#jennifer asked him for romance

[whatsabriard]

Hart to Hart 3x10 - From the Depths of my Hart

Jonathan: I have an idea. Why don't we hang all these perishables on a tree and save ourselves a big cleaning bill. Jennifer: Oooh, well well well. What would the chamber of commerce have to say? Jonathan: They'll have to find their own tree.

[cecedownbad]

Hold On

Summary: A missing child's case resurfaced so many memories you wished to keep buried. Sure enough, seeking comfort from the heavy feelings came by as a form of a person. [Spencer Reid X Fem!Reader] Part 2.

Warning: Child abduction, death of a child, angst, no Y/N, made up last name: Cyrus, made up case, light fluff, hurt/ comfort, not too romance-y but alluding to it, not proof read, I don't think the mystery/crime aspect is good but let me hear thoughts guys. Something extra in tags, read after the story.

Word Count: 4.1k

Part 1

I'm so sorry this took so long, my exams, mental health, projects, assignments allll just rolled in the past months, and I've been doing everything to stay on top of writing. It's rushed towards the end but with all that's going on I hope it's okay. If anyone is up for part 3, I'm all for it .

Enjoy

"Those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it."

-George Santayana

'Okay, let's see, Conrad Miller, 16 years old, went missing on June 12th, 2007. Last seen by the local church with one of the volunteers, she was questioned once but was never linked as she had a solid alibi, her name was Grace Cyrus.' Tara paused. 'So she took Conrad, no she definitely didn't just take him, poor kid is definitely not okay.'

'Right now Stephen is our priority, the anniversary of Steven's disappearance is in 4 days, so what does she want with him now?' You pace in the room, spinning a pen you grabbed in your hand. 'I think that's something only you can answer, what happened 4 days prior to Steven's disappearance?' Tara pondered, she sat down, looking at you, intent on finding answers. '4 days prior…that was the day my dad— Daniel had come to visit, they, Grace and him got into a fight and Stevie, Steven tried to "protect" Daniel in his own way, he thought Mom was going to hurt him…'

Was it then that this all weighed down on you? Words long lost had started pouring through the cracks of memories locked away. You were never in that station in that moment, no, now you were back there.

'Stevie, get back here! We can't stop them!'

'No! No let go! I don't want Dad to go, Mom's going to send him away!'

'Steven!'

No matter how hard you tried, he slipped from your tensed grasp, landing right between two enraged adults.

Pacing the floor helped gather your thoughts, a little better.

'What was the very last thing she said to you when you left?'

The thought of how it all ended passed through your minds, each time much like a bullet to the brain but you push it all down, now wasn't the right time for you. 'everything okay there?' Tara asked you, it's only been a few minutes since you and Tara confronted the idea that Grace might have done more than anyone could have put together.

'Yeah just a lot going on in my head, I think I need a breather.'

'Hold that thought, JJ and Luke are back with Daniel,'

Your hand now wrapped around the empty coffee mug, a dad you haven't spoken to for the last two decades, what would you have to say? or better yet, what would he say to you? This isn't an official reunion, it's an interrogation and who knows what will spill out of your mouth if you see the very first man in your life that disappointed you, taught you that having a person in your life was enough to make you fall apart.

'JJ and I will go in first, you sit tight.' Tara patted your shoulder giving it a good squeeze before heading out the conference room.

It was soon after that Rossi, Reid and Emily came back in, all three harnessing disappointment with their stride. 'Hey, what happened?'

'Well, Rosa was not in her home, we searched the house and by the looks of it, she hardly came back there.' Emily sat down with her legs crossed. 'but, her room had keepsakes, maybe from the time you lived with her?'

'What did she have?'

'She had pictures, some old folded drawings, and the weirdest one, an old juice box.' as Emily finished, you sat up from your chair, 'an old juice box? Do you remember what flavour?'

'I think it was Apple? Why? Does it have something to do with Steven?'

'…'

'Cyrus?'

'That, uh, it's nothing, I think sentimental feelings do surface no matter what kind of person you are.' You began fidgeting with your sleeves, your mind now slowly began recalling events that transpired long ago. 'Is there something else? It looks like you aren't sure about something.' Rossi eyed your movements, he knew something was keeping you. 'My mother, she'd never show any sign that she felt remorse, not even as far as I could remember.'

'Okay Reid, stay with her, I'm going to check in with JJ and the rest. Rossi? Do you mind?' soon after, Rossi and Emily exited the room, leaving you and Spencer in the conference room. 'Could you tell me what kind of person your mother is?' Spencer sat down right before you, urging you to take a seat right next to him and you did.

'She was an uptight woman, she loved to be in control of her life that meant being in control of mine too, it's why I left. She loved being seen.'

'Being seen? What do you mean?'

'She was always a respected figure no matter where she went, be it at work or in the neighborhood, she pushed for that at home too. When Steven had disappeared, I would always remember how she would tell me he was in a better place, and that if I do anything to disobey her or question her authority, I would be punished.' your head hung as you remembered more, 'I would study, day and night, that was the only life I knew, if my grades dropped by a mark, she'd lock me in my room, made sure I only had books on my desk.'

'Did Daniel ever drop by after what happened to Steven?' Spencer asked gently, 'No, I never saw him after that, I thought he finally got sick of mom and left, but I see now that wasn't the case.'

'Okay—'

'You know the one thing I can't seem to remember though?' you looked up at Spencer, his eyebrows now furrowed in question. 'My mother would always say how beautiful I am, and…and that I look just like her, her very own reflection but, Spencer, I can't…I can't remember her face.' your voice sounded shattered at what came out of it. You felt the tears fall, but you couldn't turn away or hide them, Spencer saw just how much this hurts you.

'You are your own person, no one can ever take that from you, no matter what, you are you.' He held your hand, rubbing his thumb over the back of your palm, that gave you a sign of comfort and you smiled at him. 'Alright, let's get back to the case.' quickly wiping away your tears and pasting on a smile, which you flash at Spencer, he in turn regained a more unmoving figure. 'When you said Rosa knew that Steven would never come back, what did you mean?'

'I was only a kid but to me it felt like she already knew that Steven had maybe...and all I could remember was a frown anytime I even remotely related to Steven.' You return with an answer. It was then the phone on the table went off.

'What is it Garcia?'

'So I dug into Daniel a bit more, and you aren't going to like this, so he was actually never in Bakersfield until a week ago, before that he was working as a cab driver in Nevada. He was in Nevada for a long time, but he touched base sometime in 2007, in the month of June. Looks like he tried several times to contact his ex wife but she never entertained any of it. What is concerning is that he was reported of stalking a young boy, said he mistook the boy for a boy he knew and he meant no harm but he was fired from his workplace and when was that? A little before coming over to Bakersfield.' Once Garcia had informed both of you, it was then JJ, Emily and Luke walked back in.

'What did the boy look like?' Spencer asked, 'I sent his picture to your phone.'

'Thank you Garcia.' You picked up your cell and scrolled through to find the image.

'No problemo.'

Upon quick inspection, you could tell at a glance the young boy and Steven shared a few similarities, nothing too obvious except hair colour and facial structure, age is the more obvious factor.

JJ walked in, arms crossed, she sighed but began asking what Garcia checked in for, 'Looks like Daniel was fired from his work place prior to coming to Bakersfield a week before Stephen's abduction.' You informed the three.

'If I didn't know any better, I'd say that's a trigger for him.' Emily began, 'Yeah, I agree.' and Luke followed suit.

'So he not only gets rejected by his ex-wife, but fired from his work place for stalking a boy that looks like his son, then he goes and kidnaps a boy that Rosa seemingly dotes on? Something doesn't add up.' JJ looked on with confusion. 'How did it go with him?' you asked finally.

'Said he had something vital for the case but he would only discuss it with you.' Emily sat down, her voice already etching with exhaustion. 'He's hiding something and my gut is saying it can't be good.'

'I'll go talk to him.' You were close to leaving the room, but Emily had halted your motions.

'Wait,'

'Yeah?'

'Reid will go with you, Tara might want to step out.' You gave a quick nod to Emily's order.

Every step to the interrogation room, you could hear the pained voices of yours, more precisely, from when you were a child. A young girl, alone in a room with nothing but her thoughts, you swallowed hard as you stood by the entrance of the viewing room. When you entered, you let Spencer call Tara from the interrogation room to the viewing room. 'No matter what, don't give in to his requests, you need to break him down, and if you ever want to leave, you can.' Tara gave you a small nudge and she stayed back in the room.

This was it, you let Spencer lead you into the interrogation room, allowing him to get there before you creeped on behind.

'How many times do I need to tell you people? Can't you bring my daug—you, your—'

'Let me be very clear, you have something vital for this case and I'm willing to hear you out, but say or do anything and you will be escorted out of the door by agents, understood?' the firm voice you let out hid every sorry cry that was wailing in you, having not seen your father for 20 years was a shock but not something that should be seen. 'Look at you, what it's been 15, 20 years, oh my beautiful little angel, I missed you.' honey coated words slipped from his mouth and every cell in you twisted in anger and contempt, 'Mr. Carter, the case.' Spencer stepped in this time.

'Always in such a hurry, well, since you brought my little girl. I know where the kid is being held.' He sat there with no remorse, no care that a child, close to the age of the son he lost years ago, was missing.

'Where might that be?'

'I can take you there, but I'll only go if she goes with me.'

After so long, he cares or at least that's what he's showing but you knew what he was playing at, he thought he could get away light just because his flesh and blood was in the justice system, what a sorry bastard.

'I think we're done here.' Spencer had got up from his chair but you stayed seated, deal or not you wanted to break the man in front of you and that was what was nailing you down to your chair. 'Mr. Carter, what good will it do if I went with you? Was it not enough that you came in here demanding to see your daughter about a case I know damn well you don't care about?' you pressed, choice of words were clearly targeted but your composure remained cool. 'What do you mean, you know what happened to Stevi—'

'Your son that you never bothered to report missing? I don't believe you have a right to bring that up, Sir.'

'Now listen here—'

'In the time Rosa had left you behind, you did nothing but fail to bring yourself together, I have a question for you, what were you doing on June 12th, 2007? Why did you come back to Bakersfield prior to that date?' you swiped through the tablet that Tara handed to you, it contained everything Garcia had found including some case files. 'I don't know why you're asking me that, don't you have the life of a boy to save?' He avoided it with such harshness, you only wanted to pry further but somehow it felt like you knew the answer, but the words never fell into place.

'Answer the question Daniel.' Spencer sat back down now jabbing at him as well. 'I just had someone to meet, is that really so important?'

'Why did you need to meet them? Did you coming back here have anything to do with Rosa Cyrus, your ex-wife?' Your slowly tapped at the desk, it was a timed beat. 'I did visit her once but that—'

'Were you aware that a teenager was reported missing around the same time you arrived here? His name was Conrad Miller, he was 16 years old.'

'W-what? I-I don't know anything about that.'

'Really? Because it says in the case files that Rosa was the last person to have seen Conrad, but you knew that didn't you?' He flinched at the response, at this point he wore a sign that screamed suspicious.

It was then that Daniel remained silent, you believed that any word that came out of him at that point would dig his grave deeper.

You stepped out of the room and walked into the room behind the mirror. 'Now he won't speak,' Rossi now stood there with his arms in his pocket.

'We need to find Rosa and Stephen soon, the man is hiding something and Rosa is the key to finding out why.' Rossi took the words right out of your mouth, looks you both knew what he was playing at.

'I think I can help with that, how much can you guys bet on a gut feeling?' You asked the three of them, weary of their answer, 'At this point? I'll take it.' Rossi let out, the two soon followed. 'Rosa will most likely be at the house we used to live in, which is not in this area, I'm hoping that she's keeping Stephen safe,'

'Safe? How come?' Tara asked you, 'Daniel here, came a week prior to Stephen's abduction, not only did he lose his job before coming here, he needed to have a reason to come here,' you deduce.

'His reason being Rosa? But wouldn't that not trigger Rosa?' Looks like you still needed to elaborate your theory, so you continued. 'It did, Rosa having heard that Daniel came here must have caused her protective instinct to kick in, call me crazy, but I think Rosa is keeping Stephen away from Daniel.' you finally let out a sigh, your palms clammed from sweat but if you were right, the little boy you came here for was safe.

'A mother's protective instinct, I'm guessing that something happened 20 years ago that she didn't agree on, which caused her to completely reject this guy, I'll have Garcia send the address of her prior location.' Rossi curtly exited the room, Tara followed along.

Spencer stood before you in silence, you didn't register any movement from him because all your focus was on the man, sitting on the other side of that glass.

'You can go on ahead, Reid, I need to talk to him.' 

'But I can't let you go in alone...'

You huffed, your eyes did what it could but meet his but looking away won't make what you want go away, 'Given the chance, I might punch the daylights out of him—'

'More of a reason for me to stay.' 

Spencer interrupted, you returned with a sharp look in your eyes before you relaxed, 'Let me finish, I would want to give him a piece of my mind but I need to know, I just, he's the only one that has got to know something about Steven, maybe I can finally put him to rest.' 

It was selfish, that's what you called it, asking for just one more clue when you couldn't do anything before. Maybe now that helpless little girl all those years ago, can see her brother off. 'I need to do this, alone...'

'...' 

You stood there, waiting for something, a sound from him in response, anything at all. 'I'll wait here, being short of another agent will not slow down the rest of the team.' He'd finished but his response ticked you, it poked at the idea of a child being monitored by their parents.

'I don't need you watching my every move, Reid.'

'I'm just following orders.'

'Following orders? Do I look like a child to you? Do I need a leash around my neck too? I can handle him, he's one man!' Your voice raised, and you stared up at your fellow colleague with a ray of contempt.

'A man you can't stand being around for long, you sounded just fine in there earlier to anyone that watched, but do you want to know what I saw? I saw that you were holding back, hard enough your hands curled at his answers, your feet apart was enough for me to know that you would have given Emily a reason for you to be dismissed from the case.' He'd stated what was right, but it wasn't right to you, not right now, you don't know when it would be. 'I'll wait here, you can go in alone.'

Your feet put you in place for a good moment, his words tore right through you. He was right, somewhere in your clouded judgement, you understood he was right, but just because you understood doesn't mean you accepted it.

With a second left to pass, you turned from Spencer. All in silence, it was accepted that you had a job to uphold, no matter the personal toll.

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

The dial ups in the station, voices of police officers, movement all around you had become void. Nothing, that's what you heard when you left the interrogation room, you couldn't even hear one Agent calling out to you when you had left. Something gathered, something rotten had formed in your stomach. Your body felt hot, your head on a swivel.

You felt the acid burn at your throat, the half conscious part of you managed to drag your feet to a bathroom stall for you to expel the choux pastry you ingested.

Standing before the mirror now, you washed your mouth, feeling the remnants of the expelled food at your throat.

Nothing felt right to you, not right then, not right now. Having no mind to lose any more time, Reid waited in the conference room as you begrudgingly walked yourself back into it. You said nothing.

You dialed in Emily immediately, hoping she hadn't reached the house yet. 'What have you got for me Cyrus?' 

'I spoke to Daniel.'

'What did he say?'

'He'd been sending frequent messages and calling my mother, they met once, 2007. There was an argument and Conrad had gotten in-between the two of them, it didn't end well.' you informed her, almost mechanically.

'What did he say about Steven?' JJ chimed in.

'Steven was, he said he was never meant to be hurt and Rosa in the mess of things, covered up for him. He told me where...I know where his body is.' Your voice strained, as it got to harsher details.

Nothing came out though, you tried filling in the rest of the details but your voice was overtaken. A pleading look carried over to Spencer and he took over. 'He said that you have to ask where he's sleeping, Rosa's delusion right at this moment is that Steven would come back.'

'Okay, we'll get back to you as soon as we're done here.' The line cut. If you'd carried a boulder on your shoulders, the weight of it might be the same as your conscience. All that was left was you see a family reunited and you get the closure you've been searching for.

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

The team was back, so was the little boy, he was safe. The Turner family could now go home with their son safe and sound in their grasp.

'Nothing beats seeing that.' you stood, satisfied in a way, the others agreed in unison to your words.

'Cyrus, I need to have a word with you.' Emily called you to a secluded corner of the station, but you had no fear built in you, in fact you felt rather empty, exhausted enough to be emotionally drained. 'We found Steven...' she said quietly.

'Where was he?' you met her in the eyes, having nothing left to tie you down. 'Remains were found in the wall of a small bedroom, it looked like he was initially buried but moved there later.' Every word had struck you, the smaller bedroom was your shared one, no doubt. 'Was he, uh, covered?' a crack sounded in your voice.

It took Emily a moment before answering, 'He was...' 

The last bit of remorse. You'd promised yourself for 20 years that he was found. Part of you wanted him to be alive, maybe he ran off and just found a better life or he was on the streets, alive at least. But you knew how far-fetched that sounded, hope was the one thing you were aware that could end you. '...Thank you, can I, um, I want to be alone.'

'Of course, take all the time you need, listen, once this is over I need to speak with you, but only when you're ready, okay?' She patted the side of your shoulders, adhering to your request, she left you alone.

You let out a wavered breath, trying to breathe in and out to calm yourself. What you needed now was to mourn, you knew that but having a hard cry at this moment would slow down everyone.

Not long after, Rosa and Daniel had gotten arrested. You couldn't catch a glimpse at her face, or more accurately, you refused to see the face you'd forgotten. That didn't bother you that much, as a mother she never cared to look out for you, there wasn't any good reason to remain adherent to the details.

Bakersfield PD would have no more reason to have you stay, for now at least but before you could leave it all behind, Steven deserved a proper burial.

The Funeral was small, no relatives, just few friends from school and the BAU were attending, with Chief Marks as well to pay respects.

You stood over the coffin, looking at how small it was, how it all came to an end, all in silence. Quietly you watched as the coffin was buried, soil tossed over it but before it was over, you had to have one last goodbye.

'I did what I promised, took you long enough to come back from playing, huh? You must be tired, rest well, Stevie.' The Carnation held in your hand had been placed on the coffin, a mark of innocence now put to rest. Once it was all over, you stood, not waiting or expecting anything but just, letting the weight gradually let go of you. This was what you needed yet, it didn't feel enough, something remained in you. 

Footsteps were heard behind you, and you took a peak at the intruder before lifting the corners of your mouth to him. 'He was a handful you know, always wanted my attention no matter what, saying that one day he'd make it to the moon just so he could get me some space rock.' Spencer said nothing to your bouts of reminiscence, 'He told me once, "I'm going to be no.1, so watch me!" I thought he was being silly, Dad left right after and we were alone, it was us against the world.' It all came back, then you knew what you hadn't let go, knew what it was that made you feel utterly at loss. 

'Hey, Spencer, you don't have to do this, but, um, I...' You wanted to ask just for a bit, that little comfort that you so desperately pushed away.

Without another word, he lightly turned to face you. Your mind was too caught up on other memories that when you felt his arms wrap around you, you didn't think for that second. All it took was this to let it all go, no longer in silence but in wailing agony.

He didn't need another word, he simply knew. It was like some crazed superpower of his but it's like he's always known.

He couldn't let go.

Tagging:

@treehouse-mouse

[sparklingchim]

you're losing me 02 | jjk

pairing: jungkook x reader

word count: 5k

genre: angst, married couple, age gap, ceo jk, nepo baby oc, second chance romance

rating: 18+

warnings: pregnancy scare, mean possessive jungkook 😾, unprotected sex, orgasm denial, fingering, choking, oc gets her hands tied bc she's a brat ! ☝🏼, blowjob, cum eating, car sex, teasingg, tipsy oc, v vulnerable oc :(, dirty talk, daddy kink, crying, one boob bite methinks

summary: having a bit too much fun at chanyeol's halloween party, jungkook unexpectedly joins the party too.

a/n: it's finally here !! i hope u like it hihi <3

you're losing me masterlist

⭒☆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━☆⭒

Chanyeol never misses with his Halloween parties.

And usually, you never miss with your costumes too, but given the circumstance you’re glad to even attend.

Truthfully, it was entirely your own fault, and you hate to admit it because you had been extremely excited to wear your customised Barbie doll outfit, but one spill of your wine and the dress was disastrously ruined.

So you had to come up with a spontaneous Plan B.

You finally found usage for the small Victoria Secret wings from their special collection you received during a fashion show. Cinching a lace-embellished corset from Dolce & Gabbana, you paired it with a flirty ruffled miniskirt from Chanel. Your hair was crowned with crystal-embellished hairpins by Jennifer Behr. And oh, those satin heels by Jimmy Choo, adorned with dazzling crystals, added the perfect dose of sparkle to the outfit. You think you might’ve redefined last minute-magic.

“You’re trending on Twitter.”

As you sit on the couch, reaching down to retrieve the ping pong ball for Eunwoo turn at beer pong, Chanyeol abruptly shoves his phone in front of you. His screen is showing the trending page on Twitter.

“Didn’t realise my costume is that cute.” You look down on yourself. It’s a basic costume, but you would have thought that Chanyeol’s vampire look gained more attention.

“Your outfit’s cute, but everyone’s talking about what you posted on your Story,” Chanyeol remarks. He taps on your name trending and scrolls through a myriad of Tweets, with people reposting the picture.

“Oh.”

Eunwoo peeks over Chanyeol’s shoulder and reads the Tweets. He chuckles. “Everyone’s just talking about how hot we look.”

You giggle, swatting his arm.

You didn’t expect a little mirror pic creating chaos to this extent.

It was just a funny coincidence seeing Eunwoo dressed up in a matching costume to in a devil costume, complete with fitting horns and wings, creating an impromptu couple costume. It was his idea to take a picture.

You probably should have considered that Eunwoo is a rising idol and actor. Everyone adores him. And seeing him photographed next to a girl off-screen, especially when it’s not for a highly anticipated KBS drama, might not sit well with everyone.

“Has your hubby seen it?” Chanyeol asks.

You shrug. “I dunno. Maybe? He does regularly check what I post.” But he told you how busy he is today, so you’re not sure if he saw.

“Have you thought about my offer, by the way?” Eunwoo asks.

“What offer?” Chanyeol curiously chimes in.

“The lead role in my next drama. They're srill looking for an actress and honestly, I think ___ would be incredible for this one.”

Chanyeol’s eyes grow wide. “You two in a drama? That’s insane.”

“I’ve never tried acting. Not sure if I’d be any good,” you confess,

“I feel like you’re good at anything,” Chanyeol assures with a grin.

“I’ll think about it.”

They both resume playing beer pong with the others while you watch them as you drink.

As you take a sip from your drink, the weight of lingering gazes persists – less intense than in the beginning, yet a subtle scrutiny remains.

The curious looks undoubtedly trace back to the headlines two weeks ago, when pictures of Jungkook and you in his car near the gynaecologist’s building surfaced online. Captured in a vulnerable moment, perched on Jungkook’s lap with tears streaming down your face, you know how it must’ve looked like to the public.

You couldn’t stand those pictures making the rounds, especially with you in tears.

~

2 weeks ago

“You don’t need to worry.” Jungkook gently traces his thumb over the back of your hand.

You huff, frowning at your interlaced fingers. “But I do worry.”

“Love, if you are potentially-”

“Don’t say it!” you cut him off. “Hearing the word makes me more anxious.”

You hear him utter an exhausted sigh. “You said yourself that your period has been irregular in the past.”

“Yeah, minus the morning sickness.” Your tone is a bit sharp, maybe even sassy, and you don’t actually want it to come off that way and in another circumstance you’d feel guilty, but you’re too drained from your emotions and the conversation to care.

