#it's been so long since i drew anything ugh

[a-ghost-named-k]

not quite final lines, i think i'm going to have to tweak them a bit tomorrow, however! it's the touden siblings!!

[gustavsbrainneuron]

Sigh. I ran as fast as I can into your inbox. ugh! syopppp I’ve been imagining Tom like eating readers pussy like mostly everydayyy, but she has to like literally tug oh his dreads/braids since he’s so freaking attached to her pussy :3 like maybe hes stressed and literally needs to eat it to the point where she’s so sensitive but he doesn’t care at all!! and yea after care too !!

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎Can't get enough.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎2008 Tom Kaulitz × female reader.

Warnings: smut and (kinda of) angst, dacryphilia, slightly degradation, Tom taking out his anger on the reader's pussy, all CONSENSUAL ofc.

Author's note: anon i actually love your mind sm like come here let me kiss that brain you freakster 🤤🤤🤤......... sorry for taking so long to make your fic and sorry for any mistakes, english is not my first language. HOPW YALL ENJOY THIS MWAH MWAH MWAH!!

I was at home, specifically in the kitchen, cutting some potatoes on a wooden board that was on top of the sink. A low volume song was playing on a radio that was on the table and I was humming the song while cutting the potatoes, everything was peaceful. It was too peaceful, as suddenly this tranquility was interrupted by the sound of the front door being opened and then closed with force. The sound caught my attention, making me drop the knife and leave it on top of the cutting board, turning on the tap to pour water on my hands, shaking off the excess water and walking quickly to the hallway that led to the front door, looking to Tom who had just arrived from the studio. I smiled gently and as soon as Tom's eyes landed on me, I could see the stress and exhaustion in his expression.

We both walked until we got closer to each other; the radio music still playing, but much quieter and further away. I looked at him with a worried face and before I could say anything, he just hugged me, his tall figure pressing against my body. "I just have a headache." He replied, hoping my worried expression would go away. I stroked his back, my fingertips going up towards the back of his neck, stroking the soft skin there. "Are you okay? Do you want some painkillers?" I asked gently, feeling his slow breathing against me, I loved the fact that he was so relaxed with me, it made me feel so loved.

He shook his head negatively, breaking the hug, the familiar smell of his sweet cologne leaving my nostrils. I moved closer to him, my right hand going up to his face and resting on his cheek, closely observing his tired face. There seemed to be something more, as if he wasn't just having a headache and I wanted to know what that "something" was. "Did something happen in the studio?" Saying this drew a sigh from Tom, who relaxed against my hand, letting me touch his tired face more while one of his hands made its way to my waist, keeping me close to him. He looked down into my eyes with those brown eyes, it made my heart melt - as cheesy as that was. His gaze showed hesitation and vulnerability, caught between telling me what happened or not. "I got into a fight with one of the studio employees. It wasn't anything serious but it seemed like he wanted to do whatever he could to ruin my day." He finally said, lightly squeezing my waist as I caressed his cheek with my thumb, paying attention to what he was saying. "I swear, he kept messing with the volume of my guitar and Bill's microphone, it seemed like he wanted to make everything loud and horrible for our next show." He finished, sighing and removing his hand from my waist, waiting for some response from me. "It really seems like a bad day, huh? How about we play something on the video game and relax?" I suggested, smiling gently and bringing our lips closer, giving him a quick kiss before pulling away briefly - this gesture brought a smile from Tom's lips, this smile seemed to have lit up the house more, since even that small metal in the corner of his lip shone on the slightly orange light that hit both of us. "Sure. I'm just going to take a shower first." Tom replied and got closer to my face only to kiss my forehead and walk past me, heading towards our room.

I headed towards the kitchen, going back to making our dinner. I finished cutting the potatoes, placing them in a pan with water, turning on the oven and closing with a lid. My hands went to a drawer, opening it and taking out a timer, where I set 35 minutes and let the timer start.

While Tom was taking his shower, I went into our room and saw his guitar in the corner. I didn't know much about the guitar, just a few chords that Tom had taught me a long time ago, but as I had nothing to do, I decided to pick up the guitar and play. I placed the instrument on my lap, placing it on my upper thigh and picking up the pick that was "stuck" between the strings. I gently brought my left hand fingers closer to the strings, pressing three fingers on an E chord. I used the pick in my right hand to pick the three strings that my left hand was pressing, producing a very low sound; since the guitar wasn't connected to a speaker - no rock for me today, I thought and chuckled at the thought, just getting up and placing the guitar on its stand, leaving the pick on the dresser from Tom. I was so distracted that I didn't even notice that Tom came out of the shower and was watching me, he was already dressed but in simpler clothes and a towel around his wet dreadlocks. When I was about to turn my back, I only saw a tall shadow approaching me and I was startled, letting out a loud gasp and closing my eyes, as I didn't expect him there now.

Tom was startled by my fright, looking at me with a raised eyebrow, confused. "What was that? You scared me." He said, laughing at my still scared expression. My heart was beating fast, and I moved closer to him, only to give him a subtle slap on the arm. "I scared you?? You scared me!" I snapped, dramatically placing a hand on my chest, smiling at the sound of his laughter. "You're the one who gets scared very easily." Tom approached, his hands instinctively going to my waist. My eyes went up to his face, looking at his expression that seemed less tired now. "What were you doing with my guitar? What can I say?.. you don't even know how to play guitar." He teased, smiling confidently and foolishly, making me roll my eyes in response to his statement. "I just don't start learning it because if I learn your band will want me to join too." I stuck my tongue out at him, making us both laugh, our laughter echoing around the room.

We both went to the living room and as I had suggested; we were playing the videogame. It was a simple game, a racing game. I honestly wasn't good at it, sometimes I confused one button or another but today I was doing very well. I beat Tom once, twice, three times!! Tom's expression seemed to darken with each of my victories, he celebrated, of course, but something seemed off. When I won for the fourth time, I heard a 'beep beep beep!' coming from the kitchen - I played so much that I had forgotten about the timer, I didn't know that thirty five minutes could went by so quickly. "Ooh wait, we'll play later okay?" "Mhm." Tom replied back, his voice showing irritation, it was very light but I could feel it.

I went to the kitchen in quick steps, deactivating the timer and turning off the pan. I squatted down to open a cupboard under the sink and get a colander, I put the pot inside the sink and picked up the pan with the potatoes, throwing the potatoes into the pot carefully, the hot water coming out through the small holes in the colander. When all the water was out, I took a larger pot and took the colander, putting all the potatoes into the larger pot. I heard footsteps leaving the room, it was probably Tom. He walked, his footsteps eating up the distance between us, he walked over and stood next to me, just looking at me.

I picked up a fork, turning to look at him, noticing his eyes that were now kinder than they were in the living room just now. "You want help?" He questioned, looking at me curiously. "Of course, the more help the better." I spoke in an excited voice, smiling gently, picking up another fork and handing it to him.

I don't know how much time Tom and I spent mashing potatoes together, I just know that we were both tired from mashing potatoes with forks. When we finally finished, the mashed potatoes went back to the pan and I added a little margarine, salt and a well-pressed garlic clove. I mixed the food gently while Tom added milk little by little into the pan. When the consistency became thick, I stopped stirring and turned off the stove.

"Well, while we wait for our food to cool, we can go back to playing, what do you think?" I said, looking at him and delicately taking the milk carton that was in his large hands, going towards the refrigerator and putting the milk carton there. "Sure. This time I'll beat you in every round!" He stated, taking my hand as soon as I finished closing the refrigerator door, gently pulling me towards the living room.

Ok, I had already won for the eighth time from Tom. His expression seemed to get more serious with each of my victories, I even suggested that we change the game but he insisted on staying in that racing game and who was I to disagree? I was having fun. When I won for the tenth time, he became extremely serious. Maybe he was competitive?..a little?..I should let him win at least once and that's what I did. I let him win but he noticed. "What the fuck? Y/n, I don't want you to let me win. I want you to play normally so I can beat you fairly!" He said, his voice rising slightly as he looked at me. I didn't want any arguments, especially over a stupid game. "Tom. I think that's enough for today, let's change the game." I insisted, looking at him who immediately shook his head negatively, insisting on continuing. I sighed at his insistence, getting up and placing the controller on the sofa, I couldn't play if we were going to fight. My steps were quick towards the exit of the room, but Tom was faster than me, he came behind me and pulled me by the wrist and before I could think, he pushed me in a slightly aggressive way towards the sofa, pinning me against the fluffy pillows, holding both of my wrists and positioning himself between my legs.

"Tom, what the-" My body writhed against the cushions, my protests being interrupted and stopped by Tom's lips; which collided against mine aggressively, the metal of his lip piercing giving an icy sensation to my warm lips. I didn't delay in returning the kiss, kissing him with the same intensity, it was love and a little anger mixing together and god, it made a perfect combination.

"P-Please.." I whined on top of Tom's lap, while one of his hands held my legs open and the other hand used the middle and ring fingers to tease my wet folds, making me elicit low whimpers along with desperate gasps. "I already told you to stay quiet." He firmly rebuked, giving my swollen clit a gentle slap, eliciting a brief, sharp whine from me. I was a mess on his lap, my chest rising and falling in response to my rapid breathing, while my head fell back with each movement of Tom's fingers, wet sounds echoed through the living room - these sounds fueled the desire to Tom. With my head tilted back, Tom took the opportunity to kiss my neck, feeling my pulse quicken. He was nibbling on my hot skin, his piercing making it feel like it would burn my skin and even then, I would remain there, completely at his mercy.

Tom began to put a pace on the movements of his fingers, removing his fingers and inserting them into my cunt quickly, making my legs shake due to the acceleration of stimulation so suddenly. I started to squirm against Tom's lap, trying to escape those intense stimulations, but Tom obviously wouldn't let me, bringing his lips to my ear to whisper firmly. "You're not going anywhere." He said, both fingers moving skillfully, making me clench around his fingers; whining louder, only indirectly encouraging him to increase the pace of his fingers once more. My eyelids were tightly shut, my expression contorting in pleasure as Tom moved his fingers faster - if that was possible, giving one last thrust with his two long, slender fingers, curling them to hit my sweet spot, this action sending spasms of pleasure through my body, my legs shaking uncontrollably as he continued moving his fingers, prolonging the pleasure for as long as possible as he placed wet, sloppy kisses over my jawline, watching my expression of pure bliss as he grunted with each whimper that leaves my lips, his pants becoming tighter than usual.

My breathing slowed as the waves of pleasure gradually disappeared, my body completely relaxed against Tom's. Gently, Tom removed his fingers from my gummy walls, taking the fingers with my fluids to his lips, sucking both fingers with one satisfied and long hum. "You taste so sweet. I can't get enough of you." He commented, taking his fingers out of his mouth after licking them clean. Tom gently held me by the waist, lifting me up and removing me from his lap, getting between my legs and lowering his body to catch my lips in an aggressive kiss; my own taste making me shiver in strangeness. I responded to the kiss, trying to reflect the same desire as him, my hands moving down his slender body, trailing to the edge of his sweatpants, pulling the fabric down in a messy way. But Tom didn't let me, one of his hands coming to grab both of my wrists, making me groan against his lips, taking his fleshy lower lip skin between my teeth and eliciting a low grunt from Tom, who broke the kiss - leaving only a strand of saliva connecting our lips. "Be patient, Y/n." He scolded me, firmly but not unkindly, starting to pepper kisses down my neck, his big left hand making its way to my blouse, having difficulty removing it, which made him just tear my blouse in half, a small dissatisfied sound leaving my lips and before I could complain, he spoke first. "Shhh, I'll buy you another one." He shushed me, just throwing the blouse that was now just a "rag" on the living room floor, his eyes immediately looking at the exposed skin as he continued nibbling and kissing the sensitive skin on my neck.

The kisses continued, making their way to my collarbone, my breasts, my stomach, my belly and finally reaching the inside of my thighs, his strong arms curling around my small thighs, keeping them open the way he preferred and wanted them to be. The anticipation seemed to be on purpose, almost as if he wanted to torture me. With each kiss he moved closer to my folds only to pull away again, making me gasp so that my abdomen sank inward and quickly returned to normal. He kissed the soft skin of my thighs, sucking on it gently, giving hickeys over the warm skin as I squirmed, feeling the hot discomfort between my legs.

"Tom, be faster!" I raised my voice slightly, irritated and impatient, whining with each mark he left on the skin of my thighs, making him stop out of nowhere. He stopped to admire the view of my pussy, completely wet and throbbing to feel something that would give me relief. Suddenly, he brought his face closer to my folds and felt my sweet scent dominate his nostrils, grunting in approval as his erection throbbed in need as well. Impatient, I lifted my waist towards his face, wanting contact, which made him force my waist down and lift his head to look into my eyes - with a look full of desire and also..anger? why? I don't know. "If you continue to be an impatient slut, I'll stop now and you'll have to use your useless little fingers to satisfy yourself." He responded with greater irritation, his calloused fingers climbing around my waist, holding me in place and bringing me closer to his face, lifting me a little. I swallowed hard at Tom's response, just nodding my head, I didn't want to have to satisfy myself alone and a small part in the back of my mind liked hearing Tom talking to me like that. I liked the fact that he was angry.

Suddenly, he lowered his face and dragged his tongue along my wet slit in a long, slow lick, making me whimper in a high-pitched way, my waist shaking in response to the stimulation; that even though it was small, it made me squirm. When his tongue reached my clit, he slowly circled it with the tip of his tongue before sucking it hard, my hands flying to his dreadlocks, pulling them lightly, just discounting his aggression and intensity against himself. "Mmm..I love your taste, Y/n." He murmured against my sensitive nub, continuing to lap at my juices and pleasure me with his pierced, skillful mouth, exaggerating with the licks around my clit, wanting to make me as sensitive as possible - and he was making me more sensitive, my thighs closing around his head. My eyebrows were furrowed, my eyes were tightly closed and my mouth was half-open, letting out little cries with each lap of his tongue. I was a mess. Not just me, but Tom too. He ate my pussy like a starving man, letting out short grunts as he worked his mouth on my bundles of nerves.

How many times had I cum? maybe 5 times or 7? I had already lost my way, I had already squirted against his face and he didn't stop. My body shook from all his stimulation, my eyes hitting the back of my skull as my hands pulled at the couch fabric, twisting the fabric and squeezing it. In a desperate act, I tried to move my waist to escape Tom, getting into a fight that Tom obviously won. Holding my waist tightly, his long fingers crushing the skin of my waist with marks that would probably remain for a long time. "Oh no, you don't get to move away from my mouth that easily. I'm not gonna stop until I've had my fill of this sweet little cunt."

With renewed vigor, Tom buried his face between my thighs, alternating between long, deep licks and quick flicks of his tongue over my clit. "I can't-mmh...hah..c-can't.." I mumbled, tears gathering in my eyes as the sound of Tom's labors between my legs made loud, obscene sounds. "Pathetic. You can beat me in a stupid racing game but look who's beating you now, me, me and me." His words vibrated through my pussy, punctuating each word with a firm suck on my clit, sending jolts of ecstasy through my small body, my eyes closing so that small tears came out of my eyes, desperate cries leaving my lips. With the sound of my desperate cries, Tom redoubled his efforts, his tongue sinking into me, feeling my hot walls flutter around the muscle that worked tirelessly and insistently, doing everything to make me cum once again. "Let go, Y/n. Give in to me." He demanded, his voice vibrating against my swollen clit before he sank deeper into my warmth. Tom felt my body responding to his every lick and this only fueled more of the desire he felt for me, ignoring anything and just focusing on giving me as much pleasure as possible and also taking out some of his anger on me. Tom's eyes would open sometimes, looking at my flushed face, loving my reaction - how quickly I melted against his mouth. I let go one last time, the knot unraveling in my stomach, the climax taking over my exhausted body, spasms running through my body as Tom prolonged that sensation, my brain unable to think about anything but him. My legs shook with each wave of pleasure that passed through my petite figure. When it was over, Tom finally let go of my pair of thighs, letting them fall limply onto the couch, removing his wet face from between my legs, looking at me and the way my breathing was still quick, his lips curling into a proud smile. With the back of his right hand, he removed the remains of my fluids from his cheeks and chin, lowering his face to get closer to me, distributing gentle kisses over my body, moving up to my face and giving me a quick peck.

