#jersey was out of commission for like a week after this

[thesunisatangerine]

against all odds (to wait for you is all i can do) – part eight

alexia putellas x photojournalist!reader

warnings: none

(a/n in the tags) [parts: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve]

word count: 4.2k

words in italics: whatever language you like

“Make sure you stick close to your uncle the entire time and remember: if you don’t feel well or if, at any point, you want to leave, just tell Uncle Robert and he’ll get you out of there, okay?”

Elisa nodded as she bounced on the balls of her feet.

“Alright. Put on your headphones and follow your uncle.”

“Follow.” Elisa pronounced the word slowly, before she continued in English, “you said it wrong, Mom. You say it like this.” 

Then she repeated the word again.

You smiled, nodded before you repeated the word for her. “Got it. Thanks, ladybug. Now go, I’ll catch you guys later.”

Tucking a loose hair behind her ear, you hugged Elisa one last time and placed a kiss on the top of her head before you let her go. She bounded to where Robert was standing, gave you one last enthusiastic wave, then you watched as they began to walk off to the direction of their seats. 

Now that you were alone, faced with the corridor that lead down to the pitch, you took a deep breath, exhaled, and then with leaden legs you began to walk.

To say that you were nervous was an understatement; you were absolutely terrified. Not only because this was you first coverage after… after the last one, but also due to the fact that this would be the first time you were going to see Alexia in person since the night you left.

Alexia wouldn’t recognise you–no, she wouldn’t even know you were here–you saw to it. You asked Derek to register you under Jersey’s name because the client was none other than Alexia’s agent, a request that earned you a dirty look from Derek but he indulged you anyway. And as a precaution, you made sure to wear a face mask–an accessory that was met by a knowing, raised brow from Robert and a worried, ‘Are you sick, Mom?’ from Elisa–not to mention that your hair now was different compared to then. 

No. Alexia wouldn’t recognise you; you were, after all, only a face among the many that adored her.

You kept walking, shielding your eyes from the brilliant stadium lights as you stepped foot on the grass.

Fifteen months. What good did that time do you? Just the mere thought of Alexia’s eyes suffused you with such burning ardour that neither a kiss nor touch from another could come close to her–there simply was no competition. You couldn’t even let another touch you the way she did because the act of kissing another’s lips was enough to incite guilt in you. 

But why? How could Alexia still have this much hold over you after all this time? Was it because this was the first time you felt something deeper for someone, something that transcended the physical aspect of a relationship? Or was it the fact that the moment you let yourself be vulnerable, almost offered yourself completely, everything came crashing down? And now, you found yourself hung up on someone who had clearly moved on.

But, a small part of you reasoned, if Alexia had truly moved on, why still try to commission you? Why would she want you around? Maybe she… No. You shook your head firmly. That wasn’t possible.

Pain throbbed in your foot as it collided with the sponsor board that lined the spot you picked, earning you a few concerned glances from the nearby photographers who were already there. You cursed internally, dropping your bag to the ground, as you offered the others a sheepish smile and an apology. The pain brought you back to reality though, a reminder that you needed to get your mind out of the gutter and that you had a job to do. 

You had weeks to prepare yourself for this. Everything would be okay. How hard could this be, really?

An hour passed and the stadium was filled to the brim with Spanish red and Brazilian yellow to witness the first match of each team for this tournament. Each nation’s supporters clapped and roared when the players began to run out to the pitch. And all the mental preparation you’d done for this left you completely. 

The moment she stepped out of that tunnel and the stadium lights shone down on her, it felt like you only learnt how to breathe again. There Alexia stood: the slope of her shoulder familiar, the strength carved in the curves of her back looked stronger, and the lines of her arms just as inviting as they were the first time you met. 

And those eyes, even if there were meters between you the weight in them–that low, burning fire–was all too apparent from where you stood.

Despite yourself, you found yourself smiling beneath your mask. She looked healthy; happy.

As the starting whistle breached through the chants of the crowd and resounded through the arena, you found yourself content–content at being an spectator of Alexia’s life, to watch her shine from afar, that was enough. 

Parc des Princes. Sweden vs. Spain: The Clash of the Titans.

Not even two hours before kickoff and a significant crowd had already gathered by the entrance points of the stadium donning their respective supporter colours. It was no surprise to see such numbers very early on this fine Saturday evening because ever since the results from the dramatic Semi-Finals that saw Sweden and Spain through to the Finals, it was the talk of the town:  the World’s Number One against the World Champions; both formidable in their own rights made them titans indeed. 

And the question of who would emerge victorious would be answered tonight.

You saw firsthand how Spain brazenly blazed through this competition, knocking out their tougher competitions in the form of Germany and Japan in the Quarters and the Semis respectively in a similar fashion. They were a force to be reckoned with driven by their purpose and it made you more than proud to see how far they’d come.

Though it had been difficult you managed to remain undetected throughout the length of this tournament, something that you were truly grateful for. And after tonight, you could as easily slip out of Alexia’s world just as you had seamlessly gone in for the last time. The last thing you wanted to do was to jeopardise Spain’s chance at winning no matter how little an impact your presence would cause if you were discovered by Alexia. 

But the thing was, you couldn’t lie and say you felt nothing as you watched Alexia from afar because you did: all the regret and desire… the longing; they were all there with you. More than once you found yourself wanting to run into her arms, to tell her you missed her, to let her know she saved you, to tell her… But you knew in your heart that that couldn’t be, so you allowed yourself this brief luxury, this silent, intimate appraisal of what and who she’d grown into even if she herself didn’t know it–you captured it all and to you that was more than enough.

As for Elisa she was nothing but ecstatic, a bundle of energy through and through. If you were being honest, you had doubted your decision to bring her with you because you didn’t know how being surrounded with tens of thousands of people would affect her even though she’d told you multiple times she could manage it. But to your relief, Elisa had immersed herself in the sport, blanketed herself in its atmosphere and in fact, she seemed to thrive in it. On the way home after each of Spain’s match you went to, Elisa would recount in vivid clarity all the instances she deemed to be highlights of the match–of course most of them were about Alexia which wasn’t a surprise considering how much she meant to her. 

Elisa was enjoying herself and that, truly, brought you immense joy and comfort. She never asked you for it but you knew how Elisa badly wished to meet her inspiration, her and Robert had tried at the end of each match to stick around to meet her but so far, they had no luck.

No, Elisa never asked for you to do anything about it but that didn’t mean you couldn't try. You couldn’t quite think of how to go about it just yet but seeing as how the match before your eyes was the last, you knew your time to decide was beginning to run out. 

The thing about football was that it was unpredictable, one minute it could be going your way, the next it could be the opponent’s; nothing was set in stone and anything could happen.

It was nearing the forty-minute mark, the scoreline was still down at all nil, when Aitana sent the ball lobbing from the middle, just at the edge of the penalty box, into one of Sweden’s goalposts for Alexia who’d already made her surge forwards. In response, Zećira Mušović dove for the nearest post, just about managing to grab the ball as it landed a few paces in front of Alexia’s feet but the ball went out of play as it slipped from her grip. Alexia was going too fast though and your heart jumped in your chest with worry as Alexia leaped over Mušović’s prone form, barely avoiding a collision with the Swedish goalkeeper, before she ended up slamming against the sponsor board and–

Suddenly, the air was knocked from your lungs as your back slammed to the ground and the back of your head throbbed with a dull ache that made you groan. And then you felt the warm weight pressed against you, dangerously familiar and way too close for comfort but it was gone before you could open your eyes. When you did you found honey-coloured eyes that you knew all too well as Alexia regarded you with concern.

“I’m so sorry. Are you okay?” Alexia asked, her ragged breathing made her accent all the more pronounced, and she took both of your hands in hers to help you to your feet. You tried hard not to think about the warmth of her palms on your skin–in fact, you hardly had any thoughts at all–and your throat was so parched you could only nod at her question. 

Only once you got back on your feet did you notice Alexia had gone stock still. The sudden change in her demeanour worried you at first, especially when she hadn’t let go of your hands yet, and then confusion settled in. That was when you realised her attention was zeroed in on the string around your right wrist… at the bracelet she made you, the one you couldn’t bear yourself to part with.

Your eyes widened and you snatched your hands back, shielding your wrist from view with your other hand but you knew it was already too late. Alexia now looked at you, the concern in her gaze now shone together with… something else, eyes red as unshed tears clung to her lashes. 

“You…” Alexia’s voice low–restrained–as her throat bobbed and her chin quivered. 

The sound of the whistle barely registered in your mind and Alexia looked like she hadn’t heard it too, her eyes remained glued to you as if she’d seen a ghost. Then Aitana was by her side, hand around her arm as Aitana attempted to tug her back into the game but she just wouldn’t budge. Aitana regarded you briefly, the clear confusion in her eyes difficult to miss, before she tried to coax her captain away again.

“Alexia. Go.” You said as you gently pushed Alexia away with a hand on her stomach. She flinched from your touch–and her reaction really shouldn’t hurt this much but it did anyway–so you quickly retracted your hand away. Only after that did Alexia finally let herself be pulled away by Aitana but not without staring at you as she went.

This was bad. Out of all the times that this could happen, why now?

You picked up your camera, the fact that it was intact offered you little comfort, and the urge to run away pervaded you. You so desperately wanted to pack everything and leave, allow Elisa to enjoy the match and maybe just sit this one out in the crowd with her. Alexia didn’t need to know. 

The thought was tempting.

But with clenched fists, you stayed. 

A moment later, the Swedish supporters roared when Spain conceded a goal during extra time which left them now down to one goal. Spain still had enough time to try and equalise, and their chance was given in the form of a penalty.

Alexia stepped up but Mušović denied her a goal and your heart ached from the way Alexia shook her head, dejected as she looked up at the sky. 

The halftime whistle blew and you watched as the players walked towards the tunnel entrance but, your eyes widened when you saw her, Alexia was making her way towards you, stride long and with purpose. Her face was neutral but the way her lips was pressed in a thin line revealed that she was anything but calm.

Oh, fuck. 

You didn’t even have time to compose yourself–or do anything, really–because before you knew it, Alexia had leaped over the sponsor board, gripped the monopod with your camera and ripped it away from your hand. A protest left your lips but it was quickly cut off when you felt her other arm around your waist, pulling you to her with a strength that left you breathless. And when you felt her front pressed firmly against your own and her warmth immediately seeped into your bones, everything melted away–the flutter of camera shutters, the roar of the crowd–your world became Alexia entirely. 

Everything just fell rightly into place. It felt like coming home.

Alexia didn’t say anything, just craned her neck so she could rest her head against your shoulder. At first you were frozen, your arms still and left hanging by your side, but as you felt the way Alexia’s ribs expand and the way her heartbeat jumped through her jersey, you came back to yourself and finally, you slid your arms around her, your hands immediately finding purchase in the small of her back. 

You gripped her jersey as you sank into her embrace, pressing your cheek against her collarbone, and god, what did you do right in this lifetime–or the last–to have her back in your arms like this? You breathed her in and you nearly sobbed at the intimate familiarity of her scent.

“Alexia, I–” You began but you shook your head. So instead, you choked out, “Alexia, you shouldn’t be here.”

Silence was the only answer and Alexia seemed to cling all the more tightly to you after the words left your mouth. And you could feel it, the despondency in the slope of her back as if they already had lost the match. Guilt ate away at you. You did this, didn’t you?

“Listen to me, Ale. Your team is waiting for you. They need their Captain, Alexia. They need you.”

At those words, Alexia only buried herself further into you as if she wanted herself to disappear completely. Then she spoke in a voice so small you could barely recognise it was her talking.

“I messed up. I… I can’t be what they need me to be right now. I feel weak.”

You recognised this, the familiar shadow of doubt that tinged Alexia’s thoughts and marred her confidence. Although rare to rear its head, its venom was lethal when it did, attacking her weakest parts, right where it hurt the most. 

Cradling the nape of her neck with a gentle hand, you let her fall all the more closer to you and you whispered softly, but firm in the way you enunciate the words, to get your message through to her. 

“‘The match is not won until the last second is lost.’ Alexia, isn’t that what you told me? You can't just give up now. You can't lose faith in your teammates right now." Alexia’s breath hitched at your words, her arm around your waist tightened. You continued, “your strength is their strength, and theirs are yours. I used to tell you, remember? You're so strong but it's not all yours to carry, Alexia. You're only human but that doesn't make you weak. Have faith in them... have faith in you."

You turned your head just so so you could rest your temple against the line of her jaw before you said, “now go, Alexia. Your team needs you.”

Alexia leaned in to your touch and sighed. She nodded and finally she loosened her grip but before she fully extricated herself from you, she said in a raw voice but not with malice, “I’m still mad at you.”

You couldn’t help it, the small laugh that bubbled out of your throat as you rested your forehead against her shoulder. 

“Fair enough. You can be mad at me all you want later but right now, you have a match to win.”

She pulled away and you finally saw her eyes. Albeit red and raw around the edges, the hazel in them shone with a familiar brilliance, a hungry fire undiminished by the tears in her eyes. You longed to dry her tears but Alexia did it herself, swiping the back of her hand over her eyes. She handed you back your camera, hand lingering on your right wrist as she brushed the pad of her thumb over the string there, gave you one last look and a nod, before she jumped over the sponsor board and sprinted to the tunnel entrance, the crowd roaring as she went past them. 

At her departure, the rest of the world came back to focus: the stadium, the screaming fans, the blare of the halftime music… the cameras pointed at you, from the broadcasting channels to the phones of the fans on the stands; you were the subject of all their eyes, all their lenses. Even when you glanced at your fellow photographers, most of them had their cameras pointed at you, some looked at you with passing curiosity while some stared at you as if you’d grown an extra pair of head.

Your ears and cheeks warmed at the attention, gut coiling uncomfortably as you adjusted your face mask, something that you were all the more grateful for especially after that little public display from Alexia. You kept your head down as you walked the length of the sideline towards Sweden’s goal for the next half, and you tried your hardest to ignore the weight of the stares by pretending to tend to your equipment. 

Then you felt your phone vibrate in your pocket. You fished it out and found a message from Robert.

‘That was… pretty public. Are you feeling alright?’

You looked up, tried to pick out Elisa and Robert from the crowd but when you couldn’t, you typed out your reply.

‘I’m fine, thank you. How are the both of you?’

‘Well, Elisa’s just about as ecstatic as any child who found out that their mom knows their favourite football player. She’s been asking questions non-stop, I don’t even know how to answer them all. Please help.’

Despite your situation, you chuckled at the image of Elisa pestering her uncle. 

‘Tell her she can save her questions for me later. Don’t say anything else.’

‘Okay, thank you. And hang in there.’

The loud cheers from the crowd drew your attention away from your phone and upon looking up, found that the players had begun entering the pitch. Automatically, your viewfinder was to your eye, framing the players as they went and taking a shot. 

Alexia was last to step foot on the field and you didn’t miss the way she looked over the last spot she saw you and when she couldn’t find you there, her head swivelled around as she jogged to her position in the opposite half. She found you eventually and even with fifty meters between you, the intensity of her stare reached you. It made you shiver–hopeful in spite of yourself–but when the whistle cut through the air once more, you readied your camera, breath held for what was yet to come.

The game went on and you were so focused on trying to do your job that you couldn’t keep up with the details but the fact was this: no matter how hard Spain pressed forward, Sweden’s defensive effort increased twofold, and whenever Spain played deep to keep Sweden in check, Sweden prodded forward, constantly chipping away at Spain’s defensive line with each effort. 

After Sweden’s attempt at Spain’s goal came an opportunity. One minute Cata had the ball in hand, the next the ball was by Alexia’s feet who took one touch before she passed it between two defenders to Salma who was waiting past the halfway line, who then dribbled the ball into Sweden’s penalty area, then she cut it back and crossed it to Aitana who angled her run just enough to tap the ball in.

One-one.

The crowd roared to life and Spain’s fire was reinvigorated. They had eleven minutes left of normal play to score another goal and win. Both teams clashed, gave their all throughout the remaining time, then through to additional and extra time.

Now the moment of truth: a penalty shootout at Sweden’s goal.

Your palms began to sweat, nervous for Alexia. When was she taking her penalty?

Spain went first. They got it in. Sweden as well. One-one.

Then it was two–two.

Spain got their third. Sweden took their shot but Cata deflected it.

Mušović stepped up this time and blocked Spain’s fourth. Cata, again, anticipated right and denied Sweden their own.

You drew in a staggered breath as Alexia began to walk. Once she got to the ball, she flicked it up with her foot and caught it easily with her hands. Click. Through the lens, you watched as Alexia turned the ball over then placed it right by the penalty spot. Click. Then she began fixing her socks, adjusting her shoes, brushed her left ankle with her thumb–click– and she leant back up, resting her hands by her waist as she waited for the whistle. You zoomed in on her face: she was stoic, calm as she eyed the goal, beads of sweat lined her forehead and the bridge of her nose–click.

The whistle blew.

Alexia took five steps back, one step to her right. She took two short strides forward and on the third, her left foot connected with the ball. The net moved with an audible swish from the power behind her kick, depositing the ball in the bottom right corner of the goal and the crowd roared–or was it you who was screaming?–as the rest of Spain’s team ran to their captain to hug her.

Spain won.

Photo after photo, you captured Spain as they celebrated, their cheers and victorious cries. And when each member of Spain’s team walked the stage to receive their golden medals, the feeling that surged through you was something else entirely. 

The celebration went on but as the crowd thinned and the live broadcast ended, anxiety filled you once again. You tried to keep track of where Alexia was but she’d been surrounded by so many people that you lost her in the celebration. Not knowing what to do with yourself, you packed up your things but kept your camera out as you hung about at the edge of the pitch near the stands.

And then you heard it.

“Mom!”

You turned to the sound and found Elisa who was leaning against the safety rail of the stands just off to the side of the tunnel entrance, an enthusiastic arm waving in the air as she grinned at you. Beside her was Robert who, too, was leaning on the railing with his elbows who gave you a small wave as you jogged over to them, pushing your face mask down on the way.

“Elisa, ladybug, careful you might fall!” You reprimanded but a smile made its way on your lips all the same and either way, your words fell on deaf ears as Elisa excitedly bounded up and down.

“Mom! Did you see that?! That was so intense! And did you see how Alexia just went,” Elisa imitated Alexia’s strike and an affectionate laugh bubbled out your throat at her display, “and it was the best!”

Then Elisa stilled, eyes widening as she looked past you. “Oh my god, Mom, it’s–”

“‘Mom?’”

It was Alexia but her voice was almost unrecognisable because of how flat it sounded. You whipped your head back and surely, the expression Alexia wore accentuated the barely hidden animosity but it wasn’t directed at you nor Elisa. Rather, you found her glaring up at Robert and at his hand resting on the railing where the gold band on his finger was visible–glinting.

You looked at Alexia, whose demeanour was souring by the second, then at Robert who looked paler than you’d ever seen him before, then to Alexia again.

Oh, no. 

[bullet-prooflove]

Wall Art - Daniel LaRusso x Reader

Tagging: @kmc1989 @vsplanet @Jullyyy @art2emily

Summer School Series:

Part One: Summer School - Daniel's excited to meet Anthony's new art teacher.

Part Two: Dirt - Daniel learns more about you and your business.

Part Three: The Weight of Water - Daniel and you enjoy a moment by the sea.

