#lets just ignore him walking barefoot on glass too

[c4k9]

Can I just say I think it's so funny that in Jack Manhattan's intro he effortlessly pulls the pin on a grenade, plays hackysack with it, and launches it at a tank.

Then in episode 3 Izzy is like "aww no fire arms I was wanting a grenade:(" and Brennan goes "you can have a grenade, that's not a firearm :)"

So he chucks the grenade at the group of people and then immediately regrets it, and decides he's going to run after the grenade to try to put the pin back, the only thing saving him being the giant behemoth crime boss of a man who is definitely not a rip on kingpin, being piloted by a teenage girl, volleyball spiking it and clutching it in his hand around the grenade while it explodes. And he's just fine bc action movie logic.

Nevermind the martial artist gymnastic group they're fighting that are all 30 born on the same day that only train at night.

Go watch never stop blowing up it's so fucking silly and unhinged.

[sapphicmsmarvel]

azriel: mr loverboy

angst + fluff 

“boy you keep on blowing my mind, caught up in my emotions.” 

song: mr loverboy by little mix

Azriel always treated you kindly when you were just friends. But once that mating bond snapped, oh boy that’s where everything changed. 

You didn’t think it was possible that Azriel could get sweeter than he already was but he quickly proved you wrong. 

If he knew you had a bad day, he’d show up with your favorite flowers, candy or a new book. He always held doors open for you, made you walk on the side of a street that was least hazardous. Always listened to you, held you. 

You made sure to return that in tenfold. 

Because of past relationships, you kind of expected to see your partner have wandering eyes but as long as they came home with you, you always felt like you didn’t have a right to be upset. At least, that’s what they told you. But Azriel’s eyes never strayed from yours. He hugged his family but he held you differently. As if he wanted every part of your body constantly being pressed against his. 

However, if someone randomly came up touching him, he would either flatly look at them disgusted or politely decline depending on the social situation. He didn’t like hurting other people's feelings but he knew your scent was on him as well as his whole ass wedding ring. 

You and the Inner Circle were at a party in the Summer Court. Tarquin and his newly wedded mate had thrown a lovely gathering. Tarquin even temporarily lifted the ban on Cassian. As long as he didn’t go anywhere alone. 

You were too used to seeing multiple people throw themselves on your husband. But he didn’t even look at them. He kept telling them no and they just wouldn’t listen. 

But this night, a night of love and celebration, you watched one girl just push it a bit too far. You could see your mate trying to politely turn her down and not cause a scene that would distract from the newly wedded couple. 

So you did what anyone else would do. 

Walked your sexy ass over and plopped down on his lap. Put his face in your hands and gave him a big ole kiss. You ignored the snickers from his brothers and the gasps from the girl and just focused on him. He kissed you back eagerly. His hands coming up behind your back and holding you. 

You two pulled away, he smiled, a glimmer of affection and pure warmth was sent down the bond. “What was that for?” 

You smiled, “I just wanted to.” You didn’t wanna admit it was jealousy. However, your husband wasn’t stupid. He smiled knowingly and you rolled your eyes. You turned towards the girl and she had already left. 

Satisfied, you turned towards where Azriel was facing. You saw the Inner Circle giving you shit-eating looks. You did something no one would dare do to their High Lady however you got special privilege. “Shut the fuck up.” You murmured. She threw her beautiful head back and laughed. She knew all too well how you felt about Azriel’s admirers. She felt the same about Rhysand’s. Nesta tipped her glass to you, she also knew what it was like fighting off the admirers. 

You leaned back against the warmth of your mate. A welcome contrast to the cool summer breeze on the patio. 

After a bit more dancing, Nesta and Cassian retired to bed, Rhysand and Feyre quickly following. After a quick goodbye to the happy couple, you and Azriel began a walk by the beach. 

“So do you prefer the sandy beaches or the rocky beaches of the Night Court?” Azriel asked you. 

“Honestly, I’ve always hated sand. Blegh, the herpes of nature.” You shuddered. 

He let out a loud, unguarded laugh and you found it the most beautiful sound. Usually, after a comment like that, your past partners would scold you. 

But Azriel embraces you. He held your hand even tighter. 

“But we wouldn’t be able to be barefoot in the Night Court.” He argued. “Yes, but we also don’t know what germs are touching our naked feet. I’d rather have protection. What if you step on glass in sand?” You said back. 

He gave you a pensive thought. “It seems we agree to disagree.” 

“You like the sand?” you asked softly. You’d put up with it for him. You’d put up a lot for this man.

“I don’t know what it is. It just feels nice.”

“Then we should look into a vacation rental here.” You squeezed his hand. 

“No, no you hate-”

“Hey, I hate sand but I can put up with it if it means I get to wake up to your sexy naked body in the sun.” You gave an overdramatic shiver. “Lord, they’re gonna have to put me in church for the thoughts I just had about you.” 

He let out another laugh, you wanted to preserve it in a jar and just open it to hear it. “Besides, a vacation rental would be nice. Just imagine,” You held your hand out in front of you as if to paint a scene. “A nice cabana, windows and doors wide open, curtains blowing in with the breeze. Fresh fruit and seafood waiting for us. The smell of sex and ocean water. A goddamn wet dream.” 

But when you turned your head, you just saw him gazing at you full of love. “I’m looking at the only dream I’ll ever need right now.” 

Your blush could’ve rivaled the earlier sunset. “Sap.” 

“You love it.” “More than anything.” You said, all traces of joking gone. 

You somehow were able to hold him tighter as you two continued walking 

“Thank you for earlier by the way.” You whispered. 

He looked confused, “what?”

“You didn’t entertain that random girl. I appreciated it.”

“You…you don't need to thank me for not looking at other people?” He was even more confused. “You’re my mate. My wife. You come first, always and forever, baby.” He brought your interlocked hands up to his lips to kiss your hand. 

You got a bit embarrassed.  “I’ve never been anyone's first choice, so it’s kind of crazy to me that I’m yours.” You admitted. 

His heart slowly broke that you had never had someone treat you like this. He pulled you both to a stop. “You’ll always be my number one. Even above the Night Court. Above it all.”

“I’d never ask you to put me above your job, Az.”

“I know, hence why you’re put above it.” He pulled you in to kiss your forehead. “You deserve the best, better than me, I don't know how the Mother paired-“

“Shut up,” You snapped with no real bite. “You’re wonderful Az, I’ll always tell you that.”

He conceded, “we’re perfect together.”

“Fuck yeah we are.” You said bringing him in for a kiss. 

[explosionkatsu]

I got this idea from the Barefoot movie. But I’ll make a few changes.

Bakugou x Reader

Emergency Call

It was late in the afternoon. The sun is blazing and the air is burning. Although, this doesn't stop Katsuki Bakugou from his plan.

At the moment, he's in his car driving all the way to the other city, with you, seating in the front passenger’s seat while you were busy watching all the building passed by.

“Where are you going, Katsuki?” You asked still watching everything passes by.

“To the airport. I received a call saying they needed my help.” He lied focusing on the road.

“Well, it must be urgent since you're not wearing your hero suit.” You said chuckling to yourself.

How could he do this? You were so innocent, so fragile, so faithful. You cook for him, take care of him, clean both your apartment, and yet here he was, making a cowardly decision.

‘I’m not a coward. I just wanted to protect them.’

He thought to himself as he tries to shake away that thought.

As soon as he reached their destination, he opened the car door for you and proceed to fetch your luggage at the back while you were busy looking around the area.

“Let’s go,” Bakugou said while holding your luggage for you.

You didn't even notice he doesn't have his luggage with him since you were too happy to think that both you and he are going to another country and he was taking you with him.

Once you both entered the building, he lead you to the waiting area where a lot of the passengers are waiting for their plane to arrive. He stood there as he directed you to one of the empty seats.

“Well. Where are we going?” You smiled up at him.

The smile you give him made him feel terrible for what he was about to do.

“Just wait here. I need to make an emergency call.” Bakugou said and leaving your luggage at your side. “Here.” He fished out his wallet and give you a few amounts of cash.

You stare at it confused before looking up at him. “I don't need cash, baby,” you said.

“Just take it.” He insisted before grabbing your hand and placing the money in your palm.

“You won't take long, right?” You said looking up at him for assurance.

Bakugou wasn't looking at you when he responded, “I won't.”

“I love you.”

Bakugou just stares at you and grabs his phone before dialing it making it look like he's calling someone and walking away.

You can only watch his figure disappearing into the crowd while he's talking to someone.

Bakugou was cursing himself internally.

You are a coward.

Says the voice in his head.

He ignored it and left the building. He got into his car and started the engine before driving away. It took him 6 hours to drive to get to that airport and it doesn't mind him, not even a little to drive away on his way back.

It was now 5 pm and you were still waiting for him to come back. Some of the staff of the airport approached you and ask if you were waiting for your flight or if there was something wrong. You merely told them you were waiting for someone because he had to make an emergency call and that he'll be back. Saying that made the staff leave you.

Not until it was 7 pm and it was already dark outside. You were looking at the glass window above to see if there was still daylight but you saw none. A lone tear escaped from your eyes as you patiently waited for him to finish the call.

Bakugou was already halfway there. He was breathing heavily and can't stop thinking about you. That's when he saw your necklace on the seat next to him. He was glancing at it over and over while trying to focus on the road at the same time.

No wonder Deku’s the no. 1 hero. You couldn't even protect the person you love.

Look at you running away as if you're not a hero. Haha! A coward.

And you call yourself a hero?

The voices in his head won't stop until he started tearing up. They were right. What kind of a hero he is when he's being a coward protecting the person he loves? So without hesitancy, he made a U-turn and drove as fast as he could back to the airport.

8 pm it says from the clock. You were now crying, trying to conceal your sob as you waited patiently for him. You stood up and approached one of the staff and asked them if they could make a phone call for you. But as you were about to give them his number, you were startled by a voice calling out your name.

“Y/N!” He shouted, making you look behind you.

There he is, sweaty and trying to catch his breath. Your lips trembled as you watched him stare back at you in pure guilt.

“N-no more emergency calls?” You stuttered and kept staring at him, not taking a step.

He stares at you for a moment before responding, “No more..”

[ashisill]

Broken bells

As the tbagg era ends I give you this. Hope you enjoy.

Warning: crying but that’s all.

Another day another song. You’ve spent the last week with the boys as they worked on their new album. Mostly getting drunk and running barefoot outside, or talking to ghost with Jake. They started setting up the equipment for yet another session when trouble followed.

“Wrong amp smart one” Jake smarted off to his twin.

“Okay fucker” Josh whispered underneath his breath. Jake heard, balled his fist up, and took a breath. Choosing to ignore his brothers words. “Does that work for ya prince Jake?”

“Sure does prick” Jake said crossing his arms.

“You little bitch” Josh slammed the guitar down not hard enough to break his brothers pride and joy, but enough to make his point.

“CAREFUL!” Jake bolted from his seat to grab his guitar. Josh walked to the kitchen to cool off, and you decided to join him.

“He didn’t mean it ya know” you said grabbing him a beer.

“I know he didn’t, but god he’s pissing me off. Thanks darling”.

“Of course love” you watched him carefully as he ran his hands through his hair, frustrated.

He took a few breath “he just gets on my nerves sometimes ya know?”

“Yeah I know how it feels me and my sister get like that too” you said.

“God I know I’ve had to break you two up” he laughed.

“Hey can’t be worse than you two. I’ve had to pull you off of him” you said.

“Yeah and I could of won if you didn’t step in” he said scrasacly.

“Yeah mhm sure ya could” you patted his arm. “Come on love”

~

You two went back, and the twins apologized and moved on. Which is normally how it goes. Nearly committing manslaughter to its all good brother.

“Can practice my song I’ve got some new ideas?” Danny asked behind the drums.

“Oh yeah that’s a good idea Dan” Josh said. Everyone shook their heads in agreement.

You had a seat on the couch in front of josh. “Front row huh?” Josh laughed.

“That’s the only way to watch” you smiled at him.

A cheesy grin spread across his face, and he just stared down at you.

“Check your mic bud” Jake said.

Josh gave him a thumbs up and began talking into the mic. “I love you”.

“I love you too” you told him.

“Oh get a room” Sam rolled his eyes.

“Everyone ready? … Alrighty Jake take us there”

Jake began plucking the first couple notes, and your eyes were glued. Watching every movement his fingers made. Then Josh began to sing.

“I can see the faces through the broken glass”

As the song went on your eyes began to tear up. You didn’t want to embarrass yourself so you held them back. Josh could tell something was off, but thought maybe you were just really focused on the music or the thoughts that raced through your mind.

“I never want to fall asleep. Within our dreams the weight we saw, we reap”

You could feel it rising in your throat. You held your breath trying desperately not to let the tears fall.

“When out of silence we will sing”

And they broke lose. Tears were rolling down your face, and you wiped them quickly. They just kept falling. Josh and Jake looked at each other in sync. Josh wanted to stop and comfort you, but one look from Jake he didn’t fight it. The communication between those two is something you’ll never understand. They have entire conversations with one look.

When Jakes guitar solo started you somehow began crying even harder. You’ve embarrassed yourself entirely, but you couldn’t stop. Your face was red from crying and embarrassment. You wanted to get up and leave, but you couldn’t. Your body wouldn’t let you. You were glued to your seat.

“Yet we still play the game”

The last few notes played out and Josh stepped forward. “What happened love?” He laughed as he knelt down in front of you. “Did the music take you baby?”

You nodded your head as you hid your face from him. “Stop that let me see that pretty face” you looked at him and your face was redder than ever.

“Holy shit” Jake spoke.

“I know” Josh said as he wiped your face clearing the tears from it.

“Was it the song?” Sam asked.

“Yes sam. A bit slow are we?” Josh laughed again at his insult. “You alright darling?”

“Yes” you said finding your voice again. He helped you up and took you to the kitchen again to get some water. Jake followed shortly after.

Jake wrapped you in a hug. Something that is rare for you and Jake. You held him back tightly. Josh stood back and smiled. He knew exactly why Jake was hugging you. It wasn’t to comfort you. Nor was it an apology for making you cry. He knew what you did to Jake. Josh knew how much that opened his eyes. And Jake knows how powerful their music is, but to see the effects on someone so close to him was surreal.

“Thank you” was all he said. No more words needed to be spoken you knew exactly what he meant.

[toournextadventure]

Hello, I would like to request a story or some headcanons (whatever you want, I'll settle for whatever) from Miércoles x Fem!Reader where R has the bad habit of swearing by everything that happens to him, big or small. Did she drop a pen while she was writing? swears. Did you hit your little toe on any piece of furniture while walking barefoot? swears. Did you pull your hair too hard when you were combing her hair? swears. Do you feel too happy and don't know how to express it at the moment? swears. For anything he curses. Feel free to ignore my request. I love your writings, thanks for reading my order ♡

Y'all are really comin for me, huh? It's like y'all know all my bad habits

Your mouth amazed Wednesday. Not in any scandalous way, nothing like that, but you had a sailor's mouth. Initially you had blamed it on your brother's and father, claiming that's just how guys were, but she had a feeling you got some sort of joy out of it as well

At any point on any day, something would happen that would have you swearing up and down as if your life depended on it. Wednesday had initially thought it was a slip of the tongue, you had hit your elbow on the door and let out a pained, drawn out "fuck." She didn't bring attention to it, most people let a swear slip every now and then

But boy was Wednesday wrong

Your swearing was not limited to injuries or even shock. Those could be understood, a knee-jerk reaction was usual. She had heard Enid do such things on occasion, it wasn't unusual. Wednesday wasn't really one to swear, but she understood that it was still something most people did

Then it turned to when you were excited. Your coffee was exceptionally good? You would mumble an "oh fuck." The little burger shop gave you extra pickles? "Fuck yes!" You saw a cute dog on the walk through Jericho? You would whisper "oh my fucking god" in the most amazed tone

Wednesday got the true extent of your nasty habit when you were talking nonstop and she kissed you to shut you up. You stayed where you were, frozen in place and half-open eyes glassed over, and let out a barely audible "holy shit"

She kissed you one more time just to hear it again

[nowandajenn]

Blue Christmas- chapter 6 (denial)

Pairing: Chris Evans/OC Kelly

Summary: After almost three years of marriage, everyone would tell you that Chris and his wife Kelly are the most stable, solid couple they know. But behind closed doors, things are tense as they keep trying for a baby, to no avail. When a secret threatens to shake their solid marriage to it’s core, will they be able to pick up the pieces?

Warnings: language, angst, shitty moms, family drama.

Author’s Note: I do not consent to have my content, whether it be this story or anything else of my creation, posted by a third party on any other platform other than right here without my permission. This blog is 18+ and is not intended for minors. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Heed the warnings.

December 24th

I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to do this. 

The same thought runs through my head like a conga line as I stand in the bathroom of Connor’s house, finishing up my makeup. 

“Hey, you almost ready?” 

I jump at the sound of Connor’s voice and his sudden appearance behind me in the mirror and almost stab myself in the eyeball with my eyeliner pencil. 

“How pissed do you think they’d be if I just didn’t show up?” I ask him rhetorically, already knowing the answer. 

“Well, dad would be disappointed but he’d understand, and mom would probably come and hunt you down and never let you hear the end of it.”

“I could just never answer her calls again.” I shrug. 

As we stand in front of my parents’ front door, I run through a list in my head of things that I’d rather be doing than getting ready to face my parents. Or more specifically, my mother. 

Get stung by a jellyfish. Having to walk through a room full of Legos barefoot. Pulling my own fingernails out one by one. Okay, maybe I went too far with that one. 

“You ready?” Connor asks. 

“No.” I deadpan. 

Before we can stop her, Olivia reaches up and rings the doorbell. 

I heave out a sigh of relief when it’s my dad that answers the door, knowing that at least I’m not going to be insulted before I even step foot inside the house. 

We get ushered inside the house take off our coats before my dad wraps me in a hug. 

“Where’s Chris?” he asks. 

“He’s over at his dad’s house. You only get me tonight.” I say with a small smile. 

“I guess we’ll have to make do.” he huffs out dramatically. 

I make my way into the kitchen and my sister Colleen immediately hands me a glass of red wine. 

“Here, you might need this.” she tells me. I roll my eyes, knowing that there’s no other choice than to nut up and face the music. 

“Hey mom.”

My mom turns from the stove, her face completely devoid of any emotion. 

“I didn’t even know if you were coming tonight, since you haven’t returned any of my phone calls or anything.”

“I’m sorry. I should have called you back. Things have been a little…..” my emotions start to bubble up in my throat, threatening to choke me. “Things have been busy. I’ve been swamped with work and getting last minute things done for Christmas. I wasn’t actively trying to ignore you.” I tell her. 

“Why did you come with Connor and Olivia? Where’s Chris?” 

Here we go. 

“He’s at his dad’s house.” 

“Why didn’t you go with him?” 

“Because I knew I’d never hear the end of it if I didn’t show up here tonight. Chris will get let off the hook, though, right?” It takes everything in me not to roll my eyes. 

“Chris is a busy man. He has an excuse.” 

We’re all sitting around the living room opening presents when the doorbell rings. Since I’m closest to the door, I get up to answer it and nearly have a small stroke when I open the door. 

“Hey.” Chris says, standing on my parents’ porch with his hands stuffed in his pockets. 

I can only stand there and blink owlishly at him as my brain tries, and fails, to come up with something intelligent to say. 

I look over my shoulder into the house to see that everyone is thankfully not paying attention, and pull the front door closed behind me. 

“What are you doing here?” I ask, my breath puffing up in clouds in front of my face. 

“Listen, I know what you’re thinking, but listen to me. I know your parents don’t know about what’s going on with us, and I know that if they think something is wrong, they’re going to be all over you.” Chris tells me. 

I wrap my arms around myself and swallow hard. 

I hate that he’s right. 

“Can we just pretend that everything is okay? Just for tonight? We get through dinner with your parents and get you off the hook, and then, we can….” he trails off. 

Before I can either agree or tell him to get the fuck off the porch, the door opens and my dad steps out. 

“Chris! Hey, we thought you weren’t going to be able to make it!” my dad says, pulling him in for one of those man hug things. 

“Not a chance. Finished up early so I headed right over. Sorry I’m late.” 

My dad eyes me disapprovingly. “Get in the house before you catch pneumonia.”

Halfway through dinner, things are going about as well as can be expected, but I’m still ready for this night to just be over. Between Chris sitting next to me and having to act like we’re still the Chris and Kelly we used to be, the 13 passive aggressive digs my mom has thrown at me over the course of the evening, and the headache trying to hatch in my brain, I’m ready for this night to be over. 

“How are things going at the studio, sweetheart?” my dad asks me. 

“They’re fine. It’s always busy this time of year.” I tell him, pushing the food around on my plate.

“It must not be that busy if you can afford to be closed during the middle of the holiday season.” my mom sniffs. 

“Brenda-” my dad warns. 

“Mom, just let it go, okay? I needed a break. Things were a little hectic and I was getting burnt out. I needed some time off, and so did my staff.” I tell her. 

I reach for the bottle of wine to refill my glass, and my mom snatches it from my hand. 

“You’ve had enough. You’ve been drinking like a lush tonight, and I know you’re smoking again. I can smell it on you. You treat your body like shit; no wonder you can’t get pregnant.” 

The sound of several sets of silverware clattering against the fine China that’s only brought out for Christmas is deafening. 

My face burns with embarrassment and my heart lodges itself somewhere in the vicinity of my throat. Hot, angry tears spring to my eyes, and it takes me a minute before I can even move. 

Without a word, I push my chair back and stand up on shaky legs and leave the table and everyone hears the front door slam less than a minute later. 

When his brain can fully process what just happened, Chris gets up and runs out the door after me, just in time to hear 

When Chris comes outside, I’m leaning against the passenger side door of his car, trying and failing to light a cigarette through my sobs. 

“Hey, hey, stop. Come here. Give me that.” he says, taking the lighter from me. He flicks it once and holds the flame steady so I can light the cigarette and I take a deep drag in. He lights his own and leans against the car next to me. 

“I stopped being surprised by anything she said a long time ago, you know. I stopped being shocked when she would make shitty comments about my weight or my clothes or anything I did. She’s always been like that with me. Nothing was ever good enough. I was never going to be as good as Colleen or Connor because I was the mistake. I was the baby she never wanted. I never tried to let it bother me or let it get to me, but….” I sob quietly and sniffle in the cold air. “Man, she just fucking sucker punched me right in the face. I never should have even told her about it; about how I was having trouble getting pregnant……I should have known…….” my words trail off as more sobs shake my body. 

“Come here.” Chris whispers. He pulls me against his chest and wraps his arms around me and I hold onto him as tight as I can. 

“I’m so sorry.” he whispers against my hair. Over the sound of the wind blowing, I can hear raised voices inside and can only imagine what’s going on in there. And to think it had been a pretty decent night up until that point. 

“Will you take me home? I just….I don’t want to go back to Connor’s. I can’t be around any of them right now. I just want to go home and see Dodger and drink some more.” 

“Okay. Whatever you want.” 

[warofchanges]

Drabble prompt: B insinuates L had a type (smart twinky Japanese murderers) and that Light was a major downgrade. Light is mortified by the insinuation but also can't help but insist that he would've been a major upgrade compared to B. LMAO

As the day wore on, the heat climbed higher, even higher, for a mid-summer day. Rivulets of sweat slid down his forehead, his shirt soaked and oppressively clinging to his back. Light felt the cotton stretching uncomfortably against his skin as he leaned against the wooden counter, seeking relief in the shadows of the empty pub and the cold glass of whiskey in his hand.

The sweet buzz of the fan with the jingle-jangle of bottles shifting order on the shelves would lull even a workaholic God… He could ask for more minutes of rest, but the sudden slam of the door opening didn't agree, apparently.

"Hello there, Yagami."

Light knew Beyond was there before the man talked. With eyes closed, sipping his drink in total peace, his ears well-captured the agonizing sounds of heels stomping on the floor and fingers drumming against the counter saying in Morse code ─ 'Hello God of the assholes'.

"Beyond." Light had the decency to say before gesturing for another drink. "What brings you here?"

"Gossiping. Well─ it's likely to become the talk of the town soon." Beyond poured himself a drink from a bottle, grinning in Light's direction. Who was still pretending he didn't exist ─ too bad, he would get the long-awaited attention within seconds. "Good ol' L really like murders. And murderers. To L─ being in direct contact with a killer felt like bathing in blood during a carnage. The benefits of walking barefoot in the hot fluids, viscera squishing under the soles, you know, that subtle rolling massage that makes your skin crawl and de-stress from all the tension… Aaah."

Beyond gulped down the alcohol, cheeks flushing with loving memories.

"Nah, killer Gods cannot know. They just hold their fingers like this," He turned towards Light, fingers aiming at his head like a gun. "And, puff, he's deaaaad! Deader than dead! HA HA HA."

Light huffed in silence, forehead sinking against his glass as he counted down to ten to refrain his venom ─ was it worth killing this man with his bare hands? "Beyond. Get to the point."

"L fell on disgrace liking Kira." The lonely audience of Light and the barman was enough for the sociopath to jump on the counter and walk down his catwalk, dripping alcohol at every step by swinging the bottle with only him would define elegant energy. "I don't really understand what he found in a kid playing God with a damn pen and a notebook, doing all the pfewh pfewh in the obscurity of his cute little bedroom─" Heels planted in front Light, Beyond crouched down to observe the man who stole L's attention from him. "And jerking off on an L scribbled on a piece of paper like 'Oh captain, oh my captain L, roses are red! Violets are blue! But the world is not the same without y─'"

"Excuse me?!"

Light stared back angrily, cheeks flushing─ certainly not because of the heat wave or the alcohol in his veins. His intention to ignore B's insinuations crashed to pieces the moment he spat back his retort. "Then, I guess L wasn't fond of sociopath killers who even failed at setting themselves on fire!"

The answer was yes ─ yes, he would kill this man with his bare hands right now.

"You don't see the poetic in the scorching fire of a suicide murder!" "Accept the fact he liked me more than you!" "Your hands have no knowledge of the ecstasy of disembowelment! Oh L, if you only let me show you─" "Your worm-shaped brain cells coming back to the underground? Oh, I am sure he would love that." "You're unworthy of his attention, little illusion of a God." "Worthier than you, asshole─"

───

"STOP!" Mello roared from his director's chair, throwing away the script that Beyond and Light weren't following ─ obviously. "STOP, FUCKIN' STOP YOU TWO! "

Matt rolled his eyes as it was already the twenty-ninth failed attempt at shooting the same scene ─ he had told Mello from the start that it was a bad idea involving both Beyond and Kira in a memorial documentary of L.

[giraffehippy]

Y/N is a writer trying to get published after college, but old friends from High School come back into town. Right after their tour finishes, making the whole town go crazy.

They are all a huge distraction to you, leaving you on twisted ends... Jacob and Josh sure had caught your attention, they certainly had their eyes only on YOU.

You're just a girl caught up in between two twins. Jealousy rushes through, ruining everything. Will Y/N have to choose a different route, choosing to go solo but will be quite unsatisfied.

Will Y/N choose the right twin? Or will you have to have both? And by both, is exactly what I mean. ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა

❀ ❀ ‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚. ❀ ❀ ‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚. ❀ ❀ ‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚. ❀

✨𝕋𝕨𝕚𝕟 𝔸𝕕𝕕𝕚𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕕✨

"Danny boy, over here!" I shouted out in a strange ass voice. Why do I have to be so loud?

I rolled my eyes and took a deep breath. He quickly glanced over to me rushing to make his way over.

"Y/n, I'm so glad you could make it out tonight." He gently kisses my cheek while bringing me in for a hug. I smiled showing a little teeth, following him inside the restaurant.

I greeted each one of the Kiszka's one by one until Jake. I stared at him and said my friendly hello his way, not even hugging him, with that I sat down kindly. He ignored me at first until Josh hit his arm signaling I was speaking to him, ass!

I've known each of these boys from school, Danny is my best friend. He introduced me to the Kiszka brothers meanwhile Jake has always picked on me. I thought maybe he could like me but he had other reasons. I ignored him and continued to order my food and of course wine. I need it!

We all fight over paying the bill but Josh ends up winning that battle. We walk outside and into the parking garage, I followed Dan to his car because I've had too many glasses of wine.

"What's wrong, can't drive yourself."

