#king kota kai

[celestial-thoughts]

[Dakota Kai Appreciation Week day 1: fave gear]

some of my favorite Dakota Kai looks from NXT and the main roster!!

original post here

[questintheskies]

[south-of-heaven]

Dakota Kai Masterlist

Freezing

Your rock

Not alone

Here you go, babe

Red carpet

Makeup

Quaint

The same

Glances

Puppy

Newborn

Bruises

Feels like home

[chariots-r-us]

Dakota Kai 🥵

[wwe-stuff]

She can't take a bad picture. 🔟

[evileyekabuki]

KING KOTA CORE

🌸🎮🌸🎮🌸

“Said I can do this all night, baby

Said I was actin' out of line, maybe

Can't put my trauma to the side

When you told me I was lyin'

Had me feelin' like I died, baby

I seen a grown man cry, baby

Just see you do it, ain't special, no

Wonder when I ain't there

What the fuck you've been sayin'?

Talkin' 'bout how I sexed you up” ~ Been Like This by Doja Cat

[jeysbvck]

KOTAS BACK RAAAAAAAAAAH

[chaosallstar]

Dakota Kai // Damage CTRL

[sylexisting]

Please follow, share & reblog if you like my art 🖤

[celestial-thoughts]

you drew stars around my scars

Pairing: Bayley x Dakota Kai

Word count: 1.6k

Set after the 04/17/23 episode of Raw. Some angst and self-hatred, plenty of fluff and comfort. One (1) hint at a praise kink, but nothing even remotely spicy happens anywhere in this fic. Based on this idea that my lovely prism trap anon shared.

Her first singles match in five months. Against the Raw Women's Champion. So much has changed since the last time Dakota and Bianca stood across the ring from each other, one on one.

But some things just stay the same. Once again, Dakota has failed to capitalize on an opportunity. This time, however, it hurts so much more. The look on Bayley's face as Dakota rolls out of the ring reminds her that she's failed. Bayley fought so hard for her to get this match against Bianca, and she couldn't get the job done.

Bayley just holds Dakota's head to her chest. She wants to speak, but she knows that she can't. Not here, in front of the cameras. So instead, she helps Dakota up the ramp, Iyo following behind as she stares the champion down.

The next couple of hours are a blur. Dakota manages to pull herself from her spiraling thoughts long enough to get through their backstage segment. She nearly bursts into tears as she speaks, but manages to regain her composure when she turns to Iyo. Passionately tells her tag team partner that she has to be the one to beat Bianca.

They bring her to the trainer's room to get ice and checked out. Bayley tells Iyo to stay with Dakota, before giving Dakota's hand a squeeze and slipping out of the room. Dakota doesn't say a word aside from answering the questions that the medical team asks her.

Eventually, Bayley returns with all three of their belongings, and the medical staff tell Dakota that she's free to go back to the hotel. Bayley is adamant that she's going to drive, until they pass Candice gathering her things to leave.

Candice takes one look at the trio, and holds out her hand to Bayley. "Give me the keys," she says. Bayley opens her mouth to protest, but Candice doesn't let her get that far. "You're far too worried about Dakota to drive safely and we both know it. I'm already going back to the hotel anyways. Now stop being stubborn and give me the damn keys." Candice is so fiercely protective of Dakota, almost as much as Bayley is. So Bayley drops the keys to the rental car into Candice's open palm.

Sometime between Bayley handing Candice the keys and when they reach the exit of the arena, Asuka pulls Iyo away from the group, saying something about going out to eat. At some point, Mia falls in step with them.

Which is how they find themselves in a rental car, driving through the streets of Little Rock, Arkansas. Candice drives and Mia sits shotgun, and they make small talk in low voices. In the backseat, Bayley holds Dakota's hand and strokes her hair. Even without words, Bayley knows just how to comfort Dakota.

When they arrive at the hotel, Bayley takes both her own bag and Dakota's. Dakota starts to protest, saying she can carry her own stuff. But Mia is right there with pictures of her dogs, and the two former roommates walk into the hotel side by side.

