhaustion slowly dissipate. She knew that the coming days would be filled with demanding schedules and intense scrutiny, but in this moment, she felt a sense of peace and contentment that she hadn't felt in a long time.

Yunjin pressed a tender kiss to Y/n's cheek, her voice barely above a whisper. "I love you, Y/n. Thank you for being my safe haven, my rock, in this crazy world."

Y/n's arms tightened around her, his lips curving into a warm smile. "I love you too, Yunjin. Always and forever."

With the sun rising on a new day, Yunjin felt a renewed sense of determination and strength. With Y/n by her side, she knew that she could face anything the world threw her way. Together, they would navigate the challenges of her idol life, their love a beacon that would guide them through the storms.

————————————————————

As the morning light streamed in through the window, Yunjin slowly opened her eyes, relishing the warmth of Y/n's embrace. She traced the contours of his face with her fingertips, marveling at how peaceful and serene he looked in his sleep.

Carefully, Yunjin disentangled herself from his grasp, not wanting to disturb his much-needed rest. She padded quietly into the kitchen, the soft patter of her feet on the hardwood floor the only sound breaking the stillness of the apartment.

Yunjin set about preparing a simple breakfast of toast, scrambled eggs, and freshly brewed coffee – Y/n's favorite. As she cooked, the tantalizing aroma of the food filled the air, making her own stomach rumble in anticipation.

When the meal was ready, Yunjin carried the tray back to the bedroom, the corners of her lips curving into a gentle smile as she watched Y/n begin to stir. His eyes fluttered open, and he greeted her with a sleepy grin.

"Good morning, my love," Yunjin said softly, placing the tray on the bedside table and settling back down next to him.

"Morning," Y/n murmured, his voice still thick with sleep. He reached out and pulled Yunjin close, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead. "You're up early."

Yunjin nodded, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on his chest. "I wanted to surprise you with breakfast. You've been working so hard to support me, and I wanted to do something special for you."

Y/n's eyes softened, and he cupped her face in his hands, his thumb gently caressing her cheek. "You're too good to me, Yunjin. I don't know what I did to deserve you, but I'm grateful every single day."

They ate their breakfast in comfortable silence, savoring the simple pleasure of each other's company. Yunjin couldn't help but notice the way Y/n's eyes followed her every move, the adoration and affection in his gaze making her heart swell with emotion.

As they finished their meal, Yunjin reached out and intertwined their fingers, her expression suddenly serious. "Y/n, I want you to know that I'm fully committed to making this work – to balancing my career and our relationship. I know it hasn't been easy, but you've been by my side every step of the way, and I'm truly grateful for that."

Y/n squeezed her hand reassuringly, his lips curving into a warm smile. "I know, Yunjin. And I want you to know that I'll always be here, no matter what. Your dreams and your passions are a part of who you are, and I love every single aspect of you."

Yunjin felt a lump form in her throat, the depth of his love and acceptance overwhelming her. "I love you, Y/n. More than you could ever know."

They shared a tender, lingering kiss, their bodies molding together as if they were made for each other. Yunjin knew that with Y/n by her side, she could conquer anything that came her way.

As the morning wore on, Yunjin couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation for the day ahead. She had a busy schedule, with rehearsals, photo shoots, and interviews lined up, but she knew that she was ready to face it all with renewed vigor.

Y/n, sensing her energy, gently squeezed her hand. "You've got this, Yunjin. Just remember to take care of yourself, okay? I'll be here, waiting for you, whenever you need a break."

Yunjin nodded, a grateful smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I know, and I can't thank you enough for that. You're my rock, Y/n, and I don't know what I'd do without you."

As Yunjin prepared to leave, Y/n pulled her into a tight embrace, his lips pressing a lingering kiss to the top of her head. "I love you, Yunjin. Always and forever."

Yunjin savored the moment, committing the feel of his arms around her and the warmth of his touch to memory. "I love you too, Y/n. See you tonight?"

Y/n nodded, his eyes sparkling with affection. "Absolutely. I'll be here, waiting for you."

With one final kiss, Yunjin reluctantly headed out the door, her steps lighter and her heart filled with a renewed sense of purpose. As she made her way to the practice studio, she couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude and love for the man who had become her safe haven, her rock, in this crazy world.

The day was long and grueling, as Yunjin had expected, but she pushed through, fueled by the knowledge that Y/n was waiting for her, ready to offer his unwavering support and love. Each time she felt her energy waning, she would think of him, of the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled, of the warmth of his embrace, and she would find the strength to carry on.

When Yunjin finally stepped out of the practice studio, a wave of exhaustion washed over her. Her muscles ached, and her voice was hoarse from hours of vocal training, but the sight of Y/n's familiar car waiting for her instantly lifted her spirits.

As she slid into the passenger seat, Y/n greeted her with a warm smile, his eyes filled with concern. "You look exhausted, my love. How was your day?"

Yunjin let out a weary sigh, leaning her head back against the headrest. "It was long, but I made it through. I'm just glad to be here with you now."

Y/n reached out and gently squeezed her hand, his touch soothing and comforting. "I'm proud of you, Yunjin. You're incredible, you know that?"

Yunjin felt a blush creep up her cheeks, and she couldn't help but smile. "I couldn't do it without you, Y/n. You're my strength, my inspiration, and I'm so grateful to have you by my side."

The drive back to the apartment was a quiet one, but Yunjin didn't mind. She was content to simply bask in Y/n's presence, to feel the warmth of his hand in hers and the steady rhythm of his breathing.

As they stepped through the front door, Yunjin felt a wave of relief wash over her. This place, their haven, was a sanctuary where she could let down her guard and just be herself, without the constant scrutiny and demands of the outside world.

Y/n, sensing her tension, gently guided her towards the bedroom, his touch featherlight and soothing. "Come on, love. Let's get you into a hot bath and then we can order in some of your favorite food, okay?"

Yunjin nodded gratefully, her body practically sagging with exhaustion. "That sounds perfect, Y/n. Thank you."

As she sank into the steaming water, Yunjin felt the tension slowly leaving her body, her muscles unwinding with each passing minute. The familiar scent of her favorite bath products filled the air, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of calm wash over her.

Yunjin closed her eyes, allowing her mind to drift, and found herself thinking about the future – about the challenges and triumphs that lay ahead, and about the unwavering support she had in Y/n.

She knew that the road ahead would not be an easy one, that the demands of her idol life would continue to test the limits of her strength and resilience. But with Y/n by her side, Yunjin felt like she could conquer anything.

As she emerged from the bathroom, refreshed and rejuvenated, Yunjin found Y/n waiting for her, a warm smile on his face. He pulled her into a gentle embrace, his fingers gently tracing patterns on her back.

"Feeling better?" he murmured, his breath tickling her ear.

Yunjin nodded, her arms tightening around his waist. "Much better, thanks to you."

They settled onto the couch, cuddled up together as they enjoyed their dinner and watched a mindless TV show. Yunjin couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment and peace wash over her, her worries and anxieties from the day slowly melting away.

As the night drew to a close, Yunjin turned to Y/n, her eyes shining with affection. "Y/n, I don't know what I'd do without you. You're my everything, and I'm so grateful to have you in my life."

Y/n pulled her close, his lips pressing a tender kiss to her forehead. "And I'm grateful for you, Yunjin. You're the light of my life, and I'll always be here, no matter what challenges we face."

They held each other in comfortable silence, their heartbeats in sync as they basked in the warmth of their love. Yunjin knew that with Y/n by her side, she could face anything the world threw her way, and she couldn't wait to continue building their life together, one filled with love, laughter, and unwavering support.

[sydsaint]

I'm a sucker for an enemies to lovers + forced proximity arc, what can I say?

Summary: Reader gets an unlucky break when she gets stuck traveling with Tyler for a couple of weeks for AEW's tour of the Pacific North West before Double or Nothing. She and Tyler have never bothered to get along. But truth be told, she doesn't quite know why.

You read the text from your wonderful AEW EVP's over again, making sure that you've read it right. And unfortunately you have.

Somehow, after some kind of vague mix-up or other, according to the message anyway, you've been stuck with the infamous HOOK as a travel partner for AEW's PNW tour.

Begrudgingly, you collect your bags from the hotel room you're staying at and decide to meet your new travel partner in the lobby. You check out of your room at the main desk and glance around for any sign of Tyler hanging around. You spot Taz's broody kid leaning against a far wall in the lobby and head over to him.

"Hey, Tyler." You attempt to be civil since you're going to be stuck with him all week.

"Hey." Tyler nods to you, an emotionless expression on his face. He pushes off the wall and slings his bag over his shoulder. "You ready to head out?" He asks you. "We're due for a house show in Portland tomorrow. Drive is a couple of hours."

You nod and adjust your bag hanging off your shoulder. "Yeah, I'm ready whenever you are." You step off to the side and let Tyler lead the way.

Tyler leads the way out into the parking lot and over to a black SUV he's renting for the week. He pops the trunk open and tosses his bag into the back before moving off to the side so you can do the same. You toss your bags down next to his, your brightly colored luggage a stark contrast to his black ones, and Tyler slams the trunk shut.

"I'm driving." Tyler fishes the keys to the SUV out of his pocket and flashes them at you.

"Fine by me." You shrug and walk over to the passenger side of the car.

Both of you climb into the car in silence, and Tyler pulls the SUV out of the parking lot and out into the hectic Seattle traffic. Neither of you bother to make conversation, so Tyler switches on the radio to some random hip-hop channel.

"If you're not into the station, I'll change it here in a bit." Tyler speaks up after a couple of songs pass.

"This one is fine." You reply with a shrug.

Silence falls over the two of you again as the SUV flies down the road in the dark. You grow bored pretty fast and hum along to the radio for a bit while you scroll through your phone. What you don't notice is Tyler glancing your way once in a while as you quietly sing along to the radio when a good song comes in.

A couple of hours into the ride, Tyler stops off at some gas station in some nowhere off-ramp town.

"I'm gonna use the bathroom and grab some food." Tyler explains as he turns the car off.

"Cool. I'll do the same." You nod and unbuckle yourself out of your seat.

You and Tyler head inside and he heads to the bathroom while you make a b-line for the snack aisle. You grab an energy drink from one of the fridges on the back wall, then start looking through the chips and other salty snacks on the shelf in front of you.

Tyler comes back from the bathroom a few minutes later and you see him grab the same brand of energy drink out of the fridge as you from the corner of your eye. You pick out a small bag of chips before moving to the candy aisle for something sweet.

Once you've collected a nice round-up of snacks, you head up to the check-out and set everything onto the counter. Tyler comes up from behind you and sets his stuff down as well, and you can't help but notice that your choices in snacks are almost identical.

You fish out your wallet from your pocket to pay for your snacks but Tyler shoulders in front of you before you can pull it out of the confines of your pocket.

"I got it." Tyler mumbles as he pushes past you.

You stumble back a couple of steps as Tyler hands a couple of bills over to the cashier. The cashier takes the cash and returns some change to Tyler who pockets the extra's and grabs his stuff off the counter.

"...Thanks." You give Tyler a quick thank you as he steps passed you with his food and drink in hand.

You grab your stuff off the counter and follow Tyler back out to the car in silece. Tyler sets his stuff inside the car and turns back around to pump some gas before the two off you depart. You stop in front of the car and frown.

"You should have let me at least pay for some gas." You complain, feeling like a leech.

"Nah. It's my rental." Tyler replies as he leans against the side of the car. "Don't worry about it." He assures you.

You huff out a breath and watch the screen on the pump climb in price. "Well do you at least want me to drive for a while?" You ask Tyler, tired of feeling halpless this whole trip.

"Nah." Tyler replies again nonchalantly. "We're more than halfway there. It's fine." He insists.

"Whatever." You grumble to yourself at Tyler's aloofness and climb back into the passenger side of the car.

You climb into the passenger seat and settle into your spot. You glance out the window at Tyler as he finishes up pumping gas. Your phone buzzes and you check your messages. You find a text from Skye waiting for you.

-How the trip going?

-fine I guess. hes just so cold. idk what to do

-hang in there babe! u got this!

-I'll try. wish me luck!

Tyler climbs back into the car and you put your phone back into your pocket. He switches the car back on and pulls back onto the road.

Tyler drives for about another hour in silence before you can't take it anymore. You glance over at him and muster up the courage to say something.

"Are you sure that you don't want me to drive?" You ask. "I'm more than happy to take over for a while." You assure him.

"I've got it." Tyler shakes his head. "Besides, we're almost there."

You nod and bite the inside of your lip. "Are you sure?" You speak up again. "You've been driving for like 4 hours straight." You remind him.

"I'm fine, Y/N." Tyler insists. "If you want to help with something you can do me a solid and crack open my drink for me." He suggests.

"Yeah, sure." You nod and crack open his drink for him. "You need me to hand feed you Dorito's too?" You quip.

Your eyes are fixed on the road so you don't see the hint of a smile crack on Tyler's face at your quip.

Silence once again overtakes the car ride until you and Tyler finally make it to the hotel at around 1am. You grab your bags and head inside to the front desk. You get checked into your shared room and are given two keycards, giving one to Tyler when he joins you in the lobby.

The two of you head up to the room in silence. You make it into the room first and set your bags down onto one of the queen beds in the room. Tyler takes the other bed and the two of you silently unpack.

"I'm going to grab a quick shower before I go to sleep." You inform Tyler as you fish your sleepwear out of your bag.

You grab your comfy oversized tshirt and the comfy underwear you like to sleep in and head into the bathroom. Tyler unpacks his bag and changes into some more loose-fitting sweats before setting his bags down onto the floor and climbing into his bed for the night.

Tyler plugs in his phone and scrolls through it for a while. He can hear you singing to yourself from the bathroom and cracks a small smile.

"There's still hot water if you want to rinse off." You come out of the bathroom a bit later, toweling off your hair.

"I'll shower in the morning." Tyler shrugs and looks up from his phone at you as you discard your towel into the bascket sitting by the bathroom door.

You shrug and climb into your bed. "Suit yourself. I'm going to bed." You plug in your phone to your charger and switch the bedside lamp off.

Tyler does the same and you both get some sleep.

Much later into the morning you are woken up by the sound of someone rummaging around the hotel room. You yawn and prop yourself up in bed and check the time on your phone. 7am.

"Please don't tell me that you're a morning person?" You groan and sit up in bed.

You rub the sleep from your eyes and find Tyler digging through his bags for his gym clothes. Your breath hitches in your throat when your eyes land on his bare back, muscles flexing and moving with every movement. His sweats hang low on his hips, and you can only imagine what they look like from the front.

"Always have been." Tyler answers your question. "I'm going to change and then head to the gym for a couple of hours." He explains.

"Okay." You nod and stretch your arms above your head. "I think I'm just going to hang out here for a couple more hours. Maybe grab some breakfast."