"Are you okay? Was I too rough?"

"Uuughh.. (⁠╯⁠︵⁠╰⁠,⁠)"

Tom gave me a low snort for my exhausted response, straightening my completely messy hair and brushing away some of the tears that still fell, rubbing his thumb gently over my face. "Can you get up?" He questioned worriedly, helping me get up, trying not to laugh when he saw my legs tremble as I stood. I gently slapped his arm, my cheeks burning slightly. "Don't laugh, idiot."

"Are you embarrassed? I was literally between your legs a few seconds ago."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever."

We both went to the bathroom, but I asked Tom to carry me and he carried me, of course, it was the minimum after I couldn't walk properly because of him. In the bathroom, he removed his clothes and placed them on a space in the marble sink, helping me get into the shower and adjusting the water to a warm, pleasant temperature for both of us.

"Can I clean you up?" He questioned, looking at me, waiting for an answer and I just nodded, taking the soap and handing it to him. Without hesitation, he rubbed the soap over my body, being careful not to hurt me in any way, making me laugh softly. "What's so funny, hm?" "It's just funny to see you taking so much care of me now." "What?" He paused dramatically, his hands going to his waist, as he playfully scolded me for looking, pretending to be offended by what I said. "Wasn't I being very careful with you?" "A little." "A little? What if you fell off the couch? I would be there, holding you so you wouldn't fall off the couch. :)" I rolled my eyes, my hands going to his hand, to grab the soap and go back to taking my shower but Tom didn't let me taking the soap back, insisting that he had to clean me. "But you know, we could try something new, Y/n." His voice suggested something more and I noticed it, raising an eyebrow as I looked in his direction, confused. He sighed, rolling his eyes in sassyness, smirking. "I helped you a lot, you could help me a little too."

"Not here. Not now. We just-"

"Pleaseeeee? :("

"No."

"Pretty please? It's really quick, I promise."

I sighed, looking into his brown eyes that were begging for relief, filled with lust again. "Fine, fine. But you better be quick. >:("

"I promise i'll be quick! ^_^"

[gassyandnasty]

The Jock Formula 2.1 - Living with JongHo

Sorry for the long wait, guys. Finally, the chapter I promised with the Jock you chose in the poll is here.

_________________________________________

Dohyun's POV

Being a nerd in this campus in a complete hell. We get constantly harassed by Josh and his gang, and everything got even worse when my friend George invented the "Jock Formula".

It was supposed to save us, but Andrew got everything for him and now is joining this hell of a frat. It can be sad for the rest of our friend group, but for me it's worse, as it has always been.

I'm JongHo's twin brother. Yes, that big and burly guy actually has a nerdy relative that he is quite ashamed of. We were supposed to be the same, but I was never inclined to sports, and those gross eating competitions, so while he kept growing, I stayed the same.

My place isn't in this frat at all, but our strict parents didn't want us living apart on college so Jongho only moved to the frat with the condition that I went together. And I've been unhappy since.

They treat me like a maid. I have to wake up earlier to cook breakfast for them, clean ALL of their mess. And it's a hell of a mess. Apart from the dirty and cruel pranks that they pull on me constantly. On top of all that, I have to endure my big and brainless brother everyday, since we share the same room.

They are having a hazing ceremony today, I won't even go downstairs to say anything to that traitor, but I can hear the loudest burps and farts ever, and all kinds of noise those meatheads produce. Happily, those ceremonies take a lot, so I'm having crumbs of peace this night.

I put my headphones on and put some ASMR to muffle the outside noise. I feel I can sleep like an angel without him here, so when I close my eyes, I loose no time in getting asleep.

Unconsciously, the peaceful time is feeling oddly long, when It's interrupted by a loud thud in the door, followed by it's opening:

"Think I missed the handle again haha damn, tonight was fun."

It was Jongho. Peace ended. He can't even come in the room quietly in the middle of the night. I heard him opening the fridge and grab a bottle of something.

"Ugh, so thirsty..." loud gulps followed by heavy steps. "You there?" I can FEEL his massive frame over me, maybe if I keep pretending that I'm asleep, he leaves me alone.

"Wake up, princess." He says, poking my face with his heavy finger, but I won't budge. I hear his stomach rumbling as he states "Gosh, I'm so full... I know what will wake you up."

With that, I fell his heavy weight smothering my head. I know this feeling too well, his huge and sweaty cheeks mold all around my face, while he adjusts himself to get his crack right above my nose. Im cooked.

"Shouldn't have eaten that many hot-dogs... HNNNGG" I feel him straining and forcing out a a fart.

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

It slapped like a punch on my face, as it stink intoxicated my senses, while the explosive noise overpowered my ears. It was long, loud and deep, not losing power once, while it rumbled all over my face.

*COUGH* MMPHMMPPBMM *COUGH*

I tried to scream and got muffled by his massive ass. And the taste of his fart invading my mouth after was demonic. He started to rub his butt on my face as I felt him laughing above me.

"Hahaha that can waken the dead, right?" He dumbly stated, almost killing me. I managed to push him over my face, making him land on my chest. Suffocating me all the same.

"What do you want, you JERK?" I ask with the remaining force I have, while he grins and sniffs his own fart.

"Damn, that was a monster, happy that wasn't on my face haha" he thumped on his full belly. "Ate so much this night, only your friend Drew could beat me, you know? He is part of the group now, loser."

"Don't mention that TRAITOR near me. I don't want to hear about Andrew, may he gags on his own gas." I curse him. It boils my blood to know that a guy I called friend is now joining my biggest enemies.

"I don't know about Drew, but you're gagging on this..." Jongho scooted a little to the side, bending his ass towards me, and forced out another fart:

FRFRFRFRFRFRFRFRFRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRFTFTFRFTFTTTTTTTT

I gagged.

"Hahahaha, I can't wait for the new pranks we are going to pull on you, loser. Now, I gotta sleep" Jongho got up and I finally felt the relief of his weight leaving my chest. But I didn't see him going to the bathroom to change or shower. He is stinking of beer and hot sauce.

"Aren't you missing something? Are you gonna sleep reeking like this?" I ask, trying to save work for me tomorrow, if he changes, I don't have to wash the sheets.

He looks at me with an uncomfortable face, aa he brings his head to his stomach, I hear it rumbling when he answers: "Yeah... I think I'm missing something..." he gives his belly a strong push and bend his face over mine, opening his mouth wide, letting it all rip:

gOOOOoooOOOOOOOOOOOOooooOOODDDDDD-NNIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEUUUUUUUUUUURRRPPPPPPPPPPP

As he answers me with an ungodly belch, that covers my face with saliva, bits of food and a sickly smell of soda and sausage. He grins as he jumps on his bed and I turn light headed, passing out.

_________________________________________

I wake up feeling sick in the day after. Gosh, I hate them so much. Our room is still stinking, and I'm tired just to think of how much cleaning work I have to do as they messed everything up on that hazing.

I turn to my side and Jongho's bed is empty. Bad sign. He NEVER wakes up early, that can only mean that I'm... late.

I fear for my life.

I get ready fast and go downstairs, maybe I can make up for the time lost, and the first thing I see when I arrive at the kitchen the scene I see is terrifying.

Empty plates all over, with Jongho, Josh, Sal and Andrew sat at the table, looking at me.

"Forgot about breakfast today?" Josh asks, not giving me a good morning even.

"I-I..." I was about to say, when Sal added: "So we had to do it for ourselves..."

Gosh I'm so screwed...

"But no worries, you didn't cook us breakfast, but we will give yours. Sit" Jongho said. I wanted to run but there was no escape. The only place left was between my brother and Andrew, they already wanted to tease me.

As I sat, Andrew said: "Morning, loser." Putting his arm around me, his pits were already stinking.

"I have a name and you know that, Andrew. How could you?" My blood boiled.

"I have a name and it is Drew now. I can address you by how I want though, whimp." The boys laughed at his response and I gritted my teeth.

I was hungry cause I didnt have dinner yesterday. The hazing kept everything busy so I only had some snacks, my stomach rumbled, making them laugh.

"Hahaha, he is hungry guys, why don't we give him his meal already?" Josh commands.

"I will begin with the appetizer" "Drew" says. Gosh I hate to even think calling him that.

"Open your mouth." He says.

"No way! I'm not doing that!" As I thought of getting up, Josh held me, and Drew pinched my cheeks, forcing my mouth open.

"Now we get it haha eat that!" He starts to swallow air and get close, very close. As my open mouth is in line with his, he rips a nasty belch in it, making me taste what he had for breakfast

BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRPPPPP!! *phwooooshhh*

He even blows afterwards, making me teary eyed.

They all high five and laugh, as I see Sal getting in front of me next.

"Now for the entreé, baked beans with a pinch of..." Sal turned around and bent over, displaying his huge bubbly ass on my face. I felt his hand grabbing the back of my head, making me land with my open mouth right in front of his crack. "...my stink... HNNGG"

PBPBPBPBPPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFTFTFTFTTFTTTTFTFTFTFTTTTTT

And it stunk to high heavens. All of their gas is potent, but Sal's has twisted smell, making the worse. And I had to swallow.

As I gagged, the guys laughed about him making me eat his fart. I felt some movement, and now Jongho is holding me while Josh got in front of me.

"Let me see if I got your order right, you wanted a double... UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRPPP" He added with a nauseating belch on my face. As I didn't have time to process this, I saw him turning around and lifting his leg:

"With a side of... FRFRFRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRTRTRRRRRRRTRTRTTTTT!!"

They couldn't contain themselves with so much laughing at his stupid joke. At least, it's finished... they got "my order".

"What a restaurant will he think this is?" I hear Jongho say behind me. "If we don't give his dessert?" That got the guys expecting something. In a swift move, he let go of the hold on me and pressed his ass on my face, pinning me against the chair.

"A full cake, as you ordered, sir" Jongho said, rubbing his colossal ass on my face. I could hear some flashes now, bet they are recording it.

I heard him grunt, and it happened:

PBPBPBPBPPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBPBPBPBPBPPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBFFFFTTTT!!

A powerful and huge fart rumbled my face, and went straight down my throat. I could taste the twisted flavour of his breakfast as he filled me with his gas.

"Aaaaahhh, bon appetit!" Jongho sighs in relief, high-fiving his friends. They leave the room as I'm too weak to stand up.

Uuurrpp- I burp as some of their gas come back.

I hate my life.

[cherryc1nnam0n]

I can change him... | Fuckboy!Eddie Munson x FEM!Reader

Summary: You meet Eddie at a party and make the biggest mistake of getting with him, making you fall in love, but you soon realize he's a fuck boy who can't be stopped, you will yourself to change him, but can you?

Cw: Lots of sex, hard smut, Eddie is a fuck boy who fucks anyone and anything, bisexual Eddie, bisexual reader, unprotected sex, lots of antics, hard angst, won't spoil ending sorry!

I explored the fboy!Eddie hashtag and have been inspired to write this, thanks to @newlips for this inspo! The idea is from them, I'm just making a fic out of it! Enjoy!

The music was loud, hot bodies surrounding you as you cradled a red cup against your chest, bored since your friends were getting fucked and nowhere to be seen, you wanted to leave so you took a last swig at your drink and made your way out, but your eyes drifted to the couch, where he was sitting, man spread and with a joint in his mouth, looking straight at you, those eyes drinking in your body, he was wearing a black shirt, band logo on it you don't remember which, ripped black jeans and combat boots, he looked hot and he knew it, like magic, you made your way towards him

"Hey pretty" oh gosh his voice, it was intoxicating in a good way

"Hey" you said

"You look bored, where are your friends?" He said blowing smoke out his mouth

"Ugh, I don't know, they're getting fucked somewhere" you said with a roll of your eyes

"Hmmm, and you? Haven't gotten any?" He smirked at you

You blushed "No, didn't plan on it"

"Oh really? With that mini skirt? You're fooling no one" he said cockily, he had read you like a book, you did intend on getting some dick but had gotten any

Maybe people weren't fond of your body, but Eddie was, he was hooked as soon as he saw you

And he intended in ruining you tonight

"Want some company?" He spoke again

"I was going to leave actually" you said clutching your purse

"Awe come on princess, stay here, just a bit" he said patting the spot next to him

You have in, it wouldn't hurt right? He was just sitting here, alone, you couldn't leave him like this

That was your first mistake...

~•~

"Mmmmm yes! Harder please" you moaned as Eddie pounded into you from behind

An hour after talking with him, your panties had been soaked through at his innuendos and touches, he started to finger you at the couch, kissing you sloppily and dragging you to a room, where you guys were right now

"Fuck baby, so so tight holy shit" he moaned, thighs slapping against your plush ass as he kept pounding you like a wild animal

"Eddie- fuck! I'm gonna cum!" You moaned desperately, wanting to fucking cum around him

"Do it baby, cum all over my cock" He said holding your throat, his other hand resting at his side

His cock was big, curved perfectly so it would hit your sweet spot everytime he moved, his balls were heavy and slapped against your clit with his every thrust, he had just taken off his shirt, pants halfway off of him, showing his perfect ass, you had your shirt up to your chest, boobs spilling out while your panties were in his back pocked, skirt bunched up by your hips

"Fuck fuck!" You moaned, eyes rolling back as you came, harder than ever "Fuuuuck!"

"Oh fuck yes baby, right there" he moaned while your pussy milked him dry, his balls drew up, spilling all his cum into you "Shit baby, hope you're on the pill" he said still cumming

You were so blissed out, so cock drunk you didn't notice him leaving, you stayed there, catching your breath, when you were back in your senses you noticed he was long gone

"Eddie?" You asked to the air "Damn it..."

~•~

Days went bu that you didn't hear from Eddie, not a call, nothing, he was just gone

He had fucked you and left, that's what he does apparently...

Another party came, and there he was, you smiled when you spotted him, same position as when you saw him for the first time, when he stole your heart, you were approaching him when another girl sat on his lap, grinding on him, you gasped when he pulled her up to a room

You stayed down, waiting, then followed the path they had taken, upstairs, moans and slapping noises filled the air, from people fucking and also Eddie and the random girl, you found them in the same room he had fucked you, the girl riding him while he sucked on her perfect tits

"Fuck baby, just like that, don't stop" he moaned, eyes rolled back

The girl was having her way with him, using his cock as a dildo almost, you heard them cum and soon the girl came out, fixing her hair

"Oh hi, you can go in if you want" she said smiling at you

You walked in, he was smoking a blunt, dick soft and out of his pants "Oh hey"

"What the fuck was that?!" You yelled, he didn't even flinch "I thought you said you wanted me"

"Yeah, I say that to everyone" he said unbothered

You scoffed "You are a piece of shit Eddie!" You yelled and stormed off, he felt kind of bad, so he fixed himself and went after you

"Baby, baby! Y/n!" He said following you out the crowds of people

Once out he finally caught up to you "Listen to me-"

You turned and slapped him on the face "Don't you ever call me that again! I let you fuck me without knowing you fuck anyone! Fuck you Eddie! Fuck, you!"

With that, you left him there, your heart ached, you loved him, but you hadn't meant anything to him, just a pussy to fuck and leave afterwards, so pathetic...

~•~

You continued to go to parties, seeing Eddie flirting with everyone, pulling guys and girls to rooms, so you decided to do the same

You were making out with a hot girl at a couch, she was so pretty and she wanted you, so you took her up to a room

Soon you were scissoring each other, loud moans and kisses from both of you, the door opened and there was Eddie, holding a girl's hand, you made eye contact with him as you came all over the girl, he scoffed and left

"Same time next week baby?" The girl asked

You nodded "Sure, why not"

You kissed her again and she left, soon someone entered the room, Eddie

"What do you want?" You said not looking at him as you put on your shoes

"What the fuck are you doing?"