Bayley and Candice walk a few paces behind, watching their tag team partners obsess over their pets. They don’t say a word to each other until they’re halfway across the hotel lobby, on their way to meet Dakota and Mia by the elevators.

“Hey,” Candice says as she stops walking, putting a hand on Bayley’s shoulder. ”Take care of her, okay? Make sure she knows how loved she is.”

“I will,” Bayley promises. “Don’t you worry, cupcake. I’ll take care of her.”

Candice rolls her eyes at the nickname, but smiles nonetheless. “Thank you,” she says, giving Bayley’s shoulder a squeeze before letting go of her. They reach the elevators, and Candice hands Bayley the keys to the rental car.

Dakota is silent during the short elevator ride up to their floor. Bayley can see her fighting back tears, her hands shaking. They reach their room, and Bayley swipes her key to unlock the door. She sets down the bags in her hands as the door closes behind Dakota.

Suddenly, a sound escapes Dakota's mouth, a sob that jolts her body. She feels her legs give out beneath her. She's expecting to hit the carpeted floor of the hotel room, but the impact never comes. Instead, she feels Bayley's strong arms holding her up, not letting her fall. Dakota lets out another choking sob, and all she can think about is how much she hates this, hates herself.

"You're okay baby," Bayley whispers, her voice soft and soothing in Dakota's ear. She wraps her arms around the smaller girl's body, holding her close.

Dakota buries her face in Bayley's shoulder. Her entire body is shaking now, and she's crying uncontrollably and she wants to stop but she can't.

"It's alright, I've got you. Just let it all out." Bayley says, continuing to whisper soft words of encouragement and reassurance, holding Dakota tight in her arms until she is no longer crying.

With slow, careful movements, Bayley manages to guide her into the bathroom. She strips Dakota of her ring gear, and gently helps her into the shower. She gets Dakota washed up, drying her off with a towel before dressing her in warm pajama pants and one of Bayley's sweatshirts. Dakota is silent. Her eyes don't focus on anything, and she barely registers what is happening.

Finally, after what feels like hours, she pulls herself out of her own head, realizing that she's crying again. She doesn't know when it started, but silent tears roll down her face, and she finally manages to choke out the two words that she has wanted to say since the match ended.

“I’m sorry,” Dakota whispers, her voice as unsteady and weak as she feels.

Bayley reaches out and wipes away the tears on Dakota’s cheeks. “Baby, you have nothing to be sorry for,” she insists.

Dakota shakes her head. “I let you down,” she says, fresh tears filling her eyes.

“Oh Kota,” Bayley whispers, pulling her sweet girl close to her, holding Dakota’s head against her chest in the same way that she did after the match. “You could never let me down,” she says, stroking Dakota’s cotton candy pink hair. “I’m so proud of you baby. Win, lose, or draw. I’ll always be proud of you.”

"But you shouldn't be," Dakota whimpers. "I failed, Bayley. I had a chance and I failed. Just like I've failed at every other opportunity I've been given."

Bayley feels her heart break a little at Dakota's words, and she wants so badly to interject, to tell Dakota how wrong she is. But she knows that Dakota has to get whatever she's feeling in this moment off her chest.

"You shouldn't have chosen me to return with you," Dakota continues, tears still falling. "You should have chosen Mia, or Candice, or Tegan. I'm the dead weight, I'm the reason we keep losing."

"No." The single word bursts from Bayley's lips, and her voice is more aggressive than she had intended. She takes a deep breath, softening her tone before she speaks again. "Listen to me," she says. Dakota lifts her head from Bayley's chest, slowly meeting her girlfriend's eyes. "You are not a failure. You are not dead weight. I chose you to return with me at SummerSlam, because I saw the things in you that everyone else didn't see. And I have never once regretted my choice."

Slowly, she guides her over to the bed, sitting down and pulling Dakota onto her lap. "You are worth so much more than you know," Bayley continues, running her fingers through Dakota's hair, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.

Dakota lets out a flustered whine, burying her face in the crook of Bayley's neck as a blush fills her cheeks. She's never been particularly good at receiving compliments. "You're just saying that because you feel bad for me," she protests, her words muffled but still clear enough for Bayley to hear.