Part Four: White Roses - Daniel finds out you might not be as single as he thought.

When Amanda commissions you to work on a wall sculpture for the car showroom Daniel is filled with trepidation. It’s been a couple of weeks since you’ve seen one other, not since Anthony’s art show. He’d told you he’s too caught up in work to go surfing but it’s a lie, the truth is he feels foolish. You see Daniel, he’s fallen in love with you, but you, you’re in love with another man, one he didn’t even know existed until that night.

When you turn up at the showroom to take measurements, something in his chest just aches. He still feels that thrum of connection when he greets you, your smile, it still lights up his entire world. He thought the distance would help but only makes him realise just how much he’s missed you.

He’s standing at the reception desk, studying the month’s reports when his cousin Louie appears alongside of him. You’re halfway up a ladder calling out measurements to Anthony, who has taken it upon himself to assist you by recording the data onto his tablet.

“Wow.” Louie says as he comes to stand alongside him, sipping from his mug of coffee. “I think I might have to take a shot at that.”

They both know he’s not talking about the cleaning the windows.

“Cool it.” Daniel says wearily as Amanda lingers at the opposite side of the desk surveying the designs you’ve drawn up for the sculpture. “She has a boyfriend.”

“Hm, no she doesn’t.” Amanda remarks as her fingertips trace over the sketch of a bonsai tree.

“We saw him at the art show.” Daniel reminds her as he flips the page he’s reading. “He brought her white roses.”

“That’s not her boyfriend, that’s her brother.” Amanda informs him, finally looking up from the drawings. “She told me this morning, he’s been coming to her shows since their parents died, he brings the roses of a way of reminding her how proud they are of her.”

Daniel’s gaze strays back to you. He remembers that day on the waves when you told him about the car accident that claimed your parents lives. You were both taking a breather, sitting on surfboards, watching the beach when he asked you what got you into surfing.

“My father.” You had said with a sad smile. “He’s from Hawaii, he was a champion over there before he blew his knee out. He taught me how to swim, how to surf, how to take a minute amongst all the chaos.”

“He sounds like a very special man.” Daniel had said, reaching across the water and taking your hand.

“He was.” You had said, squeezing it tightly. “I miss him a lot.”

That was the day that things began to change between the two of you, that he’d realised that his feelings went far beyond a simple attraction and at the time he thought maybe yours did too.

It’s the clatter of the ladder that brings Daniel back to the present. He glances up to see Louie holding onto it in a rare gesture of chivalry as you climb down carefully. Already he’s talking at you, his mouth running a mile a minute. You frown as you get your feet back on the ground, trying to comprehend what he’s saying because Louie, he talks like he’s still in New Jersey, it can take hours to get to the point.

“You should go rescue her.” Amanda remarks as she watches the exchange unfold. “You know what Louie’s like when he gets going.”

Daniel’s about to set down his paperwork and assist when Louie comes trapsing back towards the reception desk.

“So the good news is she doesn’t have  a boyfriend.” Louie explains as he straightens his suit jacket. “The bad news is she has the hots for some guy she goes surfing with, although he’s not been around much recently so I might have an in there after all.”

Amanda shakes her head indicating he doesn’t have a chance in hell but Daniel, his eyes flicker up to meet yours, a smile crossing his features because that guy you’re talking about, the one you go surfing with, that’s him.

Love Daniel? Don’t miss any of his stories by joining the taglist here.

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Like My Work? - Why Not Buy Me A Coffee

[wats-am]

I don’t know when, if ever, I will finish this story. So, as it’s not so odd to post unfinished pictures, I figured I could share what I actually have. I’ve shared a bit, before, but this is the whole of it.

This is set in an AU, set before the events of the Jersey Trilogy, where Silent Bob is a hustler. I was hoping to flesh it out more, later, but as I said, I’m not sure when that will be.

TW: Implied SA, implied violence, fatphobia

Bob thought the guy looked like an animal. Something small and sweet, and vicious. He stood, bouncing on the curb, little, black eyes darting after the glowing cherry on Bob’s cigarette. Buck teeth glinting through furred lips with every twitching smile. A rabbit. He looked like a rabbit. And he was chewing on Bob’s last nerve like a live wire. He had known not to hang out of his car window and risk getting picked up, but he could not bring himself to step out of the gutter and approach Bob. 

“Hey, I-“ He wrinkled his nose and flapped his hands at Bob, placatingly. “I haven’t got this wrong, right? I mean-...” 

Bob wanted to tell him he had got it wrong. Wanted to tell him he had got it completely fucking wrong and to get right back in his fucking car, and fuck right off. But, Bob could not speak. He had not been able for days. He might have tried to shape something to that effect in his face, but his eyes kept drifting upwards. Up to meet the first, blue light of morning peering at him over a looming tower block. All night on the street in the blistering cold, sucking through his cigarettes, hoping the burn in his lungs might seep out and warm him. He had not even earned enough for another pack. 

He shook his head. Flicked the stub of his last cigarette into the ally behind him and nodded after it. Time to take the rabbit into his hole, he thought. 

The Rabbit glanced up and down the street, before lopping up onto the pavement. He swung his arms back and fourth with a mock casualness that Bob had seen before. Only, he did not look nervous like all those other clowns, he looked smug. That made Bob want to twist his arms right off. Instead, he rubbed his palms together, warming up his gloves. He would let The Rabbit tell him if he wanted his skin instead, but most guys liked how the leather felt. He suckled on his dry cheeks, burrowed through the web of his tongue with the tip for a mouthful of saliva. He hoped The Rabbit would not ask for anything more than his hand, or his mouth this morning. Just like his tongue, his cock had been out of commission for a while. And he did not feel ready to turn to the wall, again.

A fortnight ago, Bob had been stabbed. A fresh, new hole, five inches across his lower belly. “Not as deep, though, Piggy.” Raymond had said, as he watched him get sewn shut. Raymond had never cared for Bob. He thought he was too fat for their sort of work, and silently, Bob agreed. As he lay under the doctor’s brisk hands, he had felt Raymond fondling his, with what he had observed to be the same, limp disinterest, that never lost him a single client. Raymond was no more popular that any of the other guys with their poor, little boy builds. But, they were all of them more popular than Bob. He had always worried over them and their brittle bodies. Perhaps, if he had been a few pounds lighter himself, it might not have happened. “Piggy.” Raymond had cooed over him in the taxi, as he cradled Bob’s head on his knobby knees. And Bob remembered the John’s fingers. How they had pinched and kneaded him, before he felt the slide of steel. He had wondered if the nearest farm had simply been too far, and the John had thought he would do for a hog. 

Two weeks later, the gash was still purple, ripe. It puckered up between the threads he had neglected to remove, and scraped against his leathers. The Rabbit’s teeth flashed at him in the darkness of the narrow ally, and Bob knew if he let him touch him, he would finger him right back open. No, his hand and his mouth would be all he would get.

The Rabbit squeaked when Bob squeezed him through his jeans, scrabbling back against the wall with his hands wedged between his legs. 

“Just so you know,” he said, pop-eyed and affronted, “you’re not for me.” 

Bob’s hands fell to his sides. He heard them creak and flutter with the urge to dig out a smoke, though he knew he had none. He glared through the shadows at The Rabbit, offering a high shrug. Who wanted him, then? The Rabbit shimmied up straight with a rasp of denim on brick. Bob could have sworn he heard a rustle of readjustment around his flies.

“You do house calls, man?” 

An iron ball of dread dropped through Bob’s gut. The nod he gave was muscle memory, because he had done house calls, before. But, the fear that had stiffened his tongue and softened his cock made him reluctant. Even if he was was not going to get cut up for tenderloin, properly this time, he could well picture a vegetative relative, a stepbrother, maybe. Too braindead to know the difference between Bob and the girl next door. In the black depth of the ally, Bob could see the rise and fall of woollen blankets, crusted with milk stains and dried spit. A grey tongue lolling out of a drooling mouth, and a heart rate monitor on the nightstand that he would have to keep and ear out for, in case it started screaming. 

“See, I got this friend. It’s his birthday, today.” The Rabbit called Bob back from his sickening vision. “I just thought you could, you know, wake him up? Freak him out?” 

Freak him out. Bob let the phrase sink down into his skull, and found himself settling with it. The ball in his belly did not melt away, but softened. Turned thick and sticky, like a gut full of fried dough. The request was so juvenile. It made Bob sound like a rubber monster for hire. When he realised this, it made that grotesque fantasy from moments ago look like a passing carnival, all grease paint and squirt guns. He watched The Rabbit lick his teeth, his tongue glinting, dimly in the half-light. Suddenly, he felt unbothered by it. His smile fitted his desires, he was making sense to Bob now. 

He supposed he ought to be insulted, to be just the thing to terrify a man in his bed, on his birthday. It was like a joke for the grown ups in a Looney Tunes short. A burly jailbird in fluffy, high heeled slippers. But, he struggled to feel much of anything. Bob’s ego had died by his own hand, the second time he was offered money to eat a Mooby burger. The first time, the handsome sum had just pulled him through, though his favourite meal had tasted worse than a shot in the mouth. When the John came back a second time, Bob had been living on cigarettes and water for two days. Somehow, that had made it easier to give the guy a good show. Remembering the taste of grease on leather drew Bob’s attention to his empty stomach. That cavernous space floated up to join a growing stack of empty spaces in his mind. His room, his cupboard, that crumpled packet of Nails in his pocket. All piling up and teetering between his temples. A tower of hollow glass, about to fall, and shatter and cut up his mind. 

So, he shrugged again and nodded. The Rabbit’s grin could have lit up the whole ally. 

“Fucking great.” He muttered. He pushed away from the wall and touched Bob for the first time, swatting him on his elbow. “My car’s right there, man, c’mon.” 

A pale blush was bleeding up from the horizon, as they stepped out onto the street. Bob shuffled around the car and waited for the passenger door to be unlocked. As he waited, he recalled with the barest amusement, that even the Mooby Burger John had held the door for him. He pulled on his stitches as he ducked inside, holding his breath to keep from whining. The pain rippled out from his belly and burned all the way up to his armpit. The Rabbit tossed his keys onto the dashboard, and twisted himself in his seat to dig through his pockets. 

“He’s weak as piss.” He huffed, as if he could smell the nervous swill in Bob’s stomach. He drew out a packet of Chewlies and offered it to Bob. Bob shook his head. “You talk at all, Man?” The Rabbit asked, freeing a stick from the packet and picking at the foil. He turned his head in time to see Bob shake his head again, and wave a straight hand across his throat. A widely recognised sign for throat cancer, a birth defect, or a knife to the gullet. Or, simply, “No”. Easier than signing out the more complex truth. The Rabbit raised his eyebrows at Bob, as if he understood.

He folded the strip of gum into his mouth and pocketed the packet. Then he scraped up his keys, started the car, and they pulled away from the sidewalk. 

“Seriously, though, don’t sweat it.” A waft of spearmint stung Bob’s eyes. “Guy’s all bark. An’ I got my suspicions about him anyway.” Bob saw those black eyes check him over in the rear view mirror. He turned to face The Rabbit, who was glancing between him and the road. “You’re kinda pretty, you know? Maybe he’ll wanna keep you for the morning.” 

Bob’s gut throbbed, as he wondered whether, or not to be hopeful. He looked back to the mirror, and watched something like distain dull The Rabbit’s eyes. That seemed to be his last thought, and he fell silent, filling the car with clouds of menthol. 

The rosy light of sunrise did not last. By the time they pulled into the lot behind The Rabbit’s stout block, the sky had turned white. There was a nip in the air, rather than a bite. No worse than a rub of meths. As they made their way across the lot, Bob recognised the building as student accommodation. Not one he had lived in, he had been on campus. 

He had Amy, then. The thought came as quick as a blink, and with another he tried to kill it. Amy, four, sometimes five times a week, in a room with a radiator, on a bed with a frame. Beneath the bed, tucked nearest to where he laid his head, he had a shoebox. A shoebox full to bursting with letters from Jersey. Not one of them mentioned Amy, because Bob never told anyone back there about her. Not even his mother. That had been nothing to what he kept from her, now. As Amy stayed longer and longer in his warm, little room, the letters from Jersey started to slip through his fingers, like cigarette butts. And he had burned them, he remembered. They went with the curtains and bannisters, last winter. He had heard the rattle in time to save his long untouched rosary from the bottom of the box, before shoving the rest into the grate. Then, he had curled back into the corner, taking Jackie under one arm, and Raymond under the other. He had thought, with some small satisfaction, that Raymond had not found his blubber so repulsive, then. Jackie had been most grateful. He had kissed Bob’s neck, calling him “Chewbacca” under his breath, as he snuggled deeper into his chest. It was then that Bob had gazed into the fireplace, and seen one of his envelopes, peeling and blackening in the rising flames, the words beneath disappearing up into the smoke. 

They jogged up the stairs to the front door, and Bob’s belly clenched again, pushing a pop of bile up into his mouth. He gulped it back down and prayed for a working elevator. The Rabbit punched a number into the intercom. After some crackling and spitting, a flat, feminine voice hissed through the little speaker. 

“Banky?” 

“Uh huh.” The Rabbit, Banky, grunted through the tatters of a deflated gum bubble. As they waited to be buzzed in, Bob realised that Banky had not looked at him since he had called him pretty. The smiles seemed to have dissipated with the assurance of Bob’s service. While Bob felt relief at not having to look into those mammalian eyes, the sudden sourness of his go-between had the acid spitting up in his throat. The notion of this all being a trap sprang up, again in his mind. 

It took more for Banky to wrench the hefty door open and hold it, than it would have for Bob. A meagre, but comforting certainty. The building was only a few years old, but already it had yellowed inside. Young flesh soaked in iodine. Bob’s on-campus block had been carpeted, here the tiled floor was brown and bare. Grubby strip lights showed every streak of grease on the walls. Mercifully, the elevator worked. It was a short, groaning ride to Banky’s floor. The heat hit them, before the doors even opened. Bob wondered if every apartment had a radiator on, or if the landlord was obligated to keep the students warm, like butterflies under a glass dome. The air in the corridor was almost rippling, heavy with the stink of baked grass and overcooked curry. 

“In you go, Man.” Banky’s voice caught Bob, before he tottered off in a sweaty delirium. His pain was now constant. Rough, pressing fingers had become a fist, burrowing and snatching right inside him. He manoeuvred himself around and moved towards the door Banky was holding for him. 

If the corridor was the throat of a dragon, this room was it’s gut. The place was grey with smoke. It plumed off the unlit ceiling, as thick as raw cotton, and drifted down into the bodies, beneath. They were outlined by a tiny television, blinking in the corner like a wisp in the fog, playing Fraggle Rock. There was a large body on the chintzy sofa, bound up in Indian throws. A girl was propped up on the coffee table, watching the screen, puffing like a stack. She was as bony as any of the boys back at home, and for a second, Bob stupidly wondered if she knew any of them. The frosty highlights in her hair have turned as yellow as the walls. It must be the tar, Bob thought. He could almost feel it settling on his skin, turning him yellow, too. And he was so red inside from craving, he had to stop himself from licking his own cheeks. The girl watched Banky enter with Bob, through liner so heavy it might have been boot polish. 

“Who’s that?” She croaked, by way of greeting. 

“He’s for the Birthday Boy.” The smile was back. Banky moved nearer to Bob, and began rifling through his pockets, again. 

Now inside, Bob could make out the remnants of a party, through the smoke. It looked almost sad, as if the place had been taken by fire. There were balloons, still fat and bright, snugged about the floor, like a rainbow of dozy house cats. Froths of paper ribbons held together a clutch of smeary glasses and overflowing ashtrays on the table. In the centre was a glossy quarter of chocolate cake on a messy plate, lightly dusted with ash. In spite of his sickness, saliva and phantom sugar spurted onto Bob’s tongue. The childishness of the picture should have soothed his fears of being set up for a slaughter. 

“That’s sick, Bank.” He heard the girl speak again. Just as something rapped him on the chest. 

Bob’s mind swung around too fast and spun away from him. A second hand thrust up through his core and shook on his ribs, like a warning rattled through a chain link fence. He lashed out and grabbed Banky’s wrist, hard enough to feel the bones grate. 

“Whoa, whoa, fuck!” Banky flailed under him like the little rabbit he resembled, caught in a snare. “Fuckin’ mellow out!” 

The corner of a bill fluttered up from between his knuckles and caught Bob’s eye. Oh. He looked about the room and saw the skinny girl reared up on her knees. Behind her, the bundle on the sofa was squirming awake. He came back to Banky’s bared teeth and wide eyes, hot, and wetted to the colour of fresh pitch. Suddenly, he looked fully human. 

Bob released his wrist as quickly as he had taken it. He bowed his head low in a show of hound dog submission, and held up his hands mute apology. He could feel them shaking like offered paws. He had felt so little, before. Pinches in his bowels, panic snapping through him, like a wad expanding cellophane. Prickly, almost irritating. And now, at last, he felt himself bloated, and shamefully near to tears. Not only may he not get paid, he realised, but he might get walked out of here in cuffs. And all from a tap for his attention. 

For a long moment, everything was still around him. 

“Fuck.” There was a lick of reprimand on the tip of Banky’s tongue, flat against the hysterical wail Bob had just heard. “You musta been up all night, you’re jumpier than my man in there.”  

He kept his hand raised, but crackled the cash between his fingers to be sure Bob knew what he held. Bob still did not dare to meet his gaze, instead eying his own hand, as he turned it and let Banky drop thirty dollars into it. Outside of his line of vision, the skinny girl choked. 

“What the fuck, you’re gonna let him stay, after that?” 

“Fuck’s goin’ on?” A gruff voice rasped from the shifting roll of blankets. 

Bob did not look to see if another set of accusing eyes would emerge. He fanned out the bills to double check them, and tucked them away into his cigarette pocket. He lifted his head halfway, to look for a mirror. He found one, a gaily painted wooden gecko climbing the far wall, with a sliver of reflective silver along it’s rounded back. As quietly as he could, he padded over to check himself.....

—————

Thanks for reading!

[apprenticestanheight]

Sixties Era Horror Film- Chainshipping x afab! reader

the people have SPOKEN and the motivation has let me do what I do best, so a little more than two weeks after my original post about it, I present to the audience who cared about the concept: chainshipping x reader with a free use kink! This has been on my mental rotation of smut concepts since I posted about it and so having the will to write it was actually a nice change of pace. I adore poly! chainshipping as a concept and so this was naturally fun to write and I hope that it's fun to read.

if the anon who asked about it a little after christmas is reading, I hope you like it and it is for some reason detriemental to me that you know it was your ask that spurred me on to write this rather than just think about it.

This fic is for audiences of 18+! Minors, do not interact.

Fic type - this is just--it's shameless, kinky smut bc I am a shameless kinky writer

Warnings - kink gets discussed so there are a couple mentions of somno, pegging, breath play, petplay (as per usual, in use of nickname only bc I was looking for gn petnames and I, as always, used puppy before I remembered nicknames outside of my go-to) being tied up, hickeys, fear but in a like,, horny way and of course the big one and the center of the fic: free use! I did go with a gn reader for all intents and purposes but the reader is afab as that anatomy is the kind I know the best.

Some days, you were almost a little grateful for the bastard known as Jigsaw by the general public.

