#jake only fronts when he tries to save their life and also one time to get steven a date and that’s it | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

restlessmaknae · 8 months ago

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red light, green light // park sunghoon

After summer break and your break-up, it seems that things finally go back to normal. At least, until the first after-match party when in an attempt to save you from your ex, Sunghoon blurts out that you're his girlfriend now, and so, your fake dating starts.

➳ Characters: college rugby player!Sunghoon x cheerleader!female reader/you

➳ Genre: fake dating au, college au, sports au, angst, fluff

➳ Words: 6.2k

➳ Warning: reader is very insecure in the beginning and healing from a toxic relationship; the toxic, manipulative ex is also in the story (named Jaehyeok but he has no connection to any real-life people or characters), mentions of cheating on ex's part, injuries

➳ A/N: This story had the most votes in my recent poll, so here it is. It's also a spin-off to my most popular story 'how to cross the line?' with Jake that takes place before this one, but this story can absolutely be read on its own. ❤️

After the summer break, you thought that everything bad - including your break-up with Jaehyeok - would be forgotten. As a cheerleader and a college rugby player who had gotten together over the spring term, and had broken up close to finals, you had been the talk of town until everyone had gone home for the break. There had been a pleasantly short amount of time between the break-up and summer break with no football matches afterwards, so no way to see him up-front when he had been the last person you had wanted to see.

With the autumn term coming, it seemed to be true, and you couldn’t have been happier. The summer months weren’t enough to pick yourself up after the break-up, but they were enough to try to pick yourself up. He had humiliated you in front of his team members, and even though they didn’t look at you any differently, you could feel the lingering gazes on you two when Jaehyeok decided to sit beside you at the first after-match party of the season.

“Oooh, are you guys getting back together?” One of the boys cooed, laughing into his hands as if he had discovered the rumour of the century.

“We’re just being friendly to each other, you know,” Jaehyeok replied with a mellifluous smile, one that you had naively fallen for last semester. Now, you could see how well-practised this was, just like so many of his lines and his whole good boy behaviour. He was perfect only on the surface, he was rotten on the inside.

You could feel the overly curious eyes on you, hungry for an answer, for some drama like hawks circling around their prey. Too bad how fitting it was for those around you to be playing for the Hybe Hawks, they were predators when it came to your love life, and it had been the same when you had been together.

You forced a smile onto your face, nodding without saying a word and looking for a way out when Jay inquired if anyone wanted more meat, and you had never been more relieved in your life. If there were guys in the rugby team who were far from the rest, it would be Jake, Jay and Sunghoon. Those three were the ones who didn’t want to mingle with the others’ drama, and for that reason, you hadn’t really interacted with them before this semester because if you had hung out with other players from the team before, they had always been Jaehyeok’s friends. Now, however, they were the only ones who didn’t want to pick you apart since the break-up.

You tried to keep it in, you tried to conceal your feelings, while the conversation moved on, but when Jaehyeok put a piece of meat onto your plate without you asking him to, the weight on your shoulders doubled. It felt like you were trying to hold up too much, and all that weight could collapse onto you any minute, so to avoid that, you haphazardly excused yourself, saying that you didn’t feel well after drinking.

You threw your bag over your shoulder and exited the BBQ restaurant, the gazes of the athletes and cheerleaders searing into your back. You held onto the strip of your bag even tighter, trying to ground yourself to something real, something that you could control. You were so naive, really. How could you even assume that they could move on from your break-up and not bring it up anymore? How could you even assume that Jaehyeok would change, and bear the consequences of his actions when he had been the one saying those nasty things about you? You had been so stupid, so naive, so…

“Y/N!”

Jaehyeok’s all too familiar voice calling your name made your knees weak for a moment before you snapped yourself back to reality, reminding yourself that it was who he was, it was how he lured people in. You couldn’t believe in his sweet words anymore.

So you picked up your pace and walked even faster, but the red lights at the pedestrian crossing forced you to stop, to look at him when he halted beside you, and to listen to his mellifluous words.

“Hey! What was that about before? I just want us to be cool with each other after you called it quits.”

That was the problem with Jaehyeok. When you looked at these - this scene, his words, the cool expression on his face - from an outsider’s point of view, everything seemed ideal, almost perfect. Yet, when you were the one inside of it, you knew how that illusion of perfection casted its shadow onto you; how you felt suffocated under it, desperately trying to hold onto it because just as he had said it about you to his friends, you had been nothing without him. If you had not gotten together with him during the first semester, no one would have taken note of your existence. Even if you had been in the cheerleading team, the girls had started talking to you only after Jaehyeok had done the same.

And this… this is what Jaehyeok had done disgustingly well: to raise you up, to make you feel special, so you wouldn’t leave his side. Too bad you had caught him telling the other guys the same once and catching him kissing some girl at an after-match party another time. You hadn’t supposed to be there at the party, that’s true, since the group work meeting you would have gone to had been cancelled last minute, but to see him shove his tongue down another girl’s throat while murmuring to her that he would break up with you soon, so she shouldn’t worry had made you frozen on the spot. You wouldn’t have it in you to confront him on the spot, so you had left the party almost as soon as you had gotten there, tears pricking your ears, and the only person who had asked you if you had been alright was Sunghoon when you had managed to bump into him while exiting the scene.

The flashbacks poured onto you one after another, and you could feel your hands shaking by your sides while you were momentarily reliving them.

“You would have broken up with me anyway, we both know that,” you pointed out rather indignantly, desperately glancing side-ways to see how much more time you needed to wait for the lights to turn green.

35 more seconds…

“Well, yeah, but that doesn’t mean you should act all weird when we’re beside each other. Just because you’ve prioritised school over dates with me doesn’t make me a bad guy,” he justified all too innocently, and there it was again: turning the tables around, making you feel small, blaming you for what happened. Blaming you for not having enough time for him, so he had to kiss other girls.

20 more seconds…

“It’s not like I don’t see you talking more with Jay, Jake and Sunghoon since we broke up,” Jaehyeok spitted as if he couldn’t just let it be, and you balled your hands into fists, your nails digging into your skin.

15 more seconds….

Yeah, the only ones who were willing to speak to you after the break-up, god forbid you didn’t tell them off, you thought to yourself.

“I’ve been talking to them since we broke up, not before. There’s a difference between what you did and how I've been talking to guys ever since.”

“And besides, she’s her own person, she can do what she wants,” a voice from behind meddled with the tension hanging over you and Jaehyeok, and as he stepped beside you, so he would come between you and your ex, it felt a bit like he was shielding you. Both figuratively and literally.

You would have recognised that slender build of his, the fringe in his eyes and the depth of his voice anywhere, and even though it was Park Sunghoon out of all people, you didn’t mind that he was the one who showed up. You had no idea whether it had anything to do with the fact that he had seen you exit that ominous after-match party with teary eyes, but even if it was pity, you could take it given the circumstances.

“What do you know, man?”

“I know everything,” Sunghoon stated sternly, keeping eye-contact with Jaehyeok who furrowed his eyebrows in question. Even though you clearly doubted that he knew everything, he announced it so confidently that you would have believed him all the same, and you could feel the same coming from Jaehyeok, too. “I would appreciate it if you didn’t bother her anymore. She’s my girlfriend now.”

The way Sunghoon declared it so matter-of-factly rendered you speechless, and you just stood there, frozen, and even though people started crossing the street, you totally forgot about the lights turning green. It felt as if the whole world stopped all at once, and yet, a sort of warmth peeked through the rain clouds, as if a ray of hope found its way through all the dirt.

Given that you didn’t argue with Sunghoon’s statement because you were too shocked yet numb to do so, Jaehyeok believed it. Though he clearly looked like he didn’t want to believe it.

“Sure. Congrats on getting her. It’s not like I would ever want her back,” Jaehyeok exclaimed a little too frustrated as his last words before turning around and heading back to the restaurant.

You watched him go with a mix of rage and relief, then, your eyes searched Sunghoon’s who was already looking at you. He was nibbling on his lower lip, awfully nervous for someone who had just bluffed about being your boyfriend, and the calm facade of his broke when he spoke up:

“I’m so sorry about this. I didn’t know what else to say to make him go away,” he mumbled, coy and guilty, but you could only care about the kindness lacing his words, and the genuine care in his eyes. You didn’t know him well enough to draw conclusions, but based on your previous encounters with him, you would say that it took him some courage to walk up to you two like that and to save you from the situation with a lie.

So you felt even more grateful for his interruption, and you didn't even want him to think otherwise.

“No, really, it’s… it’s fine. Thanks for that,” you blurted out, equally as uncertain what to say. Sunghoon’s eyes slipped from your face to your hands, and that’s when you realised that your hands were still shaking.

“Did he…” He breathed out, shaky and worried, before pointing at your hands. “Did he do anything to you?”

You could feel how difficult it was for him to say the words, and the weight his question carried was heavy, his question loaded. It made his earlier act less surprising for he could even assume that Jaehyeok would dare to do something like that.

“No, he didn’t do anything like that. It was just… his words as always…”

“Those matter, too,” Sunghoon whispered, somewhat to himself, before looking around. You didn’t know what he was thinking or what he was trying to do, but the lights were red for the third time you were here, so you couldn’t go on your way either way.

When Sunghoon turned back to you, he examined your expression before averting his eyes to your hands again. He could see that your hands were less shaky but you still fumbled with them to ease your nerves, and maybe that’s what prompted him to announce:

“I will go back to the dorms with you. I don’t want you to be alone after this.”

You were so shocked by his gentleness that you couldn’t form proper words, so you just nodded and crossed the street beside him when the lights turned green.

It’s safe to say that you didn’t think about the consequences of your actions - or should you say Sunghoon’s actions? - because by the next day, everyone had gotten to know that you were Sunghoon’s girlfriend (which, in fact, you weren’t) thanks to Jaehyeok gossiping. The cheerleading group chat exploded with questions and next day’s rugby practice was all about the so-called news, so you had to have an emergency meeting with Sunghoon at the end of the day.

You were in the corridor leading to the business department’s simulation labs, and since those were for societies and extra-curricular workshops, you knew that it would be rare to bump into anyone around here. So it was just the two of you, sitting on a hallway bench, the air somewhat more troubled than the day before.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think it would come to this,” Sunghoon broke the silence almost immediately, his voice deep and worn. He couldn’t look you in the eye, instead, he was playing with his fingers and staring far ahead.

“It’s okay, really,” you tried to reassure him as best as you could. “I’ve been through this before. It gets better after a week,” you shrugged nonchalantly, forcing yourself to avoid having flashbacks of the time you and Jaehyeok had gotten together.

Sunghoon let out a shaky breath hearing that, and you could feel that he was about to say something, but when he turned towards you with his body, he didn’t say anything. Expectant, you looked at him, locking eyes with him, and for a moment, you had a feeling that you might burst into tears. He looked at you so worried, so gentle, as if he was ready to start a revolution for you, it opened a hidden locker in your heart that had never experienced such kindness coming from a boy.

“Are you really okay?” He inquired quietly, barely audible, and it didn’t slip your attention that he glanced down at your hands resting in your lap before looking into your eyes again.

“I’m as fine as I can be. If I’m not fine, it’s not because of this situation, but because of Jaehyeok, so really, don’t beat yourself up about it.”

“Do you want to keep this up? Our… fake relationship?” He hesitated a bit before continuing, and you found it adorable how his ears turned red when he babbled the word ‘relationship’ out loud.

“If you don’t mind,” you answered, giving him the chance to back out because you didn’t want him to tie himself to you over an attempt to save you from your douchebag ex.

Sunghoon’s eyes widened, almost comically, as if it hurt him to hear such a suggestion. Then, he held up his hands in front of his chest, waving them in heavy opposition.

“No, no, I don’t.”

“Okay, I just wanted to make sure,” you let out a little chuckle seeing his objection, and the boy still blinked at you, albeit a bit shyly now.

So you went on to discuss that you would keep up this fake relationship, but nothing was forced. If either of you wanted to put an end to it, the other one would agree immediately. There were no forced dates or social media posts or appearances, just whatever you were comfortable with. You exchanged contacts, so you would be able to keep in touch without having to wait for the other after practices or matches. Speaking of which, you told Sunghoon that you would quit the cheerleading team, and even though he was worried that it was because of him and this whole fake dating thing, you were quick to reassure him that it had nothing to do with it. You merely didn’t enjoy it anymore, and it’s not like you had any supportive friends there.

Hearing that, the boy seemed quite disheartened as if he had any say in how the girls in the team acted. Instead, when you brought up the fact that you could still join any dance-related club because it was early into the semester, and they were still recruiting members, he mentioned that Jake’s girlfriend was a member of a dance club.

“Oh really? Which one?”

“Well, that… I don’t know which one,” he admitted, scratching the back of his neck sheepishly. You let out a giggle seeing his reaction; the way his face changed from enthusiastic to confused so quickly. People might have said that he had a stern face, but you would object. He might have seemed nonchalant and icy to some, but when someone got into a conversation with him, all of these different sides of him surfaced, and you realised that you liked discovering the Sunghoon that not everyone had the chance to know.

“It’s okay, you can let me know once you get to know about it,” you pointed out with a smile as you reminded him that you now had each other’s contact. His shoulders easened and he let his lips curl upwards seeing your smile.

You talked a bit more before you suggested going back to the dorms. Sunghoon offered to walk back with you since he was also heading that way, and you didn’t want to tell him that it didn’t even cross your mind that you would go separately after last time.

You were right, the heightened attention that you got because Jaehyeok had told the others that you were dating Sunghoon died down after a week or so. You quit the cheerleading team in the meantime, so you were out of their group chat too, and that probably added to the sudden lack of questions. You had some glances from people who knew who you were, but otherwise, things went back to normal. To be precise, almost normal.

Though you had no idea what to consider fake-dating Park Sunghoon to be. It was definitely not your usual way of doing things, but Jaehyeok backed off ever since Sunghoon’s lie, and it’s not like the boy forced anything onto you. In fact, he was the most considerate soul ever. He indeed asked Jake which dance club his girlfriend went to, and you joined the same after the boys introduced you two to each other. It was nice to get to know someone who was close to the boys, and who definitely didn’t make you feel small after getting to know about your deal with Sunghoon. Ajung knew about it because Sunghoon’s friends were the only ones who knew, but she wasn’t weirded out by it.

You got to know about how they had known each other with Jake, how they had gotten together, and she also shared how it felt to date one of the rugby players. She had a different experience to yours because she wasn’t a cheerleader, but she still got stares and hateful messages. At the end of the day, what mattered to her was that Jake loved her, and she had never questioned his loyalty.

“I guess it’s because I could never imagine him meeting other girls behind my back that I don’t take those messages to heart,” Ajung admitted once, and it dawned on you that you had felt insecure in your relationship with Jaehyeok because you had been afraid he had been meeting other girls. You had been right, but still; just the fact that you could have imagined him cheating on you should have been a major red flag.

On the other hand, you couldn’t imagine the same about Sunghoon. Even if you were technically not together, the boy made sure time and time again that he was fine with it and wasn’t meeting other girls. So when he went to the after-match parties without you because you didn’t feel like going anymore, you weren’t afraid that he was kissing other girls. Which was a surprising realisation to come to, because one would think that you lost all hope in trusting guys after Jaehyeok. Maybe it would have been true had it been for someone else, but you trusted Sunghoon. Even more so because he was always on your side, even if it meant getting into a fight with Jaehyeok after his rugby practice.

You were studying in the library after classes, and you knew that Sunghoon was supposed to finish around this time, so you shot him a message, only to be left on read for half an hour. Hence, you packed up your stuff and went back to the dorms, not wanting to force anything onto the boy.

However, almost as soon as you arrived at the dorms, you got a message from Jake, saying that you should probably talk to Sunghoon because he had a rough day. He was out with Ajung, but Sunghoon would probably be in their dorm room, so you could talk to him in private.

You didn’t need to be told twice; you walked up to the boys’ dorm room (knowing all too well where they lived in the halls since walking back to the dorms together became a habit of yours), and knocked on their door. You didn’t get an answer, so you messaged the boy again. You started getting worried when Sunghoon suddenly showed up in the corridor, already changed back into his usual jeans, a tee and a cardigan thrown over it. When he caught sight of you in front of their door, his eyes widened and his lips visibly parted.

On the other hand, you had the same reaction, but not because of his presence, it was because of the bruise around his lips and on his jaw. It didn’t look like he had hurt himself during practice as you had been familiar with those kinds of injuries due to Jaehyeok. It looked like he had been in a fight.

“Oh my gosh, Sunghoon! Are you okay?” You immediately went up to him, checking on his bruises from closer, yet not touching him because you didn’t want to be invasive. So you looked up at him, waiting for him to reply, but instead of words, he closed the distance between you two and hugged you.

You were so bewildered that you just stood there, blinking rapidly, and you could neither say anything, nor do anything. Your heart, on the other hand, was beating so erratically, you were afraid that it would jump out of your ribcage.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?” You asked, totally confused, while you hugged the boy back. As you laced your arms around his waist, you could feel the boy tense a bit, probably unprepared for you hugging him back, but he eased into your touch a few seconds later.

“For what you had to deal with beside Jaehyeok,” he explained gently, quietly like a confession, murmuring the words into your hair. You were so used to words that cut like a knife that his words - that were like a soothing cream on a bruised heart - felt like a remedy, the boy tending to your broken heart with only a few syllables, a few breaths of words.

You hugged him back tighter, stronger, a silent response to his sentence, and soaked up this warmth, this comforting feeling for a few seconds before you took a step back and pulled yourself out of the hug. You looked up at him, heart churning at the sight but even more so when your hunch was proven right.

“Was it his doing?” You asked as you pointed at his face, and the boy didn’t need to be asked twice. He nodded, but there was no remorse in his tone when he spoke up.

“I was the one who punched him first. I couldn’t just stand what he was saying about you. He is so-”

“I know,” you cut him off, knowing all too well that whatever he was going to say was something you already knew. Instead, you asked if he had treated his bruises already (though it didn’t seem like it), and when he confirmed that he hadn’t, yet he had bought some antiseptic and plasters from the pharmacy, you offered to help him tend to his wound.

He seemed startled for a few seconds, but didn’t object. He let you inside their dorm room instead, and pushed a few things off his study desk, so he could put down his bag and get the pharmacy’s plastic bag out of it. He fumbled a bit with the bag before he reached it out to you, and just stood there as if he didn’t know what to do himself until you told him that it would probably be better if you both sat down because you know, he was quite tall…

“Oh yeah, right… sorry,” he scratched the back of his neck sheepishly before taking a seat on his bed and pushing a few things onto the edge of his bed, so you could sit beside him comfortably.

You only realised how close you were when you leaned forward to put the antiseptic on the corner of his lip, and you came face-to-face with the moles dotting his face like little black stars on the galaxy of his skin. The shade of his eyes also seemed darker from up close, like the sky when it didn’t yet turn to its darkest, deepest colour, and the way he batted his eyelashes was just as elegant as the boy himself. He seemed so dream-like as he was blinking at your swiftly moving fingers, you were afraid that if you stopped, he would vanish. You wished that you could prolong these moments longer and longer…

Yet, you were finished in no time, and after you put a plaster on the bruise of his jaw, you put everything back into the plastic bag while trying to pacify the crazy beating of your heart. You appreciated that the boy let you do this for him after he had stood up for you even without you being there, and even though he didn’t regret it, you still felt bad for him. He shouldn’t have felt like this was his battle to win, but he was protective over you, more than he should have been given your fake relationship.

“Thank you,” you blurted out as such thoughts circled your mind. “From that after-match party when you asked me if I was okay after seeing Jaehyeok kiss another girl up until today, I feel like you’ve been taking care of me so well, I’m really grateful,” you confessed as you turned towards him again, searching for his eyes.

The boy’s delicate features immediately softened, and you could see it on his face, in his eyes, in the way he held himself that he would have done it again and again if it meant that he could take care of you.

“You deserve it. You really do,” he stated, not leaving room for objection, and that was when it hit you. That emotional overflow that had been building inside of you ever since you had been talking with Sunghoon, and time and time again, he proved to you that you were cared for, and that there were people looking out for you despite what Jaehyeok had been telling you, and that you were your own person, not a nobody.

“Thank you,” you choked out, trying to hold it in, but when tears started prickling your eyes, you knew that it was time to let it all out. So you did, without being ashamed, without feeling weak. This was you, a side of you that you now dared to show the world.

And Sunghoon was there to help you through it all by lending a shoulder to cry on and strong arms to hold you safe and sound, wrapping you up in warmth and comfort.

Something changed that day, and you could feel the shift in your relationship.

It’s not that you two were cold towards each other before, you were merely more tentative. You appreciated it, the fact that Sunghoon kept his distance, and he was as polite about every little touch, every little action as one could be, but after that night, you started opening up slowly, letting each other in more and more.

It was gradual, of course. With your history with Jaehyeok and Sunghoon’s generally reserved personality, it wasn’t an obvious change from one day to another, but you enjoyed it nevertheless. You enjoyed the walks back to the dorms, the times you spent messaging each other on and off campus, the times when you hang out with him and his friends after matches (instead of hanging out with the cheerleaders and Jaehyeok’s friends), the lunches you grabbed together between classes, and how throughout it all, you got to know that Sunghoon was actually far from quiet when he was around those he was comfortable with.

He was pretty talkative when a topic was brought up that interested him or when he needed to defend his opinion. He was also pretty funny, making funny faces when reacting to certain campus drama and being his extra self when walking into a place where you were waiting for him. He was also very, very caring, but it went without saying by that point; lending you his jacket when autumn arrived with violent winds and unexpected weather conditions from one day to another, buying a drink for you when he knew that you would be staying at the library to study, holding the door for you and offering to bring your books when you were working on an assignment and had to rent a bunch of books for a week, and looking out for your reactions whenever Jaehyeok was brought up in a conversation or the boy was close by.

Actually, with him by your side, it was easier to put your ex in the past; because Sunghoon showed you such a different way of being together with a boy. You were still fake dating, but the way nothing was forced for the sake of social media or the questions of his nosy team members showed you that he would be just as considerate about your feelings and your comfort as if you had been actually dating.