"I'm saying it because it's true," Bayley insists. She gently lifts Dakota's head from her neck, taking her flushed face in her hands. "You are my everything, Kota. You are my entire world."

Bayley can see the doubt in Dakota's eyes, and she knows that her sweet girl is trying to fight it, that she doesn't believe what Bayley is saying. She knows that Dakota spent so many months hearing those same words from past tag team partners, only to have it all come crumbling down every time.

So she takes it one step further, pulling Dakota's face closer to her own, until their foreheads are touching. "You are my princess. My king. My warrior." As she speaks, her voice low and soft, Bayley can feel Dakota starting to melt into her touch. "You're the light of my life," she continues. "You're my good girl."

It's those two words that finally break through the negative thoughts that have been playing on a loop in Dakota's head. "Even though I lost?" she asks, her voice small, still not fully believing the words that she's hearing.

"Always," Bayley says, brushing a piece of hair away from Dakota's face. "No matter what happens."

Dakota curls into herself, resting her head on Bayley's chest. "Thank you," she whispers, just loud enough for Bayley to hear. "I don't know what I would do without you."

"Well," Bayley says, leaning down to kiss the top of Dakota's head. "You'll never have to find out. I'll always be right by your side."

Dakota looks up to meet Bayley's eyes. "Promise?" she asks.

Bayley smiles down at her girl. "Promise," she says, and Dakota knows that she isn't lying.

She's going to be okay.

[questintheskies]

[posi-pan]

2022 books with pan rep 📚

At the time of posting previous lists, there were 57 books in 2020 and 141 in 2021. This year, there are 176!

30 Things I Love about Myself by Radhika Sanghani

Ablaze by A.H. Cunningham

All I’m Asking by J. Marie Rundquist

Apparition by Zahlia Amin

Attraction (Mobsters + Billionaires #3) by Kelly Fox

Bad At Love by Gabriela Martins

Barcelona (Circus After Dark #3) by Chloe Adler

The Barkeep and the Bookseller by V.L. Locey

Barnabas Bopwright Saves the City by J. Marshall Freeman

Bartholomew (The Temple Brothers #2) by Elle Sparrow

Ben and Beatriz by Katalina Gamarra

Bishop’s Opening by R.S.A Garcia

Bitter Medicine by Mia Tsai

Blood Bound (Youkai Bloodlines #3) by Courtney Maguire

Blood Legacy (Avators of Ruin #2) by Tej Turner

Bloodmarked (Legendborn #2) by Tracy Deonn

Bound (Fangs with Benefits #3) by Aveda Vice

Bound (Kozlov Chronicles #2) by Elena Sobol

Carnal Cryptids 2: Southeast (Carnal Cryptids #2) by Vera Valentine

Changing the Rules (Rules of the Game: Evanston River Otters #1) by Brigham Vaughn

The Chasm (Finding Humanity #2) by Branwen Oshea

Cold Cases and Bitter Enemies (Cold Case Unit #3) by J.M. Dabney

A Cosmic Kind of Love by Samantha Young

Count Your Lucky Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur

A Cruel and Fated Light (The Hollow Star #2) by Ashley Shuttleworth

Dance with the Devil (Mercenary Librarians #3) by Kit Rocha

The Darkest Edge by Lyra Blake

Dead Draw by Layla Reyne

Death by Society by Sierra Elmore

Dinner with the Schnabels by Toni Jordan

Dominance of the Heart by Char Dafoe

Dragon’s Honor (Irresistible Dragons #2) by Nora Phoenix

Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak (Unstoppable #2) by Charlie Jane Anders