Not for too many aspects of the trap nor it's aftermath--being chained by the foot to a pipe close to what you'd at the time presumed to be a dead body despite it being the very alive body of Jigsaw, for one, was not something you were grateful for.

You weren't grateful for the bullets Lawrence had shot into your chest and stomach, nor the one Adam had shot into your leg. You were not grateful for the fact that Adam had been left for one week where you'd been left for three, nor for the trauma you'd endured and somehow managed to come out the other end of.

But, a year post escape and ten months into a relationship with Adam and Lawrence both, you could at a minimum say you were grateful for the fact that being in the trap had allowed you to meet the loves of your life.

You all lived in an apartment that you split the rent on, and living in an apartment in Jersey in 2002 as a group of three was easy enough.

Adam had been working as a gallery participant, having been approached in mid October by someone who'd heard he was a photographer and wanted to see how decent he was at the whole photography thing. Since then, he'd made a deal that guaranteed him at least half a decade of employment. Two individual collections a year plus collections done by him and three additional photographers that were focused around either a specific season or the holidays that made up that season, and when that was combined the take home money was $2000 a month after taxes, with a one thousand dollar bonus at the beginning of every season to compensate for his part in the seasonal collections.

Lawrence still worked as an oncologist, though he'd at least tried to schedule his hours so that they were more structured and so that he could have time during his day to take a breath for a minute or two, and even post-divorce, he made damn good money.

You, however? You worked as a hotel receptionist post-trap making $3200 a month. You'd worked in charity and marketing before the trap but post-trap you'd searched for consistency, which you couldn't find in a day job that was completely and structurally commission based, so you switched career paths. Maybe one day you'd get promoted until you ran the hotel at which you were working as a receptionist, but at twenty-eight and nine months into working there, you were in no rush to climb up the corporate ladder.

You, Adam, and Lawrence had all used up your PTO to take three weeks off in the new year, and so you were all home pretty much all the time.

It had opened up a lot of conversation opportunities and the night of your first day off, you'd all had a bit to drink and kinks that you'd not already discussed came up.

Lawrence, a little unsurprisingly given a loveless marriage and a sexless bedroom, was pretty vanilla, which you already knew as you'd had sex before that discussion. He liked being dominant, liked giving you and Adam practically endless praise, but in a more shocking turn of events, didn't hate the ideas of breath play or very dark hickeys in very visible spots. He also had a thing for seeing you and Adam wearing his work shirts, apparently, and you and Adam had exchanged a nod while you both noted doing that more often.

Adam, also unsurprisingly, adored pegging and was definitely a switch. He mentioned somewhat enjoying breathplay and liking the way that the baggier sweatpants he'd owned managed to hug Lawrences ass and how you looked in the white and black shirts he wore under his flannels. He also liked being tied up and didn't totally hate the idea of somno, which you bit your lip about while Lawrence nodded, clearly thinking the same thing.

You, in a surprising turn of events, were really big on free use, somno, and fear in the right context. Adam had laughed a little, asked if you'd ever gotten off while in one of those stupid haunted house pop-ups during Halloween, and you'd brushed it off, explaining free use to them instead of thinking about just how much you would've sold your soul for in the name of being fucked by Mickey Alteri in 1997.

"It's--it's like--either of you can pretty much use me whenever you want," you laughed nervously, a little scared of being shamed for the idea. "Like, if I'm doing dishes or just watching tv or something, all you need to do is kiss me and maybe undo one of the buttons on my shirt and I'm all yours. It's not something I've ever really told anyone about because I know that not everyone likes that kind of thing and I don't need to be kinkshamed by someone I've gone on two dates with. I honestly never expected it to come up."

"Use you?" Adam asked, a sultry smirk playing on his lips.

"Whenever?" Lawrence at least had the decency to bite his bottom lip to keep from smirking. "That has been noted."

"Noted," Adam nodded, kissing your neck softly.

After that, the kinks you'd discussed that night rarely came up. Two weeks into the time you all had off and you were starting to think Lawrence and Adam had completely forgotten, not really caring about it much as Adam had gone to grab a couple of groceries and Lawrence was reading while he relaxed in the bed that you shared where you were on the couch, knee deep into some sixties-era horror movie about a group of college seniors who were being picked off one by one.

And then Lawrence came into the living room, hummed when he saw you and tilted your head back to press a kiss against your lips.

"You said whenever, mm?" Lawrence asks as he pulls away, face only milimeters from yours.

You shudder a deep breath in as you hear the sound of keys followed by the door opening.

"I did," you nod.

"Now's a good time, I take it? You're watching a horror movie so it must be."

You laugh, embarrassed, nodding again. Lawrence rounds the couch and pulls you close, presses a kiss to your forehead briefly.

And then Lawrences lips are on your neck and you hear Adam putting the things he'd grabbed into their rightful spots in the kitchen before he joins you, pressing a kiss to the side of your head as you lean it back and press it against the back of the couch.

"Lawrence is using you, yeah puppy?"

You nod, letting Lawrences hands slip under the shirt you'd stolen from Adam.

"Mhm," you hum, hand reaching up to Adams neck. Lawrences lips trail down your neck, moving past the hurdle created by the shirt that he's hiked up to your collarbones. Adam holds it in place and Lawrence kisses your chest softly, drawing out softened moans of pleasure.

"Well, we don't want to interrupt your movie, baby," Adam whispers, lightly nipping at your clothed shoulder. "Gonna watch it for us, yeah?"

You turn your eyes to the screen, letting Adam take your shirt off your torso as Lawrences kisses move down your navel.

Watching the movie becomes difficult as all you can focus on are the feelings of Lawrences and Adams lips, Lawrence kissing, sucking and biting at the skin of your stomach and hips while Adam kisses relentlessly against your neck, hands sliding to your nipples to roll them between deft fingers.

Your moans are quiet, buried in your throat for the fear of being too loud, but as Lawrences lips trail back up your chest, hands finding your hips and Adams lips move back up your neck until he's kissing your jawline and beside your head, they get just a bit louder.

"Lift your hips for Lawrence, baby," Adam whispers. "I think he wants to fuck you. Wants to use you and leave you full of him."

You moan, doing as Adam instructs. Lawrence laughs against the skin of your shoulder, pressing a kiss there as he gets the boxers and sweatpants you'd worn pulled off your legs, exposing your wet cunt to the cold air of the living room.

"You're such a good puppy for Adam and I," he whispers. "Don't come while I'm inside you, all right? I know Adam loves eating you out and I can imagine he'd want to eat you out while you're full of my cum so that, once he's done enjoying what I've left behind, his face ends up drenched in you."

You tilt your head back in search of Adams lips. He laughs into the kiss, pulling away only enough to talk so that he can call you insatiable before you continue.

Lawrence thrusts into you slowly, kneeling on the hard wood and pulling your legs to rest on his hips. He kisses Adam languidly while he waits for you to adjust, one of Adams hands relocating to your nipples while Lawrences hand is on his face.

Eventually, when you start rutting against Lawrence, the kiss he shares with Adam ends and he starts thrusting to you at exactly the pace he knows will have you releasing around him the quickest, though the adage of Adams hands and lips anywhere they can reach on your torso certainly doesn't make doing what Lawrence had asked of you any easier.

Lawrence is pulling out right as you're teetering on the edge, leaving you breathless and full of his cum without having met your own release.

"Gonna let Adam have a taste?" Lawrence asks, kissing your lips gently. You look completely and totally blissed out from all the touching but you feel infinitely eager to have Adams lips against you so you nod, let Lawrence help you get to a kneeling position while Adam slips around the couch, slipping his head in between the space between your pussy and the back of the couch.

His hands find your hips with ease and he pulls you down onto him, moaning into you when he tastes Lawrences cum on your folds.

"Fuck, baby," Adam whispers. "Oh, this is perfect."

His lips attach themselves to your clit as Lawrences hands go to unzip the zipper on Adams jeans. He frees Adams cock and spits on his hand, giving Adam a hand job while Adam eats you out like he's never eaten a day in his life.

You watch Lawrence get Adam off, thrusting against Adams face after a few minutes have passed. The action makes Adam laugh, gently probe your waiting hole with his tongue as Lawrences hand keeps going with the ministrations he's started.

"Fuck," you moan, eyes about ready to roll into the back of your head. Adam swaps his tongue for his fingers, letting his tongue and his lips move back to your clit as you keep thrusting. "Lawrence, Adam--oh, fucking hell."

Lawrence laughs. "I love how you sound when Adams doing what he does best," he says. "I think Adam would argue that he better likes the way you sound when I finger you, though."

Adam hums confirmation and it reverberates against you, making you quicken the pace and drawing another laugh from Adam.

"Gonna come over him, baby?" Lawrence asks teasingly. "Gonna get Adams face drenched in your cum? I think he wants that--I know he'd die happily so long as a dick or a pussy was in his mouth when he went."

You laugh a little, leaning forward and pressing your forehead against Lawrences shoulder.

"So good," you moan. "So fucking amazing."

Adam presses his tongue flat against your clit, and Lawrences lips move to kiss across your chest, tongue and teeth taking care of your nipples as Adams lips and hands make careful but quick work of your pussy and your hips.

"I'm so--I--" is all you can get out as far as words go before you're coming against Adams face, clenching haplessly around his fingers.

Adam releases from Lawrences ministrations at the same time as you release as a result of his, moaning breathlessly as he slips his face out from under you.

He'd come over Lawrences hand and as you sit down on the couch, not bothering to calm your legs or the way that they jitter from the aftershocks, Lawrence presses his fingers against your bottom lip.

You lick Adams cum from Lawrences hand while Adam watches, and Adam kisses Lawrence, the taste of you on his tongue and your wetness pretty much covering his chin, while you watch.

Carefully you all go to the bathroom, showering amidst kisses and random bickering sessions. Adam lends you a pair of his sweatpants and Lawrence lends one of his work shirts, and you end up deciding to go to your bedroom.

"Think we're due in for some pad Thai," Adam whispers, pressing a kiss against your forehead. "It's six o'clock, and dinner can't be a bad idea right now, can it?"

Your arms are around Adams waist while Lawrences are around yours, and Adam has one arm draped across your shoulder and Lawrences.

"Pad Thai doesn't sound terrible," you nod. "But--if I fall asleep before it gets here, I am not to be judged."

"We would never," Adam says teasingly. "And I mean, if you do fall asleep, we're the ones to blame, right? We chose to fuck you, even if you're the one with the free use kink."

"Did we do it right?" Lawrence asks, pressing a kiss against your shoulder. "I mean--based off how you described it, there's no wrong way to do it but both Adam and I were kind of unsure. I'm not a very kinky person and even though Adam is kinkier than I, free use isn't something either of us have really heard of."

"Scott talked about it a bit when he was in college and I was discovering all the glories of weed when I was in my early 20s," Adam admits. "That's the extent, though. I'll call Meis in half an hour, have it delivered. Don't wanna leave this bed, if I'm honest."

You laugh. "Neither do I," you press a kiss against Adams shoulder before turning around to face Lawrence.

"I love you guys," you whisper.

"We love you too," Adam presses his lips against your neck. "Grateful for the fact that the bathroom lead to us meeting, if I'm completely honest."

"I am too, sometimes," Lawrence agrees, pressing his lips against the center of your collarbones.

You laugh a little, enjoying the feeling of their lips as a comfortable, loving silence begins to occupy the room.

[ceslatoil]

WIP: The Gilded Cage, Chapter 7

SO to @cthulhu-of-the-night for the artwork! This is a sneak peak at Chapter 7 of my Genderswapped Billford Fic The Gilded Cage! Enjoy!

November 18th, 189X

My Dearest F,

My work continues as always. In the last week I’ve shred my adventures involving the wicked undead, lake dwelling monsters, and the irritating company of judgemental unicorns! Through correspondence with Mr. Armitage back in New Jersey, the recounts of the exploits have exponentially increased the sales of The Fantastical Nature Journal exponentially!

However, as the days grow caldera and the nights long and dark, I’ve found it harder to leave the warmth of my home. Luckily, Bill has offered up a new assignment that I can complete within the comfort of our private library: I am to translate the encrypted lost texts of Circe Mecc! We were able to find the journals within Gravity Falls’ small historical archive. Her alchemical texts are all in a difficult code, but I have been able to decode several passages. It seems that beyond her work on creating a philosopher’s stone, the woman was attempting to use a combination of evolutionary theory and alchemical practices to create artificial life! In a few months, I should be able to discover even more about this fascinating, mysterious figure.

I wish that all of my tasks were so intellectually rewarding. After the death of my spouse’s business associate, Bill has announced intent to throw a New Year’s Eve masquerade ball, supposedly to get everyone’s mind off the tragedy. Personally, it just sounds like an excuse to throw an elaborate dinner and wear silly outfits. Poor Susan, the cook, is quite put out by all the recipes for canapes and elaborate entrees she’s been expected to learn in a few weeks time.

Bill is in high spirits though: she has commissioned a pair of costumes for us both! I’m to be Andromeda, Princess of Aethiopia, and Bill will be the dreaded sea monster, the Cetus.

I’ve attached in this letter an invitation for you. I’ll understand if you decline, the trip is long and it sounds like your mentor has been keeping you busy. However, it just feels strange to not invite my best friend. I hope you are keeping well!

Warm Regards,

R. Cipher

[aidenlyons]

After returning home, Jake and & Aiden fall into a routine. Jake is getting more mobile by the day it seems, with the help of crutches at first, and then knee braces.

A: Jake? Dinner's ready.

Aiden still takes care of most of the meals but he's always liked cooking.

J: You've made this for me before, haven't you?

A: Mhm. In high school. You were skeptical about something with no meat.

J: Hah! Yeah, I remember. I think it's even better now.

A: I've had some time to practice cooking a bit more.

A: Um, are you ok getting to your appointment alone tomorrow?

J: Yeah, I can manage, everything ok?

A: Yeah. I just have an appointment with my therapist, but I can reschedule if you need me.

J: I'll be fine. Is everything ok?

A: It's fine. I don't need to see her a lot anymore. It's just.. a lot is happening, and I just want to talk it over with her.

J: Ok.. you know you can talk to me, if you need to?

A: I know, Jake. I want to talk to you, too. It's not about that.

A: Having an outside perspective is just helpful. Keeps me from getting too far into my head, you know?

J: Yeah. I understand. But we'll talk, maybe after? We haven't really, about Chestnut Ridge and.. everything.

A: Yeah, if we're not too tired after our appointments.

After dinner, Aiden cleans up while Jake has a bath. Soaking in the hot water helps and he prefers to bathe himself.

Jake knows it's selfish, but he kind of misses the way Aiden would come to him when he was overwhelmed. He's proud of Aiden for doing what he needs to do though.

When they make it to bed, Jake wants to make sure Aiden understands.

J: I'm proud of you, you know. Of who you are now. I think I see why you wanted to break up, back then.

A: Jake... I probably could have done this all with you, but I think I.. panicked a little.

J: You? Panic? Never.

A: Ha ha. Thank you for understanding. And you know, given everything.. maybe you should talk to someone, too? You just lost a lot.

J: You might be right. We'll see. I love you, you know.

A: I know. I love you too. Always have.

Once a week, along with his own exercises at home, Jake has to go to the hospital for some physical therapy. Swimming first for something low resistance and then weights. It's exhausting, but he trusts his doctors.

At home, Jake also works on some upper body exercises which he can do sitting down and certainly keep him fit.

Aiden continues to work on his yoga since it's something he enjoys and it's... a bit distracting for Jake.

A: Don't even think about it. I can feel you staring.

Aiden spends a few hours a day painting as well. He has a few commissions but mostly lists everything on his site on Plopsy.

J: Is that one of my old jerseys?

A: I can neither confirm nor deny.

J: It has my name on it.

A: And?

J: You're just trying to tease me today, aren't you?

Jake isn't supposed to put too much strain on his knee or do anything too strenuous which has put a slight kink in their love life.

J: Come here.

A: What are you.. Jake!

Aiden laughs when he ends up in Jake's lap. It's certainly hard to turn down kisses from his boyfriend.

J: We can be careful, you know.

A: We tried that.

J: We can try again.

A: You think you can let me take control?

J: Mhm. Sure. It's hot when you get a little aggressive.

A: Not the same thing.

J: C'mon.. I'm not made of glass.

A: Ok. We can try, but you better behave yourself.

J: Promise.

This time it's Aiden that turns Jake's head toward him so he can kiss him. Jake isn't the only one who has been missing being intimate with his boyfriend.

The afternoon after their respective appointments though, they're too tired for much more than couch cuddles. Aiden proving his catlike nature as he curls up carefully on top of Jake.

J: Everything go ok?

A: Mmm. Just always tires me out, talking to Dr. Hackett.

A: What about you? How was PT?

J: Fine. Exhausting. It's hard to tell sometimes but the doctor says I'm healing fast.

A: Good. We gonna talk about Chestnut Ridge?

J: Mmm. I want to go see the house. Maybe once the weather breaks in Spring? Colby said he'd show me around...

A: Sounds good to me. Do you want me to go with you?

J: I.. would you be mad if I wanted to go alone, at first?

A: No. I understand. It's about you and your dad. Take some pictures and show me after. We can go out together later if you want.

J: Sounds perfect. Thank you.

A: I might have another art show around then. My old teacher said that place in San Myshuno wanted me back. Another local artist thing.

J: That's great! I'm so proud of you. I told you your art was great.

A: Yeah, yeah.

J: Lets just relax and watch some TV tonight, hm?

A: M'not heavy, am I?

Jake chuckles softly and shakes his head. Aiden sounds like he's halfway asleep already.

J: Not at all.

Sure enough, when Jake checks a minute later, Aiden is out.

J: Yeah. Lets rest for now.

[gettothedancing]

Car wouldn’t start out of the blue yesterday. None of my neighbors are home when I am, so I called a towtruck and they gave me a jump in my garage. The guy said to pour Coke on the battery to get rid of corrosive acid, which I am 90% sure was not a joke, because he had no other suggestions.

I was worried the issue was way more serious than just a jump. The car is 10 years old, bought off the side of the road after it was in an accident that permanently changed the shape of the frame around the engine. I’m glad it works because I don’t have the time or money to rent a car rn. But I do have to think about how much longer these repairs are worth keeping this car.

I can’t trade it in unless I get it registered in the proper state. Which I put off doing, despite having everything I needed for it, because I hate the DMV more than almost anything else. The last time I was at the DMV, I frowned because I was being told I had to go to a different line and do a bunch of stuff over again. I’d already been there for almost two hours. My frown prompted the worker to start shrieking at me “not to get angry” and “stop threatening me.” It was surreal and embarrassing. We weren’t even making eye contact, how is a frown a threat? 

New Jersey was the worst. Everyone I stood near in that DMV back in 2020 was talking about how much they hated living there and how they were trying to move away XD Even though I’ve moved twice since then, I never went back to a DMV. Lockdown made getting a good time to go too hard in MI, and in OH I’ve been working and traveling so much that I always found a good reason to put it off just a little longer.

Oh, and they cancelled over half of the vacation time they’d already approved for me at the end of the month. They actually cancelled ALL of it and didn’t clearly communicate that to me, but when I realized and explained I was going to a family reunion and about my grandpa’s health, they felt bad and gave me 3 days back. Plus, the AC and the outlets in one room are still out of commission too. I have two fans going at full power that I carry from room to room. And my left wrist feels like it’s damn near about to fall off.