Tyler nods and you watch him walk off with his gym bag slung over his shoulder. You lay in bed for another hour or so before you decide to get dressed and grab something to eat. You pull a cute outfit from your bag and strip off your sleeping shirt in front of your bed.

You switch your underwear and bra and are in the middle of squeezing into a pair of jeans when the door clicks open.

"I'm back. You in here?" Tyler steps through the door as you move to grab something to cover yourself up with. "Oh, sorry. I'll just, step back out." Tyler see's that you're changing and retreats back into the hall.

You pull your shirt over your head and call for Tyler to come back inside the room. He cautiously comes back through the door and tosses his bag onto the floor.

"Sorry, YN. I didn't mean to barge in on you." He apologizes for almost catching you naked. "I guess I should have knocked." He muses.

"It's fine." You shrug and zip your suitcase back up. "My ring gear is way more provocative, right?" You joke. "I was just going to grab breakfast at that place across the street. You're welcome to come if you want."

Tyler nods and grabs a fresh hoodie from his bag. He pulls it over his head and gets the door for you. "Sure, I could eat."

You and Tyler head over to the diner and eat in a comfortable silence. You eventually get him to casually chat with you about some stuff and learn that the two of you share a few hobbies.

After your breakfast has finished you reach for your bag to fish your wallet out of it and pay the bill. Tyler spots your gesture and grabs your hand that's still on the table.

"Hey, I've got it, YN." Tyler insists.

"Again?" You look back up at him with narrowed eyes. "Are you sure? I'm kind of starting to feel like a mooch." You admit, but you can see that Tyler doesn't plan on changing his mind any time soon. "Can I at least get the tip?" You ask him.

Tyler cracks a small grin and nods, letting go of your hand. "Sure." He agrees to let you leave a tip.

You smile happily and pull a couple of bills out of your wallet. You leave them on the table and head out with Tyler back to the hotel room. The two of you have different schedules for the show so you part ways for a few hours.

Much later into the night you are packed up and getting ready to head back to the hotel. You stop outside the arena where there are some fans grouped up and waiting to see some of the people from the show. You run into them and agree to sign a couple of things and take a few photos with some of the girls hanging out.

"What about me, beautiful?" One of the guys with the group of girls breaks through the crowd and approaches you. "Can I get a picture too?" He asks you with a cocky grin.

Reluctantly, you nod and agree to a photo. Normally you'd never agree to take a photo with some tool like this. But you don't want to make a scene in front of the girls that were being polite and waited so long to have a chance at meeting you.

"Sure, why not. One wont hurt, right?" You gesture for the guy to step next to you.

The guy eagerly fishes his phone out of his pocket and steps over to you. You force a smile on your face as he slings an arm around you for the picture. The scent of his nasty colonge assaults your senses but you bear it and wait for the photo to be taken.

The fan pulls you into his side as close as he can get and goes to take the photo. His hand thats slung over the back of your shoulders slides down your back and stops dangerously close to your ass.

You grimace and step away from the fan, intent on telling him off. But someone beats you to the punch. "Hey! What the fuck? Get off of her!" Tyler suddenly appears and stomps towards you and the fanboy.

The fanboy scoffs and turns to confront Tyler. "Excuse me? Do you mind, man? I'm trying to get a picture!" He nods toward you.

"Looks more to me like you were trying to cop a feel." Tyler replies and steps between you and the fanboy.

"What it to you?" The fanboy sneers. "You her boyfriend or something?"

You grab Tylers arm thats posistioned toward you and catch his attention. "Ty, it's fine." You assure him. "Come on. Let's just get out of here." You tug gently on his arm. "He's not worth getting into a brawl over. He's a loser." You shoot a glare at the fanboy. "Who thinks that he's way cooler than he is. Trust me bro, these girls? They know you're a loser too." You nod toward the group of girls standing silently a few feet away.

"Whatever, bitch." The fanboy snarls at you and Tyler takes a step toward him.

"Ty, come on." You give Tyler's arm another tug and he backs off the fanboy.

Tyler turns back toward you and the two of you walk off. "Whatever man. Let's get out of here, YN. Before I change my mind." He lets you drag him off.

"You two make a cute couple!" One of the girls in the group shouts as you drag Tyler away from the crowd.

You and Tyler glance at one another and you let go of his arm. You turn away first to hide the blush on your cheeks and don't notice Tyler's sly little smile.

"Thanks for having my back, Tyler." You thank him. "You're not so bad after all, mister cold-hearted badboy." You knock into his side playfully.

"I got your back, YN. No sweat." Tyler knocks back into you with a grin.

[hotteoki]

your personal healthcare companion (c.s.b.)

pairing: soobin x fem reader (pronouns only used at the last bit so you can skip it if you'd prefer a gn reader)

wc: 1.4k

cw: none afaik

notes: i just see him as tadashi idk hes so tadashi coded

for @yrhome : have a soob

beomgyu nudged your ribs from beside you, drawing your attention away from the board and mr seo's words, "wanna ditch the last two classes after lunch?" you checked your timetable, ms kim, she couldn't give two shits about her students. nodding, you placed it back in your bag, "sure. where are you thinking?" he hummed, "anywhere where we won't be caught." you didn't need him to name drop to know he was talking about his roommate, soobin.

soobin wasn't a typical student in a typical university, unlike you and beomgyu. he excelled in all his classes and was extremely popular amongst teachers, always getting gold merits and compliments anywhere he went by students and parents alike. it was how he got accepted into the best technology institute in the country. he had never approved of beomgyu's carefree influence on you, although he knew it would be difficult to change your minds.

you had met soobin a couple of times, and he was cute, you admitted. it was obvious to anyone, you could be a bit biased, given your teeny, tiny crush on him. you would rather die than tell beomgyu that, though. you were fairly certain he would scream dramatically in agony and horror, then proceed to give a forty minute speech on how he was cuter, and how you should have a crush on him instead. his usual unprovoked salty comments about your practically non-existent relationship with soobin was enough for your brain to handle.

"i was thinking the seaside? the one that's not too far," beomgyu leaned back, rocking slightly on his chair. you began discreetly packing your things up, "sure." as soon as the bell rang, the two of you made your way down the stairs. checking for teachers and security, you managed to sneak out on your bicycles by the back gate.

a few meters away from the seaside, you noticed a familiar figure ahead of you. "beomgyu," you called. he groaned in response, "i know." both of you gradually stopped in front of soobin leaning against his car, an exasperated expression on his face. "aren't you two supposed to be in school?" he sighed, crossing his arms. beomgyu dismounted his bicycle before racking his brain for an answer, "it was crazy. a rat infestation happened and thousands of rats swarmed the classrooms, and we had to run for our lives. they even said they might shut the school down."

"not because you just felt like ditching?" soobin's gaze switched to you, softening slightly while his fingers fiddled with his glasses clutched in his hand. after months of not seeing him, you had forgotten just how cute he really was. you cursed the unfortunate situation that you were wearing your drabby school uniform and not a decent outfit. you turned to beomgyu for an answer, certain that the second you opened your mouth you'd start blabbing whatever nonsense came in your head. you swallowed thickly as you took a secret glance at soobin, oh no, here come the feelings.

"no, it was definitely the rats," beomgyu pushed his grown-out highlighted hair back, not convincing at the slightest bit. "oh really now?" soobin asked sarcastically. "yes really," beomgyu fired back, "how'd you even know we were going to be here?" soobin rolled his eyes, "not the point, get in." he opened the door to the back seat, waiting. before you could follow beomgyu into the back seats, soobin placed a hand on your shoulder, stopping you, "sit in the passenger's seat."

a sound of protest could be heard from inside the car, "that's where i always sit!" "well, not today. you don't deserve that seat," he replied simply while making his way to the other side of the car and opening the door for you. you smiled, praying your blush wasn't that obvious as you walked around the car, taking your seat.

after nearly fifteen minutes of being in the car with you having no clue where you were going, you began scrolling on your phone to pass time. "where are we even going?" beomgyu whined, kicking soobin's seat gently to make a point. "you'll see," soobin glared at him from the rearview mirror, "and stop kicking my seat unless you want me to drop you off here and you can walk home by yourself". that shut beomgyu up.

"we're here," soobin announced, turning off the engine as he parked in the carpark of his institute. "what are we doing here?" you had never been here before, and you were definitely excited to see soobin's workspace. "just visiting," he replied nonchalantly. "why? i wanna go home," beomgyu dragged out his vowels, clearly fed up. "i'm really considering changing the locks to our apartment," soobin muttered to you. you didn't fail to notice his genuine smile at your laugh.

"this is taehyun, he's a student from two years below, but we share a work room, he's your year, actually," soobin introduced as you stepped into a fairly large room, spare pieces of metal scattered everywhere, along with a few gadgets hung up on walls. taehyun looked up momentarily to wave, before lowering his head and continuing working on his machine. "what are you working on?" you asked curiously.

"it's an ironing-folding machine. i mean, we have washing machine, drying machine, but we've never had ironing or folding machine, and this machine does just that. 2 in 1 as well," taehyun gave it a pat, a proud grin plastered on his face. "you have my undivided attention," beomgyu practically hopped over, eager to know more. "you are so lazy," soobin shook his head. beomgyu only stuck out his tongue.

"come on, i have to show you something," soobin guided you away, leading you to his corner of the room. he pointed at a little red carrier hidden behind his stacks of papers and chairs, "there." "what's that?” you stepped closer, examining it. "pinch me." you turned to stare at soobin, unsure if you heard him clearly, "what?" "pinch me, it’s part of the thing."

you did so, earning an "ouch!" from him. as planned, the box began to open, and a white, sweet-looking robot stepped out. it began walking towards the two of you, stopping a few feet away and waving, "hello, i am baymax. your personal healthcare companion. i was alerted for the need of attention when you said 'ouch'." "it's so cute!" you gushed, stepping closer to examine 'baymax'.

a screen popped up on its body, "on a scale of one to ten, how would you rate your pain?" "one," soobin replied. "i will scan you now," its head moved up and down on soobin's body, "scan complete. you have a slight epidermal abrasion on your forearm, along with unusual sped-up heart palpitations. my scan suggests it is related to emotional feelings of attraction towards-" as baymax adjusted its body to point at you, soobin interrupted panickedly, "i am satisfied with my care."

upon hearing those words, baymax waddled back to its charging port. "you like me?" you looked up at soobin's avoiding eyes. "no?" "yes he does!" taehyun yelled from outside the room. "don't leave the door open, stupid," beomgyu laughed from the doorframe, shutting it. soobin shut his eyes, holding back a sigh.

"you're not playing with me right?" you had to be sure. "yeah, uh, yeah, i've liked you for a long time now," soobin held his hands to his face, covering his reddening cheeks. "you're kidding, i thought you didn't like me back," you gaped. he peeked from the gaps between his fingers, "huh?" "soobin, i've had a crush on you for like probably over a year now," you let out a laugh as you said, surprised this wasn't a dream. "oh," he put his hands down, "oh."

"at least they're finally confessing," taehyun leaned against his desk, eyes flickering to the now shut door of the room where you and soobin were. "i know right? i had to deal with her heart eyes and love sick sighs whenever we saw soobin," beomgyu brushed his bangs out of his face. "i'm pretty sure it was love at first sight for soobin, he would not shut up about her ever since he met her," taehyun laughed. "are you serious? so the reason i have to deal with their giggles and smooches is because of me? i'm too influential," beomgyu shook his head, disappointed at himself. "whatever, they're happy now, i guess," taehyun shrugged.

"you know what? we deserve our happiness too. tell you what, i'll be your first investor in your invention," beomgyu placed a hand on taehyun's shoulder. after a few moments of consideration, they shook hands. "it's a deal."

[minthandsoap]

Marie and Jordan go to the Beach!

600 words

The sun peeked over the horizon, painting the sky in hues of pink and orange as Jordan navigated the winding roads leading to the coastline. Marie sat beside them in the front passenger seat, her excitement easily seen by the smile on her face, as the salty scent of the sea teased her senses. Jordan decided to sport out their Cadillac convertible for today’s excursion. When they pulled up in the car to pick up Marie, she was very surprised. Excited yet surprised. She somehow didn’t know that they even owned such a nice car. On the other hand, Jordan seemed entirely nonchalant about the impressive vehicle they possessed, as if owning it was merely a matter of fact.

“Are we almost there?” Marie asked, craning her neck to catch a glimpse of the ocean getting bigger and bigger as they got closer.

“Almost, just a few more minutes,” Jordan replied, a smile playing on their lips as they glanced at Marie’s eager expression.

Marie decided to dress for the sunny day. She wore a simple yet charming yellow sundress, that reached just above her knees. Golden sandals to match and her hair up in a loose bun. And Jordan, wearing a white tee and yellow swim shorts (Marie insisted they matched with her wanting to look as “couply as possible” so she can take cute pictures. Jordan didn’t mind though, knowing that they secretly enjoyed that they looked “coupley” too.) They had sunglasses on, the type of sunglasses where you can’t see their eyes no matter how hard you tried or how close you were to them. They insisted to Marie they had to wear them– to maintain some level of ‘cool’ and ‘mystery.’ Marie didn’t get it but went along with it anyways.

As they approached, the rhythmic sound of crashing waves grew louder, a sound that welcomed them to the beach. Jordan parked the car, and Marie practically leaped out, her eyes wide in awe as she took in the vast expanse of sand and water. She ran ahead, too excited to wait for Jordan to get their stuff from the car.

“It’s beautiful,” she gasped, a smile spreading across her face.

Jordan grinned, feeding off Marie’s excitement. “C’mon, let’s go explore,” they said, taking her hand as they headed toward the shoreline.

********

The sand was cool beneath their feet as they strolled along the edge of the water. Marie giggled as the gentle waves tickled her toes, sending shivers of delight up her spine. Seagulls soared overhead, adding to the picturesque scene.

“Have you ever been to a beach before?” Jordan asked, being able to look down at her while in their male form, watching Marie with an adoring gaze.

Marie shook her head, her eyes still fixed on the mesmerizing dance of the waves. “Just once,” she confessed, a touch of nostalgia in her voice. “Before my parents… we had gone to the beach for a family day. Though, it started pouring rain as soon as we got there. We left as fast as we arrived,” Marie chuckled sheepishly.

“Well we gotta make this the best beach date ever then huh?,” Jordan teased, pulling Marie into a spontaneous twirl. Marie giggled when she finally landed on their chest. Feeling her excitement returning once again, she quickly yelled “Let’s go!” before grabbing Jordan’s hand again, pulling them closer to the water.

*******

They laughed, the joy of the moment lifting their spirits higher. Marie’s laughter echoed along the shore, a sound that filled Jordan’s heart with warmth. Truthfully, Jordan never cared for the beach. It was fine, nothing spectacular they always thought. Every time they’d go with their family it was too hot, too crowded, and just a bit too beachy. But the second Marie mentioned wanting to go to the beach for the first time to them, the forgot the reasons why they didn’t care for it.