D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding by Chenica C. Higgins

The Edge of Being by James Brandon

Electric Idol (Dark Olympus #2) by Katee Robert

Epilogues of Lost Gods (Unwritten Runes #2) by Cat Rector

Errant Vol. 1 (Errant #1) by L.K. Fleet

Eternal Hoptimist by Lee Blair

Every Word You Never Said by Jordon Greene

Exodus 20:3 by Freydís Moon

Extra Witchy (Fix-It Witches #3) by Ann Aguirre

Fabricated by Zoe Lee

The Fae Keeper (The Witch King #2) by H.E. Edgmon

The Fake Date by Trisha Bradley

Fate in Suspension (Horn & Haven #1) by Archer Kay Leah

Fault Tolerance (Chilling Effect #3) by Valerie Valdes

Fight + Flight by Jules Machias

Fighting Monsters: Part One (Fighting Monsters #1) by Sam Hall

Fighting Monsters: Part Two (Fighting Monsters #2) by Sam Hall

Forward March by Skye Quinlan

Furious Heaven (The Sun Chronicles #2) by Kate Elliott

Going Public (Jade Harbor Capital #2) by Hudson Lin

Got Me Looking (Vet Shop Boys #3) by Casey Cox

Griff by Ana Night

Grim and Bear It (Love Me Dead #2) by Heather Novak

Grounded for All Eternity by Darcy Marks

The Heartbreak Handshake by J.R. Hart

Her Stubborn Warrior by Kaylee Pike and Kyra Keys

His Heart Knows by Riley Long

The Hourglass Throne (The Tarot Sequence #3) by K.D. Edwards

Howl Down the Moon by Layla Dorine

How to Love a Dragon (Dragon Tamer #2) by Lila Mina

How We Ricochet by Faith Gardner

I Am Sebastian by Cameron James

I Bought Him, So He’s Mine by Kaylee Pike and Kyra Keys

Icebreaker by A.L. Graziadei

Icebreaker by Hannah Grace

I F-ing Dare You by Emm Darcy

If I Were A Weapon (All These Gifts #1) by Skye Kilaen

The Immortality Trials (The Immortality Trials #1) by Madison Nicole

Incandescent by Christina Lee

Indigo: Nights (Indigo B&B #2) by Adrian J. Smith

Inked Temptation by Carrie Ann Ryan

In the City of Time by Gwendolyn Clare

Irresponsible Puckboy by Eden Finley and Saxon James

It’s Not Unusual To Be Loved by an Alien by Chloe Archer

Jamison by A.N. Waugh

Jilted: Jaren (The Foster Brothers #1) by Nora Phoenix

Just a Touch Away by Jae

Just One Date (Castleton Hearts #5) by Chelsea M. Cameron

Kieran by Avery Tu and Kota Quinn

The Kindred by Alechia Dow

Kink Camp: Hunted by A. Anders

Know It In the Dark (All These Gifts #2) by Skye Kilaen

Kostya the Fallen Star by Melissa Polk

The Last Hero (The First Sister #3) by Linden A. Lewis

Last Resort by Helene Gadot

Lead Me Astray by Sondi Warner

Let Me In (Gods of Hunger #3) by R.M. Virtues

Let the Light Shine Through by A. Marie

Lipstick Lies (The Order Duet #2) by Kris Butler

Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake by Mazey Eddings

London (Circus After Dark #4) by Chloe Adler

Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly

Love Me Gently by E.M. Dennings

Love You Like That by Scarlett Cole

Lunar New Love by Ophelia Silk

Man o’ War by Cory McCarthy

Match with the Demon by Chace Verity

Meet Me on St. Patrick’s Day by Bryony Rosehurst

Moon Dark Smile (Night Shine #2) by Tessa Gratton

MumFest & Murder (The Java Tavern #2) by Elizabeth Garver

Music Lights & Never Afters by C.L. Matthews

My Roommate Romeo (First Times #1) by Billie Bloom

Nestor (Green Hill Pride #6) by Catherine Lievens

Not Good for Maidens by Tori Bovalino

Not Your Type by Elizabeth Jeannel

Odder Still by D.N. Bryn

Omega’s Study Partner (Sweet in Silford #3) by Hope Bennett

One Night With You by Laura Jane Williams

One Night With You by Sky McCoy

One Step at a Time by Lily Seabrooke

One Week with His Stepbrother (Daddy Tales #3) by Kelex

The One Who Loves You the Most by Medina

Ophelia After All by Racquel Marie

Paris (Circus After Dark #1) by Chloe Adler

Pitcher Perfect (Tap That Brewery #1) by Lee Blair

Playing for Keeps by Jax Calder

Play Me (Dragons Love Curves series #10) by Aidy Award

Pull (Love Is Love #1.5) by Nyla K.