I hear a voice behind me, scaring the living shit out of me. I jumped and sighed when it was him.

"Do you happen to be a jerk every time you get the chance to talk to me?" I stated very calmly considering how much I drank. He proceeds to smile at me while smirking. He really thinks this is a game, doesn't he? Dan's chatting with Sam and Josh while I'm in the corner, with Jake.

"I'm sorry y/n, I know I've always been hard on you." He jokes around a little. I look at him up and down which was a mistake. When did he get so hot? I've always had an eye for him but he looks so different, so mature.

"Um, hello? Earth to y/n." He waves his hand over my face.

"Yes. But that's in the past right? You don't have to act like that anymore, Jakey. We're not in high school anymore remember?" I say as I stick my tongue out at him because two can play baby.

"You know what you're a-" Jake is interrupted by Sam.

"JAKEEE, YY/NN!" He motioned us towards the heard, thankfully. I followed Jake but suddenly I'm on the ground. All because of my fucking shoe. Heals to the trash now I'm very upset, I just got these.

"Omg y/n, are you okay?" I hear Dan say, following along with Sam and Josh. But Jake, laughing by the car. What is wrong with him!

"I'm fine, just a scratchy scratch y'all." Sam helps me up, he's so sweet. I hold onto him so I can take my shoes off. Barefoot I go. I look down at my knees to see they are scraped up and now bleeding.

"Want me to carry you back to the car?" Sam smiled at me.

"Sam, I don't need you to carry my fat ass." I say laughing. Sam nudged me to calling myself names, I mouthed sorry to him.

Jake ran over to us now making sure if everything was alright. Was he that drunk.

"Y/n you can have my shoes if you want?" Jake says while removing his shoes from his feet.

"No thanks, I'm good to walk to the car it's just over there." I giggled while pointing as we headed over to them.

"Now let's go to my place and have a few drinks, chill by the fire." Josh says and we all head out to Josh's house.

I go in Dan's car while Jake asked if he can come along. I smiled but and got in the back seat. Biting my lip my thoughts were racing. Why was Jake turning you on for no reason? I roll my window down to get some air. That's what I needed. My hair was blowing, my eyes were closed, and I had no care in the world. I started to smile.

I opened my eyes to only find Jakes on mine. He was looking at me in the mirror from the passenger seat, I swallowed so loudly I know he heard me. He was winking at me. What a flirt. I smiled at him then rolled my window up. Keeping my laugh to myself.

We pull into Josh's drive way, finally. Get me out of this car I need a drink. I try to open the door but it has already been open, by the one and only Jake.

Seriously... This is going to be such a long night. I'm not prepared for.

Jake helps me out the Jeep but I don't walk next to him I run to Danny's side whispering in his hear. Needed to tell him what games Jake has up his sleeves. Dan gasp at the thought of Jake ever being mean to me, Jake's eyes in this direction, I form a wicked smile. He shook it off and we finally walked inside. Josh's house was so big and beautiful, they must be getting big to afford something so beautiful. I head off to the bathroom first to "freshen" up, but really I needed to look my best.

After hearing the directions to the bathroom I eventually found it.

I meet back up with the boys who are all sitting on the couch with beers.

"Y/n, need a beer? I have some wine too." Josh implied smiling at me.

"Yes please, th-thank you Josh." With that he got up motioning me to come with him in the kitchen.

My hair is down, it's so fucking long it's to my ass. I usually have hair ties on me, but I was almost late to dinner I have no time. I take a deep deep breath and look at Josh, who's already pouring me a glass of wine.

"I figured you'd like the wine." Josh sits at the bar I join him.

"Actually yes! I love wine. Thank you again for dinner, and of course having me over. I haven't seen y'all in a hot minute. How're you really?" I stare into Josh's eyes while sipping my wine. This wine is so fucking good.

"It's nice that you actually agreed to come to dinner this time, y/n. I've missed you! We've been great, fans are getting wilder." He laughs to himself as I join him.

"Yeah I know, I've flaked a few times. I'm sorry honestly. I was so caught up with my writing, college, trying to get published. It's not easy. I've missed you all as well, you guys are my whole life." I take a little chug needing more wine. Josh gets up knowing too, filling my cup up even more. Josh and I actually dated in high school, so our chemistry is real. I only went to shows with them the first year, then decided I needed to focus on my career path.

"You have a beautiful home Josh, amazing really!" I look around the kitchen to only be stared down at by Jake. He approaches us in a soft way.

"So you guys are just going to hangout alone in here or come hangout by the fire?" Jake says as he's smirking.

Josh and I look at each other but before I could speak Josh does for me. It's getting really hot in this moment.

"Give us a minute, we just came in here Jake."

He sounded upset with him, I couldn't blame him.

Jake turns around and heads back to the laughing filled living room. They all go outside. I'm now left alone with Josh. I've had a few drinks, I don't want any anything to happen.

""Y/n, I meant what I said. I've missed you so much. I'm so happy to see you here." He leans in rubbing my lower back. I lean in closer to him grabbing my glass to drink.

"You never decided to reach out to me before, why now?" I've grown very much so without them, I've grown a thick wall of protection so I don't get hurt AGAIN. Josh blinks while taking a sip of his beer.

"You never agreed to come to anything we invited you to. I thought you hated me, I thought we left on a good note."

He looks at me worriedly. I place my hands on his. He's so cold Jesus.

"We did, I was just really busy. Let's forget about it now, we're here together. Let's just go outside and enjoy the fire."

I smile and got up. Josh wrapped his arms around me, I hugged him back. He was smelling my hair. His lips found their way to my neck, I then pushed back.

"Josh. I haven't seen you in how long? Years! Doesn't mean you can just kiss me sir!"

I laugh and wobble a bit. He backs up putting his hands up to defense, I finish my glass of wine. Josh takes my glass and opens the liquor cabinet.

"Want a shot?" He grabs two little glasses. I guess I have to.

"Okayyy, fine!" I gave in. We took 2 shots each.

"No more! That's all I'm drinking." I laugh stumbling next to Josh.

"Whoa there, this is a family show! You need to calm down." Josh says in this weird accent. Making me spill out laughing so loud. We're both laughing. We end up on the floor together, I tripped on his foot. Why am I so damn clumsy.

"Jakes gonna get mad if we don't head out there right now." I continue to laugh looking in Josh's direction.

"Fine, let's go. I'll help you up."

He gets up first to help me but walks to the liquor cabinet again.

"Josh another?" I ran over to him, he's handing me another shot. I take this one down with ease.

"Now we're ready." Josh places his hand on my back to guide me outside.

"Wow look who decided to show up!" Danny shouts at us. Sam and Jake having their own conversation.

I sit next to Dan but Josh comes to join me, right next to me.

"What we're you guys doing?" Sam says looking in our direction.

"Taking shots!" I laugh looking at Josh, he gets up and stats doing this dance thing. The way his ass is looking right now, I have to look away.

"So you're getting y/n hammered the first night you see her Josh?" Jake shouts chugging down his beer.

Why was he being so weird today, I don't get it. I look at Josh for his answer, because I need to know.

"Yeah Josh, why are you getting me so drunk?" I jokingly laugh. He shrugs it off ignoring his brother. As you should!

Music is playing, the wind is blowing slow, the fire is crackling. This seems so fake but it's these moments I crave, peace. I get up and start to dance with my eyes closed. Letting the wind take me away. I hear a lighter being sparked as I open my eyes, Josh is passing me a joint.

"Perfect ass timing." I grab the joint to inhale, wait a few seconds with my eyes closed. I exhale slowly passing it to Dan.

"I'm having such a great time y'all, thanks for having me." I smile at everyone trying to get them included.

"I need to be on your level right now y/n." Jake says across the fire. My level? Am I getting too crazy..

"Well let's go take a shot Jake? If you're willing to." I get up and head to the kitchen. I start to pour the shots for myself until Jake blinded me with his hands.

"Jakeee, I need to see to take this shot." He uncovered his hands and takes them one of the glasses from my hand.

"Cheers!" We clanked our cups, throwing my head back. Damn.

"I think that's enough... for me." I walk to the couch and sit down for a minute. My head is spinning, I haven't drank this much since the shows.

Jake follows me sitting next to me.

We start to have conversations that I would never expect to have with Jake. He has me laughing and smiling. This was the old Jake until last year of high school. Turned into a douche bag, but he's not bad after all. We've shared a couple makeouts here and there, but nothing more.

"Jake, can I ask you something?" I stare directly in his eyes.

"What we're you gonna call me earlier? Before we were interrupted by Sam." I giggle because he was probably calling me a bitch.

"I honestly was going to call you a brat. Nothing more I promise." He smiles.

"I hope so, or I'll kick your ass if your lying." I joke while shoving him. He starts to tickling me, making me laugh so loud causing the boys to all enter in.

"Did I miss anything here?" Josh shouts and head to the kitchen. I wanna talk to Josh in the kitchen so I began to collect myself and relax.

I stood up but only to fall down and onto Jakes lap. Of course. His hands grabbing onto my lower body to keep me up.

"I'm sorry, I really am." I try to get up but Jake is stopping me, holding me down tighter. He whispers in my ear.

"No you're not." His breath hot tickling my neck. I manage to get up but he picks me up.

"Jake put me down!" He smiles as he's carrying me up the stairs.

"You need to be put to bed, look at you you're a mess." He opens a door and throws me onto the bed. My whole dress moves up exposing my ass.

I don't think too much of it the air feels good on my skin.

"Listen, I've always had a crush on you. Seeing you tonight, made me realize I need you in my life." He starts to rub up to my exposed ass.

"J-Jake..." I immediately get goosebumps, his hands are moving up my dress. I stop his hands with mine. I grab him to come closer to me. He's on top of me then suddenly his lips are on mine.

He cups my face kissing me softly and slow. I felt wetness start to form, that's when I knew I had to cut this off. We continue to kiss for another five minutes until there's a knock on the door. I jump up to fix my dress.

"Jake get up!" He sits up situating himself, Josh walks in fast.

"Hey I got you something to wear to sleep." Josh looks at us like we're prey.

"Thanks Josh, Jake was just making sure I knew where the bed was." I take the clothes and place them on the bed.

"Good night you two I'm going to get some sleep." I say but they both stand in their place. I look down at Jakes pants to only see a little bit of an erection. Omg. He notices then says his goodbye and stormed out.

Josh came closer to the bed where I began to sit on to collect my thoughts.

"You two weren't doing anything, right?" My cheeks turned the pinkest of pinks. I could feel them burning up.

"He just wanted to make sure I was comfortable in this room. No worries." I fake laugh. Josh gets up to close the door and locks it.

"I've been wanting to talk to you..."

"Josh of course, I'm just not in the right head space." I giggle taking off my dress.

"Let me help you." He helps me get dressed in what he brought me. I get into the blankets to be followed by Josh.

I just kissed his brother and now Josh is in bed with me. I sound like a whore.

"Josh I'm so drunk right now, everything is spinning." I turn to him lying on his chest.

"Close your eyes and breathe. Focus on your breath." He began to caress my cheek putting me in a daze.

"I will have you all to myself again, you'll see."

All I remember was his voice and I was sound asleep.

Jakes POV

As soon as I ran to my room I shut the door and locked it quick. I don't remember Y/n ever looking like this, so different. I couldn't wrap my head around it, but I wanted her. I lay on the bed to find my hands around my belt buckle, to only undo them. I unzip them throwing them to the side.

I'm so hard and for her. I've kissed her before but this was different. She was hungry for my lips as was I.

My hand starts to slowly move up and down on my member, picking up the pace as I picture her sweet lips. I hold in all my noises but I wanted to be loud, for her. The pace is quicker but in a rhythm, my eyes screw shut as I begin to climax.

"Fuuck, Y/n." I say in a loud whisper.

I keep my eyes closed, the sheets are ruined. I catch my breath, wiping my sweat away. I'll change them in the morning but reconsidering it. What if she comes in here I have to change them.

I change the sheets heading to the shower. I'm glad she's actually here now, home.

The next morning…

YOUR POV

I blink slowly not wanting to open my eyes. The window is drawing in light, making the room look smokey. I open my eyes to try to move but I'm stuck in place. Josh is holding onto me for dear life, I stare at him for a moment. He looks so at peace sleeping, so beautiful.

I manage to escape and head to the bathroom. I fix my face a little and used some mouthwash, but I needed to go home and shower. I make my way in the bedroom to find Josh wide awake. He has briefs on and I can clearly see the morning wood he has provided for me.

Of fuck...

"Good morning love." Josh says in a raspy morning voice, sending shivers down my spine.

"Morning, I'm just collecting my things to leave."

I try not to stare at him but it's so hard to not look his direction.

"Leaving so suddenly?" He looks up at you then back down to his cock.

I gulp. Loudly at that, I make my way to the bed.

"Just trying to leave before everyone gets up."

I continue to stare at his erected cock. I glance away until I'm pulled on top of him.

"Josh the door is literally wide open." I get up to finally collect my belongings.

"Stay a little longer Y/n, please?" He looks at me with those eyes, but I'm not convinced.

"Josh... I'll see you tonight? I have to get to work soon."

I smile softly back at him and kissed his cheek.

I'm an idiot for turning him down but let's be real here, I just met back up with them after 4 years. It's all too soon for you. Plus Jake was heavy on your mind, maybe it was Jakes turn to have a chance with you. Everything is getting messy fast.

"Okay fine, tonight it is! Do you even have a ride?" He gets up to get dressed. I answer fast.

"No." I laugh while looking down. I want to leave so bad but don't have a ride, I'll just Uber.

"I can drop you off, it's not a problem."

"Only if you're sure Josh, I can call for a ride." I stare at him up and down trying to just focus on his face. I bite down on my lip.

"I'm taking you!" He guides me out as we head down stairs.

If Jake is down there he's going to think I slept with Josh. Which I didn't. Why was I so focused on his opinion anyways. Hmm.

We reach down the stairs and of course they are all up making breakfast, Sam was playing a little bit of piano. It's literally 10am, insane.

I sped up to get away from Josh to say my goodbyes to sam.

"Bye Daniel I'll see you later, work awaits for me."

I sigh hugging my best friend. He's too fucking tall.

I get to Jake and hug him goodbye. He hugged me back tightly, pulling apart to face me. I stare in his eyes and blush.

"Nice seeing you Jake." I wave him goodbye.

Josh is dragging me away as they all wave us goodbye.

Josh is walking so fast we get to the car but Josh opens my door for me. He's trying really hard. He left me, and that was that. He didn't say why either I didn't get it. Now he wants to try to get with me... I just don't know how I feel about it at all.

"Thank you." I smile at him looking outside the window I see Jake. Looking right out the kitchen window, his eyes are on me. I can barely see him but I see him waving me off. I roll my window down.

"Byeee!" Waving back at him to only pull out the driving way fast.

Josh drops me off, I wave him off.

"Thanks for everything last night." I say leaning down at the car window.

"Of course, I don't mind. I'll have dinner ready tonight after work. So you don't starve." He laughs showing his teeth.

"I'll take it! Bye Josh." I turn away to go inside. He waits to drive off before seeing me go inside. Such a gentlemen.

I proceed to get ready and head to work, getting excited for tonight I can't wait.

Work always exited me in a damn office sitting all day. That's the writers life though! I was in such a great mood, I knew tonight was going to be amazing.

Josh's POV

I get home and find Jake immediately. Between his interaction with Y/n, it was strange. I didn't like it at all. If he's trying to get with her I swear, he's had his chances way before. I know I just called things off with her but after seeing her in years, she's changed. What is so different about her, she's more to herself for sure. I needed to crack what she had sealed closed, I'm going to have her. I need her...

"Jake we need to talk!" I shout finding him on the couch with his guitar.

"Why are you screaming?" He looks at me while setting his guitar in its case.

"I need to know.. I need to know if you're into her." I say as calmly as I could staring at Jake.

"Into who? You need to be more clear, Joshua." He rolls his eyes. He fucking knows who, damn it.

"Jake, don't play stupid. I seen the way you were  looking at her." I swallow.

"What about last night on the couch, then in the bedroom!"

"Calm down Josh. You've had your chance. You think she's into me?" He smirks. What's an asshole.

"Seriously. I'm the one who dated her, I know her deeper than you know." I'm beyond pissed at this point. Furious! How dare he.

"Look, I think she's into me. I mean she did kiss me last night." She what? With Jake...

"It's not our first kiss either, and it won't be our last. I'm sorry Josh. I like, like her."

My head was racing so fast, I needed to cool down. I stormed off into the kitchen, grabbing a whole bottle of  alcohol. No wonder she was acting distant towards me because,  she had Jake on her mind this whole time. I'm still going to try to win her back. No girl has ever came between us before, I hated fighting with my brother.

I start to chug the bottle and feel at ease now. Let my mind win over my thoughts, my body taking over. I head down to start to cook for Y/n, I told her dinner would be ready when she had got here. I'm still going to cook for her, I'll have Sam and Danny help me. I don't even want to look at Jake.

Your POV

I'm home yay. I shower to get ready for tonight. I will be letting Josh know that I just wanna be friends with him, nothing more. To say that I will be giving Jake a chance, I'm so nervous to tell him.

Got me blushing like a school girl over here. I don't wear anything to showing but, I loved my crop tops with my jeans.

I just wore my hair down from the shower and grabbed my keys. I'm gonna drive my car this time so I have a ride home.

I text Daniel to send me the address, he sends it back to me quickly. I head over to Josh's house blasting my music.

I arrive after what seams like forever, I knock on the door.

"Hey Y/n!" Jake takes me in to hug him.

"You're squishing me." I giggle.

He releases me then we enter.

"Where's Danny?" I look around but no where to be spotted.

"They're all outside having a smoke. Want a drink?"

"Sure, I'm gonna go find him. I miss my bestie." I soon find my way outside to Danny.

"Hey guys." I smile and hug Dan.

Josh seems off whispering in Sam's ear. Did I miss something?

I sit down to be greeted with Jake bringing me a beer. It wasn't my favorite, but it'll do. He sits next to me making this tension worse. Josh looks this way.

"Dinners ready if you're hungry Y/n." Sam says loudly.

"Sure! Who cooked." I got up heading inside.

"Josh and I." Sam had stated. I smiled even bigger. Awe.

"Hey I helped!" Danny says in defense. I feel so lucky to have a home cooked meal, ready for me after work.

"Thank you all, you guys have been nothing but nice to me." I sit down at the table.

Josh serves my plate and chooses to sit next to me. Of course he does.

We're all eating and I feel something up my leg. Jake is sat across from me, I know it's him. I clear my throat to speak.

"Lovely dinner everyone."

I'm enjoying my meal right now, it's so good. His foot is toying with mine.

I got goosebumps immediately. I stare into his eyes as he licks his lips. Tease.

This dinner is going to be interesting, and it was.

                        !!!!!!!WARNING !!!!!!!!!

THIS WHOLE SECTION IS ALL SMUT. 18+ ADVISED! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!  JAKE KISZKA SMUT AHEAD!

FOREPLAY, UNPROTECTED SEX, PENETRATION, AND FLUFFY SMUT. BEWARE!!!!!

Your POV

My eyes are on Jake all night, slowly chewing my food but hungry for him. Our facial expressions showed great desperation as we teased each other. The way he keeps toying with his bottom lip, staring straight into my soul.

My panties are completely soaked. I finish my plate looking around to see everyone is done too.

"Thank you!" I say to the boys getting up to head to the kitchen.

I start the sink to wash the dishes.

"We have a dishwasher you know." Josh smiles walking into the kitchen with me.

"It's okay I was getting them out of the way. I don't mind."

I continue to wash every dish and of course my stomach is wet. Every time it doesn't fail me. I laugh to myself. Josh helps me by drying it off then dries the dishes to put them away. I'm blush a little. Wtf!

"Wanna smoke?" Jake comes in with a few joints rolled.

"Yes of course!" My smile grows big as I turn back to josh.

"You coming Joshie?" I stare at him.

"No you two enjoy it, I'm going to take a shower." He slowly walks away upstairs. He disappears into the darkness, I'm now left with Jake.

"His loss anyways." He scoffs under his breath.

"Should we ask if Danny and Sam wanna join?" I look at him hoping to not agree.

"Eh, they can roll their own if they wanna smoke."

Jake laughs as we go out back.

It's so beautiful back here. I choose to sit on the grass, taking my shoes off. Jake joins me on the ground taking his shoes off as well. He puts the joint to his mouth so effortlessly, he then brings the lighter up to it while sparking it slowly with his thumb. He french inhales his first hit, the way the smoke lingered around his septum making him look so hot.

He was so sexy I couldn't keep my eyes off of him. He passes it to me, I take it lightly while bringing it in to my lips. I inhale turning to Jake, dragging my head down to his lips. I place my lips on his as I blow my smoke into his mouth, sloooowly.

After he inhaled my smoke he brought it into a kiss.

Nice and slow this moment was, so relaxing and hot.

We finish the joint and lie completely down onto the grass, on our backs. The stars shine so bright for us, the moon is literally a full fucking moon, so mesmerizing.

Jake places his hand on mine touching slowly. Running circles on the top of my hand, making me slip a moan.

"I-I'm sorry." I bite down on my lip, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear.

He turns to me cupping my face.

"Hey don't be sorry, you look incredibly beautiful right now. I could stare at you all night."

He stares into my eyes while I do the same. He leans closer to me while I place my lips on his.

It starts slow until he presses his tongue through, battling for dominance.

Our heads are moving in sync, he bites down on my lower lip. A little moan escapes my mouth. I move closer to him until I shift on top of him.

I grind down onto his hips slowly, making him grunt beneath me. I felt something poking me from his pants.

"Jacob...." I say in a whisper playing with his belt buckle, going back down to kiss him hard.

"I need to talk to you." I sit up on him rolling off.

"Are you okay?" He wipes his lips while they throb. He looks at me worriedly.

"Y-yeah. I was thinking... What you said yesterday. I'm willing to give you a chance Jacob." I say shyly looking at him under the moon light.

"Really! It would be such a honor."

His whole facial expression says it all.

"What am I the queen!" I burst out laughing kissing him one more time before getting up.

"Let's go before they get suspicious."

I help Jake up but he brings me into a kiss on his leg. Just like the movies. I smile into the kiss biting down on his lip before pulling away.

"I will never forget this feeling I feel with you." Jake pulls me in close.

"Me either. It doesn't seem real." I giggle as we head inside.

"Hey we're going to this bar down the street you guys wanna go?" Daniel says to me as soon as I walked inside.

I turn to Jake giving him the eye look. Hopefully he gets it.

"I'm gonna stay in relax, maybe shower." Jake states while sitting on the couch.

"I'm gonna head home and get some rest. Thanks again for dinner!"

I smile hugging them all bye, but Josh's hug was extra long. Jake is staring us down but it's not like that.

"Bye Y/nnnn, you're more than welcome to stay the night." Josh smiles while walking out the front door.

"I'll keep that in mind." I laugh. Jake gets up to lock the door as they leave the driveway. His eyes dart to mine.

"We're alone." He says in a devilish tone. Oh, baby!

"Yeeeah, we are huh?"

My eyes are on his, he starts to walk up the stairs. I swallow hard and proceed to follow him. He goes into his room turning on his record player.

"Such good vibes right now, not gonna lie." I walk closer to him pinning him up against the wall.

My hands find their way to his hair to rub lightly. His eyes roll back, I start placing my lips on his moving slowly. His hands are roaming my waist while mine are grabbing to whatever they want. He walks forward making me move and stumble when I hit the bed.

Jake picks me up around his waist and throws me onto it, fuck!

My legs wrap around him bringing him in closer. I can feel him under me, he was so hard. My hands find his belt to only undo it. I unbutton his pants while unzipping them slowly. I rush to pull his pants down but struggling.

"Here let me help silly."

Jake laughs tugging his pants down. I blush hard moving my hips back and forth on him. Our groins are rubbing against each other, making me so wet. I take my top off to reveal my perky tits to him. He immediately gropes them in his hands pulling them to his lips to kiss them, My head instantly rolls back with pleasure.

I flip us over so I'm in control, I start to lick slow by his ear. He grabs my ass in my jeans but not satisfied.

"These need to be off. NOW!" He rips my pants open, breaking my zipper. They fling across the room hitting the blinds.

"Jake, wtf!"

I wine but too focused on him. He mouths sorry while grabbing my ass only to smack it, hard.

"Uhh, shit!" I moan out loud knowing damn well no one is here.

"Again Jacob, slap my ass!" I grind harder into him, our wetness was creating a mess under us.

He slaps my ass again but harder, leaving his thick handprint on my right cheek.

"Ahh fuck, Jacob!" I grind harder bringing my head down to kiss him with my tongue. He moans into my mouth I reach down to squeeze his ass. The sound that escapes his mouth sends me over.

"T-that was so sexy." I kiss him even harder slightly tugging on his hair a little bit harder. He continues to bite my lip until I start to trail my tongue down to his chest. I circle my tongue around his nipple giving it a little nibble.

"You're extra grabby, keep doing it!" Jake says in a low but deep whisper.

I start to suck on them before trailing my tongue down further to his stomach. I place my lips softly around his skin to form a hickey getting closer to his cock. I take my teeth to slide his boxers down slowly and off of him.

His cock sprung up to his stomach, surprising me.

His cock was so hard and thick, leaking pre-cum.

Holy. Fucking. Shit! I'm a leaking mess as well.

I kiss the tip of his cock slowly bringing him into my mouth. I look right in his eyes as he places his hands in my hair to push it out the way.

He pushes my head down further so I can take him in, deeper. One of my hands fumble with his balls while my other hand is gliding up and down with wetness. I bob my head at a faster pace, gagging a little. He pulls my head away making a mess with my saliva and his juices.

"Did I do something wrong?" I ask out of breath wiping my mouth off.

"No.. I need to feel you. I need to taste you."

With that he flipped us over to remove my panties. Exposing all my wetness. My pussy was shinning and glistening from the moon at the window, making Jake stroke his own cock looking down at me. My legs are now spread as I lie down onto the bed, naked might I add.  My fingers wonder to my center, rubbing up and down collecting my juices.

Jake immediately rushes down gulping me in.

"Sh-shit.!" I begin to rock my hips into his face with my swollen clit.

His tongue slowly circles my sweet spot, as my hands find their way into his luscious locks. I tug a little harder, causing a low grunt to escape those plump lips. Everything about Jacob was always such a turn on.

My eyes are rolling back, as he enters his finger while sucking onto my clit. I moan out in desperation, longing for something more.

"Jaaaake, yesss right there.. Mmmm, I'm so close." I manage to get out without squealing. My legs hook him in closer to devour me whole. He focuses his tongue as it glides up to my clit, then right back down slowly to my hole. He's sucking it at such a nice pace, I'm about to cum. I look down at him as he's already looking at me from that angle.

"Fuck... this feels so good baby. Uhhhh."

I shout before he rips away from me hurriedly, to look through the night stand. My face heats up with the loss of his soft lips on my wet pussy. I begin to rub myself thinking about his lips, I could cum alone with thinking about just that honestly. I'm shortly interrupted.

"Why so quiet over there?" He comes back to the bed with a condom in his hand, looking me up and down. I shut my legs tight to hold back the pain.

"Your lips.' I giggle to myself looking right at him.

"My lips, you're so bold today. I'm loving it." Jake leans in closer to you kissing you softly before trailing to your ear. He opens your legs to spread them slow.

"I will always treasure our special moments Y/N, to have you this vulnerable and comfortable makes my heart happy." He trails down further kissing my neck, sucking lightly. A loud moan escapes, echoing through the whole room.

I smile while I am even more turned on that he treasures our moments. To see him at this intimate level is beyond special. He tears open the rubber placing it on his hardened cock. I don't know how I'm gonna take him, I mean come on. My mouth fell open in awe.

"I'm happy I can deliver you with such thoughts and happiness. You're so special to me." I say before he enters into me slowly, placing his thumb across your clit to rub it.

I wince a little, spreading my legs further before he spits onto me making it more easier. My hands grab his back to push him closer onto me. His thrust are slow but the pace is quickening.

"You're so tight, jeez. I'm not gonna last long." Jake continues to say before I kiss him hard and passionately. He pushes into me hard grasping my thighs, leaving prints behind.

"Fuuuck Ja-ake!" He begins to take himself out slowly to only plunge back into me hard and fast. The sexual tension has always been here and it's showing.