“But the tests you took were negative,” he tries again.

“It’s just plastic. I can’t trust it.”

You took countless of pregnancy tests weekly, filled up the bathroom bin with those stupid little things until you finally acquiesced to Jungkook’s persistent suggestion to schedule an appointment with your gynaecologist.

The slow traces on your hand come to a halt. His fingers lightly squeeze your chin, directing your gaze at him.

“I promise you, whatever the outcome is we’ll make the best of it.”

“I don’t understand how you’re able to stay calm,” you say, eyebrows arching at his composed demeanour.

In truth, this is an authentic depiction of your relationship dynamic. You deal with lots of anxiety, always have been, and Jungkook stands as the serene counterbalance – tranquil and calm, akin to a gentle, silent breeze sweeping over your arms just as it gets unbearably hot in summer and you’re out of options to cope with the temperature.

But this is concerning you both and you can’t grasp the ease with which he handles the plaguing situation.

“Either outcome won’t change anything drastically.”

You head turns to the side and your stare out the windscreen, a hint of pique evident as your tongue pokes your cheek.

“I don’t want a baby.” It’s barely a whisper under your breath. “But you want one.” Your eyes flutter back to him.

Thinking about it, it dawns on you that a potential pregnancy would undoubtedly bring joy to everyone in your life. Especially your dad, who has been eagerly anticipating it for years – bugging you about it almost every time you see him. However, at 24 you have dreams beyond motherhood. The thought of being tied down to it now fills you with a quiet sense of unease.

You know that Jungkook views it differently. It’s understandable; he is 31, and despite mutually agreeing to wait for a baby, for him it’s not the end of the world. His calm demeanour, shaped by having navigated through a previous marriage and bringing a wealth of life experience, contrasts with your apprehension.

Jungkook hesitates. “I do want a baby,” he confirms, a shadow of regretful longing crossing his face. “But it doesn’t matter. Whatever the result is, I will support it – I will support your decision.” Upon squeezing your bare thigh, he realises how cold you are. “Love, you’re freezing.” He fetches a fuzzy blanket from the backseat that he keeps there just for you. He tucks you under the comfy blanket.

“It’s ‘cause I’m scared,” you mumble, leaning back in your seat.

“Come here.” He softly anchors his hands on your hips and guides you to his lap. “It pains me to see you like this.” He wraps the blanket around you tighter. “You don’t wanna go in there and get this done quickly? Avoiding the inevitable messes with your headspace.”

“Just a few more minutes.”

Jungkook mindlessly cups your cheek, tatted knuckle skimming over your skin.

Maybe it’s the way he peers at you. With a gentle shimmer reflecting sheer fondness and poised to unfold the world at your feet, build a home for you wherever your finger points to without having to ask. Maybe it’s the way he is holding you to himself, his hands serving as a protective embrace, a shield warding off any harm that would dare come your way. Or maybe it’s the tall, daunting building on the side of the road, towering over you like a spectre of uncertainty.

But something brings tears to your eyes – making you grow smaller and younger and suddenly fragile.

“My love,” Jungkook utters tenderly. It fills you with warmth and so much love.

Worry contorts his face. His hand around you holds you tighter.

“I’m not gonna cry.” It serves more as a reassurance for yourself than for him.

“You know you can when you’re with me.”

You refuse, adamantly shaking your head. But when you lose control over the tears stinging your eyes, you bury your face into his neck.

“It’s okay,” he whispers, adding a small peck to your temple. “It’s okay to feel this way.”

“Don’t like it,” you murmur into his now tears stained skin.

“But there’s no point in denying it.”

“There’s just...so much. All at once.” You lean back a bit, finger pointing right to your heart.

“I know, love.” He gingerly caresses your back. He softens at your trembling bottom lip, a piece of his own heart falling apart upon seeing you vulnerable on his lap. “I’ll carry everything you can’t, remember?” It’s a vow that formed the foundation of your shared existence. In the quiet assurance of his voice, he continues, “I’ll carry your worries, your fears, your doubts.” His promise is a soothing melody in the symphony of your shared moment. “As long as we talk – communicate properly, this won’t be difficult.”

“But we do talk,” you reply, scrunching your stuffy nose. “No?”

“Yeah, I know.” He nods, thumbing away the tear from the corner of your eye. “But I need you to be honest with me regarding this. No hiding your thoughts from me.”

“I won’t.”

“You’re ready now?” Jungkook asks. As much as he comforts you, traces of curiosity glimmer in his eyes.

“I think so.”

“There’s nothing to worry.” Jungkook smiles in that boyish and lovely way that it coaxes a weak smile on your face.

~

Jungkook had been right the whole time. You weren’t pregnant.

There had been nothing to worry.

You’re still in awe at how he never doubted his feeling. He just knew you weren’t pregnant – typical Jungkook, always has this uncanny grasp on things, like an innate ability.

Your gynaecologist attributed it to a lack of vitamins and advised better hydration.

Jungkook, feeling more than a tad guilty, bombards you with constant reminders to take your vitamins, drink and eat even more than he used to.

“Is that Jeon Jungkook?” A hushed female voice utters to the person beside her.

As you gaze upward, your eyes lock onto Jungkook in the back of the crowd. A flutter dances through your heart at the mere sight of him.

Jungkook’s presence demands every ounce of attention as people instantly recognise him. He’s draped entirely in black. His pants temptingly cling to his thighs, the buttons of his shirt straining across his chiselled chest and strong arms. His Rolex sits prettily around his wrist, it’s gleam harmonising with the brilliance of his wedding ring.

And you find it so funny, silly almost, because this is just Jungkook in his work attire, you see him like this every day, and yet people’s eyes morph into tiny hearts as he effortlessly strolls by, leaving a trail of heated admiration.

Sometimes Jungkook has a way of teasing your sanity. He turns your life into a whimsical romance, making you wonder if you’re living in a silly, sappy romance movie with the dreamiest guy as the lead. Because in this fleeting moment, the world around you dissolves into a blur, and you see nothing but him. Everyone fades, except him.

“Jungkook!” You stand up, a bit wobbly on your heels. He immediately wraps his hands around your sides.

“Hi, love.” He kisses you softly.

You missed his sweet, gentle voice when he talks to you.

He rakes a stare over you, one brow arched. “You’re already drunk? Who’s been giving you drinks?”

You deny his question with a dragged out “no”. “Just a bit tipsy – if even.” Before he can comment anything else regarding how many drinks you’ve already had, you ask, “Where’d you get these cute horns from?” Your hand reaches for the hairband with two attached red horns on them.

“Don’t know the brands name. Just a cheap store down the street from the company.”

You tilt your head as you ponder. “I don’t know of any cheap store close to the company.”

A ping pong ball rolls towards you on the floor. As you bend down to retrieve the ball, Jungkook’s hand pulls you back by the waist and he picks it up himself. His possessive hand travels to your butt and he slides his palm over the ruffles of your skirt.

“You’re not wearing any panties, are you?” he whispers into your ear. He throws the little ball towards the other end of the table. You shake your head, not really comprehending what he’s implying. Your more focused on how he effortlessly threw the ping pong ball straight into the cup.

“Yah, Jungkook! Come here, I need you in my team right now!” Chanyeol yells.

Jungkook lets out a humourless laugh. “Has Eunwoo not been good enough?”

Eunwoo sends a glare his way. “Chanyeol’s just taking everything too seriously.”

Jungkook rolls up his sleeve. “Too good that I’m also competitive.”

~

When Jungkook has enough of beer pong after carrying his team every round, he sits down next to you, pulling you to his lap.

You were just talking with Jisoo about the newest Dior collection, but she leaves the two of you alone with a knowing smile.

Jungkook swiftly takes the partially filled cup from your grasp and places it on the table. “You’ve had plenty to drink tonight.”

“I didn’t drink that much.” You don’t know exactly how much you drank because maybe you had too much to count, but you won’t tell him.

Jungkook cocks his head. He doesn’t need you to tell him to know.

“Get up.” His palms push your lower back.

“Huh?” You play with his necktie, leaning closer to his body. “For what?”

A crooked, entertained smirk crosses his face. “For what?” he scoffs.

His tatted arm snakes around you, his rolled-up sleeve flaunting the pretty inked lines adorning his skin. Jungkook grips you close to him. He angles your face down, his lips brushing over the sensitive part of your neck until he reaches your ear.

“Gonna fuck your brainless in my car. That’s why.”

His voice has got that pretty husky rasp you love so much. Tingles spread everywhere, especially your pussy. Jungkook sucks your earlobe between his teeth, and you think you can feel his smile when an unintended moan bubbles up your throat. You squirm in his lap.

“Someone’s got excited,” he teases as his hands run up your thigh, thumb disappearing underneath the white material of your skirt.

“Don’t.” Your fingers fly to his wrist. “There are people.”

Jungkook clicks his tongue. “Now you care about people watching?”

Your lips pull together in a confused pout.

“You never notice, do you?” He decided against sneaking his finger further between your legs. Instead, he smoothens the hiked-up fabric of your skirt, though there is not much to adjust. It’s a skimpy skirt, it barely covers you.

“Notice what?” Your sparkly heels distract you and you move your feet around, watching every crystal glitter. “You’re being confusing, Koo.”

“I’m not being confusing,” he denies.

“Yes, you are.” You shift your gaze to him. A subtle crease appears between your brows. “You told me you didn’t have time for a silly Halloween party and yet you showed up.”

Jungkook dislikes seeing you upset. He really does. It creates this unexplainable feeling of protectiveness that sits right behind his rib – annoying and intolerable, coupled with a hint of guilt. But seeing your tipsy form upset delights him the tiniest bit.

“I was able to finish off early,” he explains. “Thought I’d join you, ‘cause you wanted me to.”

“And you were pretty mean to Eunwoo.”

“He can fuck off. I really don’t care about him.” His tongue peaks out as he swipes it over his bottom lip, teeth biting at the skin with furrowed brows.

“You’re such a meanie sometimes.” You run your fingers over his eyebrows, relaxing them.

“Want me to show you how mean I can be?” He tilts his head, a challenging glint in his eyes.

“You can’t be mean to me,” you say, shaking your head as your fingers settle on his broad shoulders. “Been good today.”

“You’ve been driving me insane tonight.”

“Me? What did I do?”

Jungkook rises to his feet with you, and you stagger a little at the sudden movement, but he keeps a safe arm around you. “Always so clueless,” he mumbles as he leads you through the crowd.

“___!” someone yells your name.

You stop when you see Karina rushing towards you.

“I’ve been looking for you all night!” She hands you a drink

You look at her through apologetic eyes. “I’m sorry, I’m leaving already. I’ll see you soon!”

Jungkook takes the drink from you after you had a sip and downs the whole thing. He tosses the cup into a near trashcan as you step out of the house.

“Oh, no. I told Eunwoo I’d give him my number,” you remember. “Lemme go back.”

But Jungkook’s hand on the small of your back remains firm.

“He’s not stupid. He’ll find a way to contact your manager.” Jungkook is pissed and you’re not quite sure if you heard it right, but you think he adds a small “Doesn’t need my wife’s number.”.

“Can you imagine me in a drama?” You giggle as you think about it. “Would you watch it?” You turn your head. “You don’t like watching dramas.”

“Of course, I’d watch it. Immediately.”

Your eyes spark up and Jungkook wants to have this image of your forever ingrained in his memory. A literal angel staring at him as if he was the one that hung up the stars.

You stumble over your heels when you refuse to look ahead, pretty eyes still admiring him. “Careful, love.” He quickly steadies you.

He unlocks his car when you reach it and opens the door to the backseat for you. But instead, you pull open the passenger door and bend over to open the glove compartment.

“Are there condoms left here?”

You search for the familiar package, but Jungkook hurriedly pulls you back, shutting it closed along with the car door.

“Nothing left,” he replies. “Get in the backseat.”

As you get into the car and settle on your back, you ponder, “Didn’t realise how many times we’ve fucked in the car.”

You're not particularly interested in cars, but in rare – or apparently not so rare – moments like these, you appreciate the spaciousness of Jungkook’s G-Wagon.

Before Jungkook joins you in the car, he scans the surroundings, vigilant for any lingering onlookers. He doesn’t need you on the front page of every media outlet again. You’ve had enough of that lately, and that darn Instagram Story of yours likely fuelled the gossip mill again.

Jungkook barely uses social media. You’re the only reason he has the apps on his phone. He doesn’t follow anyone except you, only has your notifications on. During a short break he mindlessly clicked on the Instagram notification, expecting a cute picture of your angel outfit – you had texted him complaining about your ruined Barbie dress and he suggested you could use the angel wings he once saw you carrying into your wardrobe.

Safe to stay he expected everything, but a picture with fucking Eunwoo wearing fucking matching costumes.

As hours passed by, his anger didn’t simmer; instead, it prompted his decision to make a swift trip to the dollar store and join you at the party.

“You tend to conveniently forget when you’re a needy brat.”

“It’s ´cause I’m not a brat,” you reply with a huff, yanking at his tie. “Just a bit needy sometimes.”

“Hmm, just a bit needy?” His knuckle follows along your jaw, teasing you with his gentle touches and the mock sympathy seeping from his tone.

You look so cute lying here for him, with the angel wings peeking from your sides and the little sparkly pins adorning your hair. He just wants to fuck you silly.

You nod pliantly. An innocent smile blossoms on your face.

Jungkook’s hand disappears under the ruffles of your skirt, middle finger sliding over your pussy. You gasp, body twitching at the sudden touch.

“So wet already?” he sneers. “All for me?”

You grind your pussy against him, hungry for more.

“And so greedy for me.” He spreads your pussy lips, gently rubbing the pad of his finger over your sensitive clit. Jungkook moves your skirt up and an immediate glint surfaces in his eyes. “So pretty.” He slips two fingers in, smirking when you shake beneath him. “Baby’s sensitive, huh?”

He pumps his fingers into you and your teeth sink into your bottom lip. The alcohol running through your veins heightens your sensitivity to his touch. Everywhere he touches leaves a shimmering trail of tingles, enveloping your body in a cloud of euphoria, a sensation both fuzzy and dreamy.

“I want you.” You reach for his cock, but Jungkook seizes your wrist.

“Did I say you could touch?” His voice drips with condescension.

You weakly shake your head, a frustrated whine accompanying it.

“Use your big girl words.” His fingers stop moving and he completely removes them when you remain silent. “C’mon,” he urges, growing more impatient.

“No, you didn’t,” you sulk. Even dare to look at him through a frown.

“You don’t get to do anything," he tells you. He loses hie tie, wraps it around your wrist in a swift, practiced motion and ties them above your head. “Just lie there and look pretty for me.” He pulls his pants and briefs down, stroking his hard cock before he teasingly nudges his tip against your clit.

You watch him play with your pussy and you’re unable to keep the desperate moans from leaving your mouth, eagerly waiting until he aligns his cock to your entrance, slowly filling you up with his entire length. A throaty moan reverberates when he’s all the way in.

“Pussy’s so good at taking me.”

A gasp leaves your mouth as he stretches you out. “So good,” you mumble.

Jungkook waits until he knows you’re used to h is size before he starts moving his hips.

Your tits move in the confines of your corset. Jungkook’s head dips down and you feel his tongue slide over the swell of your boobs that peek out, teeth slightly grazing over your skin.

“Don’t bite,” you utter between moans.

But Jungkook does exactly that. Even sucks on your skin a little bit.

“You think you have a say on anything?” His hand squeezes your face. Traces of petulance lie in your eyes. His other hand grips your hips, fingers buried in your skin to fuck you fast.

It’s almost ridiculous how fast Jungkook gets you to your high. He knows exactly what to do to get your walls clamp around his cock, begging him to give you just a little bit more to push you off the edge.

“Don’t stop,” you whisper, eyes falling closed as you the pleasure builds up in your tummy.

But then Jungkook suddenly stops moving. You open your eyes to find Jungkook smirking at your trembling body, amused when a shaky breath escapes you.

“Why would you do that? I was close!”

He pulls his cock out, tapping it over your clit.

“Hmm, no idea why I would do that?” he asks, pushing his cock back into your pussy in one swift motion.

“I haven’t done anything,” you say meekly, staring at the way he slowly fucks you. He could make you cum so easily.

Jungkook sniffs a laugh. “Can’t recall anything bad you did?”

He picks up on his pace and you can’t think at all, barely able to shake your head as more breathless moans fly past your lips.

“Posting a couple costume picture online? Fuck, ___ what were you thinking?” He hooks his hands underneath your thighs, pulling them up to fuck deeper. “Wanted everyone talking about you two? Wanted to piss me off?”

“No,” you whine. “Didn't mean it that way. We- we didn’t plan on it at all. Just – when we saw each other it was really funny, and I just took a pic of it.” You’re a babbling mess at this point, the ability to form comprehensible sentences gone once Jungkook sticked his cock in you.

“I don’t fucking care,” he curses. “You know how people perceive this stuff.”

“You don’t... don’t think it was a silly coincidence?”

Jungkook is flush against you. Your nails dig into your palms at how deep his cock is buried in you.

“I should find it silly?” A deep glower settles on his face and in a sick, naughty way it turns you on, making your pussy involuntarily squeeze around his cock. “Fuck, ___, do you wanna cum at all?”

“No, please,” you fuss desperately. “Wanna cum.”

“Then start behaving. Quit being a brat.”

“I am good,” you try to convince him.

Jungkook shakes his head in dismissal. “Put on an angel costume and yet you’re such a dirty girl.”

While you may not encapsule the right persona regarding the angel outfit, Jungkook undoubtedly fucks you like the devil. So mean and selfish, teasing and cursing at you.

“Wanna be – wanna be good for daddy.”

“Yeah?” he breathes, hand travelling up your body until it reaches your throat. “Then don’t disappoint me.” With his shiny Rolex around his wrist, he wraps his fingers around you, squeezing the tiniest bit. You feel the familiar outline of his wedding ring press to your skin.

Your legs wrap around him and you try not to poke him with your heels, but tears obstruct your view and you can barely control yourself, the aching feeling to come undone is back in your tummy.

“Jungkook,” you utter between little desperate puffs. “Wanna cum so bad.”

“Only when I allow you to.” Jungkook looks down at your defeated, crushed face with a smug smirk. “Can do that, right? My wife’s capable of that, hmm?”

Your eyes flutter shut. A single tear rolls down the corner of your eye. “Yes, I – I can wait.”

“That’s my good girl.” He leans closer, whispering it into your ear. “Cock so good it’s making you cry, huh?” His lips press to the corner your eye and he kisses your tear away.

The more he talks and whispers dirty word into your ear, the harder it becomes to resist the temptation to pull yourself back and cum on his dick. But you want to be good for Jungkook, want to hear him praise you for being a patient girl.

“Slow down, please.” Your bound wrists unconsciously attempt to free themselves, but Jungkook’s knot is too tight for you to undo it. You’ll cum soon if he continues at this pace.

“Nuh-uh.” He denies firmly. “You can take it. Show me how good you are.” His fingers dig deeper into your throat and your eyes open again. His brows are furrowed, an angry flush tinting his cheeks. “That’s it. Look at me – look at me when you cum.”

It crosses your mind to secretly cum, but Jungkook’s got a knack for spotting your telltale signs, so it wouldn’t be that sneaky after all. You did try to do that once though. You couldn’t properly sit the next day.

Jungkook swipes his tongue over his thumb before he slips his hand between your legs and starts to slowly circle your clit. A devilish grin sparks up his face.

“You wanna cum so badly, don’t you?”

“Please.”

“Wanna cum all over my cock?” His thumb moves faster. “Make a little mess?”

“Yes,” you pant. Pleasure seeps through your entire body and the effort to ignore the feeling becomes so exhausting, more tears fill your eyes.

“Then cum for me,” Jungkook demands, keeping a gentle trace in his voice. His gaze remains on your face and he watches you with greedy eyes as you come undone beneath him.

It happens almost instantly, like a string that snapped. You’re body shakes as your orgasm rumbles through you and you’re so sensitive you want to yank his hand away fromyour clit, but Jungkook enjoys seeing your writhe way too much to stop playing with your nub.

Shaky breaths escape you. Jungkook fucks you slower now, still rolling his hips into you with precision to hit your sweet spot.

“Doing so good, love.” The hand on your throat moves to your face, swiping away the tears. “So good for me.”

And just as you’re about to tell him you’re too sensitive, Jungkook removes his finger from your clit and pulls his cock out. He sits down and pats your thigh. “Come here.”

Despite being tired from just cumming, you’re hungry for him just by the sight of Jungkook stroking his cock. You move to sit on your thighs, tied up hands on your lap.

Jungkook gathers your hair in his hand before he moves your head down. “Open wide,” he instructs, guiding his wet cock into your mouth.

You taste yourself on his dick as your slide your tongue around him. Jungkook is close to cumming. You can feel it in the way his he impatiently pushes your head further down his cock.

“Gonna cum in your mouth.” Tiny moans fill your ear and you take as much of him inside your mouth as you can. “Fuck, just like that.”

Your mouth fills with hot, salty cum and you continue bobbing your head up and down, getting every drop of it.

“Good girl.” Jungkook pulls you away from his cock. You swallow his load as you look at him. He hums approvingly. “Wasn’t too rough, was I?” he asks, untying the know from your wrists. He rubs his fingers over the red marks.

“I’m fine. Didn’t hurt.” Your eyes close when he pecks your forehead.

After he pulls up his pants and briefs, Jungkook checks his phone. His fingers are quick as he types something.

“Who’s texting you at this hour,” you ask, curiously peeking over his arm.

“Just work. I left a bit abruptly.” He tucks his phone away before you can read anything.

Before more questions can leave your lips, he meets yours in a sweet kiss.

“I’m not done with you yet,” he says, patting your hair to tame the mess on your head. “Once we’re home, I’m gonna give your ass the attention it hasn’t got yet.”

[kayjaywrites]

Ink & Beans (Azriel x Reader Oneshot)

D20 Dice Roll Prompt: 11. “You’re definitely the only person I would do this for.” Fluff/Humor/SFW

Summary: You ask Azriel to spy on someone for gossip and he does it.

Word Count: ~2,100

Content Warning: None really, Az gets a little horned up but it's not explicit.

Authors Notes: I have a prompt list going for when I have writer's block. I’m gonna start rolling a d20 dice and do the prompt it lands on, replacing the finished prompt with a new one. I’d love to add requests and ideas from you guys to the list!

XxXx

Azriel arrived at your favorite coffee shop three hours before you. Ink & Beans was a small business within The Rainbow, founded by a family of Fae known for their writing prowess. The youngest daughter of the family, Raychelle, did not inherit the family’s writing talent, but loved creative writing all the same. Instead of stewing on her back to back publication rejections, she threw herself into creating a safe creative space for herself, and anyone else like her. The result was a questionably named cafe with workshops, peer editors, late hours, and caffeine. It was a fool proof business model really. Even before Azriel got close to you, he enjoyed visiting the cafe.

Everything about the place oozed comfort. The lights, warm and dim, were soothing and complimented the rustic cottage theme well. The booths were cozy, yet supportive, and although Azriel had been nursing his tea for 2 and half hours he did not feel sore for sitting so long.

Now, it wasn’t unusual for him to loiter around alone. People watching and eavesdropping were a huge part of his job after all. However if anyone had asked him yesterday if he’d ever spy within Ink & Bean he would have said no. There was never a reason to investigate the cafe, he was on a first name basis with the owner and most of the regulars.