Maybe that’s why it wasn’t that difficult to say yes to a weekend trip to the winter sea with his friends - Jake, Ajung and Jay. It was just the five of you, renting a small apartment for two days and one night in December; two of the boys sharing a room and one of them sleeping on the couch in the living room (it goes without saying that they decided with rock-paper-scissors that it would be Sunghoon on the couch) while you were sharing a room with Ajung.

During the day, you went to the beach to take a long walk alongside the coast, the boys teasing you while splashing water around, taking pictures and having lunch nearby in a cosy little café. You went to a cliff too, Sunghoon reaching his hand out to help you move from one rock to another while walking towards it, and Jake did the same towards Ajung, so Jay was sulking that he was visibly left out. To which, both of the boys joked to offer their help, but Jay just shushed them. They were having too much fun teasing him.

At night, you went to the grocery store and bought ingredients for dinner which you prepared together. To be precise, you weren’t sure Sunghoon was much help as he was singing songs he put on the speakers into a ladle, and Jake was too busy taking pictures of Ajung with a knife (saving it for himself as possible future meme material as he said), but Jay was doing everything so professionally, it seemed like he didn’t need help either way. You tried nevertheless, cutting up the veggies and bringing him stuff from the fridge while he was by the oven, naturally finding something to talk about in the meantime.

“You know, Sunghoon seems happier since you started talking,” he brought it up suddenly while he was stirring the stew. You both glanced in the direction of the boy who was too busy finding a good song to play next, his tongue sticking out in concentration.

“Oh really?” You quirked an eyebrow, feeling a bit shy, because it meant that you had a positive impact on the boy.

“Yeah,” the boy nodded without thinking twice about it. “I’ve never seen him date a girl, but even if you are fake-dating, I think that’s what he would act like,” he added seriously, and there was no hint of mischief in his eyes, hence, you believed him. At least, you wanted to believe him.

However, you had no idea what to say to that, so you just nodded, and as your eyes glanced in the boy’s direction yet again, your heart did a little somersault. Truth to be told, it didn’t really feel like fake-dating at this point because you and Sunghoon actually spent a lot of time together, getting to know each other, and he even invited you for this trip, so that had to mean something. On the other hand, since you hadn’t seen Sunghoon interact with other girls before (except for smiling awkwardly when the cheerleaders had tried to hit on him), you didn’t know how he acted around them.

Nevertheless, you couldn’t keep Jay’s words out of your head for the remaining day, so when it was just the two of you left in the living room as Sunghoon was making his bed (aka his couch) and you were refilling your water bottle, you felt like you had to ask the boy the same.

“Sunghoon…” You started tentatively as you halted beside the couch which was now covered with a bedsheet, a fluffy blanket and a pillow. The boy looked up from his haphazardly made bed, finding your eyes. He tilted his head like he always did when he was confused, but there was a hint of curiosity in his midnight-black orbs.

“Hmm?”

“Jay said that you seem happier since we started talking,” you said it in one-go, fiddling with the protective layer around your water bottle. “Do you agree with him?”

Silence settled over you two after your question, and even though it was probably just a few seconds, your heartbeat felt twice as heavy as before as you were waiting for his answer. Sunghoon’s confused features easened into a more natural state, but there was a hue tinting his cheeks pinkish when he answered:

“Yeah, I’m happier.”

Your shoulders immediately dropped in ease despite the fact that you couldn’t imagine him saying something hurtful even if he might not have agreed with his friend. It’s just… you felt like you hadn’t really been paying attention to his feelings in the beginning of your fake dating since you had been buried under all the hurt from Jaehyeok. When you had managed to pick yourself up from that dark hole, Sunghoon had already been acting the way he did nowadays, so you couldn’t tell whether he was happier or not. Not to mention that you hadn’t really been looking his way in the first semester because you had been dating a different rugby player.

Now though, you couldn’t imagine not seeing him and not looking for him. His presence could always bring a sense of comfort, and he didn’t even have to say anything, you were just fine being beside him. On top of that, you could be yourself beside him, you knew that. He had seen you when you had been vulnerable and torn, and he hadn’t taken advantage of that, nor had he said anything that might have implied that you should change your ways around him.

“Well, me too,” you admitted as your thoughts kept circling back to the warmth he spread, the gratitude he made you feel, the happiness he bloomed in your chest and… to him. “I like you,” you found yourself saying as you overcame with all the emotions leading up to this point, but you immediately bit down on your lower lip when you realised what you had just said.

Sunghoon seemed shocked for a moment, then shy, then baffled again as if he didn’t want to believe his ears.

“Oh, I, well…” He blabbered coyly, not finding the right words to say. Even in this state, you found him cute because he was trying. He was just nervous like you, but you could wait for him to say what he wanted to say. Not like you could budge, you were entranced either way.

Sunghoon cleared his throat to regain his courage, then as he stepped closer to you, he finally said:

“I like you too.”

And then his arms were around you, strong yet gentle, and you inhaled his sandalwood perfume, your heart thumping against your chest, wild and free. You realised then and there that you had been secretly waiting for this moment, and you wanted to stay in it as long as possible.

“So no more fake dating, I assume?” He murmured into your hair, his voice a bit raspy yet laced with joy.

“No more,” you agreed with a slight bob of your head, and let him hug you tighter, stronger as if he never wanted to let you go.

➳ Check out: my ENHYPEN masterlist

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sometimes-i-write-good · 2 years ago

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Where I’m From

Top Gun: Maverick - Hangman x f!reader [no use of y/n]

3.6k | Jake Seresin could handle lots of things. He was the only naval aviator of his time to have a confirmed kill - two, actually. He kept forgetting about that second one. It was newly under his belt, and, considering the circumstances surrounding it, he hadn’t felt too inclined to brag about it. Still, the point remained. Jake could carry the weight of taking a life, of saving a life, and of putting his life in harms way.

What he could not handle was the weeping girl in front of him, brushing away tears on their first date.

===

Genre: Fluff, slight angst

CW: swearing, kissing, mentions of past relationships (neglect)

Author’s Note: Is Jake slightly ooc? Yes. I just wholeheartedly believe this man would be a gentleman on a date. Also, soft!Jake >>>>>>> || cross-posted on Ao3

Part Two

===

“You’re early.” You said, opening the door wider and waving him in once you realized it was Hangman (a story you were hoping to pry out of him on your date tonight) standing across the threshold. “I’m almost done, I promise. I’m so sorry.”

“No need to apologize, sugar.” Something about the careless way he slung around terms of endearment like that heated your cheeks.

Jake stepped in with that same easy grin he was wearing when he’d asked you out. You look good, but I think you’d look even better sitting across from me at dinner tonight. Cocky, arrogant. A toothpick rolling back and forth between his teeth. Not your type at all, but it had been so long since you last dated someone.

So, when the blond in a military uniform slid into the booth across from you this afternoon at lunch you agreed. Without a single care for all the alarm bells ringing and desperate reminders from your subconscious that all men sucked.

And now you were standing in front of him with a half-zipped dress, half done hair, and nerves that made your hands shake so badly it was hard to finish anything at all. “Give me 5 minutes?”

Jake nodded, then, as though remembering why he’d gotten here so early to begin with, he moved his hand from behind his back and presented a small bouquet of flowers to you. Simple and sweet. “These are yours, darlin’.”

The accent brought you back to reality. Tied you down to earth and kept you from tearing up. “Oh, you didn’t have to do that.”

“I’m a gentleman, mostly,” Jake said, “so tell me where I can find a vase and I’ll get this set up. You go get ready.”

“Under the sink.” You waved your hand off in the general direction of the kitchen eyes still a bit too wide in shock. Someone had given you flowers. A complete stranger had given you flowers.

The stranger made towards where you vaguely gestured to but came halting to a stop shortly after. “Problem, doll?” He asked, turning back towards you with slight concern. Warranted concern, really, seeing that the noise that just escaped you made you sound like you’d been stabbed in the side.

“I’m sorry-”

“You need to stop apologizing.”

“I know, I’m sorry.” You ignored the look he shot you. “I- just… can you take your shoes off? Please?”

An easy smile crossed onto his face. More human than those prideful grins his flirting game so heavily relied on before. “Yes, I can do that.” Jake laughed, but it wasn’t rude or condescending. A kind-hearted, ‘I am so glad that’s all the problem was’ kind of laugh. “Go get ready so I can make everyone in that restaurant jealous that I’m takin’ the most beautiful lady out on a date.”

There wasn’t much arguing with that. You’d tried to come up with something witty to say to him as you finished getting ready, but every time you thought of what Jake had said to you your heart would beat a little faster and your head would spin. It was pointless. You could hardly remember your name when you looked his square in the face. If you were to actually stare into those green eyes of his you’d surely melt into the floor. Exactly what happened when you finally emerged from your room, shoes in hand, and let him at the front door.

Jake had been lingering in the foyer staring at all the pictures on your wall and the decorations that comprised who you wanted the world to see you as. A bit to honestly now that your eyes followed his to the goofy selfies or the ‘boofa deez nut’ candle you’d gotten as a gag gift and proudly displayed as a middle finger to the friend that had gotten it for you. The embarrassment should have killed you, but instead it was Jake’s eyes flicking up to meet yours that did you in.

You stumbled slightly. In your attempt to cover the movement to make it seem like you were bending over to put your shoes on, you’d stumbled more. Jake moved forward almost unconsciously to steady you, let out a low whistle and said, “You clean up nice.”

“You’re only saying that ‘cause you’ve seen me looking like half a disaster.”

“If that’s half a disaster, then you truly do put the ‘hot’ in ‘hot mess’, sugar.” Jake laughed and opened the door for you. He held it open, closed it behind you, and waited as you locked it. Then walked with you to the car to open the door for you there as well.

You thanked him, short and polite and completely caught off guard. Everything he said in that short walk from your front door to his car completely escaped you. Something about how you made a casual dress look like the most elegant outfit on earth. Just another charismatic comment to deepen the warm pool in your stomach. As though there weren’t enough butterflies flapping around in there already.

“You can pick the music.” Jake nodded toward the radio.

“I like classic rock,” you said. “It’s my favorite, actually.”

Jake grinned. “After my own heart. See, I knew there was somethin’ about you.” He turned slightly to put his arm around the passenger seat as he reversed, and you caught a whiff of his cologne. Subtle. Yet entirely welcomed, up until he winked at you.

Maybe this was all a game to him. Jake seemed like the type to charm a girl and leave her heartbroken. The prying eyes at the counter back at the diner had almost confirmed that for you. Whispers and nudging that you had wished you’d seen before you agreed to go out with him. This whole evening could very well be some big bet for the hot shots in the Navy to cash out on. All at your expense.

“So.” Jake cleared his throat. “You from around here?”

Once again, an awkward reminder that the two of you knew nothing about one another besides your names and addresses. Well, just Jake knew your address. He’d insisted on picking you up.

“No,” you told him. “Midwest, born and raised.”

“Stir crazy so you moved out West?”

“Something like that.” You nodded. “I’m going to take a shot in the dark and say you’re from down south?”

Jake laughed. Your heart skipped yet another beat and if it didn’t stop doing that you were going to have to schedule an appointment with your doctor before the night was out. “You’re a good shot.” He glanced over at you out of the corner of his eye. “Texas.”

“Oh, a cowboy?”

“Hardly.” He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel to the best of the radio. “I know my way around a horse, but I like to think I belong in the sky.”

“So, I should call you flyboy instead?” You ask with a slight giggle to your voice. More nervous than anything but there’s no mistaking the way the corners of Jake’s lips pull back at the sound. You want to take a detour to base just to ask those friends of his if he normally smiles this much or if you can allow yourself to feed into the delusion that someone as stunning as him saw you in a rundown diner having lunch and was so enamored by you that he simply had to ask you out.

“Only if you put a ‘my’ in front of it.”

Conversation flowed easily after that. The drive to the restaurant wasn’t long but still let you have a good idea of who Jake was. A flirt, first and foremost. He couldn’t go thirty seconds without calling you ‘darlin’’ or ‘sugar’ and any way Jake could make a comment about how wonderful you were, he was taking it. You stared at him the entire ride, studying his profile. He was a handsome man. There was no denying that. Old-fashioned in the way where you and your friend would flip through history books and point out who you would have fallen in love with during that time period. If someone were to show you a grainy photo of a navy pilot, his was the kind of face you’d imagine.

He pulled into a spot, and you immediately set to unbuckling and letting yourself out of the car.

“Ah,” Jake said as he shut off the car, “stay where you are.” And he hopped out to jog to the passenger side. “Here you are, darlin’.” He opened the door, offering you a hand, and helping you out of the car.

“Do they teach chivalry classes down in Texas?” You ask. He’s too busy positioning your hand on his bicep and leading you into the restaurant, where he holds open the door for you again, to answer.

“Sersin. Party of two,” he tells the host, who leads you to a table with a single, unlit candle in the middle.

Jake pulls your chair out for you, then settles in across from you in a strange mimicry of earlier today. You half expect him to spew the same cheesy pickup line but instead he fishes a lighter out of his pocket to light the candle.

“That’s better,” he says and turns his full attention on you with a grin. “So, tell me everything there is to know about you.”

You laugh, genuine this time. “About me?” He nods. “There’s not much to know about me. I’m kind of boring.”

Jake shakes his head. “I don’t believe you.”

“I’m serious! My life is eat, sleep, work, repeat.”

“So is mine.”

“Yeah but you’re flying fighter jets and I’m too nervous to ask my boss for a promotion when I’m doing the work of two people.”

Jake’s eyebrows shoot up. “The work of two people, huh? You’re a hard worker, and I’m guessing you’re damn good at what you do, too. I wouldn’t call that boring.”

You roll your eyes at him, but the compliment brings a smile to your face. “I guess you could say that.”

“Okay, so, you’re hardworking, talented, and beautiful. What else is there to know about you, doll?”

“Actually, flyboy, I want to know why they call you Hangman.” You lean forward and rest your chin in your hand. “That’s what everyone was calling you earlier today.”

He nods, leaning back in his seat. You drink in the movement. The way Jake squaring his shoulders has his nice green button down straining against his muscles and how he runs his tongue over his lips as he conjures up a thought.

“The real story, Seresin.” You raise an eyebrow in his direction.

“You remember my last name?”

“I texted it to my friend just in case you were secretly trying to murder me.”

He nods slowly. “You can never be too careful now a days.”

“Yup.”

“Well, you can tell your friend the only reason I’ll be making you scream is because my tongue is magic.” The waiter chooses that moment to appear over your shoulder asking if you and Jake are ready to order anything, leaving you a stuttering mess as you struggle to order something to drink. You can hardly form the word water to the point that Jake does it for you. “Thanks,” he tells the waiter as he walks off. Then he focuses his full attention back on you. “You held yourself together well.”

“Oh fuck off, you did that on purpose.” By the way he doesn’t deny it, you can tell you have him pegged. “Back to your true story.”

“It’s not as interesting as the one everyone else likes to tell.”

“I don’t care, flyboy. I want to know you, not everyone else.”

Interest sparks in his green eyes. “If you insist.” He leans forward, mimicking the way you’re on the edge of your seat. “In flight school we were running drills out in an old hangar when this nasty storm rolled him. Hurricane level winds and shit. Came out of nowhere. None of us were feeling too inclined to make a run for it in that kind of rain so we figured we’d hole up in the hangar for a few hours. There was an old radio that worked for a little bit, and we figured there was no time like the presence to get some maintenance on this jet done until the weather down, but the power went out.

“We had some flashlights and lanterns and things so it’s not like we were totally in the dark, but the stories ran out fast. We were bored out of minds. So, I recommended playing hangman. Something easy and simple ‘cause you can’t get too competitive with these guys. They take it way too far.”

“By them,” you cut in, “I’m guessing you mean you?”

He nods. “I won every single round and stumped them with all my puzzles.”

“Impressive,” you say, “I bet that pissed them all off.”

“Let’s just say everyone else’s version of why they call me Hangman holds a slight hint of disdain.”

The rest of the dinner flows naturally. You two talk without a single lull in conversation. He makes you laugh. He continues to compliment you every chance he can. But the real thing that works its way under your skin and lodges itself in your chest is the way he offers to switch plates with you when you take a bite of your meal and realize you don’t like it.

“No, Jake, you don’t have to. I’m a big girl. I’ll just deal with it.”

“Nonsense. It was my recommendation anyway.” Jake stares at you, jaw set, and voice firm. “I am not having you starving on this date. Give me your plate.”

And so, you swap plates with him taking a bite out of the steak he’d been raving about in the car when something in you breaks. You can hear how excited his tone of voice was. “It’s hard to get a decent steak when you’re on base.” He had told you. “The chow hall is okay if you like shoe leather and all, but now I hardly have time to make a decent cut of meat for myself.”

He gave it up so easily. The minute you set down your fork after three or four bites. Jake was telling you he’d switch. It… it was too much and you couldn’t help the sweeping off tears pushing at the back of your throat.

“Ah, shit.” He whispered. “Do you not want the steak? I can order you something else-”

You cut him off with the wave of your hand, which you quickly used to press over your mouth and stifle and unflattering sob. “No,” you whimpered, “this is perfect. Everything is perfect.”

“Are you sure?” Jake asked. “Because most ladies don’t start crying on dates when things are going well.”

You could tell he meant well. There was a joking lot to his voice and the bastard grin was back in his face but it only reminded you of how out of your element you were right now.

“I’m sorry.”

“I already told you to cut that out, sugar.”

“I know.” You sniffled, but tears kept falling. “I’m sorry. I really am.”

“It’s okay. Just take a deep breath.” Jake softened a bit. He reached out across the table, palm up waiting for you to slip your hand in his. When you did, he squeezed softly. “Want to talk about it?”

With your free hand you swiped at your cheeks. “I haven’t been on a first date in- actually, I’ve never even been on a date.”

There was no denying the way Jake’s eyes widened. “You’re tellin’ me men aren’t breakin’ down your door to take a pretty thing like you out on dates?” You shake your head. “See, that’s the issue with California folk, they’re idiots.”

He grins gently at you, which you return in full. “I wouldn’t say that.”

“I would.”

“I’ve had a couple boyfriends, but we never did relationship stuff.” Jake’s brows furrow in confusion and you rush to explain. “They would never want to leave the house. If I wanted to go out it would have to be by myself. They never asked me on dates or called me ‘darlin’’-” Jake rolls his eyes at your imitation of his accent- “or tell me I look beautiful. None of them ever held a door open for me. This is the first time I’ve even gotten flowers…” you trail off and bite down on your lip.

“I guess I should have seen it coming,” you fill the silence. “Everyone I’ve ever been in a relationship with has cheated on me. I guess I’ve always been a side chick or a rebound or whatever and you don’t really take side chicks out on dates. I always figured I wasn’t worth the romantic stuff, but there you are taking me out to a nice dinner and swapping dinners with me and… and I got overwhelmed.”

Jake is staring at you with a strange mix of anger and confusion. The gaze is lacking pity, which you appreciate. If he were to think of you as a poor girl who couldn’t land a date, you’d walk home before finishing this dinner.

He says your name so softly for the first time that night. There’s a thousand times more emotion in that name than all the pet names he’s been calling you.

“This isn’t romance.” The words make your heart sink. “This is the bare minimum. Basic kindness, sweetheart. You deserve this and nothing less. I- it makes me so frustrated to hear you talking about a relationship where some asshole let you believe you didn’t deserve to be treated like a princess.” Jake’s voice wavers slightly as he talks, anger bleeding in but not raising his voice to an unacceptable level. “Where I come from this isn’t chivalry. This is the way things are done. If I’m taking a beautiful girl like you out on a date, you better believe I’m going to make sure you know that I’m the lucky one.”

More tears prick at your eyes. Your bottom starts to quiver and when you open your mouth to apologize for getting weepy again Jake shakes his head at you. “I don’t know which one of those ducks told you that you had to apologize all the time, and I’m sure it was one of them, but you never have to apologize for things like this, doll. You’re allowed to have feelings. You’re allowed to talk about them.”

“Yeah, but it’s not good etiquette to bring up your exes on a first date.” You slip your hand from his to better wipe at your face. This sinking feeling of shame seeps into you. You probably look like just as much of a wreck as you were turning this date into.

“So this won’t be our first date, then.” Jake says it so simply. The easiest solution in the wonderful despite it not making sense in the slightest.

“What?”

“We’ll call this afternoon our first date. I stole food for your plate and took a couple sips of your drink, so it counts.” Jake grins at you. “This is our second date, which means it is completely okay to talk about your exes.”

With a small sniffle you manage to meet his eye again. The intensity that he looks at you has your face warming up again. “I have to say, Jake. I think I’m the lucky one tonight.”

“You’re not sitting on my end of the table.”

===

Bonus:

Jake insisted on opening the door for you again when he pulled up to your house after dinner. The two do you had lingered as long as humanly possible, but the wait staff looked as though they were going to run the pair of you through with a kitchen knife, so you reluctantly chose to head back towards home.

“Thank you.” You grabbed his hand as you stepped out of the car.

“Gives me an excuse to walk you to your door, pretty girl.”

“Oh, so this was all part of your masterplan?”

He laughs and stops under the light of your porch light. You’re fiddling with your keys, not too eager to open the door and end the night. Jake steps closer towards you, saying your name again for the second time that night. It’s a magnet, pulling you towards him so that his hands can settle at your waist. Those green eyes of his flick down to your lips. “Can I kiss you?”

“I was waiting for you to ask that.”

Jake slides a hand from your waist to cup your cheek and he brings his lips to yours. No kiss you’ve ever had feels the way this one does. Right. Even your long-term relationships were twinged with shame or doubt. Kissing Jake feels like forgetting your own name is completely normal because you want to be washed up in this feeling of bliss for forever. He pulls away after a few seconds, resting his forehead against yours, and it takes him a moment to finally open his eyes.

“Do you want to come in?” You ask, voice cracking slightly.

“I don’t know,” he says, “I don’t want you to think I’m only trying to hook up with you.”