"You like my cock pounding your tight little pussy baby, hmm?"

I flip us over so I'm in control riding him hungrily.

"Yesss, you feel so fucking good inside me." I begin to rock my hips back and forth moaning for him, and only him.

"You're so sexy right now Y/N, incredible." His hands find their way to my breast as he kisses them hard. He sucks on my nipple causing me to pounce onto him harder, making a clapping noise. The vibration alone is about to have you come undone. I lean back lifting on my feet a little so he has a better angle of me on top of him. That's when he said fuck it.

"I need to feel you raw baby, I'll pull out I promise." I pull back forward to help him pull off that damn thing.

"I trust you Jacob." I slide back down slow feeling him bare inside me, I tighten my walls as his cock twitches slow.

"It's even better, I can feel all of you!" He shouts griping your hips guiding you to ride faster.

"I'm gonna cum jakey, fuuuck." I shout out closing my eyes shut tight, as I bounce closer to my orgasm. He holds me closer to him, thrusting into me so smoothly sending me off the edge.

"Ahhh fuck Jacob, I love you." I fall to his chest and cover my mouth.

"I'm sorry I don't know why I said that." I say shaky while still orgasming. My heart is racing, I'm trying to catch my breath. He's still pounding into me before flipping us over so I'm on my knees.

"I think.. I might... love you too." He says before slamming into me gathering my hair and pulling it back.

"Fuuck mee Jacob, shit." His thrust become slower before he pulls out and has me turn around.

"Right here." I point to my tits. He releases on my hardened nipples making them soft from his warm liquids. He's making the sexiest noises right now what on earth. My hands reach for my breast spreading all his cum everywhere. So warm and fresh, my finger scoops some up to try a taste.

"Mmm, you taste amazing Jake." I lick my lips staring at him, while he's panting on his back on the bed. I join him, still playing with the remaining cum on me smirking.

"Let's get you cleaned up love." He laughs into a smile looking at the sight of his liquids spilled all over me. I encourage him to lick it off, he finds my ass to playfully smack it.

We all of a sudden hear a loud bang, which is the front door. I think it's Josh.

"Jake what do we do, I think Josh is here." I panic to grab something off the floor,  but end up falling and eating complete shit.

"Y/N, are you okay. What are you doing? It's okay, he won't mind at all." He giggles coming to my side to help me wipe his cum off of me.

"I'm sticky now haha." I slightly laugh trying to grab my clothes. They are flung across the room, and my pants are broken. Great.

"Jake you broke my bottoms, how am I supposed to leave?" I sigh but laugh it off. He hovers over me kissing me tenderly, before I roll us over so I'm on top.

I cup his face to kiss him with passion. I begin to rock my hips causing my wetness from down there to collect on Jakes cock. I pin his hands down with force.

"Round two?" I wink, biting my lip.

"I'm gonna need a minute, you sex beast- ."

With that moment Josh burst through the door, standing there staring at us for god knows how long.

"Well, well. Well... Lookie what we have here."

I hide behind Jake immediately, nearly had a heart attack.

"Josh get out! You can't just intrude in my door like that!" Jake seems far from upset, rather angry.

"No, no. I want whatever this is, that's going on here" I cover my face with embarrassment, trying to catch my breath.

"Josh... Can I just have this one girl to myself. Is it always going to be like this?" Jake grabs a blanket to cover us up, turning to me.

"Y/N, are you alright?" I nod but stay silent because I kind of led josh on here and there, now I'm in bed with his twin brother.

"Jacob, you know.. her and I have a little thing going on. Tell him Y/N." Josh blinks lightly at me as a glare  at him.

"Jake... it's not like that at all. But yes I did flirt here and there with him. All before I knew I wanted to choose you Jake and only you." I say calmly to Jake while looking at Josh.

"C'mon Jake what do you say? I heard you guys and have been home for a while. I was getting so turned on, I wanted to make my presence known."

Josh is fucking crazy... my head is spinning I need a moment to reframe myself, mentally. This would be a dream come true honestly, not trying to sound like a whore but twins. Whew.

"I need to process this, I just came damn it!" I lay jokingly, looking into Jacob's eyes. He really doesn't want Josh to join in any part of this.

But I do. Hmm... I wonder what we all decide. I get up with my naked body walking confidently to the bathroom. They both stare at my ass as I leave the room. All I hear is them whispering about something, for the looks of it Josh wants me. I had no idea.

What am I getting myself into right now.

[xxghost-zombie-jesus]

oh my god i actually love this. hold on. i wrote something, lmao. i couldn't not, actually, this idea is so great, thank you for sharing, omfg

(btw, is it okay if i post this below with credit to you on ao3 in my prompt/oneshot collection? if not, i can keep it tumblr-exclusive!)

The air was warm without being too hot, not a drop of humidity making it feel oppressive and thick to be found. It wasn't every week that he did this, actually, he hasn't done it since their new... guest arrived unbeknownst to both the Deetz-Maitlands and the demon itself. He was wary around the demon, and wasn't quite ready to drop his guard around it, him, even if the rest of the household seemed to disagree. Therefore, he hasn't taken the time to just, exist, by himself, in quite a few weeks.

But this day, Beetlejuice seemed to be on his best behavior, distracted by whatever schemes that Lydia had cooked up, under the watchful eye of Adam to make sure that they would actually behave and not start another fire in the bathroom, or somehow painting the walls of her room various colors of hair dye attempting to dye the demon's hair to no avail.

So, Charles took the chance to have some time to himself, without the presence of a chaotic demon or the rest of the household, not even his beloved Delia to bother him until he came back in. The rest of the house had gotten used to this little ritual in the time before Beetlejuice's return, and knew not to bother him when they saw him enter the kitchen, pour himself a generous glass of red wine, grab a lawn chair from the coat closet by the door, and head up the stairs.

And now, here he was, wine in hand, watching the sun creep closer and closer to the horizon, dulling, turning a bright orange-red as it descended. Charles listened to the chirping of the crickets, the last songs of the birds as they settled in for the night. He watched swallows swoop low over the hill, snatching up the insects that began to stir as the sky darkened. He could smell honeysuckle on the slight breeze, sweet and familiar, reminding him of the giant bush that Emily had planted their first year in their house. He could almost taste the sweet nectar on his tongue, and if he closed his eyes he could see Lydia, barely 4 years old, barefoot, running around the yard catching fireflies with her mother, their laughter filling the summer air with music.

His memories were interrupted by the sound of hesitant footsteps approaching from behind, the tip-tap of shoes on the roof landing, almost drowned out by the other sounds of the evening. The footsteps were too light, too quiet to be Lydia, she stomped around like she owned the house, and the Maitlands didn't walk anymore, and Delia had a distinct gait that was more like a sashay than walking. That left only one option. Charles sighed silently through his nose, expecting the demon to pester him, and he was already gritting his teeth in expectation for some unfunny, rude 'joke' or some scaly, slimy, creepy-crawly to be dropped in his lap.

But, much to his surprise, Beetlejuice didn't say a word, just silently settled on the ground quietly, just the rustle of some cloth and a quiet huff of air. Charles dared a glance over, turning his head the barest amount to see that Beetlejuice was sitting cross-legged to his left and just behind his chair, far enough away that Charles would have to nearly tip over to reach him. His hands were between his folded legs, hidden from view, and the demon met Charles' gaze so quickly before looking away that he wasn't sure if he had imagined it.

Deciding to ignore the demon and not let him chase Charles off the roof, he turned forward again and continued to watch the sky. The sun was sinking lower still, the sky burning brilliant golds and reds, the clouds dyed a soft, cotton candy pink.

He hadn't been this close to the demon alone without something happening, and it was making his skin crawl, so Charles chanced another look in his direction. Beetlejuice now had his eyes closed and his face tilted towards the last beams of light hitting the edge of the roof, looking a little like a cat sunbathing. Charles shook the thought out of his head and decided that if Beetlejuice was content to not be a bother than Charles would allow him to be.

The two sat in silence, just watching the sun dip below the horizon, being swallowed up by the earth, the sky practically bleeding, the small shapes of swallows and birds being replaced by those of eager bats as the sky darkened overhead, the warmth of the sun being replaced by the dark black-blue of night, the first stars winking into existence. Still, Beetlejuice didn't make a noise, Charles wasn't even sure he was breathing, thats how quiet the usually loud demon was.

When at last only a burning line of light at the very edge of the sky was left, glowing a hot, flaming red, and the air got a slight chill to it, and the last of Charles' wine had been drained did he stand. His back protested from sitting for so long, and he groaned quietly to himself. Turning to collect his chair, he noticed that Beetlejuice is gone, having left so silently that Charles had still been expecting him to be sitting there. The sudden sense of being alone confused Charles, as he had specifically come out here to be alone. He shook the feeling away and grabbed the lawn chair before heading inside.

--

Two weeks later Charles headed back out to the roof, a glass of wine in hand, lawn chair tucked under his arm. He had seen little of Beetlejuice and Lydia most of the day, the two of them having been out and about terrorizing the town, but they had come back with Chinese Takeout in tow and not long after dinner was cleared they disappeared into her room.

This time, he heard the footsteps following him as he ascended the attic stairs, following exactly 10 paces behind him, barely there, just a whisper of a shoe on the stairs. Charles ignored Beetlejuice as made his way out onto the roof, setting up in his preferred spot and sitting down, eyes on the sky. A flock of geese were honking noisily as they flew in their 'V' formation in front of the red sun. Charles was aware of Beetlejuice settling nearby, though if he wasn't mistaken, the demon was an inch or two closer than the last time.

No matter, he didn't speak, just as last time, and sat with his legs crossed and his hands between them, looking a lot more childlike than the demon had any right looking. Charles watched Beetlejuice watching the geese with rapt attention, his head following their path across the sky until his eyes met Charles and the man looked away, almost embarrassed at being caught staring.

The silence was almost companionable, not thick with tension or unsaid words, but instead light and natural, nothing needing to be said. The sunset came and went, the two of them watching, content to sit and ignore each other, focus on the colors and sounds of the evening. And, much like last time, by the time Charles went to head inside, Beetlejuice was gone, not a trace of him having been there.

This continued every time Charles went out, Beetlejuice would be right behind him, and the two would settle, Charles in his lawn chair and Beetlejuice on the ground with his legs crossed. Neither would speak, there were no words to be had, though Charles did notice that every time Beetlejuice would chance sitting a hair closer, until, after a few months the demon would sit right next to Charles' legs, close enough that if Charles wanted to, he could knock his knee against his head.

He thought about offering a chair to him, but he seemed comfortable on the ground, and Charles knew that if he wanted to, he could just conjure one up, however that worked. He did start bringing a second glass of wine up with him and silently offering it to Beetlejuice, though.

This became a sort of tradition for the two of them. Charles would head up to the roof, and his shadow would follow, and the two would sit in a peace that wasn't found elsewhere in the house, a silence born of companionship instead of necessity, not filled with the typical worry that a quiet Beetlejuice typically brought around. It wasn't every Sunday, and it wasn't always on Sunday, sometimes if Charles was stressed he'd go up in the middle of the week, and Beetlejuice would faithfully follow despite the change in routine.

It reminded Charles a little of what one did to gain the trust of a feral cat; offer it food and companionship without demanding attention, without trying to talk to it or pet it, and it slowly becoming comfortable enough that it would hang out within reach, knowing you wouldn't do anything to scare it off. Beetlejuice sometimes reminded Charles of a feral cat, though he voiced this thought to no one, not even Delia.

--

This time things were different. When Charles announced he was going out to the roof, gathered his things, and began the trek up the numerous stairs to the top of the house, his companion didn't follow him. In fact, Beetlejuice had disappeared sometime around mid-afternoon, and no one had seen him. Charles had thought, perhaps a bit foolishly, their unspoken tradition of sitting together on the roof would have lured the young man out from wherever he had been hiding.

So far, it hadn't seemed to be working, so, for the first time in a long while, Charles headed up alone, two glasses of wine and his chair in tow. When he stepped out onto the roof, he was surprised to see Beetlejuice sitting perched on the decorative fencing that enclosed the roof landing. He didn't even glance in Charles' direction when the door banged shut louder than expected.

Charles approached, eying Beetlejuice carefully. His hair was purple, the tips a pale yellow-green, and Charles racked his brain to try and remember what the colors meant. Purple was... sad? No, that was blue. Oh, right, purple was depression. And light yellow-green was anxiety, right?

Neither of them spoke as Charles settled next to Beetlejuice, leaning the folded chair against the fencing, though Beetlejuice did slide off the fence to stand behind it, arms crossed on the bars. He offered the glass of wine to him, which was taken without Beetlejuice even looking at him. Charles frowned, but stayed quiet, knowing pressing did little then stress the demon out, usually delvolving into an argument. He did do something he didn't typically do, though. Charles shifted until his arm pressed against Beetlejuice's.

He felt the man beside him jump, and out of his peripheral saw him whip his head around to stare at Charles with obvious shock on his face. But then he leaned against Charles further, jaw tense, and Charles sighed, knowing that even if his hair didn't announce it, something was wrong with Beetlejuice.

Charles pulled away, and he saw the dejection on Beetlejuice's face, the purple darkening a shade, and Charles did something he really never did. He wrapped his arm across Beetlejuice's back, grabbed his shoulder, and pulled him into a half-hug.

Beetlejuice made a choked noise, his face screwed up, and his shoulders began to shake. Charles kept his eyes forward, as to not make the young man self-conscious, and felt Beetlejuice curl into his side like a touch-starved teenager, his own arm curling half-way across Charles' back to grip the center of his shirt like a lifeline.

Charles rubbed silent circles into Beetlejuice's shoulder. The two of them stood like that as the sun burned, the sky blazing brightly in brilliant colors, as birds and frogs and insects went about their business, unknowing and uncaring of the pair on the roof.

Finally, as the sun disappeared and the colors faded from the sky, replaced by inky darkness and twinkling stars, the shaking in Beetlejuice's shoulders subsided. He took in a deep, shuddering breath and let it out in one great gust, and let go of Charles to rub his eyes. Charles dared turning to look at Beetlejuice, heart panging at how young he looked, no longer the millennia-old demon he was used, instead replaced by nothing more than a kid.

Charles, once more, did something he didn't do. He spoke. "Lars," he squeezed the demon's shoulder to gain his attention, and while Beetlejuice didn't look at him, his head angled towards Charles to show he was listening. "Are you... okay?" Internally he winced, it was obvious he wasn't okay, but Charles didn't know how else to ask.

Beetlejuice shrugged, and Charles was prepared for that to be all of the answer he'd get, but after a moment, Beetlejuice spoke, too. "I dunno," he admitted quietly. He started to pull away, but Charles pulled him more firmly into his side, and Beetlejuice sunk back into the touch. "I just..."

Charles waited patiently, watching as Beetlejuice toyed with his own fingers, jaw opening and closing occasionally as if he were going to speak and then not being able to get the words out. Eventually, finally, he continued. "Do you ever regret letting me stay here?"

Charles blinked. Blinked again. He let go of Beetlejuice, set his untouched glass onto the ground, and turned to the demon fully. He put both of his hands on his shoulders and squeezed slightly. "What brought this on, Lars?" Beetlejuice didn't meet his eye, and shrugged again. Charles sighed and decided on honesty. "In the beginning? Yes." Beetlejuice flinched and dropped his head, but Charles continued. "I was scared, for my family, of you, of what happened. But," he stressed the word and accentuated it by grabbing Beetlejuice's chin and guiding him to look at Charles, "I know better know. You've changed. We've changed. You're just as much a part of this family as the Maitlands, as Lydia. Honestly, Lars?"

He waited for Beetlejuice to ask, "what?" before he continued.

"I'd go to the Netherworld again, for you." Beetlejuice searched his eyes, and Charles stared evenly back, willing his conviction and truth to show through. Because it was true. He hated the Netherworld, when he followed Lydia, but he'd be willing to go again, for Beetlejuice. He doesn't know when that happened, but it did, and he wasn't going to shy away from that fact, not now.

Ugly fat tears welled up in Beetlejuice's eyes, and he surged forward and wrapped his arms around Charles in a proper hug, burying his face against his chest and sobbing. Charles returned the hug and squeezed, feeling out of his element but knowing that Beetlejuice was a very tactile person. He hushed Beetlejuice like he did Lydia when she cried, with soft noises and small, "you'll be okay,"s and "let it out,"s.

The night was a little chilly, and the cold was starting to seep into Charles' skin when Beetlejuice cried himself out, scrubbing his eyes with the back of his hands and pulling away. Charles let him go, squeezing his shoulder once for good luck. "Sorry, Chuck," Beetlejuice croaked, and when Charles just frowned at him, he clarified, "for ruining our thing."

Ruin it? Ruin it? Is he joking? Charles shook his head and assured him nothing had been ruined. In fact, he was glad Beetlejuice confided in him. That he allowed Charles to comfort him. This embarrassed the demon, and the purple and yellow-green hair faded back to green with rosy-pink tips.

The two walked back inside, shoulder-to-shoulder, glasses and chair collected, the air between them light.

They don't talk about it, don't bring it up, but things changed that night. Everyone could tell, whatever tension that may have still been between them fully dissolved.

The next Sunday, Beetlejuice conjured himself and Charles up two plush lawn chairs, more comfortable than the old one that Charles had been using.

I would love to hear your opinions on Beej and Charles' relationship... Its always so fun to explore

dont mind me answering this two years later. i don't have an excuse im just a lil slow. it got long so it's under a readmore!

i like to think things are super rocky right off the bat. charles distrusts been the most in the beginning, after all, when he looks at the demon all he can remember is how he tried to marry his daughter, drove her and subsequently him to the netherworld, tried to kill delia, adam, and barbara, and made a mess of the house and their lives. so he isn't exactly please when beej is unceremoniously dumped onto his literal front steps. he is... cordial to the demon, not wanting to accidentally set Beetlejuice off and cause another Incident.

beej avoids charles a lot in the beginning. he has Mommy and Daddy issues, mainly from juno being, well, herself and his father not being around. (and honestly beej isn't sure if his father left him or was eaten by his mother, but he still holds out hope.) so another parent, especially someone who is genuinely angry and distrustful of him, and not in a 'god you're so annoying' way but in a 'you are a threat to my family way'. like, delia gets spooked by him easily, but she was probably the least affected by his outburst, and he helped her realize otho was a scam artist. the maitlands aren't exactly threatened by him, and quickly come to realize he's kind of... harmless. and lydia still considers him her best friend, even after the whole sham wedding/trying to kill everyone/killing him ordeal. but Charles? he's the only one who is not willing to deal with beej and his antics, nor does the man seem willing to move past the, well, past.

so, yeah, things are tense between them in the beginning. both of them feel threatened, and while beej is prone to lashing out when he feels threatened, charles is the quiet, calculating, take no shit. unstoppable force, immovable object. the few times they interact one-on-one doesn't go well, usually ends up in an argument, or worse, and the threat of sending beej back to the netherworld hangs heavy.

but, charles sees how beetlejuice acts around lydia, how he acts around the maitlands, hell, how he acts around delia. he's completely different than when charles originally met the demon. he's actually... more like a person than the mindless killing machine that charles thinks he is, and while he loaths to change his mind about the being who caused so much havoc and pain for his family, charles starts to doubt that he may have been wrong about beetlejuice. and then when delia implores that he just try and bond with beej, he really isn't so bad, they have a lot more in common that charles would think, he finally gives in and tries.

likewise, beetlejuice sees how charles acts around the rest of the household, the easy coparenting routines that he and the maitlands have developed regarding lydia. the calm discussions in the morning and the shared tv times in the evenings. he sees how charles is with delia, the gentleness and the love that's visible even to beetlejuice, eugh. the willingless to play along with her ideas and life coaching. he sees how charles is with lydia, the near desperation in his actions to make his daughter feel seen, feel loved, feel like he will always be there for her. how he begrudgingly builds her a dark room and allows her to paint her bedroom walls black. and he'd never say he was jealous, not if his undead life depended on it, but, honestly, he is. he wants so badly for charles to like him, hasn't what he's done to atone enough? hasn't he changed enough? but, fine, if charles won't like him, he can play along and make the man's life a living hell with pranks and comments and toeing the line of what is and isn't allowed.

and then charles finds out that despite being over 1000 years old, his age roughly correlates with that of a young adult, college-aged, even. charles, honestly, isn't sure that beej would even be of age for drinking, if he were human. he realizes that the demon's lashing out and acting up around him wasn't because he hates charles, its because he's a shitty young adult who has no idea who he is other than how others perceive him, who obviously got little to no parental love and guidance, who is fiercely protective of lydia, has taken her under his wing and would do just about anything in his power to make her happy. charles notices him eagerly playing along with delia's beliefs, never shutting her down or making her feel like she's crazy, but instead encouraging her to life her life how she wants to. he sees how beetlejuice had toned down the sexual jokes and innuendos at their behest, how he's done a complete 180 when he realized that they didn't enjoy his advances. he wants to be included but has stopped pushing and prodding for their attention.

and its when charles realizes that beej is basically just a hurt, scard, kind of angry yet doubtlessly kind kid that beetlejuice gets himself into some deep shit, and charles has to go save his ass. and its not for lydia's sake, well, at first it was, he'd hate to disappoint his daughter by letting something happen to the demon she's basically adopted as an older brother, but when he sees how genuinely hurt and upset beej is, something changes in their dynamic.

charles stops being so closed off to beej, starts including him in things, talking to him of his own accord, trying to be there for the demon like he is lydia. after all, he's no longer a freeloader, a dangerous demon on a hair trigger to charles anymore. he's just a troubled 20-something who just happens to be a demon. this doesn't exactly go well, beej isn't quick to judge, and the sudden change is so offputting to him that he thinks that charles is Up To Something.

because whenever juno started being nice to him, well, she either wanted something from him, or was about to make his life a living hell and fuck him over one hundred and one ways. so charles, someone he's lowkey started to think as a surrogate father even if he won't even admit it to himself let alone anyone else, suddenly acting like he wanted beej around, like he likes the demon? no he doesn't trust that. so he ups his antics tenfold, trying to piss charles off, trying to make things go back to how they were before.

and then this fic happens and, well, beej has to admit that charles does like him, and is trying to show it, and isn't out to get him, or kick him out, or kill him. its hard for both of them, but its a lot more positive than it had been before.

all this to say, i think they have a kind of father-son relationship, though not at first, and not for a hot second. both of them are resistant of getting along until both internal and external forces make them change, and even from there charles trying to kind of mother hen beej doesn't go well at first. but they figure things out

[jeoniius]

Next Life | kth (m)

☆ summary:  Although you and Taehyung didn’t believe in first and second lives, you both wished you’d find each other in the next life as you both looked at the sky that night.

☆ pairing: husband!tae x wife!reader

☆ genre: angst, smut.

☆ warning: sexual content, angst

☆ word count: 4k

☆a/n: Finally this is done. Thank you so much @jkiddingjeon for beta-ing the fic, it meant A LOT. I really love this fic and I hope you enjoy it too. ngl it's a pretty heartbreaking fic so get ready for some ANGST.

Love. Hate. 

It’s always adjacent to each other. Something that’s always there when the other is present. It also changes people. How it makes people go from loving someone and being best friends with someone to trying everything they can to pull them down, to take them out. 

You’d say you can relate to it. In more ways than one. You had seen your fair share of people going from loving them unconditionally to talking shit about them the next day. Divorce was one of them. All the promises and vows made of staying through health and sickness, through good and bad, thrown out of the window. 

You thought of it as one of the most heartbreaking things and now you were here. Doing the exact thing as you watched the clock tick by, thinking of ways and excuses to get you out of this marriage. This marriage that ended everything. It hadn’t always been like this. No, you were in love. You were so madly in love that if anyone had told you you’d stand in this place today you’d not believe it. 

You are still in love. So madly in love but the difference being you want it to end. Maybe that way you’d find each other again.

As time went by, you stood by the railing of your balcony. The bright light of the city shined underneath you as you thought Tomorrow would be it. The end of what once was seen as a beautiful love story by not only you but by many others. The final chapter.

Maybe love and hate stood adjacent to each other but you could never hate him. 

And so you stood there, taking it all in, you thought about where it went wrong.

7 months ago

“I can’t believe you think that!” you shouted, hands up in the air as you walked back into the apartment, him following you behind. 

“Well I wouldn’t if you kept your distance!” he said, raising his voice.

“Oh my god. One hug. It was one hug. And that too because he was leaving.” 

“It didn’t look like one,” he argued back. 

“Are you freaking kidding me right now? Nothing happened, you know that.” you said trying to calm yourself down. 

“Stop trying to argue with me all the fucking time.” he bit back. 

“Oh, I am arguing? You were the one who started it.” You took long strides towards him. 

“You were the one who accused his wife of cheating although you have no proof whatsoever” you gritted through your teeth as your finger poked his chest. 

He let out a loud groan as you run your hands through your hair. “You know what, Taehyung? You can stay here. I’m leaving.” and with that you grabbed your purse and keys and strode out the door, slamming it behind. 

Kim Taehyung. 

The love of your life. You met him in college. As cliché as it sounds, he was the heartthrob with his extremely good looks and his unbelievable flirting skills. You weren’t supposed to know him at all if you thought about it. 

Your college held its annual fest, and you were the head of the management. You had stumbled across him when he had come to drop off some supplies instead of his best friend. You got into a small quarrel when he commented on how you were the head of the management when you were only a freshman and questioned your ability to pull the entire thing off when it was only three days from the fest and not even one percent of anything was done.

You got into a bet with him as you made him promise you that he’d treat you to something of your choice if you pulled it off. Nevertheless, you pulled the entire thing off within the next two days, proving him wrong. As a promise, he treated you to something really expensive(of course you had picked it) and then swore to never question your ability.  

You started seeing more of him, with his surprise visits to your class (which usually ended up with girls surrounding you asking how you knew him) or him coming to your seat in the cafeteria just to give you some new juice he got for you. Sometimes he’d ask you to come to one of his basketball matches and then took you to dinner afterward. 

You felt your heartbeat increasing every time you saw him or heard his name in fact, and before you knew it, you were confessing to him, putting your heart on the line. 

The day you confessed, you ran out before he could even reply. Too scared to be rejected. But Taehyung did something you’d never expect. He brought you to an amusement park, took you to dinner, and then confessed to you with thousands of chocolate (literally). 

You both had your fair share of arguments and then makeup sex. Mind-blowing sex to be exact. 

Your relationship with Taehyung was built on trust. He’d be there waiting for you every time you came home late and vice versa. You’d be at all of his games. You’d go to every party, hang out with your friends.

Once he graduated, he’d wait to pick you up every day. Every day you’d go to your favorite café, with your friends, complete assignments and projects, argue about who won the last UNO game, girls vs boys. 

He spent every hour with you when you struggled with your dream job and you did the same. When you finally did get the job, he asked you to marry him. You nodded then and there. Tears escaped, phone calls were made. Everyone came to the engagement party and then the wedding and you truly thought everything you ever wanted was there. Your family, your friends, his friends, him. 

But what you didn’t know then was what followed after. Just like promises are made, they are broken. Trust is broken and the bond doesn’t stay. 

The first two years were bliss. You went to Paris for your honeymoon and then to New York. Yes, New York for your honeymoon. You experienced the love in Paris and the rush in New York. 

You spent most of the days in Paris, going to spots of attractions, enjoying the food in the café, walking around the streets drunk and completely in love, having late night sex, morning sex,  just lots of sex to be exact. 

But in New York, you spent your days going to Times Square, Bars, and Pubs had ‘the’ New York pizza and cheesecakes and hotdogs and whatnot. Went shopping and sightseeing. Roamed around the streets at night, met so many people.

You believed you had found what you had been looking for all your life. Someone to go to romantic dinners and the craziest parties with.  

But what followed was something you didn’t think would happen. Every marriage has its ups and downs. You had to. But then it started.

Every party would become an excuse to start arguments, every late night at work would lead to assumptions. At first, you thought it would be fine. Talking would help, it was always the key for the both of you but lately, every time you spoke or tried to solve the issues, it would end in huge fights, sometimes followed by sex, or even if not sex, you’d stop talking to each other and then one day pretend nothing happened. 