Yet, here he was, deploying his shadows and listening in to customer and staff conversations. All because he was a sucker.

He loved listening to you talk. It didn’t matter what you were hyper focusing on, he couldn’t get enough of your passion. So when you dove into an elaborate breakdown of the relationships among those that frequent Ink & Beans he was all too happy to listen. He didn’t like drama that involved him, but hearing other people’s drama was one of his favorite things about being a spymaster. He never got mad at unintentional gossip while on missions, it was often a highlight for him.

So yeah, he was a little invested in your theory that one of the regulars, a quiet male named Fin, was flirting with Raychelle, and that Raychelle was flirting back. He’d been going there with you for almost a decade now, and he’d never seen Raychelle show interest in anyone. If anything he’d witnessed her curb potential suitors with efficient politeness.

And you were talking with such conviction, eyes fiery and excited when he shared your curiosity. You swept him up in that magnitude of yours, the same pull that made you a best selling romance author he supposed. Your enthusiasm became his, and suddenly he was sharing his own theories.

He’d noticed Fin blushing at Raychelle on occasion when she took his order, but never saw him flustered when another employee was at the register. You’d noticed that too, and somehow by the end of the gossip session he had agreed to working on his day off. 

Like a sucker.

Just like you said, Fin came by on his lunch break and spent it chatting with Raychelle in between rushes. You were willing to bet money that if he listened in on the conversation, he would learn the true nature of their relationship, and before he knew what he was doing he was agreeing to stake out the place for three hours for you.

Only for you to be so wrong. He was a regular enough that he figured his presence wouldn’t be anything of note. Apparently his presence without you was fuel for the gossip train.

Jennifer, a young local artist who came in on her daily coffee run for her office had made an offhand comment to the new girl on the register, Heather, “It was rare to see Azriel here without Ms. Reader.” 

Two of the regular weekday afternoon dishwashers in the back were wondering if you were standing Azriel up, and if they thought they had a chance with you. This update from the shadows had left him fuming, because no, they did not have a chance with you if he had anything to say about it.

A good looking female came in, evidentantly a first time customer as she asked Raychelle what she would recommend, and then subtly but not subtle enough gestured to Azriel and asked if he was single. In which Raychelle said that he wasn’t.

Which wasn’t true, and he was sure Raychelle knew he was unattached.

Then Fin finally showed up for his lunch break, and Raychelle almost caught Azriel watching them as she followed Fin to a secluded booth on the opposite side of the cafe than him. They were just out of earshot so his shadows did the listening for him.

And boy oh boy. The gossip they overheard was juicy.

Raychelle and Fin spent the entire lunch hour talking about how obvious it was that you were in love with Azriel. Raychelle was furious at him for being so oblivious to “what was right in front of him”. Fin was starting to think that you were secretly dating Azriel already, because there was no way the spymaster of the Night Court didn’t notice your feelings. According to them, you looked at him like he’d hung the stars in the sky. You checked him out all the time. When he wasn’t around, you talked about how much you missed him, and were here more often while he was on missions.

Azriel’s head was spinning from the new intel by the time you sat yourself in the booth across from him. For nearly three hours the most popular topic of gossip within Ink & Beans was you.

“So did you learn anything interesting?” You dove right into it, foregoing a greeting as you leaned across the small table, studying him with eager excitement.

“Yes.” Azriel took in how oblivious you were, so focused on him you didn’t notice the way surrounding conversations quieted down around you. Was this how it always was when you guys met up here? If so, Azriel understood Raychelle’s annoyance. How had he not noticed?

You shifted in your seat, your hand drumming on the wooden tabletop in impatience. “And?”

“You know you are the only person I’d ever do something like this for, right?” Azriel said instead.

Perplexed, you cocked your head to the side. “Uh, I guess. So?”

“So: I don’t typically just take jobs without some sort of payment. Especially on my day off.” Azriel leaned back, crossing his arms casually over his chest as an amused smile found his lips.

“Are you trying to charge me, spymaster?” Your voice rose in pitch, incredulous.

He merely shrugged. “The intel was…valuable. Figured I should at least get something out of it.”

You laughed, the type of twinkling delight that had a similar joy rising in his own chest. “Alright, alright you’ve sold me, whatever you want, but I’ve got to know what you’ve learned this instant it’s killing me.”

Azriel could hear a pin drop in the room. He clocked movement behind the counter, the two male dishwashers had come upfront, likely curious, they did fancy you after all. Their presence had his easygoing smile falling as he fixed you with a serious stare.

Whatever he wanted, right? That was a deal he couldn’t pass up.

“I arrived at 10am. From 10am-12:02pm no one spoke about Raychelle and Fin. There is no evidence of anyone else suspecting Raychelle and Fin to fancy each other. You were correct in noting that Fin would come for his 1hr lunch break. From 12:02pm-1:49pm Fin and Raychelle talked in a booth away from the crowded part of the cafe, but not about their feelings for each other or their relationship.”

Your lips parted, confusion creasing your brow. “Well that doesn’t seem to pass as ‘valuable intel’ to me.” You snarked.

“Hmm,” He nodded, unable to keep the mischief out of his voice as he spoke, “the valuable intel is in who they were actually gossiping about.”

Your jaw dropped open, falling for his set up hook, line, and sinker, “Ohhhhh, and who were they gossiping about?”

Pausing for dramatic effect, he studied you long enough for you to visibly grow nervous. “You.” Azriel revealed.

Your nostrils flared, your breath hitching as you averted your gaze. It was rare for him to see you rendered speechless. “No guesses on what they were saying about you?” He inquired.

You barely managed to meet his gaze for a second before your eyes shifted to a spot on the wall beside his head. “I have a theory,” you confessed, bashful, “but would prefer to keep it to myself until you finish your report.”

Azriel hummed in response, enjoying the way your gaze would dart back to his face, like you couldn’t stop yourself from looking at him. He knew that he looked at you in much the same way.

“Everyone here either thinks we're secretly dating, or going to be dating soon. Raychelle and Fin spent Fin’s lunch break commiserating on how frustrating it was to watch us. The people of Ink & Beans think you are in love with me.”

It was so quiet in the room he could hear your heartbeat pickup. He wouldn’t be surprised if it felt like it was in your throat instead of your chest, so Azriel continued his debrief to spare you having to find a response. “And I think they’re right, because they were right about the other person they were gossiping about too. I also was a popular topic of conversation these last three hours, they were right about what they thought about me too. I think you are in love with me–I hope you are in love with me, because I am in love with you.”

“Azriel,” His name was whispered like a prayer on an exhale, “maybe we should have this conversation in a more private location.” Your face was beat red, and you looked like you were about to pass out.

You were never one for making a scene in public. Honestly, this was all probably mortifying for you. Normally, it would be for him too, but he remembered the dishwashing males plotting ways to woo you.

“Of course,” Azriel stood, stretching his wings out as he reached for your hand and guided you to stand next to him, “but first I want my payment. Whatever I want, right? That’s what you said.”

You looked utterly lost, unable to look him in the eye for too long, but too confused to not search for his intentions in his facial expression. “Okay, sure, what would you like, I don’t have much with me right now so I don’t know why this has to happen this moment, but I’ll do my best–”

Azriel always found your nervous rambling cute. He knew you’d be upset with him if he let you go on for much longer in front of everyone at Ink & Beans. “I’m sure you can provide me with a kiss, unless you have a specific lipstick in mind for our first kiss?”

You gaped at him, and he cupped your cheek with one of his hands, his scars rough against your soft skin. Gently, he closed your mouth, leaning in slowly just in case you wanted to pull away. But you didn’t, his lips touched yours, and you melted into him. Your smaller, curvier body pressed tight against his front as the kiss deepened and found rhythm.

Too soon, reality seemed to find the both of you again, and Azriel was aware that he was starting to get aroused very publically in your favorite coffee shop. One look at you, and it seemed you were no better off than him, the gleam in your eyes sending thrills down his spine. 

“I’ve changed my mind,” Azriel bent down to whisper in your ear, and you shivered, “I think I do want to continue this conversation in a more private location.”

You turned your face, lips brushing against his pulse point in his neck as you spoke. “Me too.”

XxXx

Upon returning to Ink & Beans after the mating frenzy subsided, you and Azriel were greeted by tarps, workers, and piles of building supplies outside of the storefront. Raychelle had been signing something on a clipboard when she caught sight of you, and hurried to embrace you, clipboard forgotten on the ground where she dropped it.

She’d used the winnings from a store wide bet to expand the shop. She and Fin had split the winnings, the only two fae to predict your and Azriel’s mating bond.

XxXx

My inbox is open, drop requests to be added to my prompt list! My other work can be found here!

[auroralwriting]

if you feel it, chase it

spencer reid x fem!reader (twisters! au)

storm chasing was the intent, falling in love was not.

word count: 4.0k

warnings: do not read if you don't want twisters spoilers, it's the whole fic so beware, spencer is tyler and reader is kate basically, spencer is still himself with a touch of tyler, sort of enemies/strangers to lovers, this has more romance than the movie and it has the kiss we all wanted, no use of y/n

You promised yourself long ago you’d never storm chase again.

After the losses of Elle, Jason, and Haley, it was too much to bare. You’d been the sole survivor of the tornado. Of course, your friend Derek had also survived, but he didn’t experience what you did. He could never understand.

You’d moved from Oklahoma to New York in hopes of moving on, but when Derek came to you five years later, asking you to help his team, you found yourself on a flight back home before you could even reconsider. Going back home after all this time sort of scared you, but Derek and his fifteen missed calls, twenty messages, and one voice message really seemed to convince you.

Derek’s team was for a company run by an investor named Erin Strauss. You’d only overheard her name, but she was using the data collected by Derek’s team to help predict storms before they happened. It seemed like the best idea. It could help save a lot of lives.

The team was small, but included Derek and storm chasers David Rossi, Emily Prentiss, Mateo Cruz, and Jennifer Jareau. Now, it also included you. For the week, you reminded yourself.

You stood with the team as Derek introduced you. Suddenly, a loud stream of music approached quickly. You all watched as a truck and van pulled up. JJ scoffed, “Ignore them. They’re just some famous youtube storm chasers. They’re just in this for the trill of the storm.”

It was inevitable that you continued to stare. The group looked interesting, especially their leader, as you’d guessed. He was tall, curly dark hair, and was yelling something the crowd chanted back. If you feel it, chase it.

"They call themselves the BAU. Boundary Advection Units."

Deciding to ignore them, you walked out to the empty field to stare at the sky. Where would the best storm be…

“West looks good,” A voice said behind you. You turned to see the man from minutes ago, now staring at the sky. “East looks like it could be something.. maybe. High risk, high reward."

“Air’s thicker east, looks like a lot of empty space for a storms to grow.” You commented. “You’ll get a nice show that way for your fans. West is fine, but don't be surprised if they choke each other out, though."

The man stepped closer as you two looked at each other. “I’m, uh, Spencer Reid.” He introduced.

“I have a job to get to,” You scoffed, walking passed him. “East’s got the best chances, take ‘em!”

Approaching your somewhat team, you turned to Derek. “West, we have to go west.”

Rossi scrunched his eyebrows together, “But west has the best air quality for tornados. It looks like there could be several-"

"We go west. Come on, let's get in the vans." Derek said quickly.

Fireworks. They lit off fucking fireworks into the tornado. That had to be some kind of hazard, right? You were a little pissed at yourself for becoming so scared of the tornado. It was simple, an E2. It wouldn't have hurt you. You should have let Derek place the device down to get data.

Derek walked along the path with you to the hotel. He'd asked you to hang out, but you declined. It was too much, too soon. Actually, it wasn't too soon. It reminded you too much of the past. It could never happen. You weren't back. It was just one week.

As you walked up the stairs to your room, you were stopped by Spencer.

"Hey," He called. "The cells to the west will choke each other out, she said. The one in the east will put on a show."

You shrugged, "It didn't throw you off the scent."

"That's what makes Spencer so famous," A woman beside Spencer said. "Hi, I'm Penelope."

Eyebrow raised, you leaned on the railing. "You mean on YouTube?"

"On- Yeah, yeah. We have a million followers!" Penelope cheered with the rest of the crowd. "You know Spencer, but that's Tara, Luke, Alex, and Kate." They all waved and you gave a forced smile. "You made a good call earlier. On my devices, the other cell looked stronger but the cap never broke."

"Where did you all meet? Did you study meteorology in college together?" You asked.

They all laughed, "Nah, only Spencer has a degree, a whole ass PhD in meteorology." Luke laughed. "We all just like to go with the flow. Or, his flow, I guess."

"Our crew isn't quite like your crew. We don't need PhDs and fancy gadgets to do what we do." Spencer said. "I guarantee that these guys," Spencer pointed to the clearly homemade windcatchers, "have seen more tornadoes than anyone here."

"Is that right?" You asked sarcastically.

Spencer turned to you once more, but this time, it was awkwardly. "If you want, uh, maybe we can put you in one of our episodes."

You feigned a clearly fake awe, "Wow. I guess you can always trust a guy who puts his crew on a tee-shirt."

"Hey, I did that!" Penelope called as the rest of the group ooh'd at your comment about Spencer.

You began to walk up to your room as Spencer was quick to follow. "Hey, it wasn't my idea to start the channel." He frowned as you grabbed the key. "I just do it to get my knowledge out there."

"What knowledge?" You ask.

"I have an eidetic memory," Spencer awkwardly said. "That and my PhD. I, uh, know a lot about tornadoes. I want to inform people. Knowledge is power."

With a shake of your head, you open the door. "But knowledge isn't everything, right?" You asked, going inside and shutting the door behind you.

Spencer stood outside for a moment, reeling from your comment. Maybe his friends had been influencing him too much.

It was twins, a whole set of twin tornadoes. Luckily, you'd picked the right one, and Spencer didn't. Unluckily, the tornado almost flipped the truck you and Derek shared. Even worse, it damaged a nearby town.

Everything had been destroyed. Derek and the team were handing out cards to the people as you looked around, helping people find their belongings and returning them.

You knew what it felt like to have everything taken from you, just like that. It was horrible. This was the first tornado you'd been caught in since the last, and you truly thought you were going to die, too. You remembered the looks on your friends faces as the wind swept them up and away. You were truly scared.

Of course, the BAU showed up, too. They set up a merch table. It made you sick to see them selling their merchandise minutes after a life-changing event took place. It made you even angrier to know these people were being taken advantage of.

"Nice play on the left twin." Spencer said as he walked up to you.

"Yeah, well it didn't help these people any." You sighed, looking around.

Spencer watched as Strauss gave her business card to a man. "I wasn't aware that Storm Par was in the helping business." Spencer bitterly stated.

"Well, from what I see they're trying to make a difference." Slowly, you approached Spencer. His well-fitted shirt looked good on him. You took notice of his different-colored converse. It was oddly charming.

"That's one way of putting it." Spencer replied.

"What?"

Spencer paused, "Do you even know who you're chasing for?"

What did he mean? You knew of Strauss, and it was for Derek. "What are you talking about?"

"How much more do these people have to lose?" Spencer angrily asked, walking closer to you. "Is this what you call making a difference?"

"Sorry," You chuckled bitterly, "Says the guy setting up shop selling tee-shirts and mugs after the storms hit."

Spencer ran a hand through his hair, "I have a dog to find." With that, he walked away leaving you more confused than you had been.

What did he mean? Was there something he knew that you didn't? Even if you didn't know anything, you knew you didn't like Spencer getting angry with you. It didn't suit him, the anger. He looked too sweet to be so upset. Maybe you needed to do some digging and find out what he knew.

Right as you walked back to your truck, Kate ran up to you calling your name. "Hey, take some food."

"Oh, don't have any cash." You replied, looking at the girls outstretched arm.

Kate gave you a confused look, "It's free. That's why we're always selling those tee-shirts."

It hit you that maybe you were being the ass. You looked back to the stand to see people getting food and water. You felt your stomach churn. You turned back to Kate. "Oh. Well, save it in case you run low."

"Okay," Kate softly agreed, "At least take some water, stay hydrated."

"Thanks," You replied softly.

"Yeah, see ya." Kate ran back over to her group as you watched. Something wasn't right. You were misinformed. Yeah, it was definitely research time.

WE BUY LAND.

The slogan of the website made you feel like you'd betrayed the whole world as you stared at Strauss' figure standing over a pile of rubble. That's what this was for. It wasn't to help people, it was to buy their land after the tornado came through. It wasn't to stop the tornado, it was just to track it.

Derek knew that wasn't what you were about. It never used to be what he was about. He had to know, so the real question was why would he lie to you?

A knock at your motel door interrupted your thoughts. You shut your laptop and stood up to walk to the door. You opened it to see Spencer standing awkwardly with a box of pizza. His hair was messy and he gave you a crooked smile.

"Thought you might be hungry." He offered. Hesitantly, you took the pizza. You ended up shutting the door without a word and walking back over to your bed.

You opened it, suddenly feeling the urge to see if maybe he wanted some. You needed to tell him you weren't like them. Why his opinion of you mattered so highly, you didn't quite understand.

Opening the door, he was still standing there. "You find that dog?"

"Of course," Spencer nodded. "I wouldn't have left until I did. How you doing after all that?"

You tsked, "It doesn't matter. It's those people who matter."

"Well, you've seen the worst of this place." Spencer hesitated. "I thought that, uh, maybe it would be nice to show you something good. That's if you want to go, of course. It's late and tornado chasing can make you tired-"

"I'll go." You nodded, cutting him off. "Let me get my shoes."

Spencer ended up taking you to a rodeo. You sat in the stands watching. "This isn't, uh, really my speed to be honest." He admitted, awkwardly smiling at you.

"What is your speed then?" You asked, now interested in getting to know him better.

"I like museums. Books, uh, research. That's what I wanted to do. But my mom got sick, so I came back here to help her. Got into chasing." Spencer answered. "I still want to do research. Maybe at a college, somewhere. And I can still chase."

You nodded, "You'd like it. It seems up your alley. Use those smarts to inform the people about tornados and shit."

Spencer chuckled, "Yeah, and shit." After a moment, he asked "Is this your speed?"

"I grew up out here, this isn't my first rodeo." You joked. Spencer chuckled too. It warmed you to know you two had connected.

"Look at that, we're learning things about each other." Spencer commented.

"I didn't know she was buying land," You admitted to him. "I looked it up. Derek just asked me to help his team, we've been friends for years so I just said yes."

Spencer nodded. He looked compassionate. "You didn't strike me as the type to do something like that."

"I'm not," You agreed.

All of a sudden, the wind picked up strongly. It made you shiver. Wait, the weather man didn't predict strong winds. Your heart stopped as you turned to Spencer, who was already looking at you with the same look you adorned. "Were you tracking cells out this way?" Spencer didn't reply, he just slowly turned to the sky. You did the same, staring up. "Air feels heavy, this isn't good."

The same alarm blared from the stands. It was your phones. You opened it to see the bold letters, Tornado Warning. The sirens began to echo throughout the vast space and your heart rate increased.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I've just received word a tornado has touched down near the area! Please evacuate this arena right now!"

Spencer quickly grabbed your hand to help lead you out through the crowd of people. "Come on," He muttered your name a few times. "Hold on, come on." As the crowed began to run, so did you both. A woman fell in front of you and you both helped her up quickly. "Hurry, come on!" Spencer said with more urgency.

It was a disaster. People were scrambling, cars were hitting each other. Spencer held your hand tightly and pulled you closer to him. The lightning lit up the sky, and you could see the tornado.

"Spencer, we have no time!" You yelled.

Right as you went to cross the street, cars almost hit you. Spencer jumped out in front of them, yelling for them to stop as the two of you ran across. You ran into some ranky motel where the front counter worker was arguing with some customers. You'd managed to grab their attention and run outside. After a small scan, you realized there was really nowhere safe to go.

You had to think outside the box, where would be the safest?

Once your eyes fell on the pool, you knew. "The pool! Come on!" You yelled as everyone ran.

The three from the motel ended up running to car. You couldn't stop them. So, you focused on the mom and child you came across, helping them down. Spencer was the last, and right as he made it down, a large chunk of metal hit the ladder and you yanked his arm, pulling him close to you. Quickly, you ran to the end of the pool and held onto the metal pipes as the tornado finally made its way to you.

Please, don't let me die. Not here, not now.

Spencer held on above you, shielding you with his own body.

The moment it was over, you made your way up the ladder to see that everything was utterly destroyed. The Storm Par van you recognized as Derek's drove up. A moment later, he was sprinting out of the car and to you.

"God," He muttered your name as he pulled you into a tight hug. "I thought I lost you."

"Derek," You pulled back. "Why didn't you tell me about Strauss?" You looked over his shoulder to see her speaking with a couple, probably the owners of the land. "She's profiting off their loss."

Derek furrowed his brows, "The way I see it, she's helping them restart."

"By taking all they have left?" You questioned. "That's not helping."

"Yeah?" Derek challenged, anger taking over his features. "How would you know what losing everything you have is?" The moment the words left his mouth, he froze. "I didn't.. I didn't mean--"

You shook your head, "No, Derek. I understand perfectly fine." Slowly, you began to back away. You took the keys from his hand quickly and ran to the van, Derek yelling behind you.

Without a second thought, you started the vehicle and began to drive away. You could still hear Derek yelling apologizes, but what caught your eye was Spencer watching you drive away with a look on his face you couldn't quite understand.

Back at home, your mother welcomed you with open arms. She even left your science experiments in the barn, exactly how you left it all five years ago. It was comforting to be back at home, but at the same time it brought back those painful memories you tried so hard to bury deep, deep down.

The next morning, your mom came to let you know a scrawny, handsome man was here to see you. You simply sighed, telling her to let him come to you.

You stared at your tornado machine from middle school, remembering how happy you were when you'd won first place. Footsteps echoed behind you, and you knew it was Spencer.

"A tornado machine," He stepped close, leaning over to observe it. "The hydraulics on this thing are amazing. Plus, the art is really good too."

"It was my middle school science fair project," You hummed, watching as he carefully picked up one of the small houses, setting it back up.

Spencer turned back around with a geeky smile, "Did you win?"

"What do you think?" You replied with a small smile matching his.

"It's definitely no volcano," Spencer joked as he walked back over to you. "It was Penelope who recognized your name from the news a few years back. I'm sorry about your friends." Spencer said as he eyes a photo that was tacked to the barn's walls. It was one with you, Derek, and your friends. He looked back to you with a look you hadn't seen him give you before. If you would've thought about it, you would've known it was adoration.

You shrugged, shoving your hands in your pockets. "It was my fault. There's nothing to be sorry for."

"It wasn't your fault," Spencer shook his head, walking closer to you.

"It wasn't supposed to be an E5. It was supposed to be smaller, easier to manipulate and be around. I convinced them all to do it." You argued.

Spencer took one of your notebooks and began looking through it, "You theorized you could stop a tornado with polymers that would suck up the moisture." Spencer said as he flipped through the pages.

"It didn't work." You casually replied.

"Well, maybe it could." Spencer looked up, "Maybe you just need a new model. This has a genuine chance of working if you just--"

You held out a hand, closing your eyes as you sucked in a breath. "Spencer, no. That's in the past. I can't-- I just can't."

"You should try," Spencer encouraged. "Imagine the difference you could make with this."