After a while of walking (and Marie excitedly pointing out and collecting every pretty seashell she finds), they found a cozy spot on the sand and settled down, watching the sun descend lower into the sky. Jordan had packed a small picnic, complete with sandwiches, fruit, and sodas they got from a vending machine on campus.

“This is amazing, Jordan,” Marie smiled softly, sitting crisscrossed on the picnic blanket. She picked up a strawberry, taking a bite from it. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

Jordan beamed happy from the praise Marie gave them. Shifting into their female form, they crawled to lay next to her, placing their head on Marie’s lap. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it. Felt like we both deserved a break and just have time to enjoy life.” Marie smiled down at them, giving them a quick kiss on the lips.

They chatted more than they ate, and well, Marie insisted to feed Jordan a strawberry like she’s seen done in so so many romance movies. Jordan found it corny but still let her do it anyways (they just couldn’t resist the urge to nip her finger, knowing the type of response they’d get back)

They spent the day building sandcastles, chasing seagulls, and collecting seashells. Marie’s laughter was infectious, and Jordan couldn’t help but feel a sense of contentment wash over them as they watched Marie marvel at the beauty around her.

As the sun continued its descent, painting the sky in vivid shades of pink and gold, Marie took Jordan’s hand and led them toward the water’s edge. With the waves lapping gently at their feet, they stood there, watching the sun dip below the horizon, casting a golden glow across the sea.

*******

“It’s like a painting,” Marie whispered, her eyes fixated on the breathtaking sight.

“Yeah, and you’re the most beautiful part of it,” Jordan said softly, turning to gaze at Marie, their heart overflowing with affection.

“You’re so corny, oh my god! I can’t believe you just said that!” Marie couldn’t help but laugh.

“Don’t act like you don’t love it,” Jordan wiggled their eyebrows teasingly.

Marie could only smile at them, leaning down to pull them in for a soft kiss. “Yeah, I do love it.”

They sat there, Jordan’s head resting on Marie’s shoulder, taking in the serene beauty of the moment, each lost in their own thoughts yet connected by the experience.

As the sky darkened and the stars emerged, they began packing up, albeit reluctantly, sad that they’d had to soon resume their stressful lives of being college students. Still, they left happier than when they came. Marie finally being able to say she had been to a beach and having an amazing time. And Jordan, whose new favorite place to be (besides Marie’s bed) is the beach.

[downwiththeficness]

Shadow and Veil-Chapter Forty Seven (Final Chapter)

Summary: Eva Moore’s life was a carefully constructed fiction.  Every day, she did exactly what her mother in law, her husband, and his  best friend expected of her. No mistakes. And, that was going pretty  well for Eva right up until a huge complication literally tried to run  her over. Now, she’s faced with trying to keep the pieces of her life  from falling apart while attempting (and failing) to keep her feelings  for her husband’s new business partner at bay.

A/N: This fic is a sister-fic to A Need So Great and A Need Unleashed.  You do not need to have read ANSG or ANU to read this fic, but there  are Easter eggs from those fics in Shadow and Veil for readers with keen  eyes.  This fic is explicit for canon-compliant blood, gore, violence,  and sex. As such, it is intended for an adult audience, only. A/B/O  dynamics come with their own warning. Anyone under the age of 18 should  not interact with this work. I do not consent to reposting this work to  other platforms. Reblog only to Tumblr.  

Word Count: ~1,100

Start from the beginning    Previous Chapter 

Masterlist Read on AO3

Eva sat in the front seat of Horacio’s truck, looking around with interest. There were cars parked in uniform lines on either side of her, each of them pointed at a huge screen.

The weather was just this side of too hot, one last burst of heat before the rainy season. Above, the moon shone high and full, illuminating the field and surrounding forest. The field was tucked away from the road and all the streetlights, leaving them in near darkness that was cut through with the pre-show animations.

She had no idea who Peter Fonda was, or what it meant to be a ‘hired hand’, but Horacio loved Westerns and that was enough for her. She didn’t care that it would be dubbed in Spanish, Eva was just glad to be out and about.

Coming back to Colombia was like surfacing from underwater and taking a huge breath. She was finally back in the home she shared with Horacio. Finally back in their bed. It didn’t matter that Horacio got right back to work or that Eva still couldn’t find a job.

She was home.

Finally.

The door opened and Horacio dropped into the passenger’s seat with an armful of candy and other treats. Eva stared at the bounty, surprised, “We’re never going to eat all that.”

He lifted a brow, “I’ve seen your snack platters, Eva.”

The man had a point.

“I withdraw my statement.”

Eva carefully arranged the snacks on the console between them, making sure to group them by category—salty, sweet, sour, savory. Picking up a small cut of diced fruit, she got comfortable and dug in.

“Carlos asked us over for dinner,” Horacio mentioned casually.

“Oh?”

He nodded, “He got a new grill and wants to test it out.”

Eva chuckled around a bit of mango, “Should we bring a hose?”

Turning a little in his seat, Horacio’s mouth lifted in half a smile, “He said he has one, We’ll keep it at the ready.”

“I think that’s a good idea,” Eva said as she picked up at box of sour candy and slid her thumb under the cardboard.

He was quiet a moment, watching her pick through the candies to find a red one. Then, “He said something else, too.”

She looked up in question and murmured an intrigued, “What did he say?”

Horacio’s earnest expression and the way he was watching her intently set her back a step. He looked nervous, almost worried. She reached over and touched his arm, finding it trembling, “What did he say?”

His palm laid atop hers, “That I was taking our relationship for granted.”

Stunned, Eva shook her head, “I don’t think…”

He cut her off, “I have. A little. I was so...confident that you were mine from the very beginning.” A hand waved away Eva’s soft ‘I was’. He took a breath, “I made a lot of decisions for you. I pushed you too hard. And, I am so grateful that you didn’t tell me to fuck off.”

Eva laughed soundlessly, “Oh, I wanted to a few times.”

“I know,” Horacio drawled, with humor. “I deserved it.”

She sighed, “It was...an impossible situation.” A pause, “Was. Its not impossible anymore. This,” she squeezed his arm, “this is an easy thing.”

Horacio smiled, “You’re right. And, I’ve been so focused on my work, and then Mexico happened.” He drew a breath, “Then…”

Eva shivered as his hand drifted across her gland. Her throat tightened around the still too fresh feeling of their bond.

“So,” he rasped, “I have something for you.”

He reached over to the glove compartment and pulled out a small deli box. Eva smiled when he handed it to her, that smile growing when she recognized the logo on the top. They had been back to that restaurant a few times since returning from their trip. The food was as good as she remembered it.

“I had them make that special. For the occasion.”

Thumb pushing open the top, Eva almost laughed at the little cake inside. Oblong and golden brown, the homemade Twinkie sat on a bed of chocolate shavings. The sweet smell of fried dough reached her nose, telling Eva that it was going to be absolutely delicious.

When she looked up to thank Horacio, he was also holding a box. This one was considerably smaller, fitting in to the palm of his hand. Eva’s breath caught and the weight of what he was doing settled over her.

“I know this is late,” he said, “But, I—ah—I wanted to give you this.”

She took the box from him and opened it. Her eyes watered when she saw what was inside. Blinking away the tears, Eva plucked the ring from its velvet cushion. Set in silver, the oval sapphire was flanked on either side by small, glittering diamonds. Eva slid it on her finger, turning her hand so that the stones glinted in the dim light.

“Its perfect,” she croaked around all her love for him.

Horacio let out a relieved breath, “I’m so glad you like it.”

“I do like it,” she replied, leaning over the console to kiss him. “How did you even get this? You’ve been at work, or with me the whole time we’ve been back.”

His smile was shy, “I actually bought it in Mexico. While we were...apart.” He took a steadying breath, “I told myself that I would give it to you when I got you back.”

All the tears Eva had been holding back burst forth with an ugly sob. She sniffed loudly and reached for him. Eva held him tightly to her, buried her face into his neck, and breathed in tobacco and vetiver.

“I love you,” she breathed, pulling back to kiss his forehead, his cheek, his lips.

Horacio smiled into the kiss, “Let me take you home.”

“We’ll miss the movie,” she murmured, “Look, its already starting.”

Eva was right. The title screen had just faded away and music was swelling through the little speakers. He didn’t even glance in the direction of the screen, “We’ll catch another show.”

“You promised,” Eva reminded him.

A sigh, “I did promise.”

“You did.”

Licking his lips, Horacio made a noise of resignation, “Alright, I promised you a movie, and we’re going to watch it.”

“My first movie,” Eva replied, holding up a finger.

“Yes, yes. Your first movie,” he conceded, “But, the second we get back…” He let that promise hang in the air between them. Then, “Eat your Twinkie.”

Eva picked the Twinkie out from the box and broke it in half, “You want some.”

Horacio shook his head, “Even homemade, it will still be too sweet.”

“More for me,” she shot back primly.

He slung an arm over her shoulders, “Anything you want, Eva. Its all yours.”

[macravishedbymactavish]

any hcs for ajax (cod: ghosts)

I initially was going to do the "3 pros, 3 cons" thing. But I haven't seen very much content for Ajax, so here's a whole list of random SFW HCs for him.

Alex "Ajax" Johnson SFW Headcanons

| Blog HQ | Call of Duty: Ghosts Masterlist |

TW for some mentions of overthinking, arachnophobia, vague mentions to the latest Stranger Things season finale

Comes off as calm, cool confident but in all honestly overthinks damn near everything

"He's a natural, almost too natural" Hesh commented, arms crossed over his chest. Watching as the man continued light conversation with the barista making their drinks.

The brothers standing off to the side, watching as their friend managed to get them free banana bread slices with his smooth talking. Smiling politely and thanking the barista for their time.

With excited expressions, the younger men began asking for tips and tricks. Still in awe of how cool he was during the interaction.

Eyebrows raising in surprise, Ajax nodded along. Listening to the praise being fed to him. Forcing down the thoughts that he came off too strong and made the poor worker uncomfortable. 

'They have enough people to deal with, and probably a lot of creeps but have to be nice to everyone. They had to be trying to usher him out of there and dropped some hints asking me to stop. Like that awkward half laugh, oh I overdid it. Shit'

"Playing it by ear is key, boys" Ajax laughed, taking a bite of his food. Hoping that it was given in good spirits and not a desperate attempt to make him leave.

Major acrophobia. "Ya'll are killing the spider"

A shrill scream caused you to jump, rushing into the other room. Grabbing a broom on the way as a mock-up weapon.

Eyes scanning the room, your brows furrowing in confusion as there was no obvious danger. Just Ajax in the corner, pressing himself against the wall as he lightly chuckled at you.

"Hey, how've you been" he asked smoothly, one hand rubbing the back of his neck. Eyes cast down to one specific spot on the floor. You followed his gaze, focusing on a small black spot.

It couldn't be.

"Was, was all that because of a spider?" You initially laughed, jumping back as the bug moved toward you. "Shit. Elias!" You called, broom dropped and teammate abandoned.

Binge watcher. Him and Keegan watched an entire season of Stranger Things in one night once.

"Are….are you crying, dude?" Ajax snorted, receiving a glare in return. The two men finishing off the latest season of Stranger Things.

"No. I'm just enjoying the heartfelt reunion and cliffhanger. Are you crying?" Keegan muttered, shifting further into his spot. Eyes trained on the screen, as his friend continued staring over at him, eyes lit up with amusement.

Guilty pleasure that he won't let anyone know (minus Logan, who accidentally found out and they bonded) but loves rom coms.

[ 1:33AM ]

[ SAN DIEGO ]

Laying in the dark, eating handfuls of chips slowly as he silently urged the two characters to finally admit their feelings for one another. Sighing heavily at the obvious attraction they were both oblivious to.

"They really should've made a season 2" Ajax all but jumped out of his seat at the quiet voice from behind him. Scrambling for the remote to shut off the TV, keeping his guilty pleasure mostly hidden.

Shrugging at the younger male, "Logan, why are you awake?"

"I'm not judging. I love Oran High School Host Club, put it back on" Logan urged, slipping down onto the other side of the couch. Settling back into the cushions. 

Arguably the best passenger princess of all the Ghosts.

A carefully curated playlist filtering through the speakers, your group drove out to the lake lot the Walker family owned for the weekend. 

"Alex, what do you got for snacks up there?" You asked, peering up from your phone. Situated in the backseat with Keegan and Kick.

"Would you prefer sour, sweet or salty?" He started, sifting through one of the many insulated bags at his feet. 

A Nintendo Switch kind of guy. Especially the Zelda games. He's been playing them since childhood, and still has the gold cartridge Legend of Zelda NES game.

Rocking lightly on his feet, he eagerly waited in line. Game in hand, impatient to start playing it the moment he got home.

"Is this everything for you sir?" The cashier asked, noticing the 8 bit design on the man's wallet. Commenting on how they thought it was interesting.

"It is, thank you. Can't wait to play, I've been pretty into Zelda since I was a kid" Ajax smiled, focusing on the machine in front of him as the two fell into conversation about modern gaming vs retro gaming.

Retro gaming came out on top overall.

If you're dating, he gives the sweetest gifts. More into DIY than store-bought.

A jar was placed in front of you, inside contained multiple colours of folded up paper. Eyebrow raised, you opened the lid and pulled a light blue star out.

Heart melting as you unfolded the paper; seeing a small note about when the two of you first met. Jar and note placed to the side, you launched yourself onto the man. Feeling him chuckle as he held you close; whispering about how much he loved you, and felt so blessed that he could call you his.

Does the "huh?" then promptly answers thing.

"Hey, Alex. What time is that movie you wanted to go to tonight?" You called from the bathroom, to your fiancé laying on the bed. 

"Huh?" He started, phone dropped on the bed beside him. Right as you were about to repeat the question - "it's at 6:45, so I figure if we get there by 6:20, 6:30 we should have enough time to buy snacks and find our seats"

BLANKET HOG

Blinking awake, you sighed. Body shivering as you became aware of the cold air settling around you. Hand feeling around for the blanket, you grew increasingly confused as your search came back unsuccessful.

Rolling over, you groaned. Seeing your boyfriend cocooned in the shared quilt, sleeping rather soundly. 

Pulling at the material, you pouted. He had it wrapped taught to his body, leaving your tired limbs very little chance at unraveling it. Another tired sigh escaped your lips as you pushed yourself from the mattress, grabbing your own blanket from the closet.

[shesarainbow]

Spending the summer with Max Cady

🎶 Hot summer nights, mid-july, when you and I were forever wild, the crazy days, the city lights, the way you'd play with me like a child 🎶

You and Max are driving down the highway in his red Mustang, listening to music. You're sitting in the passenger seat, singing your favourite summer song at the top of your lungs, while Max smiles and strokes your hair, happy.