Although in heels you walked around the park near your apartment. ‘It will be fine’ you told yourself as you tried not to break down. Deciding it would not be a good idea to go anywhere at that hour, you sat by a bench.

The cold wind hit you as a shiver ran down your body, the thin wine slip dress doing nothing to stop it. The screen of your phone lit up as you saw multiple texts from Taehyung. A part of you was happy that he cared enough to text you. You clicked on his profile as a series of texts came up.

Tae: where are you?

Tae: come on Y/N, don’t be stupid. 

Tae: it’s really late. where the fuck are you?

Tae: baby, you’re scaring me. 

Sighing you got up and made your way out of the park. Since you lived in a complex, it didn’t take you too long to walk. As you opened the keys, you saw Taehyung pacing around the living room. “Where are my keys?” he muttered to himself, not noticing your presence. 

A clinking sound made Taehyung look up as the keys hit the ceramic bowl on the kitchen top. “Where were you?” he asked, trying to control his anger. You didn’t answer him as you took off the heels, internally sighing when the cold floor hit your barefoot. “Are you seriously gonna ignore me? I asked where the fuck were you?” he pulled you by your wrists stopping you from going further. “Don’t do this.” you gritted through your teeth as you harshly pulled away before going inside your shared bedroom. 

You slipped out of the dress and you got inside the shower, the hot water touching your skin as you stood there. No matter how much you tried not to think about it, you always went back. Where did it go wrong? 

You changed into shorts and one of Taehyung’s oversized shirts as it reached mid-thigh. Getting inside the covers, you relaxed, the cool sensation of your bedsheet and covers calming you somehow as you turned towards the glass wall. 

You heard a sigh as Taehyung got inside the room. He got inside the covers and stared at your back as you tried to keep calm. You felt an arm wrap around your waist as he pulled you closer, back colliding with his chest, nuzzling his face at the crook of your neck. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” his voice came muffled as you felt the vibrations on your neck. 

“I really am.” he said, taking a deep breath pulling you closer if that was possible. You sighed, turning to him. 

“I felt really cheap, you know” you said, hands reaching to cup his face. “I’m so sorry baby.” he sighed, closing his eyes as you ran your hand through his hair. “I know.” 

He pressed a kiss on your lips as you pulled him closer, hands wrapping around his neck. You sighed into the kiss as his lips trailed down towards your collarbone, sucking and nipping then. Soon enough he was inside you as he went on an animalistic pace. “Do you think he can fuck you like this?” he growled. You ignored him as you knew you were close, focusing on your climax. You came within the next few minutes as he rubbed your clit while thrusting.

Later on, he lapped up the spilled contents lazily as you screamed his name, your cries stroking his ego.

He wrapped an arm around your naked waist as he fell asleep on his stomach, head on your chest, legs tangled over your naked ones. You stroked his hair as you stared at the ceiling, his words ringing in your ear ‘Do you think he can fuck you like this?’

A small realization crept inside your head. He was never gonna trust you.

He stirred in his sleep, pulling you closer, he pressed an open-mouth kiss above the swell of your breast in his sleep. Releasing a long sigh, you kissed his head, quickly pushing the thought aside. 

That was the first mistake. 

“I love you so much,” you said. 

You pulled the robe over your body tightly, a coffee cup in your hand. Picking up your phone you looked at the time. 3:08 am it read. The city still buzzed with life. The cold breeze hit your face soothingly as you closed your eyes. Only if you had done something before, things wouldn’t have gone wrong. 

4 months ago

Your phone buzzed as you frustratedly rubbed your face. You dreaded picking up the call, not wanting to have to shout again. Things had been gradually worsening between you and Taehyung. Late-night fights, coming home drunk, not talking to each other for weeks had become a common thing nowadays and no matter how hard you tried, no matter how many times you both tried to co-operate, you didn’t seem to escape it.

“You should talk to him.” Ae-ra said, handing you a cup of tea. 

Tea. 

You never liked tea. You were more of a coffee person. You preferred the rush, the adrenaline. But nowadays, you were tired. Tired of doing the same thing over and over again. Having the same quarrels and fights over and over again. Tea seemed to calm you. 

“And then what? Get into another fight?” 

“You know what I mean, babe.” She said as she rubbed your arm soothingly.

“Maybe later. I cannot deal with him now.” you sipped on the cup.

What you didn’t know was that “later” would come that fast. You went back to your apartment to get more of your clothes. You planned on going at night, when he was most probably out with his friends or whoever kept him busy nowadays. But to your surprise, he was there. 

You opened the main door, using the key you had with you to meet with his laying figure on the couch. His head shot up at the sound of the door, eyes meeting each other. He looked drained, hair messy and bags under his eyes. You cursed under your breath, debating if you should just go back to Ae-ra’s place and come later for your clothes. 

“Look who’s here.” he scoffed as he got up from the couch.

Deciding on the former, you walked past him without taking another glance, into your shared bedroom. Taking a bag out, you shoved as many clothes as possible wanting to stay away from this mess. “Are you gonna ignore me now?” you heard him as he entered the room. 

You zipped up the chain as you walked towards the door wanting to leave. He grabbed your hand before you could go any further. He felt so scared when he saw you packing your stuff, so much that it suffocated him. “Fucking answer me.” his voice raised as he stared at you. 

Taehyung’s eyes softened as he saw the dry tears on your cheeks and he wanted nothing more than to pull you close and never let go. To talk to you and tell you it would be fine, that you would figure it out together. 

As he saw your tired eyes, glossy as you tried to keep your composure, he wanted to kiss you so badly and keep you tucked away from every bad thing; ever, even himself if he was bad for you.

And maybe he would have done that. Hugged you and kissed you. Kept you in his arms if you didn’t start talking. 

“Leave me the fuck alone.” you pulled away harshly. “You know what? Yes, I am ignoring you and gladly will.” 

“What is wrong with you? You cannot just come and go like that.” he said, hands gesturing to your bag.

“I can and I will. You cannot stop me” you clarified.

“ Yes, I can. I am your husband for god’s sake.” a frustrated tone laced his words.

“Husband?” you scoffed. “When were you a good husband? Where did this go when I stayed up till dawn every day waiting for you?” 

“You know how hectic things have been at work.” he looked at you knowingly. 

“That doesn’t mean you’d stop spending time with me!” you yelled.

You knew you were being unreasonable. Things really were hectic at work for him. But you couldn’t help but feel lonely when you came home after a long day to an empty and cold apartment and then stayed up every day almost all night for your husband. You felt so neglected when he’d come home and go to sleep straight away without saying anything. 

All the doubts about your marriage slowly were coming true and you wanted nothing more than to prove it wrong. But talking about it led to arguments with Taehyung. So you decided to stay away from home, so that you didn’t have to think about it, to begin with. 

That was the second mistake. 

“You are going nowhere.” Taehyung took the bag from your hand and walked towards the bed. “You’ll stay at home.”

“Home?” a humorless chuckle left your throat. “I will go anywhere I want, but home.” 

“I mean it Y/N. Stop acting like a kid. Go wash up and come to bed.” he sighed. 

“I’m not staying” you concluded, ready to leave your stuff behind as you turned. 

You felt a pair of hands wrap around your waist as he stuffed his face in the junction of your neck and shoulder. A tear left your eyes, followed by streams, and for some reason, your heart broke, it felt like he was pulling you apart from inside. 

You felt his warm breath as he mumbled something. He pressed you towards him as you silently cried. 

Later that night, as he fucked you slowly, something different than his usual dominating aura, your heart ached, but you couldn’t pinpoint why. He kissed you ever so passionately, that you cried. 

Something told you that it would be over soon, so you hugged him as close as you could when he slept. You cried as he hugged you in his sleep like you would go away if he didn’t have you in his arms. 

“I love you so much,” he mumbled in his sleep.

That’s when you realized how bad the entire situation was. How bad you were for him just like he was for you. How bad this marriage was. 

And what followed after confirmed everything you ever doubted. 

2 months ago

“You think I didn’t see you?” you yelled. 

“What are you talking about?” he looked curious. 

“Oh sure, play the good guy, make me look bad, why don’t you?” you scoffed.

“I have no idea what you are talking about.” he repeated. “How would you? You thought you were good enough to keep it away from me.” you said. His eyebrows crashed as he tried to understand. “I saw you with her. Maybe that’s why you were always late. You were too busy fucking her.” a bitterness stayed in your mouth. “Are you kidding me?” he said as he raked his fingers through his hair. 

“You are accusing me of cheating, Y/N? You?” he scoffed. “Don’t think I forgot about the party.” 

“Oh my god. You were never going to believe me, were you?” you looked at him with a glint in your eyes. 

“You are being paranoid Y/N,” he said calmly. 

“You know what? Maybe I will go to him. The guy you accused me of cheating. Maybe I will let him fuck me. Clear all your doubts and make it true!” you were screaming now. 

“I can’t do this anymore,” he said, voice so calm maybe you would have been scared if you were thinking straight. 

“Neither can I.” you said as you walked out of the house. 

The next day when you woke up, you felt bad for yelling at him. So you decided to go back and talk to him. And maybe you would have if fate didn’t have anything else planned. 

As you walked into the house, you saw a man sitting on your couch, Taehyung at his side as paper lay in front of him. The man looked at you briefly before turning back to Taehyung. “Thank you for coming on such short notice, Mr. Lee.” he said as he shook hands with the man. The man nodded. 

Before leaving, he looked at you, “See you in court.” 

You furrowed your brows before realization hit you. “Tae, what did he mean by that?” 

He kept quiet as he gathered the papers. “Baby, what’s wrong? Talk to me.” you tried again. Taehyung got up as he handed you the papers, then went to the bedroom. You stared at them as you couldn’t process anything. 

You cannot get divorced. You cannot live without him.  

You walked inside the room as you saw him looking out. “Tae, we can talk, right? You don’t mean this.” your voice shook. 

Walking up to him you wrapped your arms around his, face buried in his back as you mumbled “This is a joke, right?” 

You heard his sigh before he turned to you, eyes glossy. “We can’t keep doing this.”

“We won’t. We’ll figure it out. We don’t have to do this.” you went on. 

“Y/N-”

“No, no, you don’t understand. You are out of your mind. We can’t get divorced.”

“I’m sorry, but I cannot do this anymore.” he said,

You looked at him. “Why are you saying it as if it is all my fault?” 

“I don’t mean that.”

“You absolutely mean that. Your face says it all.” you gestured toward him. “Oh. You really are gonna do this?” you said as he rubbed his face. 

“Well, fuck you, Kim Taehyung. You can do whatever you want. You can blame me all you want but you and I both know the minute I walk out, you are going to regret this.” 

“You can keep going for my heart and put all this on me, but you will miss me to your bone the minute this is over.” you said as you stormed off. 

That night, you went back to Ae-ra’s place. You screamed at the sky pretending it was him while he stayed awake that night as he looked at the sky. “I’m so sorry Y/N. I love you so much” he said, tears freely falling.

It really was over. All your doubts came true. Your marriage ended. Maybe it was for the better. ‘You’re being paranoid’ he said. He was right. You became paranoid.

You wiped the single tear and looked at the sky, soft light spread across as the birds sang. 5:00 am

You picked out the attire you were going to wear to the court. Your phone buzzed as you picked it up. It was Ae-ra. It’s gonna be okay. You’ll get through it. she said.

You went to the court that day. You watched him as he entered the room, a black tux hugging his frame. He had become more buff than he was the last time you saw him two months ago. As he ran his fingers through his hair, his shoulder blades flexed. The same shoulder blades that had your nail marks reminding the night before from every morning you’ve spent together. You smiled at that memory. 

Soon the judge walked in and the process went on. 

At one point in your relationship with him, assuming was something you both picked up. Long gone was the trust which was the key in your relationship. Maybe it was for the better. You both were paranoid; assumptions feeding more into it. 

But what you both gradually became, was bad for each other. Not at the beginning of your relationship, but somewhere in the middle, it went out of hand. Maybe if you spoke to each other more, maybe if you hadn’t pushed your thoughts the first day it came, then maybe you wouldn’t be here. But everything happens for a reason. 

Kim Taehyung was the heartthrob of the campus. Kim Taehyung was the first person you confessed you loved. He was the first person who heard ‘I love you’ from you. He was your first love. 

As the saying goes, some people are in our lives, just to teach us a lesson. Good and Bad. Kim Taehyung was that for you. You were still in love with him. Distance makes the heart grow fonder and yours did. You loved him more than you did before. And so maybe letting him go was easy. You were bad for him and he was bad for you. But that didn’t stop you from loving him.

And that didn’t stop him from loving you as you sat at the courthouse, as he looked at your face when it was over, as he lay in his bed alone that night.

Maybe you weren’t meant to be. Or maybe you were, but you didn’t know-how. But it was fine. And maybe as time goes by, it would hurt less. 

Although you and Taehyung didn’t believe in first and second lives, you both wished you’d find each other in the next life as you both looked at the sky that night. 

taglist: @mwitsmejk​

[cno-inbminor]

iterum vivere (childe/tartaglia)

a/n: wow, it’s been fucking forever. first genshin fic featuring childe/tartaglia!!! a very huge thank you to @suspensin​ for reading this over and being my rock and support, and i love her so fucking much. I couldn’t have finished this without her!

plot: reincarnation and modern/uni!au ft. afab reader!traveler with she/they pronouns x childe/tartaglia 

-- in which meeting childe is a bit of a dangerous game of push and pull

wc: 12.1k; angst + fluff

warnings:  DOES CONTAIN IN-GAME SPOILERS (1.5? 1.6? + story quest and idek) and NSFW MENTIONS (mdni to be safe). there’s no explicit smut but thoughts do run a bit wild here and there

EDIT: Altered ChiLumi version now posted on AO3 here!

“Haven’t we met before?”

The shine in your eyes does nothing to hide your curiosity, head even tilting a little in observation. He watches them scan his face for any recognizable features, but attempts to focus on the strange, taut string of déjà vu that pulls him toward you. In a moment of absentmindedness, he had heard a faint voice call out his name from your direction. Confusion overtook him as you weren’t looking at him, but something inside his brain said that it had to be from you. And so his feet redirected his path towards your figure in the student union building, as if on a mission.

“A fucking whale, Childe?”

Oh.

“I don’t think so…?” You trail off, curiosity now replaced by perplexed feelings. “Do we have a class together?”

I think I would’ve noticed you by now if you were.

“Ah, what’s your major?” Childe asks quickly to avoid listening to the little voice in his head.

“History and anthropology, you?”

“Economics, but I’ve taken a history course for core credits. Maybe it was then?”

“With Dr. Zhong?”

“Yes!” He snaps his fingers. Part of his brain decides to usefully function and scan his memories to see if he remembers your face or head of hair in the lecture hall then. “Last year? Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 to 11:20?”

“Actually, yeah,” you affirm in surprise. You think you would remember the relatively attractive ginger in your class, but honestly, it had all been such a blur and you were often pretty sleepy during class. Dr. Zhong didn’t quite appreciate it, but you made up for it with your exam and essay grades, as well as paying better attention in some of his other courses.

“Did you need me for anything?”

“I’d like for you to come visit and meet my family.”

He’s really not appreciating this extra voice speaking for him.

“Well…uh…” Childe stammers and looks away sheepishly, hand rubbing the back of his neck. He honestly had no reason for approaching you, and now, he just looks like a desperate idiot. Think quick, he tells himself, floundering for some shitty excuse.

“I wanted to, uh, take another history course as an elective and um, wanted to know if you had any recommendations?”

“Oh,” you blink. That’s a first. When he meets your gaze, the swirling shades of sapphire strike something deep within you. Flashes of events you can’t make out go by in the blink of an eye, but then you realize you’ve been staring for too long. Blood rushes to your cheeks because you don’t exactly want this guy to get the wrong idea from you, because how are you supposed to explain, “I’m sorry, but I think we have met before, but just a really, really long time ago, and we might’ve been more than just acquaintances because that’s what it feels like?”

“I think you’d like Teyvat Mythology,” your voice wavers on the verge of cracking. “Dr. Zhong might have a TA this time around, but Xiao’s a great teacher. Doesn’t have long, rambling anecdotes, but explains things well and gets straight to the point.”

“C-cool, I’ll look into it,” Childe replies and smiles brightly. “I’ll head out then,” jabbing a thumb over his shoulder, where he just realized he left a grouchy Scaramouche waiting by a vending machine, newly purchased Starbucks Tripleshot drink in hand. “Nice seeing you, (y/n).”

He scurries off before you both realize that you never told him your name.

“Who’s that?” Scaramouche asks, jutting his chin in your vague direction.

“Someone from my Intro to Liyuean History course last year,” Childe waves off. “Come on, let’s go before the line at the pasta bar gets too long.”

-

The next time you see Childe is by accident, traversing across an open field of grass that many students like to sit out on to relax with friends, sunbathe, hold events, or play casual team sports if room permits.

You had your earbuds in and were scrolling through social media when laughter rang above all other sound, causing your head to snap up and swivel around to find the source. And while it might’ve been strange to an outsider, your steps immediately slowed as you watched the man of your tiring, vivid dreams sprint in your direction, eyes pinned on a frisbee heading towards him.

He’s wearing a grey sports tank and basketball shorts, headband holding back his bangs as he makes a slight jump in the air to catch the plastic disc between his palms. His feet plant into the grass as he looks for someone to pass it to, and you watch (with embarrassment) the muscles in his throwing arm relax and tighten with practice, frisbee steadily soaring through the air in a beautiful arc towards a teammate. He then lightly jogs to get closer to his group, but then his back stiffens.

Before your instincts kick in for you to turn and bail, he looks over his shoulder and stares straight at your now stunned self.

The sole ruby earring that glints in the sunlight catches your attention, and you recall your dreams of terrifyingly dark, violet electric power, blades of water rushing toward you, and then the stomach-churning sensation of falling from great heights pours concrete into your veins—

Childe looks a little amused for having your sole focus, hand lifting up for a quick wave. And as you numbly return the greeting, your heart beats out, “Run from him.”

And so with the flight response pulsing and firing from your synapses, you abruptly speed walk away, almost breaking out into a sprint towards your dorm. You ignore his pointed, confused look, and pretend you don’t feel the two holes of imaginary fire searing into your back. It isn’t until you’re laying back in bed that you release a huge sigh of relief and pray to a deity you don’t believe in that those eyes of mirth will not haunt you tonight.

But of course, with a deity that doesn’t exist, the prayers go unanswered.

-

“Do you believe in any of the mythology you teach?” You ask Xiao about a few days later when you stop by his cubicle. Luckily, no one else is around for this conversation, and Xiao has always been kind enough to humor your thoughts. Granted, he might feel obligated because you had asked Dr. Zhong to be your advisor for your undergraduate Honors thesis, and Xiao was directed to be your receiver of some general questions and source of information if he wasn’t around.

A quick scan of your complexion tells Xiao everything he needs to know. Your eyes are overtaken with rumination and exhaustion, haziness clouding them as you seem to ponder over your own question. It’s not often that you ask him anything not related to your thesis or coursework.

“Perhaps there’s some sense and truth to the tales passed down,” he softly muses. “What makes you ask?”

You lift yourself to sit on the clean area next to his computer, legs slowly swaying back and forth. “It might sound crazy but...I’ve been having dreams lately. They feel too real, too natural to be anything that my mind would make up. I’ve never had the most creative imagination by any means, which is why there’s some comfort to me being a history major, but I can’t shake these.”

“So why ask me about the mythology?”

“...the Archons are there. I even dreamt that I met the Geo and Anemo Archons. And they controlled various elements, just like we were taught.”

You don’t notice that Xiao has ceased his rapid typing, fingers hovering over the keyboard before one hand removes his glasses from his face. He uses the other to rub his eyes and softly pinch the bridge of his nose before sliding the frames back on. Dark, golden amber eyes survey you as you grapple with the unfathomable possibilities of your nightly visions, at least until you shake your head in disbelief at yourself and lightly scoff.

“Who am I kidding?” You ask no one in particular. “Maybe I’ve been doing too much research and everything’s mixing together.”

“You’re ahead of schedule, if that provides any consolation.”

“Some.”

-

It takes Childe a grand total of one minutes and 53 seconds to sign up for Teyvat Mythology for the spring semester.

-

WInter in Liyue is only slightly miserable, being so close to the ocean. It’s chillier than usual on this dreary day, yet something compelled you to exit your dorm and shakily make your way to the campus coffee shop for a warm drink. Coffee, hot chocolate, you haven’t quite decided yet, but just as you let yourself bask in the warm building, familiar ginger hair and blue eyes wash away the comfort.

Or do they douse you in security?

They remind you of your recent dreams that now have shifted away from stress and violence to easygoing summer days by the oceanside, running barefoot in the sand while collecting beautifully patterned azure starconches. Sometimes, you thrust a hand towards an oversized four-leaf clover on a wooden stake with the power of wind and catch yourself in the air, soaring and looking around to find more of the little shells. Other nights, they consist of climbing steep cliffs, only to sit at the edge in the clouds with fatigue wracking through your system and marvel at the view before you.

Someone’s always with you though, ruby earring and maroon mask and cobalt blue gem hanging from the waist, sprinting with you, playfully tackling you down, pulling you up towards mountain peaks, laying their head on your shoulders, brushing their lips against your cheek--

You welcome the change of peace in those dreams, but only because they don’t leave you quite as tired the next day, as if you’d been avoiding an inescapable dark force.

Part of you wants the burning question of why this person, this man, in all his glory and brightness, affects you so fucking much when you barely even know the guy -- why looking at him sends your heart to lodge itself in your esophagus, why your lungs feel like they’re so close to being completely collapsed under the weight of his stare, why feeling like you’re trapped and ��caught between wanting to run towards yet away from him.  It makes no sense, and you’re tired of trying to make sense of anything you don’t exactly want to remember from your dreams for some, once again, inexplicable reason.

But there’s no time to think as he quickly ambles towards you, your own feet shuffling forward to meet him in a warped reference of a distance that constitutes to “the middle” before you can stop yourself. Your shivering hasn’t quite stopped yet, and Childe seems to take notice of it.

“Pretty cold out there,”  he softly states. It’s cute, the way you’re curling in on yourself to retain some warmth.

“Y-yeah, not sure why I decided I really needed something warm to drink right now,” you reply and avoid his gaze. He watches you peer over his shoulder to squint at the menu display hanging from the ceiling, seemingly contemplating on what you should get.

“How about I get yours today? My treat for your class recommendation last time.” Anything to keep you here longer. Childe doesn’t realize how much he’s missed you, which confuses him, and chooses to ignore the fact that he’d been camping himself at the study tables in the building where the history department is located in hopes of even just catching a quick glimpse of you.

“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” you immediately attempt to subvert his generous offer, hands shooting out from your jacket pockets and waving in rejection. “It was nothing.”

“Please?” Childe puts on his best puppy eyes before reaching for one of your wrists, gently tugging you to the register. “Just this once?”

You want so badly to squash the tiny flare of disappointment that erupts in your chest from the newly acquired knowledge that this was just a one time thing. Do econ majors hate to feel in debt? That they must be even with everyone, or would rather have people indebted to them than the other way around?

There’s no time to think when Childe gives the cashier his order before turning to you, and without wanting to waste anyone’s time, you rattle off your usual beverage. He’s quick in fishing out his student ID to spend some of his campus currency, shooting you a boyish grin when you pout at your half-opened wallet.

“Go take that table over there,” he says, pointing to one in the corner by some windows. “I’m gonna tell my friends to go on without me.”

“I didn’t mean to intrude or pull you away from them,” you slightly panic. The sooner you can leave, the better. Right? “You don’t need to sit with me, I was just gonna head back to my dorm.”

“I insist. Go ahead, I’ll be right there.”

Why your brain takes his orders over your own is a mystery in and of itself, because before you know it, you’re plopped down in one of the lounge seats and staring off into space, mind reeling over the last two minutes. You pretend you can’t hear the way Childe’s friends nudge his arm playfully with their shoulders, wiggling their eyebrows suggestively as Childe tries to get them to stop being nonsensical.

“You’re gonna scare them off,” he hisses at them, hands pushing at their backs so they could finally leave him to his devices.

“Not before you do!” One of them laughs and Childe groans at their antics. “All right, all right, we’ll go. They’re cute though, might steal them if you don’t make a move.”

The darkening of the aura surrounding Childe is too quick for them to fully process, not before he dampens any of their fleeting hopes with a, “Don’t even fucking think about it.”

But it disappears just as fast when his and your drinks are called out, and he gives them one last shove before retrieving your to-go cups. Childe directs all his focus towards the seat diagonally from yours as opposed to the one that’s straight across, and you’re sharply ripped away from whatever reverie you let yourself slip into.

“Thank you,” you murmur, hands cupping the drink and feeling the heat seep into your fingertips. “You really didn’t have to, it was nothing big.”

“Can you blame me for just trying to find an excuse to finally talk to you?” He asks without a skip and you can’t tell if the quickening of your heartbeat is from a looming sense of doom or excitement. Those eyes, the tiny swirls of the ocean, blue like those shells buried in the sand--

It takes three seconds too long for you to understand where he was going with in his words, and part of you feels unamused at his smooth talking. You’ve always guarded yourself against guys like Childe, devilishly handsome who know their way around language semantics, ready to pull you in and just as ready to push you away. That (possibly unfair) bias, coupled with everything else you’ve been feeling for him, sounded the alarms and set the walls up around your heart. Perhaps you need to stop wearing your heart on your sleeve, because Childe immediately retracts his forwardness.

“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I promise I’m not looking for anything in return and you don’t owe me anything, but I really did just...want to sit and talk and...get to know you?” Childe trails off a little towards the end. Your body loosens up and relaxes just a tiny bit, feeling bad for your snap judgment. Let the guy do something nice, don’t look into it too much, you tell yourself. It’s a coffee, not a five-course dinner.

You reach out a hand towards him, small smile across your lips, ready for his to join yours in a quick handshake. “I’m (y/n), senior history and anthropology double major. It’s nice to meet you.”

The pounding of your heart against your ribcage has nothing to do with the shimmering of his eyes, nothing to do with the fact that his hand fits with yours just right, and nothing to do with the fact that an eerily similar voice from your dreams whispers, “I love you.”

You learn a number of things about Tartaglia in the four hours, like his family members and their respective interests, which classes he did and didn’t enjoy taking, certain takes on Schnezhnayan politics, his own various hobbies, crazy accidents from the occasional college parties, and more. He’s a bit of an open book, probably telling you way more than any regular person would, and definitely more than anything you revealed during all this time. Everything you tell him seems surface level, nothing too deep. The walls are still there to protect you from the unexplainable, profound feelings his presence seems to elicit, and luckily, he doesn’t prod any further. Childe feels the resistance and respects it, which just adds more brownie points in your book, and you almost feel bad for having given so little in return.

“I wish we were taking Teyvat Myth together,” he sighs when walking you back to your dorm, hands stuffed in his pockets. His ruby earring catches the light from the sunset, the shade almost complimentary to the golden amber rays that streak across the sky. “Would’ve helped having a history major in there.”

“Is that all I am to you, an answer bank?” You jokingly ask, but he watches concerningly as you shoot your gaze to the ground, mindfully stepping over the cracks between concrete slabs.

“Of course not,” a gentle sincerity reaches you, giving you the confidence to make eye contact with him. “I’m sorry for making it sound like that, it wasn’t my intention. I really just meant it as a way of saying if the professor or TA ended up being a total bore, then well, having you would make it more fun.”

“I’m sure I’d bore you even more,” chuckling, speeding up to get away. You’re growing too comfortable in whatever atmosphere Childe has created, like an enclosed air bubble bobbing gently in the depths of the sea and letting the waves carry you both to whichever ends of the earth.

“Hey,” he interjects, hand reaching out to stop you with a soft yank of your wrist. There is no resisting force from you, feet stepping backward until he meets you eye to eye. It’s unfair in the way that he can render you motionless by standing just an inch from you, arms brushing with his head tilted closer to your own. “Seriously, I’m glad we did this today. Are you?”

No, because now I don’t know what to think, I don’t know who you are, I’m not any closer to figuring out why you terrify yet leave me so enamoured with you, I’m torn between punching and kissing you and--

“Yes,” you subconsciously answer, brain immediately short-circuiting to scold yourself. “I had fun.”