This week is giving me whiplash.

[peachyteabuck]

stars in your blood (mazikeen x eve)

summary: punishments should never come from a place of anger, but rather from a place of love. 

a commission for @ladyylesbian​

pairing: mazikeen x eve

words: 2,057

trigger warnings: D/s dynamics, mention of polyamory/group sex, punishment, allusion to brat taming, masterbation, use of vibrators, vaginal fingering, squirting, praise kink

ask box / masterlist / ko-fi

Maze snarls, attempting to lunge at Eve despite the ropes keeping her tied to the chair. Teeth bared and eyes narrowed, a growl low in her throat rings throughout the room. It ricochets off the walls and pierces her ears, but she doesn’t flinch; just continues to stare straight ahead.

“Mazy, you’re always so cute when you do that, you know that right?”

Maze’s eyes narrow, but still, she doesn’t move.

Her wife smiles, looking down at her the same way villains look down at heroes that have been defeat – eyes wide, smile sadistic, chest puffed out from the delicious taste of defeat. If Maze wasn’t in trouble, she might even compliment Eve; call her beautiful, kiss her, grab her ass and nip at every bit of sensitive skin while drinking in her moans. Tell her how good her gorgeous golden skin looks in the black nightie. Unfortunately, though, this is absolutely not the case; and so Maze grits her teeth while remaining in silence.

“It’s a shame we have to do this again…” Eve sighs circling her wife. “What’s my rule?” she asks, rhythmically beating the crop against her other hand. Her voice holds the same tone one uses to scold a puppy or a child, and it grinds on Maze’s eardrums like ten grit sandpaper on tree bark.

Maze grits her teeth, staring at the ground. “I have to call you every three days while I’m on a bounty.”

“And how long was it between calls during your last bounty?” Her eyes are wide as ever, cute and innocent covering her rage like the sheer outer layer of one of the designer dresses she convinces Maze to buy her oh-so-often.

She continues to stare at the floor as the mumbles her reply. “A week.”

“A week!” Eve repeats, exasperated. She throws her hands down and stomps her feet like a child. She’s frustrated, and it hurts Maze more than the bullet wound she sustained a few days prior. “For a week I was worried sick, scared you wouldn’t come home with no idea where you were or if you were okay.”

Maze sighs deeply, unsure of what to say. They’d been married for years and she had never not come home from a bounty, even if she was worn and ragged and her hair was matted with blood. She knows, though, that that doesn’t matter much; it only takes one wrong move and Maze is gone forever, and that fact haunts Eve like nothing she’s ever experienced.

So Maze doesn’t try to defend herself, or pull some excuse out of her ass. She just sits in the uncomfortable chair in the center of the large bedroom, kept in place with cheap kink rope bought from a ridiculously nice woman who runs a sex shop in Jersey. She, for once in her life, follows directions.

“I’m sorry,” she says with a flinch.

Eve hhmphs. “You will be after your punishment.”

She then moves to the large chest on the other side of the room, walking slow so her hips move just so. It makes Maze want to sink her teeth into the supple flesh. Still, she somehow remains focused enough to watch as Eve open the lock with the key that’s hidden in a secret compartment, then gingerly pry the doors open. It’s organized perfectly, toys and accessories and everything else expertly lined up. A few things clank when the door moves, but Eve ignores them – her fingers flitting around until she reaches deep within the first drawer and pulls out a hefty toy.

The vibrator is large and green with yellow buttons. Maze found it online while looking through this fetish website that was having a sale and originally bought it as a joke – but somewhere between setting five and setting seventeen they both found reasons to make it a permanent part of their sexual repertoire. She watches it in her wife’s beautiful, delicate hands – the large toy dwarfing her digits as they wrap around it. Fuck did she want to be the one to hold it against the most sensitive part of the woman she loves most, her free hand on the back of her wife’s neck, forcing their foreheads together as Eve’s eyes roll to the back of her head and her jaw goes slack and her body tenses and then follows suit and then her grip on Maze becomes fragile as a leaf in the wind and then – finally – Eve falls against Maze and they collapse in a pile of quick inhales and small moans.

Eve’s voice breaks through Maze’s lust-filled daze, returning her back to her frustrating reality.

“Remind me again, what is it that happens when my Mazey Baby doesn’t follow the rules we set up for reach other?” she asks, admiring the vibrator in the same way an art historian marvels at artefacts.

Maze swallows a sigh. “I get punished.”

Eve scuttles closer until she can tap Maze’s nose with her forefinger, whipping it back to her side as Maze bares her teeth and threatens to snap. “Good demon, now stay there.”

She takes her sweet, sweet time slipping off the black nightie. It’s a burlesque show without music or comedy or an audience of more than one, both sexy and harrowing as she climbs onto the large, heart-shaped bed with red silk sheets. It’s unmade, with blankets strewn about. Luckily, none of them block Maze’s view as Eve spreads her legs, the matching black panties leaving very little to Maze’s racing imagination. Slowly, purposefully, in the same manner a surgeon slices open a patient’s skin, Eve leans back and lifts her legs straight up into the air before peeling off her matching black panties in the same manner. She couldn’t see it before, but when the fabric leaves your lips she realizes Eve is dripping – her pussy shining in the low lit fairy lights.

“Fuck me,” Maze murmurs, the sight busy burning itself in her eyelids so she can see over, and over, and over, and over again any time she wants.

Eve giggles – fucking giggles like a mad woman – as she tosses the used panties so they land directly in Maze’s lap, the damp spot shining like gold in a dirt field but just out of reach. She only snaps to attention when she hears the sound of the vibrator turning on, the distinct loud and powerful buzz making the whole room spin.

Delicately, Eve loops her hand around her legs and presses the large, silicone end to the most sensitive part of her. It’s good, so good, and washes over Eve like the first peak of sun after forty days and forty nights of heavy, unrelenting rain. It was warm, all encompassing, and Eve basked in it like nothing she’d ever felt before.

“Oh, Maze,” Eve moans, throwing her head back as her free hand moves to grope at her breast. Her hair – gigantic and curly and so fucking beautiful – moves like a waterfall down her back and over her shoulders. Maze wants to bathe in it, finding the base of her lover’s neck and scratching ever so lightly into her supple skin. She wants to bite and tug and mark her wife as if they live in a glass house, branding her so that the entire world knows that even if they participate in group sex more than any other couple they know, they still belong to only each other.

Eve’s moans are breathy, high in her throat. They’re like warmed syrup on Maze’s tongue, seeping down the back of her mouth and into her body, heating her skin. It’s…hot, but not like hellfire. No, it’s closer to…to the warmth of a bonfire on a cold autumn night, or brownies fresh out of the oven. Mazikeen wants to bathe in it, seeping herself in a deep pool of the honey-glazed noises.

She snaps to attention when Eve falls back, flipping herself over to move into her favorite position: on her stomach, with her ass propped into the air and her chest pressed into the bed. It gives Maze an even clearer view of her wife’s glistening pussy, watching as Eve’s cunt contracts around nothing.

It’s a shame that beautiful little thing is empty. Should be a crime to leave such a desperate pussy empty as it waits so patiently to be filled. Doesn’t matter if it’s fingers or cock or tongue or some other toy – Maze would spend the rest of her life on her knees if it meant that her wife’s cunt was never left wanting again.

“Oh, Mazey,” Eve moans, breathy and beautiful and so disgustingly far away from her fingertips. “Oh baby I’m so close, want to come so bad…”

She’s not asking permission – Eve hasn’t asked for permission since she realized her and Lucifer were items not meant to be bundled – she’s not even issuing a warning. No, behind her simple words are a veiled threat that Maze understands will likely drive to the brink of madness, because there’s nothing Maze loves more than making Eve reach the peak of pleasure, and taking that away is the worst punishment Maze could be subjected to.

“You want to come, don’t you baby?” Maze hisses, teeth grit as her nails dig into her palms. “C’mon, show me how good it feels when you come.”

That’s all it really takes (because it never takes all that much) for Eve to cry out, her body folds at her hip giving Eve an excellent view of her eyes rolling to the back of her head as her mouth forms a perfect O. Her muscles contract rhythmically and she bucks her hips in time with them, fucking herself against the toy as she whimpers.

She falls back, eventually, as her orgasm succeeds, chest rising and falling as if she had just run a marathon. A thin sheen of sweat covers her body, the lingerie sticking to her. It takes what feels like forever for her head to pop back up, staring at Maze with a small, bubbly smile that makes the demon in question’s chest ache.

Fuck, she loves this woman so much.

“You okay, baby?” Eve asks, brows furrowed just a little.

Maze inhales deeply before nodding sincerely. “Yeah, I’m okay.”

Eve’s smile grows ear-to-ear. “Good. Now come up here and give me my next orgasm.”

“Yes ma’am,” Maze nearly growls, immediately breaking the chair she’s in and ripping the cheap ropes from her body before pouncing on her lover like a starved lion. Wordless and smooth, Maze presses the still-vibrating toy into Eve’s hypersensitive pussy. It’s harder, more pressure than Eve used before but still a delicious feeling that makes Eve’s thighs shake uncontrollably.

“Oh, M-mazey, I-“ Eve struggles through each short syllable. “Oh, Oh it- it feels so g-good-“

Her words are cut short when Maze inserts two fingers into Eve’s dripping pussy, immediately finding the spot inside of her that makes her moan so lewdly it almost makes Maze want to fall to her knees in prayer. (Keyword: almost.)

“So fucking good for me,” Maze murmurs, a smirk playing on her lips. “Such a perfect little pussy for a perfect little girl.” Eve moans at her words, biting her lip so hard Maze is sure she can feel the tangy taste of blood against her tongue. “You’re always good for me, aren’t you baby? Even when you’re being a little brat-“ she punctuates her words with the addition of a third finger. “You’re my perfect little princess.”

It’s mere seconds later when Eve is coming once more, gushing on Maze’s hand and the bedsheets with one final cry.

Maze is equally breathless and she realizes that Eve squirted, a gleam in her eye that refuses to quit even as Eve falls back on the bed and drags Mazikeen down with her.

“No one can ever know about this,” she says through breathy laughter, tucking a loc of Eve’s curly hair behind her ear.

Eve giggles (Maze has never enjoyed the sound of giggling before she met Eve) and nods. “Baby, you say that every time and yet I don’t think either of us have any plans to divulge intimate details about our sex life.”

Maze shrugs, rolling over to throw her arm around her wife’s stomach. “Just making sure, Evie. Just making sure.”  

[stickynotestoletters]

may i ask for some poly relationship w larry & sal x male reader hcs?

Ah! Of course! :) Sorry I've been taking so long school is getting to me cause of finals;-;

Warnings: Noncannon compliant (their parents aren't together, no one dies, etc), NSFW (implied teen NSFW otherwise they're out of highschool), no weird cult stuff but they still ghost hunt, more modernish (?) phones and stuff

Sal x Male Reader x Larry hcs

highschool

I think that Sal and Larry would have gotten together before you got there

Like, I say gotten together but the way they started it was literally best friends that were super hornknee and decided to have sex together

They started then developing romantic feelings for each other though

And although the sex dynamic wasn't perfect (refer to my Sal x reader NSFW fic) it was good and they loved each other

It became an on and off thing until they actually worked it out

they talked about it and decided that it was better that they stay friends until they can sort out their own sexual desires and endeavors

Sal didn't even know he could do both as a switch and verse so he wanted to just re-examine his sexual self

And Larry was okay with that

So they decided to date but just without sex for a while

Then you moved to Nockfell their sophomore year

and god were you cool

Sal was the first one to see you in the hallway

It wasn't love at first sight really

He thought you were cool and he wanted to talk to you

Then that same day he told Larry about you during lunch

"I want to talk to him I just don't know how to approach him"

"Oh, well who is it?"

Ngl Larry was kinda jealous about how flustered Sal was getting at the prospect of a new friend but then Sal pointed at you and Larry was like "Oh, okay, I get it."

So Larry just approaches you

It was kinda to tease Sal about how shy he was being

Also kinda because you looked rad as fuck

So Larry approaches you sitting at a table alone

You were actually quite chill

You were happy since no one was approaching you

You guys hit it off and ended up becoming really good friends!

So for the duration of your sophomore year and the summer of your junior year, you guys were really good pals and hung out a lot

Then Larry started developing feelings first

And he was super confused since he knew he still liked Sal, no doubt about it

So he was just super confused and conflicted because he didn’t want to break up with Sal

So during, about the first half, of all of your junior year he kept this to himself and tried to keep himself from feeling for you

Sal on the other hand already accepted his feelings, he realized it later than Larry

And he read yp on what being polygamous meant

So although there was a lot of confusion at first he figured it's no different from people in love triangles

He realizes it a couple weeks after Larry and decides to bring this up to Larry during winter break

The conversation pretty much just went like Sal explaining polyamory to Larry for an hour

They end up deciding to just wait a bit and try to flirt with you individually

you know,

because they don't remember that you don't know they're attracted to you at this point

:)

So basically you think that they're both trying to cheat on each other for the week they're flirting with you

At the end of that week, you tell them to meet you together

And they don't know any better than to meet you

And then you come to them, don't let them explain, and cry because you don't want two of your best friends to cheat on each other like this even though you like them

And then they realize why you're saying this

So although this was not the time they expected to confess to you they told you what they were trying to do

So you just sat there

With these two idiots

and told them "No guys, cause I was literally having a breakdown about losing my two best friends."

And they confess to you

and everything is emotional and raw and you accept

Your guys' dynamic doesn't change because you’re dating now

The only difference is you guys make out together and show lots more pda

although you always bring up what they did when they were trying to give you hints

"We just really wanted to flirt with you okay??? Is it such a crime to want your crush to fall for you???"

"When you guys don't explain you're looking to expand your relationship, yes. Yes, it is Larry."

"He's kind of right babe-"

"SAL-"

Y'all spend a lot of time communicating with each other on stuff like that now

Your senior year goes without any bumps between all of you and you then graduate

College Dynamic

so you and the gang (except Ash, she moves to the city of course) goes and makes a college house

once you all move in together there it's a new routine

You all agreed and talked about the move together and what it would entail

And then you all finally realized how different it was from a monogamous relationship it was

But you all had your learning curves within the relationship

You find out more about their dynamic as a couple

For example, Larry and Sal never liked to fall asleep without you anymore

They had trouble sleeping without you beforehand and the first time you all slept in the same bed together it was just... so... peaceful

They'll spoon and cuddle without you individually (Sal is always the big spoon with Larry)

but they just love falling asleep next to you

They also refuse to do homework without you there

Even if it's just the simplest this they're just gonna need to have you in the room to finish it

Sal likes to make songs about you guys

He records them and edits some but he never lets you two listen to them

"It's just embarrassing if you two were to listen to it. It's like confessing my love for you guys all over again except I can't hide behind the mask."

So until he decides to release his songs online or plays those at gigs he's never going to let you listen to them

Larry likes to paint you guys

His paintings of you before the "disaster confession" were okay, it just looked like he was making a painting of a friend, except for the occasional rose

But now he paints you and draws you two whenever he can

He finds it funny how flustered you and Sal get whenever he makes suggestive paintings or sketches of you two

One time he painted a whole sex portrait of you and Sal together (A 12 by 28 specifically) hung it upright in front of the door to your rooms and didn't tell anyone

So after you and Sal got home that day you were welcomed with Larry lounging on your bed with the giant picture of you fucking Sal next to him

It was definitely beautiful though, even if it's hard to call your nudes beautiful

"Larry Johnson, this painting, as always, masterful. Beautiful craftsmanship but please-" "-we mean this in the most loving way possible Larry-" "-STOP PAINTING OUR NUDES BABE"

He put it away to be hung up in your apartment for when you all move out

Non-College Life

Once you all finish college you guys move into an apartment outside of Nockfell

The minute after you and Sal leave to get food Larry puts up all his private paintings of you guys

It's funny to him

I imagine you guys moving to a really populated city

Somewhere where it's a good place for people wanting to have creative jobs but still close to Nockfell

Maybe not back to New Jersey but probably not as far as New York or LA

you guys do all the cute stuff you never got to in Nockfell together

It's not like the majority of Nockfell was homophobic, mostly just the people who went to the church

But a lot more of them didn't think that polyamory was possible

So now it's easier

It's not like you never experience any polyphobia anymore but it's easier because you're in a more open-minded place

Sal's favorite thing is to go to concerts now

And pride

He also likes coffee house dates too

Larry gets hit on a lot though whenever you guys go out anywhere though

He finds it funny how jealous you both get

Sometimes if he wants Sal to get really mad he'll play along

But most of the time he shuts it down before it begins

Sal gets hit on a lot at concerts the most though

He gets kind of awkward about it, he's not going to edge them on but he gets uncomfortable enough to just not know how to shut them down

Usually, you and Larry will just appear behind him and whisk him away

Larry likes to use it as teasing leverage for a good rough one that night but you usually make sure he's okay with it before Larry does anything

You get hit on the most casually

Here and there but there aren't really specific places

It just sort of happens

You mostly shut them down alone

But occasionally you'll have to go to Sal and Larry if they're persistent

And they'll be mean too

One of the first times you saw Sal and Larry ever legitimately get that mean was when you got hit on in a club and they both just pulled you behind them and absolutely ripped the person a new one

You guys really like to stay at home if you guys have dates though that way everyone feels included

But when you all do go around together it's always specifically for three people you never tell anyone it's a date for dinner reservations, you always make sure you go on rides everyone wants to go on at amusement parks, and hey if worse comes to worst smoking is a group activity (if you have asthma or any other breathing condition Larry makes you edibles if you really wanna do edibles with them)

Starting jobs there are tough and all but you make it off your feet

Sal ends up booking a lot of gigs and Larry's commission request skyrocket when he moves to the city and makes a blog about his art

You all get an apartment with affordable rent and one that allows Gizmo

I hc that Gizmo is an esp but I don't know if that's real

So regardless you'll still be able to have room for him

Sal proposes to both of you

You guys talked about marriage and decided that it would be easier legally to just not get married through a court

So you guys have a friends wedding and Gizmo is the ring bearer

You guys don't get a fancy venue or anything

You guys all just have a city wedding

NSFW

So, the first time you all decide to hook up it's mostly just very communicative rules beforehand

Sal is more comfortable with being fucked than fucking someone else at most times but "It's not like I never want to stick my dick in you two" as he puts it

He also likes background music on most of the time

It's kinda weird if there isn't just a little bit of music

It isn't really bothersome, you guys keep it below 20 at most times

Sal's also super submissive

He liked it rough, make him cry out for you two

A bit of a pillow prince

Especially enjoys being tied up by you two

gags and blindfolds are on the table

Although whenever he does feel up to fucking you and Larry he'll usually end up having you two ride him because he gets to be such a mess with you two unless he's jealous or upset

Usually, when he's upset he's gonna lift you two up and fuck you against the headboard or wherever you two are if he's impatient enough

One time you were chilling with Larry in your bedroom and he was painting over his easel

Sal burst through the door where it slammed back on itself and closed itself

He then tracks his eyes on you

immediately asks you "Can I please fuck you right now"

and as soon as your safe word and consent comes out of your mouth he's holding you down on the bed and fucking into you so hard you can barely breath

Larry doesn't mind it and just continues painting with you moaning and being so pathetic in the background of his music

He kinda finds it funny because before you all got together and he and Larry would angry fuck it never worked out

Sal was just being a brat most of the time because Larry still wouldn't let him fuck him submissively

Speaking of which, Larry's more comfortable with being dominant, he'll bottom but only if he can still be dominant otherwise forget it

Larry's just a rough fucker anyway

He really likes pushing and holding you two up against walls when he fucks you guys

He likes showing off the muscles he got helping his mom with handy work and stuff like that

The first time he did this was to Sal when you were studying in your guy's room

You said you didn't really wanna participate today so they fucked like they would without you

And so they're talking back and forth, teasing each other

and Larry corners him

And just

lifts him up

It looked like he was just lifting a bag of sugar up

Sal seemed weightless as Larry just rocks into him

It was one of the hottest things you'd seen at the time so you joined them

You do that a couple more times but then it just becomes normal and you decide you need to start finishing all those assignments

Larry does that to you one on one as well without Sal but it happens to Sal a lot more spontaneously

Larry though is kinkier than Sal in some respects

He'll try anything at least once "Lisa didn't raise no bitch-"

He's really into breeding and long fucking sessions though

Like, lowkey he has omegaverse fantasies

Not because of the weird stuff just because a lot of the time..... they have breeding written in

He'll never admit to reading any of it but you know he has at least once

Super into dirty talk

And he's really good at it

He also had a praise kink and a degradation kin

He likes degrading you and you telling him thank you and how good he's treating a filthy little brat like you

"What're my filthy little brats good for other than sucking my dick so well. Taking me so well like the dirty little whores you are?"