Spencer's words struck a chord with you. That had been your goal, and it was his, too. Even so, it was too risky. It was too painful after what had happened. There was no way you could do it again, let alone rope in Spencer to help you. "I just can't." You finally said after a moment. "It won't." After another moment, you swallowed the lump in your throat. "Stay for dinner, and stay the night. You shouldn't be driving so late during tornado season by yourself."

"I don't want to intrude--"

"Please?"

Spencer looked to you, his eyes wider than normal at your plead. "Okay," He nodded. "Yeah, I'll stay."

You couldn't let anything happen to Spencer, too, you decided.

El Reno was about to be hit with the biggest fucking tornado you'd ever seen. Not only did it just hit a power plant and set on fire, but it was headed to small town with no warnings.

Spencer and you sped to the town, Luke's RV trailing right behind you. The second you got there, it was about finding shelter for people. His team and you all directed people to the storm shelters, but there was just so many people.

"Hey, the shelters are all full." Luke ran up to inform you and Spencer. "We gotta direct them to the theater."

"That won't be any better than standing outside," You shook your head. "There has to be another way."

Luke called Penelope over who typed into her phone at rapid speed, "There's nowhere else without windows." Penelope informed. "Theater is the best place we can take them."

You looked to Spencer, nervously biting your lip. He nodded at you as you took a deep breath, "Okay, let's move them fast. Keep them in the middle, hold onto seats when the walls cave."

The theater became so full, it felt like you were moving through a mosh crowd. This wasn't safe, with the number of people and size of tornado, it was bound to kill everyone. You ran to one side of the building, checking to see if there was shelter.

To your surprise, Derek met up with you and Spencer. "Other side has nothing." Derek said quickly. You knew he'd choose the right way.

"Okay, we gotta get these people in safer positions." Spencer said quickly. As the two ran off, you couldn't help but stare at the tornado.

Maybe Spencer was right. Maybe you could make a difference. After all, this tornado was bound to kill you all. Might as well die trying, right? You took a look at his truck that still had the barrels of your concoction loaded on the back. Quickly, you ran to it, trying your best to not get swept up by the wind. The second you got inside, you knew there was no going back from this.

Spencer began to look for you, asking Derek if he'd seen you. When he saw his truck out in the field, driving right for the tornado, his heart nearly stopped beating right then and there. He yelled your name, desperately trying to get to you. Derek and Luke had to hold him back to keep him inside and safe.

He didn't even realize until that moment how infatuated he'd become with you. You were his dream girl, the one he'd been chasing. And now, you were going to be gone.

You, on the other hand, tried your best not to think about Spencer. It was hard enough leaving him. You felt a connection with him you didn't quite understand, but now was not the time to decode it.

Time felt like it passed by so quickly. The next thing you knew, you were clawing your way outside of the flipped truck. If you were alive, that was a good thing, right? Unless you were dead and you were about to see tornado Jesus right in front of your eyes.

The sunlight hurt, you definitely had some sort of head injury. You reached your hand outside and felt someone grab it. They began to pull you out, another hand grabbing your other arm once your torso was out of the truck.

"Oh my god," You heard Spencer's lovely voice mumble as you finally were freed.

"Is one of you tornado Jesus?" You muttered, blinking back the pain.

A laugh came from Alex, "I thought you were a goner for sure,"

"You did it," Spencer said as he knelt down next to you. "It worked. You fucking did it." His words echoed in your mind as he pulled you into a hug. You didn't even realize you were already hugging back by the time you thought you should. Quickly, you grabbed Spencer's face and pulled him into a kiss.

A howl came from Luke as Spencer pulled back with his gorgeous wide eyes. "We did it."

At your words, Spencer smiled and, this time, pulled you into a kiss. "Okay, back off, let me see my best friend after she almost died." You chucked at Derek's words as he came to hug you, nearly pushing Spencer away. "Never do that again."

"Can't promise that," You chuckled, staring at Spencer over Derek's shoulder as his cheeks warmed at your stare. "Because I think we may just have ourselves a new storm chasing crew." As the group whooped at the victory, you pulled back from Derek and turned to Spencer. "If you feel it..."

"Chase it." Spencer smiled back as he gently set a hand on your face, causing you to smile even wider at your storm-chasing boy.

[soshadysoquiet]

TUA S4 thoughts.

Below, spoilers.

Okay. Lord gonna need some strength to get through this coherently.

Basics first:

The Music: Maybe 2-3 good songs. Dissapointing. Let's talk of a mo about Baby Shark: to me it wasn't funny, the song being such a social media present one in this world really took me out of the show. Yes sure the funnies of parents having to listen to kid music and them being stuck that way but I really wish they'd taken the time to make an original annoying jingle. TUA is usually such a delight for the ears that this hurt me bad! Plus they then kept changing whether the song was on or off, seemed like Diego could control it somewhat, but then why would he turn it back on for them riding into the final battle?

The Dialogue: Felt forced and cheap in places. They can use the word 'fuck' now and seem to therefor have decided they don't need to make the characters have witty insults for each other.

The 'Themes' of the show: Why has my quirky family drama been turned into a 90's romance film. Who asked for this. No.

The "Plot": When your own characters don't care about the plot for the sake of shindigs you think will be more entertaining then you know you fucked up. It made sense the first 2 series them having side quests. Less so in the third. Even less so now. Literally at times they had to say to each other 'oh yeah shouldn't we find Ben?' I'll be here in the corner raisining. Also they came up with these 'stages' for the apocalypse but had one guy throw up, a couple things go boom and then they merge, it was one of the least threatening depictions of apocalypse I've seen - though that could be that it wasn't shot in very interesting ways.

Also side note for why there were so many shots that started upside down and rotated? Like I get if Klaus is upside down, and yeah the umbrellas are inside out, but it (plus the Bennifer monster) gave me too many stranger things vibes.

Now the sub-cast:

Jennifer: Love that for 1/2 the protagonist of the apocalypse she had little to no love put into her character, I legit kept forgetting her and Ben were part of the storyline. I loved that she was birthed from the squid, but why put something eerie and cool like that in and make it have meant nothing? Such a waste.

The villains [Gene, Jean and Abigail/Psy(sp?)]: Whilst I liked the idea of memories infecting the timeline, literally all of these guys was Tell don't Show. And for a series with only six episodes I do not want my time wasted with some side-character villains getting a dance number over the main cast. Despicable. Also there were WAY too many villains here especially if you then also count Reggie as one. Literally make Jennifer be trying to link up with Ben and coercing him (then Viktor could break through to him briefly from past experience of a similar relationship - the symmetry is nice) and have Abbigail be pulling the strings. There were so many side characters of no import that I lost track of the main cast. Hell, make Kenny's Mom be the bad guy I'd have loved that! Also, I like that Abigail was somewhat evil, but then they tried to make her good too? No thank you. Pick a lane not everybody needs redemption.

Special RIP to Diego and Lila's twins that Never Even Got Names 💀 fucking hell that's lazy ass writing.

Now the main cast:

Viktor: He deserved better, why bother to introduce that he's had a girlfriend, slept through the entire town, and owns a bar when you then don't talk about any of it. He's told to 'grow up' it's so specific, what does it mean? Also since last we saw he was the sort of ride or die for his love type (with both Leonard and Sissy) this is a frustrating turn with no explanation. Also his whole fight with Reggie and getting things off his chest arc felt forced and not as well written to me. And his character seemed to have been given zero changes from the last 6 years. I miss when his powers actually had a sound element to them rather than just, Havoc from X Men hands. You're taking the Viktor out of my Viktor.

Allison: We have no explanation of how she and Klaus found each other and fell in together. No info of how she and Reggie parted ways. We only hear that 'Ray left her' and nothing else. She says no one wants her at the party but then seems to know Gracie? Has she talked with Any of them since? Nothing was addressed from the end of last season, or even referred to being addressed in the past. I don't see the point of her new powers, or any of them having slightly off or new powers when then some of them don't? Either way, her rumours are so classic and now she's floating people? I see the link and if they'd been developing new powers over 6 years fine but no. You're taking the Allison out of my Allison.

Luther: Praise be, I did like Luther this season. He mentioned Sloane (shock horror, a love interest from a time gone by being brought up?!?! In TUA!!??) he was cracking me up and was really being Best Boy. Although I felt a lot of his dialogue was flat, and it seemed really out of character for him to start attacking the piñata? I don't think we've ever seen him physically lash out unless angry? It looked to me like 'oh yeah here's another silly gimmick that will be a haha. Diego, sure. Luther, no. They also decided (not surprised but always so disappointed) to make him getting ape-i-fied again humorous and not the soul destroying thing it would be. Also, why was he ape-i-fied??? His ape-ness came from the serum not the marigolds? Generally though, I really did enjoy him this season.

Diego: Love that we're throwing every over used marriage-in-pieces trope in the book at these two. Love that. Especially as they seemed to have sorted out some of their communication issues. I get their trajectories but was so deeply, Deeply bored watching it. Diego was sadly pretty dislikable for the whole season, which was real sad because I had grown to love him. There were some funny moments don't get me wrong, he's got too much personality to be a boring character, but whilst they didn't have to have a perfect marriage it was so dull and in hindsight such an obvious set up for the bleh that was to come. Plus they threw in a 'don't make me turn this car around' type moment to show how 'he's a parent now look wow' but I can't imagine any of the siblings hearing that and not laughing at him.

Lila: Again, marriage and wrong-conclusions and it was so boring. She's such a fun character and she was reduced to 'ooo how can we make her be a cheater and with Five' Why do you even need to do that? I just feel sad about it. And it doesn't help that we Don't Know Two Of Her Kids Names and neither her nor Diego seem to think of them for however long they're on the road, and she mentions them only once in the 7years of subway hell and both of them seem relatively undistressed without them. Sure, parents do need a break, but if you don't care about the kids visibly you know for sure I the audience member ain't gonna. Also why the eye lasers save for again a brief gag? It makes no sense when she then also has mimics abilities?

Claire: Let's give Claire a side note at this point. I do so hate it when shows decide to make children their parent's brains and moral compasses, take little to no time to show any bond between parent and child until the last 2 episodes, and instead choose to spend that time showing us how naturally fractious a relationship they have. Love that, so much. Never seen it before really. I get it's normal, but when ever other part of the show is cookie cutter predictable I don't need this too. Give her an actual personality that isn't "the wise old rebellious teenager"

Ben: Wow. So glad that A) I had to hear a character explain crypto currency for me, so glad we wasted precious time of a 6 episode series on that. B) Ben had changed 0%. C) that he had Even Less input and impact at the end emotionally than in any previous season and this one was About Him! And do you know why? Because D) they basically used star-crossed-lovers-can't-help-ourselves and made him use every creepy stalker OTT moving way too fast line in the books especially when Jennifer at a lot of moments was verbally saying she wasn't into it.. Also why does he talk about her like he's a 12 yr old and, idk, it was a shame to have no real impact from him until the end when he's suddenly scared and pushing Viktor away to save him but we see no connection from him and Viktor previously as to why he'd listen it would make more sense if it had been Klaus or Luther at this point.

Klaus: Now, I know a lot of his storyline this season came from the comic, and sure it's good material, that should probably have been used Throughout the seasons rather than crammed into 1 day. But let's chat for a hot mo: Now I like that we got to see him be nasty rather than the precious uwu Klaus that I've been guilty of perceiving at times, and that we see some of the negative effects of addiction on the family for the first time. Great moments, important. BUT. I'd have felt his rage out at Allison and turn to drugs would have been a lot more impactful if they'd bothered to show him waking up to the sound of being screamed at, barely able to hear his siblings, struggling to focus on them and wanting to drown it out. But we don't get that, the horror of what this means for him. Then we proceed to got through this whole let's have him want to get shot by a drug dealer (don't quite get why - or how Claire knows he's immortal now? did the powers back thing ever come up??) have him kidnapped and forced to prostitute himself, take more drugs (but still use his powers?) Develop a new power though without using the comic's fun quirk that he has to take his shoes off, and then bury him alive. Wow. this guy had plenty going on, but sure. Then -he can save himself, I thought this might become something poignant - he's able to conjure the dog to Go to Allison and lead them there, but no, he just gets rescued again. Gee I wonder what grave he's in Mom? All I don't know Claire, how about the Only One That's Been Dug Up? I thought it was really interesting to see his moments as a teen with Allison, and how he was living with her and thought they handled the worry about death/germs etc thing well tbf. Though also how the hell did he get home from being 13 hrs away and why nobody cared to go with him was pretty low.

Five: Dear lord that moustache was awful and I'm glad they all called it creepy and he had no concept. I despise 2 things they did here: made it canon that he gets romantic with Lila. Made going back into the literal apocalypse that he spent time having flashbacks about barely if at all affect him - it's unsure if his hesitation going back into it the second time was hesitation to go in there, and that's what I hoped they would do, but then, no. no. Please, Pleeaasse don't take away this nice, safe space I had in this nice, safe 'you literally can't sexualise him with anyone it would be so problematic' character and say 'they held out 7 years but yeaaahhh they hook up.' don't see why it was needed. It didn't 'heal' him, it was a plot for conflict but I've got plenty of other conflict plots that can end with Lila and Diego fighting without having to make every damn character have a god damn love interest! I loved their bond before, it was so fun and special to see a male and female not have to fall in love, and they ruined it. And it was for nothing? And they didn't have time to make the 7 years feel like 7 years and it was lazy writing for cheap conflict in my opinion. I hated it, I hate that it's "canon". I don't think I can describe just how awful I found it and unnecessary. I also don't buy that Five would be willing to not drink the marigolds as much as the others, or that there would be a timeline full of given up fives that sit around a diner. It was fun to watch though. And up until they started the montage in the subway and we knew where it was going I was enjoying Five in this season. that boy has had such a shit life and this is how it ends?

I will say that the flashback to them as kids was my favourite part of this series. It's always good to have a little deeper insight into how they interacted as children but I do have some Opinions here too of course: Reggie saying 'you look ridiculous' to Viktor, no, he made their outfits? I felt that was lazy writing when Reggie in the past has laid into Viktor's insecurities much more keenly: 'That outfit is only for your brothers and sisters / we've been over this, you're not special take it off / I will not have you wasting time with frivolity when the Academy has important work to do, leave us." etc. Also I thought there might be something different about why they all forgot their Ben memories. It was brutal yes, which I appreciated, but I can't believe that these guys wouldn't see their father kill their brother and not One of them flip their shit? Idk, it was a little... good and bad I guess.

I think that's it for now, if anyone read this far then well done! I might write a fix it post in a bit for my own entertainment.

[jenniferjareauwife]

i don't write for emily :/

// sorry! i forgot to say it’s jj x reader

Doyle

pairing: jennifer jareau x fem reader

category: fluff, hurt/comfort

warnings: stabbing

word count: 761

summary: jj looks out for you after you were stabbed by doyle and it blossoms into a romance

My vision was blurry and I didn't know where I was. Nothing made sense anymore. It was dark...there's Emily. She's...she's ok? She was smiling but I swear I heard screaming just a few minutes ago. What was happening?

I flinched when I felt someone's hands on me. Not him again. Please not him. I turned my head as much as it would go, feeling weaker by the second. "Hey y/n." She had blonde hair and looked familiar but I was too tired and weak to connect the dots. "It's JJ. We're gonna get you out of here, ok? Just hold on." I screamed in pain as I felt something get ripped out of my stomach before someone started stuffing something back in again. "They're just packing the wound, it's ok."

"JJ."

"Yeah. It's me." She held my face in her hands as she knelt above my head. "We're gonna get you home safe. Everything is ok. Emily is safe too, ok?"

"Hm." I groaned in pain.

"Hey hey, eyes on me. Just breathe through it."

"Hurts."

"I know it does, but it's keeping you alive." Her voice was quiet, it was really soothing. "We're gonna take you to the hospital now, ok?"

I woke up in a bright room, sitting a bit upright on a comfy bed. "Hey. You're awake." I turned my head and saw JJ. Her hair was up in a ponytail and she looked tired.

"Hi. Why are you here?" It didn't look like anyone else from the team was here.

"One of us had to stay back. I volunteered."

"I don't need a babysitter."

"I'm not babysitting you. I'm keeping you company. What you went through was traumatic. You shouldn't be alone." I gulped and nodded. "Are you hungry? I have a few jello cups."

"I'm honestly just really fucking tired."

"That makes sense your body has been through a lot." She moved her chair closer to me and handed me the jello. "You're gonna need some food anyways." I smiled, it was nice to have someone looking out for me.

Two weeks later I was still in the hospital and JJ hadn't left. She was with me any chance she could. "Hey. I brought you a new book I thought you might like." My chest felt lighter when I saw her, like my anxiety was gone now.

"Thanks." I took the book from her but I didn't read the back cover or the inside jacket.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"I've been in this room with you every hour for the past two weeks. I know your tells." She sat down in her chair and moved closer. "You can tell me. It's better to get it off your chest than to let it bother you."

"I don't want to be here. I hate being stuck here. I want to be out with the team, doing something. I want to know that I'm helping people."

"You are helping people and that's what got you hurt. It's ok to take breaks every once in a while."

"But I don't want to take a break."

"Hey. Listen to me." She grabbed my hand and I felt my heart skip a beat. "You're not missing out, ok? You're just doing what you need to do to be at the top of your game when you get back." I gulped, knowing she was right.

"Ok."

A week later I was finally discharged from the hospital. JJ had her arm around my waist for stability as we walked through the parking lot. "You ok?" She asked as I tripped, gripping my waist so I didn't fall and pulling me up. Our faces were inches away and I kissed her without thinking.

"Oh my God I'm so sorry-" She cut me off with a kiss.

"I was waiting for you to do that." My face flushed a deep red.

"Y-you were? I-I didn't even k-know you liked girls." She kissed me again, finding my stuttering adorable.

"If I didn't like girls would I be kissing you? Taking every chance I can to touch you?" I shook my head no, leaning in for another kiss. It was only the fourth one but I was already addicted. She just stared into my eyes, caressing my cheeks while holding my face like it was the most beautiful thing in the world. "Let's get you home, yeah? I'm sure you miss your bed."

"I really do." I got into her car and felt a sense of peace I hadn't felt in months as we drove back to Quantico.

[mermaidsirennikita]

Hi, sorry if this has been asked before but, regardless of trope, your favourite historicals of all time???? I was gonna say top10 or something but I read and love literally every one of your recs so top100 would work just as well <3

First off, thank you so much, you're too kind. I don't know if I can give you my Top 100 just yet (though I wish I could lol) but I CAN give you a good cluster ;).

It's been a whiiiile since I've thought of this, and it changes, so I'm happy to answer! I'm going to have some repeats, because I'm true my heart and some authors just write a good few bangers.

My top... 28, I think? In no particular order.

Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas—Easy answer, I adore this book, it changed the way I look at romance and it's so, so definitive re: my taste. Beautifully written, angsty (and kinda funny too), made me realize one of my core couple dynamics is "somewhat crazy woman and stern man who just doesn't know what the FUCK she's doing and is totally thrown off by her shit".

Thief of Shadows by Elizabeth Hoyt—Another easy one, virgin hero (which I love) who's nonetheless quite stern, jaded older heroine (another thing I love—a jaded heroine), it has the Zorro masked man vibes, the high stakes, INSANELY good sex scenes that only Elizabeth Hoyt can write... And perfectly written angst that isn't magically resolved. Gorgeous gorgeous GORGEOUS.

Waking Up with the Duke by Lorraine Heath—Another angst machine, has a scene that never fails to make emotional, a crazy setup that turns out to be deeply emotional. Icy proper woman/secretly deeply pining rake. AINSLEY!!!!

Princess by Gaelen Foley—A recent favorite; supremely angsty, supremely sexy, supremely BONKERS. He feels unworthy, which, please, is crack to me. She's a literal princess, giggly and flirty and horny to the max. He's a good bit older, they've known each other for YEEEEARS (... literally all her life), he works for her father. It's very ILLICIT AFFAIRS. Everything I love.

The Duke's Perfect Wife by Jennifer Ashley—Every single one of the first four Mackenzie books is a bANGER and this is the best one for me. I love a second chance romance. I love a growly hero and a heroine who absolutely owns him. I love that they've both been around the block (and have had sex before, three times, as he reminds her). Hart needed a woman who could MANAGE him and match his freak, and Eleanor is that. She boops his nose and he growls! He does a striptease for her! Perfection, even better if you've read the first three books.

A Rogue by Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean—Another one I read early in my return to romance, and I adore it. Bourne is the most dickish hero MacLean has written (imo) and Penelope is such a a sweet heroine who nonetheless doesn't put up with it. He has to work so hard to earn her love, as he should. I adore the childhood friends to at odds vibe, another thing I'm sooo into.

Shadowheart by Laura Kinsale—A pretty dark historical? Allegreto is CRAZY, Elena manages him perfectly. I love a good kinky romance, and this one is so, so sexy? The femdom is perfect, but it's also beautifully written and has a lot of deep themes. The fact that he thinks he's going to hell and she's like "Whatever, I'll go there with you". It has both corruption and redemption vibes.

The Duke Gets Even by Joanna Shupe—One of the books I hyped to a ridiculous degree before it came out, and somehow it delivered on everything. Has a touch of kink (mostly through rough sex, biting, etc) but it's honestly so soft in many ways. Lockwood isn't a pushover or a cinnamon roll, but he does have so much heart and he falls so hard. Nellie being the resistant, rakish one delights me. It has a great world (we need more Gilded Age books). It's another one where everything isn't resolved PERFECTLY, and I love that bit of realism. Just a big sigh ROMANCE romance. "I'm keeping you, Eleanor" PLEEEEASE.

Something Spectacular by Alexis Hall—Definitely tonally an unconventional historical, but my God, I love it. It's so funny. It's one of the only nb/nb romances I've read, and I love that it's a historical. Definitely the only one that has a castrato soprano lead, and we should honestly have more because they FUCKED. Like. Read it up. Castrati FUUUUUUUUUCKED. It's really tender and it has one of my favorite climactic moments. A very unconventional ending that made me smile so hard.

What I Did for a Duke by Julie Anne Long. Just a classic, perfectly written age gap romance. This one doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it hits everything it needs to hit perfectly. Has a great mix of humor, emotion, and heat.

Seduce Me at Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas—While there are the classic Kleypas issues with depicting the Romani people and I do dock this book a little for that... Look. The romance aspects are perfect for me. I know that Kev is too angsty for some people, but I love angst and I love the childhood friend devotion and the feeling of unworthiness and Win being ridiculous horny and determined to have her own happiness. Has one of the greatest love confessions of all time. One of the best "the dam has broken and they are FUCKIN'" moments. Just GORGEOUS.

When the Duke Was Wicked by Lorraine Heath—Another one that gets me super emotional. I love the horrified realization Lovingdon has as he realizes that he's so attracted to Grace. The intense desire. The denial of his feelings soooo far into the book, even when it's painfully clear to everyone that he's madly in love with her. This book also is one of the best when it comes to dealing with the Dead Wife Question. Of course Lorraine pulls it off.

A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall—Another one that's so unique and great and has amazing trans representation (at least to me, as a cis person, I could be wrong). It has this AMAZINGLY romantic moment that I always find SO FUCKING SWOONY. A great mix of old school vibes and modern sensibilities.

Duke of Midnight by Elizabeth Hoyt—Truly bonkers. Maximus is my ultimate alpha hero; a dick, aggressive, super stern, super resistant to love. Artemis just isn't intimidated. There's a lot of angst in this book, and honestly? I find the fact that he is a dick and Hoyt isn't afraid of embracing that really admirable, from a writing perspective.