His grin, charming, devilish, is so so bright, bright enough to rival the Liyue sun that sits on the pier, on the edge of the ocean, bright enough to rival the love that your fraternal twin showers you with on a daily basis. You want time to stop right here because you’re almost sick of the voice settled deep within your heart that screams, “Don’t get comfortable, you must run from him!”

“Good. Let’s do this again?” And you nod, of course you do. Foolish you. “Don’t be a stranger!” He calls out as he turns on his heel and waves over his shoulder, hand raised in the air, and you’re suddenly transported to another scene, a less refined version of the Liyue Harbor, watching as the head of ginger hair with a red mask in a flashier attire of grey and maroon walks away from you and onto a roaring, magnificent ship; big, ivory sails only seen in books and museums. It’s the same gesture of “see you later”, and just before he turns, you blink, and you’re back to seeing your campus again.

But Childe does look back once, warm and content that you’re still standing there, watching over him, and he can’t help but think about when he can spend time with you again, because suddenly, it truly feels like there’s not enough of it anymore.

-

“Excuse me, what’s a Red Bull?”

The last thing, or person rather, you expect to see on the last day of finals for the fall semester, is a small boy who looks way too young to be here, tugging on the sleeve of your windbreaker. He’s at most eleven, ten maybe, but he has eerily similar characteristics, as well as an accent that doesn’t quite belong to most Liyue natives. Still gathering your bearings from your own perusing of the fridges that hold all the possible beverages a college student could consume, you kneel down until you’re at eye level with the child.

“Repeat that for me? Are you looking for a Red Bull, you say?”

“Yes!” He beams and holds out a student ID that most definitely doesn’t belong to him. “My brother asked me to grab him one because he was busy with something.”

Your eyes flit over to the top shelves where the aforementioned cans of caffeine are located, and definitely too high for someone of his height to reach. “I’ll grab one for you. Did he ask for a specific flavor?”

“Nope, he said regular. Thanks, you’re really nice! Do you know my brother?” He asks, waving the ID at you so you can get a better look at the name. That’s definitely a face you recognize, but the name leaves you confused.

“Yeah, um,” glance over again, “I know...Ajax…”

“He’s the best toy seller in the whole world!”

Somehow, it suits him much better than Childe or Tartaglia, and you’re not quite sure what toys have anything to do with the matter at hand. Speaking of hands, the little boy grabs yours in sheer delight. “Can you take me back to his room? I kinda forgot the directions he told me, and everything’s so big around here.”

“Sure, just let me buy something, too, and I’ll take you.”

“Okay!”

The cashier isn’t the least bit fazed by the little brunette at your side -- it’s always common for family members to come in around the end of semesters to pick up kids or visit, and being an open building with snacks and drinks and a stopping point of most tours, they’ve seen it all. You even let him pick out a bag of chips and a candy bar for himself for being so polite and not a complete menace, paying with your own campus currency.

Teucer, as you’ve learned in the last two minutes, likes to point out things and ask you questions. Luckily, you have answers to most of them and do your best to pad the time, enjoying the feeling of a tiny hand wrapped around three of your fingers. It’s sweet to any normal passerby, believing they’re witnessing an older sister doting on their little brother around the holidays, but to Childe, seeing the tender sweetness on your face as you nod along to whatever Teucer is rambling about to you, sets his heart aflame. He’s already constantly on the verge of wanting to hug and kiss you and never let go, but you haven’t made any indication that you could potentially like him back, and this is just torture.

“Look what they bought me!” Teucer shoves his rewards in Childe’s face as if he had extremely poor eyesight, and you can’t help but laugh a little as you set his Red Bull down on his desk, clutching your own preferred beverage while looking around his room. Finals must have gotten to him with the unusual lack of tidiness in the small space, some laundry strewn here and there, a couple boxes of eaten microwave dinners in the metal wire trash can, some textbooks left open and marked with more sticky notes than you’ve ever seen. You’d only been here once before to drop off some food that he desperately messaged you about, stuck doing a project that he just couldn’t step away from.

“Pretend you don’t see the mess,” Childe pleads, handing a kid tablet to his brother but holding on before Teucer can take it. “What do you say to our nice friend here for buying you these snacks?”

“Thank you!”

“It was nothing,” you shyly smile, ruffling his hair. “I enjoyed meeting you.”

“Wait, what’s your name again?”

“It’s (Y/n).”

“Okay, (y/n)! Wait…(y/n)..as in…”

Teucer trails off and gives a look to his brother, one that spells curiosity and trouble, before he grabs your hand and pulls you into a corner. Any movement Childe makes to leave his desk chair is immediately squashed by Teucer’s disapproval, and the older man is left to helplessly worry when you’re told to squat down so secrets can be whispered into your ear.

“He talks about you a lot whenever he calls home,” and you want to laugh at Tecuer’s attempt to sound as scandalous as possible. “All the time! I think he likes you, like, like like.”

Oh. Oh dear.

“What makes you say that?” You whisper back, indulging both yourself and him, yet also internally snickering at how troubled Childe looks.

“Sometimes, he video calls mama, but we’ll all sit around and talk, and whenever he’s talking about how he saw you or something, he just looks...happy. Really happy.”

The surprise on your face does nothing to settle Childe’s nerves and he’s about to start wringing his hands together. Whatever Teucer was telling you couldn’t be good, probably embarrassing, like the one time he unceremoniously fell on his ass while ice skating over a frozen lake, or when he tried fitting fifteen marshmallows in his mouth and nearly choked on them when their mother caught them in the act, or--

“I think he just thinks of me as a good friend,” you try to inform Teucer, not letting yourself get any semblance of hope. “Nothing more, nothing less.”

“If you say so,” Teucer pouts. But then he stops whispering and bounds over back to his brother, grabbing the tablet before plopping down on the half-made bed.

“Look, I was overconfident and thought I could execute a perfect single loop on the ice, but there was a rock and I lost balance and--”

“I wasn’t being told any stories about you falling on ice, but do tell me more,” you chuckle and take some joy in watching the blush spread across his cheeks. It’s easy to tell that he’s mentally berating himself for jumping to conclusions.

“Well, first off, thanks for buying him all that, and my drink, too,” he sighs. “I spoil him enough as it is.”

“I can see why it’s hard not to,” you smile knowingly. “So is it just him here? Where’s the rest of your family?”

“Funny story, he somehow managed to convince my parents to let him come here on his own as his first ever plane flight, so I had to pick him up yesterday from the airport. He’s flying back with me tomorrow.”

“And the RA?” You ask with an eyebrow raised.

“Ah...well...what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him? Speaking of, what was Teucer whispering to you about?”

There’s a pensiveness that overtakes you when you look at Teucer again, who’s happily playing some sort of game and completely oblivious to the rest of his surroundings. You won’t, can’t, take his words to heart, and will take them with a grain of salt at most.

“Nothing important. Although I did learn something new...Ajax?”

“Say my name -- fuck, say it, please--”

“I guess cat’s out of the bag,” he chuckles and looks away, absolutely unaware of the flare of heat that swirls in your stomach from the fleeting vision just now. “I came up with other nicknames as a kid to seem cooler, and they just stuck with me. Plus, the business world is full of people who just want something from you, or just a transactional relationship. I’d rather not give my real name to them, if you know what I mean.”

“That’s fair,” you nod and lean to sit on the edge of his desk. A thought pops into your head and you turn the words over in your head like a washing machine on the spin setting, teeth gnawing on the flesh of your bottom lip. If Teucer hadn’t been in the room, he would’ve been this close to kissing you.

“But if it’s worth anything,” your voice slowly, softly starts, cautious and wary of your thoughts. “I think...Ajax suits you best.”

Curse fate. Curse the legendary Archons. Curse karma and deities and spirits because all he wants to do right now is stand and tower over you, trap you between himself and his desk so you can’t escape, take those pretty lips between his until they’re bruised and swollen because of him, hear you call out his name in the throes of pleasure so he can finally replace his fantasies with tangible memories. The unnatural, magnetic pull that draws him to you is unbearable now -- he feels like he’ll lose the last tendrils of his sanity if he doesn’t do something.

You can’t stop him from slowly reaching out to grab one of your hands, lifting it towards him until he’s close enough for you to feel his breath ghost over your knuckles. It sends a shiver down your spine and blood is pounding in your ears because you can’t begin to fathom what he’s thinking about while doing this, even more so when his lips make contact with your skin and your breath hitches, stuck in your throat as he languidly peeks at you beneath his eyelashes with a heated gaze, then lowly confessing, “My name sounds best when you say it.”

Good heavens.

It’s difficult to swallow and keep your composure, especially when Teucer yells out in glee over, what you can assume, beating something in his game, and Childe drops your hand. But his dilated pupils don’t retract in the slightest, refusing to let you look away so that maybe, you can understand what he’s trying to convey to you. He’s taking the first step because he’s terrible and can’t contain his self-control anymore, pushing the ball into your court, ready for you to either play or exit into the sidelines.

When you do blink, there’s a vision of your naked body wrapped around another, limbs clinging desperately to a sturdy and panting frame. Lips, much like the ones that have seared themselves onto your knuckles, are at your neck and sucking, biting, before moving to your ear and laying filthy words into them that drive you closer to the edge. It all happens so fast that you feel you’ve just experienced whiplash, yet also feeling secondhand embarrassment at how lewd some of these thoughts have been.

You can’t stay here any longer.

“I-I have to go,” spills off your tongue before you can really think about it. The way the haze shatters in his eyes is heartbreaking in its own way, but there’s no time for you to explain. Your brain is in overdrive and eager to run, run, run. It detects danger on all fronts, but you muster out a, “H-have a good break, come find me next semester, mmk?”

And you’re out the door with inhuman speed. When the door clicks shut, only then does Teucer look up from his screen and frown at the lack of your presence. “Where’d they go?”

Chlide doesn’t seem to hear him, and Teucer has never seen his big brother look so sad and confused before.

-

He holds on to that last tendril of hope, because mark his words, he will find you come January.

-

After about a week at home, enjoying the festive time with his family and mildly unconcerned about next year’s courses because that was a problem for another day, Childe has his first, crazy, nonsensical dream.

At least, that’s what he tells himself when he snaps awake and his body aches with exhaustion. Not only are his joints in agony, he also feels like he’s sporting unforeseen bruises, which makes absolutely no sense because he hasn’t done anything that would warrant them, no matter how much he and his brothers do some rough-housing. His night of sleep was all consumed by flashes and scenes of weapon fighting, lucid enough to remember feeling his arms flex and wield bows and double-headed polearms and being cognizant of all the enemies??? surrounding him. They ranged from deranged looking monsters, floating beings with soulless masks, and large humans in electricity-padded armor, to behemoth machines in the sky that could leave you within an inch of your life thanks to a drill for a hand?!

But what’s even worse is that you seem to have managed a deal with Morpheus himself and infiltrated his dreams. You were there, too, sometimes fighting with him, sometimes against him, much to his dismay, and while it was nice, he just didn’t get it. Why the friendliness and hostility? Why was there an anger that overtook him when looking directly at you, parrying your blade and sending harmful arcs of water toward your figure?

Why did he relish the fear in your eyes when he darted towards you with electricity cracking through the air?

There’s an overwhelming sensation now to grab his phone to text you and apologize -- for what, he can’t fathom and there are no words to accurately convey what he’s thinking. “Hey, sorry for wanting to kill you in my dream :( “? Or “Sorry for being a friend but then stabbing you in the back, but then being nice to you again”?

And the only thing that really made sense was the serenity and contentment that would course through his veins as the two of you danced around on ivory sandy beaches, picking up shiny blue starconches and taking down more weird creatures; the breathlessness when you would fall back into the water and re-emerge to reconfirm his beliefs that you were one of the most beautiful humans he’d ever laid his eyes on; the love--

Hold the fuck up.

He doesn’t love you. He likes you a whole lot and he’s severely and deathly attracted to you, but he doesn’t love you. Your existence has only been made known to him for about two months, and he didn’t really start talking to you until three weeks in. So no matter how comfortable he feels with you, no matter how much he wishes that you were sleeping peacefully next to him so his nights wouldn’t feel so lonely, it was too early, too hasty, to say that he loves you.

“I’ve been wondering, why didn’t you bring them home?” His mother asks him out of nowhere during breakfast, all to add to this extremely tumultuous roller-coaster morning he’s been having. All he wants to do is eat his bowl of milk and cereal, then potentially go back to sleep before fulfilling his promise to go with his siblings to the nearby skating rink. It takes everything in him to not choke on his spoon of grains.

“Agreed, didn’t you mention they didn’t really have any family to go back to and that the move to Liyue was semi-permanent?” His father chimes in, laying a quick peck on his wife’s temple. “It’s never fun to spend the holidays alone.”

“They would’ve felt like they were intruding,” Childe replies quietly, stabbing his bowl a few times before scooping up another spoonful of cereal to his mouth. “I know we’re friends, but we haven’t known each other for that long, and maybe they’d be uncomfortable because that’s a lot honestly…”

“You don’t know until you try,” his mother sings and pats him on the shoulder. “We do have a guest room after all.”

“For them and their twin?”

“And quite a comfortable futon with enough blankets.”

Childe smiles fondly at his parents’ kindness. He can only imagine what this winter break would’ve been like now -- you and your twin floating around, trying to help out with certain chores, sitting by the fireplace and watching TV, huddled up with mugs of hot chocolate, playing board games with everyone and engaging in all the shenanigans…

Laughing. Loving. Grinning. Basking.

Handing over one of his hoodies to you as a sick way of torturing yet blessing himself for seeing how lovely you look in his clothes, standing silently in the doorway as you attempt to help out with mealtimes next to his mother, watching you run around in the backyard and dodging his siblings’ snowballs while lodging a few of your own -- how wonderful it all would be.

But he squashes it down as quickly as possible, because you escaped his grasp. You ran away from his advances temporarily and even though you gave him permission to seek you out come the spring semester, he worries that you might take it back. Something will wake up inside of you to keep him out of your heart and your life, and he’s not confident enough at this point to believe there’s a good chance you will come spend the holidays with him and his family next year.

“Maybe next year, ma,” he sends her a hesitant, yet somewhat broken purse of his lips that’s just the least bit curved. It tells her everything he’s thinking, and the quick patting of his cheek lets him know she understands.

Half an hour later, Childe finds himself curled up on his side under the sheets, phone in hand as he stares at a blinking cursor. It shouldn’t be so hard to send a text to convey his holiday greetings, because that’s all it is -- part of him is becoming desperate and aching for some interaction with you, even if it’s just a text sent back for conventional social pleasantries. He’ll take it for now, right?

Before he can totally chicken out, his thumbs quickly type a, “Happy Holidays, (y/n) :)”, and it’s a little embarrassing how quickly after he hits the ‘send’ button that he tosses it over his shoulder so he’s not directly looking at it anymore. His heartbeat is too quick and he prays for no phantom vibrations or phantom sound notifications to avoid any disappointment of thinking he got a reply. It was a harmless text, yet he’s treating it like he just got assigned on a mission to go and murder someone for the first time. What will he do if you never text him back? Does that mean you really don’t want to talk to him? Are you dead in a ditch somewhere? Did you change numbers and not tell him? Did your twin get all the details and make the executive decision to block his number? Will he never get a chance to talk to you again, even if it’s about something in the Teyvat Mythology class next semester? Will you--

His shoulder screams in protest when he quickly flips himself over at the text notification sound, hands shakily unlocking his phone and opening up your conversation again. His heart rate significantly decreases, reaching back to its normal pace, especially as he reads the little words on his screen.

“Happy Holidays, Ajax ^^”

There is hope.

-

“You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?”

You’re huddled under the comforter of your twin’s bed, phone just peeking above the edge as you stare at it with a brightness in your eyes. For the most part, you had been sulking there, apart from meals and going back to your own room to sleep, and mentally berating yourself for the way you reacted to Childe the week before.

“He just texted me to say happy holidays,” shrugging to put on a facade of indifference. It’s stupid that you’re trying to hide your feelings from your twin of all people, who could pick apart and identify your emotions in a heartbeat. A roll of his eyes lets you know that you haven’t fooled him at all.

“So you think that whatever comment he made, which was very suggestive and indicative of clearly non-platonic feelings, was just something...friendly? Remind me again how you came to that conclusion?”

“I don’t know what I was thinking!” You whine, looking around to see if there was anything you could toss at him. “It’s just, with everything, all the dreams and stupid gut feelings, I just -- I don’t know, okay?? I can’t tell you enough how much I wish I had just kissed his stupid face and see where it goes from there.”

“Okay, gross, but don’t beat yourself up. Though...I do have a good idea on how to maybe get a good reaction out of him. You wanna go to the New Years’ celebration at Xiangling’s?”

“I think she’d threaten me with a knife if I didn’t. She wanted to go shopping at some point, too.”

“I’ll drop the overprotective brother act for one night, okay? One night, just to let this happen, and for your peace of mind.”

He does a fair amount of conspiring with Xiangling, a friend they met one time at a restaurant a couple years ago, even tagging along on the shopping trip. Together, the three of you find yourself a dress that Xiangling swears would make any person drool over you, including Childe, because at the end of the day, he was a person with the possibility of being attracted to you.

You think it’s a bit silly, but honestly, what do you have to lose at this point?

-

At 11:57PM on New Years’ Eve, Childe is standing outside in the freezing cold with his family, arms lifting up bags of sparklers and fireworks. They’ve driven out closer to the wild like they do every year, and everybody excitedly gets lighters ready, making sure someone’s got a clock out there that tells the seconds. As the younger kids open up the packaging and argue over which one to set off first, Childe’s phone vibrates in his coat pocket.

It’s 11:58PM when he manages to fish the device out and thank himself for buying gloves that are touch-screen friendly, excited to see that there are two texts from you, the latter reading, “Happy New Year!”. It doesn’t matter that you’re a little early, but he’s mainly intrigued by the fact a photo came before it. In his mind, you’re probably curled up with your twin brother, hopefully a selfie because wow, he misses your face.

He gets something else instead, and he is so glad that it’s dark outside and the electric lamp they have is too far away from him to draw any attention.

You have your arm around your brother’s waist and another girl’s that he doesn’t recognize, but it’s a full frontal view of your outfit, one that hugs your curves beautifully and shows more cleavage than he’s ever seen from you, sophisticated and elegant, yet fun and leaving enough to the imagination. There’s a bright smile coming from all of you, and you look like you’re at someone’s house or apartment with plenty of other people milling around in the back, but they don’t matter, not when all he can focus on is you.

Gorgeous, breathtaking, arousing, mind blowing, and gods, he wishes he could teleport to Liyue at this moment, find you, and kiss you right at midnight. Fuck the fact that he doesn’t exactly believe in superstitions like, “Kissing your significant other at midnight means you’ll last forever!” but he’s willing to take the chance with it on this night and the ones after, if he’s allowed. He tries not to think too much about pinning you against the wall and letting the world dissolve -- wants to be the one with the privilege to drag down that zipper and feel his bare skin on yours, and --

As Teucer starts yelling there’s only a minute left, he instinctively locks his phone and shoves it away out of anyone’s view. The last thing he needs is his family teasing him about ogling at your photo for a straight 50 seconds, wide-eyed and pupils on the verge of dilating, the visible breath leaving his mouth just a smudge more dense and prominent than usual.

The only thing he can do to distract himself from popping a boner in front of his parents is to join in on the countdown, making sure all the fireworks are set up correctly and grabbing a sparkler for himself. He waves it around with Tonia and promises to fulfill her wishes of taking one of those pictures right as she draws a pattern in the air. Their excitement is palpable and addicting, and even though the larger fireworks set off a few seconds after midnight hits, the nostalgia fills his lungs with fond memories and future wishes that they only continue this tradition for as long as possible, and hopefully, with you at his side.

-

When it’s 12:04AM, you get a picture message back of Childe bundled up in a black paletot coat, matching beanie and all, a gloved hand holding a sparkler and lips curved upwards, with a caption that says, “Happy New Year’s! See you soon :)”. You show it to Xiangling and your brother, both taking it as a win in their books, although the former does tipsily protest that there should be a better indicator of Childe’s brain breaking at how amazing you look right now. Maybe she’s prophetic, because another text chimes in and the words set you aflame, as well as suggestive whoops into your ears.

It’s a simple, “You look incredible btw”.

If you didn’t want to properly savor this moment, you would’ve found the nearest shot of the strongest liquor and tossed it back with abandon. But you want to remember the warmth in your veins that wasn’t from the alcohol or the heating, the fluttering of your heartbeat, the teeth-baring grin that you couldn’t fight off, the constant re-reading of those four words -- because they’re so different from everything you had been feeling before with him, the need for protection, the need to escape. Instead, you’d like to be in his arms right now and see for yourself how he’d look at you in this moment, and if he would take any action.

You want him to. So, so bad.

-

Childe spends his last week at home hating the fact that you’re just sitting around somewhere in Liyue, doing whatever you’re doing, probably doing some light preparation for your last semester of classes, and he’s not there to take advantage of all this free time and hang out with you. When classes start, it’ll be busy and hectic. You still have your thesis to finish and revise, and while that won’t eat up all your time, it’s still some that he’d want to fill in with his presence if he could. He debates whether or not he should ask for your schedule and compare it with his, maybe set up meetings every other day or propose that they all eat one meal together every day. Childe’s not quite sure of what you plan to do after graduation, as it hasn’t come up in conversation yet, but either way, he’s determined to stay in contact and make things work out. Long distance isn’t ideal, but with technology now, he’ll take it.

He feels a little bad for how excited he probably looked to be leaving home, uncharacteristic for the most part. His older siblings have already gone back to their respective homes, and it’s mainly Teucer and Tonia that worry and tear up when he starts packing his belongings. Tonia finds it unfair that Teucer got to meet you first and the latter makes sure to rub it into everyone’s faces. It’s hard for Childe to sleep on the plane because he’s thrumming with excitement, yet somehow even more nervous than usual when the plane hits small bouts of turbulence, and he doesn’t seem to relax until he sets foot back on campus.

He’s here. It’s January, and you’re physically closer to him than ever in the last two weeks.

-

“Found you.”

On the first day of classes, you’re sitting alone with some salad greens in a bowl, poking your fork at some scraps while you watch something on your phone, earbuds in and back towards the entrance of the canteen. It would explain the unannounced entrance of the very person who’s been at the forefront of nearly every thought in the last 96 hours, his fingers gingerly removing an earbud to surprise you as best as possible, and you startle in your seat.

Your heart kicks into overdrive when he hands you back your earbud and pulls out the seat next to you, setting his own plate of food down as he plops down in his chair. But then he says nothing afterwards, instead choosing to send you a cheeky grin before digging in. You’re left to slowly phase out of your state of shock, stuck between either running away or frantically texting your twin to come and save you even though he was off on a date with Keqing.

It’s not that you weren’t elated at the fact that Childe had done exactly as you told him last month, you just weren’t...prepared? It’s a shitty excuse and a cop out -- you’re mainly just having trouble with racking your brain to find the right words. What are you supposed to say? What should you do? Is it socially acceptable to lean over and kiss him on the cheek because that’s what you’d like to impulsively do at this very second??

“So you did,” you settle and steal a roasted potato wedge from his plate. It’s his turn to be taken by surprise, but he gets over it much quicker than you do. In fact, he spears two wedges and drops them in your bowl, smiling at you as best as he can with a mouth full of food. You give them your thanks before the silence settles in again.

“Did you have a good break?” He asks before his next bite.

“I did. You?”

“It was nice. My parents said I should’ve brought you and your twin home to spend the holidays with us. Can’t say it didn’t cross my mind before finals.”

Holy shit, what? “We couldn’t intrude like that, but that’s really nice of you guys.”

“That’s okay, there’s plenty of chances to visit later.”

You tilt your head and furrow your eyebrows. “But we graduate this semester?”

Childe challenges you with one of his own eyebrows raised. “And? Are we never gonna see each other again?”

Honestly, the possibility had occurred to you. You aren’t entirely sure of Childe’s plans after graduation, and if that meant he was staying in Liyue or going back to Snezhnaya or even moving to Inazuma or Mondstat. While people preach on and on about how lasting friendships and relationships are often formed during college, you believe it’s more common to slowly drift apart as life gets busier. And if Childe moved away, or if you did, it’d be hard to consistently keep in touch with 10 hour workdays.

The thought saddens you, regardless. You like him so much and you’re glad that he was even in your life to begin with, because as unbelievable as it sounds, seeing him was almost akin to the feeling of coming home. Amidst all your nerves, your confusion, your spiraling thoughts, something deeply sated in your heart was a comfort that you found with very few people in your life whenever in his presence.

The thought of leaving and never looking back somehow doesn’t feel new -- it’s bittersweet, but the air in your lungs feels like it’s surrendered to something, like it was to be expected.

“You can’t just leave without telling me--”

“It was last minute! I had no choice!”

“You could’ve written up a message, anything--”

“Can you imagine the position you’d be in if the message got intercepted? I wouldn’t have been safe, she’d make you come after me--”

“As if you’d be any safer in Inazuma of all places! That’s the one place I can’t easily get to!”

���I can take care of myself, Childe, I don’t need you to protect me.”

“This isn’t about me protecting you, (y/n) and -- stop walking, will you?!”

“Then what is this about?” You spin on your wheel with eyes aflame. “Why are you so angry with me? It’s normal for me to disappear for weeks at a time, why was this any different?”

“Because you could’ve died!” He yells back in despair, chest heaving. Your silence is his cue to continue. “You could’ve died and I wouldn’t have known until much later. You could’ve died and all I’d ever think about were the things I never got to say to you, and how I wish I had treated every day with you like it was our last.”

It isn’t hard to tell that you’re stunned and at a complete loss for words. Childe often hides behind facades of charm and wit, and only when he is truly weak does he choose to be this vulnerable, baring his heart for you to see.

“I only have two nightmares in this world. One, my family being harmed in any way. Two, reading in a report or hearing from an agent that you’ve been captured and killed.”

“I like to think that we will.”

His hand reaches out to lay on top of yours, giving it a quick squeeze. “Well, let’s make the most of it this semester.”

Conversation afterwards is easy, filling each other in on holiday activities. Childe speaks extensively about several family traditions and you listen with rapt attention, basking in how fond he is of all of them. Even as you both bring your dishes to the return belt and leave, he immediately offers to drive you both somewhere to get boba, noticing your reluctance to part ways. But boba shops have to close, and you both have class tomorrow morning, and you’re both finding any excuse to keep talking, even if that means sitting outside your dorm building on a nearby bench.

You eventually bid each other good night’s and see you later’s, him refusing to walk away until the heavy door locks shut behind you after you swipe your student ID, and you looking over your shoulder to watch his figure disappear into the night.

-

True to his intentions, Childe makes great efforts to meet you at least once a day, and he can’t get enough. Each parting from you tugs and tugs at his heart, as if there’s a high possibility you’ll never want to see him again the next day, and he wouldn’t know what to do with himself. Your twin and Childe get along well for the most part, and he even meets Xiangling on one of her shifts at her regular restaurant, who sends you a salacious wink and an eyebrow wiggle over his shoulder that nearly causes you to burst from embarrassment.

February rolls over without a hitch, even if you’re a little disappointed that Childe didn’t make a move for Valentine’s Day. Granted, you two still spent time with each other and he’s so darn physically affectionate and he bought you a carnation from the event his dorm held, but you wish you had the guts to fess up and just kiss the man.

It’ll happen some day, you tell yourself. You have time before graduation.

Two days before the end of the Friday that would signal the start of Spring Break, you wake up in a cold sweat, mind reeling and head splitting, heart so so heavy, as a connection is made between your present and your dreams. Not long after, there are tears streaming silently down your face and into your open palms placed in your lap, and you sit in shock as everything comes back to you. Memories are such treasured burdens, you realize.

For the most part, you had gotten used to the dreams, choosing to take charge of what you know and feel now with Childe over succumbing to some strange neurological premonitions. Especially in your dreams when many people’s faces were blurred over and hazy, and the only things you could rely on were voices, touch, and other physical features. You thought that maybe your mind was just playing tricks by transposing Childe’s hair onto a body that was also strikingly similar to his, but for the first time last night, you could see each defining feature on his face as clear as day.

The sight of his figure arching gracefully over yours, the water arrows that appeared out of thin air, the back that protected you from some military men, the voice that said, “Hey girlie, hold still.”

And that was when you had snapped awake to your current state.