Max takes you to the mall before heading to the beach. You literally drag him into the photo booth to take pictures. Max lets you to sit on his lap before smiling at the camera. You lean in on his shoulder and smile. Your favourite photo is the one where Max is making funny expressions. Max’s is the one where you’re just laughing at something he said. 

Max enjoys buying you stuff, so he encourages you to choose whatever you want. “Anything you want, babe. My lil’ girl earned it.” You walk out of the mall wearing a big hat, glamorous sunglasses, and a lovely dress that Max has picked out for you.

At the beach, Max insists on applying sunscreen to your skin because he doesn’t want you to get sunburned. He does it with care and lets you to do the same thing on his tattoed skin.

Max can’t stop staring at your bikini body. He thinks you’re just fabulous. Oh, how he admires your beautiful body...

You swim in the ocean and have a water fight. Or if you can’t swim, Max patiently teaches you. “Attagirl! That's my mermaid!”

You make sand angels on the beach or play frisbee before diving back into the ocean.

While Max relaxes under the beach umbrella, you collect seashells, make a necklace and give it to him. He’s very proud of your necklace and puts it on right away, kissing your salty skin.

Max is sleeping, you approach him on tiptoe, splash him with water, then run off giggling. “C’mere, you little brat!” he chases you until he grabs you and holds you down on the sand. “Someone needs to be punished, huh?” and start kissing you. 

You spend the remaining time building a sandcastle, burying Max in the sand, sunbathing while Max strokes you, or writing your names in the sand.

He chooses a quiet spot in the park, under the shade of the trees, and improvises a picnic with your favourite ice cream while you listen to him read one of his favourite books or recite Bible verses.

You beg Max to buy you a cherry lollipop and tease him by licking it slowly before you start singing the famous song Oh lolli lolli lolli, lollipop, lollipop. Max grabs you, wraps his strong arms around you and kisses you long and hard. “Just behave like a good little girl, will ya? Or else Daddy could get upset, things could get out of hand and I could do something to you that you would not like, right here. You don’t wanna make me angry, do ya?” You tease him a little more, but he’s pretty serious, so you just pull yourself together. Max grabs your hand as you walk in silence. “I’m sorry… are you still upset with me?” you whisper. He’s secretly enjoying all this and lifts your chin, saying “Daddy has already forgiven you, sweetheart. But don’t do it again, all right?” You simply nod.

Very often you are mistaken for father and daughter. Max is actually flattered and always replies with “Yeah, she’s my little girl.” and you can't help but blush, knowing what he really means.

Everyday is a new day, and you never know what will happen. You and Max are constantly on the road, staying in motels, eating in diners, and visiting new towns.

One day Max rents a boat, and you spend the entire day sunbathing and cuddling each other.

You go to an amusement park and take a ride on the Ferris Wheel. You visit the Haunted Mansion and spend the entire time clinging to his arm. “Are you scared, babe? You're such adorable, sweetie!” he teases you, pinching your cheek.

You go to the aquarium and enjoy watching the penguins hop around and the dolphins and seals swim and play. Max prefers to watch the sharks gliding past the window instead.

Max decides to get a new tattoo and convinces you to do the same. If you're too scared, you can just watch him as he assures you that he's not in any pain. He chooses to have your name tattoed on his skin.

You go bowling, and, of course, Max always wins. You can't even lift the heavy ball and Max shows you how and lets you win.

You go to the cinema or watch a movie at the drive-in. His hand resting on your leg, his mind distracted by your presence.

On July 4th, Max takes you to watch the parade, and then you watch the fireworks together. You're lying on a blanket, your head resting on Max's chest; he's your giant pillow, and you're having a bonfire while gazing at the stars. You stay up all night watching the sunrise.

[ratslovepinktoo]

My Thomas AU I suppose? (Headcannons and what not)

Age

In this AU, everyone has the ability to become a human. Engines live for a significantly longer amount of time than an average human being does. Despite the fact that they can get older, their physical appearance doesn’t change. They’re kinda just eternally young. Engine years are much different from human years. An example being that my oc Pamelle is only around 30 in engine years even though she was built in 1920.

Speed + Strength

The engines (when in human form) are significantly faster and stronger. Their speed and strength in human form depends on the speed and strength of themselves in engine form (E.g. Percy can move at a speed of about 35 mph, meaning that he can go this fast in his human form)

Gender(s)

The engines can really be any gender they want, if they use enough energy then they can possibly make their human for the desired gender. Or they can just use an identity. Whatever floats their boat.

Shifting Form

It can feel uncomfortable at first, as their bodies are quite literally reforming into something they generally aren’t used to. It can be awkward to walk at first, but after some time it does eventually become easier.

(In case you, or anyone else is asking, no. They can not reproduce)

The main 6 in my au

(Please be respectful about what headcannons I might have)

Thomas

💙 Adopted by Edward 💙

💙 Can go at a speed of about 30 - 70 mph 💙

💙 All of his siblings were scrapped, causing him to have depression for quite a long time 💙

💙 He’s #1 because he was actually the first to be officially purchased to work on the NWR 💙

💙 He stayed at Edward’s home until he was confident enough that he knew just enough to start working on the lines 💙

💙 Based off an LBS&CR E2 class tank engine 💙

💙 Very cheeky and loves playing jokes on others (especially the big engines) but knows when to act mature and serious 💙

💙 Can get very salty if he feels like he’s going to be replaced 💙

Edward

🩵 Adopted Thomas and kept him at home until he felt ready to let him work on the mainline 🩵

🩵 He’s #2 on the NWR because he was the 2nd to be bought 🩵

🩵 Has a speed of about 70 - 80 mph 🩵

🩵 Very wise and kind 🩵

🩵 He currently has feelings for James, but is very subtle about it 🩵

🩵 Overall just very relaxed 🩵

🩵 Eldest of the main 6 🩵

🩵 Based on a Stewart and co “Larger Seagull" K2 Class 🩵

Henry

💚 He had helped Edward take care of Thomas if he ever had to leave for work 💚

💚 #3 on the railway because (you guessed it) he was the 3rd to be bought 💚

💚 The plans for his construction were failed plans and were accidentally stolen, therefore causing him to be a failed prototype and thus leading to his extensive rebuild 💚

💚 He’s probably a tree hugger 💚

💚 Has a huge garden 💚

💚 He also probably names his plants too 💚

💚 He’s kind of like a father or big brother to Percy 💚

💚 Has Ombrophobia 💚

💚 Can go at a speed of about 96 mph 💚

Gordon

💙 Obviously very moody and grumpy 💙

💙 LOVES COFEE 💙

💙 Doesn’t like most animals but will tolerate cats 💙

💙 He loves all his friends. He just doesn’t show it 💙

💙 THRIVES when it come to certain interests 💙

💙 4th to be bought 💙

💙 Can go at a speed of about 100 - 105 mph 💙

💙 Likes reading the Sodor newsletter 💙

💙 Fiercely loyal to his controller, friends, and railway 💙

💙 HAS TOO MANY SIBLINGS AND COUSINS (lots of which sadly were scrapped) 💙

💙 Based of an LNER A1 Pacific Express Engine 💙

James

❤️ HE THE LIVING DEFINITION OF PRIDE (Both the self-conscious emotion and the 🏳️‍🌈 kind) ❤️

❤️ He most likely tries to kiss himself when looking in a mirror ❤️

❤️ He prefers to take passengers coaches rather than cars ❤️

❤️ HATES dirty stuff ❤️

❤️ Short tempered ❤️

❤️ Seems like the guy who only cares about himself. Most of his room actually has pictures of everyone he cares about ❤️

❤️ Can go at a speed of about 70-80 mph ❤️

❤️ He’s easy to humble, most people don’t try though. They think he’s too selfish to even try to humble ❤️

❤️ Based off a LYR class 28 engine ❤️

Percy

💚 He’s just as cheeky as Thomas. That’s why they’re so close 💚

💚 Very selfless 💚

💚 Often seen as a not-so-bright person, but this is only because he’s easy to put upon 💚

💚 He’s a baby. Protect him at all costs. 💚

💚 He’s a child at heart 💚

💚 He still treats his plushies like real people 💚

💚 Has trouble paying attention 💚

💚 Smallest and youngest of the main 6 💚

💚 Based off an Avonside 0-4-0ST and can go up to speeds of about 35-45 mph 💚

💚 LOVES mail runs 💚

[cerenemuxse]

TGR but There's a Roleswap - Chapter 1

Chapter 1 - The Foreign Scottish Engine

All in Vain (Season 20 Episode 16)

Word Count: 930

The story can be found at @tgr-2x5-roleswap-au for easier access.

~

Once James arrived at Brendam Docks, he headed straight for his assigned goods trains to get it over with and go back to pulling passenger trains. "A splendid engine like me shouldn't be doing this sort of work!" he muttered with fury. Just as he was about to say something else, a ship's horn blasted near the docks as the ship came to the loading area, specifically the engine loading area.

Nobody had used that area in years so when the platform dropped to connect the ship to the docks, everyone stopped and stared, including James, Salty, Porter, and Cranky.

Once the ship and platform were safely connected, engines stormed off the boat, quickly filling Brendam Docks and startling the beings there. The engine, a Scottish tender engine, in the front rushed ahead with excitement. "Och, dear! V-Very busy today! The dockyard, I mean!" he exclaimed inattentively.

The dock manager looked up from his clipboard when he noticed the engines pass by. "Hey, stop! Hold it!" he hollered but they couldn't hear him so he blew his whistle. Thankfully, they all stopped, including the Scottish engine.

Ignoring the immediate groaning of questions from the engines behind the second engine, the dock manager asked loudly, "Where are you all going?"

"To the Great Railway Show, of course!" replied the second engine, a Belgium streamlined tender engine.

"The Great Railway Show is on the Mainland in England! This is the Island of Sodor!"

"The Island o’-?" The Belgium engine's face dropped. "Oh." With a blast of his whistle, he hollered, "Alright, back on the ship!"

Despite the complaining from some of the other engines, everyone reversed back onto the ship. As they did so, the Scottish engine yelled, "H-Hold oan! I'm comin’!" following everyone else. "W-Wait!"

James followed the crowd to the boat. "The Great Railway Show? Are you all really-?"

"Get out of the way, rusty iron!" hollered a large blue Canadian tender engine.

James fumed, huffing heavy clouds of steam. "I'm not the one going backward," he muttered. As the engines boarded the ship, he exclaimed, "Why don't you take me with you all?" He switched lines. "It looks like there's room for one more!" exclaimed James as he braked suddenly at the engine boarding dock.

"Is there somebody missin'?" piped up a small green tank engine with a thick Italian accent. Her expression quickly shifted as she noticed Salty and Porter calling out for an engine rushing towards James.

The large American tender engine only chuckled darkly.

Just as James' expression shifted, the Scottish engine bumped into him from behind with a loud CLANK! James was shoved forwards, making his pony truck dangle from the edge and for him to dip forward, as the other engine gasped in surprise.

"Nonono! Help!" he screamed as he panicked. "I'm going to go overboard!"

"James!" exclaimed Salty and Porter. They rushed forward to the engine-loading docks with many of the dock workers.

James helplessly reversed, dipping back and forth on the edge of the docks.

The workmen quickly grabbed a chain, attached it to the back of the Scottish engine, and connected it to James' tender buffer beam.

"Start pulling!" exclaimed one of the workers.

The Scottish engine struggled as his wheels squealed against the iron rails. Slowly but surely, he managed to pull the bright red medium-sized tender engine back on the rails. Once James was settled down and the workmen began to unchain the engines, cheers roared around the area for the Scottish engine.

"What a rescue!" exclaimed Porter.

Everyone was glad the engine had saved James and that nothing worse had happened.

But James wasn't.

"What is it with all you railway show engines? Charging about like you own the rails!" he fumed as he backed down and switched onto Porter's line. "What makes you so special anyway? Do you think you're better than the rest of us just because-!" He froze once his eyes met the stranger.

The Scottish engine was a tender engine with four leaders and four drivers, painted Indian Red with a lighter red and black used for his lining. His eyes were a warm brass, and he was about the same size as James. "S-Sorry, I’m v-very sorry!” he exclaimed, looking downwards and avoiding eye contact. “No’ ma intention tae bump ye. I-I should've lookit." he said. "I-I didnae ken ye there!"

James didn't answer. He glared at the foreigner, feeling insulted that the engine didn’t even bother looking at him. Great, just what I needed! he thought with a huff and a frown that slowly grew. Another red engine.

Noticing the rising tension, Salty broke the silence. "Uh, thank you for rescuing me. My name is James," he said, glancing at James to the Scottish engine. "What's yours?"

"Salty!" James scolded sharply.

But Salty laughed, and the Scottish engine joined, chuckling.

"Don't be silly, James. That can't be their name. That's my name!"

The foreigner's laughter subsided. "Edward. Ma name’s Edward," he chimed with a warm smile.

"Well, I can't stay here all day!" he huffed as he backed straight into Porter.

"James, watch out!" exclaimed the viridian saddle tank engine. It was too late as James bumped him back by accident.

Edward gasped as quietly as he could.

James was flustered. In a desperate attempt to cover his mess up, James huffed back at the other red tender engine. Red. He fumed at the thought. "I have work to do!"

"Hm?" Edward's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as his eyes followed the other red tender engine leaving the docks without his goods train.

~

Disclaimer: they don't fall in love in this story. We do not believe in the "Love at First Sight" trope here. It'll happen later.

For the new readers: If you've noticed that Edward's dialogue is a little weird, that's on purpose. You'll see why as the rest of the chapters are posted. It's important to his character.

OG description: Throwback to when I rewrote the Thomas and Ashima scenes with James and Edward instead in almost one sitting. I went back and cleaned it up once I decided to actually post it. Definitely more self-indulgent lmao

Each scene will have its own chapter so it'll give me the chance to slowly go through and polish them one at a time. :D

A few characters will be swapped out so that it makes more sense (by following EoSR).

[smalls-words]

Chapter Eight: Palmetto

Summary: Natasha experiences jealousy, Palmetto reveals it's darkest secret, and your questioning your sexuality. What the fuck happened?

Pairings: Devil!Natasha x Fem!Detective!Reader, Natasha x Wanda, Reader x Steve (exes, co-parents), Yelena x Natasha (sisters).

Warnings: Mentions/attempt of suicide, knives, jealousy, sexual suggestion (is there ever going to be a chapter without it? probably not). Read at your own discretion.

A/N: WHO SHOT MALCOLM? :o find out in this chapter along with some other bombshells, cheeky.

Series Masterlist

*not my gif*

Lux was pumping with people as Natasha walked through it, a stunning satin blue dress reflecting light to show off the entire dark to light range of the shade. She cheered on many drinks with her patrons, even taunting some of them with a playful smack and grab of the ass or a fleeting touch on their back.