You smile and press another soft kiss to his lips. Once again Jake takes a few seconds afterwards to fully look at you. “I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because you’re having hesitations about sleeping with me on our second date and that’s something only gentlemen do.”

Jake laughs. The sound is like the bliss of your kiss personified. You want to drown in it.

“Plus, I think you promised me that I’d have a story to tell my friend about how good your tongue is… or do you only use your mouth to talk big game?”

He nipped at your bottom lip. “Unlock that damn door right now, dollface.”

You thought he’d never ask.

#Jake 'Hangman" Seresin #jake hangman seresin #jake hangman x you #Jake hangman seresin x reader #jake seresin x reader #reader insert #top gun #top gun maverick #top gun fic #jake seresin fluff #fluff #top gun imagine

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trickphotography2 · 5 months ago

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'tis the damn season | Chapter 9

Pairing: Jake "Hangman" Seresin x Julie/Cece (OC, no physical description)

Word count: 6K

Synopsis: After six years away from home, Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin was finally going to make his parents happy and surprise his family by spending Christmas in Magnolia, Texas. Introducing his pregnant fiancee to his family is a culture clash, with rural Texas meeting California influencer. Though unhappy in his relationship, Jake knows he has to buckle down and do the right thing with a baby on the way.

The last person he expected to run into was his high school sweetheart and the one that got away, Julie.

The holidays are already going to be hard enough for Julie. Her home baking business, which had started as a fun side project, exploded after a few TikToks went viral. Just when she was getting the hang of juggling her job and business, tragedy struck. Facing her first Christmas as an orphan, the last thing Julie expected was to hear that once familiar nickname - Cece.

After almost a decade apart, Jake and Julie can't help but feel that old familiar spark. Even with the realities of their lives pressing in, they can't help but wonder what might have happened if just one of them had fought for their relationship all those years ago.

Chapter 8 | Master List | Ao3

---------------------------------------

Chapter 9

"Hangman, my office - now."

Jake closed his eyes as the door to the Ready Room slammed shut, the silence after Cyclone's order already overwhelming. He could feel the other aviators staring and set down his nearly full cup of coffee, scrubbing a hand down his face. The soft clanking of his g-suit clips was the only sound in the room as he forced his head high and strode into the hallway, following in the air boss's wake.

Cyclone barked for him to come in when he knocked, and Jake stood at attention in front of his desk. He tried to keep his eyes on the wall over his shoulder, but he could see how the vice admiral clenched his jaw and heard the tap of his pen on the desk. "Sir -"

"Did I say you could speak, Lieutenant?" Silenced, Jake forced himself to take a breath and make sure he didn't slouch. It was another minute of tapping before his superior spoke. "I want to know why the hell the base is getting calls about your personal life…legal, the gate shacks, and even the base commander's office. And then I hear that it's not only us - Coronado is also hearing about your sex life. So why is that, Hangman?"

A wave of dread hit him. He hadn't thought, perhaps naively, that what Shayla did would get back to his job. He didn't live online - hell, his social media hadn't been updated in months, except for his ex tagging him in stuff, though his follower account was high. Cece's business was connected to her social media, so it had made sense for them to make that connection. But him? Why the hell would anyone call the fucking base? "Sir," he started again after clearing his throat. "I -"

"Save it. I've seen both videos." Cyclone ran a hand down his face before resuming his pen tapping while looking out the window. "Conduct Unbecoming," he muttered, and Jake froze. Catching this, Cyclone turned his gaze back to the younger aviator. "Conduct Unbecoming of an Officer and a Gentleman. They're tossing around the idea of hitting you with an Article 15."

Anger battled with worry at his pristine record being marked with disciplinary action. Being known for violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice. If he accepted it, an Article 15 would save him from a trial and court-martial, where he would face fines or confinement at best, lose a rank, or be dishonorably discharged at worst. The Article 15 still held a penalty. He could deal with a 30-day restriction or even his paycheck being halved for two months - it would hurt, but he could do it. But it could impact his ability to be promoted. Every time he went up for a rank, there would always be an asterisk next to his name and accomplishments. It would be on his Fitness for Duty report, marked under behavioral.

Because his fucking ex lied.

Her fucking lie made them think he'd acted dishonorably. Brought shame to the Navy. Impacted his ability to command subordinates. That her posting the video would impact his mission capability.

Jake swallowed hard, refusing to acknowledge the angry tears pricking his eyes. For years, he'd always thought his greatest regret would be letting Cece go in Virginia, but now he knew it was talking to Shayla that night at the Hard Deck.

The clicking of computer keys snapped Jake out of his shame spiral, and Cyclone's lips pressed into a thin line. "Activation orders are in your inbox. A new mission came in before the holidays, and I was going to wait to issue orders until after the new year, but the timing's perfect for getting you the hell out of my sight. The SEALs need aerial support and requested two of my best. Unfortunately, that includes you. You'll need to do a SERE refresher before deploying."

Jake's throat tightened at the mention of SERE. Like all pilots, he'd participated in Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape training. While the experience was invaluable, he could never entirely forget the feeling of being waterboarded or the screams of the woman in their squad who had been captured by the instructors and thrown into a pit. The rest of the team had been forced to listen, hiding in the grass as the instructors poured buckets of water over her until she was treading to keep her head above water, yelling at her to give up the intel.

"How long is the deployment, sir?"

"The earliest refresher course is in Kittery, so you'll be headed to Maine in three weeks, then back here for a month of training before deploying. The mission length is unclear, but we expect to be on radio blackout for its entirety. Now, get the fuck out of my office."

"Yes, sir."

"Oh, and Hangman?" Jake paused with one foot out the door. "Keep your private life off the goddamn internet."

"Sir."

Julie's eyes were heavy as she stared at her computer, resisting the urge to drop her head into her hands. Rather than head into the bank, she'd called out of work. She knew it was putting her supervisor in a bind, especially since a lot of the parents were still out taking care of their kids who were out of school for the holiday. Still, she would sit at the counter covering for the tellers instead of processing loan applications in her office. Opening herself up for that amount of scrutiny was too much.

Not only that, but she was so tired. After Jake left and Lucy finally went home to her family, Julie crawled back into bed. She could still smell Jake in her sheets, and when it became overwhelming, she got up and stood outside of Daddy's bedroom. After Lucy had helped her clean it the first time after he died, she'd only gone in to dust and change the sheets occasionally over the last 11 months. Daddy's clothes were still hung in the closet and tucked into the drawers, his wallet and watch still on the dresser. After a long moment, she crossed the bedroom, running her fingers along the furniture before slipping into the bed like she had so many times as a little girl after waking from a bad dream.

But this time, Daddy wasn't there to hold her until she went back to sleep, banishing the monsters from her imagination. "I miss you," she'd whispered, resting her hand on his pillows.

Sighing, she pushed to her feet and went to refill her coffee. She was almost out of creamer and knew a trip to the grocery store needed to happen. While her appetite was nearly non-existent, she knew she needed to eat. Without a working oven, her options were limited. Ally offered to drive down to the store with her truck to pick up a new oven and Will and Mr. Seresin to install it, but Julie was reluctant to see the Seresins. She had yet to answer Jake's call that morning or respond to his text.

I love you so much, Cupcake. We'll get through this. I'll call you later.

It was still on her mental list of things to do, along with replying to people requesting to cancel their orders with her. While her first instinct was to agree and issue a full refund, Lucy had put her foot down on that and pointed out that they'd signed contracts that outlined penalties for cancelations - they would get partial refunds if anything. Settling back at the kitchen table, Julie clicked on her next order email and scanned it before deleting it. And the next. And the next.

The fourth email was an actual inquiry for cake pops. The person had included a note in the comments.

I hope you and Jake are happy. His video made it look like you guys are meant to be. I hope this all dies down soon. I've always wanted to try your stuff, and I figured now would be a good time. Thanks for being my comfort creator on here!

Tears pricked her eyes as she reread the note. When Jake had sent her the link to his video after he'd posted it, she'd been too numb to react. After showing what his apartment looked like after Shayla had destroyed it was bad enough, but he'd lost his temper and laid out exactly what happened. His work with the greenscreen was wonky, but he shared the screenshots where she'd admitted to lying about the baby. He'd talked about their relationship, how he was never comfortable with her filming, and her begging to continue. How she'd cheated, and they'd broken up before telling him she was pregnant, and he wanted to do the right thing.

He admitted to not being open about who Julie was to him when they went home but pushed back on the idea that his family was rude to Shayla. Instead, he told them how she'd posted the "pregnancy announcement" video before they could tell them the news and how she hadn't respected their privacy. He confirmed that he was the one in Julie's video - she could have kicked herself for not catching when his wrist had briefly appeared in the background as she piped out macaron shells and he grabbed a cupcake pan to put in more liners - and anger colored his words when he talked about Shayla destroying her work.

"I want to be clear," he'd said, staring directly at the camera. "That I kissed Ce… Julie that night. But that was as far as it went. And it was a mistake that we both regretted immediately because I was still engaged to Shayla at that point. But nothing. Else. Happened. I…” He looked away and cleared his throat. "I was ready to agree never to see Julie again if that would have made Shayla feel more secure in our marriage. But we never got to that because she left her computer open, and I saw the texts to her best friend. And I did yell at her. And took my ring back. I was only at Julie's house that night because I couldn't stand to be under the same roof as someone who tried to trap me into a marriage with blackmail. Julie was my friend that night, and I needed that."

"I won't apologize for not staying with someone who lies and manipulates and intentionally hurts my loved ones. And that's what Shayla did. She hurt people to get you to watch her videos and get brand deals and free shit. She doesn't care about you or me or anyone but herself. But I do owe an apology to my family for bringing her with me, making you uncomfortable, and not being the son you raised. And, of course, to Julie - who has been family since we were kids and I've been in love with almost that long. I'll never be able to make up for the hurt I've caused, not just over the last week. I wasn't always honest with you when you deserved that, and I put myself and my career before you. You didn't do anything to deserve all of this except be there for an idiot who is still in love with you and couldn't hide it well. And I'll spend every day trying to make it up to you if you let me. I've been bad at keeping promises, but I want to keep the one of being your first and last kiss, Cupcake."

"And to everyone else, please just… leave her alone. Julie's the most selfless person I've ever met and doesn't deserve this. Hate me, hate Shayla, but leave her out of it. She's a good person, and those are hard to find."

He looked so defeated, hair a mess from running his hands through it and the dark circles under his eyes again. From the extent of the damage, Julie knew he wouldn't have gotten much sleep last night, either. Unlike herself, he probably didn't take the easier route and call out of work rather than face real life. He was probably facing it head-on with that bullheaded stubbornness he'd been known for as a kid.

After typing a quick quote for the cake pops with multiple decorating options, including a short 'thank you for your support!', she clicked into the next email. She closed when she saw a request for a macaron cake that read 'Happy Homewreckers!'. Tears trickled down her face as she breathed like Jake had taught her. She could get through this.

Lunch was rough. Jake could feel eyes on him as he took his tray to their usual table, sitting with his back to the wall and forcing himself to meet the gaze of everyone who looked at him. A few had the decency to look away quickly, but others leaned toward their buddies and whispered.

The Daggers circled around him, providing their unspoken support. Still, he knew they had questions for him and were just waiting for some privacy to ask. But he could have put up with it if Cece had just responded to his text. She hadn't said a thing since he'd sent her the link to his video, and he was starting to regret doing it without talking to her first. It was his fault this was happening, and he wanted to protect her as much as possible - but he should have at least given her the option of not doing it.

And now… now he had to tell her that he was deploying. Again. The very thing that had ended their relationship all those years ago. This time, though, he was going to tell her. Jake had to show that he'd changed for her to trust him. But, fuck… the idea of going through SERE again and then a blackout mission? Not being able to contact Cece or Will, his parents? Possibly missing Tyler's birth?

Cyclone may have picked him because of his record, but it also felt like this was a punishment.

Julie pulled her daddy's baseball cap low on her brow, ducking her head as she walked into the grocery store. The cart rattled loudly as she hurried down the aisles, avoiding as many people as possible as she stocked up on snacks and anything she could make in the microwave.

For as fast as she moved, the whispers moved faster. Clinging to that numb feeling, she tried to block them out, not even wondering how the older Magnolia population would be aware of internet drama. She would put money on Betty Roberts having spread the news far and wide. All she needed to do was get her stuff and get home, where she could go back to bed and pretend that this was a bad dream.

"- showing her face after all that?"

"Did you see his, though?"

"We all know the Seresin boy's been known to tell tall tales. Besides, you know what those two are like - they've always been all over each other."

Cheeks blazing, Julie ignored the loud conversation from the aisle, recognizing the town gossip's voice. And sure, as teenagers, she and Jake hadn't been the most conservative about public affection. But Betty made it sound like they'd been groping each other in public. She hadn't even touched Jake in public in over seven years, and that had been down in Austin. Keeping space between them had been her goal since he'd come back home. Because Jake's touch, his kiss was… well, it made her lose her head. It made her want to do things like pack a bag and start driving out to California to escape the scrutiny of their small town. It made her want to hide in his bed, covers pulled over their head and his sleepy gaze holding hers until the rest of the world fell away. Until she forgot why the walls she'd built so high were needed. It made her want to ignore the fact that the man she loved had the power to hurt her as no one else did.

There was a loud scoff, and Julie pressed her lips together, eyes closing as she willed herself not to feel. Not to acknowledge the women turning on the aisle and staring at her, shopping baskets dangling from their arms. She felt their stares like cobwebs on her skin as they neared, their whispers like daggers in her heart.

And then one struck true. "Her parents would be so ashamed."

Tears gathered behind her eyelids at the cruel words, a contradiction of Daddy's letter in her purse. Slowly, she turned to face Betty and her friend Joanne, the second-biggest gossip in town. "Are your lives so small," Julie said softly as they stopped behind her, "that you have to make yourself feel bigger by talking about others?"

"Excuse me?" Betty demanded, recoiling slightly.

Tossing the bag of frozen corn into her cart, Julie turned fully to face the two, her tone flat as she spoke again. "Do you think that people actually like you? That they look forward to seeing you coming toward them, knowing that they have to watch every word, every action, every breath they take in front of you because if they don't toe the line of what you deem appropriate, you'll tell the whole town?" Joanne's mouth fell open as Betty flushed bright red, drawing herself up.

"Why, I never -"

"Shut the hell up. You never shut the hell up," Julie sighed. "You talk, and you whisper, and you judge, and you make people feel horrible for just living their fucking life. And for some reason, you think that people care what you think, but the truth is that we all think that you're a nosey bitch."

"Julie Ryan!" Betty sputtered. "I don't know WHAT's gotten into you, young lady, but -"

"I'm done." And then, without another word, she turned and walked out of the store, abandoning her cart and her last fuck.

Holy shit, word on the street is that Julie FINALLY stood up to Betty Roberts!

Jake stared down at the text from his sister-in-law as he sat in his truck after work. While Cece hadn't contacted him all day, apparently, she'd been out and about in Magnolia. He let his head fall back and sighed, scrubbing a hand down his face. He wanted to return home - not in his apartment but Texas. Because if Cece had finally said something, things would have been bad.

Jake, have you heard from Julie? I stopped by her house, but she wasn't there. I wanted to check on her after what happened at the store.

The text from Mama worried him. Turning the ignition, he waited until his phone connected to Bluetooth before calling Cece. As it rang, he let his head fall back on the rest, and his eyes closed, anticipating her voicemail again. When she said they needed space, she'd promised not to disappear on him again, but it was starting to feel like that's what was happening. After managing seven years without her, it had only taken one week for Jake to miss her as much as he had when she'd left him back in Virginia. And now… now he didn't know if he would survive losing her again.

"Hello?"

"Hey, babe." Just the sound of her voice had his muscles relaxing and a tired smile creeping onto his mouth. "You okay?"

"I'm…" There was a long pause, and Jake's grip on the steering wheel tightened when he heard a choked inhale. "I think I did something stupid?"

"What's wrong? What happened, honey?" Cece didn't say anything, but he heard her take a shuttering breath. "Cupcake, is this about the grocery store?"

Her laugh was watery and brittle. "Of course, you heard about that already."

"Only that you did what everyone should have done to Betty Roberts a long time ago, but not specifics." He heard her chuckle before gasping, and his heart broke at her sob. "Cece…" The only sound on the other side of the line was her crying, and Jake wanted to pull her into his arms so badly. Instead, he pinched the bridge of his nose and swallowed hard.

"I-I called her a n-nosey b-bitch." Jake snorted, which made her wail, "It's not funny, Jacob!"

"I'm sorry, honey," he laughed. "You're right, it's not funny. It's fuckin' hilarious and well-deserved. You're a goddamn hero for finally sayin' it to her face when everyone's been sayin' it behind her back for decades."

Cece sniffled, and his hand flexed around the wheel. "You… you don't think Mama and Daddy would be ashamed of me?"

Rage blinded him. "Did that bitch say that?" he demanded. When she hummed an affirmative, he slammed his fist onto the top of the steering wheel while cursing under his breath. "Honey," he said through clenched teeth, "you know that's not true, right? Your parents loved you and would never have been ashamed of you. Your daddy told me all the time how proud he was of you. And your Mama loved you so damn much that she probably would have told Betty off herself, just like she did that woman who said somethin' about the pie you submitted to the fair."

"What?" There was confusion in her voice, and Jake chuckled.

"You know - when you entered a kids' baking competition when we were eight or so for the summer fair. I heard one of the other girl's mom's makin' a comment about how your pie wasn't as pretty as her daughter's, and your Mama told her that it's a good thing that she wasn't picked as one of the judges because she wouldn't know a pretty pie if it was shoved in her face."

"My mama said that?" Cece asked, laughing wetly.

"Yup. That's why we spent so much time by the quilts that year - our mamas weren't quiet about how much they thought her submission wasn't up to snuff."

"I… I remember the quilt but didn't know about the pie."

"Your mama was proud of everything you did, Cece." When she was quiet, he sighed and started to pull his truck out of its spot. "What're you doin' tonight, honey?"

"Um… not much."

"Any chance you'd be willing to let me see your gorgeous face? I'm driving home now, but we could do a video call in about an hour."

“I… um…” The hesitation killed him, but then she spoke again. "I'm not sure what my internet situation will be tonight." That made him laugh.

"I know Magnolia's a bit behind the times, but the wifi wasn't bad."

"I'm not in Magnolia." Easing onto the road, he frowned.

"Did you go get your oven?" Her groan made him smile.

"No, but that probably would have been the smarter thing to do."

"Where'd you go?"

"Arizona."

"Ari -" Jake's foot slammed on the break before he blew a stop sign, and he stared down at his phone as though he could see her face. "What the hell are you doing in Arizona?"

"Well, I'm not there yet," she said after a beat. "I'm still in New Mexico, but close to the border, so I'll be there soon."

“Why…what the… Cece, why are you in New Mexico? Why are you going to Arizona?!"

Her nervous laugh was drowned out by someone hitting their horn, and Jake glanced in his rearview mirror before slowly moving forward. He tried to keep his attention on the road, but it was hard. "Did you know the Grand Canyon is only about 10 hours from Magnolia? And I've never been."

"The Grand… you're going to the Grand Canyon? In December?"

"Why not?" Her tone was defensive, and he knew he needed to tread carefully.

"It's not… the best time for sightseeing." His reasoning felt flimsy even to himself. "And what about work?"

"I need to concentrate on driving," Cece replied after a long pause.

"Baby -"

"I'll call you later when I stop for the night."

"At least tell me you're gonna get a hotel. I don't want you to sleep on the side of the road. I can get you one -"

"I can afford a fucking hotel, Jake!" Shocked at her outburst, he stayed silent, listening to her heavy breathing. "I'm not a child. I can take care of myself."

"I know that."

"Do you?" she hissed. "Or are you just like everyone else, thinkin' I've been waiting for you all this time? That poor, pathetic Julie Ryan always needs someone to look after her? That my whole world stopped the day I left Virginia, and I've just been waiting for you to come back to me? Do you know that everyone - EVERYONE - thinks that you left me? And I let them because you weren't there to defend yourself, and it was too hard to convince them otherwise?"

"Ce -"

"I didn't tell them that Golden Boy Seresin was a liar who couldn't even tell the woman he was supposed to marry that he was leaving AGAIN. That I had uprooted MY WHOLE LIFE for you, and you didn't even have the decency to tell me that you were leaving. You just let me look like an idiot in front of all the other spouses. Let me think that we were gonna have the wedding and start our lives together - all while you were keeping a huge secret from me." Jake's heart shattered when her voice cracked. Pulling to the side of the road, he slung an arm over the steering wheel and rested his forehead on it.

"Honey, I'm sor -"

"I protected you all this time. I put my dreams aside for yours and was okay with that. All I asked for was honesty, and you couldn't even give me that. And when I finally - FINALLY - had something that was mine and only mine, something that I loved and built and put in the hard work for… you ruined it, Jake. You took it from me." For a long time, there was only the sound of her panting breath over the line.

"I'm so sorry, Julie. I never meant to hurt you," he rasped.

"I know that, and that's the hardest thing about all this - you never had to try to hurt me. I just let you."

Tears dripped down his face as he listened to her cry. "I…I don't know…baby, I'm sorry. Tell me how to fix this, and I'll do it."

"I don't think you can. There's nothing… we've been moving toward this since we were 18, Jake. And maybe now it's time to just throw in the towel."

"No." Clearing his throat, he spoke firmly and sat up. "No, I'm not givin' up on us, Cece. I love you. You're the only woman I've ever loved, and I won't lose you again."

"You love who I was when we were teens. You don't know me now."

"Then let me. Come out here, and let's figure this out."

Her laugh was brittle, "That's the problem right there. You always ask me to do the hard thing without realizing it - I have to come to you. I can't have a career because yours is more important. I have to make myself small so you can be the big shot you always wanted to be."

"I… I can't get leave to come home, Cece. Please, you know I would if I could. But I -"

"I don't know you would. You've never had to make the sacrifices in our relationship." Her words were like a slap to the face.

