#like are y'all sniffing him when you meet him or something

[whoisspence]

no way this is real there's absolutely no way

[delulujuls]

aussies do it better | op81, dr3

heeeeey (louder than anyone else) im serving today the koala bear and the honeybadger duo and im hoping y'all will like it!

at the beggining i was hoping for making this a smut but it turned out so wholesome, even though im thinking about still making it smutty, maybe in second part?? idk lmk if you like this one and if you would like to have more of them in a maybe spicy way

anyway pls enjoy and have wonderful day x

summary: sometimes we forget that the best things are often at our fingertips, danny ric being the best wingman possible, pastry boy being pure babygirl

warnings: cheating on a reader (but not them they could never)

pairing: bff!fem!reader x oscar piastri x daniel ricciardo

"Guys, quick break," Oscar announced, stepping aside and setting down his paddle.

"In the next set, we play together, we'll show them how it's done properly. In a Aussie style," Daniel said, grabbing some water and taking a few sips, to which Oscar chuckled, wiping his hair with a towel. It was a pleasant, warm evening. Oscar, Daniel, and a few friends decided to take advantage of the last free day before the frenzy of the home Grand Prix and relax in the company of friends. But Oscar's thoughts were far from relaxed. When he picked up his phone and saw a few missed calls from Y/N, his friend, his smile instantly faded, not escaping Daniel's notice.

"Something wrong?" he asked, glancing at him attentively. Piastri, still focused on his phone, just shook his head.

"I have no idea, but I hope not," he replied, quickly typing a message to his friend.

"Sorry for not answering. Is everything okay? Should I call back?"

He didn't have to wait long for a reply, as it came seconds later.

"No, nothing happened. I just wanted to talk for a moment."

Seeing him nervously tapping on the keyboard, Daniel approached him and glanced over his shoulder.

"Translating to our language, something definitely happened. She just decided not to bother you," he said, scanning through their recent messages from a while ago. "Girlfriend?"

"No, a friend. A close friend."

"Then you should call her back even more so," he remarked, looking meaningfully into Oscar's eyes as he raised his head to meet his gaze. Oscar returned his gaze to the phone in his hand and after a moment's hesitation nodded.

"I'll be right back; start without me if you need to," he informed, then quickly clicked the camera. As he left the court and stepped outside, the girl picked up. She was hastily wiping her cheeks, but it was futile, as Oscar easily noticed her distressed state. It was evident she had been crying.

"Hey, what happened? Why are you crying?" he asked, concerned, gazing attentively at his friend. After his question, she just shook her head and buried her face in her hands. A sob escaped from his phone.

"Y/N, please tell me why you're in such a state," he calmly requested, though his heart was pounding like crazy. He had no idea what had caused his friend to be in such a state, and the fact that he was on the other side of the globe and couldn't just come over to check on her only amplified his worry.

"Mattias," she managed to squeeze out just one word, but it was enough for Oscar to know what had brought her to tears.

"What happened? Where are you?"

It was clear that the girl was outside. It was dark, and she was walking briskly, her face illuminated only by the glow of her phone held in her hand. Her hair were messy and her mascara was smudged on her cheeks.

"I'm waiting for an Uber. I'm coming back from Natalie's birthday party, the one I told you I didn't want to go to."

"You ended up going?"

"Yes, and it was a mistake," she replied, sniffing. "Mattias was there too. I didn't even know he got an invitation. Turns out he did, and on top of that, he was having such a great time he forgot he had a girlfriend."

Oscar didn't even realize when he started nervously pacing, waiting for his friend to continue.

"I went there," Y/N continued, her voice trembling "after all, it would be stupid if I ignored my friend on her birthday. Then suddenly someone comes up to me and asks if I'm Mattias' girlfriend, and I answer yes. And he says I guess not, since on the balcony he's been kissing someone else. And he was actually making out with some girl! When he saw me, he looked as if he had seen a ghost. It didn't occur to him that I might be at my friend's fucking birthday party!"

"Did he react in any way?"

"Of course," the girl snorted, "baby, it's not what you think, we were just talking, I didn't have my hand in her panties at all! Fuck, of course not!"

"Hey, calm down," Oscar said, knowing his friend's emotions well. "How long until your Uber arrives?"

Y/N calmed down for a moment and glanced at her phone, swiping through her notifications.

"3 minutes."

"Alright, the most important thing is for you to get out of there and be home soon. Don't hang up until you're inside, okay?"

"Why me, Oscar? What's wrong with me?" she asked, looking back at her phone. Despite the thousands of kilometers between them, as Oscar looked at the screen of his phone and saw his friend's sad eyes, he felt as if she were standing right in front of him. The downside was that he couldn't hug her and provide the physical support she needed right now.

"It's not your fault, Y/N. It's not your fault at all."

Despite his words of support, Oscar knew that his reassurances were just empty words. He talked to his friend until she got home and let him know she was safe. He offered to continue talking until he noticed her condition had slightly improved, but it was clear she was exhausted.

"I think it's best if I go to bed," she said softly. He heard the sound of keys turning in the lock and the rustle of things being put away. "Although I doubt I'll be able to sleep."

"You should rest," Piastri agreed, nodding. "Text me as soon as you wake up, okay?"

"Sure, but then you'll be sleeping, it's 9 hours' difference," she replied, returning her gaze to the screen of her phone. "Besides, you have more important things to deal with tomorrow."

"Nothing is more important than you," he said, but she just scoffed and shook her head. "Nothing, you hear me? I'll keep the sound on while I sleep, call if anything happens in the meantime. Okay?"

Y/N sighed and nodded.

"Thank you, Osc. It's good to have you here."

Piastri smiled warmly at her.

"Of course I am."

When the call ended, Oscar sighed deeply and rubbed his face with his hand. When he returned to the court, the match was already underway. So, he sat on the bench and clenched his phone in his hand, trying to gather his thoughts somehow. His heart ached at the thought of his friend and what she had gone through. He had known Y/N since their school days when they shared a desk. A friendship had easily developed between them, and they had become practically inseparable. Despite Oscar's busy lifestyle and constant travels, they had managed to maintain constant contact, meeting as often as possible. In such situations, however, their friendship, separated by kilometers, could not cope.

"It's everything alright?" Daniel interrupted Oscar's thoughts, approaching him after the set ended.

"Long story," Piastri sighed.

"I'll gladly listen, considering I'm out and Blake is subbing for me in this set," he replied, sitting next to him and wiping his face with a towel.

For some reason, Oscar began to tell him about what he had just learned over the phone. He and Daniel weren't exceptionally close, sure, they were buddies on the paddock, sometimes playing padel together, but Oscar had never thought of confiding in him about anything. But perhaps this situation overwhelmed him a bit, and he needed advice on how he could help his friend.

"How long have you known her?" Ricciardo asked, when a moment of silence fell between them.

"Over six years, we met back in school."

"For your age, that's almost a quarter of your life," he joked, but after a moment, he looked at him with a slightly more serious expression. "Do you like her?"

"She's my friend, of course, I do."

Ricciardo snorted and shook his head. "Yeah, I figured, but I mean, do you like her?"

Oscar blinked several times, and it wasn't until Ricciardo emphasized the penultimate word he said that Oscar understood what he meant.

"We're friends, I never, uh—," he stumbled a bit, not knowing how to respond.

"So I guess that means yes," Daniel grinned widely, seeing his reaction. "You should invite her here. It would be good for her to occupy her mind with something else now. And she'll appreciate being able to talk to you face to face, not just over the phone."

"I don't know if she'd want to fly all this way just to see me," he replied, causing Daniel to look at him indulgently. "She's never made me feel like I'm anything more than a friend to her."

"Maybe this is the moment to show her that she's had the right guy in front of her all this time," he said, getting up as the set ended. "Cause Aussies always do it better, right?"

Oscar pondered Daniel's suggestion for a long time, but when he went to bed, he decided to offer his friend a visit to Melbourne. Before he went to sleep, he sent her a message with an invitation, honestly not knowing what reaction to expect from her. Of course, he assured her that he would cover all the costs of her transportation, but he still wasn't sure if she would agree to travel such a distance just to see him.

When he woke up in the morning and picked up his phone, he had to rub his eyes in amazement several times. She agreed immediately. She even asked if she could fly to him on the fastest plane, to which he naturally agreed. As a result, she was already at the airport the next evening. Unfortunately, Oscar couldn't pick her up personally, but someone was willing to offer their help on-site.

"Hi, you must be Y/N," Daniel's wide smile and his Australian accent were the first things to greet the girl on the new continent. "I'm Daniel, and it's a pleasure to meet you."

She nodded, returning his smile and shaking his outstretched hand.

"It's very nice to meet you too, and I'm sorry Oscar roped you into this," she replied as he silently took her suitcase. "I could have taken a taxi."

"Absolutely no need to apologize, I'm just glad I could personally welcome you to our beautiful country," he said with a smile. It was past midnight, and Y/N wondered where her newfound companion got so much energy from. "First time in Australia, am I right?"

"Yes, I've never been here before. Actually, it's only the second time in my life I've flown on a plane."

"Really?" Daniel looked at her in shock, and she just shyly nodded. "And Oscar managed to convince you to take such a trip?"

"Actually, I was very excited about the invitation," she admitted, but at one point, she bit her tongue. However, when she glanced at Daniel again, she got the impression that he wouldn't be too concerned about some stranger girl occupying him with trivialities. "A lot has been going on with me lately, and I'm glad to have a reset here."

"I'll gladly join as your local guide and mood lifter," he offered, opening the car door for her. "Of course, if you're up for it and if Oscar is willing to share his best friend."

The girl chuckled, genuinely for the first time in a few days. She eagerly nodded at his proposal.

"I'd love to. And I don't think Oscar will mind."

The journey passed in lightning speed with a conversation that looked like they had known each other for ages, not just a few dozen minutes. When Daniel parked in the driveway, Oscar was already standing in front of the house, waiting for his friends.

"Everything you've learned from me, you haven't actually learned from me," Daniel said, throwing a quick glance at Oscar, which brought a smile back to the girl's face and her hasty nod. Both got out of the car, and Daniel, without taking no for an answer, took her bags. The girl smiled even wider at the sight of her friend, who started walking towards her. She hugged him tightly without a word, and he closed her in a tight embrace.

Daniel smiled at the sight and just raised his thumb. Oscar returned the gesture.

The trio entered the house, and Daniel left the girl's things in the living room doorway before stretching.

"I'll be off," he announced, looking around at them. "It was very nice to meet you, and I hope we'll see each other again soon."

"You can stay if you want," Oscar offered. "We probably won't go to bed soon anyway, and I owe you a beer for today."

"I definitely won't be able to sleep anytime soon, despite the hour," the girl added, checking the time on her phone before shifting her gaze to Daniel and Oscar. "But I have the least to say because it's not me facing the home Grand Prix in a few days."

"Well, why not, gladly," Ricciardo replied, agreeing to the suggestion with a smile.

Shortly after, the three of them were sitting on the terrace. The evening was pleasant, so they decided not to disturb Oscar's family and spend time outside. The conversation was already flowing smoothly, and with each subsequent beer, any inhibitions and barriers disappeared more and more. At some point, it looked like a meeting of three close friends after years.

"He acted like a complete dick," Daniel summed up Y/N's story, taking a sip from the can he held. "Look at it from a different angle, you could have skipped this party and not confronted him. He would probably cheat on you behind your back if he wasn't already."

Oscar looked at him meaningfully, not wanting him to further distress her. However, she seemed to come to terms with the whole situation. She certainly looked better than she did a few days ago when she tearfully talked to Oscar on the phone.

"Possible," the girl sighed, holding her own can. Her head was a bit fuzzy, but she liked this state better than feeling sadness. "Oh God, how could I be so stupid."

"It happens to the best of us," Daniel smiled reassuringly at her.

"The worst thing is, you told me many times that he's not the right guy for me, that he's not a good person at all," she continued, now looking at Oscar, who was sitting next to her. Daniel, sitting in the chair opposite, looked at him meaningfully, but he had his gaze fixed on the girl. "And I still thought I knew better. I'll never question your instincts again, Osc. Never."

She said, then hugged him tightly. Oscar returned the hug, rubbing her back. "It doesn't matter now. It happened, and that's it."

"You said he's not the right guy for you," Daniel began, and Oscar looked at him at the moment when he released his friend from the hug. He shook his head slightly, knowing where he was going with this. But this train couldn't be stopped. "Is there any guy you think would be right for you?"

The girl thought for a moment, turning the can in her hands. However, alcohol placed a certain thought in her head, which made her smile. She just nodded in response, raising her gaze to the man sitting opposite her.

"Oh, you're flattering me," Daniel laughed, taking another sip of beer.

"For the past few minutes, I've been noticing that I kind of like Aussies," she added, glancing at Oscar. He was so shocked when she subtly announced that she liked Daniel in an unexpected way that he didn't even notice when her gaze lingered on his lips. However, Daniel noticed it perfectly.

"And you, Oscar?" Ricciardo asked, stretching his legs out in front of him, a moment after he took another sip of his beer. "Do you have anyone in mind?"

Piastri almost choked on his beer when he finished it. His cheeks were instantly flushed, and it had nothing to do with the alcohol he had just consumed. Y/N raised her gaze to her friend's face, curious herself about his answer to the question, as Oscar had never shared his romantic affairs with her, even when she repeatedly asked about them.

When he, embarrassed, couldn't utter a word, Y/N's gaze returned to Daniel, and she decided to answer for her friend. "Oscar probably hasn't met the right person yet," she said, taking a sip of beer. "He's never told me that he likes any girl, even when I asked hundreds of times. Recently, I even started asking if it's not a girl, then maybe a boy? After all, there's nothing wrong with a relationship with two boys or two girls. And Lando," she looked at her friend again, "he's quite charming. And it seems to me that you two have a good relationship."

"Landoscar? Oh definitely, I've been thinking about it many times myself," Daniel interjected, pointing his finger and agreeing with her words.

Oscar, seeing how they were encouraging each other, knew he had to act. And since words got stuck in his throat, and he didn't know how to defend himself, he silently touched his friend's cheek and turned her head towards him, kissing her. Despite her shock, she returned the kiss. Daniel smiled. He felt like giving himself a high-five.

After a moment, Oscar pulled away from his friend. His heart was pounding like crazy, and her questioning gaze wandering over his face didn't make it any easier for him to gather his thoughts.

"You, Y/N, I like you," he finally said. "I've liked you since you invited me over to work on a biology project in eleventh grade. We were just starting to be friends, and I already felt something more for you. Nothing has changed since then."

"Why didn't you ever tell me?" she asked, looking at him, but he lowered his gaze.

"I always felt like I was more of a brother to you than potential boyfriend material,"

"Oscar…," the girl sighed, looking at him indulgently. "Do you know how many broken hearts you would have saved me if you had told me earlier?"

Oscar looked up at her. And just as he felt like an idiot when he decided to make his bold move, now he was wondering if there was a chance she felt the same way about him.

"I thought I was just your friend. And that you didn't want someone who couldn't keep up with your pace of life. After all, why would you need a girlfriend you couldn't have by your side?"

"I would spend all my money to have my girlfriend by my side,"

After these words, silence fell. Oscar and Y/N looked at each other in silence, and Daniel, sitting next to them, pressed the cool edge of the can to his lips and watched the whole scene with bated breath.

"Do you want us to be together?" the girl asked after a moment. She decided to put everything on the line.

"Yes, Y/N, I want us to be together," he said, looking her in the eyes. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier and spared you so many broken hearts. But I assumed that a long-distance relationship would break your heart even more."

Oscar lowered his head. He wasn't lying. The truth was that one of the reasons he didn't confess his feelings to the girl was that he already found it hard with a long-distance friendship, let alone having the possibility to see his girlfriend once a month or less. Oscar had countless layers of love within him. However, he was afraid that if he turned on the tap, he would cause a flood, injuring not only her but also himself.

"Come here," she whispered softly, pulling herself closer to him and hugging him tightly. He closed his eyes and embraced her just as tightly, burying his face in her hair.

"Surely you'll be happy with such a guy," Daniel spoke up after a while, smiling. "If not, you know where to find me. However, Aussies always do it better."

[animehideout]

LOVE IS THE MOST TWISTED CURSE OF THEM ALL

GOJO SATORU X FEM! READER

PART 12

check out final part here

a/n: Hiiii I'm back with another chapter, only one chapter left till we reach the end if this story. I apologize for the late update, my schedule kinda changed and it got busier so that's why I wasn't able to write and post, but good news that I'm back now yay ✨❤️.

Anyways I hope you enjoy this part as well. Some Angst, so grab some tissues and a snack of course to munch on while reading 😀.

Enjoy your reading session, love y'all so much 🫶🏻

Not Proofread ❌ Slight smut at the end.

You took another glance around the room, but didn't dare to ask any of your students about him. You sighed in disappointment but forced a smile to not worry your students and look suspicious or sad. You hated to admit it even within you, but you wished he was there, holding your hand till you awake. But you woke up surrounded only by your students, it's not like you don't appreciate them or they're not enough, you just wanted another kind of feeling, and that feeling could only be with your husband, Satoru. Once again you felt neglected by him even in this terrible condition.

Megumi was too focused on you, he knew right away by the way your gaze was shifting in every corner, every face in the room that you were looking for Gojo, he knew you needed him.

"Ehm, I'll go get Gojo since you're awake now" he said in a reassuring tone without meeting your gaze, and left the room to look for him.

"Where the hell did he go" he mumbled to himself.

"Hm Megumi? Is Y/n awake?" asked Nanami

"Oh yeah she's awake, and she's fine! By the way, did you, perhaps see Gojo around?"

"He's not here"

"Then where?"

"He'll be here later, don't worry about him"

"Nanami Sensei! I. Need. You. To. Tell. Me. please! It's important " he insisted,

With a tired sigh, he spoke,

"Alright! he's at one of the interrogation rooms at Jujutsu High, probably interrogating Mei Mei-"

"or my father"

and without further words, Megumi headed to Jujutsu High to bring Gojo to the hospital, to bring him to your side.

"Hey Megumi wait" yelled Nanami but je was already gone.

*1st Interrogation Room*

"Happy now? Where's that usual dirty smirk at? Gone?" started Gojo as he looked down at Mei Mei who got both her hands chained to the chair.