But her favourite demon came up to the bar dressed in a stunning gold dress, held against her body to show it off. Messy hair made Natasha grin, knowing that a few hands had given the demon what she wanted.

“Wanda! You haven't wished me a happy birthday.” Natasha grinned as Wanda stood in front of her, drink in hand.

“The Devil doesn't have a birthday.” 

“Well, I do now. I burned my wings, I feel reborn - it's my re-birthday party.” She chuckled.

“Reborn? As who?” The brunette snickered.

“Whoever the hell I want to be. It's exciting, isn't it?” She took a deep breath in as she examined her party.

Your ruby red lips catching her eyes instantly. 

“Happy birthday to me.” Natasha giggled to herself, letting Wanda lean into her ear. 

“How sweet. She brought a date.” She smirked before leaving, watching Natasha’s eyes fly to see Steve before your laughter made her come back. 

“You said ‘drinks with a few friends’, you liar.” You teased. 

Natasha admired the black suit against your body - of course, if she really desired, she could go back up and change into a matching one. She also wondered what hers would look like on you, giving her a hot flash over her body before she smirked.

“Well, you know, things got out of hand. Just the way I like it.” 

“We brought you a birthday gift.” Steve spoke suddenly as you poured some shots, holding a jar of bright green liquid. 

“Is that the royal ‘we’?” She asked.

“Whiskey with a pickle juice chaser. It's our station's birthday tradition.” You took the jar of pickle juice chaser and poured shots for all of you.

Her nose scrunched in disgust. “Lovely! How can I refuse? Can I refuse?” 

Steve snickered at her antics. “Of course you can. And we'll always think less of you.” 

You handed Natasha her shot glasses, whiskey in the left and pickle juice in the right before you lifted yours. “Here's to another trip around the sun.” 

“Cheers.” She clinked her glasses with yours, watching you down the liquor and chaser with skill. 

You smirked at her surprise expression, looking between the whiskey and pickle juice. “It's not bad, is it?” You asked. 

“Briny! Let's find Wanda. She needs to try this bizarre concoction. She loves a salty aftertaste.” Natasha smirked at you, watching you shake your head in both laughter and disgust at her innuendo and dismay. 

“I’m sorry, we're just stopping by. We have a department thing to go to.” 

“Some of us work for a living.” Steve remarked.

“Well, that's your bad luck, isn't it? Come on, the party's barely started.” Natasha whined at you, watching you come towards her in a hug. 

She leaned down slightly to hold you in the embrace whilst you went on your tippy toes. “Happy birthday, Natasha.” You murmured in her ear, kissing her cheek as you stepped back.

“Thank you, malyshka.” She replied.

Steve placed his hand on your back and led you out of the club, yet you were comforted by Natasha’s gaze on you until you were outside. You sank into the passenger seat of the car as Steve drove to the Paddock Lounge, almost the entire precinct inside. 

“Are you sure you want to be here?” Steve asked. 

“We can't be the only ones missing Malcolm's welcome back party. If we want to find a dirty cop, we have to look like team players.” You replied.

“Y/N Valeria!” A voice came from the crowd.

“Here we go.” You grumbled to yourself, turning around. 

You easily recognised the man in the wheelchair as Malcolm Graham, his thick moustache clashing with his thin beard, the off-set parting of his dark auburn hair matching the colour of his facial hair. “You and I need to talk.” He remarked.

The bar went quiet. 

“Sure, Malcolm.” 

He pointed at Steve. “You back with this guy? Hmm? How-how, how long was I out? What, you get the sense knocked out of you, Valeria?” 

“We're just, we're just, uh…” 

Malcolm laughed at Steve’s attempt to ease the tension. “Just relax, guys. I'm just… just giving you a hard time.”

The rest of the bar went back to their business, some even laughing at his first joke. 

“You finally got your sense of humour back, huh?” Steve snickered. 

“Yeah, he's healing fast. Doc said he should be able to get rid of this chair in a couple days.” Paolucci patted Malcolm on the back.

You watched Malcolm groan as he stood from his wheelchair, guessing it was an aid rather than a necessity. “You tired of pushing me around, Paolucci?” 

The partner chuckled. “Look at that, huh? The partner who will not die. Guess Heaven didn't want him and Hell couldn't keep him.” 

The four of you laughed at Paolucci’s joke, Malcolm’s eyes meeting your own. “You got no idea.” 

At his wink, you tilted your head slightly. Could he know about…?

Nah…

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“So I, I may have been... out of line last time I was here. But I did send flowers. And chocolates. And now myself, so, save the best gift till last.” Natasha chuckled nervously as she sat across from Kate. 

The therapist wore a simple long sleeve with her trench coat draped over the chair behind her desk, her legs crossed in their jeans. She simply watched Natasha as her nerves played up, hands fidgeting and humour anxious. 

“Not enough? No? You can invite a friend.” 

“Why did you think I'd be mad? Was it because of this?” Kate stood, walking over to the wall to take a painting off, revealing the patchwork of the hole Natasha punched. 

“I've found women, generally, don't like a person punching holes in things, yes.” The redhead smiled sheepishly.

“Natasha, our last session was a breakthrough.” The doctor sat back down in her chair. 

“It was?” 

She nodded. “You're finally getting in touch with your emotions. Letting your barriers down.” 

Natasha leaned forward. “You see, that's part of the problem. I'd like them back up, thank you.”

“Why?” 

“Well, because these emotions are… really inconvenient, that's why.” 

“What's bothering you right now?” 

“Well… As of late, I'm experiencing a very odd feeling. It's-it's like a... it's like a fat man sitting on my chest. But not in a fun way.” She stammered along, smirking at the end.

“And when is that happening?” 

“Well, um…” 

“When you're with the detective?” Kate asked.

“Yes. Well, actually, lately, when she's been with Steve. Her ex. Well, sort of. Uh... I don't know what she sees in that oaf.” Natasha clarified.

Kate chuckled. “Natasha… you're jealous.” 

Natasha scoffed. “The Devil doesn't get jealous. I'm the one who inspires passion in others. I mean… you know that.” 

“Mm, don't I ever.” 

“Thank you. That's the appropriate response.” The devil thought for a moment, a light bulb going off. “Hold on, maybe it's not me. Maybe it's her.” Another light bulb. “You could fix the detective!”

“And how would I do that?” Kate sighed in defeat, knowing she couldn’t take Natasha off of this pathway even if she tried.

“Well, heal her douche fixation, obviously. Then she stays away from her ex, and then I get my partner back.” She smiled proudly. 

The therapist sighed. “Natasha. That's not how therapy works. We deal with your issues. Not someone else's.” 

Natasha scoffed, grumpy until she got a text from you.

Malyshka

-come here-

-dropped pin-

“Well, see ya next time, Katie.” Natasha blew her a kiss before walking out of the door.

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Natasha walked through the building to find the dead body surrounded by police. “Oh, dear! Someone's session went poorly.” 

“Mm. Thanks for gracing us with your presence.” 

Natasha looked over your tired form, a stripey black and white t-shirt covered by a beige trench coat, black jeans held up by your belt consisting of your gun and badge. 

She smirked. “Yes, I had a previous engagement. Therapy twice in one day - so LA of me.” 

“Dr. Bernie Shaw. Killed last night. No forced entry. Killer most likely knew the vic. The weapon was improvised. Seems like a crime of passion.” You reported to her, having already analysed the crime scene.

“Right. Yeah. Have you ever seen a therapist?”

You looked at Natasha incredulously at her random and slightly intruding question. 

“You know, for your pent-up anger and your trust issues. And your attraction to very dull men.” She clarified.

“Let's just focus on the case, shall we?” You offered her a department-issued Surface tablet, a website already up.

“Well, I will, once it's interesting.” Natasha took it, looking at it with one glance before her eyes lit up and she looked back. “Oh! It is interesting. ‘The Cheater Therapist’?”

“Yeah, he encouraged couples to cheat to save their marriages. You can imagine how many people want to kill him.” You sighed, shaking your head.

“I can't, actually. Sounds like a great idea.” 

“You don't save a marriage by sleeping with other people.” 

“It can't hurt to try.” 

“Pretty sure it can.” You stepped past the redhead, leading her to follow you out to a seating room where a man and a woman.

“That's the wife Alexandra. She was out of town and just got back to find her husband dead.” You murmured.

“Poor woman. Excuse me!” She yelled out, giving you the tablet. 

“Your husband was the Cheater Therapist.” She pointed at the sniffling woman.

The man beside her stepped in front of her. “Hey, I'm not sure who you are, but this is not the time for judgement.” 

Natasha scoffed with a smirk. “What? No judgement here, Tissue Lad. I think her husband's work was bang on!” 

“I'm Detective Valeria. This is my associate, Ms. Romanoff.” You shook the man’s hand, but Natasha didn’t.

“Jonathan Medina. Colleague of Dr. Shaw's.” He introduced himself.

Natasha knelt before the crying woman. “Desire shouldn't be contained, it's unnatural. Your husband recognised that.” 

“Bernie, h-he just wanted to help people. He dedicated his life to others. Who would do this?” She asked her, whimpering and sniffling. 

“We'll find out, Mrs. Shaw.” You promised, gently tugging on Natasha’s shoulder to make her follow you.

“Yes?” The redhead grinned as she looked down at you. 

“Every one of her husband's patients is a suspect.” You sighed in annoyance, but strangely, it wasn’t at her.

“Oh! Does that mean we get to dive into patient files? Read the deepest, darkest secrets of L.A.'s most unfaithful?” She rubbed her hands together sadistically.

“No.” You warned her, smacking her hands apart. “We can't look at them without a psychologist to protect patient confidentiality.” 

“Perfect! I have just the psychologist!”

You frowned. 

“Dr. Kate Bishop, from our first investigation together? Ringing any bells up there?” She playfully tapped your temple. 

“The one that wanted to jump your bones? No. Not happening.” You shook your head. 

“No, I really think she'd bring some impressive insight into the issues that you're dealing with. Uh, in the case, obviously.” She quickly added.

“I really don't. Plus, it's out of our hands. Court-appointed. A judge needs to sign off.” You explained, walking towards the exit.

She chased after you. “Do you, uh… do you know who will appoint the psychologist?” 

“I think her name is Judge Tourvel. She’s our precinct’s normal judge for cases like this. Why?” 

You really shouldn’t have told her that.

The next day, you scoffed at the note on your case file before driving to the psychologist office, seeing Natasha and Kate conversing over papers. You knocked on the door, still wanting to be polite to the doctor, but you glared at Natasha.

“Natasha…” You growled.

“Ah! Speak of the Me.” She smiled gleefully, turning to you. 

“Out here. Now.” You pointed to the lobby, closing the door behind her.

You paced a bit as she stood there patiently in a suit of black on black, her hands in her pockets before you faced her. “What did you do?” 

“Not what, but who, if you must know. But I try not to kiss and tell.” She grinned. 

“I told you I didn't want to go with Dr. Bishop. We need someone impartial, which means not trying to get in your pants. What...?” You trailed off, her eyes just not focused on you which became evident when she walked around you. 

“Are you even listening to me?” 

“Not really. Look. A new doctor's moved in. Dr. Belova. How peculiar.” She murmured. 

“What do you mean?” You mumbled, annoyed that she was taking more interest in a name than a case.

“Well, Belova stems from the Russian word Bely, meaning white. It’s just… Never mind.” She turned around to face you.

“Now look, I assure you, Dr. Bishop is excellent. She trained at Stanford, she lectures at USC, she's got stacks of awards…” 

“Since when are you her fangirl?” You asked curiously.

“Since I became a client.” She replied.

“You? You're really in therapy?”

“Why is that so surprising?”

“Natasha, don’t take this the wrong way, but… well, you could if you wanted to - but you're the least reflective person I know.” You chuckled.

“I have layers.” She grumbled, a tone of discontent with your light insult. “I'm like an onion. Or an ogre, but if I was to be an ogre, I’d be irresistible. Dr. Kate said we recently made a breakthrough, in fact.”

“Why do I think that's code for sex? And do you still think you're the Devil?” 

“In that particular context, no. And I am the Devil.” 

“Then excuse me if I doubt her skills.” You remarked.

“Look, she's helped me, all right? And I think she can be of help here.” 

“Excuse me.” Kate came from around the corner. “I found something.” 

“Well, hello.” Natasha grinned. 

“What is it?” You asked, ignoring the redhead. 

“A patient named Richard Kester. His wife convinced him to try Dr. Shaw's therapy.” The doctor explained.

“Hmm, let me guess - didn't end well?” 

She nodded. “She had an affair. They got divorced. And then Richard sent Dr. Shaw a death threat. It's been more than a year, but that kind of anger can bubble up when you least expect it.” 

“Add him to the list of angry patients.” You told her. 

“That's just it. Richard's the only one so far. Dr. Shaw's patients seem remarkably happy with him.” She shrugged.

“Oh, do they now? See, cheater therapy works. Maybe you should've tried it with Detective Douche. Or was that what broke you apart?” Natasha feigned realisation.

You turned to face her, ever so slowly as you gave her a deadpan expression. “What is wrong with you lately?”

You then faced Kate. “Would you mind sitting in the back of the car whilst we go investigate?”

“Of course not. I’ll just lock my office and get my phone.” She walked back into the office.

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“So I don't understand all this jealousy talk. I mean, why covet something someone else has? Why not just take it?” Natasha asked, confused as she sat in the passenger seat whilst you drove.

“'Cause it's never that easy.” You chuckled. 

“Well, it is for me. Usually.” She looked at you, watching you roll your eyes again before she fiddled with the rings on her fingers. 

“I, uh… I may have overstepped earlier in regards to Detective Douche.”  

“Yeah. You definitely may have.” You snickered. 

“So why did you two separate anyway?” Natasha asked. 

You gave her a quick glance before turning your eyes back to the road. “Well, there were many aspects. He did sleep with another woman, Sharon, but the job was also more important to him than me and Peggy.” 

You sighed. “But lately something's changed. He... he makes time for me, he makes time for us. He's really putting in an effort. I am gay though…”

Natasha was unsure of why you sounded a bit hesitant. “Yes, if ever anyone deserved a participation trophy, it's Steve.”

You chuckled before your phone rang. “Valeria.”

“Uh, hello, Detective. It's about Richard. I wanted to warn you. He may be unstable. Possibly dangerous.” Kate spoke over the phone.

“I'll handle it, but thanks.”

“I don't mean to you. I mean to himself.”

A siren whooped to your side and you saw people filming above. You looked up and your mouth fell open at the sight of Richard standing at the edge of his apartment complex’s roof. “Yeah, you may be right. Natasha?” 

You turned to face her. But she wasn’t there. 

“Oh, my God. There's another one!” A bystander exclaimed, and you mentally wanted to hit yourself.

*Please, please, please… Fuck’s sake.* You thought to yourself as you saw Natasha standing up there. 