Between the Devil and Desire by Lorraine Heath—JACK DODGER I LOVE YOUR WORK. A perfect "rogue meets uptight lady" book (I hesitate to call Jack a rake because he pays for sex pretty much exclusively, but he's definitely roguish). There's a wonderful dynamic here, Olivia being in denial of her attraction.

A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught—A gorgeously written book! You can see the groundwork being laid for other historicals here. A fabulous setting. The way the romance becomes so vicious at points, in a frankly hilarious way. Royce dragging Jennifer to the altar like "I DON'T WANNA BE HERE ANYMORE THAN YOU DO" is amazing.

Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas. Classic, everyone loves this book (well... not everyone) but with good reason. It's so very good. The perfectly executed rake/virgin book, with iconic moments, iconic characters, iconic SPIELS. The moment when Sebastian staggers out of bed trembling after the first time they have sex lives rent-free in my brain.

Indigo by Beverly Jenkins. Just a fucking knockout of a book. Another "rake/practical virgin" book, backed by beautiful prose and impeccable historical research (nobody does it like Ms. Bev). There's so much seduction in this book. A great rooomance, but then it has a fun bonkers villain situation (I know some people don't like this... I do, I'm kind of a sucker for this type of controversial and perhaps dated villain). The ending makes me cry a lot.

Scandal's Bride by Stephanie Laurens—Kind of a new one for me, and it's here because it's so fucking bonkers. Constantly entertaining, Catriona is such a difficult heroine who... crosses the line a lot. Has a scene where Richard draws a sketch of her ass birthmark to be like "I WILL SHOW EVERYONE THIS TO PROVE THAT I HIT IT FROM THE BACK IF YOU DON'T MARRY ME". A delightfully fucking weird book and I loved every minute.

Hyacinth by S.M. LaViolette—The more I think about this book, the more I love it. One that I loved originally, and it rose in my regard over time. A scarred hero (who likes it rough). They're both switches. Hyacinth is neurodivergent and very much unconventional, and doesn't even think herself capable of love because of what society has told her she is. The climax of this book? Incredible.

Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas. A gorgeously done book, so ambitious, has an iconically HORRID hero (in the best way), executes the rare feat of offering both an amazing primary romance and an absolutely fabulous, emotionally affecting secondary romance. It just hits so hard, dude. It's so good. It's probably Kleypas's BEST book in terms of general quality (though DoY will probably always be my favorite).

Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage by Jennifer Ashley—A great marriage in trouble book! That's also super horny! I love so much that though there was a big breaking point in Mac and Isabella's marriage, there were very normal issues beforehand that had less to do with horrible behavior or ridiculous tragedy, but... Like... Them just not being ready for marriage? Especially him. The passion was always there, but passion and great sex isn't enough for a good marriage, and I love that in this book they do have the passion and great sex but also have to build a stronger relationship on an emotional level.

Regarding the Duke by Grace Callaway—Another delightfully bonkers romance. I love that they've been married eight years and she thinks it's enough but learns that it ISN'T. He has to open to her emotionally. There's amnesia. There's VILLAINY. I also love that the hero in this one has to. not only become a better husband, but a better father? I haven't read a lot of historicals where the hero and heroine aren't just married, but have kids.

A Shore Thing by Joanna Lowell—Ummmm I read this very recently but it's been sticking in my heart? It's more lighthearted than a lot of the romances I've loved. But i just love this story of a hero and heroine going on a bicycle race lmao. I love how funny it is, and how the villain kind of... grows? I love that the hero is a rake and trans. I love that the heroine is a widow who decides to like, have good sex for the first time ever and go with it (and suddenly there are feelings). It's just really good.

Sweetest Scoundrel by Elizabeth Hoyt—Helloooooooo emotion. This is one of the best "healing from trauma" books I've ever read. Asa Makepeace is just a perfect rake who's secretly so deep and so gentle. The way he introduces Eve to sex is fucking gorgeous. His patience, his tenderness, his love of what SHE'S okay with it.

A Rose at Midnight by Lisa Kleypas Anne Stuart—This is what I'd call a dark historical. It's true enemies to lovers. The hero is a rat bastard for most of the book. The sex... is very dubcon for much of the book. But man. I think it's so bold, the writing is so good, the story is so different from what I've read in the genre. It just hit a lot of buttons for me. And it has a great secondary romance, something Stuart excels at. Ummm also the fact that the secondary romance is fueled by the secondary heroine wanting to save the primary heroine, her best friend? LOVE THAT.

Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt—Sorry dude, Mickey and Silence are just for Me. He's a ridiculous rake. She's a Quaker widow. There's that element of like "I'VE GOT YOU MY PRETTY". I actually love the baby in this book, and that can be a hard sell for me. (Several of these books include kids lol, but man, it's just this thing where you need to get it right.) It has one of my bad boy/good girl books.

The Earl Takes All by Lorraine Heath—Lol sorry, Gorilla Twins is a banger all the way. It's fucking insane. It's super romantic. It has one of the best "angst horizons" I've ever read. It does that Lorraine Heat Thing where you're like how THE FUCK is this gonna work. And then it does! It's just everything, for me. Edward Alcott, you beautiful idiot.

[commanderbuffy]

Sapphic Books Reccs

Here is my list of recommended sapphic books! There’s a lot of YA here since that’s a lot of what I read. Everything on this list I have personally read and can recommend. I’m sure there’s a TON out there I haven’t read or ones I have read and have just forgotten!

Contemporary

Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail by Ashley Herring Blake (Adult)

My favorite of Blake’s! Enemies to lovers. SO good.

Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake (Adult)

A woman falls for her step-sister’s best friend. Oh, and there’s a kiddo in the mix as well.

The Falling in Love Montage by Ciara Smyth (YA)

Two girls promise a summer of fun full of rom-com worthy dates. The only rule, no relationships. Just one summer, nothing more. Sure....

Forget Me Not by Alyson Derrick (YA)

Amnesia fic where a girl forgets she ever met her secret girlfriend in their ultra-conservative town.

Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar (YA)

Fake dating between the girl who wants to validate her bisexuality to her friends and the girl who doesn’t mind the popularity boost.

Her Name in the Sky by Kelly Quindlen (YA)

Best friends to lovers! A big piece of this is also the friend group involved.

Imogen, Obviously by Becky Albertalli (YA)

Imogen thinks she’s just an Ally. Spoiler alert: she’s not. I loved the way friendship was explored in this. You see some really solid friendships as well as a subtly toxic one (that’s acknowledged as such).

Late to the Party by Kelly Quindlen (YA)

An ode to late bloomers and a journey to self-acceptance. A girl goes to her first party, befriends a gay guy who introduces her to new group of friends and one really cute girl

Margo Zimmerman Gets the Girl by Brianna Shrum and Sara Waxelbaum (YA)

Super fun involving a girl asking another girl fo “Queer 101″ lessons. Bi and Autistic rep too!

Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales (YA)

A girl gives anonymous love advice and gets hired by a hot guy to help him get his ex back. Really FANTASTIC bi rep!

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston (Adult)

A sexy time-bendy romance with so much heart

She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen (YA)

My FAVORITE rom-com. I reread it constantly. Fake dating, enemies-to-lovers between the cheer captain and basketball star!!

She Gets the Girl by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick (YA)

Two girl team up to get their crushes to fall for them and start developing feelings for each other along the way.

Six Times We Almost Kissed by Tess Sharpe (YA)

Childhood frenemies forced to move in together for their best friend moms’ sake. Trauma filled and SO SO good.

Some Girls Do by Jennifer Dugan (YA)

A fun rom-com between an out queer athlete and the local beauty pageant queen.

We Are Okay by Nina LaCour (YA)

One of my favorite books of all time. A story about grief and friendship and love. A soft, quiet story.

Who I Was With Her by Nita Tyndall (YA)

A girl’s secret girlfriend dies and she is left to grieve alone until she finds herself turning to her girlfriend’s ex.

Science Fiction/Fantasy

Crier’s War by Nina Varela (YA)

A romance that leads to revolution by between two girls: one human, one Made

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow (Adult)

This is historical and fantasy! Suffragette witches! Another one of those books I wish I could read again for the first time. Three sisters, one of them has a WLW romance

Thriller/Horror

Hide by Kiersten White (Adult)

A high-stakes hide and seek competition in an abandoned amusement park. One of my all-over favorite books of 2022.

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland (YA)

No wlw romance in this one, but the main character and her sister are both wlw. My absolute favorite book of 2021. What I would pay to read this for the first time again.

The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe (YA)

The daughter of a con artist is finally allowed to stop running and faking her identity, only to get stuck in a bank heist with her ex-boyfriend and current girlfriend.

Sawkill Girls by Claire Legrand (YA)

Three girls who shouldn’t have a reason to team up together against an ancient evil. The new girl, the pariah, and the queen bee who’s been helping the evil all along. I have reread this book easy a dozen times.

Throwaway Girls by Andrea Contos (YA)

When a girl goes searching for her missing best friend, she finds a trail of other missing girls and battles with heartbreak after her girlfriend leaves her for California.

Wilder Girls by Rory Power (YA)

Quarantined at her girl’s school after a gruseome Tox breaks out, a girl must find what happened to her best friend who’s gone missing

Historical

Great or Nothing by Joy McCullough, Caroline Tung Richmond, Tess Sharpe, and Jessica Spotswood (YA)

The queer Little Women retelling we all deserve with a SAPPHIC JO! Set in 1942. Beth’s POV still haunts my heart

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (YA)

Two of the major supporting characters are WLW. This becomes more important and on the page in the later books in this series, but this is the first one.

Music from Another World by Robin Talley (YA)

1970s California. Two girls become penpals and bond over music.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Adult)

Hollywood icon Evelyn Hugo famously had seven husbands. This is the story of her wife.

[not-without-my-oreos]

Request from: @superficial-ly

Title: Actions

Pairings: Jemily (Emily Prentiss x Jennifer Jareau)

Genre: Hurt/Romance

Summary: Emily is a little jealous of just how much JJ is talking to Hotch.

Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em.

Comments: This was fun but also difficult to write. I don’t write jealousy well, but I hope you enjoy!

Send me fic ideas, cute stuff, and requests here

Words often fell short, it was usually actions that spoke loudest. The way she would tuck her hair behind her ear with that schoolgirl grin. She used to give Emily that same smile. The way her sparkling blue eyes would only light up more with him around made her blood boil. They were close, standing next to each other while JJ delivered the brief. He placed his hand on the small of her back when she was done and he started giving orders. JJ was always standing next to Emily - always within touching distance. It was always that way. Was it something she said? Something she did? Was it the perfume she was wearing? She hated him with his GI-Joe physique and Indiana Jones haircut. The stoic look on his face but then he smiles - when she tracks his eyes - he’s smiling at the blonde. Emily felt like her world was starting to spin, she could feel her cheeks flushing and her chest starting to heave. Why was she feeling this way?

Their relationship had been nothing more than a way to scratch an itch. Time away, time home, they barely had time to date - never mind form a meaningful relationship with someone who wasn’t on the team. JJ and Emily were inevitable, and Emily loved it. She loved the rush of them maybe getting caught, the sneaking from one room to another, secret note exchanges, and smiles. They only intertwined when on a case and this was the first one in a couple of weeks worthwhile. One that required the whole team and not just Gideon going to consult. She missed how her skin felt, her scent and the way her back would arch when Emily hit that perfect spot. She felt like she was missing a piece of her throughout the case lull. JJ didn’t text her as often as she used to, didn’t call her to talk about the Bachelor, or even see if she wanted her to meet outside of work. The secret notes shared had stopped and Emily didn’t know why. She looked back at the file, desperate for something to take her mind off the blonde but nothing worked. She’s spiralling she’s-

“Emily?” A voice breaks through the haze.

Her head snaps up, the room is empty. Everyone had parted to get their go-bags and finalise anything before they departed for Arizona. Her eyes fixate on where the voice comes from. Mistake not yet made. She forces a smile looking at Spencer Reid. The tall, scruffy-looking profiler with the top button of his shirt open and crooked tie. If he was shorter - he’d be mistaken for a British schoolboy. Concern itched his brow as if he’d seen this look before and he had many times. A room full of profilers and it had to be Spencer to notice. He noticed everything. Emily could wear her hair differently and Spencer Reid would notice. He had a big heart and was always concerned for his friends and sometimes, that was a fault. Emily wasn’t in the mood to answer prodding questions or dodge interview tactics. He’d been working with Gideon on how to get an unsub to say exactly what the profiler wants - within reason. She didn’t need to be a hamster for practice.

“You okay?” He asked.

Another forced smile.

“Yeah,” Emily replied. “Did everyone…”

“Hotch said we’re going to Arizona.”

“Oh, right!” She started to gather herself faking another smile but a blush creeping her cheeks. How could she let herself float away like that?

“You were watching Hotch and JJ… then you disassociated.”

Fucking mind reader.

“I just got a little headache.” She smiled holding the file close to her chest.

“Is it bec-“

“Leave it alone, Spence.” She said as she turned to walk away from him. She had no idea what he was about to say - and she wasn’t going to find out.

The team didn’t know, the FBI couldn’t know. There were so many channels, so much paperwork and usually transfers. The last thing Emily wanted was to be transferred away from JJ. Her biggest fear was losing the blonde. They kept everything a secret, not that there was anything to truly hide. They weren’t in a relationship, no matter how much Emily wanted to be. They didn’t go on dates, hold hands, or even grab coffee. At most, they would tease each other on the jet, stroking thighs and calves under the table. Emily didn’t exactly know when their little meetings started. It was a way to relieve the stress of the cases. A small moment to relax.

She tried to hide her head in a book, she tried to focus on something that wasn’t JJ’s voice piercing through Spencer and Morgan talking behind her. When she looked up, watching them in conversation on the other side of the jet - she felt her stomach drop. He smiled - he doesn’t fucking smile but he smiled at her. It’s hard not to. JJ was beautiful. She was flawless in every way. He placed his hand on hers and Emily felt her blood boil. She knew her temple vein was popping. She swallowed as Gideon sat opposite her. Fuck. Insanity rolled into a single person in cargo pants. The fuck did uncle want now? She watched him for a moment, settle into his seat and pull out a book. He was just getting comfortable - her head was clogged. How can she do her job when she can’t stop thinking about JJ and Hotch? He doesn’t laugh, why was he laughing? He doesn’t smile? Why was he smiling? He doesn’t fucking talk, why is he talking!? Why? She laughed again - he laughed, and they were both laughing.

She stood from her seat and walked towards the part of the jet where sat refreshments. Hidden from everyone else as she leaned against the wall - her heart thumping in her ears over and over again and then… her head shot up when she smelled that perfume when she heard that little laugh. Emily’s pupils dilated looking at the beautiful blonde as she made coffee. JJ’s eyes glanced up with a sparkle as she picked up a paper cup.

“You’ve not spoken to me this whole flight,” JJ commented as she poured out hospital-grade coffee. “Usually you’re sitting opposite me with your foot dancing on my shin.” She smirked. When she heard no response she looked up with a frown. “Em?”

She was frozen. Was this a panic attack over the thought of losing JJ to Hotch? She could feel her palms becoming warm as she tried to fight off that feeling of dread washing over her. God, she didn’t want to be in the air anymore. She wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole. She hated this feeling, she hated that she had them for JJ. She ignored her. Instead, she pushed everything aside and dropped a tea bag into a paper cup.

“What?” She replied coldly.

“Are you okay?” JJ asked.

“Would you care if I was?” Emily looked up.

JJ frowned. “Did I do something wrong?” She asked.

“I dunno? Did you?” Her eyes shot to Hotch, sitting there reading over the file.

JJ followed her gaze. “Are you having a childish tantrum because I’m sat next to Hotch?” She frowned even more in disbelief.

“Sat? You’ve been looking at him like a gooey teenager! You haven’t spoken to me at all in the last week - then suddenly you’re all over Barbie’s recalled Ken!” She kept her voice at a hushed whisper.

She stuck the cup under the hot water tap and pressed the small red button to cover her teabag. Barbie’s recalled Ken? Great insult, that shouldn’t get back to him at all. She didn’t have a right to be angry, they weren’t a couple and why was JJ even questioning why Emily wasn’t sitting opposite her? Did she want her to?

“Wow, that’s a cute insult,” JJ replied. “You sit up all night thinking that one up, Prentiss?” She asked picking up her coffee.

“Fuck you…” Emily muttered under her breath. “You haven’t talked to me, called me, wanted to hang out - anything then suddenly you’re on Hotch.”

“Because we’re going over the case, Emily. We are not a couple.”

“I’m aware.”

“Are you? Because you’re acting like a jealous fucking teenager.”

JJ rolled her eyes and picked up her coffee. “I’m going back to my seat.” She mumbled. “If you want something, fucking take it.”

Before she could step away from the brunette, Emily grabbed her wrist. JJ turned, looking at the agent with a perplexed expression, but suddenly that changed into pure shock as she was pushed against the wall of the jet. Emily captured her lips in a passionate kiss, her hands settled on the blonde’s waist, rising upwards with JJ’s shirt. Emily’s fingers danced on pale skin as the kiss deepened. She felt lithe fingers tangle in her hair tugging and pulling as she stifled a moan. Emily’s skin was on fire, and JJ’s fingers danced along her neck running down her chest.

“I’ve been waiting for this…” JJ’s voice laced with a passionate husk as their kiss broke.

“I’m gonna be as monosyllabic as possible - I don’t give a fuck, as soon as your ass is on this jet - it’s mine.” She pushed her back even further against the wall. JJ struggled to keep her coffee up. “And then as soon as you get off this jet - you’re whoever you wanna be. But here - during a case, you’re mine.”

She likes this side to Emily - it was playful and possessive and a side she’s never seen before. She stepped away with her coffee. Looking back at Emily as she walked back to her seat. All the brunette could do was smirk as she stirred her tea.

[joyboyish]

what the strawhats are for halloween cuz im still in a spooky mood

luffy - hes either a cartoon character (finn the human probs) or an animal (i think a bear). the costume was made by robin and she made a tiny costume for one of his beetles

zoro - luffy FORCED zoro to match with him (hes probably jack the dog or a jar of honey) flat faced the whole time but he enjoys it

nami - jennifer check, popular costume and kind of basic but she pulls it off better than anyone

usopp - mf went ALL OUT with sfx makeup.. theres no costume just the makeup... he stood next to brook (who was terrified) and people thought they were a zombie and a skeleton friend group

sanji - hes dressed up as the male lead in a popular romance book at the time.. expects all the ladies on the island their on to fall for him

chopper - robin made him a costume to match hers!

robin - a famous archeologist and if you ask her who shes dressed as she'll give you a history lesson. chopper is the archeologists friend or smthn. sanji was excited for a sexy costume and was upset when she came out in a fake mustache

franky - a robot (he thinks hes soooo funny)

brook - didnt dress up but won multiple costume contests

jinbe - handing out treats. hes wearing a super tacky sweater

[mechaknight-98]

Gathering: Birds of Paradise

After the wildly successful "Fearless Kkura" episode that he and Dexter had been a part of: Connor and Dexter began getting calls from other companies to help with work with idols. While sifting through these various emails Connor gets a call from Jennifer Huh?

"Yo Jenny what's up," Connor asks excitedly.

"Hey so don't be mad but I kinda RSVPed you and me for a gala in Florida," Jennifer said

"Why? you know I hate those," Connor replied

"Well, Chaewon and Kkura had schedules around that time. Kazuha's back in Japan with her family, and Eunchae is too young." Jen explained.

"Okay, that's reasonable…Before I say yes can I ask what's the Gala for?"

"Oh…um it's a Tricell Charity Gala for those who have been victims of all of the bio-terrorist attacks over the years. I got invited because My family had survived one in New Jersey a while back only because of the recovery aid from Tricell." Jen explained

Connor sighed trying to hide his emotions, but Jen being Jen sensed his discomfort like… Um… what would be a good analogy for this…Oh, I got it; Jen could sense his discomfort like a Shark with blood in the water.

"Ah whae. I know that sigh. that is a Don't have me do this sigh," Jen said to her friend.

"I don't know Jen that sounds incredibly dangerous," Connor replied

"What aren't you telling me?" Jen asked Connor. Connor remained silent.

"Ah heck, I'll go," Connor replies against his better Judgement.

Connor arrives a day early so he can meet Yunjin. He is surprised to see no crowd waiting for her as she approaches His rental. She hugs him

“Hey, Connor. How’s it going?” She says cheerfully then she notices his rental truck and laughs. “wow You must like that truck?” she teased

Connor gives a slight nod, smiles, and says, “Pretty good, and yes I do. Also are you hungry?” Yunjin nods. She gets in the rental and they both drive to a small cafe.

On the way, Connor speaks to Jen.

"Okay, so Jen while we are out here. I do need to meet with my sister and mom." Connor started. The previous day he had visited his brother.

"Oh, I will go with you," Jen replied

"That's not what I was asking," Connor said

"Oh well too bad I am coming with you," Jen said happily. Connor groaned, to which Jennifer replied, "Well how else would I get to know who made such a distinguished and handsome gentleman? Connor relents as they pull into a small Cuban Cafe that was a few miles from both the hotel and the airport. the two sit in the cafe and order their food, while eating Yunjin asks, “So why the beef with Tricell?”

Connor stiffens, hesitates, and concludes that telling her the truth will be the easiest thing. Taking a page out of Dex's book he begins to overshare, "Well I lost both my parents to the T virus outbreak in 98 which was led by the previous head of Tricell Albert Wesker. who's second Son Alexander also caused me to lose my adopted older brother. So I have beef with Umbrella, Tricell, and him, but hey they're trying to change right? if not I can always beat him to a pulp again."

"So you and Dexter both have a history with the Wekser family?"

"Wait how do you know about that? He's never told me anything about that!" Connor exclaimed.

"Well I don't but Kkura told me that Eunbi explained that after Eunbi and Dexter's second date

"Wait Eunbi Kwon and Dex?"

"Yeah, Kkura introduced them after the third episode of "Fearless Kkura" you two worked on together."

"Oh, that's why she had him and Eunbi stay after, and why he's been hopping back and forth to Korea."

"Well that and she also really likes his directing, but yeah they're super cute together," Jennifer said. "Which reminds me. Are you still romancing Giselle…I mean Aeri?"

"No. She doesn't like guys like Kkura."

"Oh really."

"Let me rephrase I don't think she likes me like that."

"Oh okay, that makes more sense. Maybe she can sense that you mine?"

"Shut up Jen," Connor replies

"Ah, whae? I mean don't you like me?" Jen asks with a legit look of disappointment, but Connor reassures her that it's not her it's him.

"Yeah, but come on you're Incredible Ms. Starlet baddie Yunjin Jennifer Huh. I am just normal ole Connor Sun-Won Young." Connor replies

"Wait is Sun-Won your middle name?" Jen asks

"Not the point, but No my middle name is Connor after my Grandpa, but it's easier to say the Sun-won for most people." Connor elaborates

"That's it I am calling you Sonny now." Jen teases

"Oh, brother." Connor groans

"But yeah Dex when he was in College had a run-in with a Wesker who had an outbreak at his school. the school was destroyed and he had to leave." Jen explained.

Connor nodded surprised to be hearing this, and said, "I wish he would have told me that."