"Yes sir-" "-we're made for your big cock-" "-thank you for fucking us like this-"

He especially likes breeding you and having Sal suck you off while he does it, he finds your crying cute

And an added bonus is rewarding Sal after for it

You guys talk about long-term consent and all that and decide that it's a good idea, you all trust and love each other so there isn't a problem

lol this kinda went to shit at the end but I still like it enough! Thanks for the Sally Face request I really like this game and the dynamic between a poly reader hc :)

-Laika

[apprenticestanheight]

Home - Peter Strahm x gn! reader

OOOOOOKAY!! It's been a while yet since I wrote for anything in the saw fandom but I rewatched saw four today while working on a couple of things to sell via facebook marketplace and then this idea rose from the ashes that have been my saw obsession for the last few months, which, as it probably will every single spooky season from here on out, has come back in full fucking force.

Fic type - this is, for all intents and purposes, fluff!

Warnings - the reader is a crocheter!! if that counts?? also this unedited because I wanted to post before getting some other writing stuff done oops

Peter smiles softly as he turns the key in the lock and opens the front door to his home. If there is to be any guarantee in recent, it's that he'll come home to you at the end of the day. It's nice for that to be a guarantee in at least some respect, the one on his mind that week being that the Jigsaw case can finally be put to rest.

It's been a long road of twists and turns, near deaths and too many near misses to count, but it's worth it, he decides. Almost dying but making it out, making it home to you, is more worth it than not. It has to be.

His grin widens as he pushes his shoes off his feet, takes off his coat and walks down the hall. He takes a right and ends up in the living room, wants to be surprised to find you where he does but is completely and totally the opposite.

"Have you moved at all today?" He asks, unable to stop the fondness in his tone. "I swear, you were sitting in that exact spot when I left for work this morning."

You laugh a little bit, shaking your head. Peter is unsurprised to see you in the same corner of the couch you'd been in when he left that morning, working away on the blanket you'd been commissioned for two weeks prior.

"I've moved at least a few inches," you murmur. "You know how I get when I get focused."

Peter nods, moving to sit next to you on the couch. "When you're focused, you become both an unstoppable force and an immovable object," he says. "I love that about you. Have since before we were married."

"I'm glad for that," you murmur. "Almost as glad as I am to be done with this blanket--the customer asked me to use cotton yarn and I hate the way it feels on my hook."

"Why'd you accept the commission, then?"

"Because eighty hours of work paid at a living new jersey wage, plus yarn cost and the cost of my time to put this together has made me a grand total of five hundred fuckin' dollars," you smile softly. "I love that this can be my job. I love you, Peter Strahm, so fucking much."

"Because the FBI pays me a good bit, or just generally?" You'd owned the house the two of you were living in, had no mortgage payments or anything as you'd inherited the house from an aunt who'd died of old age the decade previous, and Peter was happy to take on most of the expenses after working for two and a half decades in nursing had burned you out to a point of near nonrecognition.

It had been six months since you'd decided to go with early retirement and so many days were just like that one, where you'd get up early and brew the both of you coffee while Peter made the both of you breakfast and the two of you talked about your days to come. Crochet had always wormed it's way into yours and Peter would always grumble about work, but you knew that things had finally started to get easier as the jigsaw stuff died down.

"Both," You answer. "My love for you is simultaneously full of merit and completely absent of it. I just wake up most days knowing that marrying you is the best decision I've ever made."

Peter smiles at your comment, and you let him kiss you sweetly, savoring the feeling of his lips against your own.

Your quiet life is a good one, one you wouldn't trade for a damn thing.

[paintball-writes]

Day 3 - Identities

Day1 - Day2 - Day3 - Day4

Marinette had been living with the waynes for over a month now. The reason? Tom and Sabine sent her away to her biological father. Apparently To Dupain was not her biological, but Bruce Wayne was.

Marinette had a sliver of hope, A really, really thin one. Which had faltered by the month.

Marinette had defeated Hawk Moth with Chat Noir. Apparently Plagg found the brooches along with two sleeping kwamis accidentally. At night when Gabriel and Natalie were asleep, He had stolen the miraculous. On the patrol that night, Chat had told her that the miraculous were right under their noses. He gave her the two brooches and told her that Plagg had found the brooches in his father’s study. He told her that Gabriel was Hawk moth and Natalie was Mayura. Then he de-transformed and handed her the ring saying that he wanted to continue his life as a civilian.

Later that week it was announced that Chat noir found out who Hawk Moth was and he had stolen the miraculous at night. He then said that Gabriel and Natalie were the Villians. He then revealed himself saying that he was innocent, and he had no idea that his father was Hawk moth. Marinette had thought that with Hawkmoth gone she could beat Lila, But no, it Backfired. That was the reason she was Shipped off. Like an object. She was replaced just like an object.

Her only wish was to die. But she had tried to do that multiple times. Someone always managed to save her. So no, that option was unavailable. She had thought that she would finally be able to die in Gotham by sucide, But no, Selina, Cassandra or Jason always managed to save her.

By now she had started to see the woman as a mother figure. The Waynes hated her. They didn’t even listen to her side of the story. Only Cass and Jason had seen that there was more to the story. Selina and Alfred too, of course. The waynes saw her with disgust. They laid out certain rules.

And of course she figured out they were Bat family. She may not be from Gotham, but she wasn’t certainly stupid. She had to admit, The Waynes were really good at hiding the Batfam thingy. But what gave them away? Misplaced Batarangs by Tim. Then Tikki had also found the cave. She wasn’t stupid, Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne were good friends and certainly Batman and Superman. The people of Justice league stopped by often at the Manor too.

Speaking of the Justice League, They had given her an offer to join the League, but she declined. They had given her a satellite phone for emergencies to contact the league. They had praised her high and low. Batman was even Concerned for her when he found out her age range. Concerned! If they knew that Ladybug was their new sibling who was claimed to be a bully, she’d be declared a threat and her take Miraculous away.

Her routine was the same. Wake up. Eat breakfast in silence as she was being glared at. Study something. Do commissions while talking to her boyfriend, Luka and the others. Eat Lunch while being glared at. Study the Grimoire with Alfred. Sketch some designs while talking to Selina and Cass. Draw illustrations while Jason talks. Eat dinner in Silence. Stay up till 3 am doing commissions. Sleep.

Last week she had introduced Luka to Cass, Selina, Jason and Alfred. It went really well. Especially when Jason found out he was Jagged Stone’s son.

She was thinking how she could step up her game with the Waynes. In her thoughts she didn’t see Selina coming in.

“What are you thinking about Kitten ?” Selina asks, seeing the half sketched dress.

“Gah! Selina don’t scare me like that! Anyway I was thinking, ``What do I do to annoy the waynes?” Marinette asks the Master of scheming Cat-woman.

“Hmm, what about going to your true self? Being in headphones, ignoring them, Snide answers, and stuff like that?” Selina says thoughtfully.

“Selina, that's brilliant! You’re the best Mom!” Marinette says. She covers her mouth with her hand realizing what she said.

“Aww, Com’ere Kit. I love you.” Selina says softly.

“You’re not mad?” Marinette hesitantly asks.

“Of course not!” She says.

“You’ll be more of a mother than Sabine will ever be to me.” Marinette says with a small voice and hugs the older woman.

Then the Chaos was unleashed. Whenever the Waynes wanted to ask her something she’d ignore them and she always had her headphones on.

- - - - - - - -

“Marinette, tell me why did you hurt the poor girl?” Bruce asks in a stern voice. Of course Mari didn’t hear him because of the blaring music.

“Marinette, Why did you hurt the poor girl?” Bruce asks again, obviously annoyed.

“MARINETTE-” He was cut off from Alfred of course.

“If I may Master Bruce,” he says, earning a nod. He gently taps the girl’s shoulder. Marinette moves her hair away and removes her Airpod. The music is loud enough for everybody to hear.Meanwhile Bruce flushes in embarrassment. “Miss, Your father wants to ask you something.” Marinette nods. She turns to her Father.

“What?” She asks.

“I asked, Why did you hurt the poor girl marinette, around two months ago?” He asks, patience bearing thin.

“Oh? I didn’t know that I could make a clone of myself and Send one to the fencing class and the other to beat her up at the Seine?” She says in a bored tone. Jason and Cass, not being able to hold their laughter any longer, burst out laughing.

Later that night they checked her attendance, sure enough she was in the fencing class.

- - - - - -

One day Marinette got a call from the Justice league, Stating an emergency. She quickly transformed to Ladybug and Portalled to the Watchtower.

“Ladybug, welcome to the Watchtower,” Wonder Woman welcomed, standing at the head of a group of heroes. Interestingly enough, Batman and all of his brood were among them. Nightwing, Red Robin, Black Bat, and Robin and the others.

“Wonder Woman,” she greeted back. “What’s the problem?”

“Your former partner has been kidnapped.”

Ladybug’s face turned pale, but she took a deep breath instead of panicking. “What do we know?”

“Ra’s al Ghul has taken the former Chat Noir in an attempt to convince the Guardian of the Miraculous to turn over the jewels to him,” Batman reported.

Her face turned up into a snarl. “The League of Assassins,” she spat.

They were surprised that she knew Ra’s. But they hid it well.

“I take it you understand why we cannot allow the Miraculous to be surrendered to his control,” Batman continued.

Wonder Woman stepped in before Ladybug could reply. “Ladybug, we need you to tell us who the Guardian is so that we may protect them.”

Ladybug let out a cold laugh. Shivers ran down everyone’s spine. “Wonder Woman, you misunderstand. The Order of the Miraculous is all but dead. I’m all that’s left. You want the Grand Guardian of the Miraculous?” She spread her arms wide. “You’re looking at her. And Ra’s al Ghul can have them over my dead body. ”

The gathered heroes looked stunned. “Now where is Adrien?”

Red robin started, recovering first. “You’re not going alone.”

“You’re right,” Ladybug cut in. “I’m not. I’m gathering my team.”

“What Red Robin meant to say is that Batman and his assembled partners are going with you,” Wonder Woman soothed. “They have experience dealing with Ra’s and would be a great asset.”

“I’ll be back in ten minutes, at the most.” She said. Everyone nodded. She portalled away to gather her team.

Five minutes later a portal opened and stepped out Honey bee, Dragoness and Cobra in the Glory. The portal snapped shut when Ladybug entered.

“This is not enough! We’re dealing with Ra’s al Ghul and the league here!” Ladybug said. “We need her. She’s the last resort if we lose!” Dragoness exclaimed. The Justice league was confused. Who were they talking about?

“You’re right. Bee, you’re the only one who knows where she is. You’re her best friend. I can't find her in all of paris!” Ladybug asks, turning to Honey bee.

“You’re right, I do. It’ll be easy to find her. She’ll be in her room. She’s always Isolated, so don’t worry about getting caught.” Honey Bee answers.

“Isolation! I thought I told her to Socialize!” Ladybug exclaims.

“Yeah, but her family treats her like a pariah except some people. But Ladybug I don’t know if she’ll be able to fight.” Honey bee says.

“Rossi?”

“Rossi.”

“Now location please.” Ladybug says.

“Right. Wayne Manor, Gotham, New Jersey.” Honeybee whispers. Earning surprised looks from Ladybug and the Supers.

“Alright.” Ladybug portals away. This was all staged of course. She had recently found a spell to make a clone of herself.

“Why won't the hero be able to fight? She’s a hero!” Batman exclaims.

“Depression, you overgrown furry, Depression. She’s tried committing sucide several times. We saved her.” This earns many shocked looks.

Cue opening a portal. All of the Paris heroes Gasps. All in glory Multimouse is standing there.

When Honey Bee saw Multimouse, she gasped and enveloped her in a hug, muttering French endearments and saying how much she’d missed her. Dragoness stole Multimouse for a hug next before passing her on to Viperion who also received an extra peck on the lips in return, while Ladybug watched with a soft smile.

With Kaalki involved, it was child’s play to get into the assassin stronghold. Team Miraculous filled the gaps and worked seamlessly in their own right, simply a step away from Gotham’s Bats. They beat assassins on their own. The Bats just watched in awe.

It didn’t take them long to make their way to Ra’s.

The man wore a self-satisfied smirk on his face as he greeted him from his throne. A bruised and bloodied but otherwise intact Adrien was being restrained on the dias a few feet away.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Team Miraculous,” Ra’s mused, looking down the line. His eyes paused on Multimouse and his expression shifted to intense amusement. “And if it isn’t the latest in the Detective’s brood. I suppose heroics truly do run in the family after all.”

A number of shocked and confused gazes snapped to Multimouse, who simply stared at him down with cold eyes growling quietly.

“And yet she isn’t why we’re here,” Ladybug cut in coldly, shoving that problem in a box for later.

Ra’s shifted his oily attention to her. “Yes, I believe I requested the Guardian, young Bug.”

“And here I am,” Ladybug said simply. “But I will never cede the Miraculous to you.”

“Well, then I suppose the Blonde Cat dies.” The assassin near Adrien tried to kill him only to turn to orange smoke. Ra’s growls when he realizes he was tricked.

“Your reign is over. Your crimes won’t continue much longer. Tell me, just how long have you been using the Pits to keep yourself alive?”

“Goodbye, Ra’s al Ghul,” Ladybug intoned. “We’ll leave you to what remains of your empire.” She turned and motioned for the Fox to open the portal to the Watchtower. The Bats followed behind.

Adrien was at the fringes, attempting to escape a hero that was trying to get him to the Medbay for medical attention. He only had eyes for Multimouse.

“Marinette!” he called.

The Bats were shocked at both the name and the blatant outing of a secret identity.

Adrien broke free from his wounds. “Marinette, I’m so sorry,” he said brokenly.

It was quiet for a moment. “I take it they told you why I left, then,” Multimouse said, carefully devoid of emotion.

“I never thought-”

“Don’t, Adrien,” Queen Bee snapped.

Adrien gaped at his friend, shocked at the venom her words carried against him.

“But her Lies, they weren't hurting anyone!”

“How?” Multimouse snapped, her voice cracking. She took a deep breath. “How was it different? Because you told me I had to ‘take the high road?’ Because her lies would unravel themselves? Because she wasn’t hurting anyone? Bullshit, Adrien! They were hurting me!”

“She followed your advice at first,” Queen Bee said sharply. “She shouldn’t have, but you were her friend and she trusted you. By the time she realized that it had been a mistake, it was too late. Everyone else was in too deep and you did nothing . When Mari tried to tell everyone that they were being lied to, she was made to look like a liar. A bully.”

“Do you realize that the rest of us had people on watchlists?” Ryuko said bluntly. “People at risk of Akumatization that could bring the city to its knees. Aurore, because of Stormy Weather II. Ondine, because of Syren. But do you know who was on top?” She let the silence sit. “Marinette. Marinette was on top of that list. The only reason she was above Ladybug was because Marinette was drowning. But any time she tried to get through to the others, Lila hit back harder and you would ask Mari to back down. Because we don’t want to upset Lila, right? We don’t want her to become an akuma. Again.”

“My parents believed her, Adrien,” Multimouse said quietly. “They sent me away because I was ‘out of control’. I’m treated like a criminal where I am now! So I’m sorry, Adrien, but I can’t forgive you. You said you didn’t want to live with more lies, but then you stopped telling the truth when it threatened your ‘peace’. Even when that ‘peace’ might have ruined my life.” She took a deep, steadying breath. “But you know what they say, right? Never meet your heroes.” She turned and looked straight at Batman. “They’ll always just disappoint you.”

- - - - - - - -

The next week was tense at the Wayne manor. But eventually they apologised to marinette. She became close with them. She and her family then sent lawsuits to the Akuma class.

The saying is true then. “All’s well that ends well.”

@maribat-bdbwm

[primofate]

Kaeya Masterlist

Fluff

When another guy flirts with you

Love at first sight

Not seeing you for weeks

Forgot your birthday

Modern Day Boyfriend

Levels of intimacy

Seeing you get hurt/injured

Playing pretend knight and princess

Saving you from drowning

Pretending to be your boyfriend

Scared of the dark

You say “I love you” for the first time

Stress and Comfort (also Modern AU)

When you get a lot of attention from others/Jealous

Asking “What would you do if I disappeared?” (mild angst)

How he falls in love with you

“Y/N is giving free hugs!” 

Kiss your Genshin boyfriend to see his reaction

Genshin Voicelines about their reader S/O

Break-up prank (mild angst)

Interrupted Make-out session (suggestive and steamy)

Hot/Cute Things they do

The sides of him only you get to have and see Series

soft and gentle

flustered

clingy

worried

Protective Lover Series

His reaction when someone badmouths you

His reaction to seeing you cry

Special Holidays

Christmas 2021 Special

Angst

“Let’s stop seeing each other,”

Death and regrets

Death, regrets and second chances [An Alternate Ending to Death and Regrets]

Somewhere you can’t follow

Why the two of you broke up

Handwritten Notes

Handwritten Notes Series: He leaves before you wake up

Handwritten Notes Series: A Sorry Note

Handwritten Notes Series: Flirting and Slipping you their Number MODERN AU

Volleyball Team AU

The Genshin Volleyball Team introduction

He introduces you to the team

Cheering something embarrassing during their game

How it’s like to be their manager

Manager reader gets hit on/harrassed

Genshin AU Volleyball Team art by @simplypotz

How you got into a relationship with them/Flirting but not in a relationship

Asking for his jersey to wear in a game

Seeing you wear someone else’s jersey/jacket

Pre-game routines with you

Reuniting after a month apart

Interviewer asking about their S/O

Royalty AU Series

Dear Diary (Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3 - Final)

Illustration by @simplypotz 

Confessions Series

Part 1 - Overheard

NSFW

Doing it raw for the first time

Commissions

https://primofate.tumblr.com/post/660202732768165888/kaeya-x-oc-ayu-requestkind-of-commission-mild

Platonic Relationship

younger sibling reader feels alone (angst)

[iwaisuke]

confessions; but not remembering it

ft. kita shinsuke, sakusa kiyoomi x sick fem!reader

genre: fluff

masterlist

a/n: this has been sitting in my drafts for a while and then i rushed bc i was getting tired 🙃 also. sakusa's is a little ooc. sorry ab that

-» ˚⸙͎۪۫⋆

» the clean yet musty smell of rain filled the gym as the boys practiced. it was a surprisingly humid and rainy spring day today here in the country side of hyogo

» "achoo" you had been sneezing and coughing all day. you also had a terrible headache but took some medicine to see if it would help. the spring allergies really getting to you

» you didnt reay have the time to be worrying about yourself. As a 2nd year manager of the inarizaki team, (recommend by suna) and the boys working so hard practicing for nationals there was no way you'd let this little cold get in the way. you had to work just as hard as everyone else!