“Hey, Detective! You need your roots done!” Natasha grinned at you from the roof.

“I am going to kill you, Natasha Romanoff.” You muttered under your breath.

Natasha turned to Richard as he stared at the ground below. “I've made up my mind. You can't stop me.” His bald egg-head with a face and glasses spoke, not looking at Natasha.

“What? Oh, no. I'm not here to stop you. If you want to jump, go for it.” She chuckled, waving at you.

Richard was confused. “Is this some kind of reverse psychology?”   

“No, quite serious. Go for it.” She retorted.

He took a deep breath. “Okay, here goes.” 

“I do have one question before you pop off.” She interrupted just as his feet shuffled near the edge, her hand coming in front of the side of his chest to stop him. 

“You see, I'm trying to understand jealousy. It's a new concept to me. And you, dear Ricky, are the perfect person to explain it.” 

“What are you talking about...?” He trailed off as his feet slipped, Natasha’s hand catching his shirt easily. 

“Manners, Ricky. Manners! We're not done talking yet!” She held him out, glancing over his shoulder to see your eyes steeled in a shocked yet slightly angered expression.

“Okay, I'll talk!! Pull me back up, please!” Richard begged.

“Are you sure? 'Cause I could just…” She jolted her hold on him, the crowd below screaming slightly. “Natasha!” You yelled, swearing under your breath. 

“Pull me back up! Pull me up, please! Oh, God.” Richard closed his eyes, holding onto Natasha’s hand and wrist. 

“I'd save your breath if I were you. When it comes to this sort of thing, he's quite judgy.” She grumbled, looking at the sky annoyedly whilst she pulled him to her side. 

“Right, back to the matter in hand. Now, you were so jealous that you murdered Dr. Shaw. Can you help me understand why?” 

“How could you say that? I was about to jump, because he's dead-”

“Don't fib, Rickster. I know about your death threats.” She wagged her finger in his eyes. 

He shook his head. “I was in a bad place. Kara had just dumped me. I made my threats. Then I went to his office-”

“And killed him.” 

“And he talked me down.” Richard corrected her. “And afterwards, he kept seeing me, even though he knew I couldn't afford to pay him. I mean, he'd got me through my divorce, bankruptcy, the death of my parrot.” 

“Oh. I've just realised you're not jealous, are you? You're just sad. Pathetic, really.” Natasha sighed, having now wasted her time. “Well, if you can't tell me what I need to know, what good are you?” 

“Aren't you supposed to tell me that I have a lot to live for?” Richard scoffed. 

“Well, I wish I could, Ricky, but your life sounds incredibly bleak. Ironically, it seems there's nowhere to go but up.” She shrugged. 

“You know what? You're right.” 

“Huh?” 

“Maybe the worst is behind me. Hmm… I think I'm ready to go in now.” Richard decided.

Natasha rolled her eyes. “Well, I wasn't asking, but, uh, all right, go on, quick as you can. Come on, chop, chop.”

As Richard stepped off, Natasha gave the firemen and the crowd a thumbs up,from which she earned some cheering and clapping. 

As Natasha stepped out of the building’s foyer, you stood there, shaking your head. “I can't believe you, Natasha.” 

“What? You should be thanking me.” She grinned.

“You put yourself in danger! That’s not how we do things.” You hissed at her, but Natasha simply grinned.

“What?”

“You were worried about me.” She smirked, leaning in slightly.

“I’m alright, malyshka. Don’t you worry about me.” 

You rolled your eyes and walked past her, but you gently tapped her hand for her to follow you. Richard was sitting in the back of an ambulance, wrapped in a blanket. 

“All right, Richard, we confirmed your alibi with your neighbour. You're free to go.” You smiled gently.

“How did this happen? Poor Sandy.” He asked. 

“Who's Sandy?” 

“Dr. Shaw's wife, Alexandra. Her friends all call her Sandy.” 

“Okay, and you're friends with your therapist's wife?” You mentally took note of it.

“Yes, how open was his relationship therapy, hmm?” Natasha grinned. 

Richard shook his head. “No, it's nothing like that. That's just how the Shaws are. They go above and beyond. I just ran into her two days ago. Sandy was planning a surprise for Dr. Shaw and everything.” 

“You ran into her two days ago... are you sure about that?” You frowned, to which he nodded.

“Alexandra told us she was in Phoenix. We checked her alibi. She had plane tickets to prove it. What was the surprise?” You asked. 

“I don't know. She just asked me not to tell Dr. Shaw she was in town.” He shrugged.

“Uh-huh.” Natasha nodded, looking at you.

“You thinking what I’m thinking?” You asked her, to which she shrugged and followed behind you to your car. 

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Lux was almost empty, save a few customers, as Kate walked down the stairs and towards the bar, eyeing the Romani bartender serving drinks to a biker.

“We're closed.” She grumbled, pouring bourbon in a glass. 

“You must be Wanda.” Kate smiled, watching the demon’s head rise to meet her eyes. “You're just as Natasha described.” 

Wanda sauntered over to the end of the bar, smirking as she eyed the doctor’s body whilst pouring her own drink. “So, you're the doctor.” 

“Oh, call me Kate. Pleasure to meet you.” She held out her hand for Wanda to shake, but she just grabbed the glass and sipped her bourbon.

The demon wore a very low cut top that revealed the top of her lace black bra, whilst small spikes poked out onto her shoulders and in two necklaces, jeans hidden below the bar counter.

“I've seen that look in women before. Won't end well.” Wanda commented after finishing her sip. 

“What won't?” Kate frowned, confused. 

“Sleeping with my boss.” The demon clarified. “You'll end up like all the others. Trash left by the side of the road.”

“Interesting.” Kate smiled. 

“What?” 

“Well, I find people who are rude usually feel powerless in their own lives. Terrified of not being in control. But that's not you, I'm sure.” Kate analysed her. 

Wanda simply grinned, tapping her nails on the counter in quick succession. “I like you.”

As Kate was joined by you and Natasha, Wanda moved off to the side, serving the customers once more.  

“Doctor? What a surprise.” Natasha smiled. 

“What are you doing here?” You asked politely. 

Her brows frowned cutely. “I thought you asked me to meet you here.” 

“That-that was me. I felt like it would be good to get your input on ‘the case’.” Natasha looked from the doctor to you quickly, whilst you didn’t notice the wiggling eyebrows and slight inflection in her voice. 

“That's a good idea, actually, especially since our last suspect almost ended up sidewalk art. Turns out Mrs. Shaw flew to Phoenix but rented a car and drove back a couple days early.” You explained to Kate.

“So, dear, sweet Sandy was here just in time for the murder.” Natasha grinned as she collected a drink of her own.

“Wait, Alexandra Shaw goes by ‘Sandy’?” Kate asked, to which you nodded. “The doctor had a female patient who was stalked by someone with the initials S.S.” 

“He used initials in his notes? Mine never did.” You puzzled. 

“I found it odd as well. Why conceal someone's identity in private notes? But I thought it wasn't related, so I just ignored it.” Kate shrugged.

“Unless S.S. stands for Sandy Shaw. If she was stalking one of her husband's female patients…”

“Then maybe Dr. Shaw was engaged in his own open-relationship therapy.” 

“And Sandy found out. So maybe she wasn't okay with it as she claimed.” You finished off your 1-2-1-2 with Kate before your phone rang.

“Excuse me. Valeria. Yeah, this is 831. Oh, yeah, tell him I'll be there as soon as I can. Okay, thank you. That was dispatch. Steve's phone died, and he wants me to meet him at my place. Apparently it's urgent.”

As you were about to take off, however, Natasha’s eyes rolled. “Oh, how convenient. What's next, he spills something on his shirt and he has to take it off? Oh, no, the trousers, too. Whatever will he do about Detective Y/N by his side?”

You looked at her incredulously. “What?” 

“What, so that's it? You just go running as soon as Steve calls? What about the case?”

You sighed. “This could relate to another case I'm working on, Natasha. There's units looking for Sandy now. And once they find her, they'll call me.” 

You gave Kate a simple ‘bye’ with a respectful nod before leaving her and Natasha alone. 

“Unbelievable. You see what I'm dealing with now, don't you?” Natasha scoffed, downing the rest of her bourbon without a flinch in her face. 

“I think I do, actually. It's worse than I realised.” Kate nodded, faking seriousness.

“Thank you.” The devil shook her head. 

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You entered your house quickly, realising you hadn’t drank or eaten anything that day and headed straight to the kitchen. 

Mindless of the threat in your house.

“Hey, Steve. What did you find out?” You asked as you passed a male figure. 

“Surprise.”

You spun to see Malcolm in his leather jacket and jeans with a zip-up hoodie and a green tee. You flicked your jacket back and gripped your holster tightly, your breath shuddering at the sight of the man. 

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, hey! I just wanted to talk.” He chuckled awkwardly.

“You act all chummy in public, then you break into my home, trick me into meeting you in private? Excuse me if I'm not trusting.” You hissed.

“Hey, I'm not armed. All right?” He stood and flicked his jacket up, showing no belt, badge or gun. 

“All right. Then talk.” 

“I had to meet with you where no one else could hear.” He explained shortly. 

“Hear what, my screams?” You scoffed, making him chuckle.

“Valeria, we're on the same side. And I know you're still looking into Palmetto. Well, guess what? So am I.” 

“I put that to bed a long time ago.”

“That the best you got? God, you're a decent cop, but you are a terrible liar. Come on! Palmetto stinks. I should know. I was there.” He snickered.

“Mm-hmm. Go ahead, say it. I look dirty.” He opened his arms, exposing himself. 

You hesitated before lifting your finger to point at him, angry. “I saw you meet with Nikolas Aoudi. You were laughing. I saw you hand him cash.” 

“I've used him as a CI before. I was buying information. Then we both got sh*t. And I think it was a cop who sh*t me. But you knew that already, didn't you?” He grinned, folding his arms behind his back like a sneaky little shit.

You took a moment to breathe, not wanting your emotions to escalate. “Why do you think it was a cop?” 

“That's what I was paying Aoudi for. Intel on someone crooked at our station. But I think he, or she, got to me first.” 

“That's a great story. I love the ending. It-it really ties up all the loose ends.” You sighed sarcastically.

“Not really. I can't explain how the crooked cop knew I was there. How'd you find me?” He asked.

“I followed the stench.” 

He chuckled annoyedly. “You followed the... You know what? Screw this. I only called you to try and help.” 

“Really?” 

“Yeah, really. Listen, Valeria, they pulled the plug on me. I was dead.” 

He hit a nerve and the raging woman inside you retreated to lick her guilt-filled wounds. “I-I know.” 

“Made me appreciate the time I've got here. So, personally, I don't think I'm gonna dig any deeper on this one. And I wouldn't if I were you either.” 

“Not sure if that's a warning or a threat.” Your eyebrow raised.

“I'm not the enemy, Y/N. But whoever we were investigating, they're still out there. And they clearly don't have a problem shooting cops.” 

As he retreated out of your house, your phone rang again. “Valeria.” 

“We found Mrs. Shaw in a parking structure. We’re holding her here until you get here, so be quick.” An officer reported before hanging up, to which you called another as you went out to your car.

“Hey, Natasha - meet me outside Lux with Doctor Bishop in three.”

When you arrived, the two were standing outside by the curb. They climbed in, with Kate sitting in the back behind the caged divider whilst Natasha sat in the passenger seat. 

“Unis found Sandy Shaw in her car in a parking structure.” You reported to the Russian woman. 

“Oh, well, I hope our case didn't ruin your kissy-time with Steve.” She rolled her eyes.

“What is with your recent obsession with my love life?” You looked at her briefly.

“Obsession? That's awfully defensive. Probably indicates deeper issues, wouldn't you say?” She instantly turned to face Kate in the back seat.

“I agree. Why are you so defensive, Natasha?” 

Your eyes widened, happy to finally have somebody supporting you against this… unfortunately powerful woman. “Good question.” 

Natasha looked betrayed. “Et tu, Doctor?” 

“Natasha, you asked me to analyse the situation.” Kate replied.

“No, I asked you to help figure out what's wrong with her.” She pointed at you, which wasn’t the best time to admit that because you could give her a stare, given that you were at a red light.

“Did you now?” You raised an eyebrow, which… kind of scared her.

“Nothing's wrong with her. She's a woman balancing a lot on her plate, and, as far as I can tell, doing a fantastic job.” Kate elaborated, making your heart sing.

“Why, thank you. You're right, Natasha, she's amazing.” You teased.

“No, she's verbal Ebola. Where's the button to put the glass up?” Natasha looked around your console, which only controlled GPS, Bluetooth, your sirens, speaker and air-con. 

“This isn't a limo, Natasha. And, Dr. Kate, you should really join us more often.” You chuckled.

“Getting double-teamed is usually much more fun than this.” Natasha grumbled.

That was a mental picture your hindbrain adored and forebrain despised. “Mm. Gross.” ⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖

“So you lied to us. You were in town the day your husband died.” You stood opposite Alexandra - Sandy - as the uniformed officers surrounded the area.

“Yes. But it's not what you think.” She started to explain.

“Okay, then help me understand.” 

“Sandy, I'm on your side.” Natasha lightly pushed you out of the way, getting her mojo to work on the woman whilst she took her hand.

“Not everything stems from jealousy, no matter what these women tell you. You came here driven by some kind of desire, didn't you? Come on. You can tell me. What was it?” 

“It's disgusting.” Sandy sighed.

“Ooh, you naughty girl. Come on, now you have to tell me.” She teased.

“It's... in my car.” She unlocked the boot of it, to which you slowly waited for it to open.

“What is, Sandy?” Natasha grinned.

“Poop. Bags and bags of it.” Sandy admitted.

“Oh, my God.” You resisted the urge to gag, covering your nose with your hand which honestly didn’t do much.

All six foot four of Natasha immediately stepped back, shaking Sandy’s hand out of her own. “I'm not sure whether to be horrified or impressed.” 

“My friend owns a horse.” Sandy added. 

“That's… oddly comforting to know. What were you gonna do with it?” You asked.

“I was going to throw it at Tiffany.” 

“That's the patient you were accused of stalking.” Kate interjected.

Sandy nodded. “Yeah. She's in a group therapy session right now for my husband's clients.” 

“Group cheater therapy. Oh, the imagination runs wild.” Natasha chuckled.

You stepped forward, further into Sandy’s field of view. “So Tiffany was sleeping with your husband. How'd you find out?” 

“My husband's colleague, Dr. Medina, called me. He wanted to see if Bernie wanted to grab a last-minute drink, but Bernie was supposed to already be with Dr. Medina. That's when I knew my husband lied to me.” 

“But he was the cheater therapist. I don't quite see the problem here. I mean, you said yourself-”

Sandy interjected Natasha. “The problem is he fell in love with her. I lied to him about my trip, then I drove back from Phoenix to see what he was doing. I was…” 

Natasha groaned. “Oh, don't say it.” 