Seeing the genuine hurt on Connor's face; Jen looks at Connor slack-jawed. After a few moments she grabs his hand “Connor I am so sorry to hear that.” She says genuinely. “I thought it was that they were just because of your hatred of Mega corporations but this was extremely personal, Why did you agree?” Connor shrugs and tries to figure out why, but he can't form any other response. Yunjin’s shocked face eases and she responds, “Well Thank you for coming with me.” Connor nods. After finishing breakfast He takes Yunjin to her hotel and helps her with her bags. After they finish she looks at Connor confused. “Hey, where are you going?”

“to visit my mom then to my hotel room,” Connor says hesitantly.

“uh, why,” Yunjin says as she corners him.

“Your manager made it clear that while you are here you are to be “untouched” was the word,” Connor responds.

Yunjin laughs “Um how about no.” She says as she grabs him by his necklace. She tilts her head as she grabs it. “Oh, this is nice. It looks good on you. Is it new?” she asks

“No, I just got it back though.” Connor answers.

“Well, it looks good on you. Silver suits you” Yunjin says as she pulls Connor onto the bed.

As you two stare into the roof of the room an awkward silence falls.

“So what happened when you asked Aeri out yet?” Jen asks.

Connor turns over to her and responds “She laughed while she said she sees me as an older brother.”

Jen stifled a chuckle before saying “You an older brother? Oh, I’m so sorry come hug noona to make it all better.” Connor accepts her hug but scowls at her saying noona

“Noona, where did that come from I’m older than you?” Connor responds to Jen

She looks at him and squints, “No you’re not?”Connor groans, takes out his ID, and shows her his birthday. Yunjin smirked “Huh” she grunted “I guess you are my oppa then. Sorry, Oppa. That explains why Aeri was calling you that now. I thought she liked you that's why.” Jennifer explains

“It’s no big deal.“ Connor responds

“I just thought cause you such a teddy bear that you were younger than Chae and I.” Jen rebutted

“Nope. I’m a year older than Kkura. to be exact six months but I digress” Connor says matter of fact.

Connor gets up and begins the process of heading to his mom's spot. Jennifer is all smiles as she also gets up with him. They get in his car and drive to Miami where his mother stays. when arriving Connor begins to get cold feet. his hands start shaking. Jennifer notices this and smiles reassuringly at him and the two get out of the car. Connor approaches his mom's door and knocks. The house remains quiet until it opens.

"Oh Baruuk how good to see you." Connor's sister: Valkyr says to him. Connor smiles weakly.

"Is Mom home?" he asks.

"Yeah, but are you sure you want to talk to her?"

"Yeah, I have some stuff I'd like to tell her."

"Okay, but wait who's this pretty young lady behind you?"

"Oh Hi I'm Jen his girlfriend," Jennifer says.

Connor shoots a look at Jen who just smiles at him. Valkyr sees their little interaction and laughs, "Well Ms. Jen can I talk to you while My little Ruuk goes to our mom?" Valkyr asks, and Jen nods. This gives Connor the freedom to go back to his mom who was in the backyard.

Mrs. LesProux Knew since his landing that Connor was going to arrive. Call it mother's intuition. what she didn't know was what he would be here for.

"Hey Mom," Connor says to his mother upon entering the backyard. His mother a tall statuesque Amazonian woman stood in the backyard facing the morning light.

"Hello, Little cub. I am surprised to see you," she says coldly.

"I didn't expect to be back, but here I am…You know I have done some thinking, and I finally have an answer for you."

"Oh, really, and what is that? Do you still hate me for stealing you from your birth parents? Do you still want revenge?" Mrs. LesProux questions

"No, I said those in anger and resentment that I couldn't have a normal life, but that was never your fault," Connor says apologetically

Mrs. LesProux turns to her adopted son. She sees his remorse and gets closer to him, "Wait, so you're not angry anymore?" she asks skeptically.

"No…I can't be really, but in this time separated from this life I realized I am not built for war." Connor says

"Oh, then what are you built for?" Mrs. LesProux asks intrigued

"Diplomacy and art, but I appreciate what you did for me because as you've said numerous times. Fate had other plans." Connor answers

Mrs. LesProux chuckles at her son's response "That is a surprising answer."

"Why so." Connor asks

"To forge peace one must know war." Mrs. LesProux answers

"Yes, and you've taught me war. The time I have been with Dexter or as you call him the fool has brought me peace, and I needed that." Connor adds

"Well, then I guess I may have been harsh in my judgment of him. Especially learning about him." Mrs. LesProux asserts

Connor looks to his mom confused "What do you mean?" he asks

"He was in love with that Wesker girl a few years back and according to my sources she betrayed him when he went to do his best to purge all records of that event from everywhere." Mrs. LesProux explains

"That explains why he never talks about it." Connor figures

"I assume it's a pretty sore spot. Speaking of pretty who is that girl talking to Valkyr Baruuk?" Mrs. LesProux says to Connor

"Oh that's Jennifer she's a friend." Connor reassures

"Really? she doesn't look at you like you're just a friend." Mrs. LesProux states

"How do you figure that?" Connor asks

"I have seen the look of love Baruuk and believe me she has it." Mrs LesProux Explains

"Well then I will keep that in mind." Connor said falling quiet. Mrs LesProux smiles at her son's bashfullness.

She goes to hug him "Still my shy and humble little boy I see. I should have known that bringing you into the fold was a mistake, but that being said I think you have grown into a fine young man."

"thanks Voruna." Connor says to his mom

"You're welcome Baruuk." Mrs. LesProux says "So what will you do now?" She asks

"I am going to the Tricell Gala tomorrow with Jennifer as her plus one." Connor answers

"Oh well then we shall see each other again then." Mrs LesProux says

"Okay." Connor says

After that connor walks back with his mom to the living room where Valkyr and Jennifer talked. Mrs. LesProux looks Jennifer up and down. then says "What are your intentions with my son?"

Yunjin blushes a the question as does connor before Valkyr gives them an out.

"Come on Mom, Can't you see their blushing. Baruuk, Jen leave before you get more embarrassed." Valkyr says before escorting the couple out. The couple then drive back to the Hotel and Jen starts to become sleepier. (I guess the effects of the flight getting to her.) They get back to her hotel room and she cuddles with Connor.

"So you've met my mom, and sister what did you think?" Connor asks

"I am still surprised you are so manly and gentlemanly because Your mom and Valkyr are very cold." Jen answers

"Well that was because of my older brother Atlas. He taught me a lot of the manners stuff, you would've love him. he was tall kind, and…" before Connor could really get into his description Jen asked what happened to Atlas. "He was the brother that died because of Alexander Wesker." Connor answers

Jen nods “oh…Learning new things about you every day.” She adds. Jen falls silent after that. Connor notices she hasn’t broken the hug after 30 minutes, and then he hears her sleep breathing. eventually. the calming sound her of breathing also lulls Connor to fall asleep as well. He wakes up from his nap when Jen’s alarm goes off. No Return begins blaring. As he attempts to get up he is struck by his arm being very asleep, realizing this he tries to remedy it. As Jen wakes up to his movements she laughs excitedly watching as Connor tries to wake his sleeping arm up.

“What’s going on?” Connor asks confused

“Oh we’re meeting with Winter and Hosang before they just flew in so we’re all getting dinner together.” Connor nods and follow her as she changes her jacket to something lighter as the morning cool has burned off into a humid heat more common to Florida. Connor looks away as he tries to not see her exposed

Jen smiles at Connor and says"you know you don't have to look away while I change."

"Um yes I do" Connor Rebukes

"You're so cute when you're bashful." Jen teases. She begins laughing while watching he is still trying to get his arm awake again. After a few minutes, he succeeds and he gets up now having his arm almost back to normal. You get in your rental truck and drive to the airport again. Winter and Hosang are surprised when you pick them up.

“Oh hi Yunjin… and Connor.” Hosang said in surprise to seeing you.

You wave as they put their bags in the truck bed. Winter and Hosang both begin to whisper in Korean. They’re quiet enough to not hear every word. You turn to them when you hear “American” both you and Jen do actually. You both scowl suspiciously.

“What?” winter says innocently.

“What was that about? They are sooo American?” Jen says.

Hosang laughs and says “well look like we were caught. Winter and I were just talking about how you two looks so American together. (He gestures to the truck) its so funny how you are both so American and so not American.” You watch as Jen goes back to facing you with a smile. You drove the couple to their hotel.

while on the way in Jen asks “hey how did you guys get the okay from SM to date?”

Hosang answers. “Um so we actually haven't so if you could keep it on the down low that would be great.” Jen’s eyes go wide and she nods in understanding. She smiles and says

“You secret is safe with us. Isn’t It Connor.”

Teasingly you say “Absolutely not. I need compensation for Giselle putting me in the brother zone, and a dating scandal for her group sounds like a fat pay day. So two birds one stone.” they look at you for a moment, thinking you serious, but when they see your face change they all break into a smile.

“You had us worried for a minute.” Winter says. You laugh

While helping them Hosang comes to you and asks, “I know you were joking about the Aeri thing but are you sure you’re okay?” you shrug

“I can’t really do anything about it so why would I care? As my friend Burro says “Time keeps moving forward so whill I.” .I’ll just work my hardest and then move on.”you say to Hosang. Who nods.

“ah the good ole keep moving forward.” he says and you nod. After you help the couple into their room you, Jen, winter, and Hosang all get back into the car you drive to restaurant where you’ll be eating for the night. You arrive at the small Cuban spot that Jen found and you all file in. Jen smiles as you all walk in and she grabs your arm, she links with hers as she smiles at you. You smile back her dark hair bouncing as she walks with you. A wave of calm washes over you as you sit with her. You feel… pleasant around her in a way you’re not used to.

After the waiter takes drink and appetizer orders. Then Hosang asks you the fated question.

“So how did you meet Aeri Uchinaga Mr. Connor?”

You look around and winter smirks. “tell him then Magic man.“

“Well long story short. I play mtg to deal with some PTSD issues I had in the past. So naturally I played mtga where I met Scorpion’s love-00. I beat this person. This person sends me a discord message and we begin an online friendship. That friendship eventually led to me meeting this person who turned out to be the illustrious Giselle of Aespa.” Jen smiles as you recount your story.

When you get to the part about Winter looked at you surprised. After you finished your tale pried a little into that. “You mentioned PTSD…um Connor are you okay?” you shrug.

“Yeah just some bad stuff happened while before I got into college. Mtg helped me get out of that bad place, but it also made it worse because I became obsessed. Overall I think I am good though now.” Winter squinted as she starred at you. You could see the worry on her face. You smile to allay her worry. After all they didn’t need to be bothered with your tales. After you finished your food got here, and while you ate you could of sworn you saw Voruna. When your friends catch you spacing out looking for her they quickly bring you back. You smile at them as you all get back to eating and enjoying their company.

When you went to pay the man waiter says “Oh you’re meal was already paid for by a Karena LesProux. She left the message, “for my lost cub who is found again.” everyone looks weirdly at the waiter except you who knows who that is and what that means. You ease into the seat and say to everyone “wow that is so weird but cool free meal.” they all look at you weirdly at first but then it’s put past them

.After that you take Winter and Hosang back to their hotel and say your goodbyes until tomorrow.

Winter stops for a moment before going in to talk to you. She gets you out of earshot of the others and says. “Don’t give up on Giselle just yet. She’s just got a lot going on” you sigh and wave as they leave.

You go to drop Jen off and as you leave she says. “Can you stay with me tonight?”

You see the anxiety in her eyes, and all you can say is “Sure” so you follow her to her room, and fall asleep. You take turns using the shower and getting ready for the night . You cuddle with her in the bed. It’s awkward at first until she says “Hey it’s okay I don’t bite.” her eyes are bright and happy. Her smile is innocent and inviting.

You say to her, “this isn’t very hot girl. Of you.”

She laughs and responds “Maybe I want to be soft girl for the night.” you laugh and she hugs you tight. You both fall asleep roughly around the same time. At 4am you wake up. You get up to leave but as you went to get up from the bed Jen said still partially asleep you think says, “Don’t go. Don’t leave me alone.” you look at her. She looks so lonely, so afraid

“What’s wrong Jen?” you ask. At this point you look at her worried but clearly see she is still half asleep.

“I feel so isolated, and you make me feel connected. Idol life it’s great but there’s too much pressure too rigid. I want someone who’s fluid and goes with the flow .I live in fear everyday that because of who I am and my background that everything is going to collapse on me. I want someone by my side who is strong and confident yet gentle and reassuring. So please stay with me.” Jen says. You also remember that Jen said all of this still half asleep and probably wouldn’t remember it. You breath in and out and lie back next to her. As you drift off your mind settles in a familiar place. Stars litter the endless void.

When Connor opens his eyes he is greeted by Jen’s smiling face. She is elated that he stayed with her. The next thing he hears is his phone ringing. It’s Dexter.

[tsumoren]

DANCE WITH ME UNDER A MOONLIT SKY.

SUMMARY. enstars characters as a selection of romance quotes that make me want to crush them in my hands

FEATURING. rinne amagi, keito hasumi, tatsumi kazehaya, natsume sakasaki

NOTES. reader is gender neutral, no warnings just pure unfiltered fluff, idiots in love, not proofread

rinne amagi

“it's not that i can't live without you; it's that i don't want to. there's a difference. we all make choices in life and i choose you. my heart belongs to you. and i'm not asking for it back, even if you don't want it anymore.” — the perfect game; j. sterling

rinne falls in love like the first drop of a roller coaster. it's nothing new, he knows how it starts and how it ends—and he swears it's going to be different this time. he isn't going to scream and yell when the rush takes over and he definitely isn't going to seriously fall in love with you. but the rails click with anticipation, and rinne amagi, who is usually so buoyant and a thorn in everyone's side, is unusually quiet. he reaches the very top, and everything else feels so small. the food cart the two of you were just at, the minigame he won just for you so you could take that big ugly bear home, the gift shop that you begged to visit at least once before you left. everything falls into place, and when he turns to look at you and your big annoying smile, asking words he can't quite make out, the ride tips over the edge—and rinne amagi's voice is lost to the wind.

keito hasumi

“i will want you with every single ounce of my being during every single second of every single day for the rest of our lives. no amount of scars will stop me from loving you, from worshipping you with every moment we have together. you are it for me.” — when it raynes; montana fyre

keito falls in loves like free falling from a plane. he's perfectly guarded and protected around all sides—heart packed tightly in the safest corner of his chest, ready for everything and anything thrown his way. it's the only time he isn't in control, and he can't work his way out of this one. the time is only perfect once he catches sight of you below, and keito finally takes a leap of faith, shutting his eyes tight and diving down head first. the wind rushes past him furiously—adrenaline rushes through his veins and his heart is still beating straight out of his chest even when he lands right into your arms. his pupils are blown wide, hair tussled from the wind, glasses long gone from the fall—but you smile at him so warmly that keito thinks he might dive right into your arms right again.

tatsumi kazehaya

“what are you smiling about?” / “just admiring the view.” / “you were staring at me.” / “like i said, admiring the view.” — real players never lose; micalea smeltzer

tatsumi falls in love like quiet nights in front of a fireplace. there isn't anything else except him, you, and the burning of the distant firewood. you glow brilliantly in the golden light, and tatsumi realizes that he would do nothing but stay with you like this forever and he would be happy. the way you shuffle quietly under the large blanket, lost to sleep long ago. behind him, the world falls into a steady pulse, a silent lull that fades into the background as he flickers to life—similar to the flames in front of him. he draws mindless circles on the back of your hand whilst you sleep and wonders just what and when things changed. on what day, on what occasion? but tatsumi doesn't mind, not when your eyes are closed so peacefully—he could stay with you like this forever, after all.

natsume sakasaki

“loving you is as natural to me as breathing. you came into my life and wormed your way into my heart. i knew the first time i saw you that there was no one like you on this planet. no one else for me.” — academically yours; jennifer chipman

natsume falls in love like pancakes over breakfast. it's soft, warm, uplifting, and it feels like he has lived this domesticity with you all his life. because he knew from the first time he set sight on you that you were the one—with your messed up tie and mismatched socks, rushing through the halls with papers flying all around. he feels like the center of a cliche movie, a silly and laughable child's tale. but you are there in every vision he sees. with you, every moment is a state of wonderful bliss—featherlight touches, playful teasing, kisses that never seem to last long enough. natsume doesn't care, he knows you have all the time in the world together. and if fate would not allow it, then he would just have to curse everyone altogether until it did.

[buckysgrace]

Sixty

Dancing in the Dark Masterlist

Valentine’s Day rolled around quickly, leaving Billy nervous as he kept thinking over his plans for the day. He’d never really done anything fancy for the stupid holiday. They were usually cheap dates and quick fucks. Nothing special. Not until now. 

He was stressed about it. He didn’t know how he was going to make it special for her. She couldn’t keep her nose out of cheesy romance novels, fawned over passionate movies and had a whole journal dedicated to her dream wedding. He was sure that he was fucked. She probably had the perfect day planned out and he had no idea about any of it. 

“Hey,” Billy hesitated as he leaned against the doorway, watching as Rosemary finished sweeping up the front of the store, “I was going to take Kim out tonight. I mean I am. I got us a hotel room too.” He said slowly, unsure of why he was so nervous to ask her. 

This morning had been busy, a lot busier than what he was used to. Mostly men, coming in to do some last minute cake shopping. Billy was very happy that he had ordered things ahead of time. He didn’t want to be bustling around last second. 

When he’d arrived this morning he had noticed a little set up on his counter. There was one red rose, a bag of handmade peanut butter pretzels and a square crocheted heart pattern. She was too sweet for her own good. He was fearing his gestures wouldn't come close to hers. 

Rosemary had wished him a happy Valentine’s Day that morning as well and thus far the only other card that he’d received had been from Cindy. It was store bought and her number was scribbled in neatly at the bottom. She was even so kind to say she wished the best for Kim. He tossed it immediately. 

“Oh that will be fun,” Rosemary smiled as she sat up, leaning against the broom for a second, “Sam and I are going out too.” She said excitedly, chewing on her bottom lip as she thought about it. He paused, sure that this meant that him and Kim wouldn’t be able to go. 

“Sorry,” He apologized, “I didn’t know. Do you need us to watch Russell?” He asked seriously, thinking about how often he had to cancel dates because Neil and Susan went out. He hated playing the babysitter part, but he’d do it after all the stress he’d put them through recently. 

“Well,” She paused, “I already got someone to watch him.” She said with a nod of her head. He tilted his chin in confusion, noticing the way she was holding something back. It was curious. 

“Who?” Billy asked, laughing as he thought about it, “It’s Valentine’s Day. I’m sure only weirdos and losers are out.” He stated, furrowing his eyebrows as he thought about what poor person got stuck watching Russell. Then again, Russell would probably be the one stuck with some lame person. 

“Funny,” She replied dryly, “Your friend Tommy actually agreed to it. He said he had nothing better to do and could use the cash.” She smirked a little bit as she rested her hand on her hip, looking quite proud. Billy snorted, sure that Tommy was doing this to get on Rosemary’s good side. It was sickening. 

“That asshole just doesn’t want to babysit Jennifer,” He said quickly as he shook his head, “And Tommy is a terrible influence.” He pointed out, unsure if it was a good thing or not to leave him alone with Russell. Tommy was odd in his own way.

“Well, like you said,” Rosemary replied with a grin, “The only ones left were losers and weirdos. Besides, at least Tommy can keep Russell entertained.” She said as she nodded her head, looking quite pleased with her answer still. He supposed that she was right. Tommy wasn’t that hard to entertain. Sometimes. 

“He’ll probably lock him outside,” Billy mumbled before he shook his head, “So is that fine with you then?” He rubbed the back of his neck, still expecting her to laugh in his face. Neil would’ve told him that it was stupid. That he shouldn’t spend so much time fussing over a girl on top of a lot of other things. 

“Yeah,” She nodded her head, “I just want to know when you guys get there, for safety reasons. Call the house, please let someone know.” She said seriously, pointing the end of the broom at him to tell him that she meant business. 

“We will,” He nodded his head, “Thanks, I appreciate it.” He said seriously, watching as she threw the dirt from the pail away. She put the broom away, then paused as she turned towards him again. 

“You two have fun,” She said with a big smile, “And Billy?” She said a second later, making him stop his movements as he headed towards the back of the kitchen. He needed to get ready to leave, to ensure that he got the rest of his stuff picked up in time. 

“Hm?” He asked, resting his hands on his hips as he waited for whatever she had to say. 

“Buy a box of condoms,” She said, shaking her head as he felt his face suddenly burn, “Or by next Thanksgiving you’ll have to deal with Susan and a crying baby.” She mocked a serious expression, nodding her head and making him think about how true that was. No babies in his immediate future.

“I’ll remember that,” He told her seriously as he nodded his head, trying to ignore how his face continued to heat up, “Thank you. I’ll see you at home.” He nodded his head, grumbling underneath his breath as he ducked his head towards the exit. He continued to mumble, all the way until he was in the safety of his car. 

He had most of her gifts already picked up and hidden within his room. He was hoping that she wouldn’t be nosey enough to search through while he was gone. The only thing he really needed to pick up today was the flowers. He had thought that flowers would be very important to her. 

He felt awkward shuffling them into his car, even more awkward when he carefully pulled them free and carried them up towards the house. He shuffled around for a moment, trying to think of the right thing to say once he entered.

“Are those for me?” Russell mocked as he greeted him at the door, still wearing his backpack on his shoulders, “You shouldn’t have.” He said sweetly as he held his hand over his chest, making Billy roll his eyes in exasperation.

“What about you?” He asked as he raised his eyebrows, looking at Russell curiously, “Did uh, any assholes give you any cards today?” He pondered for a moment, trying to figure out the best way to ask him. He wondered if there were any girls that liked Russell and how he got around that whole situation. 

“Shut up.” Russell responded with a burning face, his cheeks lighting up so brightly that he could put Kim to shame. Amusement struck him as he realized that there must be some truth to it. 

“Wait,” Billy laughed as he started to follow behind him, “It sounds like someone did.” He said a little more seriously, wanting to know what little punk was messing with his little brother. Russell walked a little faster, almost toppling into Pearl who had jumped out. 

“Go away!” He protested, his face still burning brightly as he slammed his bedroom door shut. Billy paused outside, rattling the doorknob for a moment as he decided that he’d get the information out of Russell later.

He paused as he held onto the flowers, wondering how the best way to approach her would be. He didn’t want to just throw them at her, but he wasn’t sure if he’d have time to set anything fancy up for her. 

“She’s in her room,” Sam said as he looked over the bouquet of flowers from his doorway, “She’s going to like those.” He continued on with a large smile, a glimmer of pride in his eyes. Billy didn’t know how to handle that. 

“Thanks,” He mumbled, “I appreciate it.” He nodded, raising his free hand up towards him as he turned away. He headed into his room, trying to gain sense of what to say. He wasn’t sure if he was supposed to give her the presents now, but he didn’t want to do it at the restaurant either. 

He gathered up the rest of his things, organizing them neatly in the little basket he’d found. He wondered suddenly if he should’ve added more color, made it a little brighter. He was suddenly worried, hoping that she would like it.

He knocked outside of her door, feeling nervous as he glanced down at Pearl who had settled herself on top of his foot. She looked up at him with her different colored eyes, a hint of mischief in them like she was planning on tripping him.

“Come on!” Kim shouted kindly from inside, her voice soft and smooth as he slowly twisted the door open. Her curtains were spread far apart, her windows open as she invited in the bright sun and calm breeze. She was stretched out on her stomach, the pages of her book pressed between her fingers as her ankles crossed in the air. 