» "hold on, im about to hang up your jerseys to dry"

» "i got you guys some fresh towels!"

» "i can run and grab that coach. im headed that way anyways"

» the coach called for a short break to rest up for a bit. everyone was sore and exhausted from practicing every day. "here. i filled your water bottles up!" handing them to all the boys. "y/n you're all wet" akagi sounded concerned.

» "hm? oh its alright. I'll dry off in a minute. i took the shortcut to the drinking fountain to refill your waterbottles instead of taking the long way" you nonchalantly said. "so you ran through the rain like an idiot?" suna threw a clean towel over your damp hair and ruffled it. "suna!! stop!! you're gonna ruin my hair"

» "like i said. its alright" you reassured the boys.

» kita, on the other hand had noticed your fatigue. although he wasnt as perceptive on peoples feeling and thoughts as well as others, he could easily pick up signs like yours. he admired you dearly for how hard you always work for the team. how you willingly did anything to make them smile. how you always put others first before yours. needless to say, he had a bit of a crush on you.

» "l/n san. i think you should take a break too. there's no need for you to be running around for us while we're resting" kita assured you. "i still have a few things left on my list to do.. but afterwards I'll take a break!" kita let out a sigh. you were stubborn sometimes and kita knew you were the kind of person to not stop until you're finished.

» "I'll be right back. i gotta grab the laundry"

» making an excuse to leave, your heart was beating fast. you knew kita's words were the kind he'd say to anyone, but it made your heart feel fuzzy when he'd look out for you.

» the stone cold captain who you thought he was, actually was so kind. he was just a little awkward like you, and a little blunt with what he said sometimes. but you learned the great qualities he carries and how much he actually cares about others well being. he was a hard worker and you couldnt help but absentmindedly fall for the captain.

» running up the stairs to the second floor of the gym, you felt a shift in your step. head becoming dizzier than it was just 5 minutes ago. legs trembling, you started falling before feeling a presence behind.

» kita's arm wrapped around your waist, supporting you in efforts to not letting you fall over. "i told you to rest l/n san" kita said sternly. "you wont benefit anyone if you keep overworking like this."

» you knew kita was right, but you really didnt want to rest knowing you'll be letting the team down by not working hard.

» "i promise I'll rest as soon as im done with this one thing" pleading with kita. he let out a sigh, knowing you really wouldnt until you did finish so he allowed you to do so.

» finishing grabbing all of the dry jerseys and bringing them downstairs to pass out to everyone, you didnt really notice atsumu and osamu spiking volleyballs at each other until aran yelled

» "y/n! watch out!" honestly, you were too tired to move out of the way so you figured, it do be like that sometimes, and allowed the ball to hit you.

» or... so you had planned the ball to hit you.

» kita stood in front, blocking the impact of the spike that you had prepared yourself for. there was agitation in kita's eyes. more than you usually noticed when then twins were miss behaving. concern washing over, he looked you straight in the eyes

» "... is there something wrong kita san?" lifting up his hand to your forehead, he let out a sigh. "why didnt you tell me earlier you had a fever", then walking over to the coach meanwhile atsumu and osamu come over to apologise for being reckless.

» "get your stuff. we're going home" kita said bluntly.

» "huh? but practice is-"

» "please l/n san. for me"

» kita would only take yes for an answer this time. no if's ands or buts. so here you were, walking home with kita. only the sound of raindrops hitting your shared umbrella being heard.

» muscles starting to ache a little more and your legs becoming more tired than they were when you left the gym, you began to walk a little slower every step

» "get on my back l/n" "its ok kita san, i can walk. its already enough that you're walking me home" "i didnt ask if you wanted to. im telling you to"

» you couldnt tell if it was the fever that made your face warmer or if it was kita's words. nonetheless, you got on kita's back. he was a lot stronger than he looked and you couldnt help but stifen at being so close to your own crush like this.

» "relax. I'll make sure you get home." he reassured. you leaned into his back, warmth seeping in, your eyes began to feel heavy.

» "kita san" "yes?" "thank you for always watching out for me"

» a comfortable silence was met as the sound of rain filled your ears.

» "kita san" "hm?" "did you know..." your voice softened "i like you a lot kita san"

» did he hear you correctly? if he wasnt paying attention he wouldve missed what you had said, being drowed out through the pitter patter of water. now his heart thumping louder than ever before.

» "l/n san-" he was about to go on but was met with the gentle rise and fall of your chest and the soft snores of you on his back, knocked out from exertion. kita let out a light chuckle, finally relieved you were resting.

» you had missed the next day of school, but when you came back the whole volleyball team bombarded you with love.

» "WE'RE A FAILURE TO NOT NOTICE YOU FEELING SICK" atsumu cried. "how could we let our one and only precious manager get ill for taking care of us" akagi, clearly dissapointed in himself. "please let us know when we can take care of you too y/n" aran said.

» "its no big deal. really!" waving your hands in defense. "it was just a small cold. but i do have a question though"

» all the boys gathered around to hear what you had to say

» "how did i get home?? i really dont remember what happened after i almost got hit by atsumu"

» it shocked the guys honestly. you genuinely didnt remember a single thing due to your fever. "wait? you don't remember kita taking you home?" suna replied, your face becoming red. "k-kita san took me home-?" "yah. he left in the middle of practice to do so" osamu added.

» immediately, you got up to find the captain that apparently took you home the other day. he was in the storage closet cleaning and grabbing the equipment for todays practice.

» "kita san" "oh. l/n. glad you're feeling better" his smile brightened the musty closet. "about that, im sorry for troubling you and having you take me home the other day. i honestly dont remember what happened after i almost got hit by atsumu. my mind was really fuzzy that day, but im truly thankful for you going out of your way for me. it really means a lot"

» kita was dumbfounded. you really dont remember? "no need to apologize l/n. it was my responsibility as a captain. and afterall, what good would i be if i couldnt even take care of the person who means the most to me"

» your heart raced. 'person who means the most to me' ? cheeks blushing a rosy pink, you were internally thanking the musty store room from being dim.

» with arms full of equipment, kita walked by you and stopped.

» "by the way l/n san. did you know?"

» ears perking up at the vague yet familiar line

» "i like you a lot too l/n san"

» now we all know sakusa HATES germs and for the past week and a half, he's been telling you to keep up with washing your hands, wearing a mask at all times even when you eat omi it doesnt work like that. pls especially since you are prone to getting sick easily no matter how hygenic you are. your immune system just hated you. PERIODT

» you remembered sakusa scolding you for running out of hand sanitizer and then the next day you were out of commission. bed ridden with laryngitis, cough, slight fever, the whole works. it was like your body was making fun of you or something

» you texted komori, asking him to take notes in class for you and relay homework information while you were at home resting up. but there was one request you had and made komori PROMISE.

» DO NOT TELL SAKUSA YOU GOT SICK

» "he's probably gonna notice your absence y/n. he'll find out about it either way"

» "well if you dont tell him then he wont know. its not like he even cares about where i am like that"

» "thats what you might think. but i know he's gonna say something i can garuntee it"

» the next day at school, sakusa did notice your presence missing. it was quieter not having a 3rd person in the group of friends. not having you around to talk to him when komori was gone.

» pulling out his phone to text you, he asked where you were that day.

» "on a family trip :D !!! forgot to tell you, but I'll tell you all about it when i come back!" you wrote, attaching an old selfie of a different trip you went on to make it more believable.

» you had hoped this silly cold would get better in a day, but soon that day turned into 2 and then 3 and then 4... you pretty much missed the whole week of school at that point

» Friday rolled around and komori was on his phone all day. sakusa noticed his cousin fidget in his chair more than usual and it irked him to see him like that

» "what's with you today?" one eye raised, sakusa finally asked. "uhhh nothing really" komori wasnt very good at keeping secrets lets just start off with that, but he was trying his best.

» "well clearly somethings wrong. you're fidgeting." "well haven't you noticed somethings been different all week?" komori hinted

» sakusa sat there in thought. nothing's been different? he ate the same breakfast he usually does every morning. all his studies have been well. there were no tests this week so there was no reason to be anxious like komori was and even if there was, he would've done well anyways.

» "just tell me what it is." sakusa was starting to get annoyed. "y/n..." komori started. "y/n?" "do you know where she's been this week?"

» did you not tell komori about your family trip? you usually told komori everything, but then again you didn't tell him either until he asked you about it.

» "she said shes on a trip?" he nonchalantly said. komori's eyes started watering. "A TRIP TO THE HOSPITAL THATS WHAT IT IS" he blurted out. komori didnt mean to let it slip , he was just so worried about your well being.

» "hospital?? what are you talking about. did she get injured on her trip?" "no omi. shes been sick all week and her mom just texted me saying she went to the hospital today because shes had a fever for 3 days straight. there is no family trip"

» sakusa's heart shattered. you were sick and didnt even tell him?

» before both he and komori knew it, his legs were running faster to get to the hospital than he had ever imagined he could ever run.

» and there you were. fast asleep in a bed with an IV drip. your face flushed, forehead sweaty and shallow breaths escaping your chapped lips. you were a hot mess but sakusa didnt care. stepping to your bedside to greet your mother she explained to him that she had to go to work and asked if he could watch over you until she gets back.

» sakusa said yes without even hearing the whole thing. his heart and mind saying yes to whatever it took to get you to feel better.

» gosh how he hated hospitals, but what he hated even more was the fact that you were in the hospital and he didnt even know.

» the doctor came in for their evening round and ensured sakusa that you were indeed getting better! your fever had broken not too long ago and your body was working extra hard to heal itself up!

» "is there anything i can do to help?" sakusa asked. he felt helpless in this situation just watching your face distort in uncomfort every now and then, and coughing your lungs out.

» patting sakusa's shoulder, the doctor told him that just being here for you is enough. "you gotta be a strong boyfriend for her alright son? she'll be able to go home tomorrow first thing in the morning if her fever doesnt come back"

» sakusa slumped in his chair at your bedside, the doctors words ringing through his head. 'boyfriend huh?' he thought to himself. "if i was her boyfriend..." he whispered to himself, "i would be a failure for not even knowing my girl was sick..."

» to kiyoomi, you were beautiful. even now in this sad state you were in. deep down he locked these growing feelings he had for you inside of him because he always felt like you were a better match with someone else and after this stunt you pulled of lying to him about going on a family trip, it only made him feel worse.

» it was now night time and you finally began to stir in your sleep, the fever finally gone. sakusa reached out to move some hair that was stuck to your face, fingers tracing the outline of your jaw. your eyes slowly opened and met with his dark orbs.

» "y/n?" "saku- wait this is just a dream. omi wouldn't be here. he hates hospitals" you let out a forced laugh and then a sigh through your sore throat.

» you reached out to sakusa's hands that were resting on the side of your bed. "omi would never let me hold his hand because he'd say im passing germs to him so hopefully dream omi wont be the same" you were aimlessly talking to yourself, not even realizing that this really wasnt a dream.

» he squeezed your hand in return. hoping that you wouldnt let go any time soon. a funny smile appeared on your face just at the thought of him. "even if you're stupid for not realizing how much i like you... i cant wait to see you again omi" you whispered before falling asleep again.

» sakusa didnt know what to do. he sat there frozen in his chair. it was his first time hearing you call him omi. heck. you literally just confessed to the boy. his brain was running wild. groaning in distress he let go of your hand to step out for a breath of fresh air now that you were back asleep.

» it was 5am and your mother came back to the hospital and thanked sakusa for staying by your side. He left in a hurry to make sure you didnt see him there.

» Monday rolled around and sakusa was waiting outside of the school gates for you. he had planned on asking you about your "trip"

» "good morning sakusa!!" your bright and cheery voice rang through his ears. honestly he was trembling inside. the memory of you confessing to him still fresh in his mind.

» "how was your trip?" you stopped dead in your tracks. "haha... it was good !! sorry i forgot to get you a souvenir" you were trying to play it cool but sakusa could tell you were forcing yourself. "i wouldnt want a souvenir from where you came from so its fine" sakusa's words threw you off. "i - im not sure im understanding what you're saying sakusa?"

» you felt a tug on your hand. "dont you mean omi?" his voice husky as he whispered into your ear. cheeks flushed, your brain felt like it short circuted. you've always tried your hardest to not let it slip that you want to call him omi since he hated when people called him that.

» sakusa smirked at your cute reaction he got out of you. letting go of your hand he began to walk into the school leaving you at the gate dumbfounded. "and by the way. you're just as stupid for not realizing how long ive liked you too"

-» ˚⸙͎۪۫⋆

thank you for your order! enjoy~!

[snelbz]

Light Up the Ice - Chapter 9

A/N: Well. It’s been a minute, hasn’t it? I’m sorry, guys, but this story just...wasn’t coming to me for a while. But now we’re back and I am so excited. Since it has been over a year and a half since I updated this one, please forgive us if there are a few details that aren’t perfect from the first chapters. Feels good to be writing my babies again.

Written with @tacmc.

Rowan woke up to the smell of cooking bacon and fresh coffee and he sighed contentedly. It had been two days since the hit that put him out of commission. He was hoping the rest and relaxation he’d enjoyed with his girlfriend would handle it, but it seemed that his body was protesting its natural healing process.

He groaned as he rolled out of Aelin’s bed, smiling when he found Lumi curled up in the hoodie he’d left in her chair in the corner. After giving her a scratch behind the ears, though the cat pretended he didn’t exist, he padded out into the living room, finding Aelin at the stove quietly humming to herself.

“Good morning,” he said, yawning as he pulled out a bar stool and sat down.

Aelin turned, and he was once agIn floored by how gorgeous she was, straight out of bed. That first night, when the fire alarms had pulled them all from sleep, he’d been convinced she’d scrambled to do her makeup before coming out onto the lawn. Waking up next to her two days in a row had proven to him that she was naturally beautiful and he couldn’t help but stare.

“Good morning,” she smiled and set a steaming cup of coffee in front of him. “Hurting today?”

“Aye,” he said, stretching his arms in the air. He felt every muscle tense in his upper body and before he could say the words, Aelin beat him to it.

“I think you need to give the team trainer a call today,” she said, placing a plate full of bacon on the counter next to her.

Rowan stared at it, wanting to reach over and snag a piece, but was fairly sure she’d catch him when he grunted in pain trying to lift it. Plus, she was dumping nearly a dozen eggs into a skillet to scramble, so he was hoping she’d be feeding him soon enough. He nodded. “I was going to do that today. I was texting with him last night and he said he and the massage therapist could come here today.”

Aelin smiled. “That would be perfect. I have to go

to work in about an hour, so I’ll feel better knowing someone is here with you.”

He rolled his eyes. “You do know I’m a grown man, right? Lived on my own for about seven years?”

Aelin stuck out her tongue and continued cooking at the stove, before setting a plate down in front of him piled high with eggs, hashbrowns and crispy bacon.

“Have I mentioned how much I love you?” He asked, as she slid onto the stool next to him.

She smirked and said, “Once or twice, but don’t worry. I’ve got a drunk voicemail to listen to if I ever forget.”

She winked and Rowan felt his cheeks heat, but regardless, he leaned over and pressed a kiss to her forehead and began to eat.

After his second full helping breakfast, Aelin got Rowan set up on the couch, babying him the entire time, much to his dismay, and he sent a text to the trainer asking him to call him when he got to the arena that morning. Aelin was getting ready and Rowan was playing NHL on his Xbox when the trainer finally called him back.

“Hey, man,” Rowan answered, pausing the game and propping the phone between his ear and shoulder.

Dorian’s voice came through the receiver. “How ya feeling?”

Rowan groaned as he rotated one of his shoulders. “Like I got hit by a truck.”

With a snort, Dorian chuckled. “Have you seen most of the Pirates’ team? They’re ridiculous; all of them are huge, freaks of nature. Rolfe is no exception.”

With a nod, Rowan cringed. He hadn’t realized the captain of the Skull’s Bay Pirates had been the one to lay the hit on him. “Well, whenever you and Sorscha have time, I’d appreciate it if you could make a house call.” There was silence on the other side of the line. “Dor?”

“Sorscha’s last day was Thursday of last week, I had no clue you didn’t know,” he explained. “The new therapist started yesterday.”

“Oh.” Sorscha had been the team’s massage therapist for years and Rowan vaguely remembered rumors that she’d be leaving them. He just never had them confirmed. “That’s fine, how’s the new guy?”

“She is...a piece of work,” Dorian admitted with a sigh. “You’ll meet her when we come by. You free for us to head that way?”

“Yeah, man, the sooner you get me back in working order, the sooner I can get back on the ice,” Rowan replied, debating on saying something about the home game they had that night.

With a chuckle, Dorian said, “Don’t even think about it, man. You’re not playing tonight. We’ll leave in just a bit and see you soon.”

The call ended and Rowan dropped his phone on the couch. He looked at the clock and hollered, “What time are you off tonight, Ace?”

She poked her head out of her bedroom and said, “Four o’clock, why?”

“Wanna go to the game with me?”

Aelin blinked at him. “You aren’t playing, Ro.”

“No,” he said, standing and stretching - and groaning. “But we can go sit in the player’s box and watch.”

“You want to sit next to me for an entire hockey game and hear my commentary?” She asked, grinning.

Rowan’s grin matched hers as he held out a hand, stepping towards her. She placed her hand in his and he gently pulled her towards him. “I promise I won’t be thinking too much about the game with you there with me.”

Aelin ran her palms down Rowan’s chest. “Well, that’s a tough argument.”

Rowan’s grin widened as he leaned down to kiss her. “You’ll go with me then?”

Aelin nibbled on her lip as she nodded. “If you get your ass on the couch and promise to take it easy today.”

He groaned softly. “Fine. If that’s what it takes.”

“Thank you,” she said, rising up on her toes to kiss him once more and turning back to finish getting ready. “You also have to make an appointment with your trainer.”

“He’s on his way with the sports therapist now,” Rowan said, watching her walk back to her room, enjoying every step she took. He really did try to focus on more than just her ass, but the leggings she wore weren’t helping his cause. When she looked back at him as she paused in the doorway, he had just enough time that she didn’t catch him - not that he thought she’d mind.

“Looks like we’ve got a game to go to then,” she winked, and disappeared into the bedroom.

About thirty minutes after Aelin left for the café, Rowan’s phone rang. “Hey, man. You here?”