“Jealous.” 

The devil growled aloud. “Yes, yes, we all get it! Jealousy makes the world go cuckoo bananas!”

“I loved him. I didn't kill him. I just wanted him back.” Sandy sniffled, tearing up.

Further down in the car park, you spotted Steve’s car pulling up, anger painted clear as day across his face.

“Oh, great. The douche-mobile.” Natasha scoffed, folding her arms across her suit.

“Give me a second.” You asked her quietly, your tone immediately alerting her.

You swung underneath the metal pole and jumped down the metre to the road, walking to Steve. “Hey, I got your text. You okay? Did Malcolm hurt you?” He asked.

“No. I told you, it's-it's fine. Everything's fine.” You replied.

Steve exhaled frustratedly. “I'm gonna punch that son of a bitch right back into a coma.” 

“Oh, come on. No. No.” You pointed at him, making sure he understood your view. “Anything back on the 999 key?” 

“I'm sorry, Y/N. They couldn't get any prints off of it.” He replied.

“Thanks anyway.” You smiled softly.

Once you returned to the car, the uniformed officers now taking her to the station for questioning, you sighed as you stood next to Kate. “And once again, Natasha disappears.” 

“I think the case may have hit a little too close to home.” Kate pursed her lips slightly.

“Maybe things got a little too boring for Ms. Short Attention Span.” You chuckled, looking at Sandy as she sat in the car.

“I don't know. She's grown quite a bit since working with you.” Kate admitted. 

“I'm not sure I'm the reason. I think you've really helped her. I underestimated you before. I'm sorry.” You apologised. 

“Not needed. But thank you.” 

You chuckled softly to yourself as a thought came to your mind. “And I thought... I thought you were sleeping with her.” 

“Oh, I am.” The noirette admitted. 

“Oh. Oh. Is, um... is that...?” 

“Ethical? No. No, it is not.” Kate sighed. “But there's something about her. I can't stop myself. But I think it's time I did. I mean, even I'm starting to feel…” 

You shook your head at her, asking her silently to discontinue that line of conversation. 

“So do you think she did it?” She changed it. 

“Sandy claims she was sitting outside Tiffany's house, waiting for Dr. Shaw to show up. Problem is, no one can corroborate her alibi. But, no, I don't think it was her.” You shook your head. 

You took a few steps forward as you thought, racking your brain for a clue of some sort. “So there's no one in Dr. Shaw's files that looked like a potential suspect?” 

“Not that I can tell, but maybe I missed something.” Kate shrugged.

“Like what?” You pondered aloud.

“The cheater therapist turned out to be terrible at cheating. Why didn't he tell Dr. Medina he was using him as a cover story?” 

“Maybe he did. Maybe he confided in Dr. Medina.” 

“But Mrs. Shaw said that Dr. Medina had no idea about the affair.” 

“Yeah, so he conveniently told her everything she needed to know to figure it out.” A light bulb went off in your head. “We need to talk to Dr. Medina.” 

Natasha was tired of these stupid humans in this stupid grief group therapy session led by Dr. Medina for the death of Dr. Shaw. After twenty minutes of discussion, and even opening it up for debate, she had enough.

“When you say you, uh, b*rned your wings, was that a metaphor...?” 

“Not focusing on the right details here, Alan!” She sighed, annoyed.

Dr. Medina stood. “All right, this is supposed to be a grief therapy session for the patients of Dr. Shaw. And everyone here has a terrible loss to deal with.”

“What, and I don't? I've lost both my therapist and my partner.” She scoffed.

“I'm s... Th-They died?” He stammered. 

“No. No, you blubbering idiot, they turned on me. Some would argue that's worse- have you not been listening at all?” 

“Alright, you need to leave.”   

“No, I'm close to something. I can feel it.” She replied, nibbling lightly on her thumb knuckle.

“This is not about you!” Dr. Medina blurted out.

Her eyes lit up. “You're right. Yes… I should use one of you as a case study. Thank you for volunteering. So what... what makes you jealous? Hmm? What do you desire that you can't have?”

She willed her mojo onto him, staring him in the eyes. “I… I want Sandy.” He replied.

She grinned slightly. “I remember you now. Tissue Lad! Wanted some open relationship therapy of your own, is that it?” 

“That's not what it is like.” He groaned. 

“But she didn't want you, did she? Sandy loved her husband, so you killed him, didn't you?” 

“Shut up!” He yelled. 

She gasped playfully, looking at him like she won the jackpot. “Solved it, haven't I?!”

Dr. Medina spun around to the buffet table and grabbed a sharp knife, walking towards Natasha and holding it to her throat until they stopped at a wall, the other patients scrambling out of the way. 

“So that's a yes.” She muttered to herself. “Do you realise what you've done?” 

“I had to kill him, all right? He lied to her. He cheated on her. And I tried to tip her off, but no matter what he did, she still loved him.” 

“No, no, not that. This. Right here. You've just given me the perfect example of unbridled jealousy.” 

“I'm not jealous. I'm not!” He pleaded, almost begging her to tell him so.

“The woman that you loved was with someone else, someone you thought wasn't worthy of her. But no matter what you did…” She paused, the wires connecting as her winning grin fell sympathetically. 

“She never saw you the way you wanted her to.” 

“That's... That's pretty accurate.”

“Yeah. You've just made me realise something. That my situation and yours are…” And the wires uncrossed again. “Absolutely nothing alike. I was right! Not jealous!” 

“Drop your weapon!” You tackled Medina and threw him to the ground, rolling over him and removing the knife from his grip before he bit your hand, making you pull it back before whacking him point-blank with your elbow. 

You got on top, kneeling on his side whilst you pushed his head away from his arm. “Did you seriously just bite me?” 

Natasha grinned from where she stood. “He's the killer.” 

“Yeah, you think?” You smirked. 

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The night had risen from the sun’s sleep and you walked out of the small banquet room onto the street, smiling gently at Natasha as she leaned against her Corvette with a cigarette in hand.

You watched her carefully. “So you were right about Kate. She helped me figure out the motive. And then I realised Jonathan Medina and Dr. Shaw's offices shared the same security system. So I checked and... You're not listening to me, are you?”

She looked at you apologetically. “Afraid not, Y/N.” 

You came a bit closer to her, holding your arms in front of you with your hand clasped around the other wrist. “You didn't see any similarity between yourself and Jonathan?” 

“So you heard some of that, did you?” She smiled softly. 

“Tail end.” You nodded. 

She sighed, which worried you slightly when it was coupled with the unreadable expression on her face. “I don't know. Did you?” 

You shook your head, lying through your teeth for her comfort. “Mm-mm. No. Completely different.” 

“That's what I thought.” She chuckled lightly, inviting you to stand next to her. “I promise, you won’t scratch her. And even if you do, I can just get it fixed.”

You hesitantly leaned on her car, keeping away from her cigarette smoke. 

“So… how's your secret case with Steve going?” She asked.

“Secretly terrible. Do you remember Malcolm?” 

“Coma boy?” 

You chuckled at her nickname for him, nodding. “He woke up. He claims he's innocent. Something he said bothers me. Whoever shot him knew about Palmetto, but he says that no one should have known he was there.” 

“Well, you found him there.”

“Yeah, I... He pointed that out, too. So, whoever followed him could have done what I did.”

“So how did you track him?” She took a puff. 

“Partners on the force share GPS locators in their gear so that they can find each other in emergencies.” 

“You hacked his partner's locator. I knew you were clever.” She smirked, noticing your realisation expression. 

“Which means… Malcolm's partner knew he was there, too. Tony Paolucci knew.”

Natasha held up her keys before the doors of the car unlocked, popping out slightly. “Get in, gorgeous.”

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You stepped out of Natasha’s car just outside of the Paddock Lounge, looking across the street whilst Natasha knocked on the door. 

“That's Paolucci's car, just like his GPS said.” 

“But the bar's closed.” Natasha grumbled. 

“Maybe he decided to keep the party going.” You stepped up close to the window to look inside, hearing the door creak beside you. 

“You have to stop doing that.” You chastised her. 

“It was unlocked.” She rolled her eyes, watching your hand shoot out to stop her from walking in.

“Me first.” You held up your torch and gun, stepping in front of her to go inside.

The whole bar was surrounded in darkness. Your torch scanned over the place as you called for Paolucci, but there was no voice back. By the bar on the right, were glasses splattered with blood.

And Paolucci’s dead body sat in a chair, with a TV screen running statically behind him. 

“At least you can see what he was thinking.” Natasha murmured by your shoulder, making you scoff.

You called the cops and they swarmed the place, placing evidence pointers and taking many photos. You sighed in relief as you saw Steve come through the door, Natasha hanging back with a flask in hand.

You walked up to your ex-husband. “I found a suicide note.” You showed it to him in an evidence packet.

“In his handwriting?” He asked.

“Sure looks like it. Apparently, he was on the take. Malcolm was onto him, so Paolucci shot him. When Malcolm woke up, Paolucci couldn't take the guilt anymore.”

You saw no emotion in his eyes, yet tears lightly pricked them. “You okay?” 

“Paolucci was an ass, but this... I can't imagine this.” Steve muttered. 

“I know. I know.” You hugged him tightly.

As you exited the bar, you stood on the curb silently. Everything that had happened over the last few days was catching up. Your hand at your side began to tap along your fingers methodically until a warm hand took them gently.

“Hey now, what’s going on in that beautiful mind?” Natasha cooed, leading you towards her car.

You didn’t speak until you were buckled into the passenger seat. “Malcolm came to my house this morning. He pretended to be Steve and called to meet me there.”

Natasha’s eyes would have lit up in flames if you were not in a fragile state of mind. “He did what?”

“He explained what he thought about Palmetto. He has his suspicions of who it could be. Some low-level cops, wanting to get their first big break and make detective.” You mumbled, noticing how she played with her rings.

“I will put him back in that coma in a heartbeat if he threatens you or tricks you again.” She seethed.

You gently put your hand on top of hers, calming her immensely. “I just… I need to go home and let the babysitter go. Could you take me?”

She nodded, immediately starting the engine. Funnily enough, however, neither of you moved away from your small contact until you got out of the car and she walked you to your door.

“Thank you.” You murmured.

“For what, malyshka?” She asked quietly.

“For being my partner. You give me a perspective I never imagined I would have thought of.” You smiled softly.

She gently pushed a few hairs back over your ear, hearing your breath hitch as she moved to pull you into a hug. “You’re always welcome, Y/N.” 

She kissed your temple sweetly before going back to her car, giving you a wink before she sped off towards the city.

However, had she taken a left turn earlier, she would have happened upon the scene of Malcolm and Steve secretly meeting, the two talking between their cars.

“Evening, Steve.” Malcolm greeted him. 

“I got your text. What do you want?” He asked.

“Just wanted to congratulate you on closing Palmetto. You and that smart, sexy lady of yours caught the guy who shot me.” 

Steve looked… nervous. Fidgety. “That's what the confession said, right?”

He looked around briefly before speaking lower. “How long did it take you to write it?”

Malcolm held a straight face for about three seconds before laughing out loud. “Forever! I mean, I'm so not a word guy.” 

Steve looked confused. “What? You should be thanking me.” Malcolm scoffed. 

“Why is that?” 

“Well, I could have told everyone the truth... that you shot me.” 

“Well why didn't you?” 

Malcolm came closer to him. “Cause I like you. And I can't imagine what would happen to your life if people found out the truth. Your colleagues, your ex…” 

Steve seethed slightly, grabbing Malcolm by the collar and throwing him up against his car. “I swear to God, I will-”

“What? shoot me? Ah, been there, done that. Big fail. Besides, you wouldn't want anything to mess with your pretty little family now that you're working to fix things, right?” 

“Whatever you want to do to me, you keep them out of it.” 

Malcolm gestured for the blonde to put him down. “Steve. Come on. I'm not gonna hurt anyone. No. No, no, no, no, no. You... you and I... we're gonna be best friends. Yeah. Because I got big plans for you. Big plans.”

Steve grimaced as Malcolm put him in a playful headlock. Fun, right? We're having fun now.”

⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖⧖

Lux was pumping with music as Natasha came in, but she didn’t greet anybody playfully, oh no - Natasha was on a mission, as pointed out to her main demon as she used a single finger to beckon her.

Wanda walked over in nothing but a bra-like top and skirt, smirking unknowingly. “Yes, My Queen?”

“I just learned the strangest thing. Spoiler alert, Yelena found Dr. Kate. She was an angel on her shoulder, trying to control me. I wonder how my dear, angelic sister got such a wickedly clever idea.”

Natasha stared daggers into Wanda’s eyes, the demon lifting her chin up slightly as she tried to defend herself. “I did it to protect you. I told you, whatever the danger, I'll be there to stop it. Whether you see it coming or not.”

“You betrayed me, Wanda. And not for my own good. You did it for yourself. Who is this human world really rubbing off on, hey? Me? Or you?”

“Natasha, I…” 

Natasha lifted her finger, the demon silencing by her quiet order. “Ah. Don't want to hear it. 'Cause you and me, we're done.”

The devil walked off with Wanda's drink in hand, putting on a smile as she now began to greet guests like normal whilst Wanda was left sulking behind the bar.

[dariusult]

FFXIV Write Day 2- Horizon

It had been a few days at sea, and the Navigator had seen fit to bless The Salty Temptress and her crew with both fair winds and calm seas for their return trip from the island nation of Hingashi to their home port in Vesper Bay, situated on the very southern tip of Eorzea's mainland. Such fair sailing normally would've had the crew feeling boisterous and in the mood for a spot of revelry, but the atmosphere aboard The Salty Temptress was as tense as the ship's figurehead was bawdy- which, as a carving of Llymlaen completely undressed and posing provocatively- is to say extremely.

Several crewmen stood on the aftcastle of the ship, crowding around the starboard gunwale and casting surreptitious glances towards the vessel's forecastle, where a solitary figure stood with arms crossed and her piercing gaze fixed on the horizon while she exuded an intense aura of foreboding.

"Mark me, lads." The bosun murmured to his fellow seamen as he motioned to the lone figure at the front of the ship. "That lass is trouble." "When'd the cap'n even let 'er on board?" The quartermaster hissed back, daring not look over his shoulder to steal a glance at the girl, lest she notice him looking.

"It was when we was makin' port in Kugane." The bosun replied. "We was just about ready to cast off when up saunters this wee Xaela lass. Without even a second o' 'esitation she looks the cap'n dead in the eye and asks 'im "where's this ship going?"."

"Just sidled up and asked THE Captain Guldfarr where he was goin'?" The cabin boy asked, positively flabbergasted that anyone on the face of Hydaelyn would have the courage to stand before the imposing mountain of a man who captained The Salty Temptress.