“Happy Valentine’s Day.” He spoke up, grinning as he walked into the room. He held onto the stuff awkwardly, not quite sure where to put everything. She gasped as she quickly stood up, her dress rising over her thighs as she rushed towards him. Her eyes were wide, completely taken aback. 

He felt his smile grow as he watched her quickly analyze everything, her cheeks turning pink as she slowly pressed the presents in her hands. She put the gift basket down, staring at the bouquet in wonder. 

“Billy,” She gasped as she looked over the carnations, “You didn’t have to get me this many. Oh my goodness, these are beautiful. And chocolate! Thank you.” She said as she looked at the little heart box that was looped around the stems. She bounced on the tips of her toes, seemingly overjoyed as he felt this heart hammering in his chest. 

“Of course I did,” He said with a grin, watching the way her eyes flashed in joy, “You deserve all of the flowers.” He said as he leaned forward and kissed her cheek. He paused for a moment before he took the flowers again, gesturing towards the rest of her presents.

She plopped down at the edge of the bed, pulling free some of the little heart decorations he’d found. Okay, that Russell had found. He had been a fairly big help in making sure that Billy didn’t make it look completely ugly. 

“Oh my God!” She exclaimed as she held the stuffed cow up, “It’s huge! Where did you find him?” She asked seriously as she tugged it into her arms. It was indeed huge, at least the side of half of her body. The cow was white with brown heart shaped spots, as well as heart shaped antenna. Pearl hopped up on her lap, sniffling it curiously. 

“That’s a secret,” He said playfully, amused by how entertained she was, “Do you like everything?” He watched as she continued to pull out little bags of candy, some rolls of yarn and a few mystery novels he’d found. Alma had mentioned throwing in a sketchbook, which he had done. Kim had a little bit of everything, just like Christmas. 

“I love them,” She said, smiling brightly as she examined the earrings, “I was going to give you yours later, but now s’fine.” She said as she placed her things aside gently, then came forth with a large pink basket. There were a few red balloons attached to it, shaped into hearts. She had definitely gone all out with the little heart decorations and glitter. Oh well. It was sweet. 

Inside of his basket held a shirt, a navy blue buttoned up with various stripes going down the front of it. Inside was also what seemed to be a mixtape, a red crocheted hat, a new copy of Cold Moon Over Babylon and a new set of gold earrings. They were little hoops, making him grin as he looked over at them. 

“What’s this?” He asked as he held up a little hard. It was handmade, cut from pink sheets of construction paper. She had clearly used some sort of white material to make the lace part of it as well. His name was written in large cursive, soft. He could tell it was her handwriting by the way she curved her y. 

“It’s nothing,” She said, face burning as she tucked her hair behind her ears, “It’s just-, you know. It’s just a little poem. In the card.” She said bashfully as she clasped her hands together, then distracted herself by threading her fingers through Pearl’s soft fur. 

“You wrote it?” He grinned, watching as she nodded her head, “So I have an original Kim Mayfield?” He teased her, but fully meant it. Her poem was sweet, cute. And very cheesy. But it was personal. It was clearly about him. He’d never been compared to the sun before, but he sort of liked it. He’d have to put it up. 

“Stop,” She said as she held her hands up to her bright red face, “It’s embarrassing. I didn’t know if you’d really like it or not.” She whispered shyly, looking like she was seconds from crawling underneath the bed. He shook his head in disbelief. It was all perfect. He couldn’t ask for more from her. 

“I love it,” He told her seriously as he kissed the side of her cheek again, “And I really love these peanut butter clusters. Thank you.” He added, watching the way she flushed all over again. She paused as she pulled one of the boxes of candy free from her basket. 

“These are so good,” She said, eating candy heart after candy heart, “Do you want one?” She asked, offering him a red one. He quickly shook his head. Those were definitely all sugar. He didn’t need that, too sweet for his teeth. 

“No thank you,” He told her softly, “What are you going to wear? I have big plans for tonight.” He mumbled as he nuzzled his way into the crook of her neck. She held onto him, brushing her fingers through his curls softly. He sighed deeply, enjoying the sensation. 

“You do?” She asked brightly, “Like what?” She asked, giggling softly as he began to pepper kisses against the sensitive spot on her neck. He rubbed his fingers across the side of her waist, rubbing her skin gently. 

“Some of it is a surprise,” He said with a smile, “But we’re going out. And I rented a hotel.” He sighed, inhaling the scent of cherries against her skin. He wondered how she always managed to smell so sweet, just a little tart. He liked that. 

“Did our parents mind?” She asked softly as she leaned her cheek against the top of his head. He supposed he should move away, but he liked the feeling of her skin against his own. It was comforting. “Mom didn’t,” He told her truthfully, leaving out the conversation about Rosemary’s suggestion. Perhaps he’d tease her about it later, but not right yet, “It will be fun. Come on.” 

//////////////////////////////////////////

“Here’s the money for the pizza,” Sam said as he pulled cash out, waving it towards Russell before he set it down on the counter, “And the number of the restaurant if you guys need us.” He said, furrowing his eyebrows together as he pushed his glasses up his nose again. He was dressed nicely, but Rosemary kept going behind him to tuck his shirt back into his pants. 

“Got it.” Russell responded as he continued to work on the Lego set he was building. It was supposedly a king’s castle. For whatever reason, it held his interest.

They’d all spent turns talking to Max on the phone, wishing her a Happy Birthday despite her being clearly annoyed. They had somehow managed to gather around the phone, all of them singing into it. He could practically feel her anger and embarrassment seeping through the line. It was funny. 

“We can get a picture of you,” Kim said quickly, “You both look cute. It would be nice.” Billy turned towards her, admiring her all over again. Her dress was a little older, perhaps from the fifties. It was white, with little red polka dots covered across it. It was tighter around her waist, then fluffed out towards her knees where it ended. Her shoulders were exposed and there were three different sections across the dress which held a red bow and ribbon. Her hair was in thick curls, framed out of her face. 

“Oh, sure,” Rosemary said brightly, “Get over here, Sam.” She said happily as she pulled Sam forward. Her dress ended at her feet, had small straps and was covered in different floral patterns. 

“Oh, joy,” Sam said as he looped his arm around her waist, “I hope you’re getting my good side.” He said playfully as he turned towards Billy. He shook his head, holding up the camera so he could get a good picture of the two of them. 

“Ha,” He responded dryly, “There you go.” He replied as he pulled it free, giving it a good shake before handing it towards them. Sam took it, grinning as he showed it off towards Rosemary. 

“Russell,” Rosemary snapped her fingers towards him, gaining his attention instantly, “Make sure you get a picture of Kim and Billy before they leave.” She said, nodding her head as Russell’s nose curled up in annoyance. 

“Okay, okay,” He said quickly, “I won’t forget!” He shouted as he waved his little Lego man around. Billy shook his head, watching as Sam and Rosemary began to head towards the door. 

“Good,” She said as she kissed the top of his head, then made her rounds towards Kim and Billy, “Everyone be safe. Call us when you get to the hotel.” She said sternly, pointing towards the two of them so they wouldn’t forget. 

“We will,” Kim replied with a smile, “We promise.” She nodded her head as she turned to look at Billy, the curve of her lips growing as he pulled her closer. He was pretty crazy about her. 

“Have fun,” Sam said as he walked out after Rosemary, “But not too much fun!” He said, laughing as he sent them both a wink. Kim flushed, almost matching the red on her dress as Billy rolled his eyes in annoyance. 

“Gross.” Russell spoke up as he wrinkled his lips up in disgust. He shivered, looking like he might vomit before he turned back to his Legos. 

“We better go,” Billy said quickly, determined to not be late, “I made dinner reservations.” He told her for the first time, grinning as he revealed the news. It would be special, not some ordinary restaurant. He supposed they could go somewhere fancy for once. 

“What?” She turned towards him quickly, her eyebrows furrowing together as she parted her lips in confusion. He stalled for just a moment. 

“What’s wrong?” He asked her seriously, hoping that he hadn’t done something wrong. She paused as she bit down on her glossed lips, then smoothed her hands over the puffy part of her dress. 

“I made dinner reservations,” She said, smiling sheepishly, “Where did you set it up at?” She asked, making him laugh as he realized they hadn’t planned this very well. It was better to be over prepared, than not at all. 

“This pasta place,” He said as he kissed her nose, “What about you?” He mused as he held onto her, flattered that she had thought so strongly about this as well. He shouldn’t be surprised.

“A steakhouse,” She giggled softly, “I figured you’d like that.” She shrugged her shoulders, her cheeks forming a slight pink color as she fretted with the ends of her curls. 

“Well what sounds better?” He asked her a second later, wondering what she would prefer to eat. It should be something they agreed on, but she was certainly the pickier one. 

“I’m okay with whatever.” She said gently, smiling like she meant it. He scoffed softly, really not wanting to be the one to decide this time. He wanted to go wherever she wanted to go. 

“Kim.”

“Rock, paper, scissors for it?” She asked as she turned towards him, her eyes flashing in amusement as she laid her suggestion out. He thought about it for a moment, deciding it was the one way she’d pick it out. He wondered if he should move his hands a little slower, just to make her purposely win. 

“Fine,” He said as he held his hand up, “You ready?” She nodded her head, confirming her answer as they began to tap their fists against their palms. 

“Ha,” She said as she looked up with a grin, “You win. Pasta it is.” She said as she let his palm cover her fist. He shook his head, deciding that it was fair after all. 

Russell took their picture and they waited just a little bit longer until Tommy appeared. It was a little harder trying to get out of the house after that, as he apparently had much he wanted to talk about. Billy, at the moment, really didn’t care. 

The car ride there was pleasant as he kept the music a little lower, choosing to listen to her ramble about her school projects instead. He liked listening to her talk about school, and liked hearing about how smart she was. Sometimes he wished he could pick apart her mind and study it. Gently. He’d never want to harm her. 

“Here we are,” He said as he held the door open for her, smiling as she stuck her feet out towards him, “Don’t kick me now.” He teased her, watching the way her shoes almost struck him. They had a slight heel to them, leaving them the same height. 

“I wouldn’t do it on purpose,” She protested with a hint of a smile, “Purely accidental.” She promised him as she took his hand, letting him pull her forward. She grinned, holding his hand tightly as they moved across the street. 

“I’m sure,” He said as he held onto her waist, looking at how busy it was inside, “You’re clumsy sometimes, you know that?” He reminded her, feeling like he should keep her in bubble wrap sometimes. It was alright. Just another thing to love her for. 

“You may have mentioned that before,” She said with a smile, slotting up towards him as another couple slid in behind them, “It just means I have you to patch me up later.” She teased as she nudged her shoulder against his. 

“I don’t mind that at all,” He said as they waited in line for a few moments, “Reservation for Hargrove.” He said as he pulled her close, watching the way her eyes darted around at the crowds. He held onto her, giving her a soft squeeze before they followed the waitress. 

They sat near the windows, giving them a clear view into the busy street life. The moon was out, high in the air as a faint darkness slipped through the crowds. He pushed in her chair for her, determined to be as sweet as he could tonight. He wiped his hands against his pants out of nerves. He’d never been this close to someone before, never quite this nervous. He wondered if this was how she had felt on their first few dates. 

“What do you want?” He asked her as he pulled his menu forward, struggling with it for a moment before he got it held straight once again. He pressed it up to his nose, hoping that she couldn’t see how nervous he was suddenly. 

“I think the-,” She paused as she looked over it, “Chicken alfredo. That sounds really good.” She squinted her eyes, dropping her lips for just as second as she nodded her head. She looked quite proud of her answer as she shut the menu, as she had already read through all of it. 

“You should add mushrooms to it.” He teased her as he flicked his eyes over the various items. He ignored the prices on the menu, hoping that she had done the same thing. He really wanted it to be special for her. 

“I’m not feeling that risky,” She said with a giggle, “What about you?” She asked as she pressed her elbows on the table, then rested her chin onto her fists. He wished he had brought his camera with him. She looked too pretty for her own good. He couldn’t wait to use the video camera on her. 

“We should share the arancini balls,” He said as he watched the way the lights danced off of her features, “I think I want the chicken piccata.” He said as he shut the menu, then slowly reached forward to snag hers. He didn’t want her to look over it and change her mind. 

“That sounds good,” She said as she clasped her fingers together, “I’m really happy we’re doing this.” She said sweetly, lips pressed softly together as she watched him. He felt warm inside, tingly as if he might explode if she continued to look at him that way. 

“Me too,” Billy started, then paused as the waitress came to take their order. He repeated it all back, noticing the way Kim began to tug on the ends of her hair. She was still shy around people, even just to tell her order. She was too damn cute, “What do you think they’re fighting about?” He whispered as he secretly gestured towards the couple a few tables away from them. 

“Hm,” Kim paused for a moment, “She’s mad because he mixed up her present with his mistresses one.” She said at last, narrowing her eyes as she glanced towards them. He raised his eyebrows, surprised by her answer. 

“Damn,” He said with a laugh, “That’s just fucked up.” He said with a laugh as he sipped on his Coke. He tried not to think about the bottle of whiskey in his car. He’d have to get rid of it. Soon. He didn’t want her to find it, to be disappointed in him. 

“What?” She giggled with a flushed expression, “You told me to guess.” She defended herself as she tucked her hair behind her ears. He nodded along with her, figuring that she might not be too far away. 

“I think-,” He said slowly as he examined them again, “She just told him she’s pregnant, but he’s sterile.” He said, raising the cards as he faced her again. It was her turn to raise her eyebrows in surprise as she faced him again. 

“And you said mine was bad,” She grinned softly, “How will we ever know the truth?” She lowered herself once again as the waitress appeared, dropping off their appetizer before she disappeared again. Kim paused as she reached forward and grabbed one of the balls, inspecting it before she took a bite. 

“We won’t,” He grinned at her, “But that’s not so bad.” He told her, admiring the way she slowly chewed the food around in her mouth. She nodded her head a second later, giving her approval towards him. 

Their food arrived a few minutes later, cutting off his story about how Steve had told him about working at whichever restaurant he was currently at. Billy had thought it would be something funny, because it was. Kim was more excited about the prospect, promising that he would do good. 

“It’s so good,” She said as she munched on her noodles, “Do you want some?” She had them scooped messily onto her fork, her eyes wide with hope as he eventually felt himself giving in. 

“Sure,” He chuckled as he leaned over, letting her spoon a big bite into his mouth, “That is nice. Do you want to try this?” He asked her playfully, showing his plate off. She looked at it for a moment before she shook her head. 

“No thanks,” She said with a laugh, “I’m getting so full.” She brushed him off as she continued to eat, playfully slurping on her noodles. He leaned forward to wipe some of the sauce from the corner of her lips. 

“No room for dessert?” He teased her, knowing fully well that she’d always have room for something sweet. Her eyes lit up as she looked at him, like it was Christmas all over again. 

“Can we take it with us?” She asked him seriously as she brushed her thumbs across the edge of the plate. He tilted his head back and forth, pretending to think about it. 

“I suppose,” He said with a chuckle, “What do you want?” He asked her, turning the smaller dessert menu a little closer to him. He was still a little worried that she’d fret over the prices. He really didn’t want her to worry about that tonight. 

“The cheesecake kind of sounds good.” She admitted as she flicked her eyes back and forth. She pressed her lips together, thinking for a moment like she really wasn’t sure. 

“What about the chocolate strawberries?” He suggested, “Those are really good.” He told her seriously. He thought that she would really like them as well. It would be easy to take with them and share too. 

“Sure,” She smiled, “If you think that will be best.” She said, as agreeable as ever. He watched her curiously for a moment, admiring her soft lines and curves. He really had a hard time believing that he was here with her right now. 

“It will be.” He teased her, sending a wink in her direction. He waited until the waitress returned to repeat what they’d decided on, then worked on wiggling his wallet out of his pants when she brought the boxes and receipt over. 

“Oh my God,” Kim exclaimed once the waitress walked away as she snagged the receipt. Her face went pale, her eyes wide like she might collapse onto the floor, “This is so expensive. Oh my God. This is insane.”

“It’s fine,” He told her quickly, trying to calm her down before she hyperventilated, “It’s one night. It won’t kill me.” He reassured her as he began to skim through his cash. In all honesty, it wasn’t that expensive. But he was fairly certain that she had never spent this much money on something before. 

“I have to pay too,” She said as she gulped hard, “Or if we don’t have enough maybe they’ll let us do some work, or we can-,” She began to ramble off, but he stopped her; not wanting her to jump to conclusions. 

“I have the money,” He clarified gently a second later, “And it’s fine. Really. I wanted to do something special for you tonight.” He told her as he nodded his head, watching the slow way she exhaled. She nodded along, but still looked flustered about it. He couldn’t blame her. She’d never had much money growing up, it was probably a shock. 

He paid for the meal despite her protests, then held onto her hand as they walked around town for a little bit. Once they tired they headed back to his car, but he wasn’t through with night just yet. 

“Can we be on the beach this late?” She asked him, holding her shoes in one hand as she walked through the sand. He held onto their box of strawberries, a blanket loosely thrown over his shoulder.

“Who's going to stop us?” He asked her seriously. He knew that no one would really be out over here, especially officers. It was too dark, a little too chill. They’d have it all to themselves for right now. 

“You’re funny,” She said as she bumped her shoulder against him, “It’s nice out here.” She said as she looked around. She looked like she fitted in with the moonlight dancing against her skin. 

He set out the blanket, then kicked his shoes off next. He didn’t have plans on getting in the water, but supposed it wouldn’t be that bad either. Perhaps just a little chilly, but they could survive it if they chose to do it.

He scooped out the leftover box, opening it to expose the chocolate covered strawberries. He grinned as he held one up to her mouth, watching the way she exposed her shiny teeth and took a bite from it. 

“You were right,” She said as she nodded her head, taking another bite from the chocolate covered strawberry, “These are better than the cheesecake.” He nodded his head as he finished off the rest of the strawberry, then tossed the end of it back into the box. 

“If you could only eat one dessert for the rest of your life-.” He drew out dramatically as he turned towards her, lying lazily on the towel, “What would it be?”

“That’s an evil question.” She told him seriously, grinning as she took another bite out of one. She chewed it around for a moment, thinking deeply to herself. 

“I have a dire need to know your answer.” He said teasingly, but fully meant it. He was sure that there had to be a favorite dessert that she loved, that she hadn’t revealed to him just yet. 

“I guess it would have to be-,” She paused as she thought about it once again, “I really think strawberry cake. Especially if it has that sweet, cream cheese frosting. I really like ice cream too.”

“Mint chocolate chip?” He questioned as he cocked his eyebrows, “You know, that’s an odd choice.” He told her seriously, thinking about how mint often tasted like toothpaste to him. 

“What?” She asked, sounding a little offended, “The ice cream?” She narrowed her eyes a little bit, inspecting if her suspicions were correct. She pointed a strawberry towards him playfully, grinning as he leaned forward to take a bite from it. 

“Yes,” He nodded his head, “But that with the strawberry cake. You always picked that for your birthday.” He said as he recounted how many times they’d done that for her birthday. He didn’t understand how she thought the two flavors could blend together. They didn’t; not at all. 

“That’s because it’s my favorite,” She said as she held her chin high towards him, “And I think the flavors really compliment each other.” She replied with a smile as she discarded the stem of the strawberry. He shook his head softly at her reasoning. 

“Mhm,” He hummed as he leaned forward, stealing a kiss from her lips, “I’ll let it slide because you’re cute.” He told her as he brushed his thumb across her slightly cool cheek. He smiled as she nuzzled her face up against his. 

“What’s your favorite sweet?” She asked him as she inhaled deeply against his skin. She smelt sweet. She felt soft. He liked that about her. 

“I like pie, I guess,” He said as he shrugged his shoulders, “You know the strawberry rhubarb. Or peanut butter if I’m feeling frisky.” He said teasingly. He’d rather eat something savory, salty or maybe even spicy if he had the choice. The sugary sweets just weren’t his thing. 

“Oh, is that what you call it?” She said as she curled up towards him a little bit, “It’s nice out.” She told him as she snuggled her way closer to him. He pulled her deeper, nearly onto his lap as they listened to the waves crashing against the shore. 

“You feel cold.” He told her seriously as he rubbed his large palms across her exposed shoulders. She felt really chill. He squeezed at her skin softly, not wanting her to get sick. 

“You’re warm,” She said in response, “This is nice.” She sighed softly as she looked up towards the sky, her eyes dark as the colors molded into the night sky. He glanced up, wondering if she had any fun constellation stories to tell him. 

“Maybe we could get a house on the beach one day,” He said as he pushed her hair from her face, “And we could sit out here at night.” He said softly, thinking about what they’d be like in a few years. It was odd to think about getting that old with someone, because he had been certain that at one point he’d be alone forever. 

“That would be fun,” She said softly as she looked up towards him, “Maybe we could make a bonfire.” She suggested, her eyes flashing with color as she suggested it towards him. He chuckled as he played with her loose strands. 

“Mhm,” He hummed along, “And we could go skinny dipping.” He replied cheekily, sending her a wink that quickly left her flushed. She shook her head, giggling like she still couldn’t believe he’d suggest such a thing. 

“Oh gosh,” She said as she rolled her eyes, grinning gently, “Of course you’d say that.” She pointed at his ribs softly, making him jerk as he felt a sudden urge to laugh. He pressed her fingers away gently, not wanting her to tickle him. 

“Here,” He said as he gave her the last strawberry, distracting her by shoving it in her mouth so she couldn’t focus on the way he almost laughed, “You ready to go?” He asked, watching the way she held her manicured nails up to her lips. 

“Mhm,” She said as she nodded her head, furrowing her eyebrows together as she tried to chew down the large bite, “That was a lot.” She breathed out, cheeks full as her words came out into mumbles. He chuckled as he poked the side of her cheek, nodding as he began to gather everything up. 

The drive to the hotel was short, not far away from the beach. Kim shuffled back into her Mary Jane’s, her dress slightly sandy as he led her inside. He carried their bags, grinning as she looked around curiously. It wasn’t the fanciest thing, but it was better than the motel at Hawkins. 

“Uh, I had a room reservation,” He said as he tapped his fingers against the desk, “For William Hargrove.” He said as he waited for a moment, going through the rest of the process before he paid for the room. 

The worker moved the key towards them, giving a soft smile before they turned away. Billy handed the key towards her; picked up the bags and then headed towards the elevator. The lobby was fairly empty, meaning that people were either already in their rooms or hadn’t arrived yet.

“William?” Kim teased him, “How formal.” She said as she bumped her shoulder against his. He snickered, trying to ignore the flames on his cheeks as she rested her chin on top of his shoulder. 

“Shut it, Kimberly.” He sassed back playfully as he hit the button to the sixth floor, then reached around to squeeze at her waist. William just sounded more mature than what Billy did. She snuggled up to him again, breathing in softly as the elevator took them up and up. 

“Can I?” She asked as she held the key up towards her face, grinning excitedly as they stopped in front of the room. He watched her in amusement, wondering how she could be so excited over something so small. 

“That’s why I handed it to you,” He said with a smile, “It’s all yours.” He took a step back as he gestured towards the door, leaving her room to do her thing. He watched the way her dress moved against her thighs, how her features lit up as she got the door unlocked and then opened. 

“Wow,” She said as she looked around, “This is nice.” She nodded her head softly, staring at the photos on the walls. His attention was quickly turned towards the little bottles on the dresser, recognizing right away what they were. 