"How dare you chain me up? A well respected Jujutsu sorcerer!" she exclaimed angrily.

"Oh no no trust me, after releasing Toji from prison, paying him to kill my wife and putting the Jujutsu community in terrible danger, officially you're no longer respected" he spat and started to walk away

"NO NO PLEASE WAIT! GOJO WAIT I BEG YOU! I did this for you!" she started crying,

"I did this for you Gojo, just for your sake. You know about the prophecy, I couldn't let her exceed you and become stronger than you, you're the strongest Gojo and it should remain that way–please, I wanted to protect you–" she pleaded desperately, tears streaming down her cheeks, each sob echoed in the vast empty room.

With a mocking chuckle, he approached her again and bent down till he met her eye level, tilting his head to the side, his blue eyes piercing through her soul,

"oh yeah?" he started

"Y-es, yes just for you Gojo" she said with a soft smile while sniffing.

"Hah, pathetic how hard you're still trying, how hard you're still trying to manipulate me and get me to believe your lies–lemme give you the real fact behind all of this, the fact is that you desperately wanted Y/n to die. You knew Y/n will become something, more powerful than any of us, and of course your jealousy, ego and hate were triggered because another woman effortlessly stole the show and your desperate ass always wants to be in the spot light, taking all the attention, you've always wanted to br known as the strongest woman sorcerer, the perfect match for me, the strongest man! But all of that collapsed when I married Y/n" he paused and pointed his index finger at her,

"You desperately wanted to be her, you envied her even at her lowest, you're obsessed with her to the point that you betrayed the jujutsu world. But lemme tell you something, Mei Mei, Y/n didn't only steal the spot light, she also stole my heart! I love my wife, I love Y/n so much and if you dare to think of any possible plan that could possibly get you out of prison to hurt my wife again, then I'll end you–" he said calmly in a serious and low tone, moving away from her to open the door and leave.

"–end me? just like you ended Geto?"

she wanted to trigger him, to hit his weakest spot, to make his heart ache like hers and to see him all vulnerable, but he swallowed it, even though the name Geto was killing him and slicing him to pieces for years. His hand clutched the door handle tightly, turning his head, side eyeing her,

"Yes I'll end you just like I ended Geto"

Then he shut the door, leaving her all alone.

Right then, she knew she lost Gojo forever, and her last attempt to convince him by bringing Geto was only another reason for him to hate her even more.

"NO GOJO WAIT, no! don't leave me here! GOJO PLEASE"

She begged and begged, but for nothing he's left already and outside that room her screams are inaudible, no one is able to hear her loud cries, no matter how hard she tries.

..

Gojo reached the other door handle, moving into the next interrogation room,

"Gojo Satoru, we meet again" said Toji with a smirk, his hair falling on his face, his lip bleeding,

"Toji Zenin"

"I go by Fushiguro now"

"And I don't give a fuck, you're a criminal either way"

"Oww, too salty Satoru"

"I don't have time for this kind of chit chat, what was your plan to do to my wife?"

"Kill her obviously, duh!" said Toji rolling his eyes

"You son of a bitch, and you're proud of that, I'm not allowed to kill you, that was the higher ups call so be thankful for that, or else I would have put you through the most terrible death you could possibly think of"

"Are you threatening me? besides it wasn't my plan, it was your side chick's plan"

"The fuck did you say?" said Gojo angrily, taking quick steps to Toji punching him once again, making his nose bleed.

Toji started laughing hysterically,

"Alright you win, you win for the second time Gojo Satoru, but I don't think you won her heart, pity all this effort to save her is for nothing"

"Shut up"

"What? You think now you'll live happy ever after? That you'll start over and become a happy couple? Nah you're egocentric, selfish and fucking arrogant, and you've never known love and never will, I've spent three days with her and I can tell she can't live with someone like you. Both of you are far away from each other, two extremes, too empathetic and too apathetic. She'll leave your ass"

"I SAID SHUT UP" yelled Gojo, once again punching him,

"G-gojo?" said Megumi as he opened the door and witnessed it.

"Megumi?" said Gojo and Toji at the same time,

Megumi looked at Toji with what appeared empty eyes, but in the inside his heart was breaking into pieces.. He shifted his gaze to Gojo,

"Gumi what are you doing here?" asked Satoru

"Came to see you Gojo, you have to go to the hospital Y/n is awake and she was looking for you!!"

"D-did she tell you to l-look for me?" he asked hia heart skipping a beat,

"Nah I just figured out, you better go now"

"Wait aren't you coming with me?"

"No, I have to talk to him"

"Megumi! You know you don't have to stay here, you don't have to talk to him, he'll soon get the punishment he deserves–"

"I know, but he's my father and I need to ask him why!"

"Then I'll stay with you, it's not safe!" he reached to grab Megumi's arm,

"Gojo, please! just go to your wife, she's waiting, don't make her wait any longer! I promise I'll be fine" said Megumi with a smile,

As soon as Gojo left the room, Megumi approached his father standing right in front of him,

"S-son!"

"Why? Why did you do that?" said Megumi in a cold tone,

"Son please!"

"You've almost killed one of my close friends! Y/n is not just a teacher to me, she's my friend as well! and now I can't even look her in the eye, you know why?" he paused, trying to swallow back the lump that formed in his throat making him struggle to talk,

"Because of you! because of the shame I'm feeling whenever I see her or remember that MY FATHER WANTED TO KILL HER JUST TO GET SOME DIRTY MONEY FROM MEI MEI"

"Megumi! you need to listen to me! I had to do that!"

"No, there's no excuse that can get you away for murdering innocent people, first Riko and now attempted to do the same to Y/n just because Mei Mei told you?"

"I did all of this for you, to buy a house, a house that we can all call home! Where we can be a family again, me and you!"

"A family?" said Megumi in a mocking way,

"Yes, we can try again, I can fix everything, and make up for the years that I wasn't by your side–"

"You know what dad!"

"Yes son tell me!"

"I'm glad you left when I was young, I'm glad Gojo raised me and not you, or else I might end up a criminal like you. If my mom was alive she'd be the most disappointed in you, SHE WONT EVEN RECOGNIZE YOU DAD!"

"Megumi don't say please!" said Toji, tears forming in his eyes,

Megumi's words destroyed him because he knows they were true, his wife would be disappointed in him if she was alive.

"You ruined my life dad! Enough of it, stop trying to ruin others' lives just for money, just because you were neglected by the Zenin clan! Don't make others pay for what your clan did to you..." he added, taking steps backwards to leave the room,

"Son wait please! I'm so sorry I caused you all this pain, I'm sorry I wasn't there–"

"Just forget you ever had a son, just like what you did with your humanity....goodbye -dad"

with that he closed the door forever, not only the room's door but the door in his heart that he kept open for his father, wishing that some day, he would repent and fix his mistakes even though he knew deep down they can't be fixed. And now he's finally ready to let go, he can never forgive him for all this mess, for all these mistakes that he willingly committed.

Unable to keep it inside, unable to hide his true, delicate, sensitive self, after maintaining the cold, strong image for too long as a coping mechanism for always feeling inferior than others for being parentless. He finally let out the child thay was kept locked inside, and finally broke down into tears. With each loud sob, his chest rose and heaved with sadness. He cried because of the shame he felt, and because of the fact he's now letting go of his father, once and for all. He cried alone, hugging his knees like a baby, till it became hard to breathe.

..

But was he alone really?

"MEGUMI!!!!"

That voice, the voice that used to annoy him for telling jokes non stop, for laughing really loud and not letting him sleep, that voice now is saving him.

He looked up, his eyes puffy and red with tears.

Yuji and Nobara running towards him, worried expressions drawn on their faces, their eyes wide since it was the first time they see their friend shed a tear. They finally reached him, joining him on the floor.

"Megumi??! what's wrong buddy what happened?" asked Yuji his eyes softening,

"Fushiguro? Is everything okay? Why are you crying did someone hurt you?" asked Nobara her voice shaking with fear and worry.

He just started at them, not saying anything single word. Looking ay their genuine worried and confused faces, a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips, realizing that his friends got his back, that they won't let him down and most importantly he realized that he doesn't have to feel alone anymore. They truly loved him and cared for him. He was too broken to realize that, he thought his dad abandon him because he hated him, so he grew up with that mindset; his father hates him let alone people out there. But now, finally realizing that love, friendship saved him, from himself, from his dark thoughts and now he can start anew.

Nobara waved her hand on front of his face,

"Hey Fushiguro??"

Without saying anything he hugged both of them, finally feeling the love he's been rejecting. Allowing himself to feel it for the first time and damn it felt good to have someone care for you, it made his heart at ease.

He hugged them really tight, refusing to let go, without hesitation they hugged him back in a comforting way, their warmth radiating.

"Awww Fushiguro-Kun is being soft" chuckled Nobara

"Shuh Nobara, we love this version of Megumi, geez didn't know you're a good hugger Fushiguro" said Yuji smiling,

"Aaaaa why'd you ruin the moment guys" groaned Megumi

"Nah nah we're sorry, we're just wondering where's the real Megumi and what did you do to him" she added,

"Nah it's the real Megumi here, you just unlocked a premium version. Get used to it" said Megumi pulling away from the hug a smile still decorating his face.

"Well for sure we'll get used to it" said Yuji and Nobara at the same time.

"Wait!! did you leave Y/n alone at the hospital, till Gojo arrives?" said Megumi in a moment of realization.

"Nah nah she's home now, we brought her at the dorms" explained Yuji

"Oh shit"

"What?"

"Gojo went to the hospital to see Y/n, so he won't find her there"

"Come on, he's a married man, his wife would tell him" said Nobara smirking

"Wasn't she supposed to spend the day there, till Shoko makes sure she's fine?" he asked again,

"Yeah but after you left the room to get Gojo she insisted to leave as well, she said she was feeling okay and doesn't need to stay there" exclaimed Nobara.

*At The Hospital*

Gojo pushed open the door of the room that you were in. A mix of anticipation and stress took over him, not knowing how he would behave in front of you, is he gonna hold your hand, kiss you? What was he going to say? Baby? My love? I missed you? All these thoughts disappeared when he found the room empty, devoid of your presence. Confusion clouded his features as he stepped inside, his eyes scanning the surroundings, trying to find any of your belongings, but there was absolutely nothing. Anxiety took over him, his heart racing inside his chest. He got really scared, thinking that someone abducted you, still terrified from the last incident that happened to you. With shaky hands he reached his phone to call one of his students, but before he can do he received a message from Nanami informing him that they moved you out of the hospital and took you to the dorms to rest there.

He let out a deep breath he didn't know he was holding, calming down slowly.

With a heavy sigh, he sank onto the edge of the bed, blaming himself for not being there when you woke up.

*Flashback*

You laid unconscious on the hospital bed after being treated by Shoko. No one was there except Gojo. He held your hand tightly, staring at your soft features as you were in your pretty slumber.

"I'm here Y/n, my beautiful wife, my princess" he whispered to you as you slept.

"I'm sorry, please wake up..wake up so I can tell you how much I love you, how bad I want to make you mine, how I want to fix things and start anew with you as a true husband, a husband that will love you, care for you and protect you, I won't let anyone hurt you.." he paused, remembering the state he found you in, on the floor, bloody nose, shirt almost torn off, his body tensed up.

"I'll punish them for what they had done to you" he added and left the room heading to the interrogation rooms at Jujutsu High.

*End of flash back*

*Time skip, night time*

Your students and Nanami already brought you everything you might need; food, water, some snacks and some manga books that Yuji gave to you to pass time.

You laid your back on the bed frame, grabbed a bag of chips, a manga book and started reading enjoying your own company, trying your best to distract yourself from thinking about Satoru.

Engrossed in the pages of your book and in your own world, the soft rustle of the door opening brought you back to reality. You already knew who it was, it was your husband Satoru. Even though, you were distant from each other, you got used to his footsteps. He closed the door behind and greeted you gently,

"Hii Y/n"

However, you remained absorbed in your reading, refusing to look up at him or even greet him back. He thought you were too focused on the book and didn't notice him arriving so he cleared his throat, attempting to get your attention this time and said,

"A-are you feeling better now? How's your leg?"

But again you remained silent, as if he wasn't in the room, as if his voice was inaudible to you. He received the message and realized that you don't wanna talk to him, and he respected your decision, he chose to not push too far especially that you're still traumatized from what happened to you.

With a resigned sigh, he took some clean clothes from the dresser, and made his way to the bathroom to take a shower that might wash the tiredness away. The sound of the running warm water that fell on his body mingled with the quiet of the room, a gentle reminder of the distance between you and him.

You put the book on your nightstand, and shut your eyes, you tried to go to sleep before he joins you again, you've already took your decision, you'll ignore him, you'll distance yourself even more, you won't let him pity you and help you because he feels sorry for what had happened to you. You refused to be the victim, you won't allow anyone to feel bad for you.

...

Opening the door again, he found you fast asleep, hugging your pillow for comfort. He smiled to himself as he saw your sleeping face.

He missed being in your presence, even if you were only sleeping. He dried his hair and then gently approached the bed, already dressed in his pajamas. The mattress sank as he joined you, getting under the covers. He used his elbow to keep himself up a bit while he watched you sleep. Your pouty lips that he craves to kiss, your soft skin that he wants to caress, your chest that rose and fell with each breath. It was the small details that made him fall for you, that made you so special. He was watching and watching till your comfy sight lulled him to sleep, and now he joined you, his head next to yours, his arms fell on your waist as he spooned you. Finally both of you not only sleeping under the same roof again all safe and sound, but being this close to each other.

.....

You woke up in the morning to him all over you, his arm laid comfortably on top of you. You rubbed your eyes, thinking it was a dream but it was reality. As much as it made the butterflies in your stomach go crazy, it made you feel sad as well. And the small smile that instinctively formed on your lips, disappeared.

"Maybe he just rolled over" you said to yourself, still convinced that whatever he was doing was everything and anything but love.

You pushed his hand away, getting ready to get breakfast with the rest of teachers and students as well. You missed those mornings, with Nobara talking nonstop, Panda eating everything on the table and Nanami annoyed whenever principal Yaga announced a new mission. You felt like family, you felt included but it's always something missing, the true love, the love of your husband.

It is indeed hard to live a one sided love story, realizing your feelings towards Gojo were more of a problem than a realization, maybe it could have been a lot easier if they remained undiscovered, because starting from today you'll live with the fact that your husband that you fell head over heels with doesn't reciprocate your feelings, at least that's what your mind told you.

The mind works in mysterious ways, sometimes when you're used to some kind of feeling, it becomes like a drug, so when you experience another feeling you always find a way to include that specific feeling again. And that's the case for you, you've been feeling lonely and unloved your whole life, and you thought you'd be feeling that way for the rest of your life not even giving yourself a chance to ask if he feels the same.

...

You walked towards the table, the food was ready, the scent of coffee was intoxicating. Your students already there, excited for food like every single morning.

"OH Y/N - SENSEI GOOD MORNING" said Yuji excitedly,

"Good morning Sensei" said the other students in union with a big smile.

You nodded smiling at their morning energy that was circulating in the air,

"Good morning everyone"

Nanami and Shoko joined, followed by Principal Yaga and then Gojo who came running and out of breath looking for you, but then letting a deep sigh once he saw you sitting around the table safe and happy. It became his new freshly unlocked fear; you not being by his side.

"Oh you're here" he mumbled,

"Huh Gojo what's up with that face? did you see a ghost?" said Principal Yaga

"I'm fine" he shrugged and then joined you, sitting on the chair that was right next to you.

He gazed at you, clearing his throat,

"You woke up early today, I thought about bringing you food to bed so you don't have to tire yourself" he started almost whispering.

You shoved the spoon full of rice in your mouth, not bothering to look at him. The others exchanged gazes but started eating shortly, not wanting to get into your business. Gojo started eating as well thinking about ways to approach you or find a key to start even a small conversation and get you to talk to him.

"So Y/n are you feeling better?" asked Nanami

"Yeah much better actually, thank you Nanami!" you smiled,

And Gojo felt his heart crash, as if he received a stab right in the chest. He wished it was him you were smiling at.

"Yuji can you pass me the salt please?" you said gently,

but before Yuji could reach it, Gojo already snatched it from in front of him and gave it to you,

"Here!" he said with a silly smile,

You poked the inside of your cheek and took the salt from him not even looking at him.

"Um Y/n–" started Satoru but you cut him off by starting a conversation with Yaga sensei.

"By the way Sensei, I feel like I'm ready to start teaching again–"

"WHAT NO!" yelled Satoru

You raised your eyebrow,

"You need to rest Y/n, you've been through a lot" he added worriedly.

But you ignored his concern and his comment and shifted your gaze to Principal Yaga again,

"My students must be missing my classes"

"But y/n Gojo is right! You need to rest! it's been only one day" exclaimed Principal Yaga

"I'm feeling okay!" you said smiling.

"Alright then, do as you please but don't tire yourself, okay?" said Yaga sensei with a smile

You nodded smiling.

"Y/n please, you've been through a traumatic experience, this phase is the hardest even if you're not realizing it" said Gojo with worried eyes.

But you ignored him again, getting up from the table, wiping your mouth with a napkin heading to your room to get ready for a day full of teaching.

......

It was a long day full of laugher with your students, they did everything they could to make sure you were comfortable and happy. Especially Yuji he acted extra silly to get you to laugh uncontrollably. They wanted to help you forget about the terrifying experience as soon as possible.

You were in the balcony at night, enjoying the night sky, getting back to your favorite night activity, watching the stars. It always put a smile on your face. It reminded you of how vast our universe is and how small our problems seem in front of it.

"sensei?"

You looked back,

"hm Megumi? are you okay?"

"Yeah! is it okay if w-we talk a bit?"

"Sure Gumi, tell me!" you replied with a soft grin, now giving him your full attention, anticipating his words

"I–I w-wanted to apologize!" he said looking down at his feet unable to meet your gaze

"Hm? for what?"

"I - I'm sorry sensei, I'm ashamed of what my father did to you, he doesn't represent me, I'm not like him and I completely oppose it, always been I–" he said nervously fidgeting with his fingers.