Past the initial shock and uncontrollable tears, you soon bent over as sobs wracked your chest, overwhelmed by all the emotions and the pain the memories brought you; losing your twin, finding him to only be left with even more questions after roaming for decades and decades, meeting all your loved ones throughout Mondstat and Liyue, fighting yet falling so hard for Childe, feeling the fear when facing his Foul Legacy form, hating him for Osial, loving him, breathing heavily as the tip of your blade was pointed at his neck and his own just centimeters from yours, tendrils of water inching closer and closer--

Everything makes sense now.

When you meet your twin for lunch at the cafeteria, you pay no mind to the fact that you’re in public and hug him harder than you ever have in years. He’s already a little alarmed that your eyes seem swollen and you look like finals came two months early, but when he asks what’s wrong, all he gets is a shake of your head and nothing more than, “Just a bad nightmare. I love you, y’know that?”

“I love you too?”

“Don’t sound so unsure, now let’s go and get in line before they run out of Jueyun Chili Chicken.”

Even when you meet Xiao later in the early evening to talk about your thesis, you find yourself holding back more tears just two minutes in, reminded of his past and his own life, and he’s moderately concerned, hesitantly handing you a tissue from the corner of his desk when a stray tear escapes. “Is everything okay?” He hesitantly asks, really hoping that he didn’t do anything to make you cry.

“No,” you almost wail and sniffle while dabbing at your eyes. “Sorry, it’s just been a really long day.”

Xiao’s inquisitive gaze softens, remembering how hard undergraduate life could be sometimes. Graduate school was a whole other level, but that shouldn’t discount your own personal difficulties. Plus, in all of the year and a half that he’s known you, you’ve never broken down like this before in front of him.

“You work really hard, Xiao,” you continue, and he’s not sure where this is coming from. “You’re always so helpful and willing to work with me and answer my stupid questions and like-- you practice self-care, right?”

Xiao nods as a white lie, but it seems to comfort you. Maybe too much because you pull him in for a quick and unexpected hug, and you both decide to reschedule this meeting for tomorrow.

As per usual, you wait for Childe to join you for dinner since you finished up earlier than expected. It gives you more time to think about everyone from Mondstat -- Kaeya, Diluc, Lisa, Jean, Amber...funny to think that some things never changed as you compared their past version to the ones you know now.

“Mora for your thoughts?”

There’s a peace that warms your heart when you hear Childe’s voice, one that forces you to smile at him as he sits down next to you. “Just thinking about old friends.”

“I have to admit, I’ll be a little jealous if it’s another guy taking up more space than me in that pretty brain of yours.”

What a flirt. This man isn’t good for your heart. “Who said you had any to begin with?”

He dramatically places a hand over his heart. “You wound me, (y/n). How will I ever recover?”

“You’re ridiculous,” you snicker. Childe reaches over to pinch your cheek and you bat at him in protest. Easily, he grabs one of your hands and simply pulls you towards the food lines, knowing that you’ll stop fighting back soon.

Part of it feels strange now to feel and see his hands with no leather gloves on.

“Childe,” you start halfway through your meal, continuing after he hums back in reply. “Do you believe in reincarnation?”

He freezes briefly, but recovers so quickly that if you hadn’t been watching so closely, you wouldn’t have noticed. “I think it’s neat, the idea of having past lives. Why do you ask?”

What he really wants to ask is if you’ve been having those dreams, too; if he’s starring in your nights like you have been in his.

“Just a thought, especially since you’re taking Teyvat Myth now, too.”

“Do you...do you think if there was a past life, that we knew each other?”

There’s something about the look of content on your face before you meet his gaze -- he thinks that you know more than you’re letting on but you’re holding back for some reason. He wants to know what’s going through your brain right now, why the fondness in your eyes sends a jolt through him like he’s been searching for it all his life, if you know anything about this magnetic pull between you two.

“I like to think that we knew each other well.”

-

Even though the first day of your returned memories was somewhat eventful, you couldn’t help but feel yourself wanting to pull back from Childe -- at least, until you can successfully compartmentalize which emotions belonged to you past self and which ones belonged to your current mindset. You didn’t quite agree with his duties and his affiliation with the Fatui back then, even if he had his reasons that did make sense, to some degree.

The killing, the threatening, so intent on stealing Rex Lapis’s Gnosis in the name of the Tsaritsa, summoning Osial as a mean to an end -- and you definitely can’t forget how stubborn he was in not listening to your protests, so caught up in his brain that you had betrayed him and sent you plummeting to a near-death experience despite his earlier promise of no intention of killing you specifically.

Everything had been toeing a faint, thin line with Childe then. Undeniable chemistry and tension, guarding yourself for yours and Paimon’s safety, slashing at Fatui agents, whispering out pleas and affirmations of “I’m yours” while riding him, sometimes having to sneak out in the mornings…

The only thing you don’t remember is how everything ends -- maybe it’ll come back to you eventually, but for now, you think you’re okay not knowing.

If Childe still doesn’t remember anything from back then, you think it’d be unfair to spend time with him in all your conflicting emotions, even when it’s spring break, where you have so much more hours in the day to be with each other than normal. Fun plans around Liyue had been made, like a two-day one-night trip to Yaoguang Shoal, and you’re this close to cancelling on him.

But he had been looking forward to it so much, even made most of the preparations for it. Who are you to rob that joy from him when it was you who couldn’t figure out your own shit? Are you self-destructing?

Perhaps.

Before you know it, you’re sitting in the passenger seat of his car, staring out the window at the scenery. Somehow, it pleased you to see that the nature of Liyue had been carefully preserved over the many centuries despite its development into the modern age. You get lost in picking apart the differences between then and now that you don’t notice how quiet you’ve fallen and Childe looks over worriedly when you show no reaction to your favorite songs playing on the stereo.

Even when he calls your name once, twice, nothing gives as you clearly have tuned everything out. So he leaves you be until there’s about half an hour left on the drive, unable to hold back and succumbing to reach over for your hand. You startle so strongly that he almost feels bad for having done it unannounced. But what’s even more disturbing is that this isn’t really the first time.

You’ve been talking to him less, often sitting quietly and staring off into another world that he can’t seem to reach. His texts are answered less frequently and with less wit and enthusiasm, so much so that he just appreciates you still show up to see him. Each time he asks if you’re okay, you always affirm that you are. He’s had a hard time believing you, but Childe believes you’ll tell him when you’re ready, surely.

It’s a little ironic yet fateful that Childe planned to bring you here, of all places. In the past, you had spent many days and nights running around in the sand with him, fighting slimes and hilichurls and collecting starconches for him. You remember laying on a large towel next to him as you both looked up into the sky, pointing out stars and constellations while sharing endless kisses away from prying, spying eyes.

“I’m sorry, I must’ve zoned out,” you sincerely apologize.

“It’s okay, I just wanna make sure you relax while we’re here. This is supposed to be a vacation.”

“You’re right,” you agree and squeeze his hand. “Let’s make the most of it before we become adults who are too busy to have fun like this again.”

And you do. Childe rented a small beach cabin (rich boys) closer to one end of the shoreline, just big enough with two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a small kitchen with a dining table. You help him bring in your bags and some groceries bought the night before, setting them down quickly so you can peer out the window again to take in the view. Childe picked a good time, too. Although it’d be a little chilly at night, the day was still warm and mainly overcast with clouds.

“What do you say we change into our swimsuits and head down to the water?”

“Sure.”

Childe hadn’t really been expecting for you to step out in a large, casual tee and gym shorts, one shoulder exposed. He might have been hoping to see a little more skin, but his mother didn’t raise a chauvinistic pervert for a son.

The light in your eyes as you both approach the water is everything he had been missing the last few days, your excitement and joy contagious. As soon as you place everything down on the sand, you kick off your flip flops and leave him behind to step into the water, giggling at feeling the waves crash over your ankles and bring sand between your toes. Childe approaches you from behind and starts smearing sunblock on the back of your neck, to which you just grin beautifully at him in thanks and he has to fight off the desire to kiss you right then and there.

You’re too caught up in embracing the ocean afterwards to feel the shrinking distance between you two, mistaking his warmth for the general spring air. It isn’t until he’s done with your shoulders that he hands you the bottle to leave you to do the rest of your body, and when you turn to thank him, he’s much closer than you remember. His eyes are gentle, holding your gaze and almost daring you to look away first.

But if there’s one thing you can place without a shred of doubt, it is the unmistakable look of love, because you had seen it many, many times before without knowing until later what it meant.

How so incredibly lucky you were to have Childe back in your life now, loving you all the same, and with no life-threatening barriers. Fate or the Archons have given you a second chance, and you’d be damned to take it for granted.

Childe welcomes your lips against his, wasting no time to bring you into his arms so you’re pressed against him as much as possible. He can’t care for the overt public display of affection because this is everything he’s wanted for months now, waiting patiently for you to give him permission to make you his. Your lips are incredibly soft and pliant against his as you first kiss him patiently, then applying more force and desperation to taste more of him. He mirrors you, one hand cradling the back of your head and the other on your neck with a thumb extended to your jawline, teeth moving to nip at your bottom lip. It’s dangerous, the way you smile against his lips, and when he sinks his teeth in deeper before pulling back, your quiet mewl nearly drives him over the edge.

But you’re in public, and this was an amazing first kiss. You two have a beach to enjoy and a fun night planned, and now that he doesn’t have to hold back on his affections, it’ll be even better.

His lips part from yours regretfully, his eyes languidly opening to meet yours. Out of the corner of his eye, he spots a blue starconch in the sand and freezes.

It’s not that he’s never seen one before, but something clicks. You. The shore. Starconches. Starry nights. His dreams. Monsters. Gods. Fighting. So much fighting. Training. His family. Dragons. You. Falling. You falling. You fighting him. Yelling. Kissing. Loving. Chasing. Him chasing you before you disappear at a teleport waypoint that somehow you only can operate. The abyss. Your twin.

Oh, Archons.

“ -ou okay, Ajax? Ajax?”

He snaps to look at you again. How does he go about this? How does he ask?

“(Y/n)...have you ever heard of the Fatui Harbingers?”

He has to admit that it’s a bit amazing to be able to identify all the emotions that cross your complexion, from curiosity to realization to conflicted. You’re actively trying to piece everything together without revealing too much on the off-chance that you’re wrong, that Childe hasn’t regained his memories and is just asking about something from class randomly and completely out of the blue.

Wait.

“You haven’t reached that material yet in class,” you whisper, heart in your throat at the realization. Could it really be…

“I was once Tartaglia, eleventh Harbinger of the Fatui, who possessed a Delusion and used my Foul Legacy Transformation with you several times,” he murmurs back, tucking a stray tendril behind your ear. “Is it too late to apologize again for summoning an ancient god and letting you fall about five floors with no warning?”

He should’ve been prepared for you wrapping your arms around his neck, pulling him in for a tight embrace. “No, never, but I spent weeks after kicking your ass so you’ve been long forgiven.”

Childe burrows his face into your neck, breathing in your scent and basking in this moment. There was so much to talk about, but you two arguably had more time in the world than ever with nothing holding you back. There was no impending war looming over, no one on the run, no opposing forces. His silent wish for a different life with you seems to have been answered finally. If running into you had been the event to set everything in motion, he only wishes he’d done so earlier.

All that matters now is you’re here together in this plane of existence, given a chance to love again, and experience everything you couldn't before.

As written in the stars, take my soul for it is forever yours.

fin

[lonely-lost-soul]

Immortality and Nymphs Pt. II

(Philza x reader)

Kisses. God Phil missed your kisses against his skin most of all, you were always so warm and gentle. He couldn’t wait for you to be a constant in his life once again, he walked all three of you back to his home. Wilbur was eyeing you the entire time almost like he was trying to find the differences between himself and you, thinking, The boy looked much more like himself than he did you, but there were tiny similarities here and there. You didn’t seem to mind though when he asked you questions you answered them truthfully. Once they arrived back at his house Wilbur stood up a little straighter,

“As much as I’d like to stay and talk more, Fundy and I need to get going.” He trailed off a little looking at you, “I still have thousands of questions but I have a revolution to plan.” Wilbur continued as you raised a questioning eyebrow, Phil’s wings ruffled a little as he cleared his throat.

“You should come back next week with the others.” Phil gave a slight nod of his head, “I’ll send a crow to Techno.” Fundy was the one to whip his head and nod eagerly, Wilbur adjusted his glasses but eventually nodded.

“That should work.” Wilbur turned to face you taking a shaky breath, “I’ll see you then?” A tender smile spread across your lips as you reached out to cup Wilbur’s cheeks.

“I’m not going anywhere again baby boy,” You whispered as he flushed hesitantly leaning into your touch “I promise.” He pulled away, clearing his throat taking Fundy’s hand as he waved.

“Bye, grandpa! Bye, grandma!” The fox hybrid called and Phil watched as you flushed deeply. Phil wrapped his arms around your waist and pulled you close, his wings spreading around your body like a cocoon. You giggled softly as he nuzzled his face into your neck, his beard prickled your skin, you missed the feeling.

“Fundy seems sweet,” You mused as the man behind you kissed the skin of your neck. Phil only hummed in agreement which caused you to laugh, “you’re so not paying attention to what I’m saying are you?”

“What?” You burst into laughter at his genuine confusion, “Come on now. I missed you, can you blame me? You’re distracting.” Phil let out a little huff as you pulled away to face him,

“Then show me how much you missed me my crow,” You purred running your fingers through his feathers, you felt his entire body shiver as his breathing hitched. His fingers dug into your hips,

“Careful. They’re sensitive and wouldn't want a pretty thing like you to get hurt.” Phil teased pressing his forehead against yours,

“Oh, I remember.” You winked teasingly as Phil leaned in to swallow your words with a blistering kiss. He felt you melt against his body as his wings fluffed up, both of you poured all your love and admiration for each other into one another. It was then Phil knew nothing changed between the two of you even after all these years apart, there was still the same amount of love and longing you always shared. Phil lifted you into the air and you hooked your legs around his waist, he felt young again, back in the forest by his old home. He felt you giggle against his lips and pull away to rest your forehead on his own, he chased your lips almost desperately. Your hand came up to cup his cheek and he closed his eyes to lean into his palm, “Take me inside first.” You murmured and his eyes lit up mischievously.

“If I remember correctly you never had a problem with making out in the woods before.” He watched your face turn beat red as he smirked proudly, he adored getting you flustered which way to Sunday.

“Yeah well, I’ve lived in the woods all my life. I think I’m ready to stay with my adoring lover in his house, is that really such a bad thing?”

“No. I’d never be opposed to something like that, not when I’ve missed you this much. It’s all I’ve ever wanted, living with you and raising Wilbur, being a family.” He watched you visibly wince and guilt ebbed at his heart, “Hey, hey you had to do what you needed to. I’d rather have you alive and here now than dead or worse.” Phil reassured and you seemed to relax a little bit in his arms,

“I wish I could’ve been here to raise Wilbur with you...I wish I could’ve seen him grow up.” Your voice wavered a little as Phil pulled you close, he hesitated slightly trying to find the right words to say.

“I wish you were there too. But you’re here now, you’re safe and that’s what matters. Plus…” His cheeks flushed a soft pink, “we could always try again.”

“Jesus Christ Phil,” you giggled covering your mouth with your hands and he looked embarrassed. “I just got home Crow, let's give it some time. But...I’m not opposed in the future.” Phil’s face lit up again and he nodded rapidly, he could agree with that, maybe once you built a better relationship with Wilbur and his other boys that’s when the both of you could try again.

Oh god, the other boys. When he invited them all here next week, he hoped they’d make a good impression if not Dadza was going to craft a belt.

“How long has it been since you’ve had an actual meal?”

“God decades!”

He chuckled deeply, kissing your cheek, and led you into his house to have a nice warm meal. Having you around definitely took some getting used to, his days suddenly shifted around as he accommodated for another person but he didn’t mind. Phil woke up happier than he'd felt in a long time, you were curled up against his chest, the top of your head was right under his chin. He ran a hand through your (h/c) hair, letting it run through his fingers, even though it’s been about a week he still felt like you weren’t really beside him.

Wait a week.

His eyes snapped open and he shot up like a rocket, feathers flying everywhere as you groaned, “Crow? Everything alright?” You asked adorably rubbing your eyes, his stress melted away momentarily as he watched you wake up. A few flowers bloomed in your hair as you came to your senses.

“Everythings fine! Just remembered it’s Sunday and the others don’t usually follow set times.” He pulled you from the bed giving you a quick good morning peck on the lips. “Get dressed, something nice I wanna show you off,” He kissed you again longer this time you giggled.

“To who? Our son and your friends?” He gave a happy little nod, as you rolled your eyes, he felt your fingers fix the hair on his face, Phil closed his eyes and leaned against your touch. “But I’ll do as you wish my Crow,” You stood up from the bed and stretched your arms above your head. Phil had managed to get some clothes for you from a nearby village, he still remembered your style, but tried to make it more modern so you didn’t stick out like a sore thumb. You slid on the new clothes, they hung off you loosely. They clearly needed some tailoring, and you slid on the boots he got you the day before, as much as you like walking around barefoot it was pretty impractical.

“Shall we?” Phil held his arm out to you, you wrapped your arm around his own as he led you outside. You both stood on a hillside covered in soft green grass and a big willow tree. Phil looked down at you, his big wings gently covering your back from any danger, he was sure not feeling the grass between your feet was a foreign feeling to you but you didn’t seem to mind. The smile on your face said it all, you were peaceful and relaxed, letting the breeze flow through your hair. “You’re beautiful,” your eyes snapped up to him your cheeks turning light pink,

“Oh stop it old man.” He made an indignant sound as you laughed, your hands reached up and dragged him down to your level, kissing him tenderly. Phil felt his eyes flutter closed and his wings drop, he was snapped back to reality by loud whistling. You pulled back and he pushed you behind him, wings puffing up defensively, standing on the side of the hill were Wilbur, Tommy, Technoblade, and Fundy. Tommy was the one whistling eyes sparkling mischievously, Wilbur whacked him on the back of the head to get him to shut up.

“Dad! Wil’s being mean to me!”

“Don’t be mean to Tommy Wil,” Phil pressed his fingers to his nose with a sigh “Wilbur don’t antagonize your brother.” Fundy was cackling at their mischief, your eyebrows shot up on your forehead and Phil cleared his throat, face pink. Technoblade just stared seemingly eyeing you suspiciously, “(Y/n) these are my other sons. Boys this is (Y/n) Wilbur’s birth mother.” It was Technoblade’s turn for his eyebrows to raise and Tommy’s jaw dropped to the floor,

“No shit.” Tommy gawked, “You don’t look like her at all Wilbur! You’re so ugly, must’ve gotten that from Phil. Sad.” You burst into hysterical laughter watching Phil glare over at Tommy. Wilbur was seething at his sibling but ignored him in favor of giving you a light hug,

“Good to see you, mom.” He whispered,

“Good to see you too.” Phil heard you respond and hug him back, Wilbur whispered something to you and you made a little surprised face before nodding. Phil assumed he told you that the other boys were not in fact his biological children, but those he had adopted. Fundy soon joined in the hug snuggling into your stomach, you ruffled the young fox’s head and he chirped happily. Tommy walked over to introduce himself to you next, he proclaimed to be not only Phil’s favorite son but Wilbur’s favorite brother too. Which lead him to then boldly declare he’d be your favorite as well and Wilbur sent him a scathing look, ah yes, Phil knew that look rather well. Wilbur inherited that look from you, nose all scrunched up and eyes sharp. You shook the young boy's hand and happily told him you couldn't wait to see him fall into the number one spot. Wilbur shot you an offended look and Phil covered up a laugh with his hand, the offending look was sent to his father next,

“Dad.”

“What?” Phil laughed holding up his hands, “If he wants to win your mother’s attention I’m not gonna stop him. Every man for themselves.”

“Phil,” You nudged him with his elbow “be nice.” Tommy began to boast about how awesome he was in comparison to his brother, you sent a wink to Wilbur’s, and his shoulders visibly relaxed.

You were his number one, anyone with a brain could see that.

Phil noticed Technoblade had his eye on you the entire time, it took him much longer than the others to gain trust. He decided to walk away from you to stand by the hybrid's side, “Hey mate.” Technoblade only grunted in response, arms crossed over his broad chest protectively, “What’s crawled up your butt eh?”

“You didn’t tell me ‘bout her.” He motioned in your direction with his chin, “you tell me everything. Why not her?” Technoblade was trying to remain stoic but after all these years he could tell he was hurt. Phil sighed softly scratching the stubble on his chin as he watched Fundy run around you trying to fight for your attention.

“It was hard for me to talk about, she didn’t leave on her own free will. Her life was in danger and I didn’t know if I’d ever see her again. It was a shock when she came back last week, a good shock but a shock nonetheless. (Y/n) was my everything, is my everything. I kept it from everyone because I hoped it would keep her alive and safe from those who wished to harm her.” Phil looked over at Techno, for once Phil’s eyes showed his true age, “I’m sorry mate you know I would’ve told you if I could. Doesn’t take much for me to start gushing ‘bout her. I mean look at her.” Phil glanced back over at you, Fundy was on your shoulders, his hat on your head, meanwhile, Wilbur was wrestling with Tommy on the ground. You looked over at him desperate for his help and Phil only smiled over at you and shook his head. Your eyes screamed distressed as you tried to get the boys to stop fighting, Phil felt Techno’s eyes on him and he looked back at his son and friend.

“I understand I suppose,” Technoblade sighed rubbing the back of his neck, “You wanted to protect her. I can’t be mad at you for that, but no more secrets alright? Promise me?”

“Promise. Now go say hi to her before she gets upset and thinks you don’t like her,” Phil nudged him forward and his eyes widened a little,

“Heh? Phil hold on-”

“(Y/n)! This is Techno.” Phil clapped the man on the back, you looked up at him with a kind smile.

“Pleasure to meet you Technoblade, I like your cape.” Phil watched the man flush in embarrassment at the compliment,

“Eh...thanks. Like your flowers.” He motioned to the flowers blooming in your hair, you beamed brightly at him, always happy to talk about your flowers.

“Thank you, sweetie!” His ears turned red and he waved you off anxiously, he moved to peel Tommy away from Wilbur, wanting to get out of this conversation. Fundy hopped off your shoulders to tackle his father and you let out a breath you didn’t realize you were holding in, “wow. They’re…”

“A lot?”

“Yes.” You laughed fondly, “but…”

“I wouldn’t trade them for the world.” Phil nodded kissing you on the apple of your cheek,

“Good. You better not. They’re all my sons now. I hope you know that” You leaned against his chest, he laughed and you felt his chest rise and fall.

“I’d expect nothing less from you.”

Letters. That’s how most of you communicated in the years to follow, Wilbur would send letters and you would beam in delight. It melted Phil’s heart, he knew his son was busy with the revolution and the now Presidency but he wished he’d visit his mother. You would write him back almost immediately after receiving a letter, you’d seal the letter with a kiss before sending it off with one of Phil’s crows. Afterward, Phil would take you in his arms and pepper you in tender kisses, you would giggle and snuggle into his arms. He told you he loved you, and you cooed and told you loved him back, then you both would share a kiss. Phil loved those days the most, seeing you truly happy made his heart swell. There were days where Phil taught you how to fight, days where you would garden, and days where he let you groom his feathers. He loved that, grooming was another one of the things he missed the most, you got out all the tangled feathers just perfectly. He would lean back against your hands head falling on your shoulder as he panted, his pupils were blown wide as you hummed fondly.

So, maybe Phil enjoyed it a little more than he remembered.

It was a cold autumn day when the letters stopped coming, you were heartbroken, always anxiously petting and feeding his crows. They could sense your disappointment in waves, it was almost choking Phil himself, his heart ached to see you so sad. He pets your hair gently as you both sat on the hill with the willow tree, he noticed the bags under your eyes were dark, Phil’s frown only deepened.

“My love please smile for me, I’ve missed it so much these past few weeks.”

“Somethings wrong,” Your voice was soft looking up at Phil “He wouldn’t just stop writing to us. He always writes to us.” He hated the way your voice quivered, “what if he changed his mind about me?” Phil shushed you softly with a kiss,

“First of all, there’s no way he changed his mind about you. The way the both of you bonded these past few years, Wilbur wouldn’t throw that all away for no good reason.” He tried to reassure you, “Although, I will admit this is strange. Wilbur isn’t one to not write to me, it’s something he’s always done ever since he was old enough to spell.”

“Crow…” You whispered, “can we visit him? Just to put my mind at ease...please.” Phil’s heart melted as soon as he saw your puppy dog eyes, he nodded and you smiled.

Good. He was going to keep that there as long as he was physically able.

The next day, Phil scooped you up in his arms and you headed towards the direction of his son's new nation.

It was called L’Manburg if Phil remembered correctly.

What the both of you didn’t expect to see was a war zone, “Phil…” You murmured eyes wide in fear, he held you to his chest, your brow furrowed in worry. He swore he could see Tommy and Techno looking up at them from below, it didn’t ease the anxiety prickling at his skin, the sky suddenly went black with crows.

A bad omen, something bad was going to happen, and they knew it.

“Phil they’re distressed. Somethings wrong.”

“I know hon,” Phil looked around worriedly, he spotted a glance of Wilbur walking into some sort of room. He landed just outside the entrance, he put you on your feet, “Stay behind me.” He instructed you, you nodded your head clutching onto his bicep. The both of you stepped into the dimly lit room, there were scrawlings etched into the wall, all scratched in by Wilbur. Your brow furrowed in concern, fingers dancing across the lettering, “what’re you doing?” Phil spoke, his tone flat and serious, looking dead at your son, wings spreading out behind him.

“Wilby?” You asked softly as he slowly turned around, his big brown eyes were wet and wide.

“Mom…” He whispered, “I didn’t want…” Wilbur looked away from you and grit his teeth, “Welcome to L’manburg. Sorry, you have to see it like this, war-torn and broken. I wanted you to see it in its prime, a shame you didn’t visit sooner.”

“Wilbur, don’t do this,” Phil said watching his son look longingly at the button in the middle of the wall, almost with longing. “This is your country, it can be fixed. Things can be rebuilt, it’s where you raised your son,” Phil continued his entire body tense and nervous he was too aware of the sword on Wilbur’s hip. Phil reached out his hand as you walked towards Wilbur,

“Baby boy…” You whispered tenderly, vines slowly growing out of the cracks in the floor. “Don’t do this I only just got you back, please think about what you’re doing.” Wilbur’s brow furrowed watching you smile softly holding out your arm, “Everything will be alright I promise you. We can help you.” He let out a wet laugh running a hand through his brown curls, his pointed ears visible.

“It’s not the same nation anymore. There was a special place where people could go but it’s not there. It’s no longer the nation it once was Mom.”

“It is there. You've just- You've just won it back, Wil!” Phil spoke up in opposition to his son.

“MOM, Dad, I’m ALWAYS SO CLOSE to pressing this button, Phil! I've BEEN HERE like seven or eight times, I've been here seven or eight times...Phil, I've been here so many times…” All of you jumped a little at the sound of crackling fireworks outside, “They're fighting. They're fighting!” Phil and you glanced at one another, there was a beat of silence.

“And you want to just blow it all up, You fought so hard to get this land back... So hard.” You argued reaching out to cup his cheeks, he melted into your palms, snuggling into them like they were his last lifeline.

“I don't even know if it works anymore, Mom, I don't even know if the button works, I could, I could... press it.”

“Do you really wanna take that risk?” Phil laughed, “There is a lot of TNT potentially connected to that button.”

“Phil... There was a saying, Phil. By a traitor. Once part of L'Manburg. A traitor- I don't know if you've heard of Eret? He had a saying...It was never meant to be!” He tossed his hand back and slammed it against the button, you let out a devastating shriek pulling Wilbur into your arms to try and protect him from the blast. Phil felt pure adrenaline enter his bloodstream as he flew towards you and his son. His wings wrapped around the both of you and you whimpered, some of his feathers caught fire and he squeezed his loved one’s harder. Wilbur meanwhile let out a roaring cry “MY L'MANBURG, PHIL! MY UNFINISHED SYMPHONY, FOREVER UNFINISHED! IF I CAN'T HAVE THIS, NO-ONE CAN, PHIL!”