"That's not true." That only made her laugh, and he felt a rush of anger. "You think I wanted to be away from you all the time? Is that what you think? When you said you thought you were pregnant, I was ready to give it all up - the Academy, flying, all of it. And you're saying I didn't make any sacrifices?"

He could feel the hurt across the open line and opened his mouth to apologize when she cut him off. "Well, it's a good thing I wasn't pregnant then or after we fucked at the bar, so you never had to decide between me or your dreams. Because, unlike you, I don't think I could have lived with ruining yours."

The call ended as Jake stared out the windshield, trying to comprehend what Cece said. Had she thought she was pregnant after they'd hooked up in Austin? Was that why she'd run away from him in the grocery store? Scrambling for his phone, he dialed her number, hanging up and calling again when it was sent to voicemail.

Just like his next ten calls.

Cold seeped into Julie's skin as she watched the sky turn indigo as the sun rose. Snow blew around her, and the news warned of a blizzard that day. The smart thing to do would be to head back into town and climb back into her hotel bed, but she couldn't tear her gaze away from the beautiful sight before her.

There was something so peaceful about sitting there, her racing thoughts finally silent. Tears pricked her eyes as the wind whipped her hair into her face. As the light started to kiss the canyon's rim, her eyes were drawn down into its depth. Snow dotted the upper rim, disappearing further down.

Gorgeous. And only a day's drive away from home.

The thought had her reaching into her pocket and retrieving her phone. Daddy's lawyer had sent her the bank account info for Mama's travel account. Ignoring the red bubbles alerting her to the missed calls and texts, she navigated to her email and clicked on the encrypted message. Cell service was spotty, but she memorized the login information.

Her finger hovered over the texts, curiosity warring with peace. She'd seen the preview of Jake's message as she lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. It had started with an apology, and it took everything in her not to apologize to him. She'd never meant for him to hear the arguments and thoughts she'd bottled up for years, but they'd spilled out at the first opportunity. Julie's resentment toward him had been overwhelming and now was tinged with regret for hurting him with the truth. But she'd carried that hurt in silence for so long. Everything about their relationship from the moment he was accepted into the Naval Academy had been about him. Hell, even their spring breaks in South Carolina had been to make his life easier - the times she'd asked to meet in Florida or for him to come to Texas, he'd pleaded for her to go to him. He was so tired between school and training, and he wouldn't have the summers to relax like she would. So, she went across the country every March to spend time with him instead of going on trips with her friends. He'd only met her college friends at graduation, while she'd spent a week with his every year.

Instead of looking at the texts, Julie took a picture of the sunrise and sent it to Lucy. When she'd called from the road to let her know that she was heading out of town, her best friend had been worried and made her promise to check in. The picture was slow to send in their text thread, and Julie took the opportunity to scroll through their messages. Pictures of her kids and husband were sprinkled throughout. There was a video of Joey asking for a monster truck birthday cake and Julie crouching next to Emma at her ballet recital.

Sniffling, she shoved the phone back into her pocket and stared at the sunrise, trying to force away her thoughts. But they raced in opposite directions - ten hours east to Magnolia and nine hours west to San Diego. If she was at home, she would be getting up soon and heading to work, or having breakfast with Ally. Out west, Jake was probably waking and getting ready to go to the base.

Her breath misted in the air when Julie sighed. The wind was picking up, and she knew she'd need to get back to town before the storm blew in, but it was hard to tear her gaze away from the canyon. A car door slammed, and she jumped, turning to see two people climbing out of their vehicle. They nodded, and she smiled back as they stood a bit further from her and looked at the sunrise.

When her fingers started losing their feeling, and the sky was a beautiful pink and orange, Julie returned to her car. As it heated, she took a deep breath and pulled up Jake's texts. They were full of apologies and pleas for her to answer the phone. He wanted to know if she'd thought she was pregnant after they'd seen one another in Austin. That made her cringe. She regretted telling him like that, especially after everything that happened with his ex. He promised to try harder if she would just pick up. He wanted to come home, but he was just told about a mission he was being sent on and wouldn't be able to.

I only have 3 weeks until I leave, and we won't be able to talk. Please, baby, don't let it end like this. I love you, and I know I haven't always been the best at showing it, but I want this to work.

A lump rose in her throat at the thought of him leaving again, and she paused before sending him the same picture she'd sent Lucy. We'll talk before you go, but I need space right now.

The technology gods were clearly on Jake's side because the message went through quickly and was marked as read almost immediately. Three dots appeared on the screen, and Julie bit her lip while watching them flicker. Finally, the message appeared. Beautiful, but not as beautiful as you. I love you, Cupcake.

After a moment, she typed back Love you too, Farm Boy.

Quickly closing the message, she pulled up the banking app and entered her Mama's travel account information. She hesitated before closing her eyes and hitting the login button. Slowly, after a few seconds, Julie peeked at the screen. The amount made her breath catch. Tears flooded her eyes as she stared at the number.

Fumbling for her purse, she grabbed Daddy’s letter, skimming the words until she found what she was looking for.

I put her life insurance payout there and have added a little every year. All you have to do is contact my lawyer, who'll give you the account numbers and start the transfer. I should have given it to you before, but… well, the reason always changed. But now that you have it, I want you to do whatever you want with that money. If you want to travel like your Mama wanted? Do it. You want to go back to school? Perfect. Start your bakery? You'll be so successful. Buy a house? I only ask that it's somewhere other than Magnolia. Sell the house and put the money toward your next dream.

Be selfish, baby. Treat yourself to whatever you want - as long as it's what you want.

Looking over the dashboard at the sunrise over the Grand Canyon, Julie started to cry at the memory of her Mama reading her books before bed, building worlds in her mind. Her daddy pinching pennies as she grew up and helping her bake late into the night. Lying in the back of Jake's truck and talking about all the places they would see when they were married.

The money wouldn't solve everything, but it was enough to give her space to breathe and figure out what she wanted to do. It, along with her moving fund, would give her what she needed most—time.

As she pulled out of the parking lot, she could almost hear Mama's voice. "You and me, baby girl, we're gonna see the world one day."

---------------------------------------

Author's Note: Soooo... thank you for you patience with me getting this out. I had some difficulty with this chapter, because I was struggling between going with my original ending and one that was less angsty. I went with the original (the other option was Cece driving to Jake's after because they didn't have a fight, and her meeting the Daggers). But Cece needed to finally let Jake know how she was feeling, and Betty may have been just the push she needed.

SERE training is no joke. I stole the story about the woman being thrown in the pit from my best friend's husband (former military intel guy), who still has issues with the smell of peppermint to this day because he hid in a patch of it while it was happening. They no longer waterboard soldiers, but that practice only stopped in the 2000s, I believe.

Also, the next chapter will be the last one in this series 🫣 (Edit, there will be an epilogue)

Read Chapter 10

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tyblackthornsheadphones · 1 year ago

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Hiya! Maybe some hurt and comfort fic with the moon boys after the reader got hurt in a street scuffle thing? :)

i reread this only once and yes, i did notice the inconsistent verb tenses but honestly i don’t have the energy to go back and change it. i tried to keep physical descriptions of the reader to a minimum so it should be gender neutral and any race. if not, please let me know so i can fix it.

i also kind of forgot the reader was supposed to be hurt and wrote it more emotional but i hope it’s fine anyway. (i’m so bad at following requests i’m so sorry)

if you wanna support me you can buy me a ko-fi.

the two men had come out of nowhere, forcing you into an alleyway under the dark cover of the night. your only comfort was the thought that your boys were watching the city for these exact types of people, maybe they would come save you. and if you managed to hold off the two men for just long enough, you could get out of this alive.

you weren’t a fighter. marc had taught you basic self-defence, but even so you wouldn’t have been able to take on two big, buff men with guns and eyes that spoke of deranged thoughts and lack of care for any life but their own.

the rest was a blur. a white caped hero throwing punches, a body jumping in front of your own, blood on the concrete and on gloved hands.

“let’s get you home, amor.”

jake was angry, you could hear it in his tone, but you were still frozen in fear from the encounter, your mind buzzing yet simultaneously unable to string together any coherent thoughts. so you didn’t respond, and he carried you home in his arms, jumping into the loft through the window you always kept open for him on nights like these, the one you’d forgotten to close before leaving.

you have a routine for when your boys come back from their duties as moonknight. the suit heals their wounds, but it doesn’t wash away the blood. you run a warm cloth over their skin until the blood and grime is all washed off, a slow repetitive process that gives their mind the time to deal with the violence they committed and store away the memories somewhere far back.

it’s easy to let your muscle memory take over.

“you don’t have to do that tonight,” jake says, “let us take care of you. we want to make sure you’re alright after that.”

you shake your head. there’s still a part of you that’s numb, and you don’t think you could put your feelings into words, you don’t think there’s any real way to voice the way you were convinced you were going to die, the way your brain flashed through everything you regret and your friends you haven’t seen in a while and the goals you’d never accomplish.

the suit falls away and it’s just your jake. not the hero of london or the fist of vengeance, just your worried boyfriend.

you clean his knuckles of the blood that always somehow manages to seep through the bandages that make up their suit. his body tenses, and when you look up, you meet marc’s eyes. his jaw is clenched in a way that you recognise, he wants to speak but doesn’t quite know how to say it, he’s worried talking about it might not be what you need right now.

“i’m sorry,” you say finally, “for going out. a friend needed my help and i thought i could walk back home after. i didn’t think…”

“not your fault,” marc replies, “we should’ve gotten them before they even had the chance to touch you.”

“it’s not your fault either, you know,” you put the dirty cloth down.

he shakes his head. there’s no point in having this argument, it’s the same every time. you argue that it’s impossible to save everyone, that london is a huge city and they’re just one body that can only accomplish so much. marc’s dumb guilty conscience convinces him that any person he can’t save in time is blood on his hands, not the fault of the criminals who committed the act, but his for not being able to save them.

you understand why, and the fights always come back to the same thing.

the last remnants of adrenaline are fading and your hands grow shaky. marc leads you to bed, but you know this is the part where he leaves, back into the headspace while one of the others (usually steven) hold you under the safety of the blankets. he likes to take care of you, to provide, but he still struggles to be soft.

“i was so scared,” you finally admit when the lights are turned off and the room is dark and the boys can’t see your face. it’s easier to admit when you don’t have to look into the eyes of the men who act as london’s protectors, constantly in dangerous situations. you don’t have to deal with the feelings of inferiority, like comparing yourself to marc’s strong and brave ex-wife who would surely have been able to defend herself.

you don’t even know which one is fronting. maybe they all are. when the tears start to fall, all you care about is the comforting familiarity of the strong arms around you and the scent of the men you love.

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a-reader-and-a-writer · 9 months ago

Text

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

Fandom: Top Gun, Top Gun: Maverick, Jake "Hangman" Seresin Summary: Jake isn't worried when he is called to stand trial for his actions on the Uranium mission. After all, he saved Rooster and Maverick's lives. Who cares if he had to disobey orders to do so? However, Jake's about to learn this case isn't just the formality he thought it was... Word Count: 1864 Notes: Part of @whumpthemusical's event for Day 2- Wicked: "No Good Deed Goes Unpunished". Thank you so much to @green-socks for looking this over! 💗

As Jake Seresin strutted through the doors of the courtroom, his signature smirk spread across his face, he didn’t have a doubt in his mind he’d be walking out these same doors in a few hours with the exact demeanor. This was nothing more than a formality. The worst that would happen was he would get a stern talking to or possibly a light slap on the wrist. But it wouldn’t be anything he couldn’t bounce back from.

The Daggers sitting in the front row of the galley didn’t seem to share in his optimism based on the looks they were shooting in his direction. Ranging from leg-bouncingly nervous to a glare so intense it could burn a hole through steel, all eyes followed him as he passed, and he shot them a wink just for the fun of it.

They had spent the last few weeks warning him to take this case more seriously. After all, if he lost and they threw the book at him, it was almost guaranteed he would be permanently grounded, if not discharged from the Navy. But Jake knew he had nothing to worry about. He had saved the lives of one of the most accomplished pilots in the last several decades and the life of the pilot who completed the mission without the help of a targeting system. He was the hero who saved the two lost Dagger aviators, heroes in their own right.

Yes, it was true he had defied Cyclone’s direct orders to do so, but sometimes even in the military, split-second decisions had to be made in life-or-death situations where you didn’t have time to wait for updated orders. Everyone knew that. So while Jake understood why they had to go through with this court-martial trial, he already knew what the outcome would be.

Rooster was the first person to take the stand. He recounted every detail leading up to Jake’s just-in-time rescue, including a detailed and moving description of what it felt like pulling the ejection straps just for them to fail and knowing, with all certainty, that he was about to die—only for Jake to arrive and save them just as the enemy fired on them. Jake couldn’t believe it, but he even found himself moved by Rooster’s words and the way his voice choked up a little when he mentioned being spared a similar death to his father. And if this touching story was getting to him, it must be heartrending to the panel of judges!

Then it was Maverick’s turn and his deposition was just as powerful as Rooster’s. He praised Jake’s skills during training and his quick actions that saved his and Rooster’s lives on the mission. But the part that made Jake sit up a little straighter and his grin get a little bit wider was when Maverick cited an instance when he had done something similar in the past and it had been deemed a necessary action by the former Admiral Kazansky. And the icing on top of the cake was when Maverick added he believed Iceman would have approved of Jake’s actions that day.

As Maverick stepped down, Jake turned to look at the other Daggers, wishing he had one of his toothpicks to flip just to emphasize how sure he was that he had this in the bag.

But Jake had started to celebrate too soon.

Hondo was the next one called to the stand. The Warrant Officer couldn’t even look at Jake as they questioned him. He tried his best to turn things around in Jake’s favor, but there was little he could do when he had been in the control room and explicitly heard Cyclone order Jake to stand down. Hondo was also the one in charge of all of the deck preparations including take-offs and landings, so this whole ordeal didn’t bode well for him if it was determined that Jake was allowed to take off due to a failure on his part. Regardless of what happened today, Jake did hope his actions didn't get the other man in trouble. While he was positive Hondo would have done anything within his power to get Maverick and Rooster back, Jake had acted alone and no one else should be responsible for that.

Warlock was next to testify. He refused to elaborate on any of his responses, simply giving one or two-word answers that left little for the court to work with. But just like with Hondo, Warlock couldn’t deny the facts.

Had Jake taken off after Admiral Simpson had refused his request to provide cover? Yes.

Did Admiral Simpson retract or change his order before Jake took off? No.

Was it true that while Jake rescued Maverick and Rooster, it was without explicit permission to do so? Yes.

As he finished and walked out past where Jake was sitting, Warlock gave him a small, sad smile and a nod, and all Jake could do was nod back.

For the first time, Jake wasn’t smiling.

However, despite their less-than-stellar testimonies, it wasn’t until Cyclone took the stand that a pit formed in Jake’s stomach. Everyone knew Cyclone was a hard-ass stickler for rules and regulations and while the man had shown no ill-will towards Jake for his defiance of his orders, it quickly became clear he wasn’t going to defend him either.

By the time Cyclone was excused, Jake was nearly hyperventilating in his seat. How had he been so certain only an hour ago that there was nothing to worry about and now there was every chance he was about to lose everything. He could feel the eyes of all of the Daggers boring into the back of his head, but he couldn’t bring himself to look at them. Seeing the pity on their faces—he couldn’t handle that right now.

But then, it was his turn to testify. Walking slowly towards the stand, Jake wracked his brain for anything he could say to justify his actions. To make this all go away. But there was nothing he could do. Except…

When Jake sat down, the prosecutor began her questioning. Each one covered much of the same ground the others had already testified about. They were mostly yes or no questions and any time Jake tried to elaborate, he was cut off. But then they got to the final question:

“Lieutenant Seresin, in your own words, can you please explain to the court why you chose to disobey a direct order from your commanding officer despite knowing the possible consequences of your actions?”

Jake stared down at where his hands lay clasped in his lap. He had briefly practiced what he would say over the last few weeks; just a line or two about saving Rooster and Maverick’s asses, maybe even ending it with a clever jab about the right Dagger finally joining the mission, all told with his usual arrogant charm. But that was before it hit him what he was about to lose if this trial went wrong. How his entire world could come to an end on the word of the five people in front of him.

He was a pilot. It wasn’t just what he was, it was who he was. He was Lieutenant Jake Seresin. Hangman. The only active duty pilot with one—no, two confirmed air-to-air kills. He graduated top of his class at the academy, placed first during his time at Top Gun. He had medals and accommodations and had completed missions that would leave other pilots pissing their pants from just reading the briefing. He loved what he did, and goddammit, he was great at it. Possibly the best.

But now all of that was about to be taken away from him. So, he did the only move he had left—he told the truth.

Clearing his throat, Jake leaned forward to speak into the microphone. “I, um, I…I was just…”

Taking a deep breath, he started again. “Look. I know how this must look. Anyone who knows me knows I’m an arrogant son of a bitch who can outfly almost anyone and I never let them forget it. I understand that based on what you’ve heard, it probably seems like I was just trying to be the hero, to prove to everyone I should have been on the mission all along instead of Rooster. But I didn’t disobey orders to satisfy my own pride no matter what it looks like.”

Glancing down at his hands again, Jake was unable to look at any of the dozens of faces staring at him. “Yes. I was mad when I wasn’t picked for the mission, but I was only mad at myself. This was a team mission and I only ever flew to inflate my ego, not to benefit my team. Maverick made the right choice making me the spare. Then I heard him get shot down and all I could think was if I had just been better, maybe I could have been there and done something to save him. That’s why I originally asked to launch and provide air cover for the rest of the Daggers. Maybe I couldn’t help Maverick, but I could make damn sure the rest of the team made it home. However, I was told to stand down…and then Rooster was hit—”

Jake was surprised to find a lump growing in his throat and tears starting to prickle at the corner of his eyes yet he pressed on. “One of the first things they teach you when you start to fly jets is you never leave a wingman behind. It’s like when you’re a kid and your parents say to never swim alone. So when I heard Maverick and Rooster were alive and back in the air…I didn’t even think about asking for clearance. I had two wingmen who needed me and I wasn’t going to let them face down those 5th Gen fighters alone. I just…I just wanted to be the team member I should have been from the start.”

As he finished speaking, not a sound could be heard in the courtroom. Jake couldn’t remember the last time he had been that honest or raw with anyone and now he had opened up to an entire room of people, most of whom were friends or colleagues. He wasn’t quite sure he would ever be able to face the Daggers again, but if it meant he got to keep flying, it would be worth it.

With the testimonies finished, the panel filed out to deliberate. Jake rested his head on the table he was seated at and wondered how agonizingly long he would have to wait to learn his fate.

Fifteen minutes later, the panel returned.

Jake felt as if he were going to be sick. Long gone was the flashing grin and the arrogant gleam in his eye. No, right now Jake Seresin’s heart was racing faster than he had ever flown and he struggled to keep back the tears that were burning in the back of his eyes.

Rising to his feet, he stood at attention as he faced the men and women about to determine the rest of his life.

Taglist: @green-socks, @lorecraft, @heart-0n-fire, @mayhem24-7forever, @the-untamed-soul, @inglourious-imagines, @airhogger, @piscesvancouverite, @straightforwardly, @bonnieelizabethparker, @srry-itshockeyszn, @flyinlove, @fandomhopped, @sweetheartlizzie07, @yjwnoot, @wanderdreamer, @pansexualwitchwhoneedstherapy, @callsign-phoenix, @shanimallina87, @forever-sleepy-sloth, @blue-aconite, @notroosterbradshaw, @dezthegeek, @blessupblessup, @cherrycola27, @phoenix1389, @nicangelinee, @smells-like-perfect-senses, @boringusername3, @petlaufeyson, @cycbaby, @topguncortez, @footprintsinthesxnd, @fantasticcopeaglepasta, @writercole, @onebigfangirlworld, @wkndwlff, @ravenmoore14, @clancycucumber230, @mamachasesmayhem, @slightly-psycho-multifan, @kmc1989, @ohtobeleah, @roosterforme, @deppresseddyslexic, @horneybeach1, @mandylove1000

#fic #whump: the musical #jake hangman seresin #hangman #jake seresin #top gun #top gun maverick #top gun: maverick #rooster #maverick #hondo #warlock #cyclone #angst #trial tw

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tmwcs · 1 year ago

Note

to continue with that other anon, what if y/n actually sent her nudes to one of Heethans friends by accident??

and tried to rile him up more abt it by saying “it’s not THAT big of a deal”……

“No Big Deal.”

SMUT MDNI 18+

Theres mentioning of smut, slight description of smut/smut things, and mentions of photos being sent to others, overstimulation....umm....Heethan is kind of a brute.....but ofc.....he's not sorry. #sorrybutnotsorry.

".....no....oooohnononononooooo....what have i done?"

Your hand shook vigorously as you held your phone and observed the name and number of the recipient who you mistakenly sent a wide variety of photos to.....nude photos.

You could have sworn you typed in the first three letters of Heeseung's name, which would have autofilled to his contact name "Heethan" which you had saved to reflect the two loves of your life. Yet somehow, you must have fat fingered punched a different letter as the photos were all sent to someone else....someone who shared the same class as Heeseung. 'Hewitt'.

Quickly, you reacted by sending a message to Hewitt, explaining the situation.

"Hi, so sorry. this is a mistake, i meant to send those to Heeseung, I have no idea why it was sent to you, please erase those and do not open them."

Biting the tip of your thumb, you anxiously await for a response back.....but not one single message was returned.

"Shit....."

You waited in the room patiently. Since Heeseung went to the store, he ensured that his housemates were all home and residing downstairs so that you were safe and not alone inside the house.

...................

"I'll be back in fifteen minutes. Just stay here and if anything happense, my house brothers and their girlfriends are all downstairs. Just call me."

....................

He had been gone for ten minutes already, and Heeseung was always very prompt when it concerned matters of leaving you alone. Whenever you were in class or left in his room, he never played around with timing. Preferably, he always wanted you with him, yet this time around, with the intentions of surprising him with some sexy photos, you feigned a headache and opted to stay behind.

....................