"Megumi" you started, placing your hands on his shoulders,

"I know who you are! I know how kind, caring and loving you are! You don't need to apologize, you don't need to explain anything. It's not your fault that your dad chose the wrong path, so don't ever blame yourself! Stand proud Megumi! You are an amazing student, an amazing person and an amazing friend of mine" you insisted giving him a light squeeze.

"Really?"

"Yes you are! Don't ever doubt yourself! come here" you added and pulled him into a warm hug.

.........

*2 days later*

"Yaga sensei, since Toji is in prison now what about Y/n and I go back to our house?" suggested Gojo.

"Huh? Why the rush you don't like it here?"

"No it's not like that, it's just since our marriage we had to live here so it would be nice to go back to our own house"

"I like it here" you said out of the blue, showing that you refuse to live with him in a vast house alone.

"But y/n, our house is big, you'll feel more comfortable there, our room is waiting for you–"

"Oh Yaga sensei I thought about making a writing test as well not only a practical one" you said cutting Satoru off, as if his words didn't matter.

Starting a new conversation, totally neglecting him. Everyone around the table noticed it but have no right to interfere. Your inside was screaming, wanting to give in and move back to your house again where you can live only you and your husband, enjoy each other's company and privacy but it was complicated, life is not a movie scene and you can't wipe away the bad memories easily.

*Time skip*

You were in the balcony, waiting for the sunset. You've been lying to yourself, thinking that teaching again and distracting yourself with some jokes would make you forget about the hell Toji and Mei Mei put you through. You were already suffering from anxiety and this incident made it worse. You were getting a good night sleep just because you were using the pills that Shoko gave to you or else you'll wake up screaming from your night terrors, from the trauma you had lived. You started getting random panic attacks whenever you were alone, your hands would get all sweaty and start shaking, cold sweat dripping from your forehead and you felt like being choked.

Maybe it would have been easier if you told them what you truly felt and not pretending to be okay. Maybe it would have been a lot easier if you confessed your true feelings to Satoru even if he rejects you.

A tear rolled down your cheek, knowing that it got worse and that Gojo did a mistake by saving you. Maybe the world would be a better place without you. You felt useless and a heavier burden now, going back to teaching to prove yourself useful in something, only to find your students pitying you and trying to help you instead of you helping them. With a deep breath, lost in your thoughts, you came to a conclusion, that leaving is the best option. It's been weeks and your curse didn't break, and you've already lost faith that it would break, and you can't live on false hope that one day you'll become a sorcerer and make your family proud. You feel like your husband that was forced to marry you, is now forced to take care of you and treat you differently because you were the unlucky one to get kidnapped by one the most dangerous murderers. Your family won't accept you or treat you fairly as long as you remain a monkey with no curse energy.

"It's all related" you chuckled to yourself,

You checked your phone, and credit card, already clothed in your jacket to protect you from the cold.

You took a moment to watch the sunset first, it was mesmerizing, the color degradation representing different phases.

"Sunsets are a living proof that endings can be beautiful too" you said to yourself.

You started walking away, leaving Jujutsu High behind, not knowing where your legs would take you but at least you know you'll be safe, Mei Mei and Toji are in prison now. You just wanted to get far away from everyone, you knew you didn't fit anywhere, you don't belong anywhere. So maybe you'll start as a normal simple human, with a normal simple job. It broke you to run away from them, you considered them a family and you knew you'll carry all those beautiful memories with you whenever you go, but what broke you the most, is leaving Gojo without a proper goodbye, but for your self-respect you chose not to give him another reason to feel sorry for you.

*Time skip*

"SENSEI! SENSEI HAVE YOU SEEN Y/N?" asked Gojo as he rushed downstairs after asking literally everyone and they said no.

"No!"

Panic coursed through his veins,

"Sensei what if someone abducted her again?"

"Relax Gojo, she's not a kid I'm sure she's safe, Toji is imprisoned so is Mei Mei, I'm sure she just went for a night stroll"

Gojo looked at him in disbelief, and left Jujutsu High and start searching for you, maybe he's being paranoid now and scared by the slightest thing but he can't afford to lose you, not again.

...

He searched everywhere, anywhere possible, he even went to Mei Mei's house to make sure you weren't there even though he knows damn well that both of them are paying for their mistakes. He check every corner, every street, every alley but you're nowhere to be found.

He started sweating, his heart hammering against his ribcage, feeling the sky narrowing around him and suffocating him.

"Where are you y/n, please!" he said to himself.

He paused when a thought crossed his mind, he knows you're a space enthusiast. You enjoy watching the clear night sky and chase the stars, but to do so you need an excluded area, away from Tokyo lights. A hill 2 hours away from Jujutsu High, but it's Satoru, he doesn't need 2 hours to reach that hill in a matter of seconds he found himself there.

It was dark, but he could see a figure standing, head's up to the sky. The city light bellow on full display. He knew right away that it was you. He wanted to announce his presence to not scare you, so with a soft voice he spoke,

"y/n?"

Yoh turned around, looking at him in disbelief. Without saying anything you started to walk away but he rushed towards you and grabbed your arm,

"Wait y/n please talk to me!"

"Satoru leave me alone"

"No! no I'm not leaving you alone, not this time! Why are you ignoring me? Why are you being being so cold towards me? I understand it was my fault and I'm so fucking sorry about it but please talk to me–"

"Satoru! For god's sake, let me go, let me live, let me try a new start away from all of this"

"Why? you can start anew here? with us! with me!"

"No you don't understand! I don't belong to your world, I don't belong here! I'm sick of it" you explained a tear fell down,

"You belong with me y/n, please let me help you"

"I don't fucking need your help, I don't need anyone's fucking help, I'm tired of being the one in need, I'm tired of being the one who needs to be saved. Because no one of you will, and because it's so fucking degrading, I'm sick of myself, sick of not being able to protect myself-"

"Y/n you're not realizing your potential, please don't rush things!"

"Don't rush things? It's been weeks Satoru and nothing worked, I can't let you go through this, you deserve to be with someone like you, you deserve to be with someone strong, a sorcerer not a talentless human. It's over okay!! I was ready to send you the divorce papers so you don't need worry about anything, I'm no longer a burden, and you won't take my responsibility, I know you're sick of me and of all this prophecy shit" you paused,

looking straight into his blue eyes, if you could trade the night sky for his eyes then you would, you would choose to look deep into those blue canvas. You wanted to take into his face, to stare longer memorizing his features so they take a longer time to fade from your memory.

"Rejoice Satoru, you're free!" you said and freed yourself from his grasp, walking away,

His heart beats escalated, watching you walk away. No it can't be, you can't leave him, not when he realized that he couldn't breathe without you, not when he realized he can't sleep without your scent in the room.

"No, you can't leave me"

He grabbed you again, pulling you against him,

"I can Satoru, that's what you fucking wanted so don't act like you don't want it"

"I'm not acting, I don't want you to leave"

"Why? So you can feel less guilty by making it up for me even if you don't want it?"

"NO!"

"Then fucking why?"

"BECAUSE I FUCKING LOVE YOU!"

A moment of silence fell over the place, looking into each other's eyes, only your heavy breathing is being heard,

"I love you y/n, I love you so fucking much that I can't take it anymore, I love you that the only thing I can focus on is you, I lOVE YOU THAT I WOULD GIVE UP HEAVEN IF IT MEANS I GET TO BE WITH YOU, BECAUSE YOU'RE MY HEAVEN Y/N, YOU'RE MY BLESSING. I WAS YOUR CURSE AND I HATE MYSELF FOR THAT, BUT LOVE, LOVE MADE ME A FOOL, A FOOL FOR YOU"

You didn't say a word, you were too shocked, words still processing in your mind. You froze, trying to figure out if it was a dream or a reality. But when he crashed his lips on yours, you knew it was real, by the way his soft plump lips felt on yours. His big hands grabbing your waist pulling you towards his body that was screaming, yelling for you, for your touch. You closed your eyes enjoying the sensation, a sensation you dreamt of for many nights, and days. Daydreaming, wondering how his lips would taste.

Instinctively your hands moved around his neck, pulling him closer. Your breath mixing, breathing each other in and out. Kissing each other so passionately as if your lives depend on it as if the world stops rotating, the clock stops ticking, and humans stops breathing. Only you and him in a vast world.

He pulled away, intoxicated by your taste, his eyes full of love and lust at the same time, growing impatient as the seconds passed by, the he spoke with a foggy voice,

"Let's go to our house, our home, tonight I'll make you mine and you'll make me yours.. let me do your duty as your husband, allow me to get a taste of you and get a taste of me"

Your chest rose and fell, feeling the electricity run in your system, turning you on even more.

"mhm" you nodded, you'd follow him everywhere even to your decease.

You were ready to finally give yourself to him, to allow him to do as he pleases to you and you do as you please to him. Finally, a few moments till you become a real husband and wife, a few moments till you taste heaven.

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[cute-sucker]

stupid boy (part 1/2)

[13.04.2024]

note: this is like a childhood series that i kinda wanna do...enemies to lovers obviouslyyyy!! (depends on what y'all want - but i might do a series for it/i will be adding a part 2 thooo) heavy inspired by rina kent book. words: 1,180

⊹˚. ♡

rafe was someone constant in your life.

from when you were little, with scraped knees, lolly pop in hand. you had moved to kildare when you were seven years old, and couldn't fit in at all. you felt like a lost cause, moping around the house. you didn't know who he was, yet you knew there was a bold boy next door, who climbed trees and claimed to have seen peter pan at night. 

yet, you didn't know this about him when you were a small seven-year-old, no you met him at your lowest. 

when your parents told you they were getting divorced. 

"honey, your dad and i.." your mother began, and both of them shared a knowing look, and then your mother leaned closer to you. you felt the turmoil in the air, yet little seven-year-old you didn't know what was going on. 

"your mom and i are getting a divorce." your dad finished the sentence. 

divorce. 

the word sounded foreign to your lips as you tried to whisper it out, the words were too cold as you tried to stretch it out. it didn't sound good. 

"what does that mean?" you asked slowly. 

at this your mother winched, "we'll be having a break. you won't see your dad a lot. maybe for a while," she finished, giving your dad a cold look. he seemed to cave into himself, and when you tried to meet his eyes he gave you a sad smile. 

you heard your voice go shakey, "divorce?" 

"honey-listen, you'll have two christmas, two birthdays-" your dad began almost to console you. 

instead, you felt your heart race and hot tears pool in your eyes. 

the question you begged to ask was 'why,' and then you wanted to scream, yell and tear the house down. 

but you did none of that, instead, you sat there, your hands shaking and hot tears streaming down your face. as a seven-year-old this was too much to process, too much to think about. 

your pretty dress was drooping, and before you knew it you were sprinting as fast as you could, a horrible croaking coming out of your mouth. the wind whipped in your face, and your chest heaved as you made it to the park. 

the park with its whimsical trees, and its cool wind. you picked berries nearby, and let yourself get dizzy on the swings. the slides were high and daring. it was the place of adventure, and to you, it was a place of safety. 

suddenly a small hand tugged at your hair. you gasped looking up to a roguish boy who squinted down to look at you. he had deep cobalt eyes, and eyed you with distaste. you knew him...he was rafe cameron, a year older than you and lived nearby. 

"why are you crying?" 

your lip wobbled, as you felt your tears fall to the ground. he pulled your hair again, and you cried out. 

"get off me!" you cried out, wincing as you held your hair to your head. he seemed to go still but peeked at you curiously. you felt annoyed now, and instead of crying you glared at him. 

he looked confused now. "look you're not crying anymore." 

"yea' cause you're a big idiot." you spat at him, still rubbing the spot on your head. he was a daring boy to do such a thing to you, and if you weren't so messed up you wouldn't hesitate to beat him up. 

"why are you crying?" rafe asked you again, and this time you sniffed and turned away from him. 

"just cause." 

he shrugged now, "i make my sister cry sometimes," he confessed sheepishly, "i shave her barbies hair off, and dad told me i should stop." 

you frowned at him, "that's not really nice." 

"well, you're not nice either 'cause you're lying to me right now." 

that was a fair point, and you found yourself defensively clutching your dress, your hands reaching for something to ground you.

"my parents are getting divorced." 

saying out loud made it more real. 

"that's it?" 

you felt your anger bubble up now, giving another cry. "what do you mean that's it? they were talking about different holidays, and i heard them fight. they scream and yell and- and i'm really scared." 

at this, the boy sobered and kicked the weeds under his foot. 

"sorry." 

you shook your head at his apology, swatting him away. he was an idiot this boy, a mean one at that too. you couldn't believe what he was saying to you. this small idiot of a boy. 

"can you leave now?" you told him, ordering him almost. yet he didn't respond to you. finally, you raised your voice, fists balled up. "leave me alone!" 

"why?" 

he looked confused, dangling his feet below the bench, and staring at you with that intense look. you wondered where his parents were, and then second you wondered if your parents were looking after you. 

you struggled for words now, "i don't like you very much, and you're mean, and-and i don't like people seeing me cry." 

"i'll tell you a secret." 

this piqued your interest, and you tried to pretend like it didn't. but the rafe seemed to notice the way you twitched in interest, and grinned at your curiosity. he inched closer to you, bumping his shoulders next to yours. 

"what is it?" you asked him annoyed, yet you couldn't help but look up at him. 

"you look ugly when you cry." 

your breath caught in your throat, the words hitting you like a punch to the gut. the fleeting moment of curiosity evaporated, replaced by a surge of hurt and anger.

"how dare you?" you muttered, your voice trembling with indignation. "that's not a secret, that's just mean!"

the rafe's grin faltered, his cobalt eyes widening in surprise at your sudden outburst. but instead of apologising or backtracking, he seemed to double down on his callousness.

"hey, i'm just being honest," he retorted, his tone defensive. "if you don't like it, tough!"

"why do you hate me? you don't even know me," you cried out. 

finally, he stiffed, and then folded his arms, and then whispered something under his breath. you couldn't help but gruffly sigh, as you noticed he wasn't going anywhere.

"what did you just say?" 

rafe scowled now, "i was gonna tell you to smile more, 'cause you'll look pretty then, but you interrupted me!" 

"-and that will make what you just said to me?" 

rafe's scowl deepened, but beneath the defiance in his gaze, you caught a glimpse of something else—a flicker of uncertainty, perhaps even regret.

"i thought you might feel better," he muttered giving you a dirty look. yet behind his eyes, you saw confusion. 

"well, it didn't." 

with that, you turned on your heel and stormed away, refusing to give him a piece of your frustration.

he was a stupid boy.

[tw1l1te]

Selfish memories

⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖

CW: mentions of stalking, obsessive behavior, manipulation, dark themes?

After being with your heroes for 8 months, you were able to go home. Your REAL home.

Walking around your college campus almost felt bittersweet, every little thing reminded you of them.

From the fireflies, hummingbirds, and even the stained-glass windows in the main library.

You were going to miss them. You really did.

But all things come to an end, and you will always cherish the games and each hero, never forgetting them or the special moments you had with each of them.

The first month was tough, you woke up from constant nightmares, crying in your sleep. You dreamt about them every night, whether it be old events and memories, or completely new ones.

It was as if you were still with them in your dream state.

By 3 months, you were carrying on with your life, getting a new job and meeting new people that you could call your friends. You even started going out with a cute blonde from work, who had such an outgoing personality, it balanced your quiet and reserved nature.

The nightmares had long stopped, but you were a fool to think that was the last of it.

You were walking your dog around the woods behind your house one night in mid-December, going out for a quick walk so Wolfie can relieve himself.

You named him that on purpose. You wanted to keep a little part of your adventure with you, even if it wasn't really him.

You feel your hand give out as Wolfie runs off, barking like crazy at something.

"Wolfie no-!"

You chase after him, jumping over weeds and ducking under branches, losing him by the second.

You see him run under some arched trees, a landmark you've come to recognize since you've began living In your little house.

Running in just leggings, some old boots, and an old sweatshirt wasn't the best idea, as you were quickly getting soaked through.

You ran through the arch of trees, hoping you'll see Wolfie soon, as it was getting dark very quickly.

Looking around, you noticed you weren't in the woods anymore, but it was still snowy, but now with fog. You kept walking, hoping to reach someone or something soon.

Soon enough, you saw some light and small voices that sounded very familiar.

Stepping out from the fog, you see the very familiar sight of trees and koroks running about, some cheering at your presence, other hiding in bushes.

You halted in your steps.

Before you, in front of the Master Sword's pedestal, were the heroes you loved knew.

They saw you before you even saw them.

You smiled and waved slightly.

"Hey." you whispered.

Wind took that as a cue to run into you and give a bone crushing hug. Sky and Hyrule quickly followed, giving you hugs and squeezes on the shoulder.

Each of them gave you some greeting and affection, leaving Time to be the last.

"We've missed you."

"So I can tell, old man. It's been like, what, 4 months for me? How long has it been for y'all?"

Time looks to the others, silently asking if they should tell you how long it's been.

Twilight and Wars nodded solemnly.

Looking back at you, he smiled slightly.

"(Name), its been three years."

Your eyes watered. You breathed out heavily.

"Damn. And I thought 4 months was a lot."

"It's not your fault. You didn't know. All that matters is that you're here now, with us. We've all missed you terribly and have been searching for a way to reach you." Time stated, looking at you.

You sniffed.

"I missed you guys too. We have so much to catch up on."

Time smiled, placing a hand on your back to lead the group out the forest.

They had FINALLY got you back, after years of searching and trying to find you. They realized what they lost after they let you go. They shouldn't have.

When looking back, you realized you were a fool.

A fool too slow to realize that you weren't returning home this time.

[dootznbootz]

Worth the Mess Ch. 1

...Tada! :'D I've decided to make that "Odysseus gives baby Telemachus a lemon" fanfic split into chapters instead! As it'll probably be around 25,000 words if I keep doing what I do. Anyways! It's fluffy and self-indulgent as hell and I had fun! :D Hope y'all like it! I will say it's more ODYSSEY INSPIRED as I got really indulgent. I keep to mostly everything but I also have a shitton of fun. Warnings: Vomiting as Penelope has magic food poisoning, Penelope is also a young mom and they're both parents so that'll come more eventually. Words: 6000+ Shout out to all my lovely friends for helping out and being so amazing! I love you all so much!!!