“Oh, my god…” Phil spoke, his voice quivering with horror, Wilbur looked down at you, hurt and pride swam in his eyes,

“Are you proud of me mama?” He whispered softly as your thumb caressed his cheeks, Phil glanced down at you ignoring the pain in his wing, your eyes were wet but you were still smiling.

It didn’t reach your eyes.

“I’ll always be proud of you Wilbur. I’m your mother, and I love you, I’ll always love you.” He let out a little cry, you were so genuine with him, your love was smothering him. Wilbur looked up at his father and grabbed his wrist,

“Kill me, Phil. Phil, kill me, Phil kill me!” Wilbur broke away from his hold and tossed his sword Phil’s way. Phil caught it in his arms the lines in his forehead creasing with worry, “Phil, stab me with the sword, murder me now, kill me! Killza, Killza, do it! Kill me, Phil! Murder me! Look, they all want you to! Do it, Phil! Kill me! Phil, kill me!”

“I- You're my SON!”

“Wilbur NO! PHIL DON’T YOU FUCKING DARE!” You cried as Wilbur shoved you away from him, your growing distress caused vines to spill into the room, filling it with greenery, nature wanted to protect you.

“No matter what you- dude, no matter what you've done, I can't-” Phil’s voice cracked, his knuckles turning white against the hilt of the blade.

Wilbur slammed his fist against the wall, “Phil, it's- LOOK! LOOK! HOW MUCH WORK WENT INTO THIS, and it's GONE!” He grabbed Phil’s hand and shoved the point of the sword into his chest, “Do it. Do it.”

“PHIL!” You sobbed grabbing onto his other arm, eyes red and puffy, fat tears were running down your pink cheeks.

The man squeezed his eyes tightly, his throat closing up, he couldn’t look at you, he could feel the look of horror that was slowly spreading across your face.

“Phil. I’m begging you we can get him help, I can’t lose him. Not again, not when I’ve only just got him back.” You choked out, “he’s my baby. He’s our baby.” You were clinging to Phil desperately, your smile was gone, he failed you and he failed his own son.

“Do it, Dad.” Wilbur interrupted you, you let out a desperate cry and Wilbur shushed you softly, brushing away your tears. “It’s better this way,” Wilbur leaned down and kissed your forehead, “I love you and I forgive you.” He looked back at Phil and his disintegrating right-wing, guilt ate at him, “It’s time.”

Phil let out a deep breath, jaw tense and he felt you bury your head in his uninjured wing. He ran his sword through his son’s chest, Wilbur fell forward against the blade, he choked on the blood in his mouth, it flowed out of the corners and stained the front of his shirt. Phil felt you move to look but he covered your face with his wing once more, “Don’t look darlin’” He whispered as your sobs only increased, Wilbur slowly died in his arms with a smile on his face that would forever haunt Phil’s nightmares. He stroked Wilbur’s hair as he slowly faded out of existence, three lives completely snuffed out, Phil was part of giving him life and was the one to take his final one. Once Wilbur was gone you crumpled to the floor loud sobs echoing in the chamber, he fell beside you and wrapped you in his arms, you clutched his beanie to your chest.

“It’s alright. It’ll be okay.”

“Okay! Philza Minecraft how the FUCK is this gonna be okay!” You snarled in his arms but he only held you tighter, “Our son...our baby is dead.” You choked holding your hand to your mouth, the vines that had grown started dying feeding off your agony. “He’s gone…” You whimpered letting Phil caress your hair and plant kisses on the top of your head.

“We’ll get through this. I promise you.” He swore up to you cupping your cheeks within his hands, you sniffled a little and gave a small nod of your head. You were drained emotionally and physically, Phil’s heart ached in his chest.

“You’re hurt…”

“I’ll be alright,” He tried to stretch out his wings he flinched as pain shot up the right side of his body. Phil’s wing was charred to bits, you both knew the unspoken truth that he’d never fly like he once did, Wilbur wasn’t the only thing Phil would mourn.

“We need to set up a grave for him. Under the willow tree, I’ll plant yellow flowers. That way he can always be close to us so long as we live there,” You looked up at him eyebrows pinched so tight “Please.”

“You don’t need permission Darlin’.” He whispered to you resting his forehead against your own, “If that’s where you want it that’s where it’ll be.”

“Good.”

Phil slowly helped you to your feet, you weren’t injured, a few cuts and scrapes he took the majority of the damage from the explosion just like he had planned. He hissed as he tried to put pressure on his left ankle, “Fuck me. I’m too young to need a cane.”

“Eh,” You smiled weakly “Wouldn’t say that.”

“Shut the fuck up.” You giggled softly, your laughter significantly improved his mood, even if it was a minuscule adjustment. “We all can’t be as spry as you,”

“What can I say some of us have it and some of us don’t.” You smirked slightly hearing another loud explosion go off in the distance, “the Withers. Technoblade spawned them didn’t he?” Your eyebrows furrowed in thought and Phil gave a little nod,

“Most likely.”

“Our boys, they can’t do anything without explosions can they?” You shakily whispered and Phil couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh,

“Guess so,” He shrugged limply as you slipped Wilbur’s beanie on your head,

“What now?” You looked up at him through wet eyelashes, Phil caressed the back of your head,

“We go home, bury what’s left of Wilbur, and take a look at my wings to assess the damage.” Phil watched you nod numbly against him, “it’ll be a long walk back.” He groaned rubbing his eyes and you rubbed his back soothingly.

“Let me handle that,” You reassured and he raised an eyebrow the both of you moved to leave the structure neither one of you wanted to put up with anyone, you both had lost a son and wanted time to mourn. Plus, it seemed Tommy and Technoblade were busy fighting. Phil watched you with careful eyes allowing himself to lean against one of the trees that survived the explosion. You placed your fingers in your mouth and gently whistled, not only did a crow from a tree flutter by but a wandering horse as well, you really were an animal whisperer. The crow ruffled its feathers and cawed loudly at Phil, he shot the crow a look and flipped it off, meanwhile, you worked your magic taming the horse in a matter of moments. “Come here Crow,” You held as your hand and he fell into it, you helped him onto the horse and he shot you a look,

“I’m not riding on this horse with you walking on foot. Switch with me.” Phil tried to argue but you shushed him,

“You took an explosion to the back. Take a breather, relax, nature helps me heal anyway.” You hummed fondly as he slumped against the horse reluctantly, it took about an hour to get back home, Phil had lost all feeling in his wing and wanted nothing more than to curl up with you and go to sleep. As the looming willow tree came into view Phil heard you sniffle and clutch his son’s beanie on your head,

“(Y/n)?”

“I-I’m alright.” You cleared your throat shaking your head, “Let’s get you looked at before anything else, okay?” Phil too exhausted to argue only nodded limply, you helped him inside and set him down on a chair. “Spread your wings for me,” You commanded, helping him stretch out his wings. He cursed, only feeling pure agony shoot through his right side,

“Ow! Fuck me!”

“Sorry, sorry,” You whispered out tenderly rubbing the base of his left-wing. The mixture of pain and pleasure was foreign but not completely unwelcome. “Oh, Phil…” You trailed off hesitant to touch the damage that was inflicted, “I don’t...I don’t think-” You chewed the bottom of your lip, but Phil got the message, he wasn’t going to be able to fly as he once did, maybe ever again. His flight feathers were singed to hell, completely burned away, not to mention the patchiness of his other feathers. His shoulders slumped forward as he ran a hand down his face, he was exhausted, he felt the coolness on his wing as you spread some antibiotic on the injury. “I’m sorry,” You kissed the back of his neck and he shivered at the feeling. “We’ll bury what we have tomorrow, you need rest.”

“I’ll be fine-”

“Phil, I will force you into bed. Don’t fucking test me right now, I will force you if I have to.” You hissed out glaring daggers at him, he should be threatened but he just felt oddly aroused.

He decided to attribute that to how fucked up he felt today.

Phil allowed you to tuck him into bed as gentle as you were capable of doing, “I’m going to send out some letters. I’ll join you in a little bit.” He felt you remove his hat and run your fingers through his blonde hair, he leaned into your touch like a kitten. As soon as you shut the door, Phil was out like a light.

Phil found out the next day that you had sent a letter out to both Tommy and Technoblade, you wouldn’t specify what you sent but you seemed a bit more relaxed than you had the other day. You both didn’t get a chance to bury what was left of Wilbur until a week later, Phil’s healing process was slower than he could’ve imagined. Phil reluctantly had to use a cane to get around easily, his crows laughed at him but you were also so kind and careful.

You were an angel.

The two of you buried him under the willow tree on the hill where you’d met the other members of your odd family for the first time. Technoblade had shown up at your doorstep holding out a large box inside of it was a stone tombstone inscribed on the tombstone was Wilbur’s name and date of birth and death. It had surprised Phil that the hybrid even agreed to make this for you, but at the same time, he was Phil’s adoptive son and closest friend, he appreciated the gesture nonetheless. Phil had placed Wilbur’s coat and beanie into a box and placed it under the ground. You had kept your promise and had grown little yellow flowers around the site of the burial, and the two parents mourned the loss of their biological son. Technoblade stood close by a hand resting on Phil’s shoulder in hopes to soothe him at least a little bit, Phil would never admit it but he appreciated the gesture.

Little did the three of them know, a small smile spread across a young ghost’s face. He picked at the sleeves of his yellow sweater, maybe he could give both of them some blue sometime to help them heal.