Project Himbo by S.J. Whitby

Promote (Shattered Pawns #3) by Jennifer Cody

Pushing the Limits (Secrets Kept #2) by Riley Hart

Queen of Queens (Our Fae Queen #5) by Traci Lovelot

Queen’s Hope (Star Wars: The Padmé Trilogy #3) by E.K. Johnston

Reaper Hospital: Code Hot Nurse (Their Repear #2) by Lacey Carter Anderson

Recast (Handled #4) by Romilly King

The Redemption by Alexia Chase

Ripped (Kozlov Chronicles #3) by Elena Sobol

Rookie Mistake (On the Board #1) by Anna Zabo and L.A. Witt

Royal Exposé by Jenny Frame

Royal Lines (Boston Rebels #4) by R.J. Scott and V.L. Locey

Sasha and the Butcher (The Moretti Family #1) by Stephanie Kazowz

The Savior’s Rise (The Windermere Tales #2) by Talli L. Morgan

Scorpica (The Five Queendoms #1) by Greer Macallister

Seize the Castle (A Knight’s Revenge #2) by Elizabeth Dear

Shake Things Up (Love at Knockdown #2) by Skye Kilaen

Silent Secrets (The Secrets of Sorlphi #1) by Miranda May

Silhouette and the Shadows (Silhouette #1) by Delaney Andrews

The Society For Soulless Girls by Laura Steven

So This Is Ever After by F.T. Lukens

Spin the Damn Bottle (All the Games We Play #2) by Emm Darcy

Stiletto Sins (The Order Duet #1) by Kris Butler

Stitched (Kozlov Chronicles #1) by Elena Sobol

Stone Wings (The Gargoyles of Arrington #1) by Jenn Burke

Storm the Gates (A Knight’s Revenge #1) by Elizabeth Dear

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows

Sugar Girl by Emma L. McGeown

Sweet to the Core (Lighthouse Bay #3) by Amy Aislin

Temptation Cove (Hot Takes #3) by T.S. Ankney

Tempt Me Tonight by Natasha Washington

A Tended Garden by J.P. Jackson

Thank You, Next by Andie J. Christopher

That Good Mischief (The Nine Worlds Rising #3) by Lyra Wolf

This Cursed Crown (These Feathered Flames #2) by Alexandra Overy

This Wicked Fate (This Poison Heart #2) by Kalynn Bayron

Tracking Trouble (Spellster Universe #2.5) by Aldrea Alien

The Trow of Duncaster by Melissa Polk

Twilight’s Touch (Prairie Smoke Ranch #2) by V.L. Locey

Two Rights Make a Wrong by Chloe Liese

Undeniable (Bainbridge University #4) by Andi Burns

Uninhibited (Bainbridge University #3) by Andi Burns

Unlikely Savior (For the Gods’ Amusement #3) by Catherine Lievens

Untitled (The Councillor #2) by E.J. Beaton

Us Against the World by Shayne Prescott

VAMPS: Fresh Blood by Nicole Arend

Venice (Circus After Dark #2) by Chloe Adler

Violet is Nowhere by Faith Gardner

Warrior Queen (Our Fae Queen #6) by Traci Lovelot

Warwick (Rebel Sky Ranch #4) by Kelly Fox

What’s Mine Is Yours by Willow Renee

When the Walls Come Down by Harper Robson

Wicked Beauty (Dark Olympus #3) by Katee Robert

The Wicked Love by Pru Schuyler

Wrong Hunt by J.S. Harker

Have you read any of these books? Or books with pan rep at all this year? Let me know! Happy Pan Week!