Odysseus looked at the pile of flowers he had in his hand, then back to the single bloom held in the other. A light blue, mostly small buds that have yet to open. Looking at the bundle, one side had more white than the rest and decided that’s where the new one should be placed. That’s what his father always told him. Something about the colors. He gently tucked it among the rest, careful of the petals.

The wind suddenly picked up, whistling past his ears and causing some strands of his hair that weren’t being held in it’s tie to blow in his face. He pulled his purple cloak tighter around him and waited for it to pass. A curl caught on his lip, annoying him. As the chill stopped, he pushed the hair back behind his ear. 

He looked at the pitiful bundle of flowers in his hands, making sure none were lost. It had only just become spring and he had to make do with what he could find. His collection had started earlier that day as he walked around the markets. A few blooms taken from there as well. 

Odysseus scratched as his shoulder, all the while searching once more against the plants for more to pick. Sharp gray eyes spotted a little white one with two flowers on the stem and he reached for it. 

He shifted his knees beneath him as he leaned forward and winced as the sharp gravel underneath stabbed at them. Squatting now, he grumbled and brushed the jagged pebbles that still stuck to his skin. He knew he didn’t need to do this himself. He was a king; he didn’t have to do anything he did not want to. 

…He reached again. 

Despite his strength, the smooth stem simply slipped through his grasp. Trying again, he gritted his teeth and pulled at the deeply rooted flower. Realizing that it would not budge, he took the small dagger he had with him and pressed his thumb against it, the stem in between. 

A smooth cut. Too smooth, as he then felt a sting of pain and a yelp burst from him as he pressed too hard and moved too quickly. Having dropped the dagger and the flower, he hissed as he pressed his now bleeding thumb to the red outer skirt he was wearing.

A long tongue licked at his cheek. He laughed and leaned away from Argo's cold little puffs as he sniffed around his face. “I’m fine, boy. Your master is just not using his head at the moment.” 

Argos made a noise that sounded like a sneeze before shoving his head under Odysseus’ arm for pets. The king smiled as he watched his dog’s tail wag when he started to scratch behind his ears. His fur soft and sleek under his fingers.

Good boy.

It was only the two of them right now, having sent the slaves that came with him away with a nice oak log that he planned to use for carving. He also wished to meet the naiads by himself, especially as this was a more personal visit.

He looked at the cut on his thumb, and was thankful it no longer oozed blood. If Penelope were here it would be completely healed, leaving no trace of his mistake… He huffed. For now just be happy you didn’t slice your thumb off… She’s resting now and that’s what she needs, he thought. 

At least now he could use both hands to scratch both his dog’s ears. Argos’ eyes closing and letting out a low content sound and leaning against Odysseus who turned his head towards the palace where his love remained. 

They usually went together while doing the rounds about their properties, as queen and king. Their palace watched over by his parents during their absence. Sometimes their son in their arms or strapped against them if they only planned to walk. Looking over their orchards, pastures, going on a hunt, a run, a swim, visiting friends… 

It was strange how ever since they met his mind was filled with thoughts of “Oh, she’d like this.” and “I’ll have to tell Penelope this later.” Being separated made him feel like he only had half his mind. Functioning like a dull carving knife would; usable but needed more effort to make something out of it. Even now he was picking flowers for her. Seashells he found on the shore and bought at the market today clinking in a pouch at his hip. Stories brewing in his head to tell her… It would’ve been better if he could give it all to her right now.

Four days ago, his Penelope had simply gone to the river naiads, something she did often. Odysseus usually went with her as well, but there were messages and disputes to attend to so she went alone. Their son also remaining with Odysseus as well, thankfully, as the nymphs had taken down a huge catfish that day. Not an uncommon occurrence, the naiads taking matters into their own hands when they felt something was out of balance in their environment. 

Odysseus was proud of her. He always was. He adored his powerful, little wife. She’s recovered so well since giving birth and he knew how much it meant to her to do what she did before. To feel like herself again.

The catfish was a beast. Three people were killed in it's rampage. While it wasn’t the largest creature Penelope has fought, as in Sparta there was more space, it was still longer than he was tall and it’s mouth could swallow his waist, making it even larger than her in comparison. It also had sharp, thin teeth unlike the usually gummy toothless maw catfish were known for. And as water nymphs do, they ate their kill in victory. 

Penelope was the one to deal the final blow to it’s skull, using the rivers current to force the beast hard into a dead tree that fell over the the water. Letting the sharp branches do the job for her rather than her blade. Her victory meant she got to take the first bite. The cheeks, her favorite.

He did not know that she was battling the beast at first so he was concerned with how late it was getting, as she usually let him know if she planned to stay the night with the nymphs. Telemachus asleep for his final nap, as they were trying to have him sleep in the night better. A messenger told him of the catfish however and that eased his worry. He knew the nymphs took care of each other. 

Soon later, she leapt from the pool he had built right outside their bedroom. He smiled as he put aside the records he was looking through and went to go meet her. 

What had been excitement turned to concern as he watched her, meeting her halfway. He was at first afraid she was possibly wounded. Looking at her somewhat ripped dress. As a naiad-born, she had the ability to heal with her water but he knew how stubborn she was. (Wouldn’t be the first time) While her sharp teeth gleamed with pride as she told him her story, she moved slowly and she was deathly pale. Her usually cold skin felt warm as she pulled him down to kiss his cheeks. She had even forgotten to use her ability to dry herself off, dripping water onto their floor before he reminded her. No, she wasn’t wounded, she was sick .

“I’m fine, dear Joy,” she had told him when he asked if a physician should be summoned. She smiled weakly as he guided her to their bed. With their son asleep, she thankfully didn’t argue with Odysseus about seeing him. “I’m only tired. I just had a scuffle with a beast you know. I’m more angry about that dress that got ruined…”-she shook her head only to stop when she realized it made her nauseous-“It…It was bad, but I stopped as soon as I knew there was something wrong with it and told the others. I definitely didn’t have enough of that monster to get sick from it. Telemachus gave worse stomachaches when I was pregnant.” 

He shook his head, tipping her chin towards him to look him in the eye. “Darling, you’re as pale as bone-”

“I’m always pale and you always worry.”

“Penelope-”

“Odysseus,” she tossed back, smiling. When she saw his worried face, she realized this was no time for banter. She softened and kissed his palm . “I am fine … Rest will make it better, you’ll see…If I do get sick, it…it probably will be short. Definitely wasn’t cursed, as that fish was causing problems anyways. I’ll be okay.”

He couldn’t sleep. He curled around her, as they always did, and just watched. She did not face him. He rubbed her back, tracing the constellation of birthmarks and smattering of scales that were placed upon her pale skin. Their legs tangled together. The little black cat she brought from Sparta, Anthos, slept by her torso. All he could think about was his wife’s stomach rumbling and her breathing throughout the short time she was asleep. He ordered maids to be at the ready outside their room. 

Strange woman, what sort of trouble did you get yourself into now?

Just as she seemed to finally get restful sleep, making him finally believe that she was right and that she was fine, she wretched his arms off her before her stomach purged itself over the side of their bed. The maids rushed in with buckets and rags as he sat beside her. 

Three days. Three days of wiping her lips and face. Of wiping her body down of sweat. Of just waiting . He watched over her most of the time, others only taking over when he couldn’t. Only truly leaving to be with their son, who he gained some comfort from, and for a few bad disputes his parents needed help with. He didn’t leave the palace.

He asked for the physician. Had prayers and a goat sacrificed to both Asclepius and Hygenia. Nothing changed.

Two days in he realized this wasn’t like when she was pregnant or the occasional illness. Whatever was in that wretched fish was causing this. He asked Goddess Athena for an answer, if Penelope had truly been cursed. All she said was she would live, which gave them both relief but he was still frightened and she was still in pain. 

She couldn’t even keep water down, the very thing ingrained into her very being. What she lived and breathed in. They made sure to have her dipped in the waters often, to keep her scales from peeling and to bathe her. He had to carry her to the warm bath where he and the maids would wash her. When she wasn’t throwing up, she was exhausted and slept, only to suddenly wake up and vomit once more. Since she could not consume anything, it got to the point where her body was heaving nothing until she started to cry… So dehydrated there weren’t even tears. All he could do was clean and hold her while she shivered in his arms.

“Tel…Telemachus-” she sputtered as he rinsed her neck and chest with a damp cloth. Odysseus quickly pulling his arm back as she began retching once more into the pot in front of her. 

Of course, at her worst, she thinks of their son. Odysseus’ heart ached for his wife. The physician (and Lady Athena) said to ‘wait it out. Let her body get rid of the toxins’. But neither the king or queen were good at patience. And Odysseus hated feeling so helpless. 

He swallowed the lump that formed in his throat as he waited for her to finish before he comforted her. “Our son is fine, I go play with him when I can. His nurses are feeding and taking care of him right now. He misses you too but you’ll be better and can see him soon.”

He gently wiped at her nose, lips, and chin with a damp rag as she gasped for breath, her hand resting upon her sternum. She shifted. He thought she needed him to move but she whined and shuffled against him. She rested her head against his shoulder and he pulled his arms around her, taking the damp rag to rest against some scales on her collarbone. He rested his chin against her sweaty head, hoping she could not see him grimace at the smell. He waited, watching Actoris replace the pot with a new one.

“Hurts…”

He bit his lip and blinked a few times but put on a smile and squeezed her. “You did just win a fight against a monster fish, love…” 

She giggled and looked at him with a tired but sly grin, with some mess still on her lower lip. Gods, he loved her. “Did I really if I’m left like this?”

“Yes,” he pressed a kiss on the side of her head. 

She smiled, a good sign but she still trembled against him. Then her mouth twisted and a sob came from her burning throat. “I’m so reckless…should’ve known. It had teeth, Odysseus. That’s not normal for a catfish.” 

His lip curled before furrowing his brow and moving his head to look her in the eye. If he had it his way, catfish would no longer be seen on Ithaca. “None of that. The other naiads are just at fault as you are. They didn’t notice either. Aristomache is older than all of us and should’ve known better. Do you blame her? Do you blame them? ”

Penelope, already knowing what her husband was getting at, remained silent. She sniffled once and closed her eyes, exhausted. “...Do you know if they’re okay?”

He huffed, trying to keep some of the annoyance out of his voice. “They’re fine. A messenger was sent to all waterways and all the naiads are fine.”

She curled further into him, not responding. He sighed. “I’m not mad…Not at you at least,” he muttered. He used the back of his knuckle to stroke at the apple of her cheek. “Be gentle to yourself. You’ve recovered so well and are so strong…None of the others are mothers, and you’re the one who killed that thing. You’re doing better than most.” 

She looked at him with those silver eyes, before looking back at her hands. His words didn’t necessarily take all those feelings away but she could admit to herself that he was right. He took that as a win regardless.

“I still feel like shit.” She grumbled before leaning over and spitting some phlegm into the new pot. He rolled his eyes at her and wiped at her face again until she reached up to touch his cheek, where dark circles sat upon. Her tired face lined with concern. “Have you…You have rested as well, yes?” 

“I have,” he reassured, taking her clammy hand and kissing her wrist. 

“You could take another room if you can’t rest while here.”

“I sleep in our nest with you or outside on the dirt.”

She couldn’t help but smile at his bluntness. It was selfish but it brought her great comfort that whenever she was sick, usually within seconds she would feel those warm, rough hands rubbing her back. And if he wasn’t there, she was told he was with their son.

A strand of Penelope’s raven hair fell over her face, tickling her nose. He gently pushed the soft strand back behind a pointed ear. He called to Eurynome from where she was gathering new rags to help redo it. Eurynome braided her hair before tying it up in a wrap around her head, Odysseus keeping Penelope upright.

He picked her up and began to lay her down on their bed only for her to raise her hand and grab his wrist, her grip was weak. She wasn’t completely asleep like they thought. He placed his other hand over hers and leaned closer to hear her. She whispered, “What do those tablets say?” 

The king was taken aback, looking where her gaze was pointed. A pile of clay slabs that were resting upon the small table on his side of their nest. Someone must have left them there for him earlier, as she was in no condition to correspond. “I don’t know yet. I will look at them once I know you’re resting-”

“Did Linus respond? I need to know.” She was sitting up now, swaying a bit. Even sick, Penelope’s silver gaze was fierce. 

Odysseus gently pushed her back onto the sheets. She didn’t fight him, thankfully, though she still looked at him with demand. His heart warmed. Her stubborn determination was simply one of the reasons he loved her after all. “Dear Wife,” he began softly, rubbing softly at her shoulders with his thumbs. “I don’t need to see those slabs to know that you got the ten oxen you wanted. You would still be there at his house right now demanding him if you hadn’t.” 

He took a cool rag to wipe her forehead of sweat. Going under her chin and chest as well, careful of her sensitive breasts. He placed a different warm cloth given to him by Eurynome over top of them to help with the swelling. As she could not feed Telemachus in her condition, and despite her lack of food, they had to make sure infection or mastitis didn’t take root. When she winced, he murmured an apology. 

He pulled the blankets over her. She looked up at him, her sharp teeth shined at him. Bright as always. “I want that man ruined, Odysseus. If he thinks he can have some of Ithaca’s finest craftsmanship for just five oxen, then he has no idea who he’s dealing with…”

“I know. He already knows if you ripped into him as you do,” He kissed her forehead. “Now rest, silly woman.”

When he pulled back, she was looking above them where the canopy of their nest was. Odysseus raised a brow before raising his head to see a small gray owl, hiding among the branches.

Athena must have spoken with her, as she looked back at him, sighed and fell asleep. He looked up again and bowed his head in thank you. If all Athena could do was help his wife get some peace then he was grateful nonetheless. 

Odysseus pulled Argos closer and rested his head against him. His fur was soft. He traced spirals in his coat. The dog sniffed the wind, lost in his own little world just as his master was.

 He had summoned a physician again on the third day, worried about how to get the food she needed. She gave her a mixture that only ended up purged later. A waste of time and of the fine wine he gave as payment.

In the evening, Athena appeared. Telling him the Naiads wished to speak to him. As his Penelope was sleeping, he had Euryclea and Actoris watch over her while he sprinted to see what the nymphs had to say. Aristomache, the oldest of the naiads and often spoke on behalf of all the younger ones, waited on the edge of river bank for him. 

She was strangely more formal, having become what he would call mother-in-law figure for him with Penelope’s family so far away. While most would have to supplicate and bring many offerings to their nymphs, they had become a second family to him. Offerings were gifts now. Ithaca had never been so close to it’s nymphs until his new bride came with him almost eight years ago.

She was blunt in her instructions and gave him a strange plant. One with little pearls instead of leaves. Telling him that Penelope must have one pearl and to give them news when she is better again. He asked if this was punishment for his queen. If they had to do more to sate whatever was causing this. 

Aristomache gripped his hands tightly and forced him to look at her. “You will not do anything. Penelope was wronged…This is to make up for it.” She gave him a look, her deep blue eyes seeming to cut into him. He simply nodded. 

She said nothing more before she sank into the river. 

He decided not to question it despite how strange it was as he remained hopeful that this would be what finally helped his wife. He raced back to the palace, the plant in hand. He pulled off a pearl for Penelope as he was told. She had a hard time swallowing it at first. A short moment passed, everyone waiting to see what would happen. 

The queen retched up a small black glob that went into the pot with a splat, only to then disappear in a mist. She was exhausted and sank back into the cushions before sleeping once more, frightening him at first, but she was still breathing. He had the room and her be purified while she slept.

She still hasn’t woken up yet. 

“Master, she probably needs rest. More now most likely as she was fighting that ailment. She’ll be awake and better soon,” Euryclea had told him, wrinkled hands on his broad shoulder. 

He didn’t move. It’s been three days. Three days of her not being able to eat or drink. That…thing might be out of her now, but what of the damage it’s caused? 

“It would be best if you rested-”

“Get out,” he muttered, his lip twitching. He whipped around to look at them. “Now! Get out! I want you all out!”

Euryclea jumped back, she knew her king had a temper. “Now My King, she will still need help when she wakes-”

“And?! She’s sleeping now. She and the room have been purified. There is nothing more to be done. So you will get out !” He swallowed and inhaled deeply through his nose. “Check on our son while you’re gone... You will be called upon when she wakes but you will be out of our chamber until then.” 

He turned his head back towards their bed once he heard the whispering of the maids and the quick shuffling of feet. One tried to pick up her supplies. “Leave it!” he shouted without looking at her.

She stopped, startled, but did as he ordered and followed the other slaves. The room was empty now. 

Tension left his body as he sat on the bed, looking at his sleeping wife.  Her cheeks were red and were warm, and her breathing was deep. 

His vision blurred, and his eyes burned and so did his throat. A sob escaped him and he lowered his head into his hands. He let the curtain of his thick hair drape over him to hide his face, the ends of it laying against the blanket that covered her body. This wasn’t the first time he wept over her condition and he knew he shouldn’t expect her to bounce up and out after that but… She still looked sick. She hasn’t eaten or drank in days. Even if that sludge was out of her, what if the damage had already been done? 

He felt a cold gust against his back, causing a shiver up his spine. He didn’t have to look up to know who it was. He waited for her to speak.

He heard Athena in his mind like usual. Her deep voice echoed in his head with a chuckle. Penelope is asleep and could not hear her right now it seems. “You know, kicking them all out wasn’t necessary.”

He sniffled, tossing his head to throw the auburn locks bouncing once more against his back so he could look at the owl with his red-rimmed eyes. He grabbed a rag and wiped his own face now. And blowing his nose. “Well, they aren’t necessary either.”

“Really? Are you planning to stay up the whole time to watch her when you’re in such a state yourself?”

He glared up at her. She was resting on a branch that came out from their nest. He hated that she seemed to be smiling. And that she was right. He was exhausted as well. Stress, taking care of her, trying to remain relaxed while visiting and playing with Telemachus, half-assing being a king. It was all adding up and his head felt like fog.

“Sleep,” She was suddenly in the form of a young girl. Sitting at the end of their nest. “I’ll make sure she’s well. I knew her before I knew you, you know.” 

He couldn’t say no even if he wanted to. His eyes were shutting and he was now the one swaying. He went to the other side of the bed and crawled under the covers. “Wake me when she does, please.”

Athena nodded. He curled up to his wife, resting his head on her shoulder, resting his nose under her jaw… We need a bath , he thought before sweet sleep fell over him.