His trainer and friend’s usually cheery voice was distinctly pissy. “Open up, Whitethorn. I’ve been knocking on your door for two minutes.”

“Oh, shit.” Rowan was up on his feet with a quiet grunt and ran to the door throwing it open. Dorian stood in front of his own apartment door, down the hall. He called, “Sorry, man, I’m staying with my girlfriend.”

Dorian’s eyes widened in surprise. “You’re Aelin’s boyfriend?”

Rowan paused and blinked. “Uh, aye? You know her?”

“I grew up with her, we’ve been friends for years,” Dorian said, the light tone returning. “I told the therapist your apartment number and she’s grabbing her table from the car. I should probably call her-.”

“No, it’s fine, I need to grab a few things from my place anyways,” he shrugged, grabbing his keys off the small table by the door. “We can set up in there so I don’t have to move Aelin’s furniture around.”

Dorian snorted. “Good call.”

Rowan unlocked his apartment and let Dorian in, turning on the lights and carefully moving things out of the way. Painfully.

He grabbed one of his least destroyed game worn jerseys and tossed it over his shoulder. He very much wanted to see her wearing it. “Aelin’s coming to the game tonight,” he said, grinning.

Dorian shook his head and chuckled. “I don’t even know who she is anymore.”

Rowan’s grin only widened.

“Hey, uh, can I come in and see Fleetfoot?” Dorian asked, looking out toward the hallway.

Rowan blinked and said, “I mean, sure.”

They headed back down the hall to Aelin’s apartment, leaving Rowan’s door open for the therapist to carry her gear in. As soon as they entered the apartment, Fleetfoot was bounding towards Dorian, excited like Rowan had never seen her.

Glancing up at Rowan while he rubbed her belly, Dorian grinned. “I gave her to Aelin our junior year of college. I promised if she got all A’s on her finals, I’d get her puppy. Guess who got straight A’s the entire semester?”

Rowan couldn’t help but laugh, smiling and shaking his head. “Sounds about right.”

Dorian’s phone chimed and he stood, pulling his phone out of his back pocket. “Oh she’s all set up and ready for you. Just head back down here when you’re done and we’ll talk about getting you on the ice again.”

“Aye, sounds good,” Rowan said and left, heading for his own apartment. The door was shut now, but he assumed it was just for privacy. He’d had to get sports massages before. They were basically a glorified regular massage. They focused on specific muscles groups, some quite intimate and quite awkward, but for the most part the etiquette was the same.

A dim room, quiet music or white noise of some sort, a special table covered in a white sheet, and the fact that you typically undress and are under just a towel.

Suddenly, Rowan froze with his hand halfway extended toward his doorknob, as he realized he was about to essentially be naked, alone in his apartment, with a woman he’d never met, as she rubbed her hands all over his body.

He’d had to get sports massages before. Just never while he’d had a girlfriend.

Maybe he should ask Dorian to come in and talk while she worked on him.

With a sigh, Rowan realized he was overthinking things. This was her job and he was judging her before he’d even met her. She was probably extremely professional and he was worrying for no reason.

With a shake of his head, he entered his apartment and asked, “Hello?”

A young woman rounded the corner, wiping her damp hands on a paper towel. Her long, black hair was braided back, and by the time her obsidian eyes met Rowan’s, he was frozen in place. For a moment, she didn’t react, and Rowan couldn’t breathe.

And then her eyes lit up and a small grin spread on her thin, red lips. His blood ran cold. He swallowed. “Maeve. What...the hell are you doing here?”

“Ah, Rowan Whitethorn,” she cooed. “We meet again.”

[gretasartt]

So @starlinks​ commissioned me to draw a scene from their fanfiction (you can find it here) which explores pjo’s world from Annabeth’s pov in a god!Percy AU and it’s the most fun I’ve had in a while. 

Her eighth birthday was spent on the run but it was the best birthday she had ever had. She had a family, and it wasn’t just an illusion of one.

They’d spent the night before in an abandoned elementary school somewhere in suburban New Jersey. It was a good spot to set up camp, and Thalia and Luke were thinking of converting it as their latest safe house.

It wasn’t a terribly wealthy neighborhood, but they had managed to sneak in some cold soggy tuna sandwiches and canned clam chowder from a supermarket after dark. Thalia heated it up with the school’s (surprisingly functional after a zap of electricity) microwave in a teacher’s lounge.

It was the most delicious thing Annabeth’s had in a month.

To her pleasant surprise, Luke and Thalia had also managed to grab a sheet cake (how?!) along with some colored candles.

Annabeth remembered that Thalia was laughing and swiping colored icing on Luke’s cheeks as she attempted to spell out Annabeth’s name on the cake. It ended up being horribly misspelled, but Annabeth couldn’t care less. In the meantime, Luke blew up balloons to decorate the classroom for her “birthday party.” He drew a multi-layered birthday cake on the blackboard, telling Annabeth that it’s the cake he and Thalia will bake her the next year, for her ninth birthday.

Afterall, they were nearly there, a few weeks away from a safe haven for people like them.

“Are we going to be a family forever?” She asked.

“Yes,” Thalia said, “Yes we are.”

Annabeth wished for the same thing before blowing out all the candles on her cake.

Luke took a picture of that moment, then, with a Polaroid camera they found in one of the classrooms. Annabeth kept the photo by her side for years. Since the Second Titan War, it’s been tucked away in a dusted box underneath her desk on Olympus, labeled “memories -- do not open.”

[kaistarus]

Inevitable

Pairing: NishinoyaX(OC)-Kaede Mizuki

Words:6.2K

Summary: Kaede and Nishinoya get along great, but when it comes to dating she’d consider them the least compatible people on the entire planet. So, when her heart starts acting up around him she figures it’s best to ignore it for as long as possible

A/N: This is my favorite thing I’ve written so far and honestly I think it's my highest quality work. I’m very proud of this one, so enjoy :) *artwork commissioned @Kurushima_Kaito on Twitter*

Masterlist

“I’m starving.”

Kaede tried her best to ignore the boy obnoxiously leaning his entire body weight on her as she finalized the week’s task list. She ticked off the final box of ‘wash practice jerseys’ she and Yachi spent half the afternoon on saying, “you’re always hungry. I told you to start bringing snacks.”

“But that’s so much work,” Nishinoya whined, resting his chin on her shoulder. He began twirling her half-ponytail around his finger while wiggling his eyebrows. “Hey, what if you started-”

“I don’t have enough time to start babying you, Noya.” She said, ignoring his pout while securing the pen at the top of the clipboard. “I have to give this Kiyoko so you should-.”

He hummed happily, “Kiyoko.”

She gave him a quick glare before shaking him off her shoulder, “can you go bother someone else?”

“Nah, everyone’s busy,” he said, skipping after her. She glanced around to the team of boys standing around and very clearly not busy. Kiyoko stood beside a flushed Yachi as they flipped through pages of a small notebook, going over a few minor details before tomorrow’s match against Shiratorizawa.

“Hey Kiyoko, I’m finished with the-”

“Don’t worry, I got this.” Nishinoya plucked the clipboard out of her hands. “Hello, beautiful. We completed stuff. Obviously, I offered my assistance because of how thoughtful and handsome I am.”

“Sure,” Kiyoko accepted it, flipping through the pages before nodding to Kaede. “Thank you.”

Kaede opened her mouth, but Nishinoya cut her off. “You’re welcome, gorgeous.” He placed his elbow on Kaede’s shoulder. “Anyway, Kiyoko. You come here often?”

“She’s a manager.” Kaede deadpanned.

“It wasn’t literal, Mizuki. It’s a conversation starter.”

“That’s what you went with?” Kaede pinched the bridge of her nose. “‘Kiyoko, how’s your day?’, ‘Kiyoko, are you ready for tomorrow?’, ‘Kiyoko, I like your hair.’”

Nishinoya cocked his head to the side. “Hair?”

“She got a haircut.”

“Oh shit, really?” Nishinoya looked back to where Kiyoko was and his shoulders slumped. “She’s gone.”

“This is why you’ll die alone,” Kaede brushed his arm off her so she could walk to her backpack.

“You’re so mean to me.” His pout turned into a sly smirk. “I kind of like it.”

Kaede rolled her eyes, ignoring everything else that came out of his mouth as she switched out of her gym shoes to finally go home. The sound of volleyballs smacking the court drew her attention and she was hardly surprised to see Hinata and Kageyama still practicing with Yachi’s assistance.

“How come they never ask me to help?” Kaede wondered aloud, swinging on her worn backpack.

“‘Cause you’re really bad at volleyball.” Nishinoya snorted.

“That was rhetorical.”

“I don’t know what that means.”

She purposely bumped his shoulder as she walked past him to the gym doors and he over exaggeratedly grabbed it with a hiss, “are you trying to injure me before finals?”

“Shut up,” She snorted.

“You think you can just replace me as libero?”

“I think I can roll around on the floor, yeah.” Kaede slid on her outdoor shoes and jumped onto the sidewalk. He narrowed his eyes at her, but before he could rant about Rolling Thunder Ennoshita called out a few yards away.

“The second years are all going out to eat. Are you both coming or what?” He shouted while Tanaka waved both his arms in a ‘get over here’ motion.

“You should come,” Nishinoya hurriedly shoved his feet into his outdoor shoes and leapt beside her. His smile softened as he nudged her hand hanging loosely by her side. “It’ll be fun.”

Her mouth twisted while she contemplated. It would be fun, sure, but with how early they were meeting at the school she wasn’t sure she could manage. Kaede bumped his hand back before giving a half-smile that made his expression drop.

“I have an exam to study for and we’re getting up too early.” She shrugged loosely, “Next time, okay?”

“Nerd.” He pouted.

“Probably,” she poked him in the forehead. “You better not send me a stupid video at three in the morning. You need to sleep too.”

“Yes, mom.” He rolled his eyes, but his lips were curved into a smile. He grabbed her hand off his forehead and squeezed it once before pivoting around to the waiting group. “Now go be lame somewhere else before you wear off on me.”

Kaede rolled her eyes. She waved goodbye to the other boys who booed at her unwillingness to attend. She glanced down at the hand that Nishinoya had squeezed before leaving, wondering why it was still so warm regardless of the chilled night.

She figured she was overthinking and waited for her racing heart to calm down. She just needed some sleep.

*******************************************************************************************

Kaede yawned, rubbing her sleep-filled eyes and snuggling against Kiyoko’s shoulder. Her eyelids hung heavy as she watched rather than listened to Coach Ukai and Coach Takeda give instructions before allowing them on the warm bus.

“It’s too early to be alive,” she whined when they finally finished, wrapping her arms around Kiyoko for protection against the morning’s frigid air.

Kiyoko patted her head, “it’s already seven, Kaede.”

Kaede whined pitifully again at the mere mention of the time. Sure, it had been seven at that moment, but they’d met at six-thirty which meant by herself she’d woken up before the sun had risen. Nobody should have to wake up before the sun.

Her eyes scanned the boys lined up along the bus to find most of them were in a similar state as her-leaning against each other and half-asleep. She locked eyes with Tanaka and Nishinoya who were glaring and she lifted a lazy brow before realizing her arms were still wrapped around Kiyoko.

Like the bigger person Kaede was, she nuzzled her cheek on Kiyoko and tightened the hug. They looked like they were about to pop a blood vessel until Daichi dragged them away by the back of their shirts.

Kaede snickered evilly until a shadow loomed over her.

“Are you seriously still tired?” Tsukishima asked condescendingly. “Is that going to be your new excuse for doing nothing?”

Kaede straightened up with her fists clenched. “Well, you’re-you look-you’re dumb.”

She cringed as Tsukishima cackled, walking triumphantly back to the bus. Yamaguchi trailed after him giving an apologetic smile that didn’t make her feel any better.

“I thought it was good.” Yachi smiled cheerfully.

Kaede patted her head half-smiling. “That’s all that matters then.” She lied, the burning sense of revenge coursing through her veins.

Kiyoko lightly pushed the small of Kaede’s back when they were letting people on the bus because managers got special privileges, such as, firsts. She hurriedly plopped down beside Yachi, excited to tune out the noisy team and hopefully fall back asleep.

She unzipped her jacket pocket and shoved her hand inside, digging for her headphones. She furrowed her brow and swiped her fingers around in a panic when she felt nothing but fabric. They had been there when she left her house...

“Is something wrong?” Yachi asked with a concerned crease in her brow.

“No, I…” Kaede slumped back in defeat. “I think I lost my headphones.”

“Oh no,” Yachi’s eyes widened. “Do you want to use mine?”

“No,” Kaede waved her off. “You were talking about that book you wanted to finish listening to. I don’t want to-”

There was a quick bop on her head and she whipped around to find Nishinoya smirking mischievously. Kaede’s sneer must have been more vicious than usual because the way his eyes widened in fear made her feel slight guilt. She leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes, hoping that she could tune out the obnoxiousness on her own.

Not even five minutes after the bus left Kaede felt a nervous tapping on her shoulder. She opened her eyes to Nishinoya leaning beside her backrest smiling apologetically.

She sighed, “what.”

He held out his palm to show a pair of tangled earbuds. She looked between them and his hesitant expression before just raising a brow. “They’re very nice, Noya. I’m not sure what you-”

“You lost yours, right?” He dropped them onto her lap. “I’m giving them to you.”

“What?” She picked them up and flipped them over in her palm. “Why?”

“I’m not using them and you looked upset,” his nose wrinkled. “You get really cranky when you’re upset.”

“Thanks,” she said monotone, beginning to untangle the pair. “Are you sure this is-”

“Do you want my jacket, too?”

She blinked a few times before turning to him. “Why would I need that?”

He rested his head against the side of her seat. “Well, aren’t you tired? It could be a pillow or something.”

“Oh,” she paused, furrowing her brow in thought. “I guess, but I’m not sure that’s necessar-”

He dropped the material on her head and created a static mess of her hair.

“Okay, feel better,” he said before hopping his way to the back of the bus. She sat in disbelief before turning to Yachi who was hiding a smile behind her hand.

“Don’t,” Kaede said, bundling the jacket and placing it behind her head. “He’s just an idiot with no concept of personal space.”

Kaede could finally tune out the rambunctious guys and leaned comfortably against her makeshift pillow, finding herself drifting to much needed sleep. She definitely didn’t find the way Nishinoya’s jacket smelled comforting-it just happened to be nicer than the musty bus. And if she snuggled up to it a few times that was purely because it was softer than the bus seat.

When she woke up it was for the bus pulling into the parking lot and everyone pushing their faces against the windows in awe of the stadium before them.

“Holy shit,” Tanaka breathed. “It’s even bigger in person.”

They piled out of the bus, shoving and pulling each other in a rush to get out of the cramped space. The boys stared at the building with their jaws slack.

“I feel sick again,” Hinata covered his mouth and Kageyama shoved him toward Tanaka who side-stepped him, leaving Hinata to fall flat on the concrete.

“Alright, everyone,” Coach Ukai clapped to garner attention. “I want best behavior. There’s a lot of people here, so don’t go embarrassing-”

“I bet I can get there first.” Hinata said, taking off for the front doors.

“You got a head start idiot. This doesn’t count.” Kageyama said, sprinting after him.

“Do you think they have food vendors?” Nishinoya tugged Tanaka’s sleeve and they both took off. Everyone stood there watching them before glancing awkwardly at the coaches.

“-me. Oh my god.” Coach Ukai palmed his eyes.

“Yeah, good luck with that.” Tsukishima snorted as he and Yamaguchi left the group. Kaede shrugged because this was Karasuno; chaotic as hell, but somehow they made it work.

The arena was as massive inside as it was outside, but it didn’t talk long to track down their missing morons. Hinata and Kageyama hadn’t left the main vestibule, and although Nishinoya and Tanaka had found food stands neither had actually brought money. Kaede wasn’t interested in donations either, regardless how good Nishinoya’s puppy-dog eyes were.

Since the court was reserved for the teams, coaches, and a single manager Kaede and Yachi would be watching the game from the stands. They said their goodbyes outside the locker room-ruffling Hinata’s hair, patting Asahi’s back, fist bumping Tanaka, and even forcing a good luck to Tsukishima-when she turned to Nishinoya she was thrown off by his lifted hands.

“You won’t be there when my name is called,” he pushed them forward. “So I need you to high-five me now.”

“That’s adorable,” Daichi said slyly behind him.

“It’s not adorable,” Nishinoya sneered at him, and a snickering Tanaka, with a red tint to his cheeks. “It’s just for luck. That’s all.”

“It’s a little adorable,” Kaede tried to force down her smile.

“Just high-five me, okay?” He mumbled, tensely pushing his hands further out. Kaede rolled her eyes before lightly patting her hands against his. He furrowed his brow and looked down at his palms. “That high-five sucked.”

“Beggars can’t be choosers,” she shrugged, grabbing Yachi’s hand to pull her toward the bleacher doors. “You can have a better one after you win the game.”

Kaede left him there pouting as her and Yachi pushed their way through metal doors that took them to Karasuno’s cheer section. Kaede was in awe at how many people were in attendance. They had somehow managed to go from a few people to a packed stand in only a few months.

“There’s our girls,” Saeko cheered, waving Kaede and Yachi toward the front of the bleachers. “Does this mean the boys are coming out soon?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Yachi nodded.

“Ugh, please don’t say that. Ma’am makes me feel ancient.” Saeko grimaced, leaning her forearms against the railing.

Yachi apologized profusely and Kaede laughed lightly at her meekness. That’s when Karasuno came out of the locker room for warm-ups-Saeko immediately dialing in on Tanaka, hollering her praises the moment he was in sight. While he was covering his face in embarrassment Hinata and Nishinoya were waving like madmen in hopes of gaining her attention.

Hinata cheerfully waved to Kaede and Yachi when he spotted them while Nishinoya smirked mischievously, making a heart shape at Kaede with his hands. She groaned, creating one herself before snapping it half to which Nishinoya dramatically dropped his jaw, flinging a hand against his chest in mock horror.

She giggled at his ridiculous performance which seemingly was enough to please him because he went back to focusing on warm-ups.

“So you and Noya got a little something-something going on?” Saeko gave her a once-over and nodded approvingly. “I never imagined he could bag a cutie like you, but I’ll give credit where credit is due.”

“What? No, that’s-” Kaede felt a shudder run down her spine. “I would never date, Noya. My standards aren’t that low.”

Saeko hummed, thrumming her fingers along the railing. “Noya’s a good kid with a lot of love to give, but I think you’ll figure that out.” Saeko ruffled Kaede’s hair, effectively messing up her half-ponytail.

Kaede narrowed her eyes suspiciously, but for her safety didn’t press the matter further. She leaned on the railing, watching Nishinoya carefully as he received with his classic Rolling Thunder-the team erupting in laughter around him.

If Kaede could describe Nishinoya in two words it would be simple-minded and clingy. The exact opposite of anyone she ever pictured herself in a relationship with. Did she think he was attractive? Sometimes. When he was smiling or laughing or focusing really hard on something or zoning out or pouting or… Well that wasn’t the point. The point was they weren’t compatible at all and Saeko had no clue what she was talking about.

Kaede felt a warmth creep up her neck as Nishinoya wrapped his arm around Hinata’s shoulders, a bright smile spread across his lips. She shrank into her shoulders. Right, no clue what she was talking about.