[touya-niisan]

class is in session 🎓

roll call: class a class b eraserhead / shouta aizawa vlad king / sekijiro kan denki kaminari eijiro kirishima fumikage tokoyami hanta sero hitoshi shinsou izuku midoriya katsuki bakugo kyoka jiro mashirao ojiro mina ashido momo yaoyorozu neito monoma ochaco uraraka shoto todoroki tenya ida tsuyu asui yuga aoyama

the teacher's lounge: all might / toshinori yagi midnight / nemuri kayama nezu present mic / hizashi yamada recovery girl thirteen

todoroki trauma™: enji touya fuyumi natsuo rei shoto the todorokis

lover's lane: bakudeku (katsuki x izuku) endhawks (enji x hawks) erasermic (shota x hizashi) erasermight (shota x toshinori) dabihawks (toya/dabi x hawks) kiribaku (kirishima x katsuki) miritama (mirio x tamaki) todobaku (shoto x katsuki) tododeku (shoto x izuku) shigadabi (tomura x toya/dabi)

eraser family: eri aizawa hitoshi shinsou hizashi yamada oboro shirakumo shouta aizawa eraser family (shota, hizashi, eri, and hitsohi)

hero billboard chart: edgeshot fatgum gran torino hawks (keigo takami) kamui woods mirko (rumi usagiyama) mt. lady

league of idiots: afo dabigentle criminal himiko toga kurogiri la brava mr. compress overhaul / kai chisaki spinner twice / jin bubaigawara tomura shigaraki / tenko shimura

additional characters: inko midoriya kota izumi mirio togata nejire hado rody soul & pino tamaki amajiki

misc: au general explicit (suggestive and nsfw posts) videos vigilantes

[evileyekabuki]

💀🗡️🖤 SKULL KABUKI 🖤🗡️💀

KING KOTA

Dakota Kai

[voltageapps]

LEADING MAN AWARDS 2023 -The King Returns-

Until 10/24 23:59 JST!

Show your support and get the wallpapers with votes!

What the nominees say (click the names for the tweets)

Seiji Goto: "I'm so grateful and so excited about the love you've given me. I'm going to do my best to grow and thrive till the end, all so that I'm worthy of it."

Takaomi Tsugaru: "I'm in the mood to spoil you, but you don't have to spoil me back. I'm not used to that kinda thing."

Sentaro Kyogoku: "You told me you loved me, so I'm gonna make it through this and find you on the other side. Once we get home, I'm never letting you go again."

Ryoichi Hirose: "It's such a luxury to hear you say you love me day after day. When this is all over with, we're going to have to celebrate as husband and wife."

Kaede Ekuni: "You showed me that you love me lots, so I'm gonna show you too. It makes me all toasty inside when you love me. Let's be toasty together?"

Kota Igarashi: "I thought I'd have to work hard enough for everybody, but now that you're around, I've got nothing to worry about. You make me way too strong. Thanks."

Ayumu Shinonome: "Do whatever you want. My heart's not going to change. How you interpret that's up to you, I guess?"

Kei Soejima: "You feel so strongly about me... Have I made it to Eden? It's hard to imagine something more wonderful than this, but maybe I can make it there with you at my side."

Shu Hasunuma: "What man could stay calm after his wife tells him she loves him that much? I almost forgot how to breathe!"

Kunihiro Kasai: "Thank you for telling me you love me. I'm not gonna hold back either, so I hope you're ready for me?"

Subaru Ichiyanagi: "You've done well to make it this far. There's a bit left to go, but don't force it. You're at your best when you're healthy and happy."

Boss (Seiichi Setoyanagi): "I thought I knew how reliable you could be, but you've outdone yourself... I'm proud to have someone like you as my girlfriend."

Riki Yanase: "Thanks for going to such lengths for my sake. I'm gonna return what you've given me several times over. Just be patient a little longer."

Takane Momochi: "All I need is your smile. If you go showering me in this much love, I'll get a little, you know... embarrassed."

Hideki Ishigami: "I hear what's in your heart. I do, so don't worry... There's nothing else I need right now."

Rei Rindoh: "I can't begin to describe how happy I am to be the recipient of your feelings. We're almost there, so don't give up on me just yet."

Kazuomi Shido: "Well, this is a problem. Didn't think watching you go this far for me would get me hot under the collar... Don't get angry. It's just biology."

Hibiki Shiina: "You always take off chasing after new dreams, but don't forget that you have me by your side."

Tetsuya Hosho: "Would that I could take you home and make out with you right now, lamb. Come closer, at least, so that I can pamper you?"

Toru Kurosawa: "I can't believe all you've done for me... You're so cute. Are you okay? Shall I burn this image into my retinas? I think so!"

Kaisei Kuon: "I'll run alongside you until we reach the finish line! You'll be safe in my arms in the final leg, so leave everything to me!"

Tadanobu Nomura: "Not only is my heart yours, but you're so sweet that you've got an unbreakable hold on it. Thank you."

Shusuke Soma: "Is it foolish to crave the sight of your gentle smile as much as I do? Especially in a competition like this? Well, I don't mind either way."

Eisuke Ichinomiya: "You have done well thus far. Your dreams are my dreams. Your aspirations my aspirations. And until the final moment, you're forbidden from leaving my side."

Tsumugu Kido: "Once this is all over, let's have a wrap up party with sukiyaki. Stay strong! Don't lose heart, 'kay?"

Yukihisa Maki: "This is the last hurdle. Why don't I offer you an enchanted kiss to keep you going?"

[celestial-thoughts]

late night

Pairing: Bayley x Dakota Kai

Word count: 0.5k

Summary: Dakota can't sleep. Bayley helps her get out of her head.

Bayley isn't sure what wakes her up, but as the cloud of sleep melts away from her brain, she registers the faint hum of electricity. The lights are on somewhere in the house. And now that she's awake, Bayley realizes that the other side of the bed is empty.

Stretching, she throws on a hoodie and quietly walks out of the bedroom and down the hallway to the upstairs office. The door is slightly ajar, light filtering out into the hallway. Bayley quietly nudges the door open to find Dakota sitting on the couch, hugging her knees to her chest, staring blankly at the wall.

"Hi love," Bayley says, her voice soft so as not to startle Dakota. Her girlfriend turns to look at her, and a soft smile finds it's way onto her face. "What are you doing up this late?"

Dakota shrugs. "Couldn't turn my brain off. Go back to bed, Bay. I'll be there in a little bit."

"Absolutely not," Bayley says, crossing the room to sit next to Dakota on the couch. "I'm not going to be able to sleep anyways, knowing that you can't do the same." She reaches out and brushes a lock of Dakota's hair out of her face.

"Well in that case," Dakota replies, eyes meeting Bayley's for just a moment before dropping her gaze down to her lap. "Cuddles?"

Bayley responds by holding out her arms, smiling fondly as Dakota climbs onto her lap, her head resting against Bayley's chest. "I love you," Bayley whispers, running her fingers through Dakota's hair and gently kissing the top of her head.

"I love you too," Dakota says, tilting her head upwards to meet Bayley's eyes. Their lips meet in a soft, tender kiss. "You really don't have to stay up for me," Dakota says as they pull apart from each other.

Bayley shakes her head. "I know I don't have to," she says. "But I want to."

"But-" Dakota starts to protest, but Bayley holds a finger up to her lips, cutting her off.

"No buts," Bayley says. "Just let me take care of you, okay?"

Dakota lets out a long breath. "Okay," she says.

Bayley smiles down at her. "Good girl," she praises. She begins to rub small circles on Dakota's back with one hand, while the other plays with her hair. "I love you," she whispers, kissing the top of Dakota's head again. "I love you. I love you. I love you."

She repeats the phrase over and over, her quiet whispers slowly but surely beginning to lull Dakota towards sleep. Bayley sees Dakota's eyelids beginning to close, and she carries the smaller girl back into their bedroom, tucking her under the covers before climbing into bed next to her.

Dakota immediately presses her body against Bayley's, letting her girlfriend surround her with warmth and love. "I love you so much," Dakota whispers into the darkness of the room.

"I love you too," Bayley replies. "Sleep, darling. I'll be right here when you wake up."