"I'll get you some medicine while I'm at the store. Did you want anything else, pretty baby?"

....................

The image of his concerned look as he leaned down and kissed your forehead made this whole ordeal excruciating as you reflected on your careless mistake.

"Maybe...if i just....don't act like it's a big deal........maybe he'll reflect that it isnt....based off the vibe....because if I'm freaking out it only enhances the negatives.....but if i'm calm, maybe he'll feed off of that energy."

......................................

Exactly at the fifteen minute mark, you hear his car pull up. You peeked through the blinds, ensuring that the lights in the room was shut off, careful to make sure that your silhouette couldn't be made out as you knelt down on the bed and peered through the window.

Watching him, he had a plastic bag in hand with the contents from the store. He looked calm, or at least it was all you could make out as he wore his hat in the traditional manner of covering his eyes. His casual attire along with the exposure of his strong arms made him look irresistible, no girl could ever blame you for wanting to send him nudes......you kicked yourself for feeling so stupid and careless....how could you have done sent it to someone else?

Your eyes trailed after him as he walked towards the front door. You quickly laid down on the bed, checking your phone once more to see if Hewitt had responded.....to your despair, he did not.

"Dammit....."

You should have erased his number long ago. Reflecting the moment when you had gained Hewitts number, it was back when Heeseung was assisting one of his teachers, so he had you coordinate with Hewitt to pick up the materials for one of his classes as h/n used Jake's car and drove you, since the latter was with Heeseung, also assisting the teacher.

That was the only time you and h/n ever interacted with Hewitt, a calm and quiet individual who seemed like a decent young man. Hopefully he honored your request and erased those photos.

Yet the lack of response from his side furthered your anxiety and made you even more worrisome.

Suddenly the door opens, you remained lying still on the bed, and to your surprise, he didn't immediately turn on the lights. Leaving the room in darkness, you wondered if he genuinely thought you were sleeping from the 'headache' you were experiencing, possibly not wanting to wake or disturb you.

He was always that way, so considerate whenever you were in pain or if something had been on your mind, Heeseung was always your biggest supporter. Obviously, he was always going to be as such, the man was insanely obsessed with you...infatuated.....totally in love with you to the point that, while you haven't seen it yet, you wouldn't put it past the man to resort in developing a 'killer instinct' in order to have you all himself or to 'protect' you. It was the look in his eye that he would get sometimes that made you wonder....

The footsteps breaching in your direction snaps you out of your zoned state of mind. You tried to maintain a relaxed and steady breathing pattern, which had escalated once you felt him sit on the edge of the bed next to your body. Hearing the plastic bag being set down on the floor, you felt the movement of his body as he leans in, and gently caresses your face.

"You awake, pretty baby?" he spoke so calmly.

"Mmm....mmhmm...." you managed to mumble out.

"How are you feeling?"

".....Fine....."

His face closes in and you felt his lips meeting with yours. Gently kissing you, he embraces you with his arms and shifts his position to lay on top of you.

It was...interesting.....only due to the mere fact that he didn't seem to know, but also....normally, whenever you had complained about not feeling well, he usually opted to let you rest. Perhaps when you answered 'fine' he took that in a literal sense and decided to not hold back any longer. The man did have such a high sexual drive when it came to you, according to Jake, who confirmed that while Heeseung always did have a potent libido, since meeting you, it had been stronger than ever.

"You need any medicine for your headache? I got you a few." he calmly speaks against your lips.

"...N-no....it's fine...i'm fine...thank you." reaching your arms around his neck, you pulled him in for a tight embrace, slightly shaking from the fear of whenever he was bound to find out what you had done.

"You're shaking. You cold?"

"mmmm.....no....."

"mmm........good."

Getting up, he walks over to the light switch and flips them on. Turning back around to face you, you saw that horrendously frightening grin of his Ethan side.

"Baaaaaaaaaaaabyyyyyyyyyyyyy......"

"...Y-yes..?"

Walking over to you, he takes out his phone from his pocket, all the while making direct eye contact with you.....those eyes....they were wide with a taunting smirk to accompany that sadistic and malevolent look in his expression.

Kneeling down before you as you positioned yourself to sit on the edge of the bed, legs dangling and your feet delicately resting on the ground, he crouches down with his hand gently placed on your thigh.

Without saying anything, he shows you the contents of his screen......a message from Hewitt.........

..................................

"Kind of careless.....aren't we?" his voice was low. You felt his fingers slightly digging into the skin of your thigh as he spoke.

"uh.....yeah...it was....a mistake.....it was supposed to be a surprise for you...but......i guess if you look at it...it's not....really a big deal..."

"NOT........A ......BIG DEAL?......." his eyes widened as his smirk transitioned to one that reflected irritation and amusement.

"Well...yeah....i mean...if you think about it....he didn't look at them....he sent to them to you....and he's not sharing them with anyone.....so.....its......its all good....." you mumbled out in a soft....a very quiet tone.

"Hmmm......that right?......"

"......y-yes...."

He gets up and tosses his phone on the desk.....the loud clank of the device landing on the surface was hard, you'd be surprised if the screen made it out without any cracks. By the way he threw it and scoffed out an irritating sigh as you watched his backside walking towards his computer, you could tell.....he was mad.

By the direction he was walking in, you figured he was going to sit down and perhaps play some of his video games to take the edge off.....instead, he walked over to the dresser, grabbing on to the hem of his shirt and lifting it off and over his head, removing it. The flex of his back muscles as he took off his shirt nearly caused your mouth to gasp open as you saw the definition of each muscle, lined perfectly and lean.

Tossing the shirt off to the side, he remains standing with his back facing you, digging something out of the top dresser. Turning back around, he maintained a malicious grin as he bites down on his lower lip and as usual, draws blood from his bite.

Walking over to you, he fully extends and displays the satin sash he had in his hand, it was an eye mask, but from where?

"Wh-where did you get that?"

"Mmm......a friend.....who likes to play with toys....."

"A friend?.....Is it....."

"Shhhh.......come here....lets have some fun....."

................................................................

You're not sure how long it had been since he placed the eyewear over your lids and started to 'punish' you with his ravaging performance, yet you didn't care as long as he was finally done. The overstimulation of his dick thrusting into you at such vibrant speed, all the while he flexed and twitched inside of you as he burrowed deep into your tissue muscles, it all caused you to grow weak and sore just within minutes....let alone the hours that passed by.

Breathing deeply, trying to regain your oxygen intake, you lay still with the mask still covering your eyes. He wouldn't let you take it off during the entire session.

"Ready for some more?"

"N..no....no more....please....."

You felt his eyes shift down onto your cavity as he held your legs spread wide open, the shifting sound of his head tilting is what gave it away. Reaching down, you felt his finger probing at your womanhood, scooping up the thick and creamy substance that was caused by the constant throbbing friction of his thrust, his skin, and his muscle merging into your opening as he practically 'melted' into you.

"Lets see if we can go deeper."

"Ethan no! T-too deep! You're too deep! T-take it out! Pleaase!"

"Fuck keep talking like that and I'm going to explode."

"Ethan no more!"

"I love seeing how it looks when I do it to you.....it looks like i'm melting into you, you know that?"

"Uuuugh!"

"Yeah? You fucking like that dont you? hmm? DONT YOU?"

"N-no.....UGH!!"

"Yeeeeeeeeeeaaaah you dooooooo......come here baby, come here......i'll go harder, just for you."

"N-no! Ethan!"

"Yeah...I'll go deeper...just for you."

"Ugh!"

"I'll go faster....I'll fucking cum.....really deep inside...just for you baby."

"Ethan!!!"

The overstimulation you suffered from was immense. He must have released at last eight or nine times, though you wouldn't be surprised if it was more....considering you lost count after the sixth round.

Between tapping into Heeseung and switching back to Ethan, it felt as if each time they swapped personas, the face you were at mercy from came back fully energized and renewed.

Feeling him re-inserting, he slides right in at ease. What with the amount of moisture from your body's natural lubricant, the white discharge from all the thrusting, plus with your opening a bit loose from his constant flexing and entry, you were rendered helpless as he found himself 'home' immediately.

"Ah.....my girl is a little more open now that I broke you, huh?"

"S-stop......Heeseung....please...I-I'm.....so tired....and sore."

"Shhhhh....its okay now.....I'm here to take your mind off that."

Thrusting at a high momentum, with a ferocious vigor, your vision remained enveloped in a shroud of darkness from the satin mask as you hear Heeseung groan against your ear.

"Fuck......you like listening to what I do to you?"

After suffering for the final time, he cums once more and you remained nearly breathless, drenched in sweat and covered by the colors of his 'love'.

You hear his hand extend past and past your head, it sounded as if he reached for something, though you were too exhausted from wondering what it was. Another toy? God.....you hope not. Fearful of what he had planned next, you let yourself go and black out from the effects of tiredness and the euphoric overstimulation........

................................................

The next day.......

Waking up, your eyes opened to the naturally lit room as the morning sun was just nicely rising. Heeseung's arm caresses your waist as you lay against his chest, your backside spooned by his broad frame, as he remained deep asleep.

"Thank God...."

He too must have succumbed to the effects of exhaustion considering the number of times he ravished you. Although the effects always hit him differently than it did with you. For him, there was less pain and agony, it was just pure pleasure, unlike for you, where you got the bitter end of the stick by receiving a mixture of pain and euphoria, something that Heeseung and Ethan took great delight in giving you whenever you had broken the rules or 'misbehaved.'

Reaching up for your phone, you were shocked to see over 23 messages that came in.

"Oh no....did Hewitt...?"

Fearing the worst, you opened up the messages.....if what you had suspected was true......you had a feeling that Heeseung.....and Ethan were going to repeat their performance from last night....meaning you would get no rest....and will be sore for alot longer than just today.

The most recent message was from H/n.... the first bit of her message confirmed your worst fear....

"Oh my God.....he did.....Hewitt did share them....what am I going to do? Is Heeseung going to kill him? What is he going to do with me? What is he going to do?"

Reading on, you continued to examine the messages from H/N....it only brought you emotionally lower.

"Oh my God......why Hewitt...why?"

Unable to read on, you dropped our phone and buried your face into your hands. You felt like crying.

"How could Hewitt do this?.....How am I going to calm Heeseung down now?"

A ding comes in, signifying another message, although this time, it wasn't coming in through your phone. Heeseung's phone was resting on the nightstand beside the bed, which was odd considering the last time you remember seeing it was when he tossed it on the desk.

Picking it up, you took advantage of his sleeping status and decided to see the message that came in. His forearm still wrapped around your nude body as you leaned slightly away to grab onto the device and open it; once you had entered the passcode, your face reflected the most horrific shock as you unveil the contents of a certain message from Jake....

....................

Trembling, you read on to find the photos that H/N and Jake were referring to........were not the photos that you mistakenly sent to Hewitt.......

Suddenly, you felt Heeseung's arm that laid around your waist tighten and tug you closer to his body. You turned around slightly to find that his eyes were already open, staring at you with a sly smirk as half his face was burrowed into the pillow.

"Pretty baby...did you sleep well?"

".........wh-what....did you do???"

You stared at him with furrowed brows and wide eyes. How could he do this? This was way too far.

You nearly wanted to scream at him, although that wouldn't have worked out in your favor, yet still, you were on the brink of breaking down when suddenly his words nearly caused you burst into tears.......what could you possibly say in response?.......

"Aw baby, dont be that way, it was an accident. Dont worry, its not like they shared it with anyone else.....remember? Its....NO BIG DEAL."

Enjoyed this piece? Show love and treat your girl to a cup of coffee. ♥️

☕ Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/reinbow

#heeseung x reader #heeseung smut #heeseung hard hours #heeseung hard thoughts #enhypen hard hours #enhypen smut #enha heeseung #heeseung scenarios #enha x reader #yandere enhypen #heeseung yandere #yandere heeseung #yandere x reader #male yandere #heeseung fanfic #enha imagines #enha fanfic #enha drabbles

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jakeyt · 2 years ago

Text

Covet: Chapter 3

Pairing: Jake Kiszka x f!Reader

Covet Summary:

Life was good. No, life was great.

Was.

Until.

Jake Kiszka crashed into the picture.

You welcomed him into your life—your home.

Yes, he was your best friend’s twin. But, he was also the one who would end up disrupting your whole world with his attitude, his troubles, and the annoyingly natural way he lured you in.

Jake Kiszka came with so much you really didn’t want.

At least that’s what you tried to convince yourself.

Warnings: minors DNI (18+ ONLY); masturbation (f!receiving); vivid descriptions of sexual situations; tension; mentions of past toxic relationship/cheating; consumption of alcohol; anxiety; Jake being an asshole; veryyy stubborn reader (lemme know if I missed any!)

Chapter Word Count: 10.6k

a/n: hi sweet readers & friends! get ready for a little bit of spice in this chapter. hopefully it meets your standards. if not, there will be so much more to come. . . just you wait! lol

this chapter was supposed to include a few more scenes, but i'm saving them for next chapter. i just liked the idea of leaving off with this one where i did. ;)

also, if you care at all what the guys look like in my mind as i'm currently writing, here you go (sammy & danny are included under the chapter 3 section). :)

Chapter 3

You had to work the day after your talk with Jake.

It was a Josh-less shift, so naturally, it went by much slower than a shift where Josh’s musings would fill the air.

Normally, you’d enjoy the stillness of the store. A sweet summer morning filled with mindless thoughts and music.

Though today, your brain spun with thoughts of your roommate. Were they mindless thoughts? Yes. Obviously. They came out of seemingly nowhere. . .save for the little dream that had completely interrupted your sleep the night before.

But these mindless thoughts weren’t the normal thoughts you’d get that would bring a sense of calm. No, these brain loops were extremely unwelcome.

The first thing you did was print out all of the things you’d promised Jake you would on the store’s copier. You were hoping once that was out of your hair, maybe your mind wouldn’t stay on him. You’d thought that maybe the thoughts were just serving as a subconscious reminder to get that done.

-🌼🌼🌼-

But completing the task didn’t work like you wanted it to. Because around noon, Jake was still at the front of your mind.

Fuck. Why?! It was completely aggravating.

You didn’t really know what made him stick in your mind for the majority of your shift, but all you could seem to think of was his smooth, tanned skin, kissed by the summer sun. His long hair that swayed so smoothly with every motion. His big, amber-brown eyes that dug so much deeper than you wished they did.

For some reason, after that talk, you had etched Jake’s mannerisms into your mind. You replayed the conversation more times than you’d ever care to admit.

And you were now noticing that maybe talking with him wasn’t great for you mentally.

You’d noticed that, apparently, Jake Kiszka had a special way of making his own little ridiculous home in multiple crevices of your poor brain.

Why did he have that power?

All it did was piss. you. off.

Anytime his face appeared behind your eyes, you would suddenly get so angry.

He did not deserve any place in the thoughts that came during your quiet times.

-🌼🌼🌼-

When your shift finally ended at 3:00, Tara and Lacey (the only other people who worked at the B&G with you and Josh), walked in with joyful greetings. You gave them a quick smile as you grabbed your purse and the things you’d printed.

As soon as you stepped out onto the busy sidewalk of the city, and the summer sun hit your face, you sighed with relief. On this day, you were beyond ready to get away from the stillness of the record store. You let the normality of busy NYC breathe a sense of calmness into you.

-🌼🌼🌼-

When you got home, Jake was in the shower and you hated how quickly you felt your cheeks flush at the thought.

You realized that maybe you just needed a good nap before game night ensued, so you went to your room intending to do just that. Stevie noticed where you were going, and softly padded after you. Probably eager for her own little nap.

You hadn’t had time to make your bed that morning, so you sat on your ruffled sheets and sent Josh a text asking when he’d be there and what they wanted for dinner. Josh loved cooking with you.

Stevie came up to you as you texted, putting her head into your free hand. You petted her as she purred, and finished your text.

You were excited to distract yourself by being with your best friend. You were also dying to see Sammy and Danny. It had been way too long since the last time you had hung out with the three men. It was a soul refreshing experience every time you came together.

And now Jake was suddenly getting added to the mix. . .

You grit your teeth at the thought. Suddenly irritable over that particular fact.

It made you less than happy to make him a part of the group, to say the least.

Josh had just pinged a couple texts back saying they’d be there around 7 with booze in hand and ingredients for stir fry, when there was a light knock on your door.

You couldn’t hold back the eye roll. What could he want?

You opened the door in a brisk manner.

Of course, Jake stood waiting on the other side.

Half-naked Jake.

A towel was tied around his waist snugly. And, your eyes betrayed you. It was as though you had no self control, you let your eyes travel from his shower-drenched locks to his firm chest. Your eyes followed a single droplet of water that dripped from his hair. It traveled down his taut nipple, to his toned abdomen and finally into the fluffy fabric of the towel settled at his lower region.

You gulped.

“Um,” his voice shook you from your actions and you looked up into his eyes. Your cheeks heated at being caught. “I was just in the shower, and I thought maybe it would be a good idea to figure out how we wanna split utilities?” He cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck. “It honestly just came to me while I was in there.”

You blinked a couple times. His thoughtfulness caught you off guard.

“I–yeah, that’s fine with me,” you nodded, looking back to see Stevie already curled up on the bed waiting for a snooze. “How about we talk about it later, hm? I was kind of wanting to take a nap.”

“Oh, yeah–of course, um,” he took a step back, gesturing for you to shut your door. “Sweet dreams.”

Sweet dreams. How ironic when all he’d done was haunt yours the night before.

You shut your door with much more force than expected. You just couldn’t help it. Your roommate brought out an impulsive behavior in you that you weren’t the biggest fan of. Why did you have to ogle him? Why couldn’t you just address him normally? Why did he have to—? Ugh.

You let out a breath you didn’t realize you were holding and flopped down onto your bed.

-🌼🌼🌼-

You awoke from a (thankfully) dreamless sleep to the sound of John Lennon’s voice. Your “Dear Prudence” alarm tone, a faithful friend to bring you back.

You were feeling ready to face a night with your friends–and Jake. You assured yourself of this as you brushed through your hair a couple of times in the dresser mirror. The fact that his face or body hadn’t met you in your dreams was what you needed to feel confident and ready for this night.

Last night’s dream was a total fluke. Surely it had only happened because his interaction with you had jostled your irritation and nerves . . . your subconscious mind had been unstable because of it.

All you’d needed was some good rest to reset.

-🌼🌼🌼-

You weren’t disappointed at all that you didn’t see Jake until Josh’s voice quite literally reverberated throughout the entire apartment. It was a normal way for him to enter a room and announce his presence.

The curly-headed twin came in with a flourish of his arms and hands, standing in place with purpose. He was gesturing wildly with his hands, operatically singing what you knew to be an Aretha Franklin song, at the top of his lungs.

You felt for your neighbors, but you couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear at your friend.

But when Josh saw Stevie, he got distracted and loudly sang her name. He knelt down to start petting at her right away. He talked to her with so much enthusiasm, and you watched her eat it up. Her tail curled in glee.

You absolutely beamed when Sammy ran up to you, wrapping his arms around you tightly in a bear hug. He swayed you slightly from side to side, and your feet lifted a bit off the ground at the gesture.

When he set you back down on the ground, he pushed his hair back from his face with both hands. His smile was wide across his face, instantly lighting up the room around you all.

“Y/N,” he cocked his hip and spoke with little waves of his hands. “First of all, I missed you. So much.”

“Not more than me!” And you felt Danny’s arms wrap around you from behind, bringing your feet several inches off the ground. You felt him squeeze you once, and then he balanced you on your feet. His hands gripped at your shoulders slightly. He came around to stand next to Sammy, in front of you. “How’ve you been, Y/N?!”

Josh circled around, laying a lazy arm over your shoulders. You felt every bit of the usual contentment the three men brought with being around them. You felt your heart swell in your chest.

“If you’ll excuse us, I’ve missed her most,” Josh turned you both around, walking with purpose to the kitchen. He gave you the big bear hug you were sure he knew you needed. When you pulled apart, his hand patted a case of your favorite alcohol.

You gasped ridiculously. “Angry Orchard,” you placed a hand to your chest. “Joshua, you shouldn’t have.”

You heard the other boys talking with Jake in the living room and suddenly, the sound of a crackling vinyl sparked to life. You listened briefly, wanting to get a clue at what Jake had picked to play. You gave an approving face, nodding to the melody.

Cream. Wheels of Fire. You knew it well. After all, Clapton was a favorite in your own family.

Josh sighed. He had a smirk on his lips. “Cream. Figures,” then he paused, giving you an inquisitive look. “You’re letting him play his vinyl on your player? You’re awfully protective when it comes to that thing.”

You felt your stomach do a little loop. Your sentimental attachment to the record player hadn’t ever entered your mind at offering for Jake to use it. It was one of the only pieces you had of the parents who’d left you. But when you’d come up with the idea, all you had cared about was getting to know your roommate.

You’d been desperate, okay? That’s the only reason you hadn’t thought of it all the way through.

“It’s just a way to get to know each other,” you explained. “A last ditch effort that I knew he couldn’t refuse.”

Josh’s eyes held a glint of mischief. You didn’t even entertain whatever he was thinking. You just went about getting out the Zip-loced ingredients Josh had brought in his little tote. You knew Sam well enough to know he’d taken it upon himself to cut the veggies and cube his tofu for you. All that wasn’t prepared yet was the raw, packaged chicken.

You grinned to yourself.

“Sam wouldn’t touch the chicken,” Josh noted, getting the necessary pans down. “Got everything else diced up, though. Even the sponge.”

You laughed outright at that. “The tofu?” You looked at your friend from the corner of your eye.

His brown orbs flicked to you. “Sponge.”

You laughed again, spreading some olive oil in the pan Josh had put on the burner to heat up. You went about getting out the necessary sauces and minced garlic from the fridge. And as you did, you heard a husky, unfamiliar laugh within Danny and Sam’s own guffawing. Your stomach held a few butterflies at the sound.

Could it be? You shook your head. It didn’t matter.

Josh was searing the vegetables and tofu with a bamboo spoon when you walked back with the additional supplies. You grabbed the cutting board from behind the faucet, and got out a paring knife to start chunking up the chicken.

“I love being able to hear him laugh again,” Josh commented absentmindedly. You could hear tears in the back of his throat. “It’s quite literally music to my ears.”

“I’m glad for you, Josh.”

Your friend cleared his throat, and you caught his eye as he glanced over at you. “How’s he been?”

You thought for a second, deciding to keep it brief (obviously ignoring how you hadn’t been able to get Jake out of your head all day), “It’s been alright.”

He hummed, “Just alright?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay,” you thought he was done. He didn’t speak for a few minutes until, “How did he respond to the rules and such? Did you go through with that?”

You really didn’t want to taint your time with Josh by talking about Jake. You decided to give a short response to give Josh a hint, “Last night. Went well enough,” you continued. “He obviously checked the things I printed off. Tonight’s his record player night, and he’s playing his vinyl on it.”

“His record player night?”

“Yes. He gets a night, I get a night, and so on,” your tone was slightly snippy. You just didn’t want to waste time on the topic. “It’s to help us get to know the other through our music taste.”

He patted a hand on your shoulder, “How did you possibly think of a way to get Jacob to open up so well, Y/N?”

You scoffed. “Desperate times, Josh. I told you that. Besides, it’s what I always use to bond with people. It was a shot in the dark. Wasn’t specifically for him. It was so I could actually get to know him in some sort of way. It was for me, not him.”

He gave a small hum and turned back to continue cooking. Thank God. You didn’t want to talk about Jake.

You both went about your business for a little. After you’d set the chicken in another oil-greased pan, it sizzled, so you turned down the heat. Then, a thought came to your mind.

“You know, I think I’ve finally decided on the house plant I want.”

The two of you had ventured into a shared curiosity of house plants for the last year.

And you had spent about that long trying to decide on plants for your homes.

It was a difficult decision, because certain plants brought their own energy. And trying to narrow down the house plant that would start the collection and bring your specific desired energies into your living spaces? It had turned out to be a harder task than you’d both anticipated. You both struggled to stay on one thought for long enough to actually see it through, and you were both the type to not act on something until it felt totally ‘right.’

“Oh?” You’d piqued his interest. He nudged around at the vegetables and tofu in his pan a bit, then turned the heat down to face you. He raised a brow, crossing his arms at his chest. “Do tell.”

“French Lavender,” you started. He motioned a hand for you to keep going, looking down, his eyebrows completely knitted in thought. “It just smells so good, it’s a beautiful color. It will survive in any indoor climate. How cool is that? And it has the highest vibrational frequency of any plant that’s known to bring good fortune. All of these things and more make it a sure sign of good to come, you know?”

By the end of your rambling, he was staring intently at you, “You are truly the best kind of human, Y/N.”

And, of course, his voice interrupted your pleasant moment with your friend.

“We’re trying to decide on games, Josh.”

Jake. How long had he been standing in the doorway without you two noticing? Jerk. Eavesdropper.

“I’m helping Y/N with the stirfry, Jacob,” he turned back to his post, shuffling the veggies. He noticed at the same time as you that they were officially done. So, he really wasn’t helping you anymore. Which freed him up to–, “It’s actually done, so I’m going to help them find something fun to play. That okay?”

You were proud of how you schooled your expression. You gave a (fake) little grin. “Yeah, that’s perfect,” you poked at the chicken, turning a few pieces to see it browning well. “The chicken is almost done.”

Josh gave you a quick smile before following after his brother into the living room.

You sneered over the chicken you cooked, displeased with how Jake was now stealing away your time with Josh.

Was he just incapable of allowing you one moment of peace?

-🌼🌼🌼-

It had been about an hour since you’d all sat around the dinner table with stir fry. It had been accompanied by hilarious stories of Sammy’s recent (failed) Tinder match dates, and Danny commentating, totally ashamed of his friend’s ‘love life’. He and Sam had the perfect dynamic for friendship. One being the insane risk-taker. And the other, the completely rational mind in every situation.

Now, you all sat around your coffee table. You sat on the couch, flanked by Sam and Josh. Danny and Jake had brought a couple of your dining room chairs up, so they could be involved.

Josh had decided on a favorite of his: You Laugh, You Drink. And you were spinning an empty Angry Orchard bottle for any card that made you interact with someone else.

Thankfully, neither you nor Jake had gotten a card that required a partner yet. You were very tipsy. You’d cracked and laughed way too many times during the game to still be sober.

You weren’t sure how this inebriated version of you would react to Jake having to yell at your crotch, if you were being completely honest.

Josh and Danny had already played that card anyway.

Admittedly, under the influence of alcohol, you caught yourself casting a few too many looks in Jake’s direction. But you couldn’t help yourself. You were a warm-blooded woman who was attracted to men.

And he was a damn good looking man. You knew addressing this fact under the influence was an “ok” thing to do. You were drunk. You had alcohol in your system, so you weren’t thinking clearly.

But you had to admit, even sober-you knew he was sexy as hell.

In this state, you noticed that everything he did was enamoring. The way he’d brush a hand through the front of his hair, making it wave perfectly at the top of his head. The way his Adam’s apple bobbed when he laughed. Why was the sight so alluring to you?

But the best part of his face? His smile. You had noticed tonight that he had perfectly straight and perfectly white teeth that you hadn’t really been able to observe until this point. His smile was absolutely beautiful. It lit up his entire face. The bigger he smiled, the more the apples in his cheeks swelled. You wished that you saw your roommate more. It was pure serotonin when his face was all joyful and shit.

And you’d never say it out loud, but being around him made you feel (strangely) giddy. Like, school-girl-has-a-crush giddy.

Maybe Josh had been onto something when he’d suggested the idea of you being able to see what Jake was like around others. Jake was a captivating individual, to say the least.

You took another swig of your cider.

When you put your head back down, it was your turn.

And when you looked to see where Jake was, you noticed he was up at the record player. He was switching Wheels of Fire back to Side A. The entire double LP had officially played through once. And instead of putting a new record on, he just replayed the same one. You assumed the record was a favorite.

“You like Wheels of Fire a lot, huh?” you inquired in his direction.

He didn’t look at you as he placed the needle back on Side A, “It’s one of the best; a classic.”

“Yes, he’s always liked that one,” Josh agreed. “Has a few of his favorites on it.”

Jake actually respected his brother enough to look at Josh when he responded to him, “Nothing like hearing the live version of Crossroads on vinyl.”

“Clapton fan?” You implored.

He rolled his eyes and gave you a look with raised brows that said ‘really?’.

It irked you. Considering you were only trying to make polite conversation. Why was he so impossible?

“It’s Cream – not specifically Clapton,” he corrected impatiently. “You literally just said it was Wheels of Fire. You know it’s not just him, right? There were two other extremely valuable members. Ginger Baker? Jack Bruce? Ever heard of ‘em?”

His questioning tone wasn’t a kind one. You could tell he was mocking your musical knowledge; all it did was piss you the fuck off.

You were about to retort when Sam chimed in, “Jake is the biggest Clapton fan on this beautiful green Earth,” he looked over to Jake, who you noticed was still staring at you, obviously annoyed by you. Ass. “Don’t let him fool you, Y/N.”

You stared back at Jake until your face was completely heated. Your skin was crawling. “Why do you have to make it a fucking argument? I’m just being nice.”

He scoffed. He walked back to his seat next to Daniel, and sat down with his elbows resting on his thighs, challenging you. “I wasn’t arguing. I was educating you.”

“I don’t need to be educated by you.”

“It seems like you do,” he pressed further. “I wouldn’t be surprised if all you’d known about Cream until tonight was that Eric Clapton was in the band. Basic knowledge.”

“Jake. . .,” Danny started.

“She knows more than you think, brother,” Josh intervened. “Might even challenge you a bit, honestly.”

Jake scoffed. “Oh, I fuckin’ bet,” he rolled his eyes again with the words.

There were a few moments of tight air between you and your roommate. Even with the others’ responses, he continued staring only at you. Probably continuing to assume what he wanted about you. You were tired of it, but you couldn’t pull your eyes from him. His eyes were like magnets for your own.

And you needed to win the staring contest that was apparently happening now. You wouldn’t give in.

“Let’s move on,” Josh’s voice cut through. You couldn’t help it when you looked over to him. Your heart was racing and all you wanted was to feel a sense of peace. And Josh’s intervention made it obvious that he was also eager for peace. “Y/N. . .choose a card,” Josh motioned to the stack of cards as a magician might.

You grabbed a card from the stack.

Your mind nearly blanked at what it said.

“The prompt reads. . .,” Josh verbally nudged you to read your card. “Will you laugh when someone in the group. . .”

You cleared your throat, “Touches parts of the Target’s body while whispering what each body part is.”

Sam chuckled. “This could be hilarious.”

You swallowed deeply. You could only hope that the bottle would choose your ‘someone’ wisely.

Your hand hesitantly reached towards the bottle, and gave it a decent spin.

“Who shall your Target be?” Josh said as the bottle spun.

You kept your eyes trained on Danny and Jake’s knees, both clad in black skinny jeans.

The bottle went a few times around the table. When it started slowing down, your stomach dropped.

It went a couple ticks more. And then slowly, very slowly. . . It landed on. . .

Jake.

Of fucking course.

Your ears filled with white noise. You just stared at the bottle, not wanting to acknowledge the realness of the situation. You thought you heard a single ‘ha!’ and you could have sworn it was Sam.

“Fuck you, Sam,” Jake corrected, confirming your theory.

You looked up at him and affirmed your fate.

Jake was already staring directly at you. But his eyes weren’t angry. He was looking at you in a way you couldn’t quite pinpoint at that moment.

“Anyone laughs, just once. . . I get to stop?” You turned your head in Josh’s direction to ask, while you still held eye contact with the alluring man in front of you.

“All it takes is one laugh and the next Joker is up,” Josh answered.

“And I have to touch his body?”

Josh hummed. “Technically, you should only be touching his body, but,” he paused. “Start by touching clothes if it makes you feel more comfortable.”

You decided to bite the bullet. You could start by putting on a little show to get some laughs. Stop it before it even starts.

You rose from your place between Josh and Sam. You even curved your back as you did so, your ass poking out with the motion. You kept your eyes locked with Jake’s. His jaw clenched. He definitely wouldn’t be the one to laugh.

Your legs were slightly shaky, but you felt like your little act covered that up. You walked towards Jake, around the small coffee table. And the closer you got, the more you swayed your hips. You licked your bottom lip the slightest bit.

Jake’s mouth dropped open, his eyes moved to your hips.

His reaction was surprising, but welcomed. You wanted him to be at your mercy. He needed to be put in his place. Normally you wouldn’t use sex to get your way. . . But you’d had alcohol and it was making decisions.

And you honestly couldn’t help how your body seemed to activate like this for Jake. It felt natural.

But no laughs from anyone yet. Dammit.

As soon as you were in front of him, you sort of froze. You didn��t know what to do next. You let the alcohol make the first move for you.

“Get up,” you commanded.

And surprisingly, he did just as you asked.

You moved a few steps closer to be right in front of him, your chest getting so close to touching his. You kept enough room for your arm to move between the two of you. The space between his pecs, all the way down to the top of his stomach, was uncovered, thanks to the man not knowing how to button a damned shirt.

You let your hand graze from the shoulder of his shirt, all the way down to the first button that was fastened. Your eyes followed the movement of your hand. You rubbed your thumb over the button, playing with the plastic.

“You always have to show off your chest, huh?” You said softly to him, trying to act annoyed. But in reality, you rather liked that he didn’t button his shirts all the way. You were sure that all women who saw him like this were thankful for it. What a sight.

Jake only gave a ‘hmph’ in response.

With the next action, you looked up at him, through your lashes. He was already looking at you. His pupils were completely dilated. You had moved a finger to be on the fabric of the shirt, nudging the button through its loop.

When it came undone, his eyes blinked once in shock, widening a bit. But, the rest of his face stayed stoic.

Level 2, you thought.

You then slipped one hand in the open area of the shirt, under the flowered material. You placed your hand on the side of Jake’s abdomen. His skin was warm. It made your own skin prickle at the feeling. It was nice.

You brushed your thumb over the heated skin. It felt so thrilling. You stepped closer to him, still holding eye contact.

“Stomach,” you whispered to him.

He closed his eyes for a second, and when they opened back up, they were dark and hooded. Your skin heated under his sultry stare.

You turned your eyes back to your hand. This time, you smoothed over the skin of his stomach on the way to his right pec, brushing over the hardened nipple on his breast. You flushed at the feeling of it pebbled under your hand.

You edged your body closer. When you did, you got close enough that your hips almost touched his. Your heart skipped a beat when you felt a little hint of hardness through the fabric of his pants.

It made your body thrum. It urged you on.

You held your hand there and gripped the flesh just slightly. He let out the slightest moan. You just knew the other guys hadn’t heard it, it had been so quiet. But you heard it and the sound went straight to the pit of your stomach.

“Chest,” you whispered, getting awfully close to his ear when you said it, wanting only him to hear the next part. “You have a very nice chest.”

You didn’t know where the courage came from to say the last part, but you felt Jake flex underneath your hand. You felt a twitch between your thighs.

You decided to creep your hand from his chest to his neck. The smooth, tanned skin of his neck. You skated your nails against his skin. You sighed just a bit, your breath hitting Jake’s skin. You weren’t sure where the sound came from, but after it happened, you watched goosebumps spread over his skin.

When you made it to his neck, you wrapped a hand securely around the nape. You stroked circles with your thumb over the pulse point that was nearby. His Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat as your thumb worked his neck.

You brought the other hand up to join and you lightly cradled his neck. Involuntarily, he let his head lay back into your hands, his hair falling against your wrist. The feeling sent a chill over your body.

“Neck.”

From their spot, you moved your hands the slightest bit to hold his face in both of your hands. It felt so intimate, you almost forgot where you were. He locked eyes with you when you looked up at him. And you could have sworn you felt his hand brush the curve of your hip.

“Fa—.”

Then, Josh started laughing. It made you jump the slightest bit.

It was a fake laugh out of him. You knew the real sound like the back of your hand. You knew him well enough to know he was trying to save you from this situation. He still thought you didn’t want it, that it was making you uneasy.

It was making you feel uneasy. But you weren’t sure if it was still true that you didn’t want it.

You moved away from Jake hesitantly after the laugh had rung through the air. And he seemed to blink himself back into real time after you stepped back.

But he still looked at you in a way that was new. . . His eyes were questioning you, almost like he was so curious to know more about what you were (apparently) hiding.

Though, you weren’t even sure what it was you were keeping hidden, so you broke eye contact sharply and walked back to your spot between Josh and Sam. You gave Josh a look of relief to try to convince yourself that relief was the emotion you were feeling.

But you were completely confused by yourself. It must’ve been the alcohol controlling you and clouding your thoughts. It had to have been.

Josh rubbed your back, and gave you a little smile of comfort.

You hoped to God you wouldn’t have to partner with Jake again because you weren’t sure what would happen next time.

-🌼🌼🌼-

Around 11:30, when the guys were gathered around the door waiting to leave, Josh asked his brother something.

“So, Jacob, any news on the job front? I meant to ask you earlier.”

Jake’s head perked up, his shoulder was leaning against the door frame.

“Oh, I got the job, actually,” he said with a smile, crossing his arms over his chest. “I guess my audition was so good that I’ll be teaching some of the more prestigious clients. Only the most impressive auditions get a chance to give lessons to the ‘high end’ clientele.”

Your ears tuned in. You were very curious. You hadn’t known he was actively looking for jobs. And what kind of job would have clients? And he’d auditioned? What could it be?

“I mean, other than that being societal garbage,” Sam started, interrupting your thoughts. “That’s pretty fucking sweet.”

Danny and Josh agreed, seeming very happy for their brother.

Why had you known nothing of any of this? You were pretty agitated. You were the one who had offered him a place. You were probably the only person who needed to know considering he needed to help you pay rent and shit.

He had been the one to bring up utilities, after all. Maybe that’s why he had thought of it today. Because he’d gotten a job.

“You're going to be doing something that you love, Jake,” Danny added with a grin. “I’m so happy for you.”

Josh made a noise, so you looked at him. You saw one single tear leave his eye that he quickly brushed away. He sniffed, then inquired. “Will you teach children? Or adults?”

Teach? you thought. And why was Josh so emotional over it?

“Both,” Jake replied.

Sam went to Jake and patted his shoulder a couple times, then clasped the material of Jake’s shirt in his hands. “Those people are going to be in awe of your skill, Jake — especially the kids.”

Kids?

“What sort of job is this going to be exactly?” You wondered aloud.

Jake only stared at you, seeming to remember that you were there at all. Josh answered for him, “Jake is going to teach people how to play the guitar.”

Your eyes widened. “You play?”

Sam gawked at that. “You’re Jake’s roommate and you didn’t know that he plays the guitar?”

“I had no clue,” you affirmed. “I mean, I knew he had guitars, but—,” you shook your head. “When–how long have you played?”

Again, no answer from him, so Danny replied in his place. “Since he was like, little. . .toddler age,” he continued. “It’s his favorite thing in the world to do, play guitar.”

The other two friends agreed with the statement.

“You really didn’t know how much he loved to play?” Sam still seemed completely shocked.

You shook your head again in response.

You were surprised at it. You knew he’d brought the guitars with him. You could never forget when you tried to help unload them and he’d completely snapped at you for it. It definitely made more sense now. He was probably extremely protective over them if he’d played for so long.

But, why had you never heard or seen him play? If he was so passionate about it, surely he’d play more. But maybe he didn’t find you worthy of knowing this talent of his. That honestly seemed most likely.

You’d initially thought that maybe it was something he just did for fun. A little hobby. Apparently it was much more than that.

“I’m curious how it will go,” Jake finally spoke again. “I’ve never done something like this. It’ll be interesting.”

Sam moved back to his spot next to Josh. “You will totally stun those kids, Jake,” he brushed a hand through his hair. “And the adults! I mean, they will not know what to do with a living legend.”

Living legend?

You stepped forward, irritation clear in your tone when you spoke. “How come I’ve never heard you play?”

“I do it when you’re not at home,” Jake responded coolly.

“Why?” you challenged. And at the same time, Sam also asked ‘why?’.

All he did was shrug at you, and looked back to Sam, who was already speaking again.

“Jake, you’ll be such an inspiration to those little kids. Someone they’ll want to be when they grow up for sure,” Sam’s voice softened. “Just how I always looked at you.”

“Thanks, Sammy boy,” Jake blushed, a small grin forming on his face.

-🌼🌼🌼-

After the boys left, you went about putting the leftover stir fry in Tupperware while Jake busied himself in the living room putting games away.

You were steadily getting hit by waves of tiredness thanks to your many ciders.

You had put the stir fry in the fridge, and were now moving onto putting any spare alcohol in a little group on the counter. Just as you’d arranged all of the beverages, you saw Jake enter the kitchen out of the corner of your eye. Your stomach got swirly in his presence and you just wanted to go to sleep.

You kept doing what you had been doing before he’d come in and when you finished, you went to leave.

But a hand with calloused fingertips gripped your forearm to stop you right as you got to the doorway.

You hated how your tummy flipped at the feeling of his overworked fingertips that moved up your bare arm to lightly grip your bicep.

You didn’t turn to him completely. You just shifted your head to the side, to show you were aware of his action. You felt the heat of his body come up behind you, and tried to hide the shiver it brought over you. He wasn’t touching you, but he was so close.

“Thanks for letting me stay here while I get back on my feet,” he offered, surprisingly kindly. “I appreciate it.”

Your cheeks flushed. You couldn’t help it. This was completely unexpected. “You’re welcome,” you offered quietly in response.

He didn’t move. Your breath was stuck in your throat at the proximity of him to you.

So, you decided to be the one to create a distance between you two. You didn’t want to push any more limits tonight. And you didn’t want to give him too much of your time.

You were just so tired. You were ready for bed.

You left him in the kitchen. And for some reason, you felt just a little bad for it.

— 🌼🌼🌼 —

Middle of June

After game night with the guys, things had gone back to normal. You didn’t steal glances his way, not wanting to somehow chance catching his eye.

You decided to move on from it as though it hadn’t happened. Blame it all on the alcohol.

Except—you remembered every detail. The feeling of him touching you, you touching him

. . . The way it felt to hold eyes with him, almost as though you were both waiting for more.

But you pushed it down.

And Jake must have forgotten or pushed it all to the side as well.

Because, there was absolutely zero movement on his end to make conversation or change the way of things.

-🌼🌼🌼-

For the first part of June, Jake was hardly home.

Since you really didn’t see him, it was easier to pretend he didn’t exist in your space and ignore him. You were glad to have the apartment to yourself.

You didn’t want him in your space.

You couldn’t help that you were a little curious as to where he was spending all of his time, though.

Almost every night, he was gone. And during the day, he would be gone to work, and you’d leave to work closing at the B&G before he got home. You would go to sleep without seeing him all day. You hardly bumped into him.

On the days you were there to witness it, he would come home from work for a total of about 15 minutes (sometimes less), and then leave with both of his beat-up guitar cases in tow.

It was odd, but you figured it probably had to do with his new job.

You really didn’t miss having him around at all.

-🌼🌼🌼-

But somehow, Jake still found a way to make his presence known.

About halfway through June, you started receiving random sticky notes from him. Reminder stickies, if you will.

The first was a surprise to you. It shouldn’t have been. He was naturally an asshole, after all.

You’d found it next to a used coffee cup of yours that was sitting in the sink.

No dirty dishes. It’s a rule. -Jake

You’d huffed and crumpled it into a ball before trashing it.

Then, you washed the cup. You wouldn’t be bested by him.

-🌼🌼🌼-

The second note rested atop a jar of applesauce you’d purchased for yourself. You saw it when you went to get a can of Coke Zero out of the fridge.

You slapped your forehead when you realized you hadn’t labeled it before you put it in the fridge.

You had a good idea of what his note would say.

Probably a good idea to label our groceries. God forbid we mix anything up. -Jake

You labeled the applesauce and then took that note, and ripped it in half.

-🌼🌼🌼-

The third was left on the bathroom door, right above a bra you’d stupidly left hanging there.

You were assuming it had been after a longer shift you’d come home from when you took it off. You hadn’t even thought of it at the time.

Probably best to not keep our undergarments laying around. New rule? -Jake

That sticky pissed you off the most. (And, no, it wasn’t because of any embarrassment you were feeling—he just made you that angry).

How did he have the right? You were fuming.

In your fury, you’d grasped the piece of clothing so quickly and roughly that it had ripped. And it had been an expensive bra, too.

Thanks for that, Jake, you’d thought.

Thankfully, he hadn’t been home. So, when you made a noise that went from growl to piercing scream, he hadn’t gotten the chance to revel in your frustration.

You were so close to your limit with him.

-🌼🌼🌼-

You were ready to be around your family when the time came towards the middle of June. It was your grandma’s birthday, and Elsie would be in town to celebrate.

You needed to see your sister. Fill her in on your ridiculous roommate and get her wise advice.

You were putting a couple of records you’d bought for your grandmother in a gift bag when you heard him humming on his way out behind you.

You didn’t know what came over you or why you cared to ask, but you turned to him. It was perfect timing, you caught him just as his hand was on the handle to leave.

“Where do you keep going?” You narrowed your eyes at him.

He turned from facing the door to face you directly.

Then, he leveled you with a look over the tops of his sunglasses. He shook his head and let out a sigh as if totally put out, and set his cases down on either side of him. He tucked a hand into one pocket and used the other to push his shades into his hair. You tried not to watch all of this too closely; starting with the way his glasses pushed his locks back just right.

But you couldn’t help yourself. Every action seemed to be measured out flawlessly. And, you’d learned that he looked good doing anything.

You hated how attractive he was—how easy he was to watch.

Once you could fully see his eyes, you realized that he was giving you a look similar to the one you were serving him. “Why do you have to know?”

“We have roommate things to discuss, and there’s never time to do it because you’re always gone,” you were making shit up on the spot.

“‘Roommate stuff’?” He raised a brow at you.

“Yeah,” you were spitballing. “Like bills and stuff.”

He rolled his eyes. “I leave my money for the payments on the counter,” he retorted, pointing to something behind you. When you looked to where he was pointing, you saw a fresh envelope sitting on the bar behind you. You didn’t let it phase you. You could have slapped yourself for not noticing it was there before now.

It made you look irresponsible. . .and you hated looking irresponsible.

A smirk grew on his face at your lack of reply; like he knew something you didn’t. “You miss having me around? Hm?”

You tried to keep your cool, but you felt your face heat. You didn’t miss him. You didn’t know why you were having this reaction. You snorted to hide it. “I could care less about you being here,” you argued. “In fact, it’s kind of nice to have you gone. I get to pretend I still live alone.”

You heard a horn honk down below, and it was unmistakably Josh’s squeaky, tired one.

“Why is Josh here?” You wondered aloud.

Jake eyed you for a second, then responded, “He’s picking me up.”

“To go where?” Then you had a lightbulb brighten above your head. “Have you been with him all these nights?”

“And it’s your business how?”

It really wasn’t your business; he was right. He could do what he wanted. There was no valid reason why you needed to know what he was doing in his own spare time. You didn’t know why you were so curious. It didn’t matter.

You refused to show that he’d smarted you. Your chest was tight with whatever emotion it was you were feeling. “Whatever. I don’t care. I was just wondering,” you turned your back as your sign that you were done talking to him. “Tell him I said hi.”

He made a noise that sounded like ‘mhm,’ and then you heard the door open and close for him.

Your shoulders loosened once he was gone, and you released a sigh. You lifted a hand to feel your cheeks. And to your dismay, they were still hot.

Absolutely ridiculous.

-🌼🌼🌼-

In a quaint little town just outside Brooklyn, your grandparents’ house sat, never changing. It was stuck in time; it still looked and smelled the same as it had when you and Elsie initially came to live with them 12 years ago. The maroon walls and fruit-filled wallpaper border, the same as always.

You stood with Elsie in the kitchen. You were each cooking your own part of your Grandma’s favorite: Tortellini Carbonara. You worked on the pasta and vegetables while Elsie worked on the sauce.

“Els, it’s terrible,” you said as you stirred the pasta steadily. “He makes me absolutely insane.”

Elsie set her sauce to simmer, and stepped to the side to work on the dump cake that would wind up being the birthday cake.

“What’s so bad about him?” she questioned.

“Where do I begin?” You chuckled sarcastically. “He’s just an asshole. Ever since his first time stepping foot into the apartment, he’s treated me like I’m scum.”

“Scum? Y/N, do you think you’re being a little

. . .dramatic?” She gave you a look that almost put you in your place, but then Jake’s face came to your mind and you were heated all over again.

“No! He has only been rude to me,” you huffed. And while that wasn’t completely true, you needed to make a point.

Elsie scooted in front of you, and you made enough room in front of the oven for her to put the dump cake in. She then set the timer on the microwave and stepped away to check her work phone. She really only glanced at it, and then looked back at you.

“You wouldn’t believe he’s Josh Kiszka, Actual-Sunshine-In-Human-Form’s, brother,” you carried the tortellini to an oven mitt that was laying out while you searched for a strainer. “They’re twins, even. . .Josh calls him the moon to his sun. But I think he’s more like the moon that comes during a solar eclipse that makes the whole world fucking dark and dreary.”

Elsie giggled at that, “Wow. . . Sounds depressing.”

“It is, Elsie!” You clanged around a bit longer, making more noise than you probably needed to. But Elsie refusing to understand was firing you up. Finally, “Ugh, found it.”

You went about straining the pasta’s water while Elsie checked on your vegetables.

She spoke from the stove across the kitchen. “Like you said, he’s Josh’s twin brother,” her voice sounded dreamy when she said Josh’s name. Elsie had it just as bad for Josh as he did for her. She just refused to admit it. You didn’t know why she was so stubborn. “There has to be some good in him. Why did he move to live with you anyway? I haven’t gotten the full scoop.”

You mixed some olive oil in with your noodles and then moved to check on Elsie’s cake.

“Messy breakup with his girlfriend,” you felt remorse for being so cold about him when you remembered all of the details Josh had told you. You couldn’t help it when your heart dropped a bit. “She cheated on him, even though he was selfless enough to follow her, leave his brothers, and give up anything he may have wanted in life.”

She gasped, “Are you kidding me? She’s the terrible one,” she took your vegetables off the heat and carried them to the pasta while you grabbed the sauce to follow her to the pan on the mitt. “He’s just hurting. Any way he’s acting now is just a reaction to the trauma of that breakup.”

“Trauma?”

She bugged her eyes. “Y/N, you know first hand that trauma comes in many, many forms,” she leveled you with a look, reaching forward to squeeze your shoulder. “Give him some grace.”

You sighed and relented a little. “I have seen a few positive things come out in him recently.”

“Like what?” She grinned, like she knew a secret. You ignored that.

“He’s actually been pretty good about following our apartment rules—even taking it upon himself to remind me of a few. . .y’know, for shits and giggles,” you scrunched up your face to show your annoyance at that. Elsie squeaked a laugh. “Josh had mentioned he’s not really one for ‘being okay’ with rules set before him, and he honestly accepted the ones I made pretty well.”

“That you made?” She gave you a look. “Did he get to add any of his own?”

“He didn’t want to,” you shook your head.

She blew out a breath. “Wow. Any man I’ve ever dated has never respected any rules I’ve set.”

You blanched at the comparison to her past flings. “First of all, Elsie, we are not dating.”

She rolled her eyes and continued as if you hadn’t interrupted. “The ones I get with only ever act like I’m always wrong and they’re in the right. And that’s toxic. If he isn’t like that. . .I think you’ve got a good one.”

“I don’t have a ‘good’ anything. It’s not a relationship,” you corrected. Why was she being so dense? And why was your stomach fluttering at the term ‘relationship’? Absurdity. “He’s my roommate. But I guess you’ve got a point with the other stuff,” you agreed. “He’s really just been pushing me away. Jerk? Yes. But he hasn’t been straight up disrespectful— save for the first night. You can ask Josh yourself.”

“He’s never given me his number,” she looked down to her purple painted toenails momentarily, then looked back up. “Or else I would.”

You weren’t sure how to respond to that. You didn’t want to expose his massive crush on accident by saying something out of turn. So, instead, you decided you needed to call your grandparents in from their gardening outside. The food was going to get cold if you didn’t act too soon.

Besides, you were getting uncomfortable thinking of how Jake truly wasn’t as impossible as you’d mentally made him out to be. You’d never slowed down and given yourself time to think of his past. You just jumped to every negative conclusion possible.

And why had you conveniently left out anything about game night when talking with Elsie?

You looked at the timer on the microwave and saw that it said the cake had about 30 minutes left.

You motioned a thumb at the window that looked out onto the flower bed your grandparents were tending to. “Let’s go tell them dinner’s ready.”

-🌼🌼🌼-

Dinner had been filled with talk of your schooling and Elsie’s career as a traveling journalist.

And as you left, all three of your family members encouraged you to keep writing. At dinner, you’d divulged your lack of doing so this summer.

You didn’t know why, but your writing hadn’t been a priority lately. You’d been consumed with making sure the record store was up to par.

All things music had been at the front of your mind.

Music had been your first passion, after all. Your first core memory was of hearing a Stevie Wonder song. You couldn’t remember which one—only the groove that could only be classified as a Wonder tune. Hence the sentimentality of your cat’s name.

Though, you’d never felt the courage to pursue music as your career. You always felt like it was more of just a silly desire that would be pushed to the side as a ludicrous idea. Your grandpa had always been an avid lover of it as well, but he’d advised to not pursue it as a career, and to find a more sensible path in life.

So, you had ended up pursuing journalism—just like Elsie. And to be fair, when you’d chosen your major, you’d wanted to do everything she did. But now, (ironically) being almost done with your degree, you were realizing that journalism wasn’t everything you’d cracked it up to be.

It was fun, but you didn’t live and breathe it the way you did the nostalgic melodies of music. But your grandpa’s words were always in the back of your mind.

So, when you got home, you went about getting a notebook out and turned up your favorite 1970s-themed playlist to inspire your written words.

-🌼🌼🌼-

“Will you please give me some kind of clue?”

You followed Josh to the door of the store. You were coming in to close the B&G; he’d opened that day.

And just like in his brother, you’d become more of a passerby in Josh’s life these days.

The more you’d thought of it, you realized that you had been working a lot of closing shifts. Josh had started a pattern of opening most days since the first part of June. And he was always in a rush to leave when you came in to cover close. He usually only gave you a quick hug with barely any words.

Ever since you’d found out he was the one picking Jake up from your apartment that night, you’d started clicking pieces together. They had both been consistent with being these fleeting forces. Present one minute, gone the next—seeming to always be on a mission.

The situations were too similar to not suspect something was amuck.

You were fed up with feeling excluded from something happening in his life. You needed to know what it was.

So, you'd been trying to get information out of Josh. . .but he wouldn’t give it up.

“Y/N, you’ll know soon enough,” he gave a reassuring smile. You sighed in the most theatrical way, which only made his smile grow. “It’s too soon to tell anything.”

“Not even your best friend?” You gave him the biggest puppy dog eyes you could.

And still, “Not yet, Y/N,” he winked. “Just wait,” his soft hand lightly kneaded your shoulder. “I’ve gotta go.”

You watched him leave.

As soon as he was out of eyesight, you stomped to the ‘Featured’ wall and changed it to spite him. You were beyond frustrated with the secrecy.

-🌼🌼🌼-

One night, you forced yourself to write again.

When you’d gotten home and Jake was (of course) gone, you took that as an initiative to turn up the music a little louder than normal.

You ended up getting consumed in writing this made up story based upon The Beatles’ ‘Mother Nature’s Son.’

In the story, the main character was a mysterious man with long hair that had let the world guide him in his ventures. The world had opened up these opportunities that were so perfectly aligned to the man’s desires. Mother Nature was his guide on his journey, letting him release himself to the power of a true destiny. The intense power that only she could—.

A harsh knock against your door thundered through your thoughts. Initially, due to natural shock, it made a tiny scream burst through your chest.

“Can you turn down the fucking music?!” Jake was back, yelling against the beautiful sounds of The White Album. You growled to yourself, angry that he was back to ruin all sense of your serenity. “The walls are thin, remember?!”

You threw the spiral notebook, and in your haste it hit the wall with a thud. You pressed the pause button on your phone, making your Bluetooth speaker silent. You jerked your door open.

You stopped for a second. You hadn’t seen him for a few days, and your mind naturally had to readjust to the sight of him.

God, you wished he was ugly.

You let your exasperation at his rude interruption fuel you, “Really?!”

You stepped out of the doorway, forcing him to take his own step backward. You didn’t need his dark aura clogging up the safe place of your bedroom. You closed the door behind you.

You continued, “You’re allowed to bring a woman back here on the night we establish the rules and make sure to warn me that you’re going to make her get loud, but I can’t play my music?!” You aimed a thumb in the direction of your bedroom, behind you. “At least music is something we both enjoy. I don’t really enjoy the idea of you fucking a girl right next door to me.”

His eyes widened. “Oh?” He stepped a little closer and your heart thudded in your chest. “You jealous, Y/N?”

You pushed him back by his bare chest, exposed from his lack of buttoning. His skin was so warm, you wanted to keep touching it, but instead, you flung your hand back as though he’d burned you.

“Jealous?” You scoffed, looking momentarily to the side to gain grounding. “Jake, give me a fucking break. What would give you the idea that I would in any way be jealous of that?”

His eyebrows raised and after he tucked his hair behind his ears, he crossed his arms across his smooth chest. “You couldn’t keep your hands off of me at game night.”

“You just answered your cute little musing, Jake. You called it what it was: game night,” you set a steady gaze on him. “It was a stupid game,” you put a hint of viciousness in your tone to get your point across for your next words. “It meant nothing.”

His mouth pursed closed and his jaw clenched, but it didn’t last long. He schooled his features soon enough and looked at you with overly-calm eyes. He raised his hands up. “Fine,” he backed up a step. “I won’t bring women back here if you keep your damn music turned down.”

You rolled your eyes, grinning in disbelief. “It’s music,” you walked towards him once more. “We both love music. What’s the harm if it’s something both of us love?”

“Sorry,” he placed one tan boot in your direction and rubbed at his chin. “Are you trying to tell me you don’t love sex?”

You blinked a few times at his words. Had he really just. . .? Your heart fluttered and your teeth ground together. “It’s not the same.”

He chortled at you, “Oh, Y/N,” your name said in his raspy register almost instantly made your cheeks heat. Your mind felt cloudy as he came up to you, almost touching his front to yours. He smoothed some hair behind your ear which caused you to shiver. You felt his breath on your face with his next words. “I think it’s just the same.”

His hand stayed resting on your head behind your ear. You even felt his thumb rubbing at your scalp. It felt so nice, your eyes almost fluttered closed.

But you kept your eyes open and trained them on him, “Fine,” you breathed at him. “No loud music.”

He grinned at you. Except this time, it felt softer. “No loud sex.”

“No sex,” you repeated.

And as soon as the word left your lips, reality hit you at how close he was. Your eyes widened and you instantly took a step back. Your back made a thumping noise against the door to your room, and that sound caused him to take his own steps back.

“I’m just—,” he picked up the cases he’d sat just outside the hallway. You watched his ass in his black jeans as he turned and bent down to pick them up. You caught yourself licking your lips at the stretch of his jeans. But as soon as he turned around, you readjusted. “Going to bed.”

He looked at you with a loaded stare just briefly, and then escaped to the short trek down the hallway to his own room.

You stared in his direction, even after his door had shut.

And when Stevie came to rub her soft gray fur against your shin, you jolted. You looked down at her precious form and remembered you needed to feed her.

And while you were getting her food ready, you remembered something else: you did not have any feelings for Jake.

And whatever that had been was completely against your own imaginary rule. You could not cross that boundary with him.

You didn’t even want to.

At least. . .that’s what you told yourself as you went to bed that night.

-🌼🌼🌼-

A guitarist’s fingers had to be so skilled.

In more ways than one.

Calloused fingertips that had recently held your arm were between your legs, touching you just right. Feeling you exactly how you needed to be felt.

The familiar pointer finger massaged the inside of your folds while the thumb reached up to nudge the underside of your clit, rubbing it, encouraging it.

And then a tongue joined the pointer finger that was going through your soft folds. He fit his tongue so it curled right into your most secret place.

Your back arched and your calves came to cross against a bare, tan back. A tanned back that was still wet from a shower. You reached up to touch your hair, which was wet.

You’d showered together.

“How do I taste, baby?” You sighed down to the man who was on his stomach between your legs.

His face was hidden, blocked by something you couldn’t process in that moment. But when you saw his head come up, Amber-brown eyes met your own. They were filled with lust, hooded in your direction.

Jake. You sighed with relief at it being him.

His long hair fanned against your legs, and he removed his hands momentarily to move up your body and kiss your stomach, so delicately.

“In every way, you are perfect,” he affirmed.

You flushed a little smile his way, but your clit throbbed for more.

“Jake, please,” you moaned.

And without needing any more direction, he was back at work between your legs. Except, this time, his tongue was what nudged against the underside of your sensitive nub and his fingers continued to take turns working in and out of you.

-🌼🌼🌼-

The next morning, you woke up in a sweaty mess of sheets.

You’d dreamt of him again. . .and this time, it had been much, much worse.

And taking care of the tingling feeling between your already-shaking legs was your first assignment that day.

Before your feet ever touched the ground that morning, you’d very quietly sighed Jake’s name as your fingers worked your pussy to the point of an amazing release.

When you came down from your high, you laid on top of your comforter. You needed cool air to wash over you. You pondered the thoughts that had entered your mind. You really hadn’t been able to help it. They’d come so naturally and it had felt so right. You didn’t know what was going to come next.

What in the sweet hell was happening to you?

-🌼🌼🌼-

a/n: i'll give you one guess what the boys are up to ;)

let me know if you wanna be added to the taglist! also, if you changed your username and it's not tagging because of that, please let me know and i'll update it!!

Taglist: @joshym, @gretavanfleetposts, @alyson814, @fretaganvleet, @lallisonl, @writingcold, @gvfpal, @twinszka, @jessicafg03, @reesetrippingthelight, @sacredjake, @laurenlovesgretavanfleet, @gretavangroove, @222headedcalf, @dreamssingold, @carbondancingthroughtime, @raviolilegs, @way-to-go-lad, @jakekiszkasmommy, @katgvf, @objectsinspvce, @jaketlover, @vanfleeter, @thetroublegetssoloud71, @seditabets, @jakekiszkapunchmeintheface, @jaketlove, @ohgodthefeeling-gvf, @katelynn-gvf, @gretavansara (even if it seemed to refuse to tag, i still tried - ugh! i apologize for any weirdness of the tagging. if i missed you, please let me know! i think i included everyone, but it's def possible i accidentally left someone out.)

#jake kiszka fic #jake kiszka smut #jake kiszka x reader #jake kiszka #greta van fleet #gvf #greta van fleet fic #josh kiszka fic #sam kiszka #danny wagner #jake fic #covet #my fics

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floralifetime · 2 years ago

Text

Toruk Makto’s Sister

Warning: very bad writing, maybe some gramatical error (English is not my first language, so please be gentle), angst, death of a major charapter, grief, bad words.

Next Chapter

⚠️⚠️The sentence is not mine, credits go to the author⚠️⚠️

Chapter n.1 Goodbye Tommy, I love you.

"The pain suffered at your death is the price for having loved you so much in life"

I still can't believe it happened, Tommy my beloved older brother, is dead. He was treacherously killed by a thief who tried to steal his wallet, given my career in the military I shouldn't be so hurt by someone leaving, I mean, death happens every day from various causes, not all natural, but it's also true that you never really worry about something like this until it affects your loved ones. We were three, now we are only two. Too bad Jakey is on Earth, while I'm on Pandora, not exactly around the corner and so I find myself alone. "Y/N are you here? Can we come in?"

No, not really alone, there's my best friend Trudy and my pseudo-mentor, Grace. Yet since Tommy was killed I find it hard to even think about them, I love them both very much but I feel alienated, as if I see everything and everyone as a mere spectator, as if I don't really live. I hear the sound of the door opening and footsteps approaching my bunk, probably knowing me they didn't wait for permission. "Aww Y/N, it's terrible to lose a brother like this. I know." Trudy's voice acts as a switch and in an instant the blockage of my throat melts allowing me to cry all the tears I was trying to hold back to show myself strong in front of the others, to avoid their looks of compassion, their pity. I don't like to be pitied, both here in Pandora base and on Earth, it's just not for me, I've always wanted to be like my two brothers, my role models, my heroes, I think almost all younger sisters have this idea of their brothers, and I had mine. Tommy and Jake are my life and so are Trudy and Grace, I would give my life for them and here I am, mourning the death of someone I love so much and couldn't save. I who have always taken care of their wounds, be they physical or emotional, who have kept their confidences, who have brightened their days and lightened the weights on their shoulders, if they had any. I did everything I could to protect my brother after his injury and I only came here when I was sure Jakey would be okay, because that's how I've always wanted to do, who I've always wanted to be, who cares about those who love and who sacrifice themselves for them, desiring their happiness. And now what do I have left? Tommy's gone, treacherously killed by a bastard that if I ever find him, his life will be over. I should have helped him, I should have been there with him because I could defend myself with a respectable military career behind me. I should have been there, he died alone and even if I couldn't save him, at least I would have comforted him in his last moments and I didn't do that either. My screams, screams and moans fill the room and I only realize it when I notice Grace has buried her head between her shoulders, trying not to hear my cries of pain, I wish I could help but it's so much difficult. "I know it's not easy Y/N, and you're sick, I understand, but we need you." Grace's voice is calm and bordering on insensitive, the opposite of the storm of anger and pain that surges through me when I usually appreciate Grace's calmness, this time it drives me into a rage. This scares me, it's not like me to think so badly of Grace, this isn't me… Pain transforms you when it overwhelms you I suppose. I frown and start to argue, but Trudy is faster than me. "Don't you think losing a brother like this is hard enough in itself, without constantly reminding her of what is expected of her!?" Trudy is annoyed by Grace's rush to resume her studies and research, I know deep down that Grace doesn't want to be mean, but now is not the time. I need some time to process the pain, the mourning, but unfortunately I don't have this advantage, I don't have this time. "I'm sorry Grace, I don't think I'm in a position to resume my studies, my research or whatever you have in mind, I'm sorry." Trudy nods, running a hand down my back, while Grace just looks at me. "I didn't think someone with your career could have such a meltdown" Trudy hits the scientist, I don't even have the strength to do it anymore, I'm usually stronger than that, yet Tom's death drained me. "This was bad Grace you know Y/N is proud of her career and for good reason." I served in the military with Jakey as a sniper, then he was recognized as a perfect fit for the Avatar program due to my adaptable nature and my abilities outside strictly the sniper field due to my endless curiosity about everything, I love to read and inform me . I'm in Pandora training because, as a "prize of honor" during a particularly dangerous operation, I was given the opportunity to conduct training directly at Pandora's base. At first I was reluctant, I didn't want to separate from my brothers, I accepted only because Tommy threatened me that if I didn't do it he would be ashamed of me for the rest of his life. Ironic, huh? He didn't have long to live, apparently. I've been here ever since and only had a break when I learned of Jakey's injury, then I returned to Earth and then returned to the Avatar program when I had confirmation that my brother was handling himself, not a second ago. I ignored the health problems I might experience during these various planet-to-planet journeys, I didn't care what might happen to me, as long as Jakey knew he was loved and had someone by his side to help him, I would pay any price to help my brother and I would do it again, I have not regretted it and I never will. Only Grace and Trudy know that I have actually had various health problems that could have slowed my training were it not for my intelligence and willpower, Grace's words. "I know, and I also know you're right to be proud of yourself, I mean I didn't expect subjects accustomed to death to feel its effects so violently." I sighed, not looking into her eyes "What you're saying doesn't make sense, Grace. This is different and you know it too!" I answer. "What would be different, Y/N?" she replies her. "That he was and is my brother, maybe? It doesn't matter that I'm in the military, it doesn't mean a thing, when you lose someone dear, it really affects you despite the career you've decided to pursue. And you also know the reasons that prompted me towards a military career." Initially my career was to focus on the medical side of the military, which leaned more towards my personality, then after an attack that killed everyone but me, miraculously saved by the beams that protected me as the building I was in collapsed, I decided to totally change course and engage in combat, in some form. Grace raises an eyebrow and nods. "I guess what you're saying makes sense, Y/N. I'm sorry, maybe I should have paid more attention." "I definitely agree with you, Grace!" Trudy throws daggers at her with a look, even though I love them, I can't stand their fights right now. "Girls, I'm sorry but if you have to fight, please get out, I... I really don't have the strength, forgive me." Trudy and Grace look at me, my favorite thing about them is that they don't show pity, no compassion, they certainly feel it because they don't have stones for hearts, but they are discreet enough not to throw it in my face, which calms me down. They both just nod, while Trudy smiles sweetly, saying, "We're here for you, no matter what we say to each other, we're always here for you." Grace continues to nod at her words. "What did I do wrong? Why did Tommy die?! What did I do wrong, what did he do wrong to deserve this!? He wasn't a bad person, why kill him!?" I cry out of control, I feel like I will soon lose the calm in my voice. "He IS a bloody poor man, that's why he took him away from you." Trudy runs her hands down my back, trying to comfort me, to coax me into a calm that I don't have. "F-For what? For scraps of paper in the wallet?! Is it possible that printed paper is worth more than one life?!" I answer in kind, despite the choked voice that I find myself, the dry throat that itches as if I had swallowed a cactus whole. "Those pieces of paper have been making the world go round since they were invented Y/N, I know you're smarter than that, it's just the pain that speaks for you." Trudy rolls her eyes at Grace's apparent insensitivity, but she's like that, she's a scientist, she's normal to be skeptical and rational in every situation, "I don't think she would want to see you suffer so much, you know your brother loved your smile." Trudy speaks again as she takes my face and wipes my tears, delicate for her. "Trudy… Why did he die? I should have been there, what did I do wrong?" the doubt of having done something wrong, of being absent when I should have been present eats me up. "You didn't do anything wrong, you couldn't know it, he died because some motherfucker thought the card was worth more than your brother's life, but he never really quit T/N, he'll always stay." My favorite driver has been trying to sound reassuring, but he doesn't seem to be reassuring enough to calm me down. The strangled, moaning sound I make is unsettling, I don't even recognize it as my own voice, but that's the least of my problems as I finally wrap my arms around Trudy's neck, continuing to cry into her arms until I fall over I didn't even realize I was completely unconscious.

Tommy was cremated but I didn't even get to see him, just as I can't see Jakey until he comes here because another trip would compromise my health too much, already affected by the various trips previously made both by the fact that you have to be totally fit to deal with shifts like that, and I'm not. Adding insult to injury, I'm sure it will take longer to heal from the pain for this, if I could have seen him one last time I'm sure I could have healed sooner. I think it's cruel of life not to be able to see my brother one last time before he is finally cremated, Tommy has been destroyed and here I am, helpless, watching and not being able to do anything for him or for Jakey, it's like pour salt on an open wound.

It's torture and every time I think about it, I burst into uncontrolled crying and I have to stop whatever I'm doing, because the tears come down so copious that I'm blind, I cry so much that it seems impossible to stop, I only succeed when I have no more tears . It's suffocating, during the night I dream of our memories, during the day everything I do reminds me of him, everything I see in photos or read in books to complete my training makes me think of him and how much he loved to read and study with me, that intelligent glint in his eye every time he told me something he had read and learned, he had this amazing ability to draw you in and make you love whatever topic he was on, no matter what. I envied him for that, and I can't help but smile when I think back to our lessons together, when he corrected me with a demanding but gentle tone and a tug of hair. In everything I do I see him again and now more than ever I realize I look so much like him, I've never paid much attention to this aspect, I mean, I always had him in front of me I didn't need to think about these similarities, but now that I don't there is more these similarities haunt me as if they were ghosts. It's suffocating but the pain must be experienced completely and deeply to be truly overcome.

Despite everything I've resumed working next to Grace and spending a lot of my free time next to Trudy and her flying jewels, they distract me and help me, I thank them for their more or less visible but always present support. The pain of Tommy's disappearance is still there but I live with it, I have to live with it. Tommy won't come back, a thief took him away from me but he won't be able to steal my photos and memories, I keep them stored in a special casket, my heart, where they will remain as long as I live, safe.

Someone mentioned my brother Jakey coming here to Pandora to replace Tommy, I already knew about it and can't wait to see him, I miss him dearly, but I also wish I could see him again in better circumstances than these, Tommy's death is not the happiest reason to see Jakey again but maybe it's better than nothing because the letters we managed to exchange, with so much effort considering where we both are, weren't enough and still aren't enough.

So this was the first chapter, this is my first time writing to publish something, so please be kind.

@avatarbyamara I promised you, sorry if it's a bit slow but otherwise the first chapter would have been TOO long.

#tsu'tey x reader #Tsu'tey #Avatar #jake sully x sister reader

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star-girl69 · 2 years ago

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Ember in Your Hands

Jake Sully x Neytiri x Fem!Reader

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a/n: so sorry for not updating in like forever!!! i hope you all enjoy!!

warnings: none, tell me if i missed anything!!

Chapter Thirteen- When You Know, You Know

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Knowing is something fascinating. You can know a million things, a million facts and dates. You can know the entire world.

But what you know can change.

You used to know Grace, her touch and her love, and now it’s only a memory. Sometimes you feel her so strongly in Kiri, but Grace is not Kiri and Kiri is not Grace. You have a dead aunt and a child to take care of and raise.

They are not the same, and you know that, but it’s hard.

You raise her and all of your other children to know. Know that there is something good coming, because they’ve already suffered so much in their short lives.

Do you know that you’re starving or do you feel it?

What are you hungry for, what do your bones ache for? Will you ever know?

There is an entire life to live, spread out before you. An entire storm to be the eye of.

When you know, you know.

You used to know that you loved your mates, it was never a question, and you used to know that they loved you back.

But nights are hard and days are harder, and you don’t know anything anymore save the sound of your own breath.

You used to know tender touches and soft words, you used to know love. That heart-fixing, world-changing kind of love. The three of you burned the same way. If they burned, you burned, and you burned they burned. If you lived, they lived.

But now, you’re not so sure if you’re living.

You are, in a way, you are breathing and you know and you have thoughts and you feel things like sadness. But you also know that nights are hard and days are harder, and you don’t know anything anymore save the sound of your own breath.

When you know, you know, and maybe you know that how you’re living isn’t working anymore.

—-

“There is Jake!”

It takes you a second to even remember that he’s yours, that your head should turn at the call of his name, and you do, after you remember that you love him.

Ronal slows to a stop in front of you and turns to the side, woven basket on her hip, and you switch your own basket that’s piled high with seaweed to your hip. Neytiri takes a few steps closer to where the waves hit the sand, and when Ronal doesn’t say anything, you turn towards the bright blue waters and the faint image of your mate at the side of a tsurak.

He slowly grabs his queue, bringing it around to the tsurak’s queue. You can faintly make out a glimpse of pink tendrils swirling around before the tsurak shakes in the water, sending small ripples toward your feet.

You can faintly hear Tonowari say something about it being a warriors mouth, but Jake seems to refuse whatever offer he makes and climbs on anyways.

You spare a glance at Ronal, and she has the slightest glimpse of a smile on her face, like she knows some secret, and she’s awaiting its unfolding.

The tsurak roars loudly and Neytiri’s shoulders tense.

If you didn’t have to question your love for them, you would comfort her. But you do, so you stay where you are.

Jake ties his hand to the tsurak, ensuring he won’t fall off, and maybe it’s something in the waves or the wind but you know he will fall.

You remember the first time he tried to ride a pal’i, where he fell off and got mud in his mouth.

One second of silence, until he shouts and the tsurak takes off into the water, gliding like a knife. It’s the sort of precision the humans don’t have, the naturalness.

Finally, the tsurak tilts up and unfurls his wings, shifting unsteadily through the air while Jake tries to steady him.

You look over at Ronal and she looks at you. Her smile is so faint and short-lived that you barely believed you saw it. When you turn back to the show, to Jake, your replay over and over in your mind until you realize it. Until you know.

Maybe there is some sort of bright spot in Awa’atlu, maybe when you know, you know.

You can tell as soon as he dives back in that his form isn’t right. He’s placing all his trust into his hand, and he doesn’t secure his legs properly. He’s just being dragged along like you were.

He slams into the water with a crash, and you can faintly see him falling away from the tsurak and thrown through the water behind the animal. Like a leaf blowing along a current of air, being dragged along like you were.

Tonowari winces, while the other warriors laugh. Ronal covers her mouth to cough briefly, and Neytiri deflates a little.

You’ve realized, in the past few days, that she will not like it, but she will go along with what Jake says. Jake thinks it is best to hide, and now you’re hiding. And a part of you does realize that it’s best to hide, to disappear among these thousands of islands, but you still want to be home.

This place is beautiful, but it is making you lose your love, like your fire is slowly dying, and you know know how to stop it. You know nothing except that nights are hard and days are harder, and you don’t know anything save the sound of your own breath, save the sound of your fire dying.

When you know, you know.

—-

taglist:

@eywas-heir @mjesecevo-dijete @ok-boke @tsukicores @neteyamforlife @itsyoboysparkel @tejas-kris @noname2246 @skxawngsworld @itsemy01 @littlexscarletxwitch @ara-a-bird @ghoulbli @ssc7514 @kitkat1690 @hai-kbai @disaster-in-waiting @milf-lover-23 @hot15936 @ssc7514 @ducks118 @bubble-blu @pitypinkabyss @squidalapobre @thatbitch99

everything taglist:

@monsterwasstolen @fanboyluvr @artologia-blog1 @tulipatheticee @elvyshiarieko @fluffisalliwant @fluffi19 @jeizllz @myheartfollower @fy-fy-world @minkyungseokie @ivy-plays @blueberryfailureclinic @cryingwhilereading @thatratprincessforever @dumb-fawkin-bitch @sillyblues @buttercup-beeee @smollangrycat @n7cje @eternallyvenus @iwanttogohomeandtakeanap @w3ird11 @drinking-tea-and-be-obsessed @babyminghao

#jake sully x neytiri #jake sully x reader #neytiri x reader #avatar way of water

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a-reader-and-a-writer-for-all · 9 months ago

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No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

As Maverick stepped down, Jake turned to look at the other Daggers, wishing he had one of his toothpicks to flip just to emphasize how sure he was that he had this in the bag.

But Jake had started to celebrate too soon.

Had Jake taken off after Admiral Simpson had refused his request to provide cover? Yes.

Did Admiral Simpson retract or change his order before Jake took off? No.

Was it true that while Jake rescued Maverick and Rooster, it was without explicit permission to do so? Yes.

As he finished and walked out past where Jake was sitting, Warlock gave him a small, sad smile and a nod, and all Jake could do was nod back.

For the first time, Jake wasn’t smiling.

But now all of that was about to be taken away from him. So, he did the only move he had left—he told the truth.

Clearing his throat, Jake leaned forward to speak into the microphone. “I, um, I…I was just…”

With the testimonies finished, the panel filed out to deliberate. Jake rested his head on the table he was seated at and wondered how agonizingly long he would have to wait to learn his fate.

Fifteen minutes later, the panel returned.

Rising to his feet, he stood at attention as he faced the men and women who were about to determine the rest of his life.

Taglist: @valoraxxx-blog, @m3laniehearts, @autumnleaves1991-blog, @rule107, @vintageleather, @impossiblebagelcowboyfreak, @slutforadambanks, @americaarse, @reneki, @ynbutbetter , @sugarcoated-lame, @imagineadream, @sadpetalsstuff, @salty-thembo, @rachelizabethgraham, @duckandrobin, @queenbbarnes, @grincheveryday, @uselesslyromantic, @choochoo284, @littlebadariell, @thescarletknight2014, @dempy, @nik2blog, @dumb-fawkin-bitch, @shirley2996, @kkrenae, @zebralover, @startrekfangirl2233, @memeorydotcom

#fic #whump: the musical #jake hangman seresin #hangman #jake seresin #top gun #top gun maverick #top gun: maverick #rooster #maverick #hondo #warlock #cyclone #angst #trial tw

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callsigndragon · 2 years ago

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Seeing Red | Ch.7: 📲 Little Mitchells ✍️

Summary: Who's gonna tell dad?

Masterlist on pinned.

THERE'S A WRITTEN SECTION AFTER THE TEXTS!

“They know, right?” Red mumbles, her eyes never leaving Liam’s figure.

“Yeah. But don’t worry, they’re mad at me.”

“It’s not your fault, you didn’t know. Not even I knew.”

Jake's phone lits up, revealing the wedding photo he had kept as his lockscreen for years. He tries to hide it, turning the phone, but Red’s hand stops him. The feeling of her warm, soft skin almost makes him cry again.

“You have our wedding picture as a wallpaper?”

“Dada” Jake drops the phone and grabs Liam’s hands. He had been hugging him since he saw him in the parking lot. He didn’t want to let go. Jake didn't want to let go either.

“Yes, buddy?”

Liam’s hands move up to Jake’s face, squishing his cheeks and making the pilot laugh. He starts speaking in his own language, which Jake doesn’t understand. He turns to Red, asking for help with wide eyes.

“He wants you to sleep with him tonight.” She whispers.

“Oh well, I don’t know if I-”

“Pwease”

Charlotte parks in front of the house, gets out of the car, and opens the door to take Liam in his arms. “Come on, baby. Mom and Dad have a lot of catching up to do.”

“Dada don’t leave!” Liam yells, already feeling anxious about being taken away from his dad.

“Not leaving, promise. Look.” Jake takes off his dog tags, handing them to his son. “Dada can’t leave without these. You hold them, and Dada won’t go away. Okay?”

“Otay,” he giggles. And just like that, he walks inside the house.

“He likes shiny things.” Red comments, looking at her feet. “I always told him that you were far away saving the world and that you would sleep with him once you came back.”

“Red, look at me, please.”

She raises her head, tears welling up in her beautiful eyes. “I didn’t want to hide him I swear, you never answered my calls and-”

Jake hugs her, for the first time in three years, he feels the world fall into place. “Don’t worry about that. I’m the only one responsible for this mess, Red. I just… I want to be part of his life.”

“Jake, this isn’t like having a relationship. If you assume that role, if you want to be his father, you can’t back out. I’m not letting you hurt him as much as you hurt me.”

“I won’t. I can’t explain why I did that, but I swear on my son that I did what I thought was right.”

Red sighs, sitting on the car's hood. “It’s complicated to explain to a two-year-old that his parents are divorced.”

“I can’t even imagine,” he sits next to her, smiling when he hears Liam’s voice from inside the house. “What does he think we are?”

“He thinks his dad is a superhero, and he has to be away from his wife and son to protect the world but also to protect them from the bad guys.”

Jake almost snorts. It’s like she knows the truth. “So in his eyes, we’re married and love each other.”

“Yep.”

“What’s the plan, Commander?”

Red chuckles, a nervous laugh that ends up in tears. “I don’t know, I wasn’t prepared for this to happen. I feel like a bad mom, a horrible woman, and a bitchy ex-wife.”

“Hey, it’s not that bad. I abandoned my wife and unborn son, never talked about her to anyone, missed two years of my child’s life, and just found out that I’m the biggest asshole this planet has seen.”

They laugh at the same time. What a mess they’re in.

“You are more than welcome in Liam’s life. But if you leave, I will haunt you and skin you alive.” There’s a fire in her eyes. The same one he saw outside Cyclone's office.

A lioness protecting her cub.

“I will gladly sit down and wait for you to kill me if I hurt him.”

“Come on, he’s as impatient as you.”

Red walks in front of him, but stops immediately. She turns, finger raised, and points at him. “This doesn’t mean that we are gonna end up together again. I made that mistake once. I will not make it again.”

“This isn’t about us anymore, Red. It’s about him.”

“Glad we’re on the same page.”

Tag list: @purplevortexx @shrimping-for-all @caitsymichelle13 @callmemana @abaker74 @starkleila @topgunmenbefinebruh @blue-aconite @tayrae515 @alexxavicry @xoxabs88xox @mercurio23 @smells-like-perfect-senses @dempy @djs8891 @indynerdgirl @countryclubswifey @lauenderhaze @avaleineandafryingpan @poppyalice2001 @emorychase @wildxwidow @agentwayne17 @shanimallina87 @khaylin27 @fudosl @rhirhikingston @hotch-meeeeeuppppp

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ftwd-the-real-deal · 7 months ago

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Fear The Walking Dead: The Real Deal - Introduction

Note: This is a fan-based alternative universe or alternative ending to Fear The Walking Dead, nothing here truly happened but it definitely should've happened, also Serena is Laurel, and she's alive in this universe and yes, lots of things are different in here.

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Basic Information

Location: The Sanctuary (now called Haven)

Canon Characters Involved: Troy Otto, Tracy Otto, Russel, Dwight Campbell, Sherry Campbell, Frank Gottfried, Klaus Gottfried, Jake Otto (honorable mention), Nick Clark (honorable mention)

Original Characters Involved: Laurel Hall, Mia Gottfried, Jeremy Winstons (henchman), Tyler (honorable mention)

Universe Villains: Madison Clark, Victor Strand, Negan Smith (honorable mention), Trent, Jeremiah Otto (honorable mention)

__________________________

Story

Betrayed, that's how Troy ended up dying in front of his loved ones, his wife, his child, they all had to watch him being stabbed by the witch of the apocalypse, he fell to the ground, whimpering from the pain, the last thing he heard was Laurel's scream, the last thing he's seen was how no one gave two craps about what Madison did, again.

Laurel had taken Tracy and hidden behind the trees, away from everyone's prying eyes, worried for her safety, she waited until everyone was off on their own way and she ran towards her dying husband, the two of them dragged the barely alive Troy into a vehicle and drove away, stopping at an abandoned building in Virginia, only stopping every now and then to make sure Troy was still alive.

Once they reached the building, she started to use all of her medical training to save her husband, Tracy helped of course, Troy had taught all the children basic first-aid skills, she was mommy's little nurse, and the two of them managed to keep him alive, although severely wounded and feeling anguished.

After that is out of the way, Lyn signals for Troy's men to join them at the given location and they do, making it one of the most secure locations there is.

One day, while Lyn was attending to Troy's wound, she was signaled to go to the main gate, she did so, and when she did, she found the party of Dwight and Sherry, as well as the people from PADRE, although she was tempted to shoot them at the spot, but they negotiated their way with medicine, food and expertise, things that they lacked currently at The Sanctuary.

A friendship forms almost immediately between Dwight, Sherry and Tracy, which made it easier for Lyn to like them, however, Troy didn't share the same sentiments with his wife and daughter, he tried to get rid of the PADRE people multiple times, only for them to prove their worth, especially once he saw that they didn't kill Russel like they had him believe.

Eventually, MADRE and Troy's band of rascals live together in peace under his leadership, as he had proven himself the leader that no one wants but everyone needed, he ran the place like a tight ship and ensured everyone's survival, while Dwight began to admire the man and eventually a friendship formed between the two even though Troy would never admit it, and Dwight became one of his trustees.

When Dwight was on a run for supplies, he saw a car in the middle of the night with two males in it, when he went to investigate further, he learned that they were Frank and Klaus, Strand was nowhere to be found, he helped them back to the Sanctuary then learned that Strand had shown them his true color and therefore, the duo escaped as far as possible and their car broke down, Troy reluctantly accepted them as refugees as long as they pull their weight around.

Ever since then, the group resided in The Sanctuary, living a mundane life, whatever that meant in an apocalypse, and fought against different, unimaginable challenges to protect their home and peace.

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