It was in the middle of night when he woke up, Athena brushing her feathers against his face to wake him before nodding once in Penelope’s direction and taking flight. This time he stayed awake and lit the oil lamp that rested in it’s special nook on their living bed he made. 

He looked at Penelope and hope filled him when he noticed the change. She no longer felt so hot under his touch, her skin going back to it’s familiar coolness. Color started to come back to her face. Her breathing no longer sounded so labored. Anthos laid upon her belly, so he scooped up the cat and placed her to the side. He then looked over her body, checking her scales once for peeling before settling for scratching under Anthos’ chin as he waited.

Penelope was laying on her back when she suddenly sat up and belched loudly. The warm damp cloth that had been laid over her breast fell into her lap. 

“Oh, gods-” she said before she covered her mouth. It would’ve been humorous in any other situation. 

Odysseus immediately sat up as well, pushing the blankets off himself to kneel on the bed facing her. Her silver eyes bright. She let her hand fall from her mouth as she felt her husband's rough hands cup her face. She blinked, her thick lashes fluttering once.

She watched as her husband’s stormy eyes scanned her with a worried brow and pursed lips. She chuckled at how his hair decided to wake. Parted too far to the right and weirdly flattened on one side.

Odysseus was taken aback by how she looked as she almost looked as though she had never been sick. The bags under her eyes were gone, her skin almost seemed to glow, and her silvery eyes were bright and focused. Tears no longer filled them. 

She waited, breathing deeply, reveling in her body working with her again. She opened her mouth slightly, relieved that nothing seemed to buildup just below her throat. 

She grinned at her husband, who was now looking over where some of her scales were, having memorized their placement. His hand now brushing over the scattering of some on her left hip once again. He looked back up at her wide-eyed, when she hummed lowly, her throat still burning from the bile of the last few days. 

“I think at this point you just want an excuse to look at me…” she rasped.

He snorted. “Since when have I needed an excuse?” 

He rested his forehead against hers, her pushing back a slight bit with her own, and he whispered, “How are you feeling? The pearls worked, yes?”

She nodded, then kissed his nose, “I think they worked, my Joy… I think I’ll be okay.” 

“Oh, praise the gods! Penelope!” He exhaled and pulled her close.

He placed a few soft kisses on the once sweaty and pale forehead that he would push her hair away from. As she giggled and turned away, he cupped her other cheek, pulling her face closer to his own to continue his affection. The kisses only stopped momentarily as he could not hold back his grin as he squished his nose into her cheekbone, no longer red from fever but from joy. Her sharp teeth glinted as she squirmed. Her body was sore and moving so much hurt her ribs but she couldn’t bring herself to push him away. She leaned away from him, as his hair was tickling her; it only left her neck vulnerable. He nuzzled himself on the pulse point, the same spot he desperately felt during the past few days. Her laughter, although still hoarse, was his goal; she truly meant it when she said she was feeling better.

He shifted, trying to pull her tighter to him when she winced and pushed him back, “Odysseus, my breasts hurt. Not so tightly!” 

“Forgive me, I forgot.” He still smiled, giggling himself as he took her freezing hand, a good sign for Penelope, and kissed her calloused fingertips.

Penelope shook her head and took a deep breath, wincing. She took the rag that was in her lap and wiped at the milk that had dribbled out on her. “My ribs definitely hurt as well”-she coughed- “and my throat…Maybe I’m not fully well yet actually.” 

He stopped his affections, face suddenly serious. “You don’t think you’ll be sick again, right? You said the pearls helped.”

 “Oh, they definitely did. I’ll be fine eventually. Just thisty and hungry and sore,” she said, her usually gorgeous voice hoarse. She swallowed thickly but smiled at him. He was clearly worried and she wanted to give her husband some peace. She rustled his hair so it wasn’t such a mess with her other hand. “But I actually feel pretty good. Though I did just wake up.” She gave him the rag to clean the droplets she left on his own chest.

“Good,” He said, tossing the cloth back when he was done and gave one final kiss on her cool cheek before shuffling off the bed, losing balance as he got tangled up in the blankets before taking off to call back the maids. “We’ll get you something to eat. That’s the only way to test if you’re better.” 

He looked out the doorway, somewhat regretting having yelled at the maids to leave earlier. Euryclea was nearby thankfully. Stubborn old woman. 

“She’s awake. Bring some food. Let’s try some fruits and bread for now, pomegranates, of course. And bring more water. Wake up the other maids when you finish bringing them. Go.”

He whirled back around and jogged back to where she sat. She was petting Anthos’ black fur as she drank from the little cup that was beside their bed. “Slow down, don’t overdo it…” 

She rolled her eyes. To “overdo water” was a silly concept to her as a naiad, but she did drink more slowly. He crawled back on their bed. He started to retie her hair which had fallen out while sleeping. She flicked her wrist and water hopped out of the pitcher once more into the small cup. Anthos curling up beside her.

He began combing her through her soft black hair, running into some of the knots with his fingers and gently undoing them. Going through it more times for his own comfort. She didn’t need anything fancy right now, especially as she should bathe soon. “How’s your stomach? Not feeling sick, right? You haven’t been able to have anything in days…”

“No, Odysseus, I don’t feel sick. I’ll be okay…” He finished tying her hair up with a leather cord and pulled her into his lap. She shifted a slight bit to sit more comfortably before suddenly her eyes got wide. “Th-the council! What day is it?!”

He scoffed and shook his head. He placed his hand over hers. “Rescheduled. Neither of us were in a state where we can go.” 

She wrinkled her nose but didn’t argue as he was right. Again. 

She squeezed herself up tighter into his strong arms. She had always enjoyed his warmth, always running colder than most mortals with her ancestry; they met in the middle. She traced some freckles on collarbone with her unoccupied hand.

She took another sip from her cup before turning her head and placed a kiss on his collarbone. “Thank you for taking care of me…I know the reason I got better is because of your care.”

“There is no reason to thank me,” he murmured. “I missed you so much.”

She smiled,“I don’t know if a man who barely left my side can say that.” 

“This man will say it no matter where he’s been.”

She snorted. “Speaking of which, I know I need a bath. When was the last time you’ve taken one?”

“Since you last had one,” He smirked at the way she wrinkled her nose. “We can take one after you eat.”

She gasped. “TELEMACHUS!” she started to turn away before she grabbed her left side and groaned. 

“Just my ribs! Calm down,” She grunted, reassuring him as he reached out towards her. She caught her breath and slowly brought herself back to curl back up against him. Anthos’ head now up looking at them. “I will see Telemachus.”

“You need to eat-”

“Then while we bathe! It’s not like our son isn’t capable of worse smells himself.”

He couldn’t argue with that. 

The pitcher was empty by the time Euryclea came in. The plate was soon empty as well. But her stomach remained full.  

Odysseus smiled as he sat with Argos now, playing with his floppy ears. That had been this morning. And it was why he was on his own. He told her what the Naiads told him and as always, she immediately was making plans as to what to do. He wanted her to rest and gain her strength back, she wanted him to “do his royal duties”. He was simply keeping his promise to her… 

That doesn’t mean that she still wasn’t on his mind. Or that he didn’t sneak in the castle at noon and was reassured by his Euryclea that she hadn’t snuck out or was doing anything too strenous. 

“King Odysseus! You’ve been sitting there for a while! Are you well?!” 

Argos answered before Odysseus could. His dog, who had been lulled to sleep by his master’s petting, stood up quick and began to bark at the sheep herder. The shepard’s own dogs rising to attention at the possible threat. The sheep surrounding him shuffled about in fear. 

Odysseus placed his hand upon the dog’s chest, Argos looking at him before looking back at the other man and his own herding dogs and growling. “Hush Argos, that’s no stranger and you know that,” Odysseus looked back up at Alkaios before grabbing the pile of flowers from the ground. “I’m well! Just lost in my thoughts. Is that the young lamb that you are so worried about resting on your shoulders?” 

Alkaios smiled and raised his hand to pat at little lambs head that he was carrying. “Yes, she’s getting strong though! She’ll catch up with the others and I’m sure soon I won’t have to worry about her anymore. And you won’t need to worry about your queen much now that I hear she’s getting better… I’m happy the sheep left you some flowers for your collection there.” 

“Yes, I am too,” Odysseus smiled back and couldn’t help but shake his head at the little faces that were crowding around the herder, as though they knew they were being talked about. “Would hate to go back to Penelope empty handed! I’m actually on my way to thank the Naiads for their help.” 

“I won’t keep you then! Have a good evening, my king!”

Odysseus nodded as he watched the shepard go over the hill, his flock following close behind. He was happy knowing his sheep were being watched over by Alkaios, always the dutiful shepard. 

He held the flowers and tried to reach into his pouch for a leather cord to keep them together and grumbled when he couldn’t find one. Of course, he forgot. He pulled on the cord that piled his hair on his head, releasing the thick spiraling curls over his shoulders and back. It was getting cold with the evening air so having another layer of ‘wool’ was helpful.

He had just finished the knot around the flowers, when he heard Argos whimpering. He whipped his head in his direction, worried his faithful companion was in danger, only to start grinning when he saw the actual problem. “You silly dog, you want it that bad? It’s too big for you!”

His hound was bouncing around a couple of rocks, a large stick sticking out of them. He looked back to his master, tail wagging and pleading with him to pull it out. 

Odysseus shook his head but walked over to it. He looked around the stones before he pushed one boulder with his leg and heaved the large stick out. He threw it in the grass where Argos picked it up and started to gnaw on the stick, much too large for him. His head leaning to the side from it’s weight. It was hard to believe that this was the same dog that was capable of taking down good game. 

But that’s why Odysseus liked him so much. 

“Good dog…Enough dallying. It’s getting late, and I must speak to the nymphs.” 