"Aye." The bosun nodded gravely. "As bold as brass, she was. So then the cap'n looks 'er over and says "Eorzea. What business be it o' yours?"." The bosun continued recounting his tale, dropping his voice an octave and adding a gravely rumble when recounting his captain's words.

"What'd she say then?" The cabin boy asked, his eyes as wide as the full moon on a night at sea.

"That's the thing." The bosun said, dropping his voice to barely above a whisper. "She didn't say a swivin' word. Just threw a bag o' gil in his face and marched aboard." A long silence followed as the bosun's tale hung in the air, the crewmen all slowly turning their heads to look again at the girl standing near the ship's bow. "So she's a payin' passenger, then?" The third mate asked quietly.

"She at least fancies 'erself one." The quartermaster replied, narrowing his eyes at the back of the girl's head. "But last I 'eard, The Salty Temptress weren't a pleasure barge."

"You should go tell 'er that." The cabin boy said quickly, rapidly patting the quartermaster's shoulder and nodding at the rotund man. "She can't disrespect our cap'n like that."

The quartermaster's expression hardened, and he slowly turned his head to look at each of his crewmates in turn, their eyes alight with expectation. He then turned back to look at the girl and nodded gravely. "Aye. That ye should." He then turned and placed a hand on the bosun's shoulder. "Let 'er 'ave it, says I!"

The bosun nodded in agreement as he glared at the back of the Xaela Girl's distant head. "That's ri-" He then quickly realized what had just been said and whipped his head around to gaze blankly at the rest of the crew, who were all now looking at him with the same determination which they had gazed upon the quartermaster with. His words caught in his throat and he quickly looked away, raising a hand to his mouth as he coughed awkwardly. He could feel pinpricks of sweat forming on his forehead, something about the idea of getting any closer to that creature at the front of the ship made his legs feel like jelly- but he couldn't stand to look weak in front of the crew either. He awkwardly cleared his throat and reached into his pocket to pull out a grimy handkerchief which he quickly used to dab the sweat off of his forehead. "Tell ye what lads..." He began, his voice breaking slightly as he began his thought. "We ought to go up there and tell 'er what's what together."

The rest of the crew quickly looked between the girl and the bosun before all exchanging glances with each other in a pause that felt like it lasted an eternity. The crew's hesitation was plain to see- but eventually one of them found their courage as the cabin boy steeled himself and nodded. "Aye... Together! We're the crew o' The Salty Temptress and we won't stand fer any disrespect!"

The cabin boy's words lit a fire in the rest of the crew, and they found their courage as they all voiced their agreement in a loud cheer, that was quickly shushed as they cast their glances towards the bow and then huddled back together. After a moment of whispering their plans to each other, the huddled mass of sailors all moved together as a single clump of men towards the front of the ship, and once they were within spitting distance of the Xaela girl they fanned out behind her with the bosun standing at the fore of the group.

"Oi!" The cabin boy shouted at the girl's back, and she quickly turned her head to look, a single piercing golden eye peering out from under a veil of silvery-white hair. Upon meeting her gaze, the boy instantly quailed, quickly ducking behind the bosun and out of sight.

The Xaela slowly turned around to face the assembled crew, her crossed arms and wide stance making her seem so much bigger than her small frame should've allowed. Her face was painted with two slashes of dark blue paint that blended with her scales and horns, standing out over the lighter blue of her skin that made her already quite intense golden eyes stand out all the more. She scanned the crew's faces, her withering gaze causing the men's formation to shrink inward as they all crowded together behind the bosun, who served as their sole bulwark against the aura of menace the girl was radiating.

"A-alright lass.." The bosun stammered, trying to find his courage. She couldn't intimidate him! She wasn't even five fulms tall! He swallowed hard and squared his shoulders. "Me an' the boys think you should get off our ship!"

The girl stared at the bosun in silence, her eyes boring into his with a withering intensity that made the seasoned seaman feel absolutely sick. Then, after the longest few seconds of the bosun's life, the girl slowly turned back around to face the front of the ship again, making a single utterance. "No."

"Right lads, there ye 'ave it. She's all yers!" The bosun quickly replied, his resolve shattering instantly as he spun on his heel and scurried past his crewmates to return to the safety of the back of the ship.

Without a moment of hesitation, the rest of the crew followed, scurrying back to the aftcastle to find none other than Captain Guldfarr himself crouched down behind the railing as low as his massive frame would allow, peeking over at the Xaela girl. He slowly turned his head and locked eyes with the bosun, but said nothing.

Thus did the remainder of The Salty Temptress's journey pass in tense silence. The Navigator saw fit to be merciful and expedite the ship's journey with yet more fair winds and calm seas. It wasn't long before the ship made port in Vesper Bay. As the boat pulled in and lowered its gangplank down onto the waiting pier, the Xaela girl stepped up to disembark, but paused for a moment. The crew held its breath as she stood in silence, and then she suddenly whipped her head back, causing the collected crew of briny buccaneers to all flinch en masse.

"Thanks."

And with that, she disappeared down the gangplank and was gone.

Shortly after, it was said that The Salty Temptress was retired as a privateering vessel shortly after, Captain Guldfarr retiring and his men finding work taking rich Ul'dahn merchants on pleasure cruises around The Cieldalaes.

They never spoke of the Xaela girl again.

[makibeni]

Ch. 68- A Life I'll Make with You

Her movements were sluggish, the serenade continued as water rushed into the room, faster and faster, distant creaking providing a disharmonious break in the rhythm of play. The woman's expression began to grow distant, the crescendo neared, an act she'd been preparing for, but one she never truly could be ready to face.

"You should run while there's still time for you"

She spoke calmly, an understanding tone saved until the end, her selfish desire keeping the girl close for as long as her heart could manage.

"I don't wanna go... if you won't come with me..."

Empty platitudes she'd expected, words backed by air so thin it was suffocating. This too she'd prepared for, to snuff out the flame and let the flower bloom anew, absent her barbs and poison.

"I can't go, and you can't stay, that's how it has to be. I'm glad I got to play you my last song, now go before there's nowhere left to run to"

In lethargic defiance, the girl dragged herself closer. She lacked the strength for words, feeling weaker the closer she stepped towards her, but persisted in her advance none the less. Back to back she stood behind her, slumping beside the woman as she continued to play.

"I am forever grateful for this indulgence you've given me, but I don't want to see you gone. Please, while there's still a chance, go, and let me have hope..."

The girl's breathing was heavy, the water was now up to her waist as she sat slump against the chair on which the woman sat. She blinked here eyes, slowly, filling her lungs with a gasp of salty air.

"I don't want to do this anymore... not again... not without you... if this is it then... I'm happy where I am..."

With shaken fingers she continued to play her somber tune. There was a pearl of joy, locked deep within her heart, a shrouded want to accept this token of devotion for what it was and embrace it, but she couldn't bring herself to to pay the price. She strained, the choked back tears filling her throat, and sheltered ambition finally began to sprout.

She stood, taking the girl by the arm and dragging her through the raging torrent as sea water crashed through growing cracks in the ship. The two ran as best they could, making their way back towards the deck. They found scores of empty life boats, awaiting passengers that would never come to need them, and a pair of lovers who each thought themselves undeserving, saving each other from the deep's embrace.

The woman pushed her aboard, reaching for the rope to lower her down, a fatalistic end for one who saw no other path, defied by a girl who'd had enough of sailing upon the whims of an uncaring world.

"I told you, didn't I...? I don't wanna go... If you won't come with me..."

The pair drifted, peaks of waves carrying moonlight atop their crests like rolling hills. Distant glances at the infinite expanse, nowhere to go but closer.

"Why did you want to die so bad..."

A wave crashed against their little boat, the gentle sway and cool night breeze took up the space as the woman thought of what to say. There were secrets she kept close, a putrid shadow that had festered with her silence, but ones she was still unprepared to speak of.

"I didn't... I just don't know what else there was..."

She pulled herself tight, knees pressed against her chest and fearful look at the distant horizon.

"I knew what I had to do, even if I didn't want to, I knew how it would go... But I don't know what's out there..."

"I don't either... but... when I'm with you, I want to find out..."

[brooklynislandgirl]

Lola hurtles across the Arizona desert like she’s a reflection of a comet streaking across the night sky. Her treads belch orange flame, though the burning tires seem never to melt away, nor produce any toxic fume to endanger her occupants, as she speeds well in excess of any limit a vehicle of her type and capacity is bound by law – perhaps also by physics – to travel. Her interior is the least offensive feature she expresses, a housing that while pitch black does not retain the heat which it ought capture and suffocate its occupants with. The air within is clean and warm, bearing the oddest combination of scents for being a vehicle on fire: the salty bite of sea breeze, the soothing scent of massage oils, and… if one’s nose were sensitive enough… the sweetness of citrus, berries, and tropical flowers.

But occasionally, that calming bouquet is abruptly pierced by the acrid punctuation of antiseptic cleansers.

The driver is aflame, though he doesn’t cry out as his skull burns endlessly. His empty-eyed gaze is fixed on his destination, perhaps not even seeing that Lola is not astride a path… or not caring. His means is as the crow flies. He has a death grip on the wheel, as though willing his scorched chariot to remain steady for the rail-thin passenger across the backseat, huddled beneath the blanket he had draped across her. And Lola obeys that bid, her shock absorbers bearing every burden beneath her wheels without so much as transmitting a single stone’s intrusion upon their improvised road.

His foot depresses the brake pedal, and that application seems to not just slow their velocity, but also the intensity of the flame surrounding both the vehicle and himself. Within moments, Lola is slowed to a speed more customary to highways, and a nudging course correction brings her onto the shoulder of a road cutting across the dark waste. By the time she aligns fully with the westbound lane, she bears no trace of flame or soot… and neither does her driver, whose features return to him beneath the cold light of the moon.

Five minutes later, when a cherry red 1962 Chevrolet Corvette arrives at a nondescript motel smack in the middle of nowhere, not a soul on Earth could rightly say where the car had come from… nor that the bored and exhausted owner of the establishment cared one whit, as long as they were paying customers. A handful of cash identifies those customers as Mr. and Mrs. Smith, though the proprietor never lays eyes on the missus. Neither will he lay eyes on the mister again after giving him the room key.

Phil returns to Lola moments later, opening the driver’s door and leaning in. His voice is no more ravaged by the flame that had consumed his head than his features are. “We’re here. I’m going to carry you inside now.”

He does exactly that, bearing Beth up in his arms with no effort whatsoever… considering her obvious malnourishment, by this point, the suppressing collar about her neck might weigh more than she herself does. And he carries her to the door of their room, on the other side of the lot from the attendant’s station.

It’s the closest he has ever come, in his entire existence, to performing the bridal carry. A tradition of questionable morality – ancient Roman, because of course – but one of its inspirations seems especially pertinent now. Perhaps evil spirits will be disinterested in crossing this threshold if they’re forbidden from entering through Beth’s bare feet… though she need only be released from that damnable collar to attend to that matter herself.

When the door closes behind them, he shifts his hold about her, bringing her to the edge of the bed – of course there’s only one, because for a mister and missus, why should there be two? Are they Ricky and Lucy? – so that he can set her down.

But it’s in that moment that her arms snake about his neck and constrict him like a boa. He can feel the hiccupping breaths she draws, her chest stuttering against his as much as her breath issues in staccato against his ear.

He can do nothing but wrap his arms about her in turn. If they are all they have now… then this is more important than anything in the world. And he gives her perhaps the last iota of comfort he has left to give.

“I’ve got you. I’m not letting go.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The last hours have been a series of blurry snap-shots. Fire consuming down to the bone but encapsulating her with warmth. Something cracking open inside of her chest after incredible atrophy and the pained relief comes pouring out of her in tears. In terror. In clinging like a frail vine on a trellis. Her ears ring occasionally, alternating between piercing shrieks and emptiness, more pressure than sound that she can only associate with the sensation of numbness. Light and dark and abruptly cut off screams, shearing metal, burning...flesh, sickening her further with a sense of hunger. All stitched together with lancing pain and waves of nausea, ameliorated with the mercy of silent darkness that comes when she drifts to unconsciousness. She doesn't know how she arrives in the car, nor is she fully awake to register the sharper visuals of Lola's race through the night. She breathes in shallowly at first then deeper drafts when there's a noticible lack of sterile, desiccated air. Now and again she thinks she might be hallucinating in an attempt to self soothe from the misery of her new reality. Of course it would explain Phil in such a monstrous guise. His protective nature, his willingness to give up everything he holds dear to protect someone he considers his own. Her mind filters in the smell of hibiscus and plumeria, pikake,  but also paper flower, orchid, and ginger. Scents common in her islands but also... They don't talk about that place, she doesn't know it and Phil never really wanted to dredge up that particular point of his past. It was the first steps toward truly learning to trust one another. She clings to the trade-wind brine. Slowly she registers the futility of this fantasy but still finds herself needing to hold onto it, to let it provide a buffer for what she will suffer when the dream ends. That moment comes sooner than she would like it to though at first its only the second hand sensory input that dulls until it fades into obscurity. Other noises that don't belong in her carefully spun delusion grab her and drag her toward wakefulness systematically even when she fights and fails. Eventually she gives up trying, she doesn't have the stamina for it. The first thing that comes to mind is a shock of shivering cold. Goose-flesh ~chicken skin, as she's always know it to be called~ prickles her skin and jars her body with the slightest movement. Beth groans into the dark but the sound doesn't reach anyone's ears but her own. She doesn't try to lift her head. It feels too heavy and in danger of floating away if she does, a dichotomy she cannot resolve in her current state.  Then that calm, familiar voice sweeps in around her. She pries her eyes open and her lashes are spiky with dried tears and dusts. The darkness she's always been afraid of is suddenly soothing while her throat, stiff and raw from lack of regular use and liquids, seems to crack when she gasps. "Phil? Are you....real?" She isn't sure if he's putting off answering that or if he didn't actually hear her when he scoops her up into his arms. His familiar scent envelopes her. As does the sound of his heartbeat. The aura of calm that she's rarely seen ruffled feels like a salve to sun ravaged skin. She murmurs slurred apologies about being a burden even as she presses her face to the side of his neck, feeling a faint hint of stubble against the tip of her nose. Otherwise she remains surprisingly docile as he carries her into a room. It isn't the dated Seventies decor, and cut off from her spheres, Beth is spared the knowledge of what might live in the carpet ~orange, patterned but clean enough looking~ or what fluids might have irrevocably stained the covers on the bed, that truly snares her attention. It's the solid feel of him, the cumulative reward of her faith that though the world might have ended, Phil would still survive it. It means that in spite of everything she didn't betray him. Arms wrapped around his neck, she shakes as tears spill freely down her cheeks. Her breath hitches and she swallows against the cold, heavy weight around her throat. She tries to pull herself together. "You've got to be so tired. Tell me you're not hurt. That the monster didn't find you and hurt you."