"The same as you" you stood up "Fucking people and leaving, feels good now that I try it" you said unbothered

"You can't do that"

"Oh but you can" you retorted "Leave me alone"

You tried to leave but he grabbed your wrist "Stop it"

"You don't tell me what to do! You did the same with me, you fucked me, took my heart with you and left, why is it so bad I'm doing the same?"

He was out of words, he didn't know you had fallen on love with him...

"What?" Was all he could say

You rolled your eyes "Just leave me alone Eddie" you left, leaving him with his heart pounding in his ears

He fucked up...

~•~

At another party, Eddie didn't make a move with anyone, he watched you as you took a guy up a room, he looked like a rip off version of him, so he was mad, taking it personal...

When he made it upstairs, you were getting fucked by him doggy style and damn was he good at it

"Oh fuck yes! Yes Eddie!" You moaned, the guy stopped abruptly

"What the fuck?"

"Shit I'm so sorry I-"

"Yeah fuck that"

The guy left, you wanted to cry and scream, you had moaned Eddie's name

Someone came behind you, caressing your sides lovingly

"You can't seem to get about me baby..."

"I could never, but I hate you..."

"I know, let me fix it..."

You finally gave in, you loved him... You couldn't forget about him as hard as you tried...

"Okay... I'll let you"

"Good... Thank you" he said

That night, he made love to you, so so good that it made you fall in love with him again

"I promise I'll stay with you, only you... You took my heart too..." He kissed your face lovingly

You smiled, kissing his lips softly

At the end, you could change him...

[applesaucesims]

It was quite late already, when Emma came home from a long day at the studio. She had only just arrived, when suddenly, she heard the baby crying upstairs. Quickly, she went to check on him, only to find him all alone in his room, when Niall was supposed to be looking after him.

The dull sound of glass falling onto carpet followed by a louder thump drew her attention away for a moment, unsure what just happened in the other room. With Louis in her arms, Emma made her way next door, where she found her husband trying to pick himself off the floor. It seemed as though he tripped and fell, while holding a glass and bottle in hand.

In hopes of offering some comfort, Emma sat down next to a quietly sobbing Niall. To him, however, any sign of comfort was still far away. He had been on edge for days, maybe weeks at this point, only calming down the slightest amount when numbing his brain with alcohol. Now, there was no excuse to keep that from his wife any longer. And while Emma was not exactly able to understand the way he felt and why, she would do anything to help him, since he clearly had trouble all by himself.

[TRANSCRIPT]

Louis: "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

Emma: "Louis? It's okay sweetheart. Your mummy's here. But where's your father gone?"

*faint crash*

Niall: "Ugh... what the-"

Emma: "Niall!? Are you alright? What happened?"

Niall: "I- I don't know."

Niall: "I- ouch... I was just getting a refill and then I fell."

Emma: "Louis was crying when I came home."

Niall: "I know! But I was gone for a minute, I swear! I just cannot stand that noise!"

Niall: "Gosh, Emma, I'm so sorry. I don't know what to do anymore."

Emma: "What do you mean?"

Niall: "Everything feels like it's too much for me these days."

Niall: "I love our son, I really do! But when I look at him, I see my life going on without me. And then I just want to crawl into bed, hide away from it all. The alcohol helps drown it all out, but it makes me feel worse afterward."

Niall: "I feel so hopeless, Emma!"

Emma: "Oh, sweetheart, don't say such things!"

Niall: "What else am I supposed to do? Everything seems to be going wrong."

Emma: "We'll figure out a way through this. Together."

[dragonsdomain]

Bleeding Out in the Backyard

"Mansions are rich and have a lot of security. One day their lead officer shows them a concerning video of Danny Fenton in the back ally behind their home."

A phic phight prompt by DizzlyPuzzled

...

Pamela Manson sipped her tea before blinking at the camera again. It had been a while since she'd paid attention to these security cameras, but she's starting to think that may have been a mistake.

"Honey?" she called into the hall. "Jeremy? Can you come over here?"

"Sure, sweetie!" Jeremy swept into the room, then drew to an abrupt stop at the view on the screen. "Is that Sam's scraggly boyfriend bleeding out in the backyard?"

Pamela opened her mouth to argue that he wasn't her boyfriend if she had anything to say about it before slapping her forehead. "Oh dear, I should call an ambulance! I wouldn't want to get sued by his crazy parents."

"Why is he bleeding out in our backyard?" Jeremy muttered.

"Here, call the cops, dear," Pam said, handing her phone to Jeremy before poking her head out to the hall again and shrieking "Sam! Get down here!"

Pam's phone dinged in Jeremy's hand. He glanced down at it. "Sam says 'what?'"

"Ugh!" Pamela grabbed the phone back from him and called Sam. "Get down here, you ungrateful girl! Your wretched friend is bleeding out in the backyard!"

There was a beat of silence. Jeremy was thankfully pulling out his own phone to call 911 with. "Mom..." Sam answered, "Are you trying to April Fool's prank me? 'Cause this is a really bad way to do it. Or-- wait, Tucker? Are you pretending to be my mom?"

"I am your mother!" Pam screeched. "Get down here before I have to come up and get you!"

Jeremy was speaking with an operator on the other side of the phone, describing the situation. Good.

Sam strode into the room presently with eyeliner half-removed. She takes in the screen, and Pam watches some indeterminate firecracker of emotions smack up onto Sam's face and then right back off. "...I forgot we have security cameras."

"Ugh," Pam rolls her eyes, mentally brushing off the fact that she had also forgotten.

"Okay, so... he's probably doing a prank."

Pam's eyelid twitches. "You can't be serious, Sam. Your father has already called an ambulance."

Sam cursed under her breath. "Uh, lemme go check on him, see what's going on. I'll call you from the yard and tell you what's up."

"Make it quick," Pamela said, gritting her teeth.

Sam dashed off again. Pamela propped herself up on the desk next to the cameras. She noticed she was shaking and tried taking some deep breaths to soothe her nerves. That boy was going to regret this if it really was just a prank.

Pam nearly shrieked when her phone rang, before she managed to fumble it up to her ear and answer.

"Hey! Haha, so! Yeah, it was just a prank!" Sam said, and Pam wondered if she was imagining that strained note in her daughter's voice. "It was just fake blood. Y'know. Uh, he didn't know about the cameras. And he was going to call me down to come see. So, ha, sorry about the ambulance, but you can send them away when they get here. 'Cause he's. He's fine."

Pamela's head drooped down on the desk. "Sam. Samantha."

Sam laughed nervously. "W-what?"

"You're grounded."

"Hey!"

Pam hung up. She gave a long, drawn-out sigh.

"What? So is he fine?" Jeremy asked.

"Yes," Pamela said exhaustedly.

Jeremy frowned at the screen. "He's still sticking to the bit."

Pamela glanced up and watched Sam dragging her friend across the grass, leaving behind an ugly trail of awfully convincing fake blood. She hoped it was water soluble.

"That girl is going to stop hanging out with those awful boys if it's the last thing I make her do."

[dragonrider9905]

Don’t Call Me Flower

Alright @techs-stitches! At long last, it is here!!!!! I finally finished the square you requested! I really hope you like it and thanks for the prompt :)

This story is a participating piece in @clonexreaderbingo.

Square: Phee

Attempt number 283: failed. 

You fumbled and mumbled over your words and the babbling turned into a short stutter. 

Luckily he didn’t seem to notice. 

Ugh.

You’ve tried starting a conversation with Tech 283 times since he arrived on Pabu, but each ended in a complete and utter failure. You were cut off, not loud enough, or your tongue would tie itself in knots. 

This isn’t saying you haven’t talked to him; you have��just never from your own initiative. Phee helped introduce you a great deal (you believed there was more to her motive here than just being friendly and inclusive like normal), one of the other Batchers or Omega brought you into the conversation, or Tech himself struck up an interesting comment. If the latter was the case, most of the time you just listened anyway and didn’t have an obligation to say much other than your appreciation of his observations. 

It’s been exactly three weeks since this ragtag group of clones arrived on your little paradise. Good thing they came when they did too. They’d become an important part of the community after the tidal wave that wreaked havoc on the island’s home and uprooted their entire lives. 

They were the breath of fresh air on a hot summer’s day which cools, but doesn’t chill. The kind that fills you with contended energy, and adventurous spirit.

And Tech, well, he’d caught your attention right away at Shep’s house; Phee invited you to join them for dinner the first night they were there. You smiled, seeing him hunched over his datapad. It was kinda funny, and cute in a way and you decided to try to pull his attention from it. You weren’t very successful. Phee was better at it than you but she worked some magic with her words then somehow always left the conversation suddenly and you and Tech would be ‘stuck’ with each other. 

Then the tidal wave hit and you, Tech, and Phee made a great team rescuing the people of Pabu.

That introduced a whole new tie you had with the clone but somehow, even though you worked well together, you were still shy when it was only the two of you, and struggled with making yourself seen or heard in a semi-intelligent way. 

Tech would come by more often than not with a new idea about improving town life (if you didn’t know any better, you’d say he’d enjoyed it and wanted to talk to you. Did he seem excited when he approached you? You wanted to say so *shrugs internally*) which would segway into other ideas and conversations. The topics always varied, but whatever it was, you always enjoyed it. 

What really made you fall for Tech (or when you finally realized it or stopped denying it or admitted to labeling this nonsensical attraction that drew you to him—you haven’t decided which one to choose yet) was when you were discussing your name to the Batch. How it came up, you didn’t remember. You thought maybe Wrecker or Omega commented on how cool it sounded. It was a normal name to you, and you told them what it meant and how your parents chose it for you before they passed. Phee had mentioned she had various nicknames for you. Of course, you turned bashful as she was naming them off but couldn’t help your outburst as she concluded:

“Those are my special names for her. I don’t know what you lot will call her, but you can’t borrow mine. They’re exclusively for me to use, so you’ll just have to think of something else special for her.”

“Call me anything, but DON���T call me flower!” 

“Why?” Tech tilted his head curiously to the side at your pout and curious out of character announcement.

“Would you like to explain to them why I don’t want to be called that?”

“It’s short for wallflower. Many of the town's kids growing up would call her that.”

“Wait, what? I don’t get it? Flowers are nice.” Wrecker scratched his head, confused.

“Ah, I understand the negative connotation. Wallflower is a term defined as a person who from shyness or unpopularity remains on the sidelines of a social activity. Often, the term is given to mean someone who is unattractive as well.”

You groaned and couldn’t repress an eyeroll, regretting it minutes later. You cringed at how you must have sounded at Tech’s explanation. 

“Flowers are also fragile and weak. Often trampled without a second thought.” You finished for him, crossing your arms annoyed. “So any way you look at it, it just isn’t…” you waved your hand dismissively.  

“Yes, but flowers are also…beautiful.”

The way he looked at you just then made your heart melt, your stomach twist with too many butterflies fluttering, and a red heat filled your face. 

His eyes were perfect and shining. Not looking down at his datapad making an off comment, but rather, they focused on you and his words felt very intentional. A small smile graced his lips and something gentle blanketed his face. 

“Besides, flowers can surprise you by being rather resilient and resourceful. Never underestimate.” 

He proceeded to name many species that were eye-catching and cunning for being plants.

How could you not? 

Tell me, who could blame you for letting something blossom in your heart after that? 

Thinking back to that day always made you feel better after a blunder. As mentioned, 283 times, but you never tired of looking back. It calmed you and encouraged you to try again; maybe you’d be able to have him look at you the same way again.

Currently though, you were sitting on the deck of Shep’s boat. Leyana wanted to take everyone out on the water after a long day of rebuilding the city. She and Omega were playing about the boat, Shep was steering the ship, and everyone else sat about stirring their drinks and telling jokes, laughing and relaxing. Tech was on his datapad but also joined in with comments of his own. When Phee asked him why he didn’t just put the thing down, he claimed he could do both.

That earned an eye roll from Omega and Wrecker. You wondered what warranted that. 

“What’s got your tongue tied, Gorgeous?” Phee came up beside you, while all the others looked out over the water at the coming sunset, putting an encouraging arm around your shoulders. By the look in her eye, she already knew.

You and Phee had been attached at the hip ever since you were born. She definitely was the older sister you never had. Growing up, she was always getting you in trouble and pulling you out of it. Phee looked out for you and practically raised you. She was only a few years older but sometimes when she got protective of you, it felt like she was much older than she naturally was. Kids weren’t always kind; you got bullied and called all sorts of things but Phee never let it slide. She got put in detention a few times at school for the extent she’d look out for you. You’d wait for her on the swingset outside and walk home together, every night without fail. 

You loved her, and never minded how different the two of you were. She was everything you weren’t, and you admired that. Together, you felt like a complete circle. Where she was outgoing, adventurous, spirited, confident; you were calm, shy and nervous. You were cautious when she threw credits to the wind. You were observant, watchful and insightful, playing in the shadows, calculating, accurately foretelling, while she confidently and boldly put out her ideas. You never minded being in her shadow, until now. It felt like only she would ever see the light you had to offer. It wasn’t the same kind as hers, but that didn’t make it any less special. She made sure you knew that, but it would be nice having it come from someone else as well…

You groaned. 

“How do you do it, Phee? It all comes so naturally to you. You can flirt, be fun and express what you feel and it comes across amazingly. When I try just getting a sentence out around him I can barely string a thought into words. And it doesn’t have to be an important thought either. Just saying I like the same berry juice he does sounds stupid. Why am I like this?” 

You let your head fall forward and hit the table with a bang.

“I’m hopeless.”

“You must reeeaaaally like Tech if you’re vaguely mentioning him.”

You didn’t reply. You just let your shoulders droop and turn to face her with a scowl. Her grin was teasing but her eyes sparkled softly. 

“I think you and Brown Eyes would make an amazing couple. He could learn a few things from you. Hun, just let him see the amazing woman I know.”

Phee gave your arm an encouraging squeeze.

“And I got a few ideas that might help him!”

“Really?” 

“Of course! That one can be kind of dense. He probably likes you but doesn’t even know it. Let’s help him realize it, shall we?”

“I don’t know about that…I don’t know if he even knows I’m alive.”

“If he doesn’t, I’m going to fix that too; even if I have to smack him in the face.”

“Don’t do that!”

“Not literally, Hun, figuratively.”

“Oh, as long as it doesn’t hurt.”

Phee chuckled, “Oh I can’t promise that. I’m going to make him notice you one way or another if it’s the last thing I do.”

“Now I feel like I should be nervous. Phee, what are you planning?”

“You leave that to me. And why on earth would you be nervous; it’s me we’re talking about here!”

“Isn’t that reason enough?”

“Very fair.”

Your grins were missed by everyone except for a goggled pair of eyes. He didn’t know why you were smiling, but he was happy to see it. He only wished he could have been the reason.

— — — 

Phee’s first attempt at matchmaking arose the next day, and did she have an idea! Phee assigned you and Tech to work on a pier so there could be more ports on the island for fishing and boating. 

You were handy and confident working with your hands. Phee knew you’d be at ease doing something you were capable of with your eyes closed. Perhaps you could teach Tech a thing or two as well. That would boost your confidence and your conversation topics. 

And Phee was right, for the most part.

You and Tech worked in perfect synchrony—and the repairs took the entire day so by the time the work was done, it was sunset. There were absolutely no hiccups with the construction. 

“I think we’re set!” You said excitedly testing the boards you both were kneeling on, “We should be able to head in for dinner.” You spoke too soon. The nails poking out on the board just under you caught your eye. You’d have to make sure those were bent out of the way so no one would get hurt.  “Oh drats.”

“Hm, it shouldn’t be too hard to fix. We’ll only be delayed a few moments.”

Tech rolled up his sleeves. Your jaw dropped in a gawk. 

“Oh…”

Tech’s eyes snapped to yours, head tilted curiously. 

“Ohhhh…..ohhh! Look!” You tried to cover up your blunder by pulling your eyes away from his forearms and to the water, pointing down at the glowing algae. “They never glow blue. They usually are green. Do you know why?” 

You looked up at the same time Tech was bending over to look down, hitting your heads on each other. The shock of the hurt sent you both hurtling into the water. 

Gasping and spluttering, you both emerged from the water covered with the glowing sea plant. 

“Well this was an unexpected pleasure.”

At first you couldn’t tell if Tech was being sarcastic or not but then you saw him examining the algae. “Quite impressive.”

“Yeah, it is.”

Looking into the water surrounding you illuminated by the mysterious blue, you missed the enchanted look he gave you. Of course, you couldn’t read his thoughts, but if you could, you would have known that the incident made him chuckle internally and it was worth it to see you crowned in the elegant plant. It was beautiful, tangled and dripping from your hair while the orange gold of sunset threw its color on you. You rather looked like a siren, calling him to you. 

But no, instead, you could only think all you accomplished was getting Tech thoroughly soaked and even more late for dinner because of your mishap. Now you’d have a matching bruise at least. That was something, right? Maybe? Maybe not? At least he got to examine the algae, that was a win. But he probably now thought you were a klutz. 

You couldn’t know how impressed he was with your skill. 

— — —

Phee wasn’t discouraged though. Her next idea was great in the planning and execution, for the most part. You somehow found a way to bangle it up. 

She asked you to make your favorite dish so everyone could go on a picnic. There was a beautiful field on the other side of Pabu where the scenery was green and lush and the animals were frequent visitors. It would be a fun and relaxing way to end the day.

Originally, it was supposed to be Phee, Shep, Leyana, and the Batch…or at least that is what you were told, but somehow, Tech was the only one who showed up—also under the same impression. 

You immediately saw right through the scheme but said nothing, blushing a deep red and internally cringing at the fact you didn’t see this coming. In fact, this is a scheme you pulled on Phee last year. She was just reusing it. You were relieved to see Tech did not catch on and thought it was a mishap the others didn’t show up. His brothers and sister had a last minute accident resulting in them not being able to go (which of course you knew was orchestrated between Phee and the others. How could it not. You’d put money on the guess Omega was in on this too.)

“No use letting the food go to waste, right?” You tried to shrug off the awkwardness, and it worked.

Tech heartily agreed and while you ate, your shyness melted away. You found yourselves swapping stories about those who you both loved and were not present. Laughing at foolish stories and regalling in the exciting ones. 

“Phee’s really brave. I’m not so much. I’m kind of her shadow. Everything she is, I isn’t.” You winced at the weird choice of words. It’s fine. Play it cool. Everything is fine…Everything is not fine. That sounded so dumb.

“I don’t get opportunities to be brave like she does. She creates those opportunities. If they came along by chance, I’d probably miss them or go running in the opposite direction.”

Before Tech could answer, a clan of moon-yos jumped you from behind, tangling themselves and laughing. The things clung to your arms and legs while the little ones stole away the cake you made for dessert. The treasure acquired, all the little annoyances left. 

You could only sit there and stare, dumbfounded. 

How? What just happened? 

In retrospect, you knew this about moon-yos. You should have seen that coming…you were just so eager to share your favorite fruit cake with your friends you didn’t even consider the creatures had the same taste as you. You normally foresaw this kind of thing! What was wrong with you? You were too eager, that’s all. 

With a heavy sigh, you closed the basket.

“Are you alright? Their claws didn’t hurt you?” You asked him, only letting a small bit of exhaustion into your voice. 

“No, it was rather an unusual occurrence…I would be alright if it didn’t happen twice in a lifetime though.”

“For you and me both, I guess we’d better head back, yeah? Lots to do tomorrow.” Packing up hid your embarrassment well, feeling like you wanted to die inside.

Tech helped you clean up, but in your distractedness, you missed the grin on his face and the wonder in his eyes. Their attack barely phased you. You were calm, cool, collected. Many would have shrieked and panicked. Not to mention how well you handled the loss of your famous desert.

The day certainly didn’t go as planned, but when was that a bad thing?

— — — 

A few days later, after one of Tech’s famous flying lessons with Omega, the Marauder needed some light repairs. The close proximity sensors went out…again. Phee slyly and quickly suggested that you could assist with the repairs to your great horror. You didn’t know anything about mechanical stuff. On the island, everything was hand built practically. You were good with a hammer, not a spanner. 

“Relax, Tooka,” Phee chuckled, “he probably won’t let you touch anything anyway. He’s rather particular about that ship. You’ll just talk and keep him company.”

What shocked everyone was when he excitedly agreed to your help.

You were not there to just keep him company.

Furthermore, dropping jaws, Tech was showing you what he’d like you to do. 

Tech was under a desk panel inside the ship, and you were on the comms outside working on the roof, connecting the wires he told you, when he told you. Sweating buckets, you wiped your palms on your pants again. This was his ship. His pride and joy. You couldn’t mess this up. Breathing heavily, you waited for the next set of instructions. 

“Alright, now connect the red sensor wire with the port of corresponding color. Then connect the blues.”

“Consider it done!” Somehow you managed to sound more confident than you felt. But that was a simple enough task. So far his instructions were easy and clear. But when you looked down at your panel, you noticed something looked off. The orange wire looked like it was melted into the port. If you connected the red now, you were sure the whole system would short circuit again.

You knew you should have asked but you didn’t. Instead, you took a firm hold of the orange wire and pulled. 

Sparkles flew everywhere, a small explosion sound startling you. A scream escaped your mouth and you fell off the side of the ship.

Tech, hearing the snapping, was already on his way out to see if you needed anything. Good thing, as you fell almost right into his arms, the force almost knocked him over but he somehow righted himself.

“Are you alright?” 

He set you down and started to examine your hands. 

“You are fortunate, you are not burned, what happened?” 

Throat constricting, you tried to explain the situation. Tears pricked your eyes but you wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of falling until you were alone. 

“Let me take a look.”

When Tech reached the top, he looked down at the panel amazed. He guessed right away you weren’t a mechanic, but he was excited to have you around and share this with you if you were willing. But, actually, if you didn’t do what you did, this would have been much worse. The tiny explosion would have been a bigger one. You had an amazing head on your shoulders and a great knack for technology. All it would take was a little training and you’d be a natural. He’d be more than happy to show you.

He was going to offer just that, but you’d disappeared before he reached the ground. Perhaps you needed space after the shock. That was logical. He’d finish this up. He’d see you at dinner and ask how you were. 

— — — 

Tech did not, in fact, see you at dinner. 

Indeed, Tech didn’t see you much after the accident. You were present the following morning when the boys and Omega went to market but after that you made yourself scarce and by the afternoon, he’d decided to seek you out. It didn’t take long to find you. You were on the ledge of the pier the two of you worked on together a few days ago. The thought made him smile.

Tech watched you hunched over on the pier, staring into the water and dangling your legs carefully over the edge. Your easy, relaxed smile he would often see on your face when you were alone or you thought no one was watching, was not present, and a feeling of worry washed over him.

Your eyebrows pressed together, hyper-focusing on something that wasn’t there. Lips were turned into a frown and mind distracted. 

That really wasn’t like you. From what he observed, you were quiet…but also observant. You watched and understood everything that was happening. You always knew your surroundings and not much got past you. Your eyes were ever watchful, a hidden light which carried a flame underneath. A mysterious flame that intrigued and fascinated him. It danced with an unshed energy which promised something great, though what was yet to be seen—your power veiled behind a mask.

There was so much to you. 

And he enjoyed every moment you let him in to discover something new.

The hidden garden of knowledge in the vastness of your mind and imagination was beyond anything he’d ever experienced. You brought up points he never even considered, and they excited him. Not many people outside his family had the ability to evoke an emotion of happiness from him.

You did.

And he found himself wanting to do the same for you. To be the reason you smiled. To be the reason you blushed and laughed. To be the reason for the clumsy mistakes out of distracted love. 

He chuckled thinking of your late encounters. They didn’t ‘end well’ according to what Phee explained at lunch (though to be honest, he didn’t understand how), but each time left him with a glowing feeling in his chest which spread to his cheeks in a blush. How could they not have ended well when each one left him feeling a glow of love and pride towards you?

You’d been down today, that he knew, but he didn’t know it was this bad. Tech thought it was merely your social anxiety he found got to you when things were loud and crowds pressed in on you. The market was hectic getting ready for that festival. He thought that was all it was.

This wasn’t that…He wanted to check in with you and make sure you were alright after that last incident but now he was unsure. Did you need some alone space? Would he only make matters worse? Then again, Omega had commented on it being nice knowing you’re cared for even if you didn’t want it at the moment.

A huge crash broke him from his musings and Tech watched you turn in horror towards the source of the sound. 

You started yelling something in a language he didn’t understand, tripping over yourself to get to the collapsing building. You didn’t stop to put your shoes on, you didn’t hesitate. You just ran.

He started running too, there could be people who needed help but there was something about your urgency that made him pause. Why….

Oh. 

Tech doubled his speed. “Hunter, we have a problem. The orphanage under reconstruction is collapsing. I fear some of the children are still inside.” 

“On it. I’ll get Wrecker. We’ll be there shortly.”

— — —

This just wasn’t a good day.

You screwed everything up. You were sure Tech wouldn’t want to speak to you again after what happened. After everything Phee had done to help you. After how far you thought you’d come, you’d always be the screw up. 

You sighed and ran your fingers through your hair, feet dangling over the edge of the pier. In a better mood, you’d playfully kick in the water but now, they just hung idle, lacking the energy for anything more than allowing a cooling, numbing sensation to creep up your legs. 

Perhaps you were just overthinking everything. A little bit of sleep might do you some good. You and the boys had been doing so much to repair the town, you’d gotten little rest. Your mind would go into overdrive when you were tired. Perhaps that was just the case here. No need to panic (yeah right). Some little sleep would show you you were not over with (maybe). You’d gather the courage to apologize and fix your mistake. 

You would make it up to him somehow. 

If your friendship wasn’t permanently damaged, you’d find a way to mend it. You had to. Tech had grown to mean too much to you for you to let him go so easily. 

Disaster after disaster went before your eyes and you thought them through. Analyzed where you’d gone wrong. How you’d fix it or how you would make up for the blunder. It might take a while but it’d be worth it. 

However long it took. 

You’d talk to him first. This time, you wouldn’t stutter. You’d have to practice but you were determined. You would be heard and you’d get it out right. 

Before your plans could progress further, a huge crash broke through your thoughts. You turned to see the orphanage had collapsed. Fear coursed through your veins. Some of the children were helping where they could; they prided themselves in their hard work of what they contributed. They could be trapped! When you heard shouting and screams, you knew you were right. 

“Hold on, I’m coming!”

You pulled your feet and dashed toward the construction site. 

“I’m coming! Lil, run to the village and get help! Myles, go get the physician! Tali, get Shep!”

You quickly took stock of the situation around you. One of the walls fell outward, seemingly because the upper floor was unstable and tumbled through it. 

You heard your name cried out over and over and saw little Trisy running up to you. 

“Hep! Hep! Tabby is twapped inside, please hep!” She cried and pressed herself into your leg. You held her and knelt down to her level. 

“Hey, hey Tristy, look at me.” You swiped the hair from her face. “I’ll get her, ok? Where was she? Is anyone else inside?” 

Tristy shook her head emphatically. “No, only Tabby.” She whipped her face only for the tears and mucus to be smeared over her cheeks and forehead as well. Her breath was coming in heaves. 

“I’ll get Tabby; you stay here, ok?” 

You only waited for her nod of confirmation before dashing inside the building. 

“Tabby? Tabby! Where are you?”

You carefully tip-toed your way around the fallen logs, not wanting to upset anything. 

“Tabby, please answer me!”

“I-I’m down here!”

You looked down and saw a part of the floor was broken through one more level. A pair of shiny eyes looked up at you with newly enkindled hope grappling with fear. 

“Are you hurt?”

“N-no? I fell in after i-it fell. I think my ankle hurts a little, that’s all.”

Looking around for the best possible solution, you grabbed a rope to use as a pulley. Tossing it over what looked like a stable beam, you tested its strength, pulling and tugging. When it didn’t give, you tied one end around yourself and lowered yourself down into the pit. 

When you reached the bottom, the child crawled over to you and clutched your middle. The poor thing had been crying but was trying so hard to be brave.

“It’s ok, I’m here now! I gotcha.”

Wrapping one arm around the child, you slipped the rope around her. 

“Hold on tight, ok.” 

The child nodded and you hoisted the two of you up with a huff and humph. Grunting, you tugged the rope, dragging your body and the extra wiggling weight up. Sweat beaded on your forehead. Shoulders and arms squeezing and solidifying. Lumps formed where your muscles used to be and your neck felt like it was ready to burst. You just had to reach the top!

Hand over hand. Break. Heave. Hand. Hand. Heave. Heave. Hand. Heave. Hand. Heave. Heave. Heave. 

“We’re almost there. Almost. There.”

Gasping for air, you tugged one more time. Your muscles were shaking and you knew you couldn’t hold on much longer. You were so close to the top but you couldn’t let go. Tabby would get hurt if you fell. You just had to reach the top…

“May I be of assistance?”

That voice. One that you did not expect but yet were so happy to hear made you laugh and tears sprung to your eyes. Looking up, you saw a pair of goggled eyes looking down at you worriedly, hand stretched out in hopes of helping

“Can you grab her?”

“She is secured against you rather well. I would not be able to maneuver her without hurting her. I’ll grab the rope and pull, just hold on.”

Tech reached for the rope and pulled the two of you up, easing you into the unstable floor around the hole. His grip was firm and gentle. If you had time, you’d marvel at it, but your head was still reeling and you gasped for breath.

“Thank you.”

He didn’t anwer. He merely nodded…and placed his hand on your cheek? Quickly withdrawing it, he warned:

“Be careful, move slowly toward the outer part of the room. You should be safe then.”

As fast of a talker as Tech was, he didn’t speak fast enough for Tabby who was already trying to hobble toward the opening in the wall. Your eyes went wide, seeing the unstable beam before anyone else. 

“Tabby, no!” You darted, scooped her up and tossed her (praying you didn’t hurt her) to the opening where you knew the floor was ok.

Breaking through and falling through the floor in the process. 

Wood ate your leg, shards of teeth scraped all the way up from where you stepped. Hot blood seeped through the scratches as you tumbled into the darkness below. You were vaguely aware of someone shouting of your name.

You hit the ground with a sickening thud and crack. 

You couldn’t breath and you couldn’t move. 

Debris fell on top of you so whatever wasn’t broken, was weighed down. 

“Just great.” You gave a little sigh when air could enter your lungs again, trying not to give up too much breath. “This is fine. Everything is great.” 

Closing your eyes and focusing on your breathing, a peace settled over you. You knew you should be scared, but you weren’t. Shouldn’t you ask for help? Shouldn’t you be trying to get out? Definitely. But you could only lay there. 

Everything hurt…but it felt so nice to just lay there and sleep…

You loved Tech but why was he shouting at you? What was he shouting?

Oh.

“Wake up! You cannot go to sleep! Wake up!”

When did he climb down? How did he get down? How long have you been laying there? Surely not long…

Wait, did he just slap you?

Your eyes fluttered open.

“Hey.”

You tried to focus on Tech, eyes scrunched with undisguised worry as they searched your face and body. 

“That wasn’t nice. Waking sleeping people isn’t nice.” you mumbled with a slight smirk.

To your surprise, he didn’t spout off a fact like you expected him to, instead he smiled a little sadly. For the first time, he seemed unsure of what to say. 

“It is, if you’re afraid they will expire in their unconsciousness.”

“Fair enough.”

Wait, he was afraid of you dying? WAIT? WERE YOU DYING?

Panic overtook you. Eyes wide, you started to gasp and move around, words failing to form. Thankfully, Tech guessed your line of thought.

“Nothing to worry about. I have already woken you. You just need to stay awake for me, alright? I’ll move the debris off, and you will be just fine.”

“Are you lying to make me feel better?”

Tech looked at you and readjusted his goggles. “Now why would I do that?”

Wanting to shrug but not being able to, you settled for a sigh and fell silent. 

You felt a piece lifted off you…he was so strong…you could get lost in the movements of him heroically saving you but then he stopped. You nearly pouted but held back.

“Please, while I work, give me assurances you are still conscious. Talk if it isn’t painful or clench and unclench your free hand. I…was worried before. You fell rather far and hit your head.”

“Ok…”

Your mind searched for topics but the only one that came to mind was the thought that gave you comfort these past few weeks. You laughed a weak huff.

“Like I said…easily crushed…very appropriate…right…about now.”  

“No,” His voice was firm, not angry but steal-like, “like I said. Beautiful, brave, resilient, resourceful.” His soft smile returned. “Seems like Phee isn’t the only brave one of the two of you. My hypothesis was correct; I just wish you didn’t test it in such drastic measures.”

Your head nodded a little, the ghost of a laugh on your lips while your eyes fluttered closed.

“Please don’t go to sleep. I can’t lose you like this.” 

Wait…he was worried he’d lose you?!?

You wanted to comment on that. You didn’t know how, so after opening and shutting your mouth a few times, you settled on something equally important. 

Not knowing what else to say, you decided now was as good as ever to apologize. He might even be more forgiving with you in this condition.

“I’m sorry…for everything, Tech.” Tears started to well in your eyes. “I messed up so much. I ruined your ship. I—”

“You’re upset because you thought you hurt me or I was angry with you?”

You nodded, letting out a little sob. You couldn’t look at him, so you clamped your eyes shut and bit your lip, the pain keeping you from falling asleep. …he said your name so gently, the lump in your throat returned.

“You didn’t at all. I am sorry you thought that. I would have talked to you sooner had I known that is what upset you so. You were so grave I thought you needed some space as when you were overwhelmed. Phee told me you thought you ruined some important moments together, but I did not equate that with the toll it took on your mind. How could I when everything you did evoked a feeling of love for you?”

You sucked air through your lips and let the tears fall. 

“You’re not teasing me are you? Because l love you. And if this isn’t real, I swear…”

But you were startled into opening your eyes anyway. 

Did you die, or was Tech actually kissing you?

Tech placed one of his hands on your cheeks, stroking it gently with his thumb. His lips moved over yours ever so softly, as if he was afraid the movement would hurt you, yet there was a firmness there which reassured you that he wasn’t timid of you or how he felt. 

“You’re my beautiful flower. Nothing will ever change that. I promise. Now let’s get you out of here. If you wilt before, that is simply unacceptable and unforgivable after this confession.”

You chuckled, “Alright. Deal. No croaking before we leave.”

“Or after.” He sighed. “That was not giving you permission to ‘croak’ after being helped to safety.”

You could only laugh. 

“I won’t plan on it. Not when I’m finally yours. And Tech, only you can call me flower.”

“I thought it would be obvious...my flower.”

[cherrysurf]

when the stars collide | k.bokuto x reader

chapter 2; the day we meet

guess who wrote more than 300 words this time (me lol)

After your 11 o'clock econ class you headed down to the stadium to start preparing for the mural, the deadline was in 2 weeks, besides this being on display and looking amazing on your art profolio it was paying you a decent amount which was more than enough to keep you motivated. Your plan for the piece was to create a montage of the best players in the msby league (past n recent) and the stadium in the background, on your way to the stadium you headed into the cafe to grab a quick lunch to eat on your break. You make it to the gates and show them the id they gave you to come n go as you please without any hassle. It felt cool in a vip sorta way but it was just for work so it was whatever. You walk to the area where you're supposed to design the mural and set your stuff up ready to being, you brought your sketchbook as it had the reference you were going off of for this, you drew it in colored pencil not that long ago to really grasp your idea on what you wanted to convey on the wall. As you sit there on the floor eating while adding a few more notes to your sketch, you feel someone’s bag hit the back of your head “ouch?!” you say looking up, finding a tall buff slivered a white haired man, “oh my gosh i’m so sorry i totally didn’t see you there i’m in a rush right now, I'm sorry again. I gotta go head practice before the coach yells at me!” he says taking a small glance at you before running off not fully capturing you or what you were doing. “ugh how rude.” you said underneath your breath chalking it up to stupid baseball players being stupid and ignorant, sure he apologized but he didn’t take his time doing it, he just brushed it off how insignificant of him. You chose to calm down and not let it affect you before it completely ruins your artist flow, the next two hours you start the outline on the wall feeling accomplished by the ruff sketch of it right now. you pack up and happen to see the boys’ baseball team still practicing and you notice the silver and white haired man yet again and scoffed on your way out the stadium, as you drive home to your small but cozy apartment you can’t help but think about the situation that happened today and feel like how you did back in highschool when people would purposely do that to you all the time. It wasn’t easy being you, I mean constantly having your eyes on your sketches, not going out, and not typically being focused on regular highschool activities. So you have no friends really but you didn’t mind you were more worried about your future as an artist more than anything else so it was all going to be worth it right? right. you snap out of the moment and finally arrive home, you shower and get ready for the night. As you sip tea and do your regular classes assignments on your laptop as your white fluffy cat curled up to you, mango was the only real friend you had. Your mom got her for you a couple months before you graduated highschool and she’s been stuck with you ever since, and you didn’t live in the doors so you didn’t have to worry about not being able to keep her. She was the only real company you had and you preferred it that way. as you put away your laptop and tea cup you head to bed sleeping all those bad feelings away.

taglist; @heartmaddie @twiishaa @cretenu

[thewritetofreespeech]

Could I request Tohru Kirishima's s/o being nagged by her father and paternal aunt and uncles to marry a wealthy man despite her and her mother being against it? S/o eventually decides to propose to him since they're already dating, much to her family and chosen fiance's shock.

“Ugh! If I have to go to one more of these marriage meetings I’m gonna jump off a bridge.”

“Don’t do that.” Kirishima told [Y/N]. “I just bought you ice cream. It would be such a waste.”

As they walked down the street, holding their individual cones, [Y/N] had been complaining about their marriage meetings almost since the start. He got that it was annoying, but all Kirishima could do was listen to them gripe.

Coming from a poor household, he would never have to endure the burden of marriage meetings like a well-off family like hers did. Being rich and connected in their world, marriage was more than about relationships. It was about loyalty. Alliances. Finances. His mother only ever said that he marry someone nice, and that was hard enough as it was.

“I’m not going to. But gods, it’s so annoying! If I have to listen to one more idiot talk about his stocks or ‘the long family line’ he comes from….” She sighed. “It’s just really frustrating.”

“Why don’t you just marry one of them and get it over with?”

[Y/N] turned to him with an impossibly arched brow. “Oh yeah. Like that will solve it. Being eternity and legally linked to one of these idiots forever. Good suggestion Kirishima.”

“I’m just saying, if you get married, they would stop bugging you right? It’s not like anything has to change.”

Not all relationships were as dedicated and passionately in love as the boss & his wife. Since they were basically arranged, many yakuza couples were together separately. Fidelity was defined as being faithful to the family, not necessarily each other. “Just marry someone and then it will be done with. It’s the fastest way to get it over.”

“You know what. You’re right Kirishima.” He was surprised that they accepted his ridiculous suggestion. Which should have been his first warning. When he turned around to see if they were being serious, he found [Y/N] on the ground, on one knee, holding out one of their gummy peach rings out like a real one. “Kirishima-san, will you marry me?”

“Get off the ground you idiot!! People are gonna start staring!!”

His shouting probably drew more attention than their action, but [Y/N] stood up and a giggled. “Oh, come on. I’m being serious.”

“No you’re not.”

“Well….more serious than I was at any of the marriage meetings.” She clarified. “Come on, like you said, nothing has to change. We can still be friends. They get off my back. You won’t die alone like you were destined to until this moment-“Watch it”-and we get to get a neat cake. What do you say?”

Kirishima held on to his cone and just stared at [Y/N] for a minute. He knew that they weren’t serious at all. But a part of him maybe wondered. “I’m not marrying you so you can get out of paperwork [Y/N]. You can forget it.”

“Aww…you’re no fun…..”

They continued on their walk in a little more silence than usual. It was hard to start up a new conversation after that. Once he was home, Kirishima went to his room and got ready for bed. For the first time in a long time, he thought about his future. One with white dresses, and neat cake. He wondered if maybe that was a possibility for him.

[imaginespazzi]

Nivi! How are you, bestie? I'm just here for a quick drop-by again, just to check in and say hi.

Life hasn't slowed down much the past few weeks so I still haven't had time to do a long review but please know that every GH chapter is like a shot of serotonin straight into my veins.

You had so many good lines in Chapter 10 that gave me a good chuckle btw, i loved it.

Also, I'm never ever getting tired of Paige-Azzi-Stephie scenes. Like ugh, this lil family makes my day always. Brooo, Stephie's possessiveness! She a little master manipulator huh cause this:

“Mama,” Stephie says loudly, cutting Paige off as she turns to Azzi, “do you know if Aunty Chérie is in town?”

“I was just thinking,” Stephie barrels on casually, “maybe we could go see her and she could give me cuddles and kisses since app-ently Miss Buecks is too busy to give them to me-”

^This was absolutely DIABOLICAL from that little girl hahahah. She knows EXACTLY what to say to get what she wants from her Miss Buecks. Like mother, like daughter truly.

And our Drew cameo, it's finally here! Oh boy, the confrontation is really gonna be something, i already know. Yeah for sure I think Drew's gonna have slight feelings of jealousy or yearning in a way that Stephie gets to experience what he missed out on, but more than anything I think he is gonna be super protective of her and not wanting her to ever go through what he went through when Paige and Azzi broke up.

I do wonder what Azzi's reaction will be if and when they finally get around to talking about the "plan" in place of Angie potentially taking over P's role and the team maybe no longer needing P after this one season. I know P says it's nothing they can't work through , but well we all know how much of an overthinker Azzi is and so she's prolly already gonna jump straight ahead to scenarios of well what's that gonna look like if P has to move to the OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTRY and how that's gonna affect Stephie. Ugh, the angst is about to ANGST, i feel it.

Anyhoo, i guess this is kinda a medium-sized review? As a small token of my appreciation haha.

As always, thanks for taking the time to feed our souls with your talent! Can't wait for the next (whenever that may be)!

P.S: I think I'm rooting for a Liberty-Sun finals series. I do love the Lynx and I know how much you love Phee so I wouldn't mind if it was the Lynx (and I think it will prolly be them anyway over the Sun) but I do have such a soft spot for CT and I looooove Nai, so I am rooting for them over Minny, sorry babes. I'm rooting for NY though so at least there's that!

Oh and I watched Geno's media availability today, and he didn't seem all too impressed after the first practice session lol but it is the first one and there's a lot of new pieces so like he said, it'll just take time. But it better take less time than it did last season cause idk if I can suffer through another painful non-conference stretch. ALSO grandpa seemed annoyed at having to be cautious with Azzi LMAO, like if it was up to him, she's back on that court playing as much as possible ASAP. Imma need him to chill on that though. Like no one wants to see princess back on court more than me (well, maybe apart from Azzi herself and blondie) BUT her knees better be 200% before she's back on there!

I said "quick drop-by" and look what we got instead - typical hahah.

OK imma stop now. Love ya, bestie. Take care of yourself always! 💗

-🙋‍♀️

BESTIE I MISSED YOU I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU <3

Babes I get you don't even worry about it. Life is gonna do life things and whenever you have the time to do one again (hopefully I write again lol) I will be seated to read it!

But I'm glad you've been enjoying GH.

Honestly I love writing Stephie so much. She's just an evil genius and she's so smart and perfect and funny which off course she is, she's literally mini-Pazzi.

Ugh babes you always just get my writing because that's exactly how Drew feels towards Stephie. There's definitely some wistfulness there seeing her get that "family" that was in way stolen from him but he's already enamored by this little girl and he would never want her to face what he has.

Azzi's reaction is going to depend on when she finds out and how she finds out tee hee :) I've given y'all so much fluff, it's only fair I give the angst fiends some angst soon.

Well I hate to break it to you babes, but no Liberty-Sun finals for and you and I fear it's looking quite grim for the Liberty in general right now. But at least we'll always have MVPhee too root for!

Oh god I didn't have time to react to Geno's availability but I fear grandpa did not real squelch any of my fears about this team. My biggest side-eye was actually his lack of complementariness about Jana and I'm a little fearful for my frontcourt where apparently Ice (??) is looking like the best player?

He's definitely dying to have Azzi back out there but if that girl plays more than 15 minutes in at least her first 5 games, we will be having words! I have Farleigh-Dickinson circled on my calender for the earliest possible game we can see her and that would give her a couple of easy game before the team would really need her so he better not play her more than 15 if she does play then.

[stuffymcstuffsworld]

Arrogance

Never had he seen such arrogance. It made him clench his teeth. Henry growls out to the younger demon.

♤You better show some respect! Check your behavior. No one speaks to Sullivan that way.♤

His eyes narrow. That blasted imp in question stared at him gleefully from where you had kicked the doors to the meeting room open. The audacity.

♤Did you expect us to sit back and take your insolent, brazen display?♤

You laugh. Flashing a bright grin and jumping up onto the table. Strutting down like it was a runway. Shrugging and giving a casual response.

☆You've got it twisted. I'm not the one who needs a new attitude.☆

Henri drew his weapon and charged. You ducked and dodged it. Basically, dancing around him. Nothing more than a game to you.

☆Well maybe you missed it, but I'm just that bitch, and I will do nothing less than what I please. I'm the backbone of these thieves.☆

Delivering a roundhouse kick to his stomach, sending him back. He skids across the table and grunts the other crowns stood up ready to join the fight.

You smirk. This is what you had wanted to spread chaos. You give a fake pout and shrug, avoiding Amaymon's claws.

☆Mad that I acted redpectless? Well, it's cause no one can respect this.☆

Tossing Astaroh over your shoulder like they were a rag doll. Giggling and avoiding Amuryillis's kick. Grabbing her tail and swinging her to the side and dopping her.

☆Sorry, group attending, but since when are the crowns too scared to fight? You're long past trending. Sorry, babes, but I ain't swiping right.☆

Waving your finger right in Sullivan's face. The older demon just sits there a glint in his eyes. But you weren't intimidated. If anything, it made you excited.

☆You've lost your relevance.☆

Sullivan calmly says stands up. Looking you dead in the eye. He leans forward and with an even tempered tone says.

◇We can't act without more intelligence.◇

You make a face. Rolling your eyes and crinkling your nose in disgust as you dodge another attack from behind.

☆Ugh. No wonder I'm so respectless. I could eat you lot for breakfast.☆

Henri strikes again. Your tail stops him from getting closer. He snarls. Baring his teeth at you in rage as he pours more of his strength into his attack.

♤You and the six are inane and uninformed. Smug wannabes who don't heed when you've been warned.♤

Twisting turns and flips out of the way. It's just too hard to catch you. How excruciating. Not even ariel attacks seemed to faze you.

☆Well, it's just cause no one can respect us! Just cause no one can respect this! No one can respect us! Respect us!☆

Laughing and weaving out of the way. Skipping in front of the big three and playing with your nails. Tou can't help but taunt them.

☆Oops, did I strike a nerve? Cause when I brought up the former head, couldn't help but observe. That your wrinkled faces turned red.☆

Side stepping a spear. Looking over your shoulder at Baal. A knowing look on his face as he stalks towards you. You wiggle your fingers at him and yank the spear out of the table, ready to fight for real.

☆And why are you avoiding war? That's what demons were built for.☆

Clashing against each other. The sound of metal striking against metal. Baal's tail slapping you across the room. But you bounce back up.

☆Mad that I'm acting respectless? Well, how could you ever respect this?☆

You gestured to yourself before charging again. Avoiding several others and focusing on Baal instead. He smirks. Summoning his lightning.

You narrowly dodge it. Brushing your hair out of your face. Giving a playful mocking bow to everyone in the room.

☆Sorry, group attending, but since when are those in charge too scared to fight? You're long past trending. Sorry, babes, but I ain't swiping right. You've lost your relevance. ☆

□I admire your diligence.□

Baal jeers. You feel your heart flutter at the compliment. He's not really known to compliment others easily when it comes to the six fingers.

Sure, he'll speak honey'd words when nessisary. But a real compliment? You couldn't wait to rub it into Atori's face later.

You give a fake scoff and spin your stolen weapon into position. Again, you lunge. It wasn't a fair fight. But going against so many strong demons made your blood rush.

☆No wonder I'm so respectless, I could eat you all for breakfast!☆

Suddenly, Henri manages to grab you from behind. The two of you grapple on the floor. His low voice rumbles in your ear.

♤You and the six are insane and need reform. Smug and naive, you should heed when I warn.☆

You manage to buck him off of you. Rolling away before Paimon could land a blow to your skull. You jump up to your feet quickly.

☆Well, it's cause no one could respect this. It's cause no one could respect us. Cause no one could respect this. Respect us.☆

Hours later, when you're icing your wounds. Relaxing against a couch. You had just narrowly avoided being captured.

Baal enters seeing your feet propped up. He leans over the side of the couch. He strokes your hair out of your face.

"You did well." He praised. You giggle. The medicine you had taken for the pain had made you a bit loopy. You lean into his touch.

☆Mad that I acted respectless?☆

□How can anyone respect this?□

He doesn't seem bothered and answers back in kind. Pressing his forehead against yours. Rubbing your cheek gently.

☆No wonder I'm so respectless, I ate them all from breakfast.☆

□mm thanks to you for being respectless. One thing I'm starting to suspect is... he knows why that group is headless.□

You lean back further into the couch. Nodding along to his statement. Yes. It was true. There was definitely a secret when the crowns hadn't moved on and found a new king at this point.

☆Well, let's just keep being respectless. One day, we'll make them respect us.☆

[solar8331]

What made u like chaluggie so much?

OKAY LONG ANSWER SO HERE’S A TLDR

TL;DR I like chaluggie bc I’m a dirty angst/drama lover also multishipper also it’s gay and cute and I totally see a working dynamic between the three. Also I’m a sucker for redemption esp for characters like Lute…

Long version:

Some backstory is that I started out in the fandom scene making tiktoks, posting chaggie content mostly. Then one day, as I was going through my sounds, trying to find a good one for chaggie, I stumbled upon a sound where I thought wasn’t quite chaggie. But I still wanted to post chaggie, so I added Lute as the other person. I was like hm… what if… luggie was a thing (since Vaggie is gay and Lute and her had SOME sort of tension going on…) Anyways, it was all fun and games until I was three tiktoks in realizing it in fact was not just a funny HC I have of luggie being exes. I very much ship the two. Toxic yuri ftw.

Here is said TT btw:

So I ended up making a sad backstory for Lute and how she would have done anything for Vaggie to survive Adam’s wrath for letting a sinner go… including hurting Vaggie herself. What was the question again? Oh yeah. AT THIS POINT, I have been making this OTHER AU I had we will call it the EX!AU where it’s just Exorcist!Vaggie x Emo!Charlie.

For that story, Charlie had (accidentally) caused Vaggie to fall and ultimately lose her eye and wings. It’s an enemies to lovers angsty story. (I promise this has everything to do with chaluggie) Anyways, in one of the arcs, Lute kidnaps Vaggie to Heaven and while talking about it with my friend, I made Lute secretly a softy with a tough exterior. When Charlie stormed Heaven to take Vaggie back, Lute feigned an injury so they could both get away. Vaggie noticed this and was immediately worried for Lute’s safety. After all, they used to fuck in Heaven. (It’s how they bond)

My friend and I were then talking about making Lute experience the Hell Vaggie had told her so much about and decided to make a spinoff series of the AU where she comes down. Now THIS AU (the spin-off) is the chaluggie AU I have. In the spin-off, we initially just thought it’d be funny to make a threesome scene where Charlie dominates Lute while Vaggie watches, so we had to build an entire story around that because Charlie wouldn’t just cheat… and it’s chaggie.

…and then I got grounded and got left to my brainworms. Chaluggie wasn’t exactly in my brain yet but at this point I really liked chaggie AND luggie and wanted to see more. Then I was like ugh, what if they were just all together? So I wouldn’t have to choose between the two. And that’s also when I drew my first piece of NSFW Charlute art. NOW I WAS REALLY INTO IT and a small part of me wanted to get them in a polycule in the AU but I thought I was just crazy and nobody would enjoy/think the same. Especially not my friend. But oh boy was I wrong.

My FRIEND sent me this fanfic and a few fanart of chaluggie to cheer me up since I now wasn’t allowed to post on tiktok or have social media. (will link in just a second, but I’m very sure for those who like chaluggie they already know I’m talking about “Bratty Bottom Lute”; the fanart was by @cartooncorgii on twitter) I will tell you RIGHT now, MY EYES WERE OPENED. I was like people actually LIKE the ship? Another thing to know about me is that I am definitely a rarepair shipper but I also hate it because I get excited to talk about it but most people don’t understand.

Bratty Bottom Lute - Texan_Red_Rose

That was when I realized I could ship chaluggie and ALSO get content for it. I was absolutely hooked. What could possibly be better than Lute softening up for the Princess of Hell and her ex-lover, Vaggie? My obsession with Lute might also have a play in this but that’s for another story.

Anyways, much like BBL, what was originally supposed to be straight up corn became an elaborate story and we (my friend and I) are now still working on the chaluggie AU as we speak. I occasionally post things that happen in the AU on my twitter, but it’s mostly personal enjoyment.

It’s a great way to have drama/angst (my two favorite things right alongside fluff and hurt/comfort) I also mentioned above that I am a multishipper. I like shipping everyone with my favorite character which was (and still is) Charlie at this point. Thus, I started to ship charlute (from my AU) and it just kind of went downhill from there ngl. I’ll drop below one of my earliest works of my chaluggie AU. I was rambling to my friend about how Lute and Charlie could totally bond over bands and hair dye. That was also when I realized charlute could have chemistry and now instead of Charlie x Vaggie x Lute, it was just all of them mushed into one gay ass relationship (aka chaluggie)

Okay, thank you if you’ve stuck this far and read ALL of that and SORRY FOR THE LONG RAMBLE I HAVE trouble deciding what to add and whatnot sometimes. But thank you :) now enjoy some of my old chaluggie art. Also please do read Bratty Bottom Lute, it is GENIUS.

(If you want the NSFW chaluggie I made, it is on my twitter, I don’t remember if that stuff is allowed on tumblr anymore)

[bradshawssugarbaby]

It's a Marshmallow World - Harrison Knott x Reader

A/N: My entry for @lewmagoo's Christmas Celebration, I wanted to keep it cute and fluffy and I figured since the movie is filmed in Hawaii, I'm making it that Harrison is from there too.

pairing: Harrison Knott x gn!reader

warnings/content: none, winter/Christmas-themed fluff, probably inaccuracies about Hawaii and snow (I'm Canadian but I tried researching???)

word count: 1.5k

“Ugh, I hate this song.”

You rolled your eyes as you heard the opening bars of John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” playing from the wireless speaker sitting on the kitchen island. You pressed skip on your phone, shaking your head at each song after’s opening notes before finally settling on one. Harrison leaned forward on the island’s countertop and raised an eyebrow at you as he spoke.

“You’re not serious, are you? This is a classic one. Next you’re gonna tell me you hate It’s A Wonderful Life too, aren’t you?” He said teasingly, his deep blue eyes meeting yours with a questioning stare, eyebrows cocked slightly in mock disbelief.

“Of course you like It’s A Wonderful Life.” You retorted, rolling your eyes once again at your boyfriend’s taste in all things…well, old.

Harrison was an old soul when it came to just about anything relating to pop culture. He was the only person you knew who actually preferred cassette tapes and vinyl records, even CDs to streaming his music. He was one of the only people you knew who still had access to a VCR and a tape deck. He still created mixtapes over playlists and you’d almost always find him sitting on the couch watching some old movie you, and everyone else in your age group, had probably never heard of. It was part of his charm and allure for you - you loved that he was into the most niche interests, that he was always introducing you to new things, giving you a newfound appreciation for media you’d otherwise never truly encounter on your own. Before Harrison, you didn’t even know there were several channels on television dedicated to just playing classic films on a 24/7 basis, or that recording a song to a cassette tape from CD was a whole process, crafting the perfect mix was either a carefully throughout event, or a completely spontaneous act, recording whatever felt right. It was never anything inbetween - curating a collection of songs that worked together to tell a story was a work of art in itself, one that Harrison had mastered somehow. 

“Please, everyone likes It’s A Wonderful Life.” He scoffed.

“Not everyone, Harrison. Pretty sure you’re the only person under 50 who loves it.”

“Listen, it’s a great movie. We could sit and argue all day long about it, but it’s a classic for a reason, baby. Jimmy Stewart is unmatched. Meet Me in St. Louis is another great one, my mom always loves that one.” 

“I’m surprised you haven’t mentioned White Christmas yet.” 

“About that. I like it, don’t get me wrong. But I’ve never actually experienced a white Christmas, so the movie’s magic is sort of…lost on me,” Harrison frowned, shrugging his shoulders.

This was his first Christmas since moving across the US from his hometown in Hawaii to Washington, D.C. for medical school, and you knew better than anyone else that he was dying to see snow for Christmas. In fact, he was about the only person in the city who was sad when the weather forecast had predicted that Christmas morning would be uncharacteristically mild and sunny. Normally, he wouldn’t care what the weather was, but this time, being so far from home and not being able to get back for the holidays this year, he longed for the snow and winter sports he’d been promised when he had looked into the weather in D.C. before moving there. He sighed as he looked out the window each day as Christmas drew closer, with not a snowflake in sight. 

Harrison turned his attention back to washing up the dishes from tonight’s dinner. You padded along the hardwood flooring to the living room, looking out the window as you bit your lip absentmindedly, watching the sky for any sign of snowfall to appear. You furrowed your brow at the clear night sky, stars twinkling brightly as they dotted the darkness outside. You closed the curtain, smiling softly to yourself as you nodded your head once. You had an idea - a pretty farfetched one, but, one that would surely make Harrison feel a little less disappointed about not seeing his first white Christmas this year. 

You disappeared upstairs, searching the house for the tote of spare holiday decorations you had stashed away, unsure of where to place its contents earlier when you were in your decorating frenzy a few weeks ago. Rummaging through the plastic storage bin, you pulled out a large piece of white felt, intended as a base for your mom’s handmedown Christmas village that you’d set out every year as a child. She’d gifted it to you, and although you loved it, your small apartment didn’t have the space to display it. However, the extra fabric and faux snow and ice that came with it, you now knew exactly what to do with. 

Taking a pair of scissors, you began crafting and cutting the felt into snowflakes, thanking your lucky stars for your education degree and chosen career path of becoming a kindergarten teacher, allowing you to get creative at lightning speeds when required. Each piece of felt that hit the floor beneath your feet would come in handy, adding to your false winter wonderland that you were creating. After a few minutes, you’d created a few large snowflakes and a decently sized pile of scrap pieces small enough to sprinkle along the floor to mimic freshly fallen snowflakes in your living room. 

As Harrison was distracted with dishes and tidying the kitchen up, you got to work, hanging your felt snowflakes from some ribbon you’d found, leftover from Christmas wrapping, the strings dangling from the door frame, hanging down to look like falling snow. You sprinkled your pieces of felt along the floor, creating what would appear to anyone else, as a complete mess, but to you? To you, it was the white Christmas that Harrison had always hoped for, or at least, the best alternative you could create for it. 

Once satisfied with your makeshift snowfall, you set your speaker up in the living room, setting up a winter-themed playlist on your phone. You practically skipped your way out to the living room, calling Harrison’s name in a cheerful, sing-song lilt as he finished cleaning the kitchen counter.

“Harrison! Come with me for a sec, ok?”

Harrison raised an eyebrow at you, his toned biceps flexing as he folded his arms across his chest, his caramel brown sweater tightening on the curve of his muscles as he did so. Harrison reluctantly closed his eyes and took your hand, following you into the living room. As he opened his eyes, he went silent for a moment, before bursting into a laugh, shaking his head as he smiled and looked around.

“What is this?” 

“Your white Christmas that you wanted. I can’t make it snow, but I can pretend to at least, I figured it’s something better than green, muddy, mild weather outside.”

Harrison remained speechless for a minute before laughing again in disbelief.

“You’re something else, babe, but I appreciate it.”

As Harrison wrapped his arms around you tightly, he nuzzled his face into the crook of your neck, kissing your skin gently as he hummed softly.

“I love it, thank you.”

“I know it’s not much, but, I know how badly you wanted to have snow for Christmas too.”

Harrison continued to press his lips against your neck, leaving feather-soft,  gentle kisses to you, showering you with affection in thanks for your consideration towards his feelings. You knew a makeshift mess of felt and some kindergarten-level snowflakes weren’t going to make everything better, but, you made him smile, and that was all that mattered to you. 

As Dean Martin’s voice crooned out the beginning of It’s a Marshmallow World on your playlist, your eyes darted to the window once again. You couldn’t help but laugh half-heartedly as you shook your head, giving Harrison a playful swat on the arm to get his attention. His lips peeled away from your neck just long enough for him to gaze out the window, his eyes widening as he made his way closer to the glass to get a better view on what was happening outside. Large, white, fluffy specks were falling from the sky, beginning to coat the ground below in patches of white. 

“It’s actually snowing!” Harrison said with a childlike excitement to his voice, shaking his head as his sapphire blue eyes remained wide and full of wonder as he watched the snow falling, essentially, for the first snowfall he’d ever witnessed. 

You joined Harrison’s side at the window, unable to do anything but smile at his sheer excitement at the weather finally granting his wish two days before Christmas morning. You knew there was always the chance it could be gone and melted by tomorrow, but you didn’t want to burst Harrison’s bubble. Not tonight.

Tonight, you couldn’t help but fall in love with him even more as he watched the snow land on the ground, covering everything in a blanket of white as Dean Martin continued to sing in the background.

“In winter it’s a marshmallow world…”

[psalacanthea]

Fanfic Friday!

Since the game canon Zyn x Astarion was voted, I worked on Dissonance and Debauchery for my writing time the last couple days! I still can't promise when it'll update, but I have made progress on the next chapter. So here's a bit from it, for all of you that voted!

Astarion x Tav (drow bard), tiefling party night post-coital cuddling negotiations. 1900ish words.

Languidly Zyn accepted the kiss that was being pressed on her, lips swollen and lax.

Astarion stroked a finger from under her lip to down the line of her throat, with just the edge of a nail dragging.  It felt nice.  Grounding.

“There we are.  See?  Much better when you’re properly rested and sober.”

Zyn gave an impish little smirk, but couldn’t quite maintain the energy for it.  The smirk went gooey.  Loose.  “And when you’re not in danger of killing me?”

With a long, self-satisfied sigh, Astarion abruptly sat up, pulling out of her line of vision.  Turning her head to the side, she watched as he straightened, arms stretching languidly over his head, fingers spread.  With a slow exhale he collapsed, arms falling to the bedroll.  He tilted his head to the side, hair spilling across his forehead, and their eyes met again.

“You can go now,” she offered lazily.

Instantly his posture stiffened, a wrinkle forming between his eyebrows as he snapped waspishly, “I’m sorry, are you kicking me out of your tent?”

What?

“No, I’m saying that if you want to go, you can go,” she replied, grabbing the discarded pillow from above the bedroll and dragging it back under her head.  Gods, her hair was going to be a mess.  Hmm, chopping.  “I’m not going to try and get you to stay this time.  You obviously have no interest in it.”

His lips pursed, thinned, and then twisted to the side before he rolled his eyes to the side.  “Stop assuming things about me, it’s irritating.  You’re not as all-knowing as you think you are.”

“Mmh,” she replied dismissively.  He just didn’t like that she was right, that was all.  Maybe up to the shoulders?  Higher?  Oh, she could be bald.  Hmm…

His voice turned ingratiating, which drew her attention back instantly.  The actual words, however, were displeasing.  “Pet, stop pouting.”

Why would she– “I’m not pouting, and you’re ruining the mood.”

“You ruined the mood when you told me to get out,” he retorted, voice a little sharp as he dropped the facade, obviously annoyed by her refusal to play along again.

Ugh, was he serious?  Why did he keep acting as if her drawing boundaries was her having a snit?  If he didn’t cuddle, fine.  That made them incompatible.  “I didn’t say you should get out, I said you could if you liked.”

His hands slapped down on his bare thighs, noisily.  Shifting back, his scarlet gaze bored into her, chin lifting so he could assert his superior position by sticking his nose in the air.  “Well, I want to stay!  What about that?”

Zyn’s cheeks puffed out as she blew them out.  “Then stay?  I’m not going to tell you what to do, you’re a grown man.”  Part of her really didn’t want to say anything, but another part of her was tired of how confusing he was.  “Sometimes you make absolutely no sense to me.”

“Oh, you never make any sense to me,” Astarion replied, chuckling grudgingly when it made her laugh, slow and drowsy.  “What is it that you want?”

Zynatheri gave him a look of sheer disbelief.  “I have been completely upfront about what I want.  What do you mean what do I want?”  Was he really being this obtuse?

His lips curved into a very ill-timed seductive smile.  “Well, darling, if you’re not satisfied…”

“Ugh, you’re doing that again,” she sighed, regally waving a dismissive hand, forcing him to lean back.  Gods, did he have no artistry in his sou– oh, right, no soul.  “Sex is not just the thrusting bits.  Don’t you enjoy the comfort of just…being around another person?  Listening to a heartbeat?  Feeling the warmth of a body?  Brushing someone’s hair, being massaged, counting freckles?  Listening to stories?  Just enjoying learning about a person.”

“I…no,”  Astarion replied, voice surprisingly subdued for a split second.  And then it took on a humorous edge.  “Maybe I’m just not much of a cuddler.  What’s wrong with that?”

“And I’m not used to sleeping with the same person twice,” she retorted, a little sourly.  How dare he only take, and not give.  That sealed it; if he didn’t cuddle, she was done with him.    “This is new for both of us.  I am reluctantly forced to admit that…”  The earlier incorporeal god botherer had really driven it home.  “This little adventure is unprecedented in my almost two hundred years of life.  I think you feel the same.  So why can’t we both try something new?”

“Not the worst argument.  But still…”  Astarion gave her a sidelong look, the charmingly tousled state of his hair giving him a rakish air.  “Your obsession with pillow talk is bad enough.  If I let you cuddle me, I’ll never be free of you.”

Aah.

He wanted to be convinced.

“Trust me, my sweet viper,” she reached up and caressed his chin, a playful little beckon.  “I’m not going to be catching feelings.”  And he couldn’t, which she had to remember.  Vampire.  He was undead, he didn’t feel things like other people.

Astarion was safe.

Which was why his next words didn’t bother her.  “That sounds like a challenge.”

“I know you’re at least considering giving me what I want– I can see it on your face,” she said, smirking when he rolled his eyes and glanced away.  She rolled onto her back, stretching languidly.  “Mhmm.  Darling, this isn’t a case of me lacking interest in you.  I find you very entertaining.  But I don’t like sleeping with the same person twice in the first place, and especially not when I don’t get any cuddling out of it.  I’m already compromising by not pretending you don’t exist the next morning.”

It broke him, a twitch of a smile touching his lips despite his efforts to keep it back.  When her grin widened, wickedly, he reached down and pinched the end of her nose.  “You do realize how insane you sound, don’t you?”

Jerking her chin up, Zyn snapped at his hand.  Pulling it back abruptly, dramatically, Astarion gave her a wide-eyed look of horrified shock. And then he smacked her cheek, very lightly.  Much like he spanked her, it was a little too hard to be a pat, but she’d be exaggerating to call it a slap.

It pleased and amused her that he never treated her as fragile.

Flashing him a wink, she didn’t deny the accusations.  “Well, always!  It’s part of my charm.  It’s up to you if it’s worth it to you or not– I must emphasize, I’ll hold no ill will at all.  I’ll think fondly of you.  Write a few dirty songs about you.  In fact…”

She rolled over onto her side in search of her lute, only to be grabbed and yanked back over.  

“Get back here!”

She blinked, sprawled out underneath him as he released her upper arm.  He gave a small ‘ugh’ of frustration, tilting his head back, the heel of his hand pressing into his forehead.  How dramatic.  It made him look extremely pretty, though.

That didn’t mean she missed the lascivious little peek at her bouncing tits, though.

The words ‘don’t touch me’ had yet to make an appearance, in that fretful, almost reflexively irritated voice.  She imagined he said it a lot.  Not wanting to follow that thought any deeper, though, she set it aside and focused on her reaction when she poked him testingly in the thigh.

Had he put his shield back up yet?

It seemed not, because he just sighed like a diva, raking his hair back and away from his face.  She took advantage and threw her arm across his waist, curling up against the side of his thigh and arse.  Astarion tilted his head slightly to stare down at her, ruby eye glinting faintly in the hints of light that pierced the cracks in the tent.  She wrinkled her nose at him.

“You’ll do it regardless,” he told her imperiously, like the brat he was.

“Do what?”

“Write songs about me.  There’s no point hiding it– I make a perfect muse.” His voice lowered to a beckoning purr.  “Don’t I?”

She smiled, unabashedly smug.  Oh.  Did this mean she was winning?  “Mmh, I suppose.  So you’re…compromising?”

He tapped her nose again.  “Just for now, my little fox.  To…keep my options open.  I haven’t decided if I’m done with you or not yet, and I’d rather be the one to decide if we’re done or not.”

Zynatheri giggled, full of mockery.  “Oh really?  Is that how this works?  You know, I never asked.  Why ‘fox’?”

He leaned over her, a hand planting next to her shoulder as he twisted to stare her down from a closer vantage.  She made a small contented noise as he sprawled on top of her, enjoying the triumph maybe a little bit more than his presence.  But they were both enjoyed.

“Because…darling, you are a smug little trickster who thinks she is the cleverest creature to ever grace this plane.”

Oh, well, when he put it like that…

Zyn nodded slowly in acknowledgement.  He was right.  Very well, she could add that into her mishmash of identities somewhere.  “Mmh, I see it.”

“Just as you call me ‘viper’ due to my deadliness, grace, and–”  Astarion glared down at her as her smug smirk widened.  “Oh no.”

How dare he leave himself vulnerable for such an attack?  If Zyn didn’t take the opportunity, it’d be a waste.  “Because you have fangs and you’re cute,” she told him quite seriously.

His expression soured, instantly.  “I hate you.”

“I have a book you haven’t read, and a very comfortable lap.”  she didn’t bother to hide the luring little purr in her voice.

“Mmh.”  Astarion wrinkled his nose.  Pushing up onto his forearms, he scooted further down.  Before she could ask what the Hells he was doing, he collapsed, face-first, into her chest.  It did hurt, slightly, but men could be like that about tits.

“Just because they’re soft doesn’t mean they’re invincible,” she groaned in annoyance as he burrowed in.  Irritated, she gently swatted the back of his head.  “What are you doing?  Awful bloodsucker.”

Much to her great relief, he pushed up on his hands, smirking down at her.  “Bloodsucker?  Was that an invitation, my little fox?”

“Don’t you dare bite my tits,” she scolded, lifting a finger in front of his nose.

“Mmh,” his eyes left hers, raking down her body.  “I do love forbidden fruit,” he purred.

“Decide, you absolute stray tom.  In or out?” she sighed, quite over his waffling– even if it was playful now.  Instinct had her snapping, before his mouth had a chance to do anything but open, “do not say something sexual.”

Astarion pouted, jaw tight as his mouth closed.  Reaching up, he intercepted her hand as it reached for his cheek, flinging it away lightly.  Before she could protest, he rolled off of her and sat up again, lifting a hand reflexively to fix his hair.

“I was promised a book and a lap, I believe.”

Zyn smiled delightedly as she sat up, endlessly amused by the snobbish facade.  It made him so fun to play with.  Addictive, the desire to poke and prod, tease, annoy, anger, seduce…but no.  No.  She’d just won, she should be gracious.

Let him be the Lordling tonight.

[paradoxgavel]

ugh i feel so just. like. up and down lately. earlier today, i was feeling great - i went on a long walk to go see my mom in the inpatient physical therapy place she's in, and she seemed really calm and happy and seemed like she was doing well, and then i went out for lunch and came home and watched a stream and drew and napped, and i was doing great.

and then... dinner time rolled around and. dad fixed up some leftovers he had for his dinner and i fixed up some shrimp and broccoli for mine. and. i think it made me realize how much i miss my parents. i mean, i miss them acting like my parents. i know that's maybe an ungrateful thing to say, since they're both still around and they both still love me, but...

i miss having dinner with them. i miss my mom's cooking. i miss getting to sit down and relax over meals with both of them. my dad just hasn't had the spoons to cook with anything going on and i can't fault him for that, but. i miss him. i miss things being normal. i miss my family. i just want my family back. i just want things going back to the way they were before but i don't know if they ever will, and i'm so scared, and i just want my family and my home and my life back. it feels like it all just got ripped out from under me without warning a couple months ago and i never got to say goodbye.

i've been trying to hang out with my dad when he gets home every day because i know he misses having mom here to keep him company, and i don't want him to be lonely, but. i'm no substitute for her to him. and he's no substitute for her to me. we're both just. lonely and tired and sad and. i don't know what to do about feeling this way. it feels like there's just this big hole in our home now. and it feels like we're both just stuck holding our breath until things resolve one way or the other with my mom.

i've been trying to just. not focus too much on the situation, wait for things to resolve, and understand that things will inevitably be better and normaler and happier some day, and just try to find comfort and happiness where i can in the meantime, and therapy is helping, but.

it's so tough, y'all. and i'm so tired. i just want things to be okay again.

[ihni]

Boys, Beards and Best Friends

For the @harringroveweek prompt "In The Front Seat Of Neil Hargrove's Truck" as well as for my @billyhargrovebingo square C1, "Depression beard".

Rating: T, Word count: 4538. Harringrove + Buckleway.

Summary:

The best thing about Billy's best friend Heather was that she was fierce, loyal, protective, sassy and never shied back from speaking her mind. Billy had been rooming with her since they both got out of Hawkins, six years ago, and he was lucky to have her in his life.

The worst thing about Billy's best friend Heather was that she knew all that, and wasn't afraid to use it to her advantage.

(On AO3)

~~~

The best thing about Billy’s best friend Heather was that she was fierce, loyal, protective, sassy and never shied back from speaking her mind. Billy had been rooming with her since they both got out of Hawkins, six years ago, and he was lucky to have her in her life.

The worst thing about Billy’s best friend Heather was that she knew all that, and wasn’t afraid to use it to her advantage.

“Come on, it’s one night out. I really like this girl and she’ll be bringing her friend to act as a beard so I need one too. Who knows, maybe you and him will hit it off, huh?” She wagged her eyebrows suggestively and stabbed an elbow in his ribs in what was probably supposed to be a lewd insinuation.

“I said no,” Billy said, pretending to be busy clearing the table. Heather had cooked, so it was his duty to do the dishes. “I’m not looking to date right now.”

“No one said anything about dating,” Heather said, refusing to let it go. “Getting laid, on the other hand …” He groaned and rolled his eyes, but she wasn’t deterred. “Remind me again how long it’s been?” Refusing to answer that on principle, Billy took the stacks of plates and glasses and walked over to the sink, turning his back on her. Unfortunately, since she was as relentless as a bloodhound on the hunt, she followed. “Come on, Billy. You’ve been a depressed sad sack for months now.”

“Uh. My dad died?”

“Yeah, and he was a homophobic asshole who made you miserable, so good riddance.” Did he mention she always spoke her mind? “My point is that you need to get out there and have some fun again. Where’s the Billy Hargrove I got to know back in Hawkins, who took every opportunity to party?”

That drew a reluctant smile out of him, as this was something they had discussed many times before. “That Billy Hargrove was an angry son of a bitch who was posturing all over the place and took any and all opportunity to get out of the house.” He turned around to face her, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m not that guy anymore. And I don’t need to be. I have you, and our awesome apartment, and a job I love. I don’t have to go out and get drunk to have fun anymore.”

Groaning, she threw her hands over her head. “Ugh, fine, you’ve become a healthy model citizen in your twenties, congratulations. But think of me. Don’t you love me?”

“Of course I do. Platonically.”

She acknowledged this with a nod, and then interlaced her fingers and gave him a pout and the old puppy-dog eyes. “Then please will you do this for me? Please please please please please …”

He groaned. “Why can’t you just take her to the movies like a normal date? People will think you’re friends, and they won’t care if you hold hands in the dark or whatever.”

“Because,” Heather said as if what she was about to say was obvious, “she has the worst taste in movies, I swear. It’s all European, or black and white, and everything is like forty years old.” She caught his raised eyebrow and hurried to add, “But it’s the only downside. The rest of her is divine! And I really really want to take her to this club, because I really really want to grind on her on the dance floor. I know she has some moves, Billy, I know it. And I need to see them. Like I need air!”

“God, you’re really horny for this girl, huh?”

Instead of trying to deny it, Heather just widened her eyes and nodded emphatically. “Yes.”

Rolling his eyes and sighing, he muttered “I’m gonna regret this … Okay, fine.”

Heather squealed and jumped up and down, clapping like an excited seal before pressing a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you! You’re the best! Oh man I’m gonna go call Robin now.” She backed up, but threw up a pair of fingerguns before she left the room. “And then you and I are gonna go through your closet and find you something to wear! You wanna look good for your fellow beard, right?”

He rubbed at the bridge of his nose when she whirled out of the room, calling after her, “I’m not gonna fuck him!”

“Maybe you’ll get lucky, and he’ll fuck you!” was the reply.

Billy buried his face in his hands and amended his previous statement: the worst thing about Billy’s best friend Heather was that he simply couldn’t say no to her.

~~~

“This girl better be worth it,” he grumbled from behind the wheel of his late father’s – now his – Ford Ranger. He hadn’t had a car since the Camaro, which had been totaled before he left Hawkins, but then again he didn’t really need a car in Chicago. He and Heather lived close enough to a station that he could take the L-train to and from work, and his job paid well enough that he could afford to take a cab now and then, if needed. When his dad croaked, a couple of months ago – divorced and with only one kid – Billy inherited his belongings. He sold most of it, but Heather convinced him to keep the truck, claiming it would come in handy.

“Like now,” she’d said, beaming, just before they left. “This way, we don’t have to stand around and wait for the train in the cold.”

“But someone has to be the designated driver,” Billy had grumbled.

She’d only smiled sweetly at him. “I thought you said you didn’t need to get drunk to have fun,” she’d said, laughing brightly when he gave her the finger.

Now, she sighed wistfully. “She is so worth it,” she said. “Billy, she’s amazing. You’ll see.”

“I guess I will,” he said.

She kept fidgeting in the passenger seat; smoothing over her skirt, touching the ruffles on her blouse, adjusting her bra. Eventually Billy just sighed and said, “Relax, you look good. She’s gonna love you.”

In a rare moment of vulnerability, she turned to him and bit her lip. “You think so?”

He softened. He couldn’t help it, she was his best friend and he wanted her to be happy. “She’d be crazy not to.”

Heather beamed at him for that, and seemed to perk up. Enough to comment, after moment of silence, “Well, maybe you’ll have some fun with her date, too?”

He flattened his lips together. “I’ve told you, I’m not looking to get laid tonight. I’ll be your beard, that’s fine, but don’t try to set me up with some random guy, okay?”

“Okay,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I’m just saying, maybe he’s a babe.”

“Heather.”

“Okay, okay! Be boring, whatever.” She pulled the sun visor down and checked her makeup in the mirror that she had attached with rubber bands. Making a kissy-face, she added, “God forbid you have some actual fun.”

He clapped her on the thigh. “You just worry about your own fun tonight, okay?”

Turning to him, she put her tongue between her teeth and winked at him. “Oh don’t worry, I plan to.”

~~~

It had been a while since Billy had been to a club. He’d definitely not been to this one. It was already packed with people even though it was relatively early, so he supposed it was pretty new.

When he and Heather first moved to the city, they used to go out just about every weekend, but nowadays he preferred other kinds of socializing. Sure, he could go out for a couple of beers with the guys at work on a Friday once in a while, but he was usually one of the first ones to leave. He liked to get his seven hours of sleep, and since he was typically an early riser even in the weekends, that meant going to bed at a reasonable time.

He sighed and shook his head at himself. Heather was right, he needed to get out more.

It wasn’t the first time he had accompanied Heather to one of her dates. Sometimes the other girl was alone and Billy got to act like a shield to the both of them, and sometimes – like today, apparently – the other girl brought a beard, too. And Billy had hooked up with one of them, once. But it only happened that one time, which was why it rubbed him the wrong way that she kept dropping hints about this guy. At this point, Billy had decided to dislike him on principle.

He and Heather walked into the club arm in arm. They turned heads – from both women and men – like he’d known they would. They made a striking couple, after all, and they’d both worn their best outfits. Heather was in a black and red ensemble with fishnets and high heels, with makeup to match, her hair long and loose. Billy – who wasn’t going to turn down an opportunity to look good, even if he was just going as a favor to his best friend – wore a wine red button-down and a pair of well-fitting black jeans. He’d lost the mullet a couple of years ago, but still wore his hair long. It still reached his shoulders, but was more evenly cut nowadays.

Despite the fact that the both of them looked good, he had to admit that Heather was outshining him. She had really gone the extra mile tonight, which was a sure sign that she was into this girl. He was preparing to beat hopeful suitors off of her with a bat for the rest of the night.

It started as soon as they got into the club, with several guys tracking them with their eyes as they made their way to the bar. Billy put his arm around Heather’s shoulders and glared at them. He didn’t remember that guys used to be quite so shameless in their ogling, from the last time he was out and about.

They’d barely made it to the bar – hadn’t even caught the bartender’s eye yet – when some dude leaned in close and purred, “Hey there, beautiful. Can I buy you a drink?”

Billy took a steadying breath – this was going to be a long night – and turned to the guy, ready to snap … only to find that the guy was looking at him, not Heather. Smiling at him. Reaching out for his hand, and –

“Uh, no thanks,” Billy managed to stutter as he pulled his hand away from the man’s reach. “We’re kinda … waiting for …”

“We’re waiting for our dates,” Heather said, smiling at the man. “They should be here any time now. Thanks though.”

The guy took it well, only inclined his head and said, “Well, if it doesn’t pan out, come and find me”, smiling all the while.

Once he had backed off, Billy surreptitiously glanced around the room and reassessed the situation before turning to Heather and hissing, “Is this a gay bar?”

She pointed with a thumb over her shoulder, to a corner where two women were kissing right there on the dance floor. Behind them, two muscular man were doing their best reenaction of the Dirty Dancing grind. Raising one eyebrow, she said in the driest voice possible, “Whatever gave you that idea?”

“Then why –“ he started, and then lowered his voice and leaned in closer, the leather seat on the chair squeaking. “Then why did you need me as a beard?”

“Oh, I didn’t,” she said brightly. “But you can’t spend all your time at work or at home, Billy, you need to get out, meet some people.”

“So you lied?” he said incredulously, despite being not surprised in the least.

“Yup,” she admitted easily. “We thought it’d be good for you.”

“Wh –“ Billy started, and then fell quiet. His eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Wait, ‘we’?”

As if on cue, a tall brunette appeared at Billy’s side, and Heather’s eyes lit up. “There you are, babe!” The girls kissed each other on the cheek, and then Heather turned her date around to face Billy. And Billy realized, about two seconds before the girl reached out her hand for him to shake, that he recognized her.

“Hi, Billy right? You probably don’t remember me, but we went to the same high school for a while? Robin Buckley.”

Billy did remember Robin, actually. Remembered her well, even, because not only had she apparently been a part of the whole mall debacle – although from what little Billy heard about it once he woke up in the hospital, she’d been drugged for most of it – she had also always been hanging around–

“Steve!” Heather chirped. “Good to see you!”

Swallowing hard, Billy slowly turned around on his chair, knowing who would be standing there but somehow still being wholly unprepared for it.

Steve Harrington, the guy Billy had had a huge gay crush on back in high school, back in the day when he’d been angry, afraid and closeted. Steve Harrington, who he’d beat up once and then hardly spoken to for the remainder of his time in Hawkins. Steve Harrington, who Billy had seen on the second floor of the mall while he got skewered like a shrimp at a barbecue.

Steve Harrington, who he’d finally admitted to crushing on to Heather, when he shared a hospital room with her during their recovery.

He tried to say now, silently, with his eyebrows only, ‘I know what you’re trying to do’ and ‘I told you that in confidence’. She only shrugged and smiled sweetly. “Oh, you two must know each other already, right? Why don’t you guys catch up, then? Me and Robin are gonna check out the dance floor.” Before Billy thought to open his mouth – not that he knew what he would say – she patted him on the cheek and leaned in close to his ear and whispered, “Have fun.”

And with that, they were gone, leaving Billy alone with his old high school crush.

His old high school crush who had the gall to still look hot. In fact, he might look even hotter now –like he’d grown into his body somehow. He was broader, but also seemed softer, which was a good look on him. His hair was short on the sides and in the back, but still long and voluptuous at the top. Billy wanted to run his fingers through it; an urge he never thought he would experience again, since leaving Hawkins behind.

“Wow,” Harrington now said, awkwardly rubbing at his neck before seemingly shaking himself out of it and reaching out his hand instead. “I mean, hey man. Good to … uh, good to see you.”

It took Billy a second or two to remember his manners, enough that Harrington’s polite smile fell a bit and he moved to pull his hand back. Billy shook himself out of his stupor and grabbed Harrington’s hand, perhaps a bit too hard and fast, and shook it.

“Sorry,” he said, “I didn’t … I didn’t expect to … see you. Here. Now.” Cursing internally at his sudden inability to speak in full sentences, he took a deep breath and tried again. “It’s good to see you too.” Then he added, because they were currently in a gay club: “You look good.” His cheeks burned as he spoke, but he counted on the low light of the club to hide that fact. Besides, it wasn’t like it wasn’t true.

“Thanks,” Harrington said. “You too.” That’s when Billy realized that they were still holding hands, and he dropped both Harrington’s hand and eye contact, under the guise of hailing down the bartender.

“Uh, drink?”

They ordered their drinks and Billy paid for them both, ignoring Harrington’s half-hearted protests. “Nah, it’s on me.” He did a one-shouldered shrug, glancing at him before looking away, not managing to hold his gaze. “I figure I owe you a drink after what I did to you back in high school.” He motioned with the glass to Harrington’s face, and watched as the other man smiled at the reminder.

“Oh yeah!” he said, sounding way too chipper about it. “I still have a scar from that plate you hit me with, actually.” As if to prove this, he swept his hair out of the way to show off a part of his forehead. Billy sure as hell couldn’t see a scar, even if he strained his eyes, and he didn’t want to lean in closer to get a better look, so he just hummed noncommittally.

“Two drinks then,” he said.

Shrugging, Harrington pulled his hair back in the perfect waves it had been before, and said, “I mean, it’s not that bad. You need to part the hair just right and need, like, a really good lamp to be able to see it, but …” He smiled. Tentatively, Billy smiled back.

“Besides,” Harrington continued, “I feel like I’m the one who should buy you a drink. After what you did for … well, for all of us.”

Nightmarish images flashed before Billy’s eyes for a second, and he didn’t notice that his smile had fallen off his face until Harrington cleared his throat loudly and asked, in an obvious attempt to switch topics, “So, uh. You’re friends with Heather, huh?”

“Yeah,” Billy said, grateful for the opportunity to talk about something else. “We live together, actually. She’s my best friend.” And because there would be no misunderstandings – Billy may not wave his sexuality in people’s faces, but they were currently in a gay club with a seemingly unaffected Harrington, and Billy was done hiding – he added, “Friends only.”

Harrington took a drink from his glass and nodded, his eyes flitting over the people on the dance floor for a second, before looking back at Billy. “I get it. It’s the same with me and Robs. We actually live together, too.”

“Yeah?” Billy said. “Doesn’t that make it awkward when you bring your lady friends home?”

Laughing in a way that made his eyes twinkle, Harrington said, “I could ask you the same thing, Hargrove.” Hearing his name out of Harrington’s mouth was a thrill, but it sounded wrong. He hadn’t been ‘Hargrove’ since high school.

“Billy,” Billy said and added, a little belatedly, “Please. Hargrove was my piece of shit father’s name.”

Harrington looked at him curiously, as if he wanted to ask more, but eventually just nodded. “Billy.”

The moment felt almost charged, before Billy cleared his throat and picked up their conversation. Because fuck it. “And no. Heather is actually way more into the ladies than I am, if you catch my drift.”

“No shit?” And perhaps it was his imagination, but it looked almost as if Harrington choked a bit on his drink at that. A moment later Harrington put his glass down on the surface of the bar and made a show out of inspecting all the bottles on the shelves behind it. “I, uh. I’m more of an equal opportunity guy, myself.” And low light or not, there was definitely a light blush on Harrington’s face now.

“Really?”

A motion that was probably supposed to be a shrug, but was a little too stiff to look relaxed. “Yeah.”

“I just, I never would have guessed, back in school.”

Harrington inclined his head in Billy’s direction, raising his eyebrows. “Ditto.”

That made Billy laugh. “Yeah, it was … it wasn’t the best time of my life, let’s leave it at that.”

Seemingly content to keep things light, Harrington nodded. “Same. And actually, this is a pretty recent discovery. I didn’t …” He looked like he was searching for the right words. “I wasn’t really aware that I had options, back then. It wasn’t until I moved in with Robin, like a year ago, and we started talking, that I realized that it was okay to like both. And, you know,” he gestured vaguely with the hand not holding the glass, “that there was a word for it. For what I am.” He looked around the room at first, before his eyes settled on Billy. He seemed to steel himself before speaking again. “Bisexual.”

As soon as he’d said it, he let out a shaky laugh. “I’m still not used to saying it out loud.”

“I’m gay,” Billy blurted out, bluntly.

Instead of looking at him with pity or disgust, Harrington just kept smiling. He raised his glass in an approximation of a toast and said, “To realizations.”

Billy could say that he realized that he was gay in second grade, but he didn’t. Instead he clinked his own glass to Harrington’s and matched his smile. “I’ll drink to that.”

~~~

They were on their fourth drink – which Harrington had insisted on paying for, this round – and Billy was having a great time. Both of them were skillfully avoiding the heavy topics like monsters and shitty parents, and instead kept to more light-hearted stuff like shared memories from Hawkins’ High and the shenanigans their respective lesbian best friends got up to and often dragged them along for. Now and then, they spotted Heather and Robin on the dance floor – Billy was pleased to see that Heather got to do her grinding – but the girls hadn’t shown their faces in a while now. Not that Billy was too concerned. They’d probably gone to find a dark corner they could make out in.

Honestly, looking at Harrington’s full lips that pulled over white teeth when he smiled, Billy kind of wanted to do the same thing.

“She called me a depressed sad sack and said that I needed to get out more,” Billy confessed, head close to Harrington’s. They were each sitting on a stool next to each other by the bar, leaning in close – so they’d be able to hear each other over the music. No other reason at all. “And then she lied about needing a beard!”

“A what?”

“You know. When you pretend to be a couple so people will back off?” Harrington nodded in understanding, while Billy laughed out loud when it dawned upon him just how funny the whole thing was. “She brought me to a gay bar … and said she needed a beard!”

Even Harrington snickered at that. “Robin just said we should check out this club,” he said, taking a drink from his glass and licking his lips after. “Said we were meeting up with a couple of friends.” He gave Billy a significant look. “So she wasn’t being entirely truthful either.”

“Our best friends are dicks.”

Harrington clinked their glasses together again. “That, they are.” He grinned. “But we love them.”

Billy groaned. “I know, we do. It’s horrible.” And the alcohol must have loosened Billy’s tongue –  either that, or the easy acceptance Harrington had shown so far – because he added, “She knew you’d be here, and she didn’t tell me because she’s a meddling bitch. Which is part of why I love her, but still.”

Harrington raised his eyebrows in question, which made it easy – too easy, really – for Billy to lean in and admit, “She knows that I used to have such a big crush on you back in school. Bet she thought she was being sneaky with this, setting us up or something …” He laughed and fully expected Harrington to laugh with him, but instead he was just looking at Billy. His eyes were dark and intense. A shiver ran down Billy’s spine and he swallowed, mouth dry all of a sudden.

“Now I’m wondering …” Harrington said, voice low, “what Robs and Heather have been talking about.” Before Billy could ask what he meant, he continued, “Because Robin definitely knew that you were going to be here, too, and she didn’t tell me.”

“She probably remembered our fight,” Billy said, licking his lips. It was a thrill to see Harrington’s eyes drop to his lips at the movement. “Didn’t want to scare you off.”

“No,” Harrington said, slowly. “More likely she remembered that time I was a bottle and a half deep in cheap red wine and had my big bisexual realization over the fact that I used to have really confusing wet dreams about you.”

That was a lot of information to process. “What?”

Instead of an answer – or maybe an answer in itself – Harrington’s lips were suddenly on Billy’s, and Billy’s eyes slipped shut. He dropped the glass he was holding – thankfully onto the bar, where it only sloshed out a little – so he could wrap both arms around Harrington’s shoulders and tangle his fingers in the man’s hair. One of Harrington’s hands were in Billy’s own curls, while the other was travelling down his back to slip into the back pocket of his jeans. Billy moaned into the kiss, which made Harrington press into him harder.

“Boys,” someone said, and they sprung apart as if shocked, only to find the bartender raising an unimpressed eyebrow at them.

“Uh, oh, sorry,” Harrington started, but the bartender waved it away.

“I don’t care what you do as long as you don’t whip your dicks out, in which case I would have to ask you to leave.” Billy blushed at that and next to him, to his delight, Harrington did too. The man behind the bar reached out a piece of folded paper between two fingers. “But your friends told me to give you this when you’d, and I quote, ‘gotten your shit together’.” He smirked at their blushing faces. “I’d say your shit looked pretty put together just now, so here you go.” He waved the paper in front of them until Billy snagged it from his hand.

Opening it, he was entirely unsurprised to see what it read. ’We took a cab back to Robin’s place. Have fun. /Heather’. And ‘Don’t come home tonight, dingus! /R’

Billy laughed sharply. “I was her ride!”

“Why don’t you ride me instead?”

Billy’s head flew up and his mouth fell open. Harrington looked like he couldn’t believe he’d just said that, but the surprise only lasted for a moment before it melted away into a smarmy grin. And Billy couldn’t help himself. He snorted.

“That was so bad, Harrington.”

“Steve,” Harrington said.

“What?”

“Harrington is my piece of shit father’s name,” Harr– Steve said, repeating Billy’s earlier words.

“… Steve,” Billy said, tasting the name. It felt right on his tongue.

“Also, may I point out that that wasn’t a no to the riding …”

Jesus. He couldn’t help himself from launching himself at Steve for another round of kissing. When they broke apart next, flushed and panting, Billy leaned in close. “My dad died five months ago,” he whispered, and then took Steve’s earlobe between his teeth for a second, making Steve groan. “He was a homophobic asshole.”

Talking a step back and getting to watch Steve sway slightly in his absence, he cocked his head to the side and looked at him through his lashes.

“I want to blow you in the front seat of my dad’s truck.”

For a couple of seconds, Steve just worked his mouth as if to find words. “I mean …” he started. Licked his lips. Grinned. “Yeah. Good idea. Lead the way.”