He had a feeling they’d like that idea.

~~~

I usually don't tag people in my stories but I figured a lot of people wanted a part two:

@xx-smiley-xx @dreamsofficialwife @dirtydiavolo @thatguythatsshy

@shinyshimaagain @little-odd-dude @theultimatewifu32 @hee-hee-haw @thegeekishere

[noritoshiikamo]

worth my time

pairing: noritoshi kamo + fem!oc genre: porn (is fingering enough to call it porn??) without plot ish??? tags//warning: established relationship // slight smut???, fingering, emotional drained reader, reader dated character but then forced into arranged marriage and doubt the whole rs note: unedited, lowercase intended, just me and my nori brainrot dont mind the plotholes and everythingn, its not accurate according to the manga/anime like i just wanna feed myself and i haven't write in ages pls sent some ideas so i can get my lazy brain going, english isnt my first language im sorry if i murder it  directory: read the first part | second part | third part | bonus

“how long have you known?”

noritoshi shrugged, bringing the cup of tea to his lips. the way he took time to answer her question drove her mad. “noritoshi, how long?” her voice strained. “would it make any difference if i’d known today or 10 years ago?”

her eyes shot wide opened, “10 fucking years?”

a small smile appeared on his lips as he lowered the cup, “hypothetically.” she grabbed one of the pillows from the pile on the bed and threw it to his face, embedded with what little left of her jujutsu power. they have been going on for hours and she was clearly too stubborn to let it go. it was clearly weak; he dodged it with a flick of his wrist switching the pillow’s trajectory. “you’re a fucking asshole,” she gritted through her teeth, falling on bed as wave of anger and sadness crashed through. “you think i wanted an arranged marriage? you think i like having every aspect of my life set since i was a child and scrutinized? i’m a bastard sitting on a throne. unlike you gojou clan, i had it much worst.”

she pulled her hair, fighting the tears that was already streaming down, “it’s not a competition. we are in the same school, i sat next to you for years and you’re telling me you have no idea that i’m your future wife, bullshit!” her eyes flickered as she threw the next close thing within her power’s vicinity; a vase. something hit the vase midway, breaking it into ashes and she watched as a drop of blood stained the floor. he broke it with his power. “you can throw every single thing in this room, y/n, but it doesn’t stop the fact that we are already married.” it was that one sentence that completely broke her. falling on her knees, she let a cry out, clutching on her chest as she cried to her heart’s content. this can’t be happening to me, no, no, no, her mind echoed as she forced herself to surrender to the fact that they are married. it’s not something easy to undo. it pained him to see her like this, but his wife needs to understand that he could do nothing about it. she cried for what seems to be like hours, the sleeves of her yukata wet from the tears and sweat. she fell on the floor to her knees, resting her body against the bed before finally looking up to meet her husband’s eyes. he could see defeat in her tired eyes. “we dated each other,” she sniffled, “was that real or was it just you scouting for your future wife?” her words sound like venom to him “i know you won’t believe me, but it was real. i would still marry you even if the marriage isn’t arranged.” noritoshi stood up, his barefoot echoed on the floor as he walked to his weakened wife. her body was hot, he suspected the skipping (refusing to eat) meals, raging and throwing tantrums after another had put her body in so much stress. he reached for the sash, trying to undo her yukata and she freaked out. grabbing his wrist, she shook her head, “what are you doing?” she asked shakily. “would you listen to me for once? you need a cold shower, you’re burning up, it would help.” she stopped fighting. his tone was a mixed of annoyance and tired. dating him made her realized that noritoshi has a high level of patience; but not right now. letting go of his wrist, she slipped the yukata off her shoulder herself, whined about how she disliked cold shower below her breath. he wore a small smile as he hoisted the naked girl up. it’s a small victory on noritoshi the husband, he’ll savor it for now. 

the girl kneeled on the floor of the shower as noritoshi slowly ran the shower head slowly up her body. her arms wrapped tightly against her chest; she cursed every time the cold water reached new part of her body. ignoring the fact that his yukata was getting wetter, he kneeled behind her and let her rest her back against his chest. with the shower gel, his body froze every time she whined at his touch. something about the way she whined under his touches made him weak. he wants to kiss her stupid face so badly. “it’s cold,” she mumbled, her eyes closed as he ran his palm against her stomach. he pressed a kiss on the side of her face, “better?” he asked as his hand travelled lower. her eyes widened. he continued his kisses, down her jawline and her neck, bruising every spot as his fingers traced a lazy circle on her clit. she moaned out a throaty yes. he continued to whisper sweet nothings into her ears, promises of how he would take care of her, how he’s going to be a perfect husband, how she would be a perfect wife, how they’ll live happily together. she nodded her head in delirium, the pleasure of his fingers had her grinding her back on his crotch and emptying her thoughts. she could barely think straight. “tell me you’re mine,” he commanded, slipping a finger inside, “i can take care of you, baby,” her eyes rolled back, his words were not helping, it was just pure gasoline thrown into a burning fire. “nori, i want to cum,” she muttered, clutching desperate on the now two fingers. she felt his warm breath on the crook where her shoulder meet her neck, his fangs brushing threateningly against the sensitive skin. “open your mouth,” he urged, she whined at the lost feeling of his lips on her neck. she felt something dripping between her lips, his thumb brushing the lower lip. it painted her lips red. it tasted metallic, almost like a blood. it was his. he watched in satisfaction as his blood marking appeared on her right eye. he can control her blood, heightened her senses, throwing her body’s sensitivity off the wall, driving her off the edge with every spot of her body he touches; it sends pleasure twice as much. it wasn’t long until her velvety wall spasmed around his fingers. her body jolted forward; her shaky hands pressed against the wet tile preventing her from falling face first as orgasm washes out. she could barely make any noises, her throat was so dry, she felt like it might bleed.   she won’t deny that the orgasm eased her pain, but she would deny if he dared brought it up; he would not get the pleasure of knowing she enjoyed that.

his palm brushed against her thigh, causing her to look up. he raised his eyebrows in question which she brushed it off with a nod. she grabbed his hand and steadied herself up.

“i’m okay,” she voiced out.

he undressed, continued their shower from square one. they’ve done this before; sharing shower after mission washing blood off each other but this time, it feels different. she sighed at the pleasure, letting her hands rest against his toned chest. we are married, the sentence echoed in her mind as he massaged the shampoo on her head. never ever she thought that this is how she’ll be married. it’s not like she dreamed of a huge wedding. he did throw a small gathering, respecting her boundaries and her anxiety but everything just moved so fast. her parents are dead, her only remaining family is satoru, a distant cousin who finds it a no issue for her to marry her boyfriend. it is not an issue for her to marry noritoshi kamo, she loves him so much, but not like this.   she wished she had more choices in this.   he hummed a song, a habit of his that he caught from his mother, a lullaby his mother always sings. she wanted to hate him so much, for befriending her, making her fall in love with him and then forced her into a marriage. but when she opened her eyes and stared up into his, to see such loving look in his eyes, it weakened her. her heart is a wreck. “why do you do this to me?” she whimpered, slamming her fist into his chest. he refused to answer.

she was tired of his silence.

he turned the shower off, opening the glass door letting waft of cold air out. he left to fetch her towel and she stalked toward the nearby mirror. “how long until the thing wears off?” she asked when she caught a glimpse of herself. she reached to touch the blood marking on her eyes. he wrapped the towel around her body, hugging her from behind and through the foggy mirror, he brushed his thumb on her cheek, whispered something she couldn’t catch as the mark subsided.

“this doesn’t change the fact that i’m mad at you.”

he laughed it off, “i didn’t say it does. you always feel better post orgasm, you know how i know it?” he kissed her temple, eyes burned into hers, “because i dated you.”

her teeth gritted in annoyance.

“you think if i dated you to scout my future wife, i wouldn’t waste my time learning how your body responds to me, the way you yearn for me,” a kiss fell on her neck, “learn how well you control your shikigami and goes through lengths to teach you how to use my bow,” another kiss went up her jaw, “teach you my own blood techniques because god, why jujutsu needs to be such an exclusive thing,” arms went around her waist, “worried sick every single time utahime send you off for a mission, taking care of your wounds, being there to catch your reckless ass,” his breath lingered on her ears, “completely falling in love with you wholeheartedly for 3 years. i’d abandoned my father’s choice. you are arranged to be my wife, on my own accord. i choose you. you weren’t my father’s choice, but even in million years, even if sukuna’s vessel reincarnated again and again, even if the world split open and sent you miles away, even if i’m not the head of kamo clan,” his hand grabbed her chin, hard and forced her to meet his eyes, his words send shivers down her spine, “i would still choose you.”

she’s completely putty in his hand. she let out a soft whine as his body abandoned her, his warmth gone and came the cold biting her bare skin. her eyes followed the back of the man as he stalked to the wardrobe leaving the girl alone to ponder on his words.

“now, wouldn’t it just be a waste of my time, my wife?”

[imherongraystairstrash]

I know you write about relationships in TLH and TID that are rarely/seldom touched on in the books or extras, but I wanted to know if you would consider a Christopher and Thomas Lightwood fic. Maybe the first time they are both in the lab and Thomas experiences the first of the many explosions which Kit unintentionally created. You could follow it up with another scene: Thomas pointing out to Christopher what had led up to the explosion (a misidentified component or measurement).

Of course! I absolutely adore the Lightwood cousins! I put a tiny bit of all of them in this fic, but it's mostly focused of Thomas and Kit :)

Thomas and Kit:

Thomas’ sisters have been giggling for what felt like days. Not only giggling, but they kept pestering him, asking about what men fancied the most in women.

Oh, Tommy, do men like shorter hair or longer hair?

Do men prefer a woman who speaks softly or says what’s on her mind?

Thomas would always say the same thing: I don’t know.

Because, really, he didn’t. He’d never thought of women in that way, though the angel knew he’d tried. He simply couldn’t. His mind told him to like one thing, but his heart said otherwise. It was frustrating. And very confusing.

“Why can’t you just be yourselves?” Thomas said. “Who cares what the men think?”

They giggled again, which made Thomas furrow his eyebrows.

“Don’t you understand, Tom? You have to lure them in by attracting their attention, and then, once you have them wrapped around your finger—”

“Then, you can show your true colors.” Barbara finished.

“That’s a terrible idea.” Thomas said. “You’re just wasting your time.”

They both shook their heads in perfect synchronization.

“He’s too young.” Eugenia said.

“And innocent.” Barbara replied.

Thomas rolled his eyes as they giggled again, and began discussing possible bachelors.

Thomas could only tolerate two minutes before he felt suffocated and stood up, frustrated.

“Wait, we still need you.” Eugenia said.

“Where are you going, Tommy?” Barbara asked.

“Out.” He snapped, taking his coat from the hanger and tugging it on. He let the door close behind him, ignoring his urge to slam it, and quickly made his way down the steps of his house.

The cold air bit into his skin and made its way to his neck and down his back. He silently cursed his sisters for making him leave in such a rush that he forgot to take his scarf.

Thomas walked down the streets of London, letting movement cool his head.

He was tired of the world. Angry at it. The way his sisters embraced it and tried their very best to be a part of it. The way it would force him to live his life differently, with someone he could never truly love.

He wished it would disappear, leave him alone, and yet it was always there, floating over his head like a shadow.

He stuffed his hands in his pockets, and briskly crossed the street.

Most days, Thomas missed Idris; walking barefoot through the forest and simply being outside in the clean, rich air. In Idris, if he wanted to be alone, he could. He could lay on the grass and fill his lungs with it’s wonderful scent, or climb a tree and hum melodies of his own creation. Of course, he liked the fact that in London, he could be with his friends, but there are some things even friends can’t quite help with. His friends could calm his mind the way the soft breeze that ruffled his hair or singing of birds could.

Thomas didn’t realize where he was going until he was standing in front of his Aunt and Uncle’s house.

He knocked on the door, and when nobody answered, he shrugged and opened it.

He made his way through the house, poking his head in certain rooms, trying to find one of the residents. It was usually quiet today. He looked into the parlor and found Cecily with her back to him. She was swaying back and forth, her hair falling from it’s bun.

“Hello, Aunt Cecy.” Thomas said.

Cecily turned, and smiled when she saw him. Her eyes had bags under them, as she and Uncle Gabriel were very tired these days, the reason for which was soundly snoozing in Cecily’s arms. Thomas’ new baby cousin, Alexander (whom Kit had informed Thomas was very loud) apparently has lungs of steel. Cecily had said she looked like a raccoon these days, but Thomas thought she still looked as pretty as always. “Oh, hello Thomas. Have you come to see Christopher?” She asked, rearranging Alex’s blanket.

Thomas nodded, “is he here?”

“In his room. He’s been awfully quiet today.” She said, simply. Then she furrowed her eyebrows, as if realizing what she’d just said.

“Do make sure he's not partaking in something foolish while you’re there, Thomas, would you?”

“Yes, Aunt.” Thomas said, making his way up the stairs.

He hadn’t wanted to come any closer to his baby cousin, for fear that he’d wake him, and Aunt Cecy would have to put him to sleep again.

Thomas waved at Uncle Gabriel as he passed him in the study, as he walked down the hall. Gabriel waved back half-heartedly, as if the life had been sucked out of him.

When Thomas opened the door to Christopher’s room, he found him bent over the table in his room.

“You’re going to hurt your back if you stand like that.” Thomas said as a way of greeting.

His cousin looked up immediately.

“Shut the door,” he hissed.

Surprised and confused, Thomas did so, and Kit straightened.

“What ho! How wonderful that you are here, Tom. I was working on something fascinating.”

“Is it related to science in any way, because last time you tried something like it, you blew up one of Henry’s walls.”

“That was because I made a simple mistake.” Kit said, with a wave of his hand. “This time it’s different.”

Thomas wasn’t very convinced. He noted Kit’s askew cravat, his tousled hair, his glasses that sat crooked on his nose and his wide-eyed gaze and concluded that his cousin has officially lost his head.

“Why did you look like I’d committed the largest sin on the planet when I left the door open?” Thomas said, deciding to change the subject.

Kit scowled. “Alexander.”

Thomas blinked. “You’ll have to be a little bit more specific than that.”

“Any small amount of noise and Alexander will cry for hours.” Christopher said, scrawling something on a paper. “At least this way I don’t have to hear the racket so much.”

“Oh,” Thomas said.

“I don’t know why Mum and Dad even wanted another baby. They’re demonic creatures.”

“I thought you liked Alex.”

“When he didn’t cry so much.” Kit said, rather darkly.

Thomas had never seen his cousin so…gothic? Not only was he strangely gothic, but he has also thrown himself into science experiments, which didn’t settle well with Thomas. It was as if he were a mad scientist and Thomas, who’d read Frankenstein, didn’t think those two words were ever a good combination.

He cast an uneasy glance at Kit, who was biting his bottom lip as he combined two solutions.

“Kit, what are you even trying to accomplish?”

“Oh, erm, actually, I don’t know. I’m just observing what will happen if you combine— Oh, that’s not good,” Kit said.

“What’s not good?” Thomas asked, just as a large explosion answered the question for him.

“What the Hell was that?!” They heard Gabriel’s frantic voice call from the hall, just as Alexander began wailing and Cecily let out a noise that started out as frustration, then became something halfway between confusion and worry. Christopher, covered in soot, simply stared, dumbfounded, at the place where the vial had once been.

“Erm…” Thomas said, unsure of how to answer the question his uncle asked.

Not that it mattered, as Gabriel burst into the room a few seconds later. Much like his son, he blinked and just stared at the explosion site for the moment it took Cecily to come inside with a red faced Alexander in her arms. The latter was rubbing at his puffy eyes with his small fists, clearly not happy to have been woken up from his nap in such a way.

“Christopher Gideon Gabriel Lightwood, what in the name of Raziel have you done?” Cecily said, not hysterically, like most parents might ask, but more so weary, as though she wasn’t entirely surprised by the fact that there was an explosion in her residence on a Sunday morning.

Kit shrugged, still staring at the explosion site.

“Sorry to interrupt,” Thomas said, “but are these chemicals toxic? Shouldn’t we be evacuating?”

And for the first time in Thomas’ life, he saw his Uncle Gabriel and Aunt Cecily exchange a wide-eyed expression before Cecily ordered them all out of the room and briskly led them down the hallway.

She knocked on Anna’s door as they passed it. “Cariad, make haste, we’re evacuating the house.”

“Why?” Anna asked in a bored and strangely breathless voice, as if she were dancing.

“Your brother caused an explosion. Did you really not hear it?” Gabriel said.

“Oh, that’s what that was?”

“Yes, now come outside before you start glowing in the dark from the toxic fumes.” Cecily said firmly.

Anna groaned. “Alright. Let me get dre— I mean, I’ll be right down.”

Cecily sighed and continued down the hall.

…

Thomas waited outside with the Lightwoods, Anna climbing out of her window a short while later, not bothering to straighten her simple dress as she landed. If either Gabriel and Cecily were by any means surprised by Anna’s exit, neither remarked upon it. Nor did they mind that Anna was barefoot or that her wavy hair was unbound, waving in the wind like an ebony banner.

Gabriel and Cecily were simple folk, in that sense. They didn’t waste time trying to make their children conform to society, they just let them roam free.

Well, except for now, as they were scolding Kit, Cecily forbade him from any sort of experimentation within their house. They may differ from parents in many ways, but they were still parents, regardless.

Anna slumped down beside Thomas, watching the house.

“Another day, another dollar in the Lightwood residence.” Anna said mournfully.

Thomas just stared blankly ahead.

“One of these days, Tom, I’m going to get my own flat.”

Thomas nodded.

“And you can have my room here.” Anna said.

Thomas snorted. “Your room is pink. Very pink.”

Anna pressed her lips together. “Believe me, I’m aware.”

When Kit was done being scolded, he came over to them. Anna patted the grass next to where she was sitting and Kit plopped down beside her.

“How angry are they?” Anna asked.

Kit just frowned.

“At least they’re not disappointed.” Anna said, ruffling his hair.

Kit just pressed his lips together, identical to the way his sister had done shortly before. Anna and Kit looked very alike, despite their coloring. They always denied it, of course, just as Thomas always denies it when others say that he looks like his sisters.

“Well, you two are a dull bunch.” Anna said, getting up. “If neither of you are going to talk, I might as well leave.”

They watched her go to her father, most likely making a joke as she walked and despite everything that happened, Gabriel chuckled.

Kit scooted closer to Thomas, who put a hand on his cousin’s back.

“Maybe next time, you should study the chemicals better.” Thomas said, “see how they react to other chemicals. I don’t think spontaneity is something scientists encourage.”

Kit looked up.

“And maybe don’t do it in your room?” Thomas said.

Christopher nodded.

Thomas looked straight ahead, and they sat in a comfortable silence.

“Do you really hate Alex?” Thomas asked after a while.

“Not really.” Kit said. “He is just vexing sometimes.”

Thomas huffed a laugh. “I feel the same about Genia and Babs sometimes, if that makes you feel better.”

“I still like Alex, though.”

Thomas hummed. “Yes, I still love my sisters too.”

Thomas leaned back on his hands and closed his eyes. He may not be in Idris, but at least he still had his family. He may be different and the rest of the world might shun him, but at least his parents would still love him.

At least he was alive, and though sometimes it wasn’t always perfect, life was still good.

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[cazimagines]

Oblivious

Request from anon: Hi, I really enjoy your writing, particularly your Zemo fics! I had an idea for one that basically follows the while y/n joining Sam, Bucky, and Zemo through Madirpoor and Riga. Only despite Zemo’s flirting, y/n doesn’t really do anything about it or even notice until y/n along with Sam and Bucky witness Walker (New Captian America) murder a flag smasher in the street. They all go back to the safe house and y/n is like, in shock. “Captian America just killed someone” is all y/n can really say. And Zemo is able to calm them down. Maybe the romance can start then?

Word count: 3.4k

Author’s note: This one-shot can be multiple parts, if you would like to see a sequel please say! If I do decide to write a sequel though it will take me a while as I’ve had a lot of requests, please check out my master list to see what I have coming up next and if requests are currently open or not

Masterlist

(Please check out my master list to see what I will be writing next and if requests are open or closed)

Cross-posted to ao3 under the same username

Heels clicked along the pavement as you sashayed along the road, approaching the men before you, two of which you know fondly. The other one, however... not so much.

They all stood close together in a circle, obviously discussing something important but at hearing your voice call out their heads turn towards you, a smile appearing on Sam and Bucky’s faces as they see you. “Long time no see boys,” you say, stopping a few feet away from them to lean on a wall.

They both walk over to you, Bucky pulling you into and hug then followed by Sam hugging you tightly. “Thank you for agreeing to help us out y/n. I know things haven’t been easy for you,”

You fake a smile at Bucky, one you hoped he wouldn’t see past resting your arm around his shoulder. “Anything for my friends,”

He was right, though. These times haven’t been easy for you, especially after Steve Rodgers left. Captain America had always been your idol, ever since you were a little kid you aspired to be just like him. You collected all the Captain America merchandise along with your brother Phil, always arguing with him who owned which toy of his. Meeting Steve had been a dream come true for you. He was the person you were closest to. He helped you come to terms with your brother’s death and whenever you needed help; he was there. You two stuck together through the thick and thin. That’s was how you got to become good friends with Sam and Bucky. You and Steve have always had a complicated relationship, though. You two liked each other and tried to see if you could be something more, but it never seemed to work out. Then Thanos happened. You, along with half the universe, were dusted. For you it was as if you had simply blinked however for Steve it was five years without you. You barely got to see each other again before he went away for good. You couldn’t hate him for it, you understood why he did what he did. He was always telling you about the ’40s, about his childhood, about her. You just wished you weren’t so connected with him. Seeing him there, old, dying. It broke your heart. But times move on. You can’t live in the past as he did.

Your eyes focus on the man behind Sam and Bucky and you frown, pulling your arm away from Bucky. A man you never thought you would see again was staring right back at you.

He stood a few feet back, knowing he wasn’t welcomed in the warm reunion of friendship. He clasped his hands, unsure what exactly he should do right now, feeling awkward, but as he looked over at you his eyes twinkled with recognition. Now you had been interesting to him. You weren’t a super soldier like Steve and James. Yet you certainly could hold your own against them. He had seen when he had first activated James. No, your strength and fighting abilities were down to your own human powers and he admired that. You were one of the few avengers he might have had an inkling to like if the Sokovia attack never happened. Still, it wasn’t as if you were to blame for it. The people who were to blame had suffered for it. You were merely the pawn in the giant game of chess. Perhaps he could grow to like you, after all, he could admit you were certainly tempting to him, the way your body was shaped excited him, the way your neck was shaped made him want to brush his fingers along it and your piercing eyes felt like they could look into the darkest corners of his soul.

“Why is he out of prison?” you snap, bringing Zemo out of his trance

Sam turns to scowl at Bucky as you all turn to Zemo, who awkwardly smiles. “Bucky thinks we need him,” Sam mutters

“Why would we need him!” you exclaim, crossing your arms and shooting Bucky a glare.

“I am invaluable,” Zemo explains with his hands, his eyes unwavering from you as he answers for Bucky.

“He hates super-soldiers, therefore he will help us in getting to Karli,” Bucky says, stepping in front of your eyesight trying to explain himself.

“That also means he hates you, Buck,”

All of them freeze as you address the elephant in the room. Bucky grits his teeth and steps back, averting your gaze as you and Sam stare expectedly at him but he doesn’t respond so Zemo takes his opportunity to step closer to you, now only a few feet apart.

“I can assure you, getting rid of Karli and her super soldier friends is my priority. Not James,”

You clench your jaw in anger as you look at Zemo. He tilts his head, the side of his lip curling up slightly, hoping you’d take a chance on him. Sighing, you turn to shoot one more look at Bucky.

“Steve wouldn’t have liked this,”

Later you sat across from Zemo on his private jet. All of you sat in uncomfortable silence as you flew to Madripoor. Sam and Bucky did not seem as close as you were to both of them. They both just sat on their respective sides and looked out the window. Zemo had a book on him which he seemed very preoccupied reading, yet there were moments where you could feel his eyes settle upon you. Ignoring his inquisitive gaze, you choose to follow in Bucky and Sam’s lead of looking out the window and daydream the rest of the trip away.

Your mind trails back to Steve. You wondered just what Steve would have thought about you teaming up with Zemo. He would have understood, wouldn’t he? It was the best option you had. Ah, but he had always been such a stickler about the rules. Breaking a criminal out and helping him avoid the law wasn’t very patriotic of you. Yep, he would not have gone through with this plan, he would have found another way that worked. But none of the people here were him. He choose not to be here. You knew you had to let him go.

“Champagne?”

You pull your eyes away from the window, coming back to reality as you see a bottle of champagne in Zemo’s hand and an empty glass in his other hand. He already had another glass full beside him as he looked at you expectantly.

“No,”

“Sure?”

“What part of no do you not understand,” you snap harshly glaring at him then back out to the window

“My apologies,” he says, pursing his lips together as he looks down at the empty glass. He glances over to Sam and Bucky but they both shake their heads as well so he hands the glass and drinks back to his butler and sighs as he opens his book again.

The tension between all of you sticks around as you arrive at Madripoor. Zemo had provided you a tight-fitting dress to ‘appear the part’ of your allice, and it showed off a bit too much of your chest than you liked. It was too bright for you, golden and sparky, cutting off at your upper tight, and had a very low v cut. You try your best to pull it down to cover you some more but to no avail. Begrudgingly, you leave the plane to meet up with the rest of them.

“My my y/n, the dress suits you,” Zemo says, smirking as his eyes trail up and down your body as you walk past him taking a straight beeline towards Sam and Bucky.

“How long will this mission take?” you ask, already feeling the cold air nip at your skin.

“Few hours at the least. I’m sorry that you have to do this, y/n”

“Hey, I knew what I was getting into when I agreed to help you two,” you mutter as you hear a car pulling up behind you

“Not exactly this though,” Bucky grumbles, glowering over at Zemo who motions to the car that had arrived. Zemo opens the door and waits for you to get in however you walk to the other side of the car and get in. Bucky chuckles at Zemo’s annoyed expression as he instead gets into the side, which Zemo held open.

During the mission, Zemo kept getting uncomfortably close to you. Occasionally his hand brushed against your back as he moved past you, or his hand would bump into yours slightly, lingering against yours longer than normal.

You knew why he was doing this. Because of Steve. He knew how close you and Steve were, everyone did. During the fight between Steve and Tony which Zemo had helped cause you stuck by Steve every second. Now that Steve was gone, Zemo was trying to rub that in. Trying to irritate you on purpose. You would not let him get to you.

During the meeting with Selby you stood off to the side with Sam and you were feeling pretty good about yourself that the mission was going well until Sam’s phone rang. You tried to keep cool while also giving Sam the wtf look as to why he didn’t put his phone on silent. You hung out hoping things would go okay, but today wasn’t your day.

Shelby got gunned down in front of you, and the mission was ruined. Running in heels wasn’t ideal, but you had to make do. You followed Sam and Bucky as Zemo split up from you, running off somewhere else. Eventually, you kicked off your heels, believing running barefoot would be better than dealing with the agony of heels.

Finally, meeting back up with Zemo, you were ready to have to fight your way out of this mess, but then someone you didn’t think you would ever see again appeared. Sharon Carter. You two weren’t exactly buddy buddies. You got along for Steve’s sake, but it always felt like a sort of rivalry between you two for his attention.

“Y/n,” she says, finally addressing you

“Sharon,” you say back, feeling the awkwardness seep back in. Sharon didn’t seem bothered however, she even kindly let you have some new clothes and shoes which were much more comfortable than the ones Zemo lent you and more your style.

Walking back into the main room you see Zemo sitting down, once again drinking, Bucky sitting down as far away from Zemo as he could get and Sam standing at the side. You choose to stand by Sam.

“Hey, y/n, you doing okay?” Sam asks as you walk over.

“Better than other days. What are we waiting around for?”

“For Sharon to lead us to a party where she can get the information we need,” Zemo answers for Sam, peeking over at you. You ignore him.

Sharon comes back in and tells all of you not to get in trouble while you are out at the party.

“Trouble,” Zemo jokes, and he once again glances over to you, raising a glass and winking at you as he downs it.

Following Sharon, you head into the party. It was to show off the art pieces she had got a hold of so you thought you might as well look at them as you were unlikely to see any of these genuine pieces again. You could see however Zemo following you. He tried to be sly by checking out the other artworks near you, never exactly where you were, but you could tell because every time you moved to a new place soon enough Zemo would suddenly appear there as well. He leaned into one of the artworks, pretending to study it closely, but the corner of his eyes would flick over to you.

Groaning in frustration at your new stalker, you decide you had to lose him in the crowds. Swaying your body, you enter the dancing crowd and jump along to the music, letting yourself go. You could feel your excitement growing with the crowd as you danced, but with one quick turn around there, you saw him.

Zemo had now entered the crowd and was dancing along to the music as well, pumping his hands in time to it. As you stared at him in disbelief, he notices and takes that as an innovation to dance over to you.

“Dancing is fun, right?” he asks as he claps his hand to the music

“Why are you doing this!” you exclaim glaring at him.

His eyebrows furrow as he looks at you, “I don’t understand what you mean?”

You huff in annoyance and storm away, going to find Sam and Bucky leaving Zemo alone on the dance floor. He watches you go and sighs, moving away from the dance floor. It had been a long time since he last got to socialize with anyone and he was trying with you; he wanted to know you more, but he didn’t want to push you too far either if you were uncomfortable with it.

The next few hours felt like a blur to everyone. Sharon found out where the doctor was and you found out a bit of information before Zemo choose to shoot him. Then the whole place exploded, and you had to fight for your life while Zemo hijacked and car to pick you up. Now you were standing outside the safe house.

Zemo opened up the doors, and with his arm motioned for you to go in first. You roll your eyes at his extravagance and storm in, looking around the place. It was simple, but you could still tell that it was all designer, expensive to Zemo’s tastes. You sit down on the sofa while Zemo instantly gravitates towards the liquor cupboard.

“If you drink so much you won’t have long left to live” you mutter as you watch him pour some whiskey. His head shoots up as he turns sidewards to look at you, raising an eyebrow.

“Concerned about my health now?”

“I’d rather have you not pass out during a mission, at least till you are no longer of use to us then you can drink yourself to death for all I care,”

“Ah concern for the mission, yes you avengers folks are all the same. The mission takes precedence before anything else,” Zemo says, grabbing his glass and walking over to take a seat on the sofa opposite you.

You give him a cold hard stare crossing your arms. “What do you mean by that” you hiss

He tilts his head, smirking as he sees how riled up you were getting. “I’m simply observing that you have to put your mission before human lives. I know from how much I studied Steve-”

“Don’t bring Steve into this!” you exclaim, leaning forward, baring your teeth at him.

Zemo pauses for a moment shocked, he pulls his head back to observe, his mouth slightly ajar as his eyebrows cast down but realization dawns across his face.

“Ah, you and Steve, you two were an item,”

“It wasn’t like that” you murmur, jumping up from the sofa and pacing around the room to try to alleviate the agitation you felt, your nails digging into your arms as you wrapped them around your body in comfort.

“But there was something,” Zemo replies, watching you pace around the room then looking into the glass bitterly, his grip on it tightening.

You turn your back to Zemo to stare at your reflection in the mirror, seeing the tears swell up in your eyes.

“Why are you bringing this up? Why do you keep trying to annoy me Zemo, what purpose are you getting from this apart from some sick sadistic pleasure?”

It was Zemo’s turn to jump up from the sofa, hurt you could ever think so lowly of him, his eyebrows furrowed as he speeds over to you. He stands beside you, getting a lot closer to you than you would like. You turned your head away so he couldn’t see the tears threatening to fall.

“Do you think that bad of me? Y/n we may not have had the best first impression but know that it is never my intention to irritate or upset you,” Zemo says, trying to move even closer to you, but he moves a step too far and you back away.

“Just leave me alone, Zemo” you whisper, then run out of the room to find a bathroom to let everything out.

Zemo watches your form leave, angrily clenching his jaw, knowing he pushed it too far. The vein in his neck twitches as he grabs an ornament by the side of the mirror. Holding it in his hand, he observes the glass figure, a dove, then chucks it into the ground in rage, feeling an inkling of satisfaction at seeing it smash into a thousand pieces. He grabs more ornaments, at that moment not caring how much they each cost, just enjoy the release of anger he felt every time he smashed one.

-

You could hear the blood in your brain roar through your ears, the feeling of your heart hitting your chest in shock as you stared down at Lemar’s dead body.

Your eyes flicker to John’s who knelt beside him, trying desperately to wake him up, but you knew it was hopeless. Lemar was gone. Your eyes flickered around the rest of the room, Karli and her friend realising how bad they have messed up were already running away from the room. Bucky and Sam looked at each other as if knowing what was to happen. Your eyes finally land on Zemo’s. John had tried to arrest him, but you were able to stop him. Zemo was still useful though you hated to admit it, it wasn’t long however till the Dora Milaje would find him.

You feel a hand brush against your shoulder and snap back into reality, “We need to leave, now,” Zemo whispered in your ear, pulling your arm to make you move.

Gathering your senses, you let Zemo lead you out of the building as you hear a crash from above. Running out into the road, you and Zemo catch up beside Sam and Bucky and watch the disaster unfold.

There was John, in Cap’s uniform, holding Cap’s shield above that man.

Steve.

Steve’s shield.

You feel a scream tear from your lips as you watch John Walker bring the shield down, penetrating the man’s chest, staining it in blood. Tears leak from your eyes as you attempt to rush forward, to try and stop it, but arms grasp onto you, pulling you back.

“NO” you repeatedly cried, trying to worm your way out of the grasp, but they gripped you, refusing to let go. Your knees gave out and you sink to the floor, collapsing in the arms of the person who held you, your head buried in the fur part of their coat as they held you to their chest.

You kept sobbing, shaking as the image replayed over and over in your mind.

“Captain America just killed someone,” you whispered, unable to say anything else. The arms which held you picked you up, quietly shushing you, and carried you down a road, back into the safe house.

They tried to put you on the sofa but you clung to their body, not believing you could survive without their support, so they settle on lying down beside you on the sofa.

They turned you to face their body as their arms draped around you, gently rubbing circles into your back. Burying your head into their chest again, you let the sobs wail out as your chest ached from breathing.

“Captain America just killed someone,” you whisper again to him.

“That wasn’t Steve, y/n, Steve would never do something like that,” he murmured, his accent soothing your nerves.

“But it was his shield Zemo. The very thing I had idolized for so long,”

“A shield which by now no longer belongs to him. He was never Captain America y/n, what we just saw proved that. They will give the shield to someone better,”

You sniff, trying to prevent the snot from coming out of your nose as your bloodshot eyes look up into his, “Really?”

He gently smiles at you, taking his hand off your back to push a strand of hair that was hanging over your eye away.

“Yes, they won’t make the same mistake twice,”

Zemo’s words brought more comfort than you could have ever imagined. His embrace brought you warmth and you could feel yourself slowly stop shaking as he held you. Looking away from Zemo in embarrassment, you instead choose to snuggle your head back into his chest, hearing the rapid beating of his heart which lulled you to sleep.

Tags: @sinister-sleep @cable-kenobi @faustlyaccused @chipster-21 @icarusinstatic @yallgotkik @montypythonsholysnail @bunniwritesx @checkurwindow @huntheimpossible @jayxkelsi @avgravy @prestigious-tea @aloyssiac @hannahbal-the-fannibal @alainabooks143 @jokerprettyprincess @plumsandkiwis @latenightartist-author @e-barba @flutterskies @wonderwoman292 @there-goes-thefighter @multiyfandomgirl40 @freyjasamael @ineffablebean

[triptuckers]

Second chance - Jesper Fahey

Request: yes “Would you please be willing to write a fic with Jesper from Shadow & Bone where he is so busy gambling that he forgets your anniversary and stands you up at the restaurant where you agreed to meet which turns into a fight and he wants to make it up to you. So a lil’ angsty that ends in fluff?? 🥰🥰” Pairing:  Jesper Fahey x reader Summary:  after waiting for jesper at your favorite restaurant for an hour, you finally leave the place, only to run into jesper, who was just about to enter Warnings: angst, language Word count:�� 2.2K A/N: oooh I like this !! thanks for requesting and enjoy reading! :) TAG LIST (grishaverse): @ayushmitadutta @mrs-brekker15 @dancingwith-sunflowers @thegirlwiththeimpala @parker-natasha @story-scribbler @romanoffstarkovs @daliareads @itsnotquimey @sanktaesperanza @whymyparentscheckmyphone @aleksanderwh0r3 @ilovemarvelanne1 @marlenaisnthappy  TAG LIST (jesper fahey): @mufnasa add yourself to my tag lists here

You play with the cherry in your empty glass. You’d already bought yourself two drinks, drinking them as slowly as you could, waiting. The people who are working tonight had sent you sympathetic glances at first, since it was clear you were waiting for someone.  

But the longer you waited, the more angry looks they gave you. The restaurant is very popular among locals as well as tourists. It’s not good for business if one girl kept one table for herself, waiting for someone who still hadn’t shown up.

Just as you want to signal to one of the waitresses to order another drink, someone��already approaches you.

You smile briefly and want to order another drink, but she’s the one who talks first.

‘Ma’am, I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to ask you to give up the table.’ she says.

You feel your heart sink to your stomach. 

‘Can’t I wait a little longer?’ you say. ‘I’m sure he’ll be here soon.’

‘You’ve already sat here for an hour. We can’t give you any more time, I’m sorry.’ she says.

You sigh softly and get up, smoothing out your dress. You follow her to the bar and pay for your drinks. As you walk toward the door, you start to think where you could go. You don’t feel like going to the Slat.

Inej and Nina would probably be waiting up for you, ready to hear all about your dinner with Jesper, and you didn’t feel like going down there only to tell them he didn’t even show up. You might just take a walk around the city, or go to a nearby park to sit down.

Just as you walk through the door, you bump into Jesper. 

Normally, you’d be delighted to see him. But now you can’t even bring yourself to smile at him. His face looks flushed, as if he ran here. 

‘I can explain.’ he begins, but you push past him and step out onto the street. 

You ignore Jesper calling your name and start to walk away from him. You don’t even register which direction you’re going, you just want to be away from Jesper. 

‘Y/N, wait!’ says Jesper, running after you and catching up with you. 

You start walking faster and curse yourself for wearing such high heels. Then again, they’re Jesper’s favourites, he loves them. Right now you wanted to take them off and throw them in the nearest canal.

‘Look, I can explain.’ he says again.

‘Do me a favour, Jesper. Don’t.’ you say as you keep on walking, refusing to look at him. 

‘Sweetheart-’

‘Don’t you fucking call me that!’ you say loudly.

You stop walking to get in front of him. Jesper looks hurt at your loud voice but in the moment, you couldn’t care less. Anger rises up in your body as you look up at Jesper.

‘You fucking forgot our anniversary dinner, Jesper!’ you say loudly. ‘We don’t get to celebrate a lot around here, and you knew how much I was looking forward to it. I picked out the best restaurant, I got a new dress which I look really good in, and I had something else planned for us after dinner.’ 

Jesper doesn’t say anything, merely looks at you as you catch your breath and continue.

‘I told you time and time again to please remember it, and then you fucking didn’t! This was important to me, I thought it was important to you too.’ you say.

‘Look, I know I stood you up, and I’m sorry for that, I really am. But I knew you had some things to handle for Kaz, so I decided to kill the time and went to the gambling hall-’

You cut him off by a groan and throw your hands up in frustration. ‘Of course you did, because gambling is all you care about!’ you say.

Jesper frowns. ‘That’s not true.’ he says. ‘I care about you.’

You step closer and jab a finger in his chest. ‘If you cared about me, you would have remembered instead of wasting time and money gambling.’ you say.

Shaking your head, you step back from him. Jesper looks hurt at your words. You tear your eyes away from his face and bend down to take off your heels. 

‘These are fucking killing machines.’ you mutter as you take them off, choosing to walk barefoot instead. 

You look at Jesper once you’re standing up straight again, and can tell he wants to say something, but you don’t give him a chance. You turn around and start walking away, blinking furiously to stop the tears from falling. 

Part of you expects Jesper to chase after you, and you have to force yourself not to look over your shoulder. He screwed up and he knows it. And you aren’t ready to forgive him just yet. 

But when he doesn’t follow you, you’re still upset. You walk until your feet hurt. Eventually, you can’t ignore the aching feeling in your chest any longer, and you sink to the ground.

You let the sadness take over and the tears stream down your cheeks. You had told Jesper multiple times a day to remember it, that it was important to you. And yet he still forgot. Because he decided to go to the gambling hall. You really thought you meant more to him. 

When the tears have stopped falling and you’re noticing how tired you actually are, you push yourself to your feet and start walking back to the Slat. 

It takes longer than you thought it would, you must have wandered off further from the restaurant than you’d initially thought. You briefly close your eyes and sigh in relief when you finally see the crooked building of the Slat in the distance. 

Your shoes feel exceptionally heavy in your hands as you push the door open. There are a few people sitting downstairs, including Inej, Nina and of course, Jesper.

He hopefully looks up when he sees you, opening his mouth to speak to you, but you turn your attention to Inej.

‘Can I stay in your room tonight?’ you ask her.

She looks from you to Jesper. You didn’t know how much he had told them. Even if he didn’t tell them anything, your puffy and red eyes told them enough. 

‘Please?’ you say. 

Inej nods at you.

‘Thanks.’ you say, turning around to go to her room. You hear how someone gets up behind you, and immediately assume it was Jesper.

‘Don’t.’ you say without turning around. 

You climb the stairs to Inej’ room and let yourself in. After preparing a bath, you let your aching feet soak in the water. You lean your head back and close your eyes, letting your thoughts take over. 

After a while, you hear Inej knocking on the bathroom door. 

‘You alright in there?’ she says.

‘No.’ you say truthfully. ‘I’ll be out in a second.’

Inej opens the door a bit and you see her hand as she flings you one of her shirts to wear to bed. You put it on after drying yourself and comb your hair.

She’s sitting on the bed when you leave the bathroom. Thankfully, your eyes aren’t as red as they were. But Inej still gives you a comforting smile.

‘Jesper said he forgot.’ she says.

‘Did he tell you why he forgot?’ you say as you climb onto the bed and lay down underneath the covers. 

‘He only told us he forgot, and kept saying how much of an idiot he was.’ says Inej. ‘But that’s all.’

‘He forgot because he was too busy gambling.’ you say. 

Inej frowns. ‘He was? But you told him so many times not to forget. And he went to a gambling hall?’ she says.

‘Hence why I ignored him.’ you say. 

‘Do you want to talk about it?’ says Inej.

‘No.’

‘Do you want me to shut up so you can go to sleep?’

‘Yes.’

Inej doesn’t reply anymore, instead she lays down as well. It takes a while for you to get comfortable. You’re used to sleeping next to Jesper. Inej is one of your best friends, but of course it’s still different. After what feels like hours, you finally fall asleep.

For some reason you feel even more tired than the night before when you wake up. It’s like your entire body feels heavier for some reason. Inej must’ve already went downstairs for breakfast, because she’s not in the room with you.

You get up and briefly stop by the room you share with Jesper - after checking he’s not there - to put on a clean outfit. You’d hoped Jesper would be away, but he’s sitting downstairs with the rest of the crows when you enter the room.

You want to turn around and get breakfast at a cafe, but Jesper is faster. He’s quick to walk toward you with just a few steps. You want to walk out the door, but Jesper reaches out and grabs your arm. 

‘Just hear me out, okay?’ he says.

You ignore him and keep your eyes fixed on the floor, determined not to look at him. 

‘Look, I was an idiot. I can’t apologise to you because me forgetting our anniversary dinner because I went gambling is unforgivable. Especially since you told me so many times not to forget. It was fucking stupid, and I promise you it won’t happen again.’ says Jesper. 

You have to physically hold yourself back not to throw yourself into his arms. Because yes, Jesper was an idiot last night, but at the end of every day, you still love him. He’s still yours and you are his.

‘What do you say, love, do you want to give this handsome face a second chance?’ says Jesper. 

You finally look up at him. You missed looking up into his eyes. He’s searching your face for a reaction.

‘Promise me next time you won’t forget.’ you say softly. 

As a response, Jesper holds out his pinky finger to you. You chuckle and raise your hand to hook your pinky finger around his.

‘I promise.’ says Jesper. ‘I’ll make it up to you. Let me make you breakfast, since I missed dinner last night.’ 

You look over his shoulder. ‘Everyone’s still there.’ you point out.

‘Consider it taken care of.’ says Jesper with a wink.

Before you can ask him what he meant, Jesper has already turned around.

‘Ladies, gentlemen, I’m going to need you to clear the room.’ says Jesper. 

Almost everyone gets up, except for Matthias and Kaz. Matthias seems confused, Kaz just seems like he doesn’t care.

‘Right. I have to address all of you.’ says Jesper. ‘Ladies, gentleman, drüskelle and Kaz, please clear the room.’ 

Nina has to drag Matthias away and Kaz only gets up after Inej raises her eyebrows at him, but they do clear the room. 

‘I can’t believe they listen to you.’ you say, watching all of the crows leave. 

‘No one can say no to someone as gorgeous as me.’ says Jesper.

You laugh at his words. ‘Good to have you back, Jes.’ you say. 

You follow him to the small kitchen and hop onto the counter. As Jesper starts to move around, getting ingredients for a nice breakfast, you can’t help but to smile.

When he walks past you, you reach out and grab his arm. 

‘Thank you.’ you say. ‘For making it up to me.’

He leans in and kisses your forehead. ‘Thank you for putting up with my idiotic and annoying ass.’ he says.

‘Hey!’ you say and you playfully slap his arm. ‘You forgot ‘forgetful’.’ you say.

Jesper pouts and you laugh. ‘Forgetting anniversary dinner because you went gambling, I’m going to hold that against you for the rest of your life.’ you say. ‘It’s a perfect summary for your personality.’ 

‘Wrong.’ says Jesper, moving closer to you so he can wrap his arms around your waist. ‘The biggest part of my personality consists of my undying love for you.’ 

‘You’re so cheesy.’ you say.

‘You’re the one who knew what they were getting themselves into when you agreed to be my girlfriend, so that one’s on you.’ he says.

‘Alright, I’ll give you that.’ you say. 

‘I’ll take you out for dinner as well, but for now you’ll have to settle for breakfast.’ says Jesper, letting you go and continuing to make you breakfast.

‘That’s alright.’ you say. ‘It’s been a while since we had the kitchen to ourselves. So, what’s for breakfast?’

‘Well, Inej taught me how to make waffles, but I do have to confess I forgot half of the recipe already.’ says Jesper, looking at the ingredients he gathered. 

You chuckle and hop off the counter. You walk around it and nudge Jesper’s side. 

‘Move over, I know her recipe.’ you say.

‘I was going to make you breakfast, love.’ says Jesper.

‘Perfect, you can help me then.’ you say. 

‘Deal.’ says Jesper.

A/N: If you want to request something, make sure to read my house rules Here’s the list of characters I write for. Everything that I have written can be found on my masterlist. Please don’t repost my work, as I spend much time and effort on it!! Thank you for reading! Much love, Marit