“Very nice,” He said, trying to keep calm as he leaned in front of the dresser, “You want to freshen up first?” He asked as he put his hand on his hip, mentally cursing himself. He didn’t think to ask about removing them beforehand. 

“We’re taking turns?” She asked, making him shrug his shoulders as he did his best to keep nonchalant, “Sure.” She grinned as she grabbed her bag and walked towards the bathroom. 

He worked quickly, glancing around the room for what he might be able to hide them in. He didn’t want to act like he didn’t trust her, but he didn’t want her to be tempted either. He searched until he finally found a paper bag. 

“Can I come out now?” Her voice rang from the bathroom, making him jump as he searched for a way to quickly discard them. He furrowed his eyebrows as he worked quickly to get rid of them. 

“Uh,” He said as he shuffled them into the paper bag quickly, twisting the top of it tightly before he could find somewhere to hide the little bottles, “Yeah! I’m um, totally ready.” He said as he shoved the bag underneath the bed, deciding it would be the best place to keep them. 

She walked out, her cheeks red as she tugged her hair behind her ears. She had fixed her hair, making the curls fall back into place as she slowly approached him. He stared for the longest time, trying to find the words to speak. 

“When did you get this?” He asked her softly, brushing his fingers across the tiny black straps on her slender shoulders. He dragged his finger down the strap, following it over the curve of her perky tit. The lacy black material barely covered her boobs and left a vast amount of skin revealed down her ribs. 

He could feel his cock springing to life in his jeans as he looked at the little red bow that was resting between her tits before he moved his hand further down. It was scandalous, the sides of it cut up high to reveal her soft hips. Her pussy was barely covered, hidden away by only a small section of lace. He slowly rubbed his palm against her side, admiring her soft ass. 

“Secret,” She said softly, grinning shyly as she started to play with her hair. She looked sexy, beautiful. But he could tell that she was uncomfortable with what she was wearing, “Do you like it?” She whispered, looking a little nervous as she glanced towards him.

“Mhm,” He mumbled as he tapped his finger against her chin, tilting her head up just a bit to ghost his lips over hers, “Do you want to see your other gift?” He asked her, watching the way her eyes flickered up in surprise. 

“You shouldn’t have-,” She began to protest, shaking her head as he pressed his finger against her lips. He’d thought of something similar, following her mindset.

“Shh,” He mumbled, smirking as he let himself grope his rough palms over her smooth ass, “Just try it on.” He said, doing his best to keep from grinding himself forward against her slender thighs. He wanted to desperately feel her. 

“Okay,” She said bashfully as she glanced at him, biting her lip as she bent over to grab the bag. He groaned, pressing a palm over his growing bulge. He chewed on his bottom lip, trying to keep his groans to himself as he teased himself while she pulled the outfit free, “Oh. Wow. it’s beautiful.”

“You wanna wear it?” He asked her, tilting his head as he watched the way her features wrinkled up in delight as she continued to stare at it. He had a feeling she would like it. He had spent a lot of time thinking of her in it. 

“Can I?” She asked as she turned towards him nervously, blinking at him with those big hazel eyes that drove him crazy. He nodded his head, eyes glued to her slender curves as she took off the skimpy black material and slid the new one on, “What do you think?”

He drifted his eyes over the thicker white straps, the big bow that rested just above her boobs. From there down it was a sheer light green, leaving him with just enough to see the curve of her body. He flicked his tongue across his bottom lip as he stared at her hardened nipples, at the slight tuft of hair across her cunt. The dress ended mid thigh, matching the white material that was at the top of the dress. She looked more comfortable as she twisted around, grinning proudly as her cheeks burned brightly. It was very much her. 

“You look beautiful,” He told her as he leaned against the dresser, smirking as he motioned her towards him, “C’mere. Let me see you.” He told her, eyes ravenous at the slow way she approached him. 

He pressed his hands against the sheer material gently, touching her hips gently as he smoothed it down over her sides. She was stunning, leaving his cock aching in a way he didn’t think was possible. He drifted his eyes back up towards her, enjoying the way her face continued to burn. 

He kissed her deeply, keeping his hands across her slender jaw as he held her close. He savored the feeling of her pouty lips against hers, of the way they dragged against his own. She tasted sweet, like cherries. The taste of her drove him crazy, made him want more as her hands ghosted along his biceps.

She moaned as he pressed his thumb into the curve of her neck, giving him the opportunity to slip his tongue between her parted lips. It was messy, sloppy as he brushed his tongue against hers. She twitched against his tongue as he spread his tongue through her mouth, licking away her saliva and moans as she began to rut her hips forward.

“Mhm,” He mumbled as he snagged his teeth against her bottom lip, enjoying the gasp that fell from her tongue, “You’re so pretty, wanna feel you. S’that what you want?” He asked as he brushed his nose against hers, enjoying the way she pressed herself closer to him. 

“Yeah,” She breathed out against his mouth, tasting like the sweet strawberries they’d eaten earlier, “I want you so badly.” She whispered sweetly, eyes flashing with lust as she palmed at his cock. He hissed this time, staring down at the way she grasped him.

She stripped him slowly, like she was taking her time as he pulled free his shirt. She kissed at the crook of his neck, making him shiver as she brushed her fingertips along his spine. She moved her hands across his ribs, continuing to suck at his skin before she moved her hands down further.

She was slow to remove his belt, making him smile a little bit as he cupped her cheeks and kissed her once again. She was fumbling, but he was in no rush. He wanted to savor each little second with her. 

She finally got it removed, looping it free so roughly that she almost smacked herself in the face. Her eyes grew wide as she stared at it, laughing as she looked up at him. He grinned as he brushed his fingers through her hair, thinking about how crazy she made him feel.

“Gently,” She said with a soft smile, her cheeks reddening as she slowly wrapped her fingers around his cock. He hissed softly at the sensation, groaning as he felt himself hardening against her simple touch. She drove him crazy, “S’pretty.” She said softly as she slowly moved her hand along the length of his cock.

“You’re pretty,” He told her softly, cupping her chin as he slowly jerked his hips forward against her touch. He enjoyed the feeling of her hand, but didn’t want to get himself too distracted. He wanted to tease her first, get her a little wild and frisky, “And naughty.” He teased, gripping her hands and pushing her down onto the bed before she could protest.

He grinned as he crawled over her, looking at the way her eyebrows furrowed together as she parted her lips to protest. He ignored her words, kissing her deeply as he drifted his hands down to her sides. He squeezed at her skin before he moved towards her clothed tits, massaging them in her hands.

“I’m good,” She whimpered against his lips, her eyes hazy as she stared up at him, “Really good.” She pressed her lips together, looking like she was close to pouting. He did his best to keep from laughing, fully amused with how she always wanted to be good in his eyes. 

“Are you?” He continued to tease her as he moved his fingers up towards her chin, cupping her skin softly before he dragged his thumb across her pouty lips. He breathed in gently, admiring how smooth they were under his thumb. 

“Mhm.” She said softly, puckering her lips together as she kissed his thumb softly. She watched him, sliding his thumb in further as she began to suck on it. She slid her legs out from underneath them, spreading them wide as she swirled her tongue across the length of his digit. 

He pulled away slowly, watching the trail of spit that was left in his wake before he pushed her further up the bed. He grinned as he played with the hem of the dress, touching it gently before he pushed it up towards her belly button.

He kissed her skin softly, then licked down towards her pretty pussy. He brushed his fingers across her pink folds, earning a gasp from her as he continued to kiss around her clit. He breathed in her sweet musk, having a dire need to bury himself beneath her legs.

“Does this feel good?” He teased her as he pressed his thumb against her clit, pressing down softly and then rubbing in the small circles that she enjoyed. She moaned, her eyes already shut from the simple movements. He bit down on her thigh softly, enjoying the way she jumped surprise.

“Yes,” She whined as she brushed her fingers through his hair. He groaned at the sensation, licking at the teeth marks on her skin as he continued to play with her clit, “Feels really good.” She breathed out, eyes opening as she turned her gaze down towards him.

He moved his hands away, gripping her thighs and pushing them up towards her chest so she was fully exposed to him. Her face burned as a smirk formed on his lips. He felt like he could read her, like he knew what she was thinking.

He pressed his lips against her folds softly, inhaling as he flicked his tongue out against her. He licked away her slick messily, letting himself drool onto her cunt to make it even more dirty. He enjoyed the sounds from her mouth, but even more the sounds of her slippery folds against his mouth. 

He moved his lips down further, licking as he went before he spread his fingertips down between her cheeks. He spread the mixture of his saliva, or her slick against her rim. Her body shook in response, always a little jolty when he teased her. 

He spit repeatedly against her hole, admiring the way it glimmered before he swirled his saliva across her hole. He briefly pressed a kiss against her clit again before he slid his finger inside of her puckered hole. He moved slowly, recognizing it had been some time as he waited as she adjusted around his thick digit. He mumbled under his breath, savoring the taste of her pretty cunt on his tongue.

Her moans were loud, slightly shrill as he curled his finger inside of her. He slowly pumped it in and out as he traced his tongue along her pussy again, chuckling softly at the way she began to grind her hips up against his mouth. 

“So needy,” He teased her as he glanced towards her, using his free hand to hold down on her hip, “Relax, baby sister. Let me take care of you.” He mocked her softly, enjoying the way her cheeks flushed as he began to curl his fingers deeper inside of her. 

He pressed his lips against her clit again, licking languidly as she continued to slowly wiggled against his mouth. He groaned as he flicked his tongue out against her clit repeatedly, earning a loud cry from her. 

He pressed his thumb inside of her cunt slowly, just gently pressing inside of her while he continued to grind his fingers up into her puckered hole. She whimpered loudly, leaving him groaning into her folds as he did his best to keep from rutting against the mattress. Just the sound of her was able to drive him crazy, made him feel like he could cum by just her sounds. 

He slid his tongue in against his thumb, curling it inside deeper as he began to lick against her walls. He moved his fingers roughly, enjoying the way she began to clamp down against his digit as his nose began to rub against her clit. 

“Billy!” She moaned loudly, her cries bouncing off of the walls as her movements against his tongue became more desperate. He curled his tongue in deeper, flicking at her spongy walls as he continued to grind his fingers further into her hole. His tongue was pressed against her clit, her slick smearing all across his face as he licked away the remnants of her. 

He chuckled, unable to help himself as he watched the way her chest quickly rose and fell. Her skin was flushed and warm as he kissed up her body slowly. He brushed his thumb across her exposed skin, pressing his thigh between her legs as he slid his lips across her pretty collarbone. 

“So good for me,” He mumbled as he reached her lips, kissing her gently as she continued to fight to catch her breath. He sat up a bit, reaching back onto the edge of the bed before he joined her again, “Do you trust me?”

“More than anyone else.” She said as he hooked the belt around her neck, thinking that in some odd way it looked like she belonged. She was his, like he was hers. She chewed on her bottom lip, looking exhilarated as she watched him.

He grinned at her, squeezing her chin once again before he moved away from her. He settled on his knees for a moment, smacking against the side of her thighs gently until she moved onto her hands and knees.

She giggled softly, the sound slightly muffled until she pulled herself up onto her elbows. She looked back towards him, her eyes full and round as he moved behind her. He pressed his rough palms underneath her dress, wiggling himself closer as his cock ached in anticipation. 

He exhaled slowly as he dragged the tip of his cock between her wet folds, teasing them both for just a moment before he pressed himself inside of her. He sighed deeply, doing his best to keep from slamming into her as he savored the way her walls stretched around his girth. 

She was soft, warm and wet all at once as he thrusted his cock deeper inside of her. She moaned from underneath him as he drifted his hands up the curve of her spine, admiring the way his cock disappeared inside of her tight cunt as he moved his fingers to the back of her neck.

He looped his fingers lazily through the belt, giving a soft squeeze as he pulled his hips back and then thrusted his cock deep inside of her spongy walls once again. He groaned in bliss, her body trembling underneath his as he began to build a steady rhythm. 

“Look at you,” He tsked, pushing the material of her dress up over her hips to admire the way her ass moved as he dragged her back against the length of his cock, “Mhm, such a dirty girl. Taking my cock so well.” He exhaled roughly, pleasure rushing through his body at the way her cunt squeezed his girth. 

“Yeah,” She cried out, whimpering as she tossed her head back lazily. He tugged on the belt a little harder, making her whine as he dragged her body up against his, “Oh, God!” She whimpered, cheeks red as he held onto her.

“Mhm,” He mumbled as he brought his other hand against her tits, squeezing the right one roughly in his hand as he continued to jerk his hips forward, “Such a dirty little bitch. You like that, don’t you?” He huffed out as he brushed his nose against her neck, enjoying the way she shivered against him. 

“Yes!” She whined louder this time, moaning in awe as he felt his thrusts growing a little more frantic, “More, more. I want more.” He groaned as he felt her leaking around him, the sound of her cunt squeezing his cock echoing in the room. 

He grunted as he continued to grind his cock deeper inside of her, earning a fresh wave of moans from her lips. He tugged on the belt a little bit, pulling her mouth towards his. He kissed her roughly, enjoying how his lips vibrated from her moans. 

She rocked herself along the length of his cock, whining as she flicked her tongue against his. Her eyes were wide, her lips plump as she pressed herself back against him. He could feel himself throbbing inside of her, his own pleasure spreading through his body as he felt himself sliding deeper inside of her. 

“Greedy little thing, aren’t ya?” He grinned as he cupped her chin, using his thumb to wipe away the drool from the corner of her lips, “Your pretty cunt is squeezing me so tight, making me feel so good. You hear her?” He muttered as he dragged his fingers across her clit. She jolted, crooning from the sensation.

“Yeah,” She whimpered, shaking as he felt his thrusts becoming deeper and rougher. He grazed his teeth along her cheek, his cock aching as he felt his orgasm growing closer and closer, “Jesus, Billy! Right there!” She whined as she bounced along his cock, making rough groans leave his mouth.

He pressed his brows tightly together, trying to stay concentrated as he met her rapid movements. He licked his bottom lip, watching the way his cock slid deep inside of her cunt. He grunted, spilling out a series of curses before he quickly removed his cock.

It took one swift jerk of his hand before he was cumming on her pale ass, covering her milky thighs with his white spunk. He hissed softly, his cock twitching in his hand as thick ropes continued to pain her skin. 

“Fuck,” He hissed, groaning as he pushed her back down onto the mattress. He reached his fingers messily between her legs, brushing his fingertips across her clit roughly, “S’good for me. S’okay, baby.” He praised her, urging her orgasm from her. 

She cried out even louder, gripping the sheets tightly as she turned her head towards the side. Her eyes were shut, lips parted as she twitched underneath him. He groaned, wishing he could feel her spongy walls cumming around his girth. 

He pressed down against her abdomen, keeping her hips still as he began to rub his fingertips across her clit roughly. She squirmed and whined, crying out as her legs twitched uncontrollably. He grunted in concentration, admiring the way her pussy felt on his fingers and the wet sound that filled the room.

“Jesus!” She squeaked out, eyes shut tightly and eyebrows furrowed together as she pressed her hips forward. He looked up at her, admiring the pleasure that spread across her features. She was the prettiest woman she’d ever seen. She came with a cry, her liquid squirting out towards him and coating his hand. He grunted at the feeling, at the sight. He was sure he’d never seen something so sexy before. 

“Fuck,” He groaned as he continued to rub his fingers against her clit, “God. Look at you, messy girl. Dirty little slut.” He came to a slow halt, listening to her soft whimpers and cries as her body shook underneath him. He smirked as he brought his fingers up to his mouth, licking them clean.

“What?” She asked curiously, eyes hazy and glossed over as she blinked at him in confusion. She was breathing hard again, her mouth barely opening as she turned towards him lazily.

“I didn’t say anything,” He said with a laugh, watching the way she slowly exhaled, “Stay here. I’ll get you cleaned up.” He promised as he stood, heading towards the bathroom and quickly warming up a warm washcloth.

He returned quickly, trying not to laugh at the lazy way she was still trying to hold her bottom high in the air. He was sure the position was a little uncomfortable, well, possibly a lot. He hummed as he joined her at the edge of the bed again. 

“Are you alright?” He asked as he slowly cleaned her up. He was gentle across her folds and clit, noticing the way she jolted again. He wiped his cum from her ass next, moving carefully so it didn’t smear. 

“I feel like I could sleep forever,” She said with a tired smile, “What about you?” She asked, humming softly as he tossed the rag towards the corner of the room. He smacked her bottom softly, laughing at the way she lazily fell onto her side.

“I’m tired too,” He agreed, leaning over again to wrap his arms around her waist. She groaned as she wrapped her legs around his waist, protesting for just a moment as he lifted her up. He held onto her with one arm, using the other to pull the sheets back before he laid her down, “Did you have a good time?”

“Best Valentine's Day Ever,” She promised as she slowly pushed the dress back over her thighs. She was apparently too attached to it, not wanting to take it off, “What about you?” She asked hesitantly, like she was afraid of his answer.

“You’re the first one I’ve taken out for Valentine’s Day,” He promised as he climbed in next to her. He’d get up and brush his teeth in a moment, for now, he just wanted to soak in the feeling of her against him, “I love you.” He told her, fully meaning it as he thought of how he’d have to try and top this day every single year. It would be hard, but worth it. 

[ashenlavellan]

Mass Effect ask meme: 1, 10, 29, 55, 67, 91

How did you get into Mass Effect?

Honestly, I don't exactly remember how I had found it, but I had been watching some Dragon Age-related stuff when a recommended(?) video of the entirety of Garrus Vakarian's romance and my interest was piqued. So, yeah, you can blame Garrus Vakarian... the personality and voice.

10. Best Shepard Quote?

Hmm, personally it's a tie for me - I absolutely love the way that FemShep's VA (Jennifer Hale) says "I'll relinquish one bullet. Where do you want it?"

Or, the whole exchange during ME3 and Wrex is harassing her over the comms and she shouts "THERE'S A REAPER IN MY WAY, WREX!"

29. DLC: All of it, some of it, or none of it?

Honestly, I played the original trilogy before ME:LE was released and I have to admit, that I love about 90% of the DLC.

ME1: Pinnacle Station (I enjoyed the fight simulations and the off-planet apartment was a sweet deal from it.)

ME2: Lair of the Shadowbroker (Loved the storyline; experienced Liara's romance in one playthrough and I loved that there was more to it, than without DLC.)

ME3: Tie between Leviathan and Citadel DLC (adore the storyline for both and always look forward to it. Citadel crushed me during my Thane romance and having a gathering to celebrate him, as well as the messages he left...)

55. Who would you date if you could? (Not as Shepard)

It would be a tie between Kaidan Alenko and Liara T'Soni - Kaidan is such a sweetheart and we could connect with our chronic migraines and have a great understanding/how to approach the issue. Liara, on the other hand, is extremely loyal to those she loves and is a bit awkward - another thing I can relate with. ^.^

67. Who would you cosplay if you could? (no holds bar)?

If I could, but keeping in mind with issues with certain textures and sensory issues, I'd probably go with Jack.

(If we're going based on height too, I'm 158cm (5'2") and my personal FemShep is supposed to be 5'9" (179cm))

91. Would you watch a live-action Mass Effect movie?

Probably not... I've seen live-action adaptations of certain books I've read (ex: City of Bones / Shadow and Bone / etc.) and 90% of the time, they totally miss the mark. (Shadow and Bone is literally the only one that I genuinely enjoyed and read all of the books, and it was captured amazingly.)

I'd hate to see a studio completely screw up a beloved franchise and tear down what's been created - not only that, I feel like issues would come up because it would come down to this... would it be BroShep or FemShep in the live-action?

thank you so much for your questions and I hope these answers are satisfactory enough! I enjoyed answering them! ^.^

[sotwk]

Hi! What character do you think most people get wrong? Or what’s a character that you see differently than most other fans?

Hi Elleth! What a great question--and the kind of topic I'm amazed anyone wants to hear my opinion on!

I'm of the belief that there is no wrong way to write fanfiction or headcanons. I support creative freedom in all fandoms, even in one so "classic" and "high literature" as Tolkien's work. We all have a right to our own takes, interpretations, and AUs, as long as it's all done for fun and love of the original content!

Some takes on characters are more popular, some are less popular, and that's all there is.

I'm one of those writers who tend to be more canon-compliant and less "out-of-the-box" creative, whether in Tolkien or any other fandom. I guess my Type-A mind likes having a structure and "rules" to work with! I like to tweak things here and there to please myself, usually by "saving" doomed characters, but for the most part, I tend to run with what Professor Tolkien wrote and fill in the blanks as best as I could.

What do I see differently from most other fans?

I'm probably in the minority regarding Thranduil's "once in an immortal lifetime" love for his wife, his Elvenqueen, the mother of his children.

The "Eldar marry only once" custom, as described in the "Laws and Customs of the Eldar", is one that I personally subscribe to for my Elven characters, but perhaps even the most for Thranduil.

Not only does Thranduil have zero desire to marry again after the death of his wife, but he never takes interest in anyone else romantically, passionately, or sexually, ever again. Most writers enjoy giving him a second chance at love by having him fall for and/or marry someone else, and that's totally valid, but I personally don't envision that for his character.

In my mind, Thranduil in his youth was disinterested in romance, and perfectly content with staying unmarried for his immortal life. But then he met Maereth, who changed almost everything he believed about his own purpose and destiny. He saw her as his life partner, someone meant to exist alongside him and he beside her, forever, whether on Middle-earth or Aman. That's how he explained the deep affinity and immutable love he felt for this lady, anyway. She was simply irreplaceable.

Thranduil is arrogant, self-assured, and supremely confident in his attractiveness, and combining this with this extroverted, mischievous nature means he tends to be a playful flirt. But he views love as the most serious of matters, and the giving of one's heart as nothing to be trifled with.

Another unpopular take of mine is that Thranduil is not lustful or easily sexually attracted to others. He did not even feel that desire for Maereth until he had already known her for a few centuries. While their marriage included a healthy sex life that begot many children by Elven standards, without Maereth, Thranduil's interest in sex disappears entirely (again aligning with what was written in LACE).

Although I wholeheartedly agree that Thranduil is a sexy character, I suppose I just don't view his character as actually being very sexual. (Hopefully that makes sense?) There is more than enough to preoccupy him with his many duties: standing guard against The Enemy, serving his people as a good king, caring for his wife, and raising his children and grandchildren well.

SotWK Fancast: Jennifer Connelly as Elvenqueen Maereth

I could certainly write countless essays about how much Thranduil loved Maereth, but goodness, I really need to actually write STORIES about it! Part of my writer's block is probably intimidation, since I feel I have to justify Thranduil's eternal devotion to this one special person. What a lady she must be! He certainly must have had many good reasons to love her so dearly!

Receiving Asks certainly helps motivate me, so thank you again for this great question and giving me a chance to share my thoughts!

Elves HC Tag List: @a-world-of-whimsy-5 @achromaticerebus @aduialel @asianbutnotjapanese @auttumnsayshi @blueberryrock @conversacomsmaug @elan-ho-detto-elan-15 @entishramblings @fizzyxcustard @freshalmondpandadonut @friendofthefellowshipsnerdblog @glassgulls @heilith @heranintomyknife23times @ladyweaslette @laneynoir @lathalea @lemonivall @LiliDurin @quickslvxrr @ratsys @scyllas-revenge @stormchaser819 @talkdifferently6 @tamryniel @tamurilofrivendell

For more Thranduil/Mirkwood headcanons: SotWK HC Masterlist

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