Argos simply crunched on his stick some more.

~~~

Let me know what y'all think! (also if there are spelling errors!) :D I know I have her being stubborn but know that Odysseus behaves the exact same way when sick. They're Likeminded and they behave basically the same in every way.

[copper-wasp]

Warm Offer - Cidolfus Telamon/Fem Reader

⮚ (there's no way y'all didn't see this coming)

✦ Rating: Explicit ✦ Warning Tags: None, but I did choose a random name for Cid's lady to avoid using y/n ✦ Words: 2465

• 🙪 ● AO3 ● 🙪 •

Cid groaned as he slowly made his way back inside the Hideaway, many hours past when he should’ve arrived, the night nearly dark as pitch. He knew everyone had gone to sleep already - well, nearly everyone, seeing a familiar figure as he headed towards the solar. 

Wylla was at the mess, a lone candle lighting the page of the book she was reading as she nursed a mug of something in one hand.

“You’re up late,” Cid said by way of greeting, walking over to join her.

“Can’t sleep,” she explained, taking a drink from her cup. “What’s your excuse?”

“Unplanned…detour-“ he began, but noticed her nose start to wrinkle as she sniffed the air, leaning forward in her chair. She covered her mouth with her hand when she realized the awful smell was coming from him .

“Ungh, Cid, you stink like a bog!” she said with a laugh, trying to fan the air away from her with her unoccupied hand. “Did your detour take you through a sewer?”

“Is it really that bad?” he asked, trying to smell himself, the awkward heat of embarrassment flooding his skin.

“Yes! Please go take a bath before the whole hideaway starts to reek of it.”

“Care to join me, Wyl?” he offered with a smirk, knowing she’d roll her eyes in response. He couldn’t help but tease, she was always so receptive, usually having a prepared quip of her own to fire back at him. He tried to ignore the tug of attraction to her that pulled from behind his navel, but it didn’t always work.

“A kind offer but, no thank you, Cid. You’ll just trick me into washing your back for you.”

“Ah, you’ve found me out,” he replied, pulling out one of his cigars to light on the walk back to the solar. He didn’t miss the wistful little smirk on her lips, nor the way her eyes traced down his body, but he kept it to himself. “G’night, Wyl,” he called with a wave, hearing her bid him goodnight in return.

Cid rarely filled the bath all the way, but thought he’d make an exception this time, piling his clothing as far away from him as he could, deciding to deal with any lingering scent in the morning.

He sank into the water, the heat soothing his sore muscles, eyes closing to focus on the heat. He chuckled to himself as he replayed his exchange with Wylla, hoping that she’d manage to get some sleep, regardless if she needed a cask of wine to do so. It was nice seeing her out of her leathers, wearing a soft white nightdress and robe with her feet bare, her normally tightly braided hair gathered in a loose knot at the base of her neck. The two of them were the hideaway’s insomniacs, often meeting in the wee hours of the morning to commiserate about their bodies’ refusal to rest.

Cid heard the door unlatch, his eyes springing open to find the woman haunting his thoughts gently closing it behind her. She turned to face him, and Cid was very aware of how clear the bath water was, trying to quickly cover himself with one hand.

“Wylla? Why..? W-what…are you doing here?” He rarely stumbled over his words, but never in a thousand years did he think she’d actually play into his teasing.

“Joining you in the bath,” she replied nonchalantly, setting the candle she’d brought from the mess down before shrugging her robe from her shoulders to pool on the floor. Cid didn’t reply, he could only stare at her as she walked slowly towards him, trying to moisten his bottom lip with a suddenly very dry tongue. “Unless that was not a serious offer you made to me just now?” 

“It’s serious if you…want it to be,” he said, watching her intently as she re-tied her hair on top of her head to keep it from getting wet.

“I think I do want it to be serious,” she said, barely above a whisper, the promise in her voice hardening his cock.

“H-hurry in then, ‘fore the water gets cold.” His eyes greedily roved over her body, waiting for her nightdress to come off to reveal herself to him.

“Turn around,” she said, twirling her finger at him. He gave her a look, but she only grinned at him, daring him to challenge her. “Turn around so I may take my clothes off, Cid.” With a mighty groan, he did as he was told, shaking his head as he turned his back to her. 

“Bloody tease,” he mumbled, hearing her tut in reply. He focused entirely on the sound of shuffling fabric, having a better time imagining what she might look like than he thought he would. He knew she had a puckered scar above her left hip, he’d been with her when she’d been slashed by the soldier’s blade, but everything else about her was an intriguing surprise. He felt her move into his orbit, her palms soft and warm when she placed them on his shoulders.

“Scoot forward, go on,” Wylla encouraged, giving him a light push.

“Why?”

“Because I’m going to wash your back for you,” she replied, squeezing his shoulders.

“Come on Wyl, you know that wasn’t serious,” Cid sighed, but he couldn’t stop a pleasured groan from slipping out as she dug her thumbs in with just a bit more pressure. 

“Scoot, Cid,” she said once more, and he complied, her tender touch welcome on his tired body. He felt the water ripple when she climbed into the basin behind him, her legs moving on either side of him and her chest against his back. She pressed a kiss to the base of his neck as he placed his hands on her calves, caressing as far down as he could reach without needing to move away from her soft lips. He felt her shift, grabbing the soap from the edge of the tub and dunking it beneath the surface. 

A silent moment passed before Cid felt her hands glide across his skin, the light scent of lavender in the air. He sighed, removing the weight of the world from his shoulders for just a little while. Wylla began to hum, nothing he recognized but beautiful all the same, and soon his eyes shut, allowing her to continue with her delicate work. 

She thoroughly washed his back and shoulders, and he let her guide him to lean back against her so she could run her soapy hands across his chest as well. She kissed his neck, feeling his pulse beat heavy against her lips as she trailed her hands down to his abdomen, feeling raised scars and peaks of muscle, an interesting sculpture for her fingers to trace.

“Wyl?” he murmured, almost completely under her spell.

“Yes, Cid?” she replied, pausing her ministrations. 

“…You are far too good to me,” he admitted, not being able to remember the last time he’d felt this cared for; usually it was him doing the caring, but he couldn’t deny how damned good it felt to be on the receiving end. All the little things she did for him came to the forefront of his mind, insignificant at the time but all signs of her generosity and concern.

“Don’t I know it,” she quipped with another kiss to his jaw. He turned his head to look at her, finding her looking unsurprisingly smug.

“Don’t let it go to your head,” he replied, covering her hands with his where they rested on his chest.

“The great Cidolfus Telamon paid me a compliment, of course I’m going to let it go to my head. I’ll make sure Gav never hears the end of it, how I’m your new favorite and how you’ll start sending me on all the good missions-”

“Get over here, you,” Cid interrupted, exasperated. He adjusted their positions until she straddled his lap, and not an insignificant amount of water was on the floor. He tried to come up with another remark, but the look on her face robbed him of speech. She reached a hand up to caress his cheek, a smile playing on her lips. She looked happy, and not just the forced mask that she normally wore, the smile reached her eyes and the chuckle that came afterward was sweet as a bell. Perhaps just for the slightest moment she’d forgotten about the torture she’d endured at the hands of her masters; forgotten the nearly worse pain of removing that damned brand from her cheek.

Cid grasped her chin, his lips meeting hers in a soft kiss. She melted against him, her eyes closing to fully enjoy it, her hands moving to either side of his neck. He was gentle, yet insistent, one hand sliding around her waist to the dip of her spine, flattening his palm there to draw her nearer. She sighed against his lips, feeling him there between her legs, stiff as he tried not to rut against her.

He moved his mouth to her neck, drawing every tiny noise she held within her to the surface, his palms rounding over her arse while his teeth nipped at her skin.

She whispered his name, maneuvering his face back up to meet hers for a kiss hotter than the bath. She grasped his wrist, dunking his hand beneath the water to rest between her legs. 

“The cheek on you,” Cid teased, gently tracing her slit.

“Oh, you think your constant teasing had nothing to do with this?” 

“Of course it did,” Cid chuckled, circling her entrance. “Took you long enough to realize it.” He slid his thick middle finger inside her, her head falling forward to rest on his shoulder. He waited patiently for her to adjust to the intrusion, adding a second when she began to rock her hips, his thumb rubbing her sensitive nub in tandem.

Her breathing quickened, on the precipice embarrassingly fast, her fingers digging into his shoulders. She was so close, but she didn’t want this here, no, she needed to feel him, feel his weight atop her. 

“Cid, w-wait-“ she stuttered, finding his eyes. He stopped moving his hand, beginning to withdraw at her request.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, just-“ she paused, searching the room for where he slept. “Would you…take me to bed?” He gave her a gentle nod, kissing her again before standing so abruptly that even more water splashed to the floor.

Cid helped her out of the bath, pulling her into an embrace as they stumbled to his bed, a trail of water in their wake. Helping her onto her back, Cid guided his hand back between her legs, watching her expression change as he slid inside her once again, two to the hilt. His lips wrapped around her nipple, and he felt her fingers weave into his hair, a quick scratch at his scalp making him groan. He fucked her open on his hand, so warm and wet she was that his cock was leaking in anticipation.

“Please, Cid-“ she begged, spreading her legs wide enough to accommodate him. 

“Aye… patience , love,” he replied with a sweet kiss, spreading her slick over his length. Cid hooked one hand beneath her thigh, guiding her leg over his hip and supporting it as he pressed himself inside her. 

She moaned softly, her chest heaving to try to quell her increasing heartbeat, her eyes foggy with lust; the most beautiful thing he’d seen in many moons. He caressed her cheek, letting her wrap her arms around him to keep him close when he began to move, ramping up in intensity when she dug her heel into his lower back.

They were being far too loud, the solar filling with the sounds of their coupling, but they didn’t care, feeling relaxed and cared for and loved after so many years without. Cid kissed and nipped at her neck, one of her hands fiercely trying to find his; he chuckled, grasping it and weaving his fingers with hers.

“Oh, Cid- I… I’m… fuck ,” she cursed, biting her lip. He grinned, mumbling filthy things in her ear before taking the lobe between his teeth and biting hard, a moan of absolute pleasure erupting from her throat. Wylla dug her fingernails into his shoulders in reply, her body stilling for just a moment before he felt her clench around him, choking on her cry. He slowed his pace, taking a moment to lightly trail a line of kisses up her jaw.

He didn’t want to pull out of her, but her cunt was about to make the choice for him, so he withdrew, but not before holding out as long as he could. He fell to his side facing her, wrapping his hand around his cock, nearly upon his own climax.

“Let me,” Wylla offered, still catching her breath. Her hand slid down his abdomen, fingers taking the place of his around his girth. He wasn’t expecting her to be quite this willing, and the surprise of it had him cursing. It was her turn to lavish him with attention, turning to face him so she could lick his lips, coming in for a kiss before he felt her teeth nip him gently. She moaned his name, laying it on thick to usher him over the peak, the groan he made something she burned into her memory to revisit.

“Fuck me, Wyl,” he said, thrusting into her hand until he finished on her stomach, her fingers insistently stroking him until he was fully spent. 

The both of them gratefully fucked, they locked eyes, grins spreading across their lips. Cid leaned in to kiss her forehead, softly stroking her hair before rolling to the edge of the bed. 

“Hold on, I’ll clean you up,” he said, gesturing with his head towards her abdomen. She turned onto her back again, Cid returning quickly with a cloth that he used to wipe her stomach clean. He fell back onto the bed with her, drawing her in for a deep kiss, her palms resting on his chest. 

“Well,” Cid began, “Not how I was expecting my night to end, considering how it began.”

“If only we had done this sooner,” Wylla replied, tracing circles on his bicep. 

“No, the timing was…perfect, Wyl,” he assured with a caress down her side. “Think you’ll be able to get some sleep now?”

“Oh, yes, I’m going to sleep like a baby.” Her eyelids were already heavy, Cid’s warm chest a perfect place to lay her head.

“Don’t feel like you need to go back to yours,” he teased, Wylla already snuggled up tightly to his side, one arm draped over his stomach. 

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

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Thanks so much for reading, reblogging, and/or liking!

You can find me: AO3 Twitter

[summertimemusician]

Linktober, Day 1

Merchant

*walks on in, drops this, mock salutes, refuses to elaborate* Shorter one this time because Ravio is a delight but also incredibly difficult to write for me and because sadly I've been too busy latelro fully figure him out. I apologize to all my fellow Ravio lovers out there, ALBW's was my third game and I really have a soft spot for him and Legend as a result. Maybe next year I'll write something longer or him or a stand alone.

Can be read as both pre romantic or platonic on either end, as well as non LU whatever floats y'all's boat I'm just here due to self indulgence and the LoZ/LU fixation hitting full force lol.

Meeting Ravio was always a bewildering delight.

Coming to Legend's Hyrule and watching his house being converted into a shop each and every time was always a great source of amusement to you and the Chain, the Lorulean always made sure to almost knock the Veteran to the ground with a rabbit worthy tackle with a delighted call of 'Mr.Hero! I'd recognize that annoyed lilt coming up the path anywhere!', hopping along the road as soon as you crossed the orchard boundaries to witness whatever glorious change he made to the house's exterior advertisement campaing (much to Legend's horrified ire), then turn to the Chain with a gleam in his verdant eyes that seemed to scream 'BUSINESS!' with the sound of clinking Rupees for added comical effect, shrewd and always looking for an opportunity to sell, rent or buy for expand his own business reach.

The clear soft spot Legend had for him was equally in half parts comical and sweet, it was in the way how he seemed to soften the feral fox sharp bite of his acerbic bladed tongue. How he let Ravio handle the cooking as soon as you had been welcomed into the house (although given the lack of cooking skills among many members of the Chain, maybe that was for the best), how he relaxed just a bit around the merchant being at his back or leaning against him in all sorts of ways even as he snapped against allowing Ravio to sell anything to you all in the Chain (for good reason, you saw Ravio's prices and had no desire to sell an arm or a leg for any of his goods) and how Ravio knew just how he liked his apple and cinnamon tea and how he knew Ravio was delighted by the existence of latte's once you reached Legend how to make them with Wild.

It was interesting to watch to say the least, specially given how Ravio behaved around anyone else, light footed, always watching and a bit skittish, always ready to run and take his goods with him if needed be. A survivor through and through and given your similar situations, you could respect that though you sadly weren't close, you heard bits and pieces from Legend when he felt generous or reminiscing or complaining about how Lorule was like, so to be able to make a living as a merchant there and stand up to it's queen was quite admirable, specially for a self proclaimed coward though you sadly couldn't interact much in account to the world hopping (no you're not bitter Dark Link or Hylia or whoever is up to controlling the portals you just want to talk, preferably with your fists or trusty dagger).

Which was why when the merchant approached you one fine afternoon in the orchard where you were picking apples for breakfast (determined to help this time before either Ravio or Wild could get to the kitchen), chatty as always and with the patented business smile on his face you couldn't help but be half baffled half unsurprised as you can hear Legend's previous warnings your head, as this really was inevitable.

"Look, Rav can be a bit much and a bit weird, and sure you may want to smack him over the ears for always sniffing for the opportunity to make rupees like a Like Like on the prowl. But he means well and is a really nice lad, just- tell him a firm no if he tries to sell or rent you anything alright?"

"Oh hello there!~ Fancy meeting you here, isn't it?" His voice skittered up on you as he slipped to your side, steps quick and light, Sherrow thrilled at you from between the ears of his hood, coy as a rabbit trying to pass unnoticed in the woods, assessing and prodding.

You couldn't help a small quirk of an eyebrow, reaching up for one of the bright red apples closest to you, "We've been here for at least a week now Ravio, if anything it's a miracle we're only talking now given we see each other every day."

He nodded, long sleeved hands waving around as he spoke, you think you can catch a hint of a smile on his voice, less business like, "Indeed! Didn't expect Mr.Hero to pick up anymore strays, although I did believe he was complaining less coming up the path so that should have been my first warning." He extends his hands towards the basket, head tilted, making Sherrow move to his shoulder with a little chirp, "Need some help with that?"

"That depends, will you charge me for it if I say yes?", you rib back, lips quirking a bit at the affronted gasp and mock swoon from the Lorulean.

"Why! I would never, you're a guest of Mr.Hero's, it would be bad manners to charge you on your first week here." Sherrow nodded along with a little thrill, and you almost fully believed him, almost. He sounded too innocent.

"I'll keep it in mind for next time then." You chirped back, cheerfully as you dropped an apple by him, the merchant laughed, picking up the basket anyway and letting the apple fall inside.

"Oh I like you, it's no wonder Mr.Hero sounds less grumpy when talking about you." He nodded to himself, not fully relaxed, but more loose now at whatever discovery he'd made, you tilted your head with a blink, "I feel like this will be the start of a wonderful friendship!"

You smile back, amused despite yourself, "I'm afraid I'll have to charge you for the honor."

He laughed, shoulders shaking as he accepts more of your dropped apples, "Honestly that's clever, I should have thought of that when meeting Mr.Hero the first time! 'Ravio's Friendship Services for Rent, Advice Free of charge!' Think that would attract a good clientele?" You can swear he winked beneath the hood. Cheeky.

You couldn't help but laugh with him, you know, Legend was right, Ravio was really nice.

He eventually sobered up, tone soft, "I mean it though, Mr.Hero talks well about you." He shrugs a bit, distinctly sheepish and serious, a paradoxical mix but in a way, it fit, "Well, don't tell him I told you that, I think we both know he'd agree to nothing, but I'm glad he has someone looking out for him you know? I know I couldn't do half of the stuff he does, just help from the sidelines, so thank you, for looking out for him."

You blink, softening a bit, you can't see his face beneath the blue eyes of the hood, but you don't need to. In the end, you both care about Legend, so it makes sense he'd want to get a feel for you himself, "Of course, and that's not true, you know? Legend is... definitely a hard nut to crack, but to say he doesn't care about you and what you did for him would be a lie. So if anything, thank you." You smile, a bit helplessly, "I just do what I can, but I wouldn't be able to do if not for you looking out for him first."

He pauses, stilling, too still and a contrast from the way he was so jittery before, but then nods firmly, something like relief coloring his voice as well as pleasant surprise, the chirper tone making it's reappearance aftef a second, "Of course, I'm his most reliable salesman of course! I need to look out for my best and favorite customer!", he clears his throat, is that a hint of crimson on his cheeks? You can't tell beneath the scarf, though you can recognize the immediate conniving tone to his voice, "So... Mr.Hero talks well about me, huh?"

Ah yes, the need for blackmail material. Somehow you're not surprised.

... To be fair, you're curious yourself too. "Help me with making fruit tarts for breakfast and I might consider a mutually beneficial exchange of information."

His grin widened, almost knife sharp, "Only if you help me organize the merchandise at the shop after! We have much to talk about I believe."

You are so glad you passed whatever unseen test he was putting you through. You offer him a hand, "Deal."

You shake on it, understanding being conveyed without words.

Legend was dear to you both, so you'd both work together to look after him.

(Much, much later, after waking up from the first goodnight of sleep he had in a while, Legend will find you both in his kitchen, Ravio chattering enthusiastically as you both enjoy your hard work on the tarts over hibiscus tea, discussing the history of his many, many items and Ravio's goods and be simultaneously filled with warmth he'd take to his grave and feel a chill go up his spine. As if he's made a mistake somehow.

Ah well, it will probably be the best among his many other mistakes.)

[mimiplaysgames]

The Bed Story, ch. 3 (Hero)

Terraqua Week 2024, Day 3

Terra/Aqua | Terra/Anti-Aqua Rating: M Word count: 4,680 @terraquaweek

Summary: Terra meets Anti-Aqua, and he's sorry for the things they did and didn't do.

Read on AO3

A/N: Uhhhhh y'all should know... Did I push the boundary so hard between SFW and NSFW? YEP. YEP AND I'M NOT SORRY hahahaha

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

They chose to “practice” in the woods. Terra wouldn’t call it practicing like Aqua did. He preferred “experimenting.” 

Keyblades were a magic of frequency—it was how one bearer built trust with the other. If desperate and needy, Terra sensed Rainfell near, or Wayward Wind, the Defender, like a soft landing or a refuge. Whether he was trapped by a storm, lost in the mountains, or lost at night when he didn’t know if he could survive the training he had to endure, Aqua was next door. Or outside training. Or in the library. Rainfell left a thread he could trace when he couldn’t defeat his mind. Terra sensed Aqua’s Light, therefore Rainfell existed. 

Aqua summoned Rainfell and twirled it in loops like a baton and Terra… closed his eyes and meditated. Banished thoughts of Aqua’s waist and her eyes like the sea reflected in the daylight. 

“Are you finished?” Aqua asked with a smile in her voice.

“Don’t you know it’s rude to interrupt me.”

“I’m considering the fact that we need as much time as we can get.”

“You’re so practical.” His eyes were still closed. 

“You’re evading.”

Terra kneaded his face. “I’m getting ready.”

“Rainfell is not going to hurt you.”

Ha. It was time for the playful approach. “I’m trying to settle Earthshaker for you. It’s pretty heavy.”

Aqua stopped her twirling and clicked her tongue. “You think I can’t pick it up?”

Terra smirked. “Nope.”

“Give it to me.”

Terra held his breath and clenched his teeth behind tight lips so she wouldn’t see how nervous he was. 

“What if Rainfell doesn’t want me to hold it?”

She shrugged one shoulder and landed a hand to her hip. “I know it doesn’t mind.”

“What if Earthshaker reacts badly? Or something?”

She raised her eyebrows. “Do… you not want me to wield it?”

“Of course I do.” Of course he didn’t.

Aqua squinted, reading whatever she wanted to read on his face, then rolled her eyes. “You’re taunting me.” She motioned with her hand. “Give it here.”

This wasn’t a duel, though, where Terra would taunt until she told him to be quiet. 

He needed an advantage. He needed to see what Rainfell would expose so he knew what to hide with Earthshaker. “Rainfell first.”

She slapped his hand away. “You were challenging me. Give it.”

He paused, but not long enough to make her suspicious. He summoned Earthshaker, and offered the hilt. 

She swapped Rainfell. Earthshaker sagged to the ground and her biceps flexed to keep it up. She stuck her tongue out at him. “I can carry it fine.”

Rainfell was bizarrely light-weight. Already, its energy swirled up his forearm. It knew his touch was foreign, and its frequency invaded his mind like it was sniffing him out. It recognized him. Terra had to hold Rainfell firm as if it was strapped to a leash, only because it was a Keyblade that created its strength through a buildup of magic in order to stand up against Earthshaker’s massive girth. Therefore, it needed persistent and meticulous control. Otherwise, it spun. 

Aqua worked on her unstable posture as she swung Earthshaker, frowning. 

“Are you sure it’s not too heavy for you?”

She frowned harder. Earthshaker was burdensome. His Keyblade was the entire reason why Terra built this much muscle to prove himself to Earthshaker’s unwavering judgment. When Aqua swung, she lost the tiniest bit of momentum as her dexterity overcorrected. 

“Why are you—” She pinched her lips.

Terra held his breath. Rainfell hummed, reading a book he was trying to snap closed. “What?”

Aqua let Earthshaker fall. Its teeth landed on the ground with a thud and Terra flinched. “Terra, do you have something to say to me?”

Terra swallowed. “No.”

“Then why do you… Terra, I’m not holier than you.”

“Excuse me?” His heart hammered. This was a stars-cursed idea, and he couldn’t keep down the feelings that he never wanted surfaced. Memories of Aqua losing one duel, or scoring lower than him on a test, and how he had measured his worth against her by numbers: grades, wins, and the number of her losses which equated to the number of times he went to bed reassured that he looked like a hero standing next to her. 

“Is that what you’re worried about? That you’re—?” She looked away. “This is so childish.”

“If you’re attacking me, why are you so defensive?”

“I’m not attacking you.”

“I’m not childish.”

“I’m trying to knock some sense into you.”

“I didn’t say anything!”

Rainfell jarred in his fist. It was about to lose control. And Terra needed to stay in control. Terra gripped it tighter, and Aqua actually yelped. Rainfell grew dark and heated, like he had a hand inside her lungs. 

Really dark. Admiration hiding behind large tomes turned into daggers across a classroom and nights full of worries. Studying extra to outwin the next fight. How Aqua relied so much on speed and learned Terra so well that she learned how to outwit everything anyone threw at her so in the end, her chin, and the crown she wore on her head, was held highest. Terra became force unmoving, so he made Aqua unbeatable.

Earthshaker must be angry too. 

“You think you know everything?” Terra said before he stopped himself. “Between you and me, I’m not the favorite.”

Aqua’s lips trembled before she steadied them. “I have never said that. Ever.”

“You don't have to. You don’t say half of what’s on your mind to begin with.”

“Forget this. Give me Rainfell back.”

“I’m not done.” But Terra stopped. Suddenly Rainfell… cried? Aqua’s face was brave, her eyes boring into his and ready for the challenge. But Rainfell? 

Terra lowered his voice, lowered his defenses, and breathed slowly. Gently, he said, “I’m sorry. But you’re not right.”

The knot in Aqua’s throat bobbed. 

“You matter to the Master just as much as I do,” Terra said. 

Aqua stared at the grass. “He sees you as his son. I have to work to get that same attention.”

“Oh, you want him to be hard on you?” Terra scoffed, too accusatory. “Are you kidding me? He’s easier on you because he trusts that you’re—” He almost said better. “Good. More than that, you shine. You’re brilliant.”

Aqua gaped, and Earthshaker sagged from the weight of Terra’s implied inferiority. Stars. Rainfell stilled, like it gulped a fist of air. 

“Brilliant?” Rainfell weeped with her, and Terra could cry with her. He was stupid. “Terra, all I’m trying to say is we’re going to perform just fine in the exam.”

Would they though? Terra didn’t say it, but Rainfell understood. Aqua shook her head in denial and wiped a tear from her face. For not saying anything, Aqua said so much. Rainfell reached to him for a hug, and Terra felt the welcome of a blanket in winter. 

Stars. Terra’s heart hammered, and of course, Earthshaker sent her the same signals. A hug for what he didn’t want to ever talk about with her. Aqua, all I’ve ever wanted was to match up to you. He kept that to himself, and he wasn’t certain if Earthshaker had the capability to translate it. He hoped not.

But Aqua nodded, and brought Earthshaker’s hilt to her forehead, whispering a prayer.

Terra didn’t hear the prayer, but he felt the intention: a truce. Terra though hated this image of Aqua offering an olive branch when this shouldn’t have happened in the first place. 

Terra twirled Rainfell. It was calm in his grip, trusting him. Apology accepted. So how would they move on? 

Again, it was time for the playful approach. “I don’t know how you can fight with this. It’s like a feather.” 

Aqua laughed into Earthshaker’s hilt. And Terra felt it, like a breath on his cheek with her arms around him. “It will electrocute you,” she said.

“Oh, whatever. All I would feel is a little zap on the wrist.” Bingo—his intention to lighten the mood worked and she rolled her eyes. He flipped Rainfell in the air and caught it. “See? Easy. Earthshaker could break your face.”

“Wouldn’t that mean Earthshaker would break your face if I’m the one holding it?” She smirked with haughtiness. Stars, he loved it when she did that.

“If you can wield it properly.”

“I am.”

Stars, he loved it when she spoke to him that way.

“If I swing Rainfell too hard, it will snap in half.”

“I can sit here and tolerate your useless excuses or we can actually spar.”

He opened his arms as if to expose himself to a direct strike, but he knew she wouldn’t be able to take a swing. “Your funeral.”

“Don’t you mean yours?”

He stepped closer to get in her face, and for some reason, Rainfell jolted like a heart skipped.

“The truth is, I’m stronger than you.” He tapped Earthshaker, and again, Rainfell jumped, its vibration beating. 

For some reason, Aqua’s breath trembled. “Prove it,” she whispered, and one more time, Rainfell throbbed. It liked this? She liked this?

He liked it, too.

Stars, he shouldn't indulge. He struck her with Rainfell and she defended, although Earthshaker made her sluggish, hanging too low. Aqua held her ground. She shook, but she fortified herself with her magic against his brute blow. 

“I just did,” he said, near whispering, Rainfell too excited now.

She smirked. "No, you didn't," she said, her breath on his face. Biceps and forearms flexing, she filled Earthshaker with her spells, and pushed him off. Their blades slid and cracked with sparks before disconnecting. 

She smiled (blushed?), and flicked her head to get her hair out of her eyes.

"Made you sweat, didn't I?" Terra felt proud of that. Earthshaker was too cumbersome for her style, making this an eventual easy win.

Somehow, she was prouder. "Made you nervous, didn't I?"

Terra bit his lip. His heart was about to crawl out of his esophagus if she was going to keep talking to him like that. He swung Rainfell in slices around himself. "Again. But hold Earthshaker right this time? You're embarrassing yourself."

Aqua lifted Earthshaker to test its weight and find an equilibrium for herself. Earthshaker fell, unbalanced, and she caught the blade with her free hand before it hit her head. 

“So ridiculous,” she muttered. “Your craftsmanship is ridiculous.” But that wasn’t what Terra felt. Adoration. She caressed his blade, and Terra wished she adored his physique. 

Yet wasn’t Earthshaker an extension of his muscle? Could he let himself have that daydream, of her admiring him? Of her tracing the divots on his skin? Could imagine himself tracing the clavicle peeking out of her leotard?

Wait. What was Rainfell doing, swelling in his hand?

Terra shouldn’t be thinking this. Terra was too late. He felt a hand pressed on his chest, gliding down as Aqua's fingers skated over the edge of Earthshaker’s blade. Moving down to his navel. He gasped. 

Where was his mind? To spare his composure, Terra rolled his shoulders and… well, what he was supposed to say? That Rainfell looked like Aqua, curved and menacing, and that it made sense it was her counterpart to her fluid movement? To the way her body kept form so differently from him, like water that bent around his boulder?

That hand moved lower.

Where was Rainfell? In his hand, squeezed too tightly. 

“Terra?” Her eyes were closed and she shivered.

He groaned. “Yeah?”

Rainfell responded—that hug it offered was now hands on his face, a thumb wiping the edge of his mouth. He nearly kissed it, but he would be kissing air. 

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing.” He should give Rainfell back.

Where was his mind? Wishing her lips were gasping for his until he stopped breathing. 

Aqua brought her hand to her heart, concentrating on what Earthshaker was saying. 

“Come on,” Terra said, mortified at what exactly Earthshaker was saying. That traitor.

But Aqua heard, giving her the advantage. And Rainfell needed. Aqua's thumb stroked Earthshaker’s hilt, and her hand skated over the flat edge of his blade. Between Terra’s legs burned, and he stumbled back onto a tree. He touched his own lips, and pretended they were her fingers.

Wait, why was he the one holding himself up by the tree? Why was Aqua the one left standing? 

So he did the same. He stroked Rainfell’s blade with a firm finger and Aqua’s breath hitched. She closed her eyes and hunched over. Her lips were flushed. Panting. 

Her lips, her lips, her lips. Left standing. He should let it go. Release the feeling. Say they’re being silly. Wish they could go back to being children, to the day they met, to before when such things never crossed his mind… so he could experience this fall for her all over again until they inevitably came here, with his shoulders tense against bark while he savored his blood coursing across his body and he savored the image of her enjoying what she felt. Yes. Rainfell said yes.

He should not step forward. He should not drop Rainfell and run to her, snatching her into his arms, meeting his lips to hers, running his hands up her waist and gliding his fingers underneath her straps to feel the warmth of her bare skin. 

But he did. And she welcomed him. She held onto Earthshaker, and Terra thought yes, please touch it, please taste me, please let me touch you. Her free hand was in his hair, and she invited his tongue in, and her hips pressed onto his. 

In a moment, exactly what he wanted. In the next, the void. 

“What are we doing?” Aqua gasped and pulled away, dropping Earthshaker. It left Terra breathless.

“I don’t know.” But he did. She knew Earthshaker. He knew Rainfell. He knew they both wanted this.

Aqua wouldn’t say anything, and he needed to know. “I’m sorry,” he said, not sure what he was sorry for, except for the empty space between his hands. “I—Let me give you Rainfell back.”

So he would feel what she wasn’t saying. He was terrified Rainfell would tell him it was regret (please don’t let it be regret), but Aqua didn’t give him the chance. Aqua summoned it back before he could reach it. 

She tucked her hair behind her ears, and it sprung forward. “Terra, I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t be.”

“But—”

“You—”

“I—”

“It’s okay.” Terra lifted his hands in surrender. “It’s okay. I… I liked it.” He reached for her but she hid her face behind her hands.

“Terra, all I wanted to say was that we are equals.”

Oh. “We are.”

A pause. “I... This is bad timing.” Another pause, and Terra was suspended, waiting for her word. “I can’t think here.”

"I-I'm sorry," he said.

Aqua left the thicket on the route back to the castle, away from her failed experiment.

“I’m sorry,” she kept saying. “I’m sorry.”

~*~

Sleeping on the floor? Means a sore back. 

Terra grunts when he sits up, and drags himself onto the loveseat, stretching his legs. He doesn’t remember his dreams, but honestly, he’s sick of dreaming, and doesn’t want another one for the rest of his life. 

Bleached sunlight pierces the windows, washing everything in a cold glow. It’s so quiet. Which is natural. The castle is too large for four people, let alone three. Yet unnatural. The grandfather clock in the study is broken, so there’s no tick-tick-tick. Instead, Terra can hear every groan in the wood, and cracked plaster decaying as the castle shifts in the wind, grasping onto splinters that will snap at any moment. His duty to do something to prevent the castle from collapsing entirely, or from his world losing itself to Darkness. 

But Earthshaker…

Terra extends his arm and flexes his fingers, waiting for the hum in the negative space between that signals his Keyblade answering the call. Suppose though, Terra has failed his Earthshaker, therefore he has failed himself, which means Earthshaker has passed its judgment on its very own wielder. 

Terra exhales. He’s making excuses. Terra is the one judging Terra. The Guardian is gone, vanquished by Terra’s Light. That’s what Ven said what happened. Terra has to believe that.

“Come on,” he says, begging this time, but it’s like Earthshaker is shaking its head. “What do you want me to do?”

No answer, just a vacancy. 

“So how am I going to fix anything?”

To be honest, Earthshaker wouldn’t have the answers anyway. It’s as clueless as Terra.

Terra gives up, rubbing the empty space between his fingers. Would Xehanort have this problem? 

No, Xehanort was a well of knowledge. Terra had felt it, in those years of blackness. Striding confidence, lustful curiosity, and unwavering strength that was a hurricane and an earthquake all at once. Everything that Terra still wants to be to this day, and in those years when he barely existed, he got a taste of what that felt like every time Xehanort won. Every time Xehanort…

Wielded his ornate silver Keyblade, the one with no name. Stars, that Keyblade is old, more ancient than the Defender, rich with secrets, and addicting to hold.

Terra extends his hand, and gracefully asks No Name to please answer his call, in a way like he’s bowing with respect and reverence. Maybe there is a connection between Terra and this Keyblade since they have made contact, skin to metal. There has to be. His heart bows even lower, head to the floor.

“Please, come,” he says. “I have questions, and I…”

Need you.

Terra snatches his hand back. What is he thinking?

Eraqus would have… what, punished Aqua for turning the way she did? Become disappointed in her? Be sad? Be sorry.

But where Eraqus saw failure, Xehanort would have seen opportunity for progress, experimentation, and resolution. Xehanort would have had answers. And if Xehanort were still alive, Terra today would have the resources he needs.

He extends his hand again. He’s willing to exchange all his power for a chance of pain, for a chance that Earthshaker will reject him if that’s the cost, for a chance to listen to what the Fairytale Keybearers have to whisper. All he needs is one clue he’s failed to notice. But No Name doesn’t reply.

Which means Terra isn’t…

“Terra!” Ven slams the door open. He waves his arms like an octopus electrocuted. “There’s those… those fucking things outside! Heartless!”

“What?” That’s impossible. The Land of Departure is supposed to be a fortress against forces that Dark.

Then again, those storms raged all night. 

“Stars,” Terra curses, and grabs the Master’s satchel full of the potions he brewed last night, then follows Ven. The castle shakes hard enough that Ven saves himself by holding onto the railing, where Terra nearly tumbles down the stairs. 

“What’s happening?” Ven cries out.

Darkness paints everything black, like nightfall with the new moon and no stars. Flickers. Then it brightens again. The Land of Departure is going to fall. 

“Terra?” 

There’s what sounds like a rumbling explosion, and they both hold on. Some part of the castle is crumbling into the canyon below. 

“Don’t worry,” Terra says. “Let’s go.”

Outside, storm clouds brush the sky dull and desaturated. Heartless approach from the mountain in factions, slithering everywhere, but they keep their distance from Defender at the Master’s memorial. 

Ven summons Wayward Wind and charges forward. Terra stays behind on the terrace, hurling explosive vials at Heartless near the castle. It’s a bad plan—a shitty one, if Terra gives himself the permission to use foul language. He only has seven vials.

Terra slams a vial into a Heartless jumping on him. It doesn’t do much except push it back. He needs his—

“You have no Keyblade?” Ven stumbles when a Heartless jumps onto his back. So Ven yells. Really yells, and circling blades of screeching Light wipes out the population of Heartless threatening the castle.

More come from the forest.

“When were you going to tell me you have no Keyblade?” Ven catches his breath, back at the terrace. He frowns from exhaustion. “Where is Earthshaker?”

“I don’t know.” 

Ven takes a moment to compose himself, then nods. He smiles something courageous and prepared, as if this is a test he’s been wanting to pass. A wish granted, really. Ven has always wanted to be trusted and relied on. “Stay here. I can take care of this.” 

“Wait, Ven—”

But Ven storms ahead, toward the next wave of Heartless. They’re impatient, crawling over each other in twitching mounds.

Terra has to do something. He jabs his hand into the satchel, but there are no more vials. 

What is he going to do? 

The Defender. On instinct, Terra dashes down the terrace and extends his hand, almost touching the dormant Keyblade waiting to be used. Almost. For a short, tiny moment, Terra hesitates. This Keyblade, like No Name, defines a Master. What if it rejects him, too?

That moment of hesitation is when Aqua arrives. She flies over the roof of the castle, her lithe body flipping before she lands on the ground. 

She summons her—a—Keyblade and faces Ven, ready to attack him.

Ven. Shock. Hangs back. Hand up to his face like he’s preparing for a blow.

Aqua. Furious.

“No!” Terra rushes and steps in front of Ven, his vulnerable, defenseless body a shield. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Wait, Terra,” Ven says.

“Ven, stay behind me.”

“Ven needs to stand down,” Aqua says, her voice steady.

It’s too much to swallow. Aqua. The Heartless. This strange Keyblade. “Aqua, our home is falling apart.”

“Stand. Down.” The Heartless behind her blend and separate, eyes and twig-like limbs engorged into their thin skin like they’re malleable clay. 

Terra needs a quiet moment, a clear head. “Whose Keyblade is that?” It’s tacky, unfitting for Aqua’s grace. 

“Some Keyblades don’t have Masters,” is her only answer. 

Like Defender. Like No Name. Aqua the Master of all. But this one is different. Where every Keyblade is a single bright star in the dark, this one comes from a white sky, and this star is black. An opposite, from the Realm of Darkness.

“Where is Rainfell?” It has to exist. Aqua’s star is still there, far away, hidden by expansive galaxies that a telescope is needed. But it’s there, so therefore, Rainfell lives.

Her jaw locks. “How do you think you survived falling into Darkness?”

Terra’s mouth goes dry. “No…”

“I gave it to you, so you could stay in the Realm of Light.”

Stars. Stars, stars, stars, please don’t let that be true. Again, Terra cries in front of her. 

In a pathetic attempt to get her approval and keep the situation under control, Terra weakly says, “We can find it. Together. I’ll help you.”

She stares.

“This isn’t right.” He waves at the Heartless squirming, who are waiting for her command to move forward. “This isn’t you.”

Her eyes widen in a wild glare. “What isn’t me, exactly?”

“You…” He doesn’t have an answer. “Aqua, I want to help. Isn’t that what you want from me?” Terra claws at his chest, wanting her to see how much his heart is hurting. “My help? Isn’t that the least you deserve? What else can I do for you? I want you better. I want you happy.”

“Better.” Again, she finds that offensive.

“Is that it, then?” He drops his hands, defeated. 

“Terra, stop.” Ven mumbles.

“That’s okay,” Terra continues. “It’s okay to hate me.”

Aqua shudders, that predatory rage about to burst.

“I hate you?” She steps forward, and Terra has the sense that she’s about to stab him.

“No.” He holds his hands up, yielding. After everything she’s been through for him, it’s never been hate. Not even close. “It was a stupid thing to say.”

“I hate you?” she repeats, through fangs.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” He wishes Rainfell were near, so he can touch it, and listen to what Aqua isn’t saying, and tell her what he’s too dense to articulate.

She pauses within a few feet. The Heartless inch closer.

“Aqua,” Ven pleads, “come on.”

“Aqua,” Terra says, “we can’t do this. You can’t let these Heartless stay. I mean we’re Keybearers.” 

“You think I forgot?”

“No. Stars, Aqua—”

“What would you do to them, Terra?” she says, raising her voice. “Where do you think they go if we vanquish them?”

“To Kingdom Hearts—”

“Do you even know where or what that is?” She points to the smallest one, straggling away from the hoard as it scratches its antenna. “You’d do that to her?”

“Her?”

“She’s just a little girl.”

Ven pulls on Terra’s shirt. “Stop fighting,” he says, so quietly. 

Terra reads her face, her deciphered language. Her frantic eyes, the way they shiver, looking for an answer far away in the moon she’s always seeing. 

“Aqua,” Terra says gently, needing to embrace her. Enclose the gap, fill the void between him and his Aqua, who will always be Aqua, and who will always have his heart. “I would never let that happen to you.”

“But you look at me like I’m the same as them.” She snarls. Which isn’t true, it isn’t. She’s living, she’s feeling. Huffing, Aqua composes herself. With a fist in the air, the Heartless retreat. “They stay.” 

“They can’t—”

“They stay in the forest and won’t go near the castle. You see?” she says with a sneer. “I want you happy, too.”

She dissipates, her fog following her little ones into the thicket. 

Terra, his adrenaline now dissolving, falls to his knees. He didn’t want to watch her leave. Didn’t. Doesn’t. Doesn’t ever want to watch her leave ever again. Please don’t go. 

Losing the strength to keep himself up, Terra keels over and lands on his forearms, dropping his head to the ground in silent tears. This spot, this is exactly the spot: Master Eraqus’s final resting place, now pummeled by tears.

Ven shifts his feet. “I don’t think she would have hurt me,” he says carefully, but unsure. 

“Ven, you need to know… The Master—”

“I know.” So gently, so quietly.

“I didn’t want to hurt him. I just wanted him to stop.”

“I know.”

Terra splinters, cracks, breaks into sobs. “I just wanted her to stop.” 

Ven kneels and rubs Terra’s back. “Hey, you know what? You did make her stop. Things are okay.”

Terra can’t breathe through the crying.

“Everything is calm now, see? You’re exactly what Zack says, even without a Keyblade.”

A hero? Ven says this to cheer Terra up, to show how much Terra matters to a boy who’s grown to look up and admire. Ven is so wrong. 

Ven gives Terra time to compose himself, and when the tears dry up and Terra’s eyes sting as he rubs them, he says, “I need to teach you something.”

Ven perks up. “Sure.”

“You’re going to create a barrier against the Heartless, so they don’t get to the castle.”

“But she said…”

“... Just in case.”

“Yeah. Okay.”

Ven steps forward, gripping Wayward Wind in both his hands.

“It feels like pulling out a thread of your heart and orienting it into the ground." Terra settles, on his knees. "Remember to give her safe passage back home.”

“How do I do that?”

“Your Keyblade is your heart, Ven. You want her home.”

“Yeah. Okay, that makes sense.”

Ven draws on the ground with the tip of Wayward Wind, and a sparkling thread trails behind. A small little gesture, but powerful. He traces an arc around the patio, keeping the Master’s memorial protected as well. 

They wait a few minutes as lightning strikes green in the horizon.

“What do we do now?” Ven asks when he’s done. He doesn’t will Wayward Wind away, too tense to let go. 

“We do the back as well.”

“And then?”

On the ground where Eraqus fell, Terra’s tears have soaked the fractured concrete. “We find Rainfell.”

[arleniansdoodles]

can you gives another sneak-peak of you gow fanfic? this time on jotunheim? Pretty please T-T

Sure thing! Here's a short-ish snippet of Atreus and Calliope arriving in Ironwood, and meeting Angrboda (and best boi Fenrir loll). Keep reading under the cut if you don't mind spoilers ;)

Also, quick note, I've decided to start posting the fic this Sunday, Nov 5! I'd say it's close enough to Ragnarok's release date loll And since it's also my birthday, I'll release the first two chapters together so y'all don't have to wait for Atreus and Calliope's first meeting XDD After that, I'm not sure whether to post once or twice a week, so feel free to let me know what you guys would like!

~~~~~

The warm breeze and golden sun of Jötunheim greeted Atreus like an old friend. He breathed in deeply of Ironwood’s pleasantly sweet and earthy smell. He was home for the second time today!

Angrboda’s treehouse lay before them. Excitement pooled in Atreus’ stomach at the sight. “We’re here! Welcome to Ironwood, sis.”

Before she could say anything, the comfortable quiet of the afternoon was broken by a sudden, familiar howl. Brother-cub! Fenrir called, carefully trotting over to them despite his instincts to run and leap with excitement. Ever since Atreus placed Fenrir’s soul in Garm’s body, his dear wolf had to be mindful of his size when moving among the smaller Giants.

Atreus laughed and rubbed Fenrir’s large nose. “Aww, Fen! It’s so good to see you! Hey, Calliope? It’s okay, come on out! Fenrir’s my third wolf, and a very good boy. See?”

Calliope peeked out from behind Atreus, staring at the wolf with wide eyes. Fenrir blinked at her. New cub?

“That’s right, she’s your new Sister-cub!” Atreus gently took Calliope’s hand and placed it on Fenrir’s nose. Slowly, she began to pet it.

“Hello,” she said quietly to Fenrir. “I’m Calliope of Sparta.”

New cub, Fenrir rumbled, snuffling the front of her dress as he took in her scent.

Calliope gradually relaxed. “You have Giant wolves too?” she asked Atreus.

“Aside from Fen, there’s just Sköll and Hati, I think. He used to be normal-sized like Speki and Svanna, but … Well, it’s a long story. But he lived with me and Father.”

Welcome, Sister-cub, Fenrir said happily. His tail thumped once on the ground with a muffled boom. Calliope jumped, but soon went back to petting Fenrir’s snout.

“Is Angrboda around, boy?” Atreus asked.

“Right here, Loki,” came that warm, welcome voice. Angrboda stepped out from behind Fenrir, a playful smile on her face.

Something bright and bubbly burst in Atreus’ stomach, spreading through his chest and tingling up to his scalp. He moved forward as if in a dream, and their fingers entwined. And then they were hugging, his nose buried in her dark locks as he breathed in the faintly floral, Ironwood-y scent mixed with the herbal tints of her paints. Her cheek was soft against his. She pressed closer to him; her breath gusted over his ear and neck, and his knees trembled.

When she pulled back, Atreus leaned forward before she could and kissed the edge of her mouth. Oh – damn it, he’d been aiming for her cheek! At least he wasn’t the only one blushing now.

Angrboda squeezed his hands and kissed his temple. “I’m so happy to see you, Loki. Safe and soundly, too.”

“Thanks, Boda. It’s great to see you, too. How is everyone?”

“They’re all doing good! I’m sure they’ll know that you’re here, thanks to Fenrir’s howl.” Angrboda glanced around Atreus. “Uh, so where’s that sister you were talking about? Oh!”

Calliope was once again hiding behind Atreus. Fenrir sniffed at her curiously, completely giving her away. Atreus chuckled to himself and drew Calliope to his side. “Hey, sis? Remember me telling you about Angrboda? Well, here she is! Boda, this is Calliope.”

Angrboda crouched down so that she was eye-level with Calliope, and beamed at her. “Hi there! Your brother has told me quite a bit about you. You like music?”

Calliope nodded shyly. “I like the flute.”

“That’s lovely! We have some musicians here, and artists, and others besides. But what do you say to getting settled, first? I made up a little bed for you, right above mine.”

Calliope nodded again. “Thank you.”

Angrboda stood and held out her hand. To Atreus’ delight, Calliope took it, and the three of them went to Angrboda’s treehouse.

[ashterblaster]

Alrighty! Since my earlier post got a few notes, I'll go ahead and post the first half of my Radiostatic fic here! Warning, it's p short but I'm excited to see where it goes, as I've got the first half of part two pretty much fleshed out. Would love comments/reblogs to see how it was received! Hope y'all enjoy~

Summary: Vox finds out there are worse things than just being in Hell; like being sick in Hell. Alastor has a laugh at his expense every step of the way.

It had started as nothing but a minor annoyance. A dryness of the throat, which was typical for an early morning in Hell. Moisture wasn’t really a thing, even if you considered the fucking acid rain. Which Vox didn’t; that shit was genuinely the worst. But he’d at least had access to clean(ish) water, and cleared his throat a couple of times… the sensation still lingered. Well, it wasn’t anything for him to be overly concerned with. Besides, he had a meeting this morning with Alastor where they were going to discuss more hot-topic talking points for his radio show. 

The cloying, scratchy feeling in his throat still hadn’t gone away, even though it had been at least a couple hours since he first woke up. He made himself breakfast, something simple - eggs and toast, which… the fact that he was even able to scrounge up the materials to have a decent meal still startled him. It was Hell after all - everything was still jarring. 

He barely managed to choke down the slightly burnt edges of bread and too runny eggs (jeez, the food didn’t usually taste five star, but today was bad) before getting washed and dressed. The turtleneck he normally wore felt scratchier than normal, and he tugged at the collar in irritation. Even his antenna weren’t properly fitting into his hat… Gah - today had barely started and it was already a wash.

Well, he could at least look forward to seeing Alastor. Despite how every denizen in Hell he’d met so far had told him to steer clear of The Radio Demon, Vox hadn’t been able to say ‘no’ to him yet. Not once. Even when he’d suggested the damn hat giving him so much trouble now - silly, ridiculous even he’d thought when he first put it on. But one look at Alastor’s approving grin had dashed his worries easily. He’d do just about anything to have that look directed towards him again… Oof, was the heater on the fritz again? It was suddenly so warm.

Sniffing idly, Vox descended the steps of his apartment and stepped out onto the sidewalk. Ugh, it was warm out here too. Well… that wasn’t so much surprising as it was an inconvenience. Hell always seemed to be too warm, but today the pentagram striped sun seemed to beat down on his head with a particularly harsh intensity.

He rolled his neck with a soft grunt, fingers gripping the taught muscle with a grimace. You’d think after however many years (1, 3, more?) of living with a fucking television set for a cranium he’d have gotten used to the aches and pains that came along with it. Vox once again had to remind himself that it was Hell - there were worse things than stiff joints.

“Quite the lovely day we have upon us, isn’t it?”

“JESUS SHIT–!” Vox staggered to the side, his screen glitching slightly from the shock of Alastor’s voice directly beside him. “Wh– You have got to stop doing that, Al! One day I’m gonna get a fucking heart attack.”

Alastor’s grin seemed to widen, eerily. “Oh, I would highly advise against that, old pal! We’re dreadfully short on paramedics here in Pentagram City.” His shoulders shook lightly, obviously amused at his own joke. Vox simple deadpanned, though he fought against his mouth instinct to inch upwards at the corners. Despite being fucking sadistic, Alastor could also be pretty funny - when he wasn’t unsettling or downright terrifying. 

“Anyhow~! You look a bit… disheveled this morning!” Vox tilted his head; he’d said it as if it were the most delightful observation he’d made in ages, “Sleep on the wrong side of the bed, hm?”

“No? I… Well, I looked fine in the mirror.” He argued, smoothing down his shirt a bit self-consciously. Alastor hummed thoughtfully, reached a hand out to gently tug on the tag sticking out of Vox’s inside-out jacket. “I suppose that’s the cons of not having eyes in the back of one’s head, haha!” 

Vox snorted as he began to shrug out of the denim. “Right, like you do?…” He trailed off, giving Alastor a once over. “You- you don’t, right?” 

“Oh, heavens no! But I do have my ways of seeing things others might easily miss.” His ears twitched slightly when Vox sniffed, and his head craned to one side unnaturally. Curious. 

Vox had barely gotten his jacket smoothed out, gaze flicking back to Alastor - only to find the other’s face mere inches from his own. He flinched, feeling heat creep up along his neck as he rose a brow, tentatively inching back. “Is… something else wrong?”

After far too long of a beat, the pinstriped demon snapped back into his place on the sidewalk, giving another curious hum. “Nothing at all, dear. Now! Enough dawdling - shall we get a move on? Rolling stones and such!” Without waiting for an answer, Alastor began walking down the pavement, and Vox blinked before following after him.

‘He’s being extra weird today. Wonder why?’ Although Vox had long since given up on making sense of Alastor’s every behavior. He’d go absolutely insane to even try. The guy… sinner… demon was nothing short of a fucking enigma, someone most insisted was to be feared and meant to stay FAR FUCKING AWAY from. Maybe Vox was foolish to still consider him good company, but it wasn’t as though he had other sinners breaking down his door to befriend him, let alone ones he actually found himself sharing common interests with. 

Plus… the guy was charming, when he wasn’t being wholly off-putting. And even then, Vox didn’t really mind that side of him. He was just quirky. 

As they walked and made conversation, Vox found his throat going from scratchy to genuinely sore and aching. He was clearing it more often, and trying not to be off-put by the odd, static distorted quality it would get every now and again. Alastor for his part seemed to be indifferent - thank goodness - but Vox felt a small mound of worry forming in his gut. Not for his throat, but something else was… well, no other way to describe it but itching in the back of his head. Like a clothes tag itching at the back of your neck, except it was directly behind his eyes, insistent and growing steadily as they walked.

Eventually, Vox’s steps slowed, and he began to blink rapidly. 

Alastor matched his pace until they were both standing still, the radio demon looking both curious and… oddly expectant. 

Vox gave his head a trembling shake, the feeling seeming to pulse before climbing higher.

“Hahh…?” The inhale swept through his lungs, causing them to seize up as his chest rose and fell unsteadily. His screen flickered as he continued to pant unevenly, a hand raising to mid-chest. Wait, this was all oddly familiar: the gasping, the build up, this itch… was he going to…? He hadn’t even noticed Alastor taking a precautionary step back before–

“heh’AAKKTTSCHHUE!!”

His head snapped forward, and Vox barely - just barely stopped the rest of his body from joining it in tumbling down. The raised hand held onto the top of his head in an attempt at steadying it, and he managed to right himself with a huge gasp. 

“Fucking shit–!!” He exclaimed, chest muscles heaving from the absolute workout straightening back up. He blinked again, before wincing and gripping the side of his head with a groan. “Fuck, fuck my head…” 

“Well, well!” Alastor tittered, clapping his hands together a few times, “Quite the performance, my good man! Quite the show!” Giddiness radiated from him, a stark contrast to the pained misery staining Vox’s features. 

“Nghh… did I just… sneeze?” It felt far more arduous than Vox recalled it ever being when he was alive. Then again, he’d never had to sneeze while trying to keep himself from falling on his ass. This really was Hell, wasn’t it?

“That’s the the term most would use, yes! Not quite used to it with your new hardware, eh?” Vox winced at the tap of Alastor’s staff against his head. 

“No, I’m not. Fuck, that was awful… snf!” He raised a finger to scrub against the middle of his face, and Alastor laughed gleefully when his companion realized he didn’t have a nose to actually rub. “… you’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“Oh, most assuredly, my dear!” His smile didn’t falter once when Vox began to pout, “Now don’t give me that look, it’s all in good fun!” 

Despite his insistence, Vox rolled his eyes. “I don’t see what’s so ‘fun’ about feeling like absolute shit.” Maybe if it was some other sucker sure, but it wasn’t.

“So you are feeling unwell!” Alastor interrupted his thoughts, then clasped his hands together in delight, “Oh, I’d hoped that was the case!” 

“Wait, what?”

Now it was Alastor’s turn to roll his eyes. He stepped closer to Vox, lifting the bottom of his head with his staff. “Tell me, dear - does your throat ache? Do you feel a bit warmer than usual? Perhaps a little… fuzzy in the head?” 

Vox made a slight face. “How… did you know all of that?” He hated when Alastor would do this - toy with him instead of just getting right to the point. He was already feeling like garbage, what was the point of making him think when– wait…

“Ah, the cogs seeme to be turning now, yes?” Alastor’s grin was almost too eager. Vox shuffled back a bit, rubbing the side of his head as he tried to process the conclusion he’d come to. 

“Wait, I… I can get sick? In Hell? That’s a thing?!” 

“Oh, you just make this better and better, truly!” Alastor grinned gleefully, completely ignoring the panic radiating off of Vox. “But yes, you can fall ill in Hell, of all places. I assumed you knew that–”

“HOW would I have ever known that? it’s fucking news to me!”

“Well obviously,” The way Alastor rolled his eyes was enough to potentially give Vox an ulcer. Was he capable of having those, too? Why didn’t he put the pieces of still being biologically able to fall ill together sooner?! Or better yet - why hadn’t Alastor told him, since he seemed to be so fucking knowledgeable on the subject! However it seemed that his flaring irritation would have to take a momentary backseat - that awful sensation was back, almost worse than before, and a shudder rippled along Vox’s spine before it grew uncomfortably stiff. “Hahh… hhh…?” His screen flickered with static as his breathing continued to waver, a hand rising in more impulse than actual desire to cover his mouth. Even through his fluttering lids, he could feel Alastor watching him, eager and yet patient. As if this entire situation wasn’t confounding enough, embarrassing enough, the person he least wanted to be present now had a front row seat. Take a picture, it’ll last longer nestled just on the tip of his tongue, but another sharp inhale reminded him that talking likely wasn’t the smartest option. Not while his head still felt like it was full of fuzzy, restless static–

“ehh-hahH! EA’KTTSCHHHUE!” 

Though not as large as his initial sneeze, it still sent him staggering forward harshly. His screen was almost parallel with his hips in the process, and when he righted, it felt as if rising from being submerged in water for too long. His head, his neck, his core - everything ached, all from a sneeze. He didn’t bother masking a groan. 

“Fuck…” Although his discomfort might as well have meant jack-shit when countered with Alastor’s reaction. The bastard was laughing, as if seeing Vox nearly topple over from a sneeze was just about the funniest damned thing he’d seen in decades. Vox’s temple throbbed painfully as he glared at the Radio Demon, who was dabbing at the edges of his eyes with one corner of a handkerchief. 

“Oh goodness me - you certainly don’t do anything by halves, do you?” 

“You act like I did that on purpose.” Vox countered with a roll of his eyes, sniffling which… if he didn’t have a nose or sinuses, shouldn’t have been an action he could carry out. But there were multiple facets of Hell that technically didn’t make sense. Apparently this was just one among the hundreds of others. 

Alastor didn’t offer much in the way of a response. If anything, he was eerily silent, but his gaze penetrated Vox straight through to his damned soul. Vox felt warmth creep up along his neck. 

“If you’re waiting for it to happen again, you’re shit outta luck.”

Though he said it with confidence, he was internally dreading the moment another sneeze would grab hold of him. Alastor simply shrugged, but his gaze still held that air of anticipation. 

“Suit yourself. It’s certainly no skin off my nose.” His smile widened a fraction when Vox growled under his breath. 

Cyan-tipped fingers scrubbed along the surface of his screen, a bit harsher than was necessary. The irritation wasn’t as strong as before, but it lingered just out of his reach; strong enough to make it’s presence known, but not enough to trigger another sneeze. 

By the time he’d grown tired of uselessly assaulting his own face, Alastor was already a good couple of steps ahead of him. Apparently he’d grown tired of waiting for the ‘show’ to continue.

Shoulders sagging with another liquid-tinged sniffle, Vox reluctantly broke into a jog in order to catch up with him. 

Yeah. Today was definitely going to be… entertaining. 

[wendyeve24]

Up To Heaven and Down To Hell

Chapter 6: Magic Man (Part 2)

(More chapters are coming soon! As always, take heed to the warnings listed above and proceed with caution. Slight smut is in this chapter too. Without further ado, here is the remainder of Chapter 6, I hope you enjoy!)

Ali had caught a glimpse of his car back in the driveway, but neither Elliot nor Rue had emerged. He knew something was up.

"I think they might be back Leslie. I'm gonna go and get my keys from this fool. I'll also bring Rue back in here for you."

"You're so sweet Ali, thank you."

"No problem." He said as he went outside.

Elliot and Rue were both extremely close to orgasm. The feeling of his cock sliding in and out of her and the friction between the two of them was getting to be too much to take.

Ali saw his car kind of moving a bit, that's when he knew that Elliot was up to something.

As he got closer, he heard them.

"Elliot!" Rue cried out.

"Fuck! Rue!" Elliot groaned.

"You nasty motherfuckers! Put your goddamn clothes back on and quit humping in my fucking car!" Ali yelled.

Elliot looked up and rolled the window down. He was still thrusting in and out of Rue.

"We're so close, man. Just... a... few more... minutes..." He panted.

"No, man! Gross! Y'all better quit fucking in my car!"

"Can't... gonna... fucking... cum!" Elliot moaned.

Rue's back arched as she finally had her orgasm, her top was off, so Elliot managed to catch her left nipple in his mouth as he rode out his orgasm.

"Shit! Oh my god... Elliot, you're fucking amazing." She said breathlessly before kissing him.

He took the condom off of his cock after sliding out of her. He then zipped and buckled his pants back up and put his shirt back on before opening the car door and getting out first, shielding the window with his body while Rue put her clothes back on.

"What the hell is wrong with you, man? Do you know how fucking disrespectful that is? Come on man, you're in her mama's driveway doing that shit. And if you got cum on my seats I'm gonna fucking kill you."

"Relax man, it's groovy." Elliot replied as he reached into his back pocket, pulling out his Marlboro cigarettes and lighting one up, taking a long drag from it.

"No its not fucking groovy! You just defiled my goddamn car!" Ali yelled before he sniffed the air and opened the car door on the driver's side.

"Fuck! Ali! I'm getting dressed!" Rue yelled.

"I'm not looking, put your clothes on! Were you motherfuckers getting high up in here!? Did you touch the stash in the glove box!? Motherfucker! I'll be damned!" Ali said in an annoyed tone.

Rue finally put her clothes back on and got out of the car with the to-go Chinese food.

"I'm so fucking disappointed in you both. You go out for a couple of hours and this happens!? Next time, I'm coming with you! Can't trust nobody!"

As Ali ranted, Rue took the cigarette from Elliot's lips and took a drag of it herself before putting it between her fingers and kissing him. She then gave it back to him.

"Are you two dumbasses listening to me!?" Ