#it's one where the top comes off completely

[rafeandonlyrafe]

unashamed

words: 1k

warnings: 18+ only, smut, p in v sex, tit play, protected (woo!) sex, mentions of semi public sex

you flop down on the sunbed next to rafe, propping your head on your hand as you stare at him. 

you start at his chest before dropping lower to the swimsuit that's tantalizingly low on his hips. it's a chore to drag your eyes away, up to his face.

you admire his cheekbones first, slightly shining in the bright sun before you move to his lips, pink and pouty, the bottom one just waiting to be kissed.

you follow the slope of his nose up to where sunglasses cover his eyes, reflecting the gentle lapping of the water.

“you know im not asleep under these shades right?” rafe says.

“oh, ive grown long past being ashamed of admiring you.” you giggle, sitting up in your lounge chair, pressing your breasts together with your arms, knowing it'll entice rafe away from his relaxation. 

“don't you think you need to get out of the sun for a bit? you're looking hot.” 

“you drive me crazy.” rafe removes his sunglasses and tossed them to the sand, a smirk stretching across his face.

“come on.” he stands up swiftly, like he can't wait a moment longer, extending his hand down to yours, which you eagerly take.

rafe practically pulls you inside and up to his bedroom, your bodies immediately melding into one the moment the door locks shut.

“i want you so bad.” you whimper against rafes lip, not giving him time to respond as you kiss and suck at his bottom lip, running your tongue across it, desperate to taste more of him.

“yeah, baby.” rafe chuckles, pushing your hips back, forcing you away from him. “you make it real obvious.”

you just smile as you lie back on the bed. none of rafes quips affect you anymore, and the combination of the perfect weather outside and rafe climbing onto the bed on top of you makes a smile stretch to your cheeks. nothing could ruin this moment.

rafe kisses your lips, but pulls away before you can deepen it, mouth coming to your neck, gliding down your chest to the swell of your breast.

you know rafe likes to do it himself, but you have no patience, arching your back and pulling the ties of your swimsuit apart so the cups fall away from your chest.

rafe tsks, his displeasure only evident for a second as he mouth latches around your nipple.

you let out a moan, hands coming to his hair, needing the physical connection to him as he tongues and plays with your chest before switching to the other nipple, long strokes of his tongue coaxing it to peak hardness.

rafe moves back up to your lips, letting you kiss him and hold his face as he rearranges your body so his hips can slot in-between yours.

you instantly begin to grind against him, feeling the hard length concealed beneath his swimsuit bottoms.

“just insatiable.” rafe laughs, moving away from you only for a moment to grab a condom from where a whole pack is thrown on the nightstand, ready to use. 

you loosen your legs around rafes hips, allowing him to tug down his swimsuits, cock rising to stand tall and ready. he slips the condom out of the foil and wraps it down his length while you undo the ties on your bikini bottoms to get them off too.

“after this…” rafe trails off, losing his train of thought as you wrap your legs around his hips and tug him closer again, no clothing interrupting your grinding this time.

“after this what?” you giggle when rafe gives you a look, one that's slightly sheepish and won't admit that he completely forgot where he was going with the sentence.

“hm?” you goad him on as the head of his cock rubs between your thighs, teasing at your clit before running over it as well.

“boat.” rafe finally says. “we should go out on the boat.”

“you just wanna see me in a bikini for longer.” you laugh, the noise making rafes eyes shine in admiration. he never thought he'd like a sound so much until he heard your laugh.

“yes.” rafe nods, and as he sees you open your mouth for another quip back, he sinks his cock into you. “ive grown past being ashamed of admiring you.”

you let out a moan, head falling back against the pillows as he echoes your words from earlier back to you.

rafe wastes no time in building up a fast rhythm. despite the little foreplay, you're both desperate for each other. your bodies calling out constantly for the others touch.

you let rafe continue thrusting into you until you can't help it any longer, wanting to show him pleasure back, so you put all your weight and strength into flipping over so you're on top, his cock not leaving you the entire time.

“oh fuck, baby.” rafe grunts out, his hands coming to cup your tits as you begin to bounce on his cock, hips swirling and pumping as fast as your legs will allow.

“im- shit.” rafe tries to grab at your hips, to hold you tight and get you to slow down, but you overpower him, wanting to make him cum now.

“come on, baby.” you moan out. “give it to me, i want it.”

rafe gives up on trying to last, pumping his hips up into you as he lets out a moan, your name tumbling out of his lips as he cums.

you bend forward, hips gyrating slowly as he works through his orgasm. your chests press together as you watch rafes face, his mouth ajar and wet from kisses, his blue eyes glazed over in pleasure.

you can tell in his expression when he snaps back to reality.

“fuck.” he chuckles as you climb off, running his hands through his hair as he blinks rapidly, before looking for you.

“wait-” rafe grabs your wrist, trying to stop you from getting your swimsuit back on.

“hm?” you ask, shaking his loose grip off to continue tying the strings back together.

“what about you?” 

you just smile and toss rafes swim trunks at him. “you can finish me off on the boat.”

you've never seen rafe move faster.

[honeyblackberries]

In the back seat (18+)

caleb x fem reader/mc smut

minors dni | inspired by diet pepsi by addison rae | cross-posted to ao3

word count: 1466

cw: simp caleb, soft dom caleb, he also likes to bite, pantie freak caleb, reader enables him, praise, oral (fem receiving), p in v, responsible car sex <333 (don't get freaky in a rental car irl), irresponsible intercourse (caleb doesn’t wrap it before he taps it), porn with feelings, porn no plot because idk how to write plot but i also can’t really write porn so maybe this is a secret third thing, no set pov.

names used: pips (pipsqueak but cuter), good girl, pretty girl, my girl

If Caleb is being honest with himself this moment is something straight out of his teenage fantasies. Driving along the coast with you in the passenger's seat, listening as you sing along to a song that’s been on repeat for the past half hour. Hair softly blowing in the wind as the late afternoon sun glows behind you like a halo.

You’re an angel he thinks, how else could you bless him with such a gift on one of his rare days off. The keys to his dream car—with the disclaimer that it was only a rental during his visit to Linkon—and that short sundress… His gaze unconsciously drifts from the road and onto you.

Maybe wet dreams are a better description for this. The way the hem of your dress rides up your thighs while you shift to find a more comfortable position, cotton panties peeking out underneath it.

Your eyes meet his and Caleb feels his pants tighten.

Today was supposed to be a well deserved break from all the demands that come with being the Farspace Fleet’s Colonel. Something relaxing. Yet he can’t help but feel inclined to the complete opposite. Back ramrod straight and hand, previously loose and confident on the wheel, now gripping it so tight that his knuckles strain.

“I'm happy you’re here,” you say sweetly and he has to stop himself from acting like a horny dog. “Is there anything you wanna do before we head home?”

“Eat you out,” he thinks dreamily.

“..What?”

Shit. Shit. How could he say that out loud!? He’s an idiot, a depraved fool—

“Well, okay.”

He almost crashes the car.

“Are you sure? We don’t have to—I mean—I didn’t mean to say it out loud,” you laugh at him and he isn’t sure whether to be mortified or turned on.

“Pull over.” He does.

Caleb doesn’t realise it but despite the less than innocent circumstances his silly reaction makes you smile. Happy at the expression that settles on his handsome face. How his eyes light up in a way you never really see anymore, giddy and unrestrained.

‘Cute,’ you want to tease, but he’s already rolling the tinted windows up. Undoing his seatbelt and moving into the back seat. Oh how could you keep him waiting when he’s just so eager? You undo your own seatbelt and amusedly follow along. Moving to get on top of him.

“Don’t hover pips,” he instructs—in that know-it-all voice he’s used since you were kids—and you don’t get the chance to consider it. Not when his hands trail under your skirt to grab your thighs and impatiently bring you down onto his face.

“Fuck you smell so good,” his nose presses right against your clothed heat. He inhales deeply. “I could get off just from smelling you, just from smelling these,” his lips part to let teeth graze the thin fabric of your panties.

“I can keep 'em when we're done, yeah?” His hot breath makes a shiver run through you in anticipation. His tongue licks down the centre where a wet patch starts to form. “I’ll cook dinner in return.”

You want to argue that he always cooks dinner. But you want what he’s currently offering more.

Your small hum of agreement is all he needs.

Safe to say, Caleb does mouth at you like a dog. Desperate, hungry, tongue heavy and slobbering. You have to push yourself against his chest to keep steady. The toned muscles there flexing as he eats like he’s been starved.

“Good girl, sittin’ so pretty for me,” his praise is barely understandable. Voice muffled and lower than a moment ago.

One of his hands leaves your thighs, his fingers moving to the fabric separating you. He teasingly pulls it back and lets go, a light snap against your skin. You flinch and he chuckles in response. He then pushes it to the side to expose you bare to him. Continuing to lick, this time with the addition of his thumb rubbing directly against your sensitive bud.

“Delicious,” he moans at the taste and sucks at your clit for more.

You’re not sure how long you last before everything crashes down all at once. Your orgasm racking your body and leaving you trembling. Dripping right into his open mouth.

The way your breath hitches and small whines you make when you cum always remind him how he could spend the rest of his life between your thighs. Forever wanting you pliant in his hold like this.

As you start to feel yourself coming down from the high, Caleb lightly bites at your tender flesh, making you yelp. He places a soft kiss in apology, even though you both know he isn’t sorry in the slightest.

In an act of revenge you start to reach for where he needs it. Fingertips barely brushing the large tent in his pants before he grabs your wrist to stop you.

“Next time pips, I’ll go crazy if I’m not inside you soon.” At that you’re suddenly flipped around, back pressed against the leather seat. Wedged in the cramped space afforded to you between the car and his large body.

Caleb looks down at you with a wide grin. The lower half of his face damp with your arousal and his own saliva.

“Let me put it in?”

Even when he’s like this the words come out as a question. He’ll only do it if you let him, only if you want it half as much as he does. His silver necklace dangles in front of you and reflected in it is your lips, curled up into an affirmative.

Caleb wastes no time. Hurriedly undoing his pants and freeing his hard leaking cock. Leaning over you with one hand beside your head as the other grasps his reddened tip and nudges you panties to the side with it. Lining himself up he sinks into you slowly.

“You’re heaven,” he yaps, already pussy drunk. "You feel like heaven, ugh—like you were made for me. Weren’t you?”

He shakes his head at his own words, as if a better explanation came to him. Then he resolutely bottoms out inside you.

“No, I was the one made for you.”

“Caleb—” you whine at the feeling of being so full. Arms moving to wrap around his torso, not sure if to hold him closer or push him away.

He groans, squeezing his eyes shut for a moment to fight off the orgasm that would have had him cumming from the way you say his name. Testingly, he pulls out slightly just to push back in. Repeating shallow thrusts to get you comfortable.

“More,” you beg.

“Of course,” he kisses you and you can taste yourself on him. “I aim to please.” His pace quickens, becoming rough. You can’t help but clench at the immediate change.

“Oh shit—loosen up pretty girl.” You try to.

Over and over you feel his cock try to make your cunt give in to him, and when he feels the grip of your walls ease up slightly he angles his hips to hit deeper.

You claw at his back, the fabric of his shirt catching under your fingers. The feeling of him too much.

“You like that huh?”

The car windows are fogging at the spike in body heat, neither of you letting up until you both get your fill. The sounds of shallow breathing and skin against skin the only thing that can be heard.

Caleb bites your lip when he kisses you in between thrusts. Like he wants to devour you in every way possible.

“I’m—close,” you bury your face into his neck, trying to ground yourself.

He nearly slips entirely out of you. Hips starting to lose their rhythm, a sign that he is too.

“I know—fuck—cum with me.”

Your release comes first, and he doesn’t last long after.

“That's my girl.”

His movements slow as he spills into you. A white ring forming around the base of him as a mix of both your cum tries to leak out. He grinds a few times to make sure it stays then collapses on top of you.

The two of you remain like that for a few minutes, relishing in the feeling of your chests pressed together as you cool down. Caleb’s cock slowly going limp inside you.

His hands move to cradle your face, gently stroking your cheeks as he kisses all over with cherishing lightness.

“I love you.”

“Love you too Caleb.”

Then he has to go and ruin the moment.

“Panties please,” he holds out his hand. Asking for a treat.

You sigh, the post-nut clarity kicking in. “I’ll give it to you after I wash it.”

“Don’t wash it.”

“...”

a/n: rip need everyone to know this was initially supposed to be a sylus fic. also what do we think do we like me actually trying to make the layout nice/not write in all lowercase??

[cyberyam]

𓈒ㅤׂ 𝜗𝜚 sum. dom slut!gojo meets his match

cw. smut [mdni 18+!!]

slut!gojo was always ready to fuck. it didn’t matter who, as long as whoever he was fucking quivered and begged under his touch. he dominated. always. that was the way things went, his natural order.

until you.

slut!gojo saw you across the room at some party, all effortless confidence and laughter, and decided he had to have you. he slid up beside you, all easy smirks and teasing words, expecting you to fold beneath his charm. but when you turned to him, he was perplexed at the amusement in your gaze as you fingers trailed his jaw as if testing him. “looking for some fun, handsome?” he could smell mint on your breath.

a smile crept onto his face as he leaned into you. “you could say that.”

but, it was you who pried him into your bed. the two of you stumbling through your hallway, hands greedy and desperate as you tore at each other’s clothes between heated kisses. by the time you reached the bedroom, you pushed him down onto the mattress, climbing on top with the same effortless control that had him captivated from the start.

his fingers twitched as he grabbed onto your thighs, his mind still catching up as you moved, but then you pushed your underwear to the side, keeping your eyes locked on his as you sank down onto his throbbing cock which you yanked free from his boxers—slowly and steadily. his breath hitched, head falling back against the pillows, pleasure unraveling his thoughts into something hazy and sweet.

“fuck—baby, you’re teasing me,” he groaned, hands gripping your thighs harder, his eyes blown wide as he tried to thrust into you, desperate to set a rhythm he liked and relive himself from your agonisingly slow touch.

“you like that?” you murmured, pressing a hand to his chest and the other to his hip, keeping him right where you wanted as you raised your hips again, leaving him aching before dropping back down and burying him inside you all over again.

slut!gojo, who always took control, who never let anyone else lead, was entranced under your touch. he should’ve done something—should’ve flipped you over, taken back the reins—but each time he tried, each time his hands gripped at your waist, you shut him down with a roll of your hips, a sharp press of your nails into his skin, or a click of your tongue.

when he finally tried to roll you over, desperate, frustrated, aching for control, you lifted yourself off him completely, making him whimper at the sudden lack of sensation. before he could complain, you moved up his body, straddling his stomach, one foot pressing against his chest, keeping him caged beneath you.

“nuh-uh,” you murmured, watching his expression shift, confusion laced with something dangerously close to desperation. “what do you think you’re doing?”

his mouth opened, then closed. you could see the war in his head—arrogance battling with the way his leaking cock twitched against his stomach, already missing the heat of you.

“c’mon, sweetheart,” he tried, grinning, but it was shaky. “lemme take care of you—fuck, i know how to make you feel good—”

“oh?” you raised a brow, shifting slightly, making his breath hitch. “i think i’m doing just fine, no?”

his body instinctively jerked as your hand fell behind you, unexpectedly squeezing at his balls. for once, he didn’t know what to say.

slut!gojo had no idea what was happening, only that he was falling apart under you, coming undone in ways he never had before. you milked him for all he had—riding him until his voice cracked, sucking him off until his head lolled back as he came—even then, your head would continue to bob until he was flaccid in your mouth—fucking him even as his body trembled, overstimulated and wrecked.

every time he came, panting and spent, you didn’t let up.

“we’re not done yet,” you mused after the fourth round, your hand curling around his soft cock that was just in your mouth, teasing along the length until it twitched, hardening once more under your touch.

“oh, fuck,” he whimpered, chest rising and falling, his fingers weakly grasping at you, unsure if he wanted to push you away or drag you closer. “you’re—you’re gonna kill me.”

“nah,” you grinned, pressing a kiss to his jaw, your fingers tightening just enough to make him gasp. “you’re just gonna wish you picked someone else.”

slut!gojo was was a wreck, not being able to help but quiver and beg under your touch.

© cyberyam

[siriussimon]

no warnings: kinda a prompt i’m working on. 141 x reader, price x reader. john’s controlling and has a raging daddy kink.

john price always knows. of course, he knows what’s best for his team. he oozes authority, carries himself with ease, all tasks made with precision. everything’s calculated in his head, he knows exactly what he wants— what you need. can see it as clear as day. ever since you joined his brigade, he could see it written over your face. you needed guidance and he gave you just that.

you’re different than everyone else but that doesn’t take away from the fact that you’re an astounding addition to the team, the missing piece to their puzzle, the cherry on top.

you’re quite like simon. quiet, trouble with social cues, sensitivity to certain textures or noises. just like his simon, he knows exactly what you need to ease your anxious mind. he’s just gotta take it slow, ease his way into your space, not only as your captain— but more.

john has to know the whereabouts of his team so he makes it a happen of learning your schedule to a t. right about this time when hours were winding down he’d see you in the mess hall. a snack set off to the side untouched as you fiddled with a hand gun, dismantling it piece by piece to clean it throughly.

“It’s late, sergeant. PT is at 0500.” His voice echoed throughout the empty room. You flinched a bit but your shoulders relaxed when you registered who was speaking to you.

“I’m almost done..” You murmured, lost in thought, fingers connecting pieces together now.

Hm. That won’t do.

He takes a couple steps forward, peering over your shoulder, hands still at work. You’d never disobey him but sometimes your mind gets fixated on one thing— he understands, you have no idea how much. Sometimes you need a little nudge in the right direction. That’s what he’s for, right?

His right hand comes up to gently grasp the nape of your neck, almost like scuffing a dog, and you instantly halted.

“Do I need to repeat myself?” His thumb gently caressing your pulse point, a shiver running up your spine. You looked at the table, realizing you got so caught up on cleaning your hand gun you never ate like you were supposed to. Making it so tedious that you completely forgot about the time. It’s like your brain woke up from his touch. Your face felt warm and you thanked the low lighting in the cafeteria.

“N-No, Captain.”

Still a shy thing. He’ll break you in, just like he did with the rest of the boys. Make you his at last. Make it known that you belong here, that you deserve to feel taken care of. That you’re right where you’re supposed to be. And he’ll lead you just as he’s done these past couple of months. He’ll make it stick.

His hand released your neck, fingers lightly grazing down your pony tail, before it backs in his front pocket. You immediately stand, holstering your gun, and bagging away your uneaten food. Now fully turned, facing him, his eyes trained on your every move. You stood still for a moment, waiting for dismal, waiting for another command. Something you always relied on, deep down, your body buzzed with every order given to you,

“You’re dismissed, love. And good job on your field strip.” He said, a small smirk gracing his face, eyes crinkling, the pit of your stomach felt warm at the praise.

“Yes, Captain. Thank you..” Voice perked up, a curt nod and you were on your way.

One of these days he’d like to finally hear you say John. But he knows he’s got to take his time with you.

When you got back to your room, Johnny was up still, the light of his phone illuminating his face.

You sighed, feeling your body relax as you sat down on your bed. Your hands clasping to your face, the palms of your hands feeling cool on top of your cheeks. You body couldn’t help reacting this way with him. It always happened—

“Yer blushin’ like a wee school girl, dove.” Johnny laughed, which made you throw a pillow at his face.

“If you say a word to anyone I’ll stab you.” You grumble, which only made him chuckle again.

“Och Relax. Yer naught the first person to git the hots for the Captain. Trust meh.” He smiled, and you don’t know if that’s supposed to make you feel better or just intrigued on who else feels the same about him the way you do.

[rafesbuzzcutseason]

wicked game

chapter 3 - frat president

synopsis: y/n is sarah’s roommate and the embodiment of sunshine. rafe, on the other hand, is her complete opposite. when the boys place a bet that he can't win her over, rafe takes the challenge without hesitation. after all, he never backs down from a dare. the closer rafe gets to y/n, he finds himself drawn to her warmth in a way he never expected, and for the first time, he wants to be more than just the guy with a bad reputation.

but secrets don’t stay hidden for long, and when y/n finds out the truth, rafe is left to face the consequences. now, he has to prove that somewhere along the way, the bet stopped mattering, because losing her was never part of the plan.

masterlist

cw: language, alcohol, drugs

the group guided you to the kitchen where all the alcohol was kept. jj took it upon himself to grab drinks for everyone, shoving a red solo cup into your hand with a wink. “for you, y'n."

"thanks jj." you eyed the cup warily before taking a small sip. the burn of cheap liquor mixed with coke made you wince, but you forced a smile. cleo laughed at your expression. “yeah, you get used to it.”

sarah linked her arm with yours. “come on, let’s make a lap around the party. gotta get the full experience.”

you let her guide you through the crowd, weaving between groups of people dancing, flirting, and shouting over the music. the kappa tau house was massive, with more rooms than you could count, each one filled with students making the most of their first week back.

out in the garden, a massive beer pong game was underway, a group of guys cheering obnoxiously as a ping pong ball landed perfectly in a red cup.

sarah smirked, nodding toward them. “wanna give it a shot?"

you hesitated, "really?"

"come on, it'll be fun." kie chimed in, leading you to the group.

you grabbed a ping pong ball, rolling it between your fingers as you took in the scene. the guys across the table, two cocky-looking juniors, smirked at you like they had already won.

john b leaned in. “aim for the middle cups. trust me.”

you took a deep breath, lined up your shot, and tossed the ball. it bounced once, hit the rim, and, by some miracle, landed perfectly in a cup.

the group around you erupted into cheers. jj whistled. “beginner’s luck or secret beer pong prodigy?”

you laughed, feeling some of the nerves melt away. “definitely luck.”

kie grinned. “we’ll see about that.”

the game continued, and before you knew it, you were laughing, talking, and actually having fun. you had just downed another sip of your drink when sarah’s face suddenly twisted in annoyance.

“oh, great,” she muttered.

you followed her gaze, and that’s when you saw them. two guys were making their way through the party like they owned the place.

“they’re coming over here,” cleo murmured under her breath.

“why?” you asked, unaware of the situation.

sarah sighed. “because topper still thinks we’re friends even though i've told him a thousand times we’re not.”

“well, well,” the one you presumed to be topper grinned, looking at sarah. “didn’t think i’d see you here, cameron.”

sarah crossed her arms. “yeah, i tend to regret it every time i do.”

topper just laughed, clearly unbothered, before his eyes flickered to you. his smirk widened. “and who’s this?”

before you could answer, the other boy, who had been silent up until now, let out a low chuckle. “fresh meat.”

you turned sharply, meeting his gaze. he was already looking at you, eyes cold and assessing, like he was sizing you up.

you felt your blood boil. "it's y/n," you corrected, voice steady despite the way he was staring at you.

he tilted his head slightly, amusement flickering across his face like he found your defiance entertaining.

"sarah’s new roommate," kie said before he could respond.

topper’s brows raised. "ohhh. so you’re the new angel on her shoulder?"

sarah rolled her eyes. "fuck off, top."

topper just smirked, taking a slow sip from his cup, clearly enjoying getting under sarah’s skin.

but you barely noticed him anymore, because the other guy was still staring at you. his gaze unsettling.

"you gonna keep looking at me like that, or do you actually have something to say?" you asked, raising a brow.

kie stifled a laugh, cleo shot you an approving look, and sarah looked like she wanted to cheer.

he just smirked. a slow, arrogant smile that made your stomach tighten. "just trying to figure out why you’re here," he said smoothly. "you don’t really seem like the type."

you tilted your head. “and what type is that?” irritation taking over.

he could clearly see your annoyance, which only egged him on. "the type to survive in a place like this. you seem pretty fucking simple. you wouldn’t last two minutes in a place like this sunshine."

"you think you know me?" you shot back.

"yeah." he leaned in closer to you, "i think i do. you’re just another girl trying to fit in. probably think you’re special, but you’re not."

your heart raced, "you don't know anything about me."

"lucky me. i wouldn't waste my time trying to get to know someone like you." he responded, but before he could say anymore sarah dragged you away from him.

"what a prick." you muttered to the girls.

"yeah well that's rafe for you." cleo spoke.

"rafe?" you quizzed, not knowing the name.

"rafe cameron. frat president and the asshole i unfortunately share blood with." sarah responded.

your mouth opened in shock, "that's your brother?"

"ding ding ding."

a/n: posting this so late i cannot sleep

🏷️: @heartzshiftamy @hoefordrewstarkey @luvrclub @yesterdaysproblemm @leleee3 @yktayy9669 @miumiuestmoi @anacamofficial @cokewithcameron @bloodofadoll @shorttandsweett @mysticbby2009 @emmiesummers @wintercrows @drewrry @starkeyxcameron @xxbirkindoll2 @stoned-writer @drewstarkeyslover @hannieskzzz @verycherryblossomhideout @letstryagaintomorrow @@jjsbbg7 @mariamadison6-blog @laniirackssss @xeneasworld @countryclubwhore @drewsphswife @mattyskies @moonywhisp3rs @starkeygirls @lmaolmaos @thereallifebambi @emeloyy @vcnillafairy @rafecameronswhoore @st8rkey @angeldiaryy @therealfairybatman @drewsephrry @vanessa-rafesgirl @dreamybabbyy @pogueprincesa @happy-mushrooms @hannaa20002000 

[grayson-nn]

Height Struggles

pairing: Mark x Rex x GN! Reader

Category: Fluff

Synopsis: You can't help it that you're short

Requested c/c: 4.9k

You couldn't help that you were short. You didn’t choose this height—life chose it for you. And as if that wasn’t enough, life also threw two annoyingly tall menaces into your daily existence: Mark and Rex.

They were always teasing you about your height. Every. Single. Day. It didn’t matter where you were or what you were doing—if there was an opportunity to remind you of your lack of inches, they took it.

And today was no exception.

You stood in the kitchen, staring at the top shelf where your precious bag of chips was sitting, completely out of reach. You had already tried stretching, jumping, and even climbing onto the counter, but somehow, it was still just barely too high.

After a long, deep sigh, you knew what had to be done. You had to ask for help.

You turned to see Mark and Rex sitting at the table, scrolling through their phones, completely oblivious to your struggle. You debated just not asking them, but then Mark glanced up and caught you looking. That was all it took. A slow, knowing grin spread across his face.

"Need something?" he asked, already sounding entertained.

You hesitated. "No."

Rex looked up next, raising an eyebrow. "You sure? Because that’s the face of someone who needs something."

Damn it. They knew.

You sighed, crossing your arms. "Fine. Can one of you help me get something off the top shelf?"

Mark smirked. "Let me guess. Can’t reach?"

"No, Mark, I just enjoy asking for help," you deadpanned.

Rex chuckled and stood up, stretching dramatically. "Man, it must be rough being so tiny."

Mark joined in, standing as well and towering over you. "Yeah, how do you even function down there?"

You rolled your eyes. "Okay, okay, we get it. You guys are giants. Can we move on now?"

Mark, of course, wasn’t done. He stepped closer and—like the absolute menace that he was—rested his elbow on top of your head.

"Perfect height," he said with a smirk.

You swatted his arm away. "STOP USING ME AS AN ARMREST!"

"But it’s so convenient," Rex teased, now ruffling your hair like you were some kind of small pet. "It’s like having a built-in shelf for my arm."

"I am not a shelf!" you huffed, stepping back. "If anyone’s the shelf here, it’s you two. So why don’t you use that ridiculous height of yours and get my chips?"

Mark smirked. "What’s the magic word?"

You groaned. "Please."

Rex shook his head. "Nah, we need a better magic word than that."

Mark grinned. "Yeah, how about… ‘Oh great and mighty Mark and Rex, masters of the high shelves, please grant me access to my snacks.’"

You stared at them, dead inside.

"I hate you both."

"Aww, come on, it’s just a little fun," Mark said.

Rex nodded. "Yeah, we’re providing entertainment while graciously agreeing to help you."

"Graciously my ass," you muttered.

Rex shrugged. "Alright then, no chips for you." He reached up effortlessly, grabbed the bag, and waved it in front of you like a prize.

You immediately jumped for it, but he lifted it higher.

"Oh, come on!" you huffed, trying again. Nothing. It was so unfair how easy it was for them to just hold things out of your reach.

Mark, of course, decided to make things worse by holding out a hand and pressing it against your forehead to keep you from getting any closer.

"Wow, look at that," he said with a fake thoughtful expression. "Still can’t reach. Crazy."

You smacked his hand away. "You two are the worst people I have ever met."

Mark grinned. "Flattery won’t get you your chips."

Rex tapped the bag. "Only the magic words will."

You groaned dramatically and glared at them before finally muttering, "Oh great and mighty Mark and Rex, masters of the high shelves, please grant me access to my snacks."

"Couldn’t hear that," Mark said.

"Yeah, needs more desperation," Rex added.

You clenched your jaw. "I swear, I am this close to committing a crime."

Mark shrugged. "Guess we’re keeping the chips, then."

"FINE!" You took a deep breath and shouted, "OH GREAT AND MIGHTY MARK AND REX, MASTERS OF THE HIGH SHELVES, PLEASE GRANT ME ACCESS TO MY SNACKS!"

Silence.

Mark and Rex stared at you, then at each other, then—finally—handed over the chips.

"See? That wasn’t so hard," Mark said.

You snatched the bag and hugged it to your chest, giving them both the deadliest glare you could muster. "One day," you said in a low, menacing voice. "One day I will grow taller, and when that happens, I am going to DESTROY you both."

Rex laughed. "Sure, short stack. Keep dreaming."

Mark ruffled your hair again. "Yeah, let us know when that happens, okay?"

You turned on your heel, stomped out of the kitchen, and shouted over your shoulder, "One day, you’re BOTH going to regret this!"

Mark and Rex only laughed as you stormed off. But deep down, you knew the day would come. One day, you would get your revenge. And when that day arrived…?

Oh, they were in for it.

[rcmclachlan]

Joining the 8x16 spec fic party. MCD warning!

+

Red Over Red

Buck/Tommy

Summary: Ships not under command identify themselves by showing two all-around red lights, one above the other.

Read on AO3

+

It takes Tommy maybe two minutes tops to do a post-flight check. It's so routine at this point in his career that he could do it in his sleep if someone would let him, but ever since Nico accidentally trafficked elephant tusks to Sacramento two years ago, napping in the cockpit has been strictly forbidden.

He's just about to take a look at the alignment of the skids when he hears his name. He turns to see Dana coming over. The blankness to her expression isn't what gives him pause, because that's just her face, but the fact that she's jogging.

Tommy's worked with Dana for eight years now and she has never moved at anything but a deliberate, sedate glide, no matter the situation. He once saw her stroll through the collapsing hallway of a building that was being actively consumed by a five-alarm fire like she was taking a leisurely hike through the Cucamonga.

As she hauls ass across the tarmac, he sees Dana's normally perfect finger waves are completely disheveled, and that fills him with more dread than anything this job or Afghanistan could possibly throw at him. She has her phone in her hand.

The moment she comes to a stop in front of him, her expression shifts to something resembling mild distress, which means that either half of L.A. was just sucked into an open fault line, or—

For a second, he thinks the klaxons are going off, or someone set off the fire alarm in the main hangar, because there's a high-pitched ringing in his ears that is trying to worm its way down into his vagus nerve and make him puke. Everything goes fuzzy, then slowly the knob turns until clarity comes back. He's bent at the waist, hands gripping his thighs, and Dana's the only thing keeping him from toppling over. Dizziness has him in a half nelson.

"Head between your knees, Kinard," she instructs quietly. "That's it."

He thinks about standing in line at DJ's Smoke Shop & Market weeks ago, bouncing on his heels while waiting for the guy in front of him to finish picking his lottery tickets, and trying to remember his nonna's recipe for home fries. The bottle of Prosecco he'd grabbed on a whim had been burning a hole through the basket and was probably cooking the eggs he was going to drop $13 on, but he couldn't stop looking at it. All he wanted to do was pop the cork and pour it into a pair of flute glasses he'd probably have to locate and unpack. Which sounded like a lot of work when it would be so much easier to simply pour the champagne into Evan's mouth and drink it off his tongue.

He thinks about Evan looking him in the eye and declaring he didn't need to feel anything for the people he slept with.

He thinks about living in a world where Evan Buckley isn't.

"Say it," Tommy chokes out, clenching his jaw against the sour crackle deep in the bone. He's going to be sick. He's going to— "You have to say it."

Dana places a gentle hand on his back. "It wasn't him, Kinard. Not him. Buckley's fine."

Sinuses burning, Tommy drops his head back down and takes a shuddering breath, nodding. Not him. Not him.

The thought of Evan dying, of Evan being dead and gone and higher than even Tommy can fly, slips every time it tries to catch a foothold in his brain. He refuses to even entertain it. This is a man who's survived being crushed by a rig, a tsunami, a pulmonary embolism, a lightning strike, among other things, and is still hungry for anything the universe might throw at him. And despite its best efforts, the universe is never going to get Evan to flinch first.

Clearing his throat, he ducks away from Dana and wipes his cheek with his shoulder. Their flight suits are polyester, so the evidence of this will dry fast. She won't say a word to anyone else.

"Who was it?" It comes out like it's being dragged over broken glass and he coughs to try and clear out the clog. "Oh god, it wasn't—it wasn't Howie, was it? Hen?"

When Dana doesn't answer, he looks up to find she's just holding out her phone to him.

He watches the duration of the call tick on, then squints at Dana. "Why do you have Eddie's number?"

Edmundo Diaz 03:51

"Is that the question you want to ask right now?" she asks, like she didn't politely goad Eddie into nearly putting his fist through a wall the last time they were in the same room.

Off kilter and still a bit dizzy, Tommy straightens up and takes the phone.

"Eddie? Who was it?"

He takes a deep breath in and holds it.

+

Despite the AirOps hangar being at least three times its size, the 118 station has always been larger than life. When Gerrard was in charge, every day it felt like walking into the gaping maw of some primordial beast, swallowed whole to be slowly digested, burned away over the course of a shift, until it spat him out just so he could do it again the next day. That he kept going back says more about him than it does about Gerrard.

The slew of interim captains they were saddled with after Gerrard felt like intermission, like they were just waiting for the second act to start. From the moment he stepped out of the rig and slapped a twenty into the pot to bank on his own odds, Captain Nash was there to stay. And he tamed that hateful creature enough that Tommy was able to leave every shift completely intact. 

Tommy stands on the sidewalk outside the bay and stares at the closed doors. When Tommy had been there, Bobby refused to close them.

"I don't like the look of a closed door. I don't like what it implies," Bobby had said when Tommy awkwardly asked about it. "I want everyone to know they're welcome here, day or night. I want them to know it's safe for them to be here. The doors stay open. Captain's orders."

Swallowing, he walks over to the regular entrance and lets himself in.

Normally you can hear the crew shouting and laughing from half a block away, and there are always people milling about, doing chores, fixing things, coming outside to shoot the shit with passersby. Tommy always loved the sound of it. He loved how tight-knit they all were, but also how willing they were to bring someone new into the fold. The handful of times he picked Evan up after his shift, Tommy would end up talking to at least four different people, which would always eat into their date nights. They had to cancel a reservation once, but it felt worth it just to be able to walk back to his truck with that warmth in his chest, with his cheeks aching from smiling and laughing so much. Evan never complained. If anything, he was happy to stay there a little longer himself.

Now the bay is so silent that Tommy can hear the racing of his own heart. Anyone else would think the place had been deserted.

As he walks past the parked rigs, he spies a few people from B-shift. Ravi has Moore wrapped up in his arms and is resting his chin on top of her head. Hoang is wiping down a hose coupling with jerky, inefficient movements, breaking away to dab at her cheeks with the cloth.

Ravi looks up and his soft gaze sharpens the second it lands on Tommy. This must be what a deer feels like right before the truck hits.

After a moment, he gives him a nod, which makes Moore's head bob a little, then tilts his chin toward the administrative offices.

Shaky, Tommy nods in thanks and heads in that direction.

With every step, the world gets a little grayer, a little darker, and he feels a bit like the prince in Sleeping Beauty, hacking away at endless, twisting brambles that are doing everything they can to slow his momentum.

It feels like he's been fighting for a year without a single moment's rest by the time he makes it to the admin section. When he sees who's hanging outside the office with NASH on the door like a guard dog, texting on his phone, Tommy wishes he'd taken a moment to catch his breath.

He must make a noise or something, because Eddie jerks like he's been startled awake and claps eyes on Tommy. Pocketing his phone, Eddie peels away from the wall he'd been trying to sink into to offer his hand to Tommy like nothing's changed between them.

"Thanks for coming," Eddie says, quiet, almost choked. It sounds like he even means it. "I wasn't sure—"

Tommy can't bear to hear the rest of that, so he takes Eddie's hand in his own and pulls him in for a quick hug. "Of course I came. Of course. Don't thank me for—there was never..." He takes a breath, steps back, and tries again. "H-How are you holding up, man?"

"About as well as you'd expect," Eddie says with a damp chuckle. He drops his head and heaves a sigh that Tommy can feel in his own lungs. "I'm grateful I was already here. The way I feel and probably look right now? They'd never have let me on the plane."

Tommy doesn't remember how he navigated Sea-Tac after his dad died. He honestly can't believe Jet Blue let him board, either.

"Has anyone heard...?" He doesn't know how to finish the thought, but luckily Eddie's always been perceptive. He was always on Tommy's wavelength.

"Not yet. Athena ID'd the b—" Eddie bites off the sentence suddenly and swallows the rest of it down. Tommy can taste the rot in the word anyway. "She confirmed it was him."

Tommy closes his eyes and tries not to think about the unshakeable Athena Grant pulling the white sheet off the love of her life.

He clears his throat. "Where are... where are Hen and Howie?"

"Hen went with Athena," Eddie says. "She left hours ago, so who knows. Chim's... Chim couldn't stay. He couldn't... it's worse for him, you know? He's been here the longest."

The idea of the 118 without Bobby is almost too much to bear, but the 118 without Howie Han makes Tommy want to rip his own throat out. 

"And... and where's..." Tommy clenches his jaw, then relaxes it deliberately. "Where is he, Eddie?"

Eddie answers by rapping a gentle fist against the wall he'd been standing against. Bobby's office.

"He's been in there for a while," Eddie murmurs, blinking rapidly at the ceiling. "Athena called him a while ago and he's been in there ever since. He won't come out. I tried to get him to eat something, but..."

Eddie shakes his head, then shrugs. His shoulders drop like someone cut his strings.

"And you think I...?" Tommy hates himself for even asking, because this isn't about him. He wishes he could grab the words out of the air and stuff them back down his throat, but they float away like clouds.

Thankfully, Eddie doesn't call him a selfish fuck. Instead, he musters up a little smile as he mockingly says, "I don't think, I know. So try to forget you're a fucking idiot and just get in there, would you?"

Huffing a laugh, because damn. Despite everything, including the low-grade jealousy that he can't seem to treat no matter how much he tries, he really missed this asshole.

Tommy reaches out to squeeze Eddie's shoulder, then he steps around him to get to the door.

It brings him up short. The door is closed. The bay doors are one thing, but Bobby's office door was never shut. It makes him a little nauseated just looking at the way it doesn't quite line up with the frame.

Through the window, he sees Evan, and his heart breaks at the way his body curves in on itself, hunched over Bobby's desk like an animal trying to hide a wound. A renaissance painter couldn't have captured such despair. Heartbreak of the Favored Son, oil on canvas.

Tommy has no idea what kind of reception is waiting for him on the other side of this door, but Eddie seems sure Tommy won't be turned away. He wouldn't have called Tommy if he thought it'd be for nothing.

"He needs you, man," Eddie had said on the phone.

He takes a deep breath in and holds it, and opens the door.

Almost immediately, Evan lifts his head, like he can tell who it is by the way the knob turns, and his expression is such a miserable mix of relief and devastation that Tommy doesn't stop to second guess himself. He doesn't need to. By the time he gets around the desk, Evan's already throwing himself into Tommy's arms.

"You're here," Evan sobs, clutching at him like he's afraid Tommy might disappear. There will be bruises everywhere he touches Tommy come morning. "Oh thank god, you're here. T-Tommy—"

"I'm here and I'm not going anywhere," Tommy whispers frantically into his hair, tightening his arms. "I've got you. Evan, baby, I've got you."

A tiny voice in the back of his mind hisses at him to close the door so no one else can see this, but he ignores it in favor of holding Evan tight enough that their bodies might soon start to merge together.

There are only open doors here. Captain's orders.

[lostinlovingrevery]

hi vannnnnn!!

first off how was your day!! i hope it’s been going well

secondly.. any worst!logan headcanons? particularly any filthy ones? (i’m feral 🫣)

a logan for you <3

HIIII CAS

My day HAS been going well, I finished my planter build (minus painting and actually planting it but!!) and I got the fattest, cheesiest pizza for dinner mmmmm

My grandma dropped off some v late christmas gifts and mine was a super cute new bag! A pocket heart charm AND a tiny lil vintage jewelry box with a REAL authentic two dollar bill in it. Pretty sure it belonged to my late grandfather :) <3

and that gif...mmm. yeah

Worst Wolvie headcanons? Don't mind if I do! (nsfw below!)

GENERAL:

I have this thing that he'll go into construction once he's settled in the new universe. It's easy to get a job with construction companies for the most part- and he's hella strong and looks it too, with a potty mouth and likes to drink- he'll fit right in!

SO polite and respectful to Althea. He'd be screaming at Wade one second, and the next be like "you need anything ma'am?" and get her a glass of water and everything else. No he does not support her cocaine habit.

PHEW I have a lot of trouble deciding how Logan would be after the events of D&P. I think he'd be struggling a lot still. He's such a hothead throughout most of the events of the movie, and I think that wouldn't stop being the case. I feel he'd probably simmer down a bit, but he would likely appear tense and awkward to some outsiders. He's not quite used to people being polite to him anymore.

when he meets you though, i think you'll capture his attention like no one else has

FLUFF (and a lil angst):

Oof, this is tricky too.

So I feel he'd be a bit rough around the edges when it comes to a relationship with you- at least in the beginning

He's not sure what to do. He has the capability of being soft, but he spent so long hardening his shell he's not sure how to be soft exactly.

His touches are intended to be gentle, but may feel rough as he tries to learn how to be with someone

His words are the same. I feel like sometimes his affection might come across sounding a lil angry

Once he gets comfortable though he'll be a complete lovebug

Initially put off by physical touch, he won't be able to get enough of it soon. Kisses, hugs, snuggles, booty smacks.

Hes a lil rough with the romance, but he'll try! Flowers brought home, remembers the little things about you- favorite snacks, drinks, etc.

As rough around the edges as he may be, he'll always be honest to you in how he feels. You may not initially feel like the man is heads over heels- but then after a cute and quiet date night he just looks at you all deadpan like "im so in love with you"

VERY protective. like over the top. Doesn't even like to see a man glance in your direction. Gets very nervous about you going out on your own too even if he hides it- he just doesn't want to lose you too :(

I feel in a way that he might be a little more settled down than his past self/variant. Kinda like Origins. More willing to get a nice house in the country, live a quiet peaceful life. He's been through a lot and somehow got you in the end. It's all he needs.

Not sure where to put this exactly, but I said in the past that I think he's a lot meaner than Old Man Logan- who I think is mean in a "i'm tired and sore and cranky" mean, while Worst Logan is mean in a "I don't fucking care about anything anymore " mean.

It comes out, when he's in a bad mood. He acts like he doesn't care but he does, things just hurt too much now and he's gotta shut it down

when it comes to being with you though, he begins to soften a bit more. You're able to listen and support him. His moods are never taken out on you

but you might get a sassy comment here and there

he genuinely loves you, wants things to work out. Will cut back greatly on the drinking.

won't think he deserves you, at all. will say that a lot.

everytime he looks at you it's the same lovesick face that origin logan has

I think im playing up how rough around the edges he is but I honestly think with you he'll still come off as a big sweetheart.

He'll still speak softly around you- even if you aren't together yet.

You'll catch him looking at you, an expression across his face you never seen him carry before. Something that looks like yearning

He'll melt in your arms. Hes like so much bigger than you but no one would realize by the way he just sinks into your embrace

i feel once you get to a certain point of your relationship, he'll be straight up worshipping you like the god/goddess you are

domestic life

cleaning the kitchen with him, late at night. Hes finishing up the dishes while you're wiping the counter down. You come up behind him, your hands untuck his shirt from his jeans, and your wrap your arms around him underneath the shirt, pressing kisses to his back before smushing your cheek against him and waiting for him to finish his dishes

he'll really wonder then, as he looks out into the window above the sink, over the city where your small apartment resides in- how did he get here?

will become a blushy mess when you do sweet things for him, like getting him flowers, or bringing him lunch at work, lil things like that

call him pretty. see what happens. ;)

SMUT:

Back to him being mean :)

BIG on control. He lost control of his life for years, so regaining it is def gonna show up in the bedroom

orgasm denial is a big thing with him

will mock you for begging and crying over it

sex can get really rough with him. He could be a complete sweetheart in the beginning, and the something snaps and he's choking you out with his cock, bruising the back of your throat as he pounds your mouth like a sextoy

Likes to pin you. In every way. likes seeing you squirm and struggle.

Likes to tie you up too

Smacking. Your ass and tits and cunt are going to be SORE.

Fucking into you rough and hard, you can't take it, your eyes rolling back- he smacks your face to get you back into reality. Not hard- more like a lovetap. "You with me bub?"

will give you a big wet kiss after

growling and grunting

very animal like this one

likes to spit in your mouth, feels like he's claiming you in a way

BITER!

You're gonna have bite marks!

The claws come out a lot with this one. All of them do it- but he just doesn't even try to control it, very conscious of where his hands are though

BIG on being praised

you praise him and hes gonna turn into a whimpering puppy

the switch up happens SO FAST

has probably immediately cum a few times the moments you praised him for being so good

if you want to have control for the night, just give him some praise and it's all yours

you can tie him up all you want, tease him, anything and everything long as you call him a good boy, and that you love him and he'll behave nicely as long as you keep going

he'll be a whining mess, thrusting into the air bc he needs you so bad to take care of him. he only ever needs you now.

like literally this man is two sides. fucking evil as hell in bed or the most subby whimpering man you'll ever know

dont worry, he does like praising you too

even if he's being a mean motherfucker he'll still be calling you gorgeous, talking about how good you are, how you're always going to be his

i feel like he can get pretty nasty too. Like remember the scent thing I talked about before? He'll straight up dig his nose in your armpit during sex just to get high off the pheromones and sweat coming off you.

pins your head down with his foot while fucking you (i...may have a request for this in the works....)

now i need to watch deadpool and wolverine....

[tiramissyoucake]

And so the Graysons/Catherine crossover begins. This is my dream. And nightmare. I desire a situationship with them. Note that this is almost word for word Catherine narrated with different roles, some scene skipping. All I'm doing is putting it in fanfic format as these 2.

CW: ooc, cheating, implied sex, drunk choices were made and they're not good, Dick is the mystery man in case it wasn't obvious

Sleep was scarce. Work was in abundance. If you've ever felt like you were ever spreading yourself thin in life, this would be its prime. The adorable cafe you sat in overwhelmed you, especially the rhythmic fingers drumming in front of you. You can hear someone talking, were they talking to you?

"Snap out of it!"

Your body jerked in response at the command from your boyfriend, looking up at his concerned expression that bordered on annoyance— shit, did you space off in the middle of a date?

"Were you listening?" His eyebrows furrowed, your eyes refocused on him, a clean white collar neatly adjusted over his blue sweater. Mark always cleaned up nice for your dates.

Guilt swallowed you as you cleared your throat. "Y-yeah. Sorry." A lie and an apology, but he was smarter than that.

"You've been spacing out a lot lately, is everything okay? You seem... off lately." Whenever Mark had a concerned look on his face, you were instantly reminded of a pet dog who was left home alone too long.

You nodded, one hand coming up to rub the strain of sleepless nights out of your eyes. "Sorry, I had to work early this morning..." this excuse wasn't a lie, you've been called in to do more overtime lately.

Concern still evident, but a small smile made its way onto his face. He was happy you were being responsible for yourself, at least it wasn't fatigue from staying up drinking or worse.

"Are you getting anything extra?" His question threw you off-guard, your expression told him everything he needed. "For all the overtime you're doing."

"Oh! N-no, I... usually don't get anything for it." You admitted sheepishly, Mark sighed and glanced away. "Seriously...?"

An awkward guilt hung on your shoulders again, you glanced down at the cutesy cup topped off with some tea, bringing it to your lips though you quickly winced at the bland bitterness. Mark held back a coo at your adorable reaction, opening the equally cute sugar container to pick up to sugar cubes for you. "You never like your tea or coffee without too much sugar, huh?"

A friendly jab, you hoped you were on his good side today... maybe you should ask.

"Hey, Grayson?" You looked up from the dissolving sugar. "Have you ever had a dream where you... died?" He tilted his head curiously, humming in thought.

"Like, where you're in danger? Near-death situations?" You shook your head, sitting up. "No, like where you actually die. Like, get killed?"

Nothing came to mind as he thought of his dreams, one did invoke a smile, one that said that he knew he shouldn't be smiling "No, usually I do the killing in my dreams."

You let out an uncomfortable laugh, his smile was lovely but paired with his words. "Yeah, haha..! That sounds like you..!"

A small quiet fell over your table, his palm came down onto the table with a sigh. "What's that supposed to mean?" You grew quiet, unable to respond, so much for friendly jabs.

"... Hey, how long have we been together?" Mark asked as he glanced away, dread loomed over you like a wave of cold water. How long HAS it been? You've been together so long you completely forgot.

"Hmm..! How long?" You tried to playfully shoot it back to him, as if it was a rhetorical question, he looked at you with a sigh. "I'm asking YOU."

Yikes, no use beating around the bush. You were glad he chose to continue. "It's just that... Mom's been calling me a lot lately asking how we're doing."

The memory of his mother came to mind, a no-nonsense woman. "Oooh..." You hummed, Mark elaborated. "She's just worried about me, she knows my job keeps me busy."

You had a feeling you weren't going to like where this conversation was going. Mark looked away nervously, you could see a red dust his cheeks. "I know things are easy right now and it's more comfortable to keep them this way, but..."

"W-well y'know what they say, Simple is best! Right...?" It was a weak argument but he couldn't retort, things were easy, not complicated. "I suppose you're right..."

You didn't miss that tone in his voice, one that learned for more.

. . .

"Sounds to me like he finally wants to tie the knot with you." Your friend responded after you relayed the events of your date to her, a tired groan escaped you. "You think so, too?"

She scoffed as she held her drink up to her lips. The booth you sat at in the bar you frequented offered little but enough privacy. "What else could it mean? Asking how long you're together, mentioning his mom? I can never imagine you as a married woman."

You shook your head, baffled. "No! No, it's not official yet. I love him, but I feel like... running into a marriage together? Everything feels... comfortable, right now."

"Does it though?" She coaxed the truth out of you, you looked away in guilt. "That's how he phrased it too."

You took a small sip from your cup. This went down easier than the bitter tea. "He's always been... the goody-two shoes type, I thought he worried more about the people around him to care about things like... marriage."

"You honestly thought he'd stay like that forever?" You almost groaned, this wasn't a good look for you. "That's not that I mean! You're one to talk for a single girl."

"I'm still looking for my soulmate, and if I never find them? I never get married, easy." She shrugged. You wished you were as clear on your intentions as she was.

The conversation died as you both drank in silence, almost painfully so. She decided to drop another uncomfortable conversation, though bound to be more interesting than your boyfriend dropping hints. "... did you hear about Olivia? She's dead."

Your eyes went wide as you recalled her, nice girl, you barely knew her but you knew she had issues with her husband. "THAT Olivia?! When..?!"

"Yeah, 'just got out of a divorce' Olivia. Apparently her mom found her dead in bed this morning." Your heart plummeted to your stomach, the two of you glanced at the TV that recounted the mystery death that happened this morning. "... shit, that was her?"

You thought life would start looking up for her after finally divorcing her husband, you're not sure but you heard rumors of an affair. You're not exactly in the best position to judge, you have your own boyfriend to worry about.

Your friend left you to your own thoughts citing she had work early, as if sitting alone in a busy bar in a booth wasn't pathetic as is, you were too preoccupied with your conversation earlier today with Mark.

"How long have we been together?"

You texted back and forth with him after getting a moment to yourself. Although they were more hints, he saw some friends today and you could practically hear the wistful sigh as he recounted how they had golden or silver bands around their fingers, some of them were expecting children or already had children. And a scolding telling you to get home soon from the bar, he knew you too well. Scarily well.

He was a sweet guy, a great lover... but were you ready for this? You changed jobs, he was so focused on his, and you were happy to have a moment of solace with him (a date or two, the check-in texts, the times he came over...).

You lowered your glass, feeling someone approach you. You weren't expecting any of your friends to come, and you hadn't invited Mark to come either.

"Hi, you mind if I sit here?" You look up, blinking tiredly.

He was tall, smiling down at you with soft blue eyes. You saw hints of dimples framing those pretty lips. Jet black hair that fell just right, unlike your boyfriend's usual neat styling. You couldn't tell if this guy had a tan or if the warm lighting of the bar made him seem more inviting. He was muscular. The tight black shirt let you know that he was angular as well- How can a man have a better waist than most women you've met?

There's no harm in the company. It's not like you were busy.

. . .

"Shouldn't you be happy if you two are together? Marriage is just tradition. It's like a relationship with extra paperwork and bland jewellery." The man swivelled the ice in his cup as he responded to your worries. You were glad someone understood. "It's less daunting, better to be free, right?"

You were surprised he understood your viewpoint. "Odd, most men are in a rush to 'claim' their women with a ring on her finger, all they can think about is marriage. But..." You lowered your cup, he looked like he enjoyed having your eyes on him too much.

"There's men like you out there, who would've thought?"

"C'mon, I'm not that weird, am I?" He leaned forward on his arms, flexing slightly under the movement. "I'm not so insecure that I need to wife up whoever I'm with to make sure she's mine."

"I'll keep that in mind." Your hands grew busy as you tugged out a box of cigarettes, a shameful habit, but how shameful can it be when you're in a bar full of people who definitely had responsibilities they were avoiding?

You almost dropping the later and the cigarette from between your lips when he suddenly appeared next to you. "Thank goodness, we're the same."

The mystery man paid no attention to your body staggering back from his sudden appearance, picking up his glass and finally drinking down the entire beverage in one go, taking his time and allowing your eyes to rake over him in an alcohol-infused haze, he looked too... ethereal, was he really a man? He lowered his glass, the ice clinking together as he let out a satisfied sigh.

You were staring, you should look away. He made eye contact with your staring, you should REALLY look away.

"What is it?" Fuck.

"Nothing— I'm just... spacing out." You quickly glanced away, he didn't like that.

His elbow that helped his hand prop up his cheek shuffled closer as he moved near you, landing on your drink's coaster- it slipped right out from underneath and dragged him smackdab against you.

Your hands instinctively went up to hold him up, one around his shoulder and the other on his chest, the man let out a small laugh. "Thanks.. you're so sweet."

What were you doing? "Hey, uh- I gotta go, I have work early tomorrow—?!" Your hand that was supposed to be off his chest by now was trapped underneath his, his hand held yours closely to his chest, you can feel the contours of his muscles.

"I really have to get home now and... I.. had fun talking to you—" your breath hitched as he guided your hand down his firm chest. You could feel his defined form over the cloth, his hand pressing yours closely to his body

"You must like what you see." His voice was low, only for you to hear. You quickly retorted. "I'm not staring!"

"You're a bad liar..." his free hand came up to guide your chin to look at him, those lips you noticed the moment he approached you closing in to yours, you were dumbfounded as he pressed his lips to yours, it would've been innocent, but you know both of you shouldn't be here right now.

The cigarette quivered in your hand, he parted from you, licking his lips. ".. you taste like smoke, not that I mind..."

You prayed your string of nightmares had ended and this was just some guilty pleasure dream.

. . .

This was a nightmare, nightmare after nightmare. Your head hurts from the alcohol, the late night... God, what time was it?

As you sat up, you realised your pillows and sheets felt way too heavy. Arms were locked around you, warm skin pressed to your own... did you invite Mark over last night?

Those familiar lips, that black hair that was tousled perfectly. This wasn't Mark. Sitting up, panic rattled your entire being as you registered who this was; the mystery man from yesterday. Naked. In your bed. In your apartment. You slept with someone who isn't your boyfriend. You got shitfaced drunk and cheated. This isn't good.

"Mmh..? What isn't good?" You hadn't realised you were mumbling to yourself and that he was awake. A stutter spilt out of your mouth as you tried to recover. "Y'know! This..? Er, hooking up...? After we just met..?"

The mystery guy hummed as he was lying on your pillows like he belonged there. "... is this gonna be a problem then?"

Your mind rattled for any excuse, you two were just drunk. Drunk and lonely. This was a mistake. You just needed to clear things up with this guy first—

"Woah- hey! hey...!" You gasped as he sat up to straddle your waist. He was being too playful. Can he not see the distress on your features..?

"... last night was really fun," he started with a smile. "But.. don't get the wrong idea about me, OK? ... I came here because I like you."

You couldn't respond, how do you respond? He practically had hearts in his eyes as he looked down at you, it didn't help that you could feel everything— and you mean everything — pressing against you.

"L-Look, this is my first time doing something lol this— a-and you're great, really..! You're..." You heaved as he hung on every word, biting his bottom lip. "Just... not what I'm used to and... god- what do I even say...?!"

"Not what you're used to...?" He chuckled, his finger tracing shapes at your collarbone. "So... would you say this is love at first sight?"

He didn't wait for a response as he leaned closer to press his lips to your neck, a whimper escaping you, you brought your hands up to his shoulders to attempt to remove him, jolting when he did it for you and sat up quickly.

"Wait! You said you have to go to work, right?!" Jeez, where did this ethic come from? He quickly removed himself from you to get dressed. You sat up with a lot of hesitation as you watched him hurry, still retaining some sense of grace as he moved about. "I have to go, I have a whole meeting thing at work and my boss, he uh.. he'll get really mad at me if I'm late!"

He pouted as he adjusted his hair in your mirror, looking at you through the reflection. "I guess that'll have to wait until next time, huh? See you soon!"

"Wait! I'm actually—" the door slammed shut as he left, your explanation that you're already dating someone left unattended.

This is bad, this is really bad.

[millers-girl]

things worth saving

chapter 3 of willow & whiskey

pairing: Joel Miller x f!reader

summary: you and Joel come together, and fall apart, all within the confines of Bill's town.

warnings/tags: age gap, adult language, blood and violence, death

word count: 4.8k

series masterlist

The next morning, the sun pulled you from sleep, though it did little to fight the exhaustion weighing on your body. You’d gotten little sleep last night – waking every so often to check on Ellie to make sure she was okay… and maybe every once in a while, your eyes drifted to where Joel sat on watch. Your empathic heart couldn’t help but bleed for his.

While Joel didn’t give anything away, Ellie was quieter than usual, and you could tell she was lost in her thoughts. Instead of pressing her to talk, you simply laid beside her, staring up at the sky. You pointed out constellations, whispering their stories, letting the sound of your voice fill the silence between you. You saved Orion––her favorite––for last.

Eventually, her breathing evened out, body relaxing against the makeshift pillow of her pack. You stayed up, watching the stars blink in and out of focus. What you didn’t notice was Joel, sitting a few yards away, listening. Watching. 

His weary gaze settled on you, ears tuned in to every word you spoke. He’d caught the way you shifted restlessly in your spot, rolling onto your side and then back, your body shivering against the cold. You had draped your jacket over Ellie without hesitation, leaving you to suffer the chill now.

When you woke, Joel's jacket was over you.

The warmth of it, the smell of earthy leather, lingered as you pulled it tighter around you. For a moment, a flicker of something unfamiliar twisted in your chest. This small gesture could’ve been softness, kindness. But, in the short amount of time you’d known Joel, you could whatever compelled him to do it was more complicated. Guilt, maybe. Responsibility. 

Your eyes moved across the dirt, to where he sat when you saw him last before drifting off to sleep. The spot was empty. 

You sat up, blinking the sleep from your eyes, and found him by the stream a few yards away. He was flexing his injured hand under the cool rush of water, knuckles cracked and raw from his fight with the guard.

You moved quietly, grabbing the small first aid kit from your pack and walking over. He didn’t react as you sat beside him, the early morning air still and thick between you two. Silently, you held a hand out.

Joel hesitated, gaze flickering between your face and outstretched palm. Then, slowly, he placed his hand in yours.

The contrast struck him immediately. His skin was rough, calloused, lined with age and hardship – completely different from the softness of your own fingers.

He didn’t flinch when you brushed over the bruising, but you felt the tension in his muscles, the way his fingers curled involuntarily at your touch.

"Does it hurt?" You asked, voice barely above a whisper so as not to disturb the fragile quiet of the dawn.

He shook his head, dismissive. But when you applied a bit of pressure, his jaw tightened, a slight flinch betraying him. 

Without reacting—he was sure you were doing it for his sake—you applied some ointment on his wounds before wrapping them in gauze, gently trying to avoid the sensitive area.

When you were done, you pulled out a small bottle of anti-inflammatories, shaking two pills into your palm. He stared at them, then took only one, swallowing it dry. 

You let him have that without argument. If this was his way of keeping control over something, you’d let him have it.

By the time you both returned to camp, Ellie was awake, sitting up against a tree. The moment you saw her, you made a beeline, kneeling to wrap your arms around her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

"Hey, you sleep okay?" you asked, brushing the hair out of her face.

She nodded, but when she turned to Joel, her expression was tense. "Look, I've been thinking about – "

Joel cut her off. "I don't want your sorries."

"I wasn't gonna say sorry," Ellie snapped back, her voice unwavering. "I was gonna say I've been thinking about what happened. Nobody made you or Tess take us. Nobody made you go along with this plan – "

"Ellie," you warned softly, shaking your head. Now wasn't the time for this.

"No,” she insisted, “he made a choice. He doesn't get to blame us for something that isn't our fault." 

Joel waited, looking to see if you would talk her down. But, you didn't. Instead, you turned to him then, waiting. Would he deny it? Confirm? If you were him, you’d surely blame yourself – if you and Ellie hadn’t shown up, Tess would still be alive.

And even though Ellie was right—he did this of his own free will—you still felt guilty about it. Guilty about being the reason she was in the State House in the first place, guilty about ending whatever it was between them, guilty for playing a part in her death.

You looked up just in time to see Joel nod once at Ellie, quiet and sharp, coming to an agreement. 

And that was that. 

The five hour trek to Bill and Frank's was spent mostly with Ellie peppering you with questions to pass the time and fill the silence.

“What’s the first thing you’d do if the world wasn’t all fucked?” 

You thought for a second. “Disneyworld. I’d go to Disneyworld.” 

Ellie scrunched her nose. “What’s Disneyworld?” Even Joel’s head turned slightly at that. “What?”

You shook your head, feigning a sigh. “I’ve failed at raising you.” 

Ellie waved it off, moving on to her next question.

“What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever used as a weapon?” Once, you’d killed an Infected with a broken spatula handle; that was something.

"Would you rather kiss an Infected or eat rat jerky?” 

To that, you truly had no answer.

When she ran out of questions for you, she turned to Joel.

“Have you gone this way a lot?” To which he’d shrugged and said sometimes.

“Are there any Infected we should be looking out for?” No.

“Are Bill and Frank nice?” Frank was.

"How'd you get that scar on your head?"

That caught your attention. You glanced at Joel as he sighed.

Ellie continued. "What? Is it something lame, like you fell down the stairs or something?" 

"Someone shot at me and missed." 

"See, that's cool. You shoot back?" 

"Yeah." 

"You get him?" 

"No, I missed, too." Ellie scoffed. "It happens more often than you think."

"Cause you suck at shooting, or like, in general?" 

You snorted a laugh, disguising it as a cough when Joel shot a look your way.

His expression remained flat as he answered, "In general."

Before she could think up another question, the three of you happened upon a gas station where Joel had mentioned he stashed some supplies for when he ran low.

Inside, you watched Joel look around for a minute, eyes unsure.

“You forgot where you put your stuff,” you teased, watching his eyes scan the floor.

“No,” Joel argued. “I’m just zeroing in on it.” 

You nudged Ellie, mimicking his tone. “Zeroing in on it.”

When Joel finally unearthed his stash––and Ellie had wandered into the back to see if she could find anything good––you hopped atop the counter where the cash register sat and swung your feet.

As he dug through the dusty green duffel, you took a nosy glimpse inside and suddenly screeched in joy.“Are those tampons?!” You asked, hopping off the counter and reaching your greedy fingers out. Joel handed the blue box over, giving you a look. “What?” 

“Nothin’. Just don’t think I’ve ever seen someone get so excited about feminine hygiene.” 

“Yeah, you try living on pads as long as I have. It fucking sucks.” 

Joel cleared his throat. “Didn’t need to know that.”  

You quirked a brow. “Joel, when you bleed from your vagina for four days every month––get cramps, cravings for chocolate, and have to use the sandpaper they call ‘pads’ in the QZ––then you’ll get an opinion on this.” 

“Wonderful,” he huffed under his breath, going back to rummaging through the duffle. 

You stuffed the box of tampons in your pack before hopping back onto the countertop, eyes wandering around the store which was mostly picked over. As your brain wandered through different thoughts, you let out a scoff, the sound of your own amusement surprising you.

Joel glanced up at you. “Sorry,” you apologized, “It’s just – before everything, did you ever just go to the store just for one dumb thing? Like, you realize you’re out of milk, so you drive to the store, hand over a couple bucks, and that was it. No ration cards, no guards, no ‘hope no one stabs me on the way home.’ Just… milk.” 

Joel didn’t answer right away. His brow furrowed slightly as if he was sorting through distant memories. Finally, he nodded. “Yeah. Used to do it all the time.” 

Something about the way he said it––low, almost reluctant––made your chest tighten. The normalcy of that past life was such a foreign thing now.

You hesitated before speaking again, fingers tracing the dust on the counter. “One of the only memories I have from before the outbreak happened in a gas station. My mom and I were going on a road trip. She stopped somewhere to fill up the gas, and I – ” You let out a soft laugh. “I had been in the car for so long, I just took off running up and down the aisles of this convenience store on the side of the road with my mom chasing me. It made the attendant laugh so hard, he let me pick out a lollipop for free.” 

You glanced at Joel, his gaze heavy on you. It made your stomach twist – he wasn’t just listening, he was seeing you, maybe for the first time. 

You cleared your throat, shifting under the weight of his gaze. “You ever take a kid shopping?” 

It was meant to be a throwaway question, something to deflect from the sudden intimacy of the moment. But Joel immediately stiffened at it. His jaw ticked as he turned back to his pack, shoving supplies into it with a little too much force.

Oh.

The realization settled uncomfortably in your chest. You hadn’t really thought about it before, but now… Maybe Joel hadn’t always been alone. Maybe there had been someone else, before the outbreak – a kid.

The air felt heavier between you.

“You don’t have to answer that,” you finally said, softly. “I just – I think this is the first time in a long time I’ve had a real conversation with someone who isn’t Ellie.” 

After a pause, Joel asked, “And… verdict?”

Half-smiling, you answered, “I’ve had worse conversation and worse company.”

Joel didn’t respond, but something in his expression shifted just slightly, like he understood the sentiment. He didn’t mind your company either. And when it came to conversation – Hell, he couldn’t even remember the last time he and Tess had even had a real one, one that wasn’t about survival.

You could feel the moment lingering between the two of you until Ellie returned to the front room. 

When Joel was done restocking, you three were on the move again. The road to central Massachusetts stretched empty ahead, nothing but cracked asphalt and the occasional rusted car. Woods and fields flanked both sides. Then, up ahead, the landscape changed.

A plane crash. 

The wreckage was half-buried in the dirt, its charred remains a stark reminder of the chaos that had unfolded in those first days. Your stomach twisted at the sight.

“Jesus,” you muttered under your breath.

Ellie turned to Joel, eyes wide, seemingly unaffected by the gore of it. You didn’t know how she did that, or who she got it from – it certainly wasn’t you. “You ever fly in one of those?” 

“A few times.” 

“Lucky,” she grumbled. 

You looked at him, trying to distract yourself from the sight before you. “What was it like?”

“Sure as hell didn’t feel lucky. Got shoved into a middle seat, paid twelve bucks for a sandwich.” 

Ellie scoffed. “Dude, you got to go up in the sky!”

He just shrugged, glancing back at the wreckage. “Yeah, well, so did they.” Grim.

Silence fell as you kept walking. Ellie wandered ahead, kicking at a stray rock, leaving you and Joel a few paces behind. After a moment, he glanced over. “What about you?” 

“What about me?” 

“You ever go on a plane?” You shook your head. “Shame.”

You huffed a small laugh. “What happened to ‘shoved into a middle seat and overpaid for a sandwich’?” 

He shrugged. “Still… think you would’a liked it.”

Something about that––him saying that––made your chest warm.

“When you went – did you see stars? Was it at night?” 

Joel shook his head. “Didn’t get a chance to look out the window.” 

You whistled lowly. “I would’ve saved the twelve bucks you spent on that sandwich and upgraded to a window seat.” 

That actually made him breathe out a single laugh. A real one. And you… you liked the sound of it. It was rare, something buried beneath all that gruffness and exhaustion. He looked like he could use more of them.

But then, just as quickly as it had appeared, the frown was back. Joel scanned the surroundings, posture tightening. He called Ellie back. “We’ll cut across the woods here.”

Your brows furrowed. “Why wouldn’t we just keep going straight? Didn’t you say this road would basically take us most of the way there?” 

“Yeah, it’s just – there’s stuff up there neither of you should see.” 

Something about the way he said it made your skin prickle. The weight in his voice, the way his shoulders tensed.

Ellie, of course, saw it as a challenge. “Well, now I have to see.” 

“I don’t want you to,” Joel replied, voice firm.

“Ellie, you heard him,” you supported, watching the girl begin to make her way down the road. “Seriously, Ellie!” 

She turned, walking backwards. “Can it hurt me?” She asked Joel.

The moment “No” slipped past his lips, you whipped a hand up to cover his mouth, trying to stop it. He should’ve lied – it would’ve at least been more convincing at getting Ellie to follow him through the woods. You sighed, having heard his answer before turning to Ellie.

Ellie smirked. “You’re too honest, man.” She nudged her head toward you. “Gotta learn from the best.”

“It’s okay,” you tried reassuring him. “She’s a tricky one. There’s a learning curve to parenting her.” 

“I wasn’t trying to – ”

He stopped himself when he saw Ellie sharply stop at the edge of the road, eyes staring down into the valley ahead.

Your stomach dropped at the look on her face.

“What is it?” You asked, brows furrowed in worry as you rushed up to her. You gasped at what she was staring at – a mass grave. Hundreds of skeletons lay tangled together, bones bleached by the sun, scattered across the valley like discarded remains of remnants past. The sight made your breath hitch, nausea curling deep in your gut.

You turned to Joel, needing an explanation.

With a soft sigh, he said, “About a week after Outbreak Day, soldiers went through the countryside evacuating the smalltowns. Told you you were goin’ to a QZ, and you were… if there was room. If there wasn’t…” 

Your stomach twisted violently. The world blurred for a moment as you stepped back, to the other side of the road, before doubling over and emptying the meager contents of your stomach onto the grass.

A warm, calloused hand smoothed over your back, steadying you. Joel.

He didn’t say anything, just kept rubbing slow, grounding circles up and down your back.

For a man who rarely offered comfort, who kept his distance from anything too close, too raw… it meant something.

Only, you were a bit preoccupied to realize it at the time.

Bill’s town was like something out of a doomsday prepper’s handbook – a high voltage fence surrounding the entire thing, surveillance cameras everywhere, and an eerie silence blanketed over the desolate town.

Joel punched a code into the keypad beside the fence, and the click of the lock sounded before he pushed the gate open and let you and Ellie inside the town.

The houses were vacant, but they felt occupied, as if the people who lived here had just stepped out. Bill’s place, though, stood out. It was a fortress, marked by a slightly overgrown lawn and potted flowers lining the walk up to the porch.

Looking back, you think you knew it before you ever even entered the house. The flowers on the porch had wilted – the first sign.

Inside the foyer, the silence was thick. You tucked Ellie near your side as you stayed behind Joel, eyes gazing over the house. 

“Bill,” Joel’s voice broke the silence, waiting to hear a reply. “Frank?” 

No response.

Stepping further in the house, Ellie found an envelope and a key sat by the piano in the dining room. Addressed ‘To whomever, but probably Joel.’

She opened up the note inside, stating, “It’s from Bill.” She quickly read it to herself in silence.

Joel sighed, probably knowing what was coming, and shrugged his backpack off, grasping the key.

He glanced down the hall, at the bedroom on the far right.

“So they’re dead?” he asked.

Ellie nodded, gently humming in affirmation. 

Joel paced slowly around the room, the weight of the loss pressing down on him. Another friend––another two friends––lost in the span of a few days.

Your heart ached for him, but you didn’t know what to say. What could you say that would make this any better? 

“What does the note say?” you softly asked Ellie.

“August 29, 2023. If you find this, please do not come into the bedroom. We left a window open so the house wouldn’t smell. But it will probably be a sight. I’m guessing you found this, Joel, because anyone else would’ve been electrocuted or blown up by one of my traps. Hehehehe. Take anything you need. The bunker code is the same as the gate code, but in reverse. 

“Anyway, I never liked you, but still, it’s like we’re friends… almost. And I respect you. So, I’m gonna tell you something because you’re probably the only person who will understand.

“I used to hate the world, and I was happy when everyone died. But I was wrong because there was one person worth saving…”

Without meaning to, your gaze drifted toward Joel. His eyes had found Ellie, then slowly turned to you. That soft, warm brown met yours, something flickering in it. It was the same look he’d given you back at the gas station – but now, you were giving it back.

You were finally seeing him, too.

You were starting to understand exactly what kind of person Joel Miller was, and you weren’t shying away from it. Instead, you held his gaze, trying to offer him what comfort you could as Ellie continued to read in her oblivious innocence. 

“That’s what I did. I saved him, then I protected him. That’s why men like you and me are here. We have a job to do. And God help any motherfuckers who stand in our way.”

The corners of your lips quirked up into a small, almost imperceptible smile. Yeah, you were beginning to understand Joel more than you would admit aloud.

“I leave you all of my weapons and equipment. Use them to keep – “

The moment her voice caught, both you and Joel turned to look at her. The tension in the room shifted. And, just like that, Joel was moving, snatching the letter from Ellie’s hand in a single, swift motion. He finished the sentence.

“Stay here,” he ordered, his voice low and hard. Without waiting for a response, he stormed out of the house.

You looked at Ellie, who explained, “It said ‘use them to keep Tess safe.’”

You closed your eyes and let out a deep sigh before following him out the door. You found him in the garage, making a car battery. 

The noise of the tools around him was the only sound in the room, filling the space with a mechanical rhythm that felt out of place amidst the tension. You stepped closer, but he barely spared you a glance.

Softly, you began, “You know, I had someone once too.” 

Without looking up from the wire he was tightening, he coldly replied, “That so?”

Every cell in your body told you to leave him alone, but the look he’d given you back in the dining room while Ellie was reading the letter – you couldn’t let it go.

“Yeah. We were in the QZ together. Didn’t have much, but we made it work. Looked out for each other, kept each other safe – he kept Ellie safe.” A lump lodged itself into your throat and you forced it down before continuing, “He used to say it was enough… that even in a world like this, it was enough.” 

Joel finally looked up, his expression unreadable. He didn’t ask but there was something in his eyes that told you he understood exactly what you meant.

“I wish it had been,” you said, voice barely above a whisper before you cleared your throat.

Joel’s jaw tightened and he turned back to the battery, working faster now, as if trying to outrun the conversation. “What’s your point?” He asked gruffly, clearly irritated now.

“That you’re not the only one who had someone worth saving… that you’re not the only one who knows what it’s like to lose them.” 

You’d meant it as a comfort – that he didn’t have to do this alone. Instead, he took it as a criticism – you’re not the only one who's lost someone so get over it.

“At least I’m doing something with my loss,” he snapped, hands gripping the worktable.

Your head dropped, understanding what he was saying between the lines. He’d lost Tess and he was shifting that energy to do something about it – to build this car battery and finally get to his brother. 

You, on the other hand, were wallowing in your misery. Letting it be a part of you but never harnessing it for anything. Your grief was useless.

“Right,” you said finally, accepting his chastisement. Without another word, you turned on your heel and walked out of the garage, back into the house. You sat with Ellie, who could tell something was wrong, until Joel came back inside – he made a point to look mainly at Ellie.

“I just finished making a truck battery. It’s charging right now.” 

“Okay,” Ellie said.

“I have a brother, out in Wyoming. He’s in some kinda trouble and I’m heading out there to find him. He used to be a Firefly. And my guess is, he knows where some of ‘em are out there. Maybe they can get you to wherever this lab is.”

“Alright… uh – listen… about Tess – “ 

Joel held a hand up, cutting her off. His voice was hard, distant. “If I’m takin’ you with me, there’s some rules you gotta follow. Rule one: you don’t bring up Tess. Ever.” He glanced back at you before continuing, “Matter of fact, we can just keep our histories to ourselves.” 

You bit your lip, trying to process what he was saying. The distance between you stretched, maybe further than it ever had before, and it made your stomach twist.

“Rule two: you don’t tell anyone about your… condition. They see that bite mark, they won’t think it through. They’ll just shoot you.” Ellie nodded. “Rule three: you do what I say when I say it. We clear?” 

“Yes.” 

“Repeat it.” 

“She gets it,” you growled, stepping up to Ellie and crossing your arms over your chest, clearly not able to let the moment go. “What you say goes.” 

Joel let out a deep sigh, accepting it. “Okay. Let’s go grab what we can. Anything useful.” 

The house was full of supplies you three stuffed into your packs – food, clothes, even toilet paper.

After you were done, and had found the wonderful shock that the house had hot water, you raced Ellie to the bathroom, eventually letting her win and shower first.

When it was your turn, you stood under the warm spray, letting it soothe your muscles, your mind. Here, in the confines of the bathtub, you didn’t have to worry about Ellie, didn’t have to think ten moves ahead or keep an eye out for danger. 

Here, you could just be. 

Thirty minutes later, the water had washed away the exhaustion and you felt lighter, refreshed.

You stepped out of the bathroom––the soft warmth of the towel wrapped around you, wet hair dripping onto the wooden floor––and froze when you saw Joel standing there.

You met his gaze, not wanting to let him see how much he had rattled you. “What?”

He hesitated then shook his head. “Nothin’. You done with the shower?”

You nodded and slipped past him without another word, your pulse quickening.

After you dressed, you found yourself wandering through the house, until you ended up in what you guessed was Frank’s art studio. There was a half-finished portrait of Bill on the easel. In fact, there were pictures of Bill everywhere – it was clear Frank had poured everything into those canvases. You could tell how much he loved him.

You felt a lump form in your throat as you traced your fingers over the easels, the paints, the brushes. You knew it sounded silly but you could feel Frank in the room.

A person you’d never met but you immediately knew you’d like, based on this room alone. You stepped in front of a pot of lilies you assumed he was going to use for the painting of Bill, and plucked one by the stem, staring at it. 

You rummaged through your pack until you opened up your journal, softly pressing the flower between the pages. 

It was small but it would remind you of this place. Of the people who lived here and the love they shared. Of the love you once shared, in the confines of your cramped apartment in the QZ, with your blonde-haired sweet boy.

The creak of a floorboard behind you had you snapping your head back, caught off guard. Joel stood in the doorway, freshly showered, eyes locked on the tears you hadn’t realized were falling. 

“They’re not for you,” you said, your voice tight, though you wiped them away quickly, embarrassed.

Joel said nothing for a long beat. Then, he motioned to the flower you’d pressed. “Ain’t much use in keepin’ dead things.” 

You swallowed hard, the ache in your chest growing. You looked at the flower, the petals delicate on the page. “Not everything has to have a use. You can just appreciate things because they’re beautiful.” 

The silence between you thickened, and Joel didn’t take the moment to apologize for earlier. You hadn’t expected him to. Still, for some reason, it stung more than it should’ve.

Finally, he said, “The battery’s charged. You ready to go?” 

You nodded, your words caught in your throat, and walked past him, out the door, into the cold, open world once again.

Ellie was already sitting in the back, mesmerized by the newness of being inside a car. 

“It’s like a spaceship,” she dreamily said.

You turned to look at her as Joel settled into the driver’s seat. “Put your seatbelt on, love.” She turned to look at you, clueless.

It made you smile, reaching back to buckle her seatbelt for her before pressing a loving kiss to her cheek and returning to your seat.

As Joel began driving out of the neighborhood, your eyes caught sight of a blue tote bag by your feet. 

“Packed it for you,” Joel merely said, watching you open the bag from his periphery.

Inside were a stack of books, with the second installment of the Lord of the Rings trilogy neatly placed on top. You couldn’t believe that he’d remembered you telling him you were reading the first book back at his apartment, before you’d ever left for the State House.

You placed the second book onto your lap, fingers grazing the spine.

“It’s a long drive,” he added. I got you something so you wouldn’t get bored, was what was left unsaid. But it didn’t need to be said aloud. You heard it loud and clear, in the silence.

It wasn’t a big gesture but it did enough. You found the sting in your heart lessening.

This wasn’t an apology, and you opening it up to page one to begin reading, wasn’t an acceptance. But it was a middle ground, and that was something.

.

.

.

taglist: @orcasoul @lizlil@littleshadow17 @joeldjarin @mrsyixingunicorn10 @luvwanda @escaping-reality8 @hoddystark @mmkkzz

[bartywinter]

under · @rosekillermicrofic · rosekiller · wc: 455

Evan had a square, methodical personality that intensified when it came to his work and hobbies. He hated being disturbed while designing a tattoo or painting a portrait. No one was allowed to touch his materials or enter his studio —not even Barty, who would simply knock on the door to let him know that the food was ready. They had made up a special language: if Evan answered with a knock, it meant he was going to eat; two, I would eat later; three, I'll be ready in ten minutes, wait for me. It was Barty who came up with the idea after countless arguments where Evan would get mad at him for interrupting while he was working.

There was one exception, however, who was right now pounding on his door while shouting Daddy!

Evan set the brush down on the palette.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” He shouted.

“I’m bored!”

He took off his apron and opened the door to find a rather annoyed Sadie folding her arms before him. He crouched down to be at her height.

“Where’s Barty, my love?”

“Still sleeping,” she said as she hugged Evan, who kissed the top of her head and wrapped an arm around her back affectionately. “But I don’t want to sleep anymore.”

Barty and Sadie spent plenty of time together, which often meant that Barty ended up exhausted since Sadie was a whirlwind who would tire out even an Olympic athlete. He was usually fast asleep on the living room carpet, Sadie on top of him and a big number of toys scattered around them like a minefield Evan had to dodge to approach them.

He smiled fondly at the thought.

“Should we wake him up?”

Sadie shook her head and began to fiddle with his ear piercings absentmindedly.

“Just as you resent him coming into your room, he resents being woken up.”

God.

Was his five-year-old daughter giving him the talk?

“C’mon.” She broke away and grabbed his hand. “Let’s draw in my room. Prince will join us.”

Prince was her favourite stuffed animal. It had been a gift from Regulus —Sadie had named it after him. In her opinion, Regulus was handsome as a prince and elegant as a black cat.

“Okay, okay.”

On the way to Sadie's room, Barty appeared yawning and scratching his back lazily under his oversized t-shirt. His hair was in complete disarray and his eyes were still half closed.

“Good morning,” Evan joked.

Sadie took Barty's hand as well and walked on, forcing them to do the same accordingly.

“Perfect, now we are one more to play with.”

Barty raised a hand to his face and sighed.

“Can’t I have a break?”

Evan grinned.

“Not in this house.”

[miss-kuki-nz]

Confrontation

John Cena x assistant reader (Platonic), Cody Rhodes x reader? (TBD)

Author's Note: This is just a random idea that came to my mind and It wouldn't leave me until I typed it out. I hope you enjoy 🥰.

Warning(s)-Angst, little bit of dirty talk, not proofread.

Tag list: @there-goes-thefighter @mytribalnightmare @madhatterbri @eringobragh420

Cody stood in the middle of the ring during Friday Night Smackdown with an angry look on his face and the feeling of rage surging through his body as he continued to go off at John Cena and his assistant, Y/N who were both standing at the bottom of the ramp with smug looks on their faces.

"Clearly you want some..........COME AND GET SOME", Cody yelled into the mic as his eyes locked with John's in an intense stare down. After a while John smirked at Cody and did his signature “you can't see me” hand movement before he started yelling out insults at the 3rd generation superstar. "KEEP RUNNING YOUR MOUTH AND I WILL GLADLY BEAT YOUR ASS JUST LIKE I DID LAST WEEK...........YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET!”.

Y/N along with the commentators and the many fans who were in attendance tonight could feel the tension building between the American nightmare and the franchise player and it all stemmed from the events that occurred at the Elimination Chamber last week where John with the help of The Rock turned bad by attacking Cody from behind with his Universal championship title. A move that no one ever saw coming except of course Y/N and The Rock who were in on it. No longer was John Cena the good guy, he was now the bad guy and there was nothing that anyone could do to stop him from getting to the top once again.

Y/N knew that she couldn't allow for John to get into a brawl with Cody tonight, even though she wanted to see him beat the living shit out of the current champion who had been getting under her skin lately with how he talked to her and annoyed her just in general by existing. She knew that this wasn't the time and place for the two men to go at it again and that it would have to wait until their showdown at Wrestlemania.

Y/N snapped out of her thoughts when she felt John leaving her side and getting ready to run into the ring and attack Cody but she quickly sprung into action by stepping in front of him and pushing on his chest with her hands to push him back "Not here, not now", she snapped at him as she looked into his eyes with urgency. John looked down at her with an annoyed look and tried to gently push her to the side but Y/N held her ground and didn't budge, remaining still in her place and now looking at John with a determined look "Wait till Wrestlemania and then you can beat his ass", she exclaimed before continuing on "For now let me handle this, okay", she assured him and all he could do was roll his eyes but also nod because once again she was right, even though he'd never tell her that "Okay fine fine", he sighed and put his hands up in surrender and took a step back from her. Y/N smiled in satisfaction and winked at him before grabbing the microphone from his hand and taking it in hers. She turned back around to face the ring and held the mic up to her mouth while looking at Cody who had his back turned to them "Hey blondie, you better enjoy your last few weeks as the champ because come Wrestlemania 41, John Cena will walk out of that match as your NEW UNDISPUTED WWE UNIVERSAL CHAMPION!", she screamed out at the top of her lungs, her words echoing strongly throughout the arena, receiving a round of cheers and boos from the fans

Cody's body stiffened and his hands immediately clenched into balls of fists at the words that came out of Y/N's mouth and he slowly turned back around to face her with anger flashing through his eyes. At this moment, he forgot about John and completely focused on her. "Hey Y/N?, you can run your mouth all you want but every single person sitting inside this arena", he paused as he gestured to the entire WWE universe for emphasis "Knows that you secretly want me", he blurted out into the microphone, with a small smirk now forming on his face as he noticed Y/N getting defensive by shaking her head frantically and yelling out incoherent sentences which were drowned out by the fans cheering loudly.

"You and I both know that you want the American Nightmare", he grinned as he gripped the mic in his hand, his eyes never leaving hers "And if I remembered correctly, weren't you the one who asked me to come and fu-". Cody was quickly cut off by Y/N yelling into her mic "Shut up Rhodes", she snapped at him with an annoyed look on her face. Cody chuckled and licked his lips while his eyes shamelessly raked over her body "Why don't you bring yourself into this ring and shut me up", he teased and winked at her with a cocky smile

To be continued……

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

[melanchoire]

reader buying some chocolate with aphrodisiacs to use with her gf kazuha, she hide them in the refrigerator to surprise her later, little did she knew zuha found them and started to eat bc she was craving something sweet, so when she comes back home and sees a bar half eaten + hears moans and whines she rushes to the room a bit guilty for not telling her only to see her humping her pillow, while she plays with her tits and some toy with her juices beside her, god knows how many times she cum bc she can’t deal with the heat so reader has to help her

cw: aphrodisiacs, nipple play, pillow riding, scissoring.

buying aphrodisiac chocolates to surprise kazuha one of these nights but she ends up ruining things because she accidentally eats the candy during a weekday afternoon where she was craving something sweet and longing for something she liked to magically appear in the fridge 😭 kazuha regrets having rummaged through the fridge out of laziness instead of going to the store as she had planned in the first place but she discarded the idea when she wanted to remove the doubt of whether there was something delicious in the fridge

and kazuha realizes what she ate when she was chewing the chocolate bar and felt a particular taste that made her frown when swallowing, so while she was chewing the remains of the candy in her mouth, she decided to read the chocolate packaging, and well, what a surprise she got

kazuha’s eyes almost pop out of their sockets to be exact 😭 she is quick to spit out into a napkin what little was left in her mouth, which is completely absurd because she had just taken a bite of chocolate... she already knew that sooner or later, the effects would appear

and so it was! kazuha doesn’t remember exactly her journey to the room, she only knows that moments after realizing she had taken a bite of an aphrodisiac sweet, she magically appeared naked in bed, riding one of the pillows while one hand pinched her nipples and the other was busy holding a wand vibrator against her clit… even though she is using three things at the same time to please herself, nothing seems to give effective results because she feels hotter and hotter as the minutes go by, the heat between her thighs was a total nuisance as it became hotter and wetter to the point of being unbearable

and you come to the rescue just in time! kazuha, after eating what she shouldn’t have, sent you a message saying, “i think i messed up.” but being an empty and easily distorted sentence, it made you so confused and worried that you returned from work as quickly as possible; on any given day you would expect a bus to arrive at the stop half empty because work was exhausting you too much and sitting on the bus is a moment where you can take a breath and stretch your legs for a moment, but upon reading kazuha’s message you don't give a shit about your usual routine and you took the first bus that arrived at the stop

awwww the look kazuha gives you when she sees you enter the room 🥺 eyes full of tears of pleasure and pain, her movements against the pillow seem to be more desperate and disordered the moment you cross through that door and appear before her sight

and you would have liked to help her and take your time to take care of her if it weren’t for the fact that when you approached kazuha she grabbed you by the forearm and threw you onto the bed, being quick to climb on top of you and practically rip the clothes off your body

ending up grinding your pussy against kazuha's, being cornered against the mattress because she is on top of you and holding your wrists above your head, moving her hips against yours and barely giving you time to breathe because of how intense the rhythm of her thrusts was 😵‍💫 kazuha blaming you for all of this, saying “this is your fucking fault.” and pushing her pussy against yours in a way that makes the bed creak beneath both of your bodies

and not even after you cum and make a mess on the sheets does she consider stopping or at least taking a break because the effect of aphrodisiacs will take power of her body for a long time, so you have to prepare to endure her level of heat for a couple more hours 💕

[fuctacles]

Eddie's Adventures in Waterland: Through the Mushroom Ring

I wanted to write something for my top supporter on ko-fi, @dreamercec (Thank you so much and I hope you like it <3) She sent me this post and I was aiming to write something short and silly but it developed lore, I'm past 2.5k now and the month is almost over. So here's a little prologue.

T/M | 538 | Steddie | transfem Steve, fae/nymph/rusalka Stevie, referenced canon character deaths, implied non-canon character deaths, it is not angst i swear, meet ugly ? | 1/? (will be a one-shot) | Ao3 @stmonstercalendar 's march monster rusalka I'm aiming to hit "goodbyes" from my Steddie bingo card, it may get sad but hopefully not too angsty Divider by @heavenlayt

Eddie walks into the clearing on a complete accident. However, once he spots the obvious trap in the middle of it, his steps take purpose, leading him to the middle of the mushroom circle. He holds his breath. 

But nothing happens.

"Excuse me?" He throws his arms to the sides. "Am I not worth kidnapping?"

A woodpecker drills into a distant tree. Nobody answers. 

"Helloooooo!" Eddie walks the inner edge of the circle, worried it will disappear if he steps out. He cups his hands around his mouth as he yells, "ANYONE HERE? IT WOULD SURE SUCK IF A FAE TOOK ME RIGHT NOW! FROM INSIDE THIS FUNGI CIRCLE! WHERE I'M COMPLETELY ALONE AND DEFENCELESS!"

His smoker lungs give out quickly though, and he has to greedily restore the oxygen in them.

"You're too loud."

Eddie chokes on air, whipping around to find a woman looking at him with displeasure. A completely naked woman. He instantly looks up into the tree crowns, but...

"What the fuck?" 

The sky above is now distorted, like he's looking at it through decorative glass. Sunlight dances on the invisible membrane that resembles... water. 

"What the fuck," he repeats slowly, observing the unnatural movement of leaves, registering the pressure in his eardrums, the fog that settles over all the sounds. Decency forgotten, he looks at the woman again. Her thick brown hair float gently in a non-existent breeze, as if they were underwater. A mosaic of light dances on her pale skin, sunbeams distorted by the surface above them.

"Where am I?" Eddie asks, dumbfounded and in awe. 

"In the forest?" the woman answers like it's obvious. Which, yeah, but...

"Are we underwater?" 

"Sort of." She shrugs. 

"What do you mean 'sort of'?" He frowns.

She doesn't seem to like his tone. Something flicks in her eyes, irises deep like the sudden loss of footing in a murky water. He can feel them pull at his stomach in the same way.

"Leave. You don't belong here." Her voice is more distant now, coming through the cotton that's filling his ears. He swallows a couple of times to get rid of it. 

"I'm... not sure how?" he offers, looking around. He's still in the middle of the shroom circle, but realizes she's outside of it. As he's searching, his eyes finally catch on something he's been trying to avoid with all his might. "Holy shit," he breathes, feeling his cheeks heat in a clear give-away that he's finally took her in fully. 

"Leave," she repeats, her cheeks now darkened too, but he can't say if in anger or embarrassment. 

"I don't—" he repeats in frustration but cuts himself off, realizing she probably doesn't care. So he looks around again, eyes fixed firmly on the ground this time. Remembers how Wayne would unplug and plug back in the TV when it would act up, resetting it. Maybe he could apply it to magic as well.

Under the watchful eye of the woman (fae?), he inches backwards, to the edge of the circle. When his foot leaves the ring of fungi, nothing happens, but as he sets it down, he collapses into soft, muddy surface. His lungs fill with water instantly, and he starts drowning. 

my beloveds: @blasvemous @wheneverfeasible @phantomcat94

[truelotus]

omgomgomgomg pls do jugram smut and freestyle it plspls

Champagne ᢉ𐭩 Jugram Haschwalth x f! reader

𓂃۶ৎ warnings: vaginal sex, female reader, rough sex, angry sex, jealous Jugram, ex lovers, alcohol, sex with somewhat plot??

𓂃۶ৎ summary: You’re on a date finally after you and Jugram broke things off, you were with your date at the bar and then suddenly you spot him across the room.. what happens next?

You swirled the ice in your glass cup, nervous about tonight. It’s been a while since you put yourself out there, were you going to embarrass yourself or get lucky by the end of night? Who knows.

You were hoping you could start fresh, or maybe to get yourself distracted from your previous break up with Jugram.. but of course life has a way of throwing you the unexpected.

Your date, he was dressed very nicely, you could tell he is a man who has money. He had an easy smile, he leaned forward to you, “Can I just say.. you look absolutely gorgeous tonight.” He whispered, you got a whiff of his rich cologne. You could feel the warmth on your cheeks, all of this felt all too familiar.

“Thank you, I was a bit nervous on coming..” You twirled a strand of your hair, your date noticed your nervousness and he took your hand, pulling it away from your hair and laid it on the table, he topped your hand with his, “Don’t be worried, Tonight is going to be a blast.” He reassured you, making you blush even more.

“You’re right.. I shouldn’t be..” Your words cut off slowly once you noticed a familiar blonde hair behind your date. You weren’t too sure if it was who you thought it was but you moved your head a bit to the side, trying to get a better view of the person.

When you squinted your eyes to see who it was, you almost wished you hadn’t.

“Is there something wrong?” Your date said, giving your hand a slight squeeze as he looked back to where your eyes were. You immediately made your date turn back to you in a hurrying manner.

“No! Everything’s fine,” Your attention was now back on your date, “Let’s just.. enjoy our time together.” He nodded and had a big smile on his face, “I’m going to ask for another round of drinks then, that okay with you, doll?” You nodded and took one more glance of him.

He was standing near the entrance of the bar, with a glass in his hand. His sharp eyes and features were unmistakable. Not to mention his hair, his hair was the first thing you ever even recognized.

Before, his sharp eyes always had some warmth in them when he looked at you. But this time.. it was different.. his eyes were cold towards you now. Once the weight of his gaze met yours, for a second the room went completely silent, empty.. just you and him.

You hadn’t seen him in months ever since.. the break up. It was definitely a messy breakup, there was yelling and tears during the whole process. But there he was, beautiful as ever, and it honestly looks like he’s gotten taller..?

“Is everything okay?” Your date said, turning back to you with a worried look in his eyes. You heard your date but you didn’t make an effort to actually answer him, leaving him confused.

All you could think about was about the last time you were close to Jugram, the warmth of his body with yours, strands of his blonde hair on your body, his scent bringing you comfort. Then you thought about how he used to make you feel like you were the only important person in the world. Then.. you thought about just how quickly he left.. he came to your world in a flash.. then left it.

You couldn’t handle it anymore, you pushed yourself out of your seat, “Excuse me for a moment.” you murmured to your date who was confused but decided to not protest.

You walked towards the bathroom, each step getting heavier than the other. You needed to get him out of your head already..

As soon as you made it to the bathroom, you made your way to the sink, turning the water on and checking that it was cold enough. You splashed your face lightly, making sure to not get any water on your clothes.

You looked up to the mirror, drips of water dripping down from your face. You slapped your cheeks lightly and told yourself, “Come on! Just go back out there and pretend nothing happened.” You took a deep breath and grabbed a paper towel from the machine, lightly dapping your face with it.

You made your way to the door and when you finally opened it..

He was there.

Your eyes widened in shock, your heart dropped to your toes. You tried to not make eye contact with him but it was too late already.

He was leaning on the wall, waiting for you to come out the bathroom. You tried to walk right past him but he caught you by the wrist, pulling you back to him. Your hand landed right on his chest.

“I never expected to see you here.” His voice was somewhat harsh and cold.

“Same goes for you”You said, your voice was shaky.

Jugram’s lips twitched slightly, though his expression remained serious and composed. But there was a flicker of something deep in his eyes, “It seems like fate has a strange sense of humor.”

You narrowed your eyes at him, you tried to pull yourself away but his grip on your wrist was.. tight. His fingers were cold and firm.. but it strangely felt comforting. Even though your heart was pounding through your chest.

“You were staring at me for a while back there.” You said, finally breaking the silence.

You saw the corner of his lips twitch slightly by your words, but his cool composure didn’t falter. “I couldn’t help it,” he replied, his voice was low, almost a whisper. “You haven’t changed.”

You tore your gaze away right at that moment, unwilling to let him see how much his words truly affected you. But you made the dumb mistake and glanced back at him again, his stare was still on you, his cold eyes boring right into you.

Your heart betrayed you, thudding louder with each passing second. “I.. I don’t think we should be doing this.” You turned your head back to the bar, spotting your date. He was patiently waiting for you to come back, guilt now in your chest.

“It’s too late for that now.” You felt Jugram’s large hands on your face, turning your face, to face him.

His words pulled you back into something you tried so desperately to get away from. You had a date— someone who was nice— he was waiting for you back, he was probably trying to figure out what caused this sudden commotion.

“What do you want, Jugram?” You asked, your voice coming out sharper than you intended. “Why are you here?”

A silence stretched between you two. You felt his gaze calculating you, he had always been good at that. You were beginning to wonder if he planned this encounter all along.

“I was wondering the same thing about you.” There was a hint of something in his voice, “You seemed to be content with him.” There was a faint of disgust and disdain in his voice, he glanced over at the bar, looking at your date.

You followed the direction to where his eyes were, landing on your date then. Your date felt the sudden eyes on him and he looked right over to the bathroom, spotting you and Jugram together. He then had a puzzled expression, he didn’t understand what was going on.

But it seems like your date wasn’t a dumb one, he smiled lightly at you and paid for the drinks and left a tip to the bartender. He looked back to you and smiled once more before leaving his spot.

“Would you look at that.” You clenched your jaw, fighting the urge to lash out at him. You weren’t mad at your date leaving you, you understood why he did. But the fact that Jugram enjoyed the sight of your date leaving, it filled you with some kind of rage.

“Now that the rodent is gone,” Jugram lifted your chin up with his hand, “Why don’t I buy you a drink?” He leaned in closer to your face, a bit of his blond strands falling onto your face. But you were going to try your best to not give in.

“Get off of me.” You swatted his hand away and tried to take step back, to give yourself some space. But his grip on you was still so tight, you sighed in defeat and looked up at him with such cold eyes.

“Please let me go, I let myself get too close to you.”

“And whats so bad about that, sweetheart.”

You gulped by the sudden nickname, the nickname he used when you were both together. Usually, his tone behind it would be full of love and kindness. But this time, it felt somewhat different, of course you felt the lobe behind it but there wasn’t the kindness in it, he was trying to lure you back to him. And it was working.

“Fine then.. It’s a free drink anyways.” Jugram’s grip finally loosened up, he also stepped back from you, finally giving you the space that was needed. “That’s what I thought.” He grabbed your hand and began walking towards the bar.

You awkwardly took the seat next to him, unsure of what to do. You were so engrossed in your own thoughts that you didn’t hear Jugram calling out to you, your attention was brought back once he tapped your forehead. “Nervous now are we?” His words never failed to make you feel small.

“I was just thinking.”

You heard him click his tongue in annoyance, “I hope you’re not thinking about your date,” You opened your mouth to say something but nothing ever came out, “You should’ve known that I’d be coming back.” You slowly turned your head to him, angered even more now. How were you supposed to know that he’d eventually come back? He never said anything.

He hasn’t even bought you a drink yet, so you felt no guilt on what you were about to do.

You furrowed your eyebrows together, clicking your tongue in frustration. Without another word, you pushed yourself out of your seat, your chair scraping the floor as you stormed out of the bar. The fact that he said you should have waited for him to come back made your blood boil.

Why were you supposed to put your life on hold for him? Why wait for someone who hadn’t even promised to come back? You thought things were over once the two of you broke up.

You took a few steps into the cool nights air, already regretting for even coming out tonight. You began to get even more annoyed once you felt your feet starting to ache because of your heels. Then suddenly, you felt a hand on your arm. Whipping your head, you saw him, Jugram.

He was standing there with his jaw clenched and eyes filled with determination and frustration, “What the hell are you doing?” You snapped at him, pulling your arm from his grasp.

“Don’t walk away.” He simply said, his voice low and commanding. He reached for your arm again, this time his touch was gentle and firm, “We need to talk. I’m taking you home.”

“I don’t need you to take me home,” you snapped at him again, trying to pull away. The anger was bubbling up inside of you, you weren’t going to be able to hold back your anger for much longer. “I’m fine on my own.”

His grip tightened ever so slightly, “No, You’re not.”

You didn’t want to go with him, he was your ex, the man that shattered your heart. He was the thing you always tried to walk away from.. but he was right there, in front of you. You felt a sudden change in yourself, the desire to not be alone.

“I’m not letting you walk off like this.” He said firmly, stepping closer to you, making his presence overwhelming.

You glared at Jugram, silence stretching between you two. Then you felt the air shift into something else, maybe it was the loneliness and frustration brewing up inside of you. Or perhaps even the history between you two, the chapter that never came to an end. You let out a heavy sigh, nodding your head, “Fine then.”

He didn’t say anything, he walked you towards his car. When you reached the door, he opened it for you. You turned to him and found him already facing you, his eyes searching yours, trying to see what you were feeling. “I want to come inside.” His voice was low still, but there was a almost pleading tone behind it.

You shook your head, “No, I don’t think it’s best.”

But Jugram didn’t listen, or even cared.

But your home wasn’t too far from the bar, so thankfully the awkward silence was cut short in no time.

Once he drove into the driveway, you opened the door and you then heard him opening his car door as well. You were confused so once you got out the car you stared at him with a puzzled expression.

You watched him as he walked towards you, guiding you to your front door. From the corner of your eye, you could see his lips curving upwards slightly.

“Thank you for driving me home.. Jugram.” You said as you opened the door, making your way inside your home. You were just about to close the door but Jugram used his hand to stop you from closing it, he invited himself to your home, closing the door behind him.

“Jugram!” You yelped out when you felt him suddenly wrap his arms around your waist. He held onto you tightly, not wanting to let you go or run away from him.

“I’ve missed you.” He whispered into your ear, sniffing your perfume, Jugram barely showed this side of him, so to have him suddenly switch up on you made you feel bad for him.

You were being incredibly rude earlier because of his words and actions from earlier, he was being a total dick. So you had the right to be mad at him.. but now.. His mood changed. And you always has a soft spot for this side of his.

“You have no idea.. how hard it was to see you interacting with another man.” He buried his nose to the crook of your neck, “Seeing that rodent.. top your hand with his. Filled me with jealousy.” His arms tightened up around you.

“You’re a beautiful woman, and I understand that you have certain needs,” You felt him remove an arm from your waist, then you felt him pulling down your shirt from your shoulders slightly, he licked his lips once seeing your gentle and soft skin right in front of him. You could feel his teeth sink into your skin, biting your delicate soft skin of your shoulder. “But I am a very jealous.. and possessive man. You should have known.. that the night would have end up like this.”

He stepped back a bit, cupping your cheeks now. Your eyes widened ever so slightly as you felt Jugram’s soft lips against yours. You could feel the desire in the kiss, he was kissing you in a rough and hungry manner. You wanted to stop, stop before things go too far.

But it was too late, you let yourself melt into his touch, giving in. You felt his hand slide up inside your shirt, then under your bra, pinching your nipple. Causing you to yelp out in embarrassment.

Jugram took this chance and slid his tongue into your mouth, he stopped and looked down at you. You were panting, a slight smirk appeared on his face, he took his thumb and brushed it over your lips.

“Would you like for me to stop?” He asked as he used his thumb to rub on your cheek.

You smirked, pulling him down by the shirt to let his lips smash onto yours, it certainly caught him off guard. Once you pulled away, you felt absolutely no feat anymore, “That should tell you my answer.”

He chuckled lightly before swooping you up, he had no trouble finding your room. He’s carried you to your room many times before..

He shut the door behind him, making a click sound. He settled down on the bed and he pulled you over to his lap.

“Start removing your clothes.” He demanded, you nodded and slipped your shirt off easily, unclasping your bra, letting your breasts feel the cool air of the room.

He dipped his head down, biting and sucking on your collarbone. Soft moans escaped your lips when feeling Jugram’s rough hands cup your breasts, massaging it with such care.

You let your arms rest over his shoulder until you had enough, as he continued to kiss your collarbone, you unbuttoned his blouse and Jugram pulled back, letting you take his blouse off.

Your delicate hands touched up against his soft abs, his breath hitched, causing you to look up. He was always the most sensitive around that area, you bit your lip to prevent you from smiling but you failed.

“Please let us just continue.” He pleaded, and you nodded and smiled towards him, seeing him all flushed and slightly embarrassed.. it warmed your heart, making you completely forget the breakup that you went through.

“It’s been so long.. too long.” He whispered under his breath, you felt his hard dick poking through his pants, twitching with every little movement you did while on his lap.

“You’re going to take all of me tonight, do you understand? For being with another man.” He whispered in a low tone, he pushed you off of his lap and laid your back on the bed.

He pulled your shorts down, along with your underwear while doing so. You caught him looking and quickly shut your legs together and used your hands to cover your breasts, “Don’t cover yourself up now,”He put his hands on the inner of your thighs, spreading them wide just for him. “You really shouldn’t have let yourself be seem with that rodent.”

He took your hands and pinned them up above your head, having a firm grip on them. “Now for that, I am going to make you scream my name. I’m going to have you limping by the end of this.” He used his free hand to unbuckle his pants, he pulled them down slightly, along with his boxers, his dick sprung out.

His size never failed to intimidate you, he was long and thick, was that big thing really going to fit inside your hole?

You felt his cock poking your entrance, he let out a big sigh, looking down.

He watched as his cock slowly disappeared inside of you, he was balls deep inside.

You squeezed your eyes shut, letting out a moan. No matter how many times this man fucked you, you could never adjust yourself to his size right away. His cock stretched your insides, he grunted as he threw his head back.

“You’re fucking squeezing me.” he leaned in and smashed his lips against yours, he pulled back after that short kiss.

His movements were slow at first, he was being nice and letting you adjust to his size.

“Oh fuck.. Jugram.!” You moaned out his name as he thrusted in and out of you, slamming into yours squishy walls.

His hips thrusting into you at a fast and rough pace, but it felt fucking amazing.

Your toes began to curl, gripping onto your sheets, it was almost too much. His cock was hitting all of the right places like always, your back arched slightly when his cock slammed into your cunt.

He released your hands and put your legs over his shoulder to fuck you even harder

The sound of skin clapping against each other continued to get louder and louder, as well with moans and grunts.

He leaned in, giving you a sloppy kiss. The both of you moaned into each other’s mouths, his tongue slipped inside your mouth, exploring your mouth.

You bucked your hips up, wanting more of him, all of him. He threw his head back, looking up at the ceiling, trying to compose himself from cumming so soon.

He couldn’t cum soon, he needed more, more of you. He let himself slip out of you.

“Jugram!” You whined out, wanting him to put himself back in. You were just about to grab his cock and put it in yourself but he carried you up and he settled you both down on the edge of the bed. You were on his lap.

“Get on.” He simply stated, you automatically knew what he meant and you got up slightly, just enough to let his cock slip inside of you while on his lap. You let out a loud moan.

He wasted no time and began to bounce you up and down on his cock, this way he could really go all out in you.

He watched as your breasts jumped up and down right in front of him, he cupped them and gave them a hard squeeze.

He could feel himself about to cum soon, so he stopped bouncing you and let his hands hold him up on the bed.

But you, you continued to bounce on his dick, grinding on his dick, you put your hands on his shoulder as support.

His cock continued to slam into your core, causing your body to jolt.

“You feel amazing..” He moaned out, his voice becoming shaky.

Your body was slowly giving away, your bouncing slowed down but you made sure not to stop. Soon enough your body started to shake as you came. Jugram then leaned in and kissed your collarbone, “That’s my girl.” He said as he thrusted himself into you just a few more times before cumming inside of you.

You could feel his hot, sticky cum fill your cunt, overflowing with it.

You got up and let yourself plop down on the bed. You were a panting mess and sweaty.

Jugram let himself plop down with you, he pulled you close to him.

He couldn’t help but he content with you being by his side once again, a feeling he wished to come back. And it did.

You were in his arms again.

“I love you.” He whispered out.

[gyrovagi]

The Rivaini amulet is an intricate paperweight on the corner of Solas' desk, and Cole is absent from the uppermost floor of the Herald's Rest.

It is not, Solas reminds himself, immediate cause for concern. There are any number of secluded corners in Skyhold where Compassion might come to rest—and since their return from Redcliffe, the sight of a pale boy in an overlarge hat has become much more memorable for the Inquisition's rank and file. He could descend the stairs and be given half a dozen places to look in the span of a minute.

Solas does not descend the stairs. He clasps his hands behind his back, studies the rays of afternoon light filtering through the dust covering the window panes, and allows the absence to settle.

The truth is that there is little he can say to Cole now, and less he can do for him. All he can do is hope, and hope that hope is enough. That the power of Varric's belief can ward off blood magic, and the Inquisitor—

"Solas?"

—the Inquisitor is coming up the stairs, her footsteps almost silent. She hesitates at the top, her right hand coming to rest on the railing beside her, and steps no closer. "It is you," Rosamund says, her voice going soft with surprise. "I thought—you don't usually—"

She presses her lips together, frowning briefly, before her words come out in order. "Were you looking for Cole?"

"I... yes." He hadn't thought himself visible from below; the Inquisitor's sudden appearance has caught him off-balance. "Have you seen him?"

"I think he..." Rosamund glances to the side for a moment. "He may be with Varric. He's been trying to teach him Wicked Grace again."

Solas is certain that is not what she originally meant to say, but the matter is not worth pressing. "I see. I won't interrupt, then."

Trevelyan nods, something troubled in her expression. It does not clear as Solas walks past her towards the door to the battlements, and the thought gives him pause a moment before he reaches to open it.

"Solas, can I—"

Rosamund looks just as taken aback by her outburst as Solas feels. She blinks at him, already beginning to instinctively shrink in on herself, before she takes a rallying breath to speak.

"Are you upset with me?"

The question immediately explains her behavior. It is also completely incomprehensible. He momentarily considers the possibility that she has participated in another round of mayhem with Sera and he is yet to discover the consequences—but they were just discussing Cole.

"Did you think I was?" Solas asks, carefully neutral.

Rosamund worries the fabric of her sleeve between her fingers, her bottom lip between her teeth. "I don’t know," she says at length, gaze fixed on the ground. "I know you were—are worried about Cole. That he might not be safe, without the amulet."

"That is no fault of yours."

"Isn't it?” She lets the question linger, lifting her eyes to meet Solas’ with unexpected steel. “We went to Redcliffe in order to find what was preventing the amulet from working, and came back no better off. I asked for your counsel and disregarded it. You would have every right to blame me.”

“Perhaps. But I do not. You did what you thought best at the time, Inquisitor. If you have come to regret the decision—” 

"I don't," Rosamund immediately replies. "That isn’t what I… I couldn’t have—” She wraps her arms around herself as if anticipating the need for defense, the line of her shoulders drawn tight. Every part of her seems to want to flinch away, but she holds herself steady. "You said something, to Varric. About how we can't change our nature by wishing."

It takes Solas a moment to reorient, to send his memory further back. "Yes, I remember. It seems I was proven wrong."

"But you meant it, when you said it."

The only answer Solas can give is, "Yes," and the instant Rosamund tenses further he knows it was the wrong one. 

She nods, seemingly to herself, and glances over to the wall. "Even if," she says slowly, deliberately, "it might not keep him safe, I couldn’t have told Cole not to—not to want. I couldn’t have said it didn’t matter. Or that it mattered less."

Solas understands every word, yet he can't shake the feeling that he is missing something. Trevelyan will not meet his gaze; she looks as if she wants nothing more than to flee back to the tavern's warmth below. Her fingers twist in the sleeve of her dress, nails digging in with such force Solas worries she may tear the fabric. The light through the window turns the brown of her hair to gold, sets the sunburst on her forehead ablaze, and the entire time Rosamund curls into herself as if determination alone will render her body invisible.

He pities her, sometimes, and envies her in others, and has no right to either feeling. For a moment, his chest is too tight with sympathy to speak.

Then he says, as gently as he dares, "It is not the same."

"I didn't say it was." Rosamund's voice is painfully small. "But it is. Similar. Isn't it?"

"Perhaps," he concedes, "in some ways. But the gulf between spirits and mortals is—" —is irrelevant. What she needs to hear from him is not more information about the Fade.

But there is no world in which he can explain himself to her. It has been an honor to come to know Rosamund for herself, and Cole may yet become fully of this world, or close enough to forget the distance.

Solas never will. It is thousands of years too late.

"I did not mean to diminish you, Inquisitor. Or to imply that I am not glad to know you as you are."

The apology is lackluster, if that is what it is. Rosamund relaxes, all the same, and looks at him with relief clear in her face.

"I know," she says, with more understanding than he is owed. "I didn't think you did, Solas, I only—it seemed to me a sad thing to believe."

The truth is rarely kind. Rosamund does not need Solas to tell her as much. "As I said, I was proven wrong in Cole's case. He is stronger than I gave him credit for."

"In Cole's case." There's faint amusement in her voice, but something melancholy in her eyes. "So you still think it true."

"I have found it to be true, more often than not." The sentiment feels too cold, left bare and alone. Solas sighs and makes his best attempt to soften it. "It was not simply wishing that made you who you are, Rosamund, or Cole. The wishing is easy. The work is more than most are willing to shoulder. Or, perhaps, able to endure."

"I suppose you have a point. But wishing for change is where it starts."

"And often," he adds, not without humor, "where it ends."

She smiles, conceding nothing. "If you believe it will be. It doesn't have to be." Then she pauses, tilts her head, considers him for a long moment. "We could interrupt, you know. Varric and Cole, I mean. I don't think they'd mind company."

The offer is easily given. It is impossible to take. He wishes—

"Another time, perhaps. I've kept you long enough, Inquisitor."

"Oh," Rosamund says. "Alright."

Her disappointment is as clear as it is gentle, and all the more unbearable for it. Solas carries it out of the tavern with him; he holds it as a precious, tender thing. It is, after all, exactly what he deserves.