When the match finally began she found her confident facade fading as she clutched Yachi’s hand tightly, her heart pounding at the fast pace of the game. Kaede’s heart swelled with pride when Nishinoya adjusted to their powerful spiker, and ignored Saeko’s knowing glances when she bounced with excitement. The same feeling coursed through her as Hinata’s bright smile overtook his face and as she leaned over to celebrate with the convenience store guy for Yamaguchi’s service ace-she even hugged Yachi with all her might when Tsukishima made an amazing block.

As the ball took its final fall there was a lull in the air before the crowd erupted into cheer. Kaede and Yachi clutched each other tightly, jumping and shouting at their team’s well deserved victory. She felt tears pricking her eyes as she watched the boys dogpile in the center of the court-the third years a tearful mess in disbelief, unable to process they were actually going to nationals.

Kaede grabbed Yachi’s wrist with a final wistful look at the guys before tugging her into the hall so they could congratulate their team. She waited impatiently, bouncing on the balls of her feet, for the doors of the gym to swing open. At the first sign of them opening her and Yachi immediately jumped onto the still smiling team.

“You guys were amazing,” she turned to Hinata, waving her fist in the air. “Your spikes were insane Hinata!”

“Did you see my last one?” He swung his arm downward. “It was totally ‘shabam’, right?”

She nodded her head without a clue what he meant, turning to Yamaguchi to ruffle his hair, “and let’s not forget about you mr. service ace.”

“Stop,” he whined, swatting her hands away with a blush lighting up his freckled cheeks.

Kaede’s excitement grew as everyone raved about each other’s performances and began talking about nationals. Her emotions were near bursting when she spotted Nishinoya wearing a lopsided grin with both hands raised for the high-five she’d promised him.

Kaede rolled her eyes, completely bypassing his hands and wrapping her arms around his shoulders. He tensed up momentarily before encircling his arms around her waist.

She squeezed him before pulling back. “You were insane,” she smiled excitedly. “The setting thingy worked and your receives were amazing even though he was left-handed or whatever and everything was great-you were great!”

He stared at her seemingly frozen and she looked around awkwardly at his lengthy pause. Suddenly a cocky smirk made its way onto his lips and Kaede regretted her every decision.

“Setting thingy?” His eyes scanned her face. “Left-handed or whatever?”

“You try to compliment a guy and this is the thanks you-”

“I’m kidding. I’m kidding.” He smiled fondly before pulling her back to his chest, burying his face into the crook of her neck. “Thank you.”

Kaede blinked, loosely replacing her arms around his neck. Saeko’s teasing comments popped into her mind and her heart started beating at an irregular pace. She leaned her head against Nishinoya’s for a brief moment as her chest filled with an unfamiliar warmth.

She supposed Nishinoya wasn’t always terrible. He made her laugh sometimes and he genuinely cared about people and he never seemed to get nervous… she could admit those were decent qualities in a person. Kaede chewed the inside of her cheek as she let herself relax in his hold.

“Are you guys almost finished?” Suga called over,” we’re trying to pick a place to eat. Coaches are paying which means-”

“It’s free?” Nishinoya released her, nearly shoving her aside to get to the group. “We need to find the most expensive meat in the area guys. I’m starving, so maybe a buffet actually.”

Kaede glared at him as he attempted to use Asahi to assist him in bouncing high enough to see the center of the circle. She took a calming breath before joining Kiyoko on the far wall, slouching back with crossed arms. Kaede couldn’t fathom how she almost believed Nishinoya could be anything but obnoxious.

She knew she was right. Saeko had no clue what she was talking about.

*******************************************************************************************

Kaede grumbled as she slumped into the gymnasium after a grueling day of school. She toed off her shoes with an exaggerated sigh, lazily tossing her bag against the wall and sliding down beside it like a ton of bricks rested on her shoulders.

“What’s wrong with you?” Tanaka stood over her while she sluggishly dug out her gym shoes.

“I failed my exam,” she pouted, “couldn’t even answer all the questions.”

Tanaka snorted, “that sucks.”

She groaned, letting her head hang forward and hearing another unwanted set of footsteps approach.

“What’s wrong with her?” Nishinoya asked after a quick once-over.

“She failed an exam.”

“The Calc one?” Nishinoya crouched in front of her, pinching her cheeks to lift her face. “I thought you studied all weekend?”

“I did,” she deadpanned.

He grimaced, “well, if it makes you feel better I fail all the time.”

“Well, you’re an idiot.”

Nishinoya rolled his eyes, switching the pinch to a gentle cradle and leaning forward. “It’s only one exam.”

She started to argue, but he lightly bumped his forehead against hers.

“You’ll be fine,” he smirked. “You’re annoyingly smart, and there’s ways for you to make up the points, right?”

Kaede’s heart was in a frenzy as she nodded.

“See? Nothing to stress about then.”

“Whatever,” she mumbled, avoiding his eyes.

Nishinoya snorted, standing up and turning to the court. “Kinnoshita, send your practice serves to me, okay?”

She watched him run off before turning to Tanaka. “That was weird, right?”

“I honestly can’t tell with you two.”

She narrowed her gaze at Nishinoya, carefully fixing the bangs he’d messed up. She was probably just overanalyzing things because Saeko was still lurking somewhere in her mind and it was best not to think about it. Kaede finished putting her gym shoes on and decided she’d confidently continue on like nothing had happened.

A few days later Kaede was sitting cross-legged against the wall, searching for the phone numbers of coaches for possible practice matches-her first legit manager assignment. Nishinoya had joined her during the team’s allotted break, sitting down and tugging her non-dominant hand in his lap. He played with her fingers and languidly drew patterns against her palm, leaving a tingle blazing up her forearm.

“What are you doing?” She eventually asked when the goose bumps were too strong to ignore.

“It’s too bad you suck at volleyball,” he said, lifting her hand, “cause you have really nice hands.”

She pulled her hand back. “That was the weirdest backhanded compliment I’ve ever gotten.”

“What? I don’t even know what that is.” he whined, reaching for her hand.

She tucked her under her butt and he pouted. “It’s like a hidden insult.” She put the end of her pen on her lip in thought, ignoring how he tugged her arm in an attempt to free her hand from her butt. “It’s like if I told you, ‘too bad you’re so annoying because otherwise you’d be really cute’ or something.”

“You think I’m cute?” He asked with a sly smirk.

Her face flushed red. “What? No, it was an example. I said if I-”

“That’s okay,” he flicked the orange ribbon she used to keep her hair half-up. “I think you’re cute too.”

“I’m not cute.”

“You are,” he stated, standing and stretching to prepare for Daichi calling everyone back to the court. “Now if you’ll excuse me. The most attractive person you’ve ever seen has to get back to practice.”

“That’s not even close to what I-,” she started, but he was already waving her off. Kaede sneered, writing the phone numbers with more force than necessary.

That boy had a death wish and one day she would grant it...

Kaede paced around the next practice staring down at her notebook she’d been studying. She furrowed her brow as she tried to remember terms that Kiyoko had given her, but something felt off.

“I’m starving.”

Her muscles tensed as a familiar whine reached her ears, but unlike usual arms wrapped around her midsection and a chin rested on her shoulder. Kaede side-eyed Nishinoya who was observing the notebook in her hands with a raised brow.

“You’ve been pretty clingy lately,” she pointed out.

“In a good mood,” he reached forward to grab her notebook. “What’s this?”

“None of your business.” She said, moving it out of reach. “Aren’t you worried Kiyoko’s going to get the wrong idea?”

“Nah, I’m stepping down. Giving Tanaka a better chance, ya know?” Nishinoya made a grabbing motion. “I wanna see the book.”

She grumbled, but opened it back up, revealing volleyball terms and definitions along with really poorly drawn stick figures. Nishinoya straightened up, tugging it from her hands. “What is it?”

“I’m trying to learn everything for when Kiyoko leaves.” Kaede mumbled while her face grew red.

He fought back a smile while flipping through pages, “is there a section for liberos?”

Her eyes widened and she reached for the book, “no.”

“So, there is!”

“Stop. Give it back.”

His eyes scanned the pages while she attempted to reach over his shoulder. Eventually he landed on one before turning around with a wicked grin.

“Noya, I swear if you don’t-”

“‘Libero-my favorite position!’,” he read as he dodged her swipes. He flipped it around with an amused smirk, pointing to a stick figure with spiky hair. “Is this supposed to be me?”

“Obviously,” she crossed her arms. “It looks just like you.”

“What’s wrong with my legs?”

“Those are your knee pads!”

He cocked his head to the side, mulling that over. “I guess… I see it?” He scanned both his pages with a furrowed brow before holding out his hand. “A lot of stuff is missing. Do you have a pencil or something?”

Kaede offered him the pen from her track pants and he began writing notes all over the pages. She tried peeking over his shoulder, but he turned away.

“Noya, what are you-”

“Done!” Nishinoya snapped the notebook shut with the pen tucked between the pages. He bopped her on the forehead with it, wearing a fond smile. “Now you can really nerd out.”

Kaede’s cheeks warmed as she took the book back, but before she could thank him Coach Ukai was calling everyone to the court. He ruffled her hair before running off, which annoyingly sent a thrum through her heart.

Kaede chewed the inside of her cheek, opening her notebook to the section that Nishinoya had helped fill out before her expression immediately dropped. He had written majority useful notes, but most noticeable were comments about how libero was the best position and how ‘only attractive people play it’. He even gave his stick figure muscles and encased it in a giant heart. 

No matter how hard Kaede tried to muster her usual frustration-nothing came. Instead she smiled fondly, her fingers trailing across the stupid words, ‘love of my life’ he’d written in the bottom corner with an arrow pointed to his stick figure. She closed her eyes as her stomach rolled with an unfamiliar feeling she didn’t know what to do with.

But Kaede knew one thing… She was screwed.

*******************************************************************************************

Kaede attempted to get through the rest of the week as if nothing had changed. She pretended her eyes weren’t lingering on Nishinoya longer than usual, that her heart wasn’t an uncontrollable mess when he laughed, or that she didn’t light up when he clung to her. Unfortunately, pretending wasn’t good enough and people were beginning to notice-even Nishinoya was giving her weird looks.

Honestly, she was just looking forward to their break since holidays were finally here. She needed time away from everyone to overthink her life choices.

Coach Ukai’s abrupt clap brought her back to reality where Nishinoya had been running his fingers through her hair while they stood in an end of practice huddle. Everyone was dispersing and Kaede looked around panicked, having zoned out and missing everything he said.

“He assigned daily work-outs for over break,” she heard Nishinoya begin, turning around confused, “he said Kiyoko should’ve given you tasks if you had any, and Kinnoshita, Suga, and Yamaguchi were assigned cleaning tonight.” Nishinoya smiled affectionately.

“Oh-I-uh-thank you.” She cringed at herself, but Nishinoya just saluted and left for his duffel bag.

“Th-th-thank you, Nishinoya…” Tanaka came up beside her with his hands clasped. “You’re so cute and funny and I loooooovvve-ow!”

She punched his arm as warmth crept up her neck. “I don’t sound like that!”

“You definitely do.”

She glanced at Nishinoya, then covered her mouth from his sight before saying, “do I really?”

“Don’t worry. Nishinoya’s as dumb as you.” Tanaka rolled his eyes before walking toward the other’s. “You could wear an ‘I love Nishinoya’ t-shirt and he still wouldn’t get it.”

She pouted at the insult, but was reassured by Nishinoya’s apparent obliviousness. Kaede followed Tanaka to the benches and plopped down beside Nishinoya who’d put his stuff by hers at the start of practice. It took all of her focus to not look at him, especially when she could see him sneaking peeks at her.

“Does anyone have plans for Christmas?” Daichi questioned further down the bench.

“Saeko’s forcing me to look at lights with her,” Tanaka’s shoulders slumped. “If I could just get a date I wouldn’t have to deal with her dragging me around.”

“I’m taking Natsu to see lights, too.” Hinata said, tossing a volleyball between his hands. “I don’t mind hanging out with her though.”

“That’s because the only thing you think about is volleyball, Hinata.” Ennoshita ruffled his hair and Hinata’s face turned red.

“Not true!”

“Nishinoya and Kaede are probably the only ones with actual plans.” Asahi chuckled, causing Nishinoya to choke on the water he’d been guzzling.

“Yeah, what are you guys doing?” Daichi asked.

Kaede looked over, surprised that so many of them were curious about her plans. “Um, I haven’t really thought about it yet. Lights are cool. Maybe food, who knows.”

“Seriously? You haven’t planned anything?” Asahi crossed his arms. “That doesn’t sound like Noya.”

Nishinoya looked between everyone panicked while Kaede’s eyes flickered toward a snickering Tanaka. “I mean, I don’t know what Noya’s doing. So, maybe he has plans?”

“I’m confused,” Hinata frowned. “Are you guys not hanging out on Christmas?”

“No,” Kaede felt warmth spreading across her cheeks. “Why would we-”

“Heh, good jokes guys.” Nishinoya grabbed her hand and pulled her off the bench. “We gotta go though, so I think that’s-”

“You’re dating though...” Hinata looked at Kageyama. “People hang out on Christmas when they’re dating, right?”

“Obviously, idiot.” He turned to Daichi and whispered. “They do, right?”

Daichi nodded.

Kaede’s jaw went slack at the accusation as Nishinoya continued to yank her toward the exit. “What? We’re not dating!” She tried to remain in place, but Nishinoya tugged harder. “Why would you think that?”

“Well, Nishinoya said you guys were in-”

“Wow, this has been a great time,” Nishinoya cut him off as they reached the door. “I really appreciate this guys. Unfortunately, we’re leaving. Have a good break or something...”

After he dragged her a good distance from the gymnasium she tugged her hand out of his strong grasp. “What the hell was that?”

“Not sure what you're talking about…”

“That!” She gestured wildly in the direction of the gym behind them. “They’re going to think we’re dating.”

Nishinoya facepalmed, “I promise you that doesn’t bother me.”

“What do you mean it doesn’t-” Kaede’s fists clenched as he continued walking without her. “Get back here!”

She caught up quickly and grabbed his hand, pulling him around to face her. He observed her scowl and furrowed his brow in frustration, attempting to pull his hand out of her grip.

“It doesn’t matter,” he claimed, avoiding her eyes, but Kaede knew that was bull shit. She tried to take a step closer, but he kept awkwardly stepping back until he hit a wall and a blush spread to his cheeks.

Kaede’s heart was in a frenzy at their position, but she wasn’t going to flake out now. She dropped his hand to place her’s beside his head so he couldn’t walk away from her anymore.

“Explain.” She demanded.

“Mizuki, it’s really hard to think when you’re pinning me against-”

“Try,” she narrowed her eyes at him. “You’re being weird.”

“I’m being weird?” His eyebrows rose in disbelief. “You've been acting weird all week!”

Kaede felt her cheeks warming as her confident facade wavered. “Well, that’s not what this is about. We’re talking about you here.”

He dragged a hand down his face before giving her a once-over, “do you actually not know?”

“Not know what?”

He glanced down nervously, “I like you, Mizuki.”

She blinked once. Twice. Then her arm fell limp to her side. “Oh,” she breathed out.

“Yeah, like, I really really really like you.”

“I-uh-heard the first time, Noya.” She said, staring at his feet. She supposed this had been what Tanaka meant by Noya was as stupid as she was.

“Right, sorry, it just felt really good to say.”

Kaede’s heart was pounding and she was surprised Nishinoya hadn’t pointed out the noise. It was so loud she couldn’t focus. Her stomach was rolling in that weird way again that she couldn’t tell was nausea or butterflies-maybe both.

“When did-”

“Shiratorizawa I guess...” His face scrunched in thought. “I mean, maybe before that. I don’t know, it feels so weird... “ He rubbed his chest. “A good weird. Just a different weird.”

She nodded understandingly. Nishinoya also made her feel all sorts of weird. He lifted his hand toward her face, but hesitated when he neared her cheek, dropping it back to his side.

Kaede frowned, staring longingly at the hand that normally wouldn’t have hesitated to hold her. She chewed the inside of her cheek before mustering up the courage to lace her fingers with his. Nishinoya’s eyes had watched her gaze carefully, tracking her intense stare with hopeful eyes.

He lightly swung their hands with a dopey smile. “You’re cute.”

“I’m not,” she furrowed her brow, a light blush painting her cheeks.

He pressed his forehead against hers with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “You are.”

Kaede pouted at how out of control her heart was at him simply squeezing her hand and from the almost cocky look in his eyes he could probably tell. Her eyes flickered down briefly and she raised her brow contemplatively.

“I feel like someone who wears a ribbon everyday has no right to claim that they aren’t-”

“Noya, I’m going to kiss you,” she interrupted.

His jaw went slack and he froze in disbelief. Kaede smirked slyly at the reaction she’d been hoping for as she guided his face closer, holding him a breath away.

He blinked back to reality, “are you sure? I mean I would love that so much, but are you absolutely sure? Because that’s like an actual thing that-”

Kaede closed the gap, pressing her lips against his to stop his rambling-whatever he’d been saying getting lost in their kiss. They had an awkward position at first, but once realization struck Nishinoya he quickly adjusted, sliding his hand up and tangling his fingers in her hair. She tried to remain focused, but as Nishinoya wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close she couldn’t help the bubble of laughter that escaped her.

Nishinoya pulled back, embarrassment striking his face as he searched her eyes.

“You’re laughing,” he stated, slightly out of breath. “Was it bad? I’ve never kissed someone. It was bad, wasn’t it?

“No, it wasn’t-I just-,” she giggled, leaning forward hiding her face in his chest. It hadn’t been bad. The kiss had just been so Nishinoya-diving head first, putting everything into it with no experience. Kaede couldn’t help it.

Nishinoya cradled the side of her face and lifted her to face him, smiling at her with more affection than she’d ever thought capable. He ran his thumb along her bottom lip before leaning forward to capture her lips again. This time he went slowly, from pulling her close to the press of his lips everything felt thought out.

When he pulled back, rubbing his nose against hers he whispered, “better?”

“Uh-huh,” she squeaked, face a brilliant shade of pink.

“This is good, right?” He furrowed his brow in question. “Kissing is usually a good sign.”

Kaede’s lips quirked into a small smile as she pressed her forehead against his, eyes soft as they scoured his face. “Yeah,” she rubbed her thumb along his cheek. “It’s a really good sign.”

“Cool,” he smiled dopily, leaning against her touch. “So, wanna go out this weekend?”

Kaede rolled her eyes, giving him a quick peck.

“Is that a yes?”

“Nope,” she said, stepping back and walking away backward. He blinked a few times before following her.

“What do you mean no?” Nishinoya pouted.

She stuck her tongue out and pivoted around a smile forcing its way on her face when Nishinoya caught up, interlocking their hands together. “I guess I’ll think about it.”

“Think about it!?”

Kaede swung their hands happily as Nishinoya ranted to her about her audacity while she unknowingly walked him to the nearest ramen shop. She was hungry, so why wait for the weekend when they could just go out now?

She glanced over to Nishinoya’s pouting face as he listed off reasons he should be allowed a date and rolled her eyes. Kaede relished in the warmth consuming her chest as she listened to him, allowing herself the happiness she’d been pushing back for so long. This was nice.

Being with him like this… She liked this. She liked him.

And she was happy she had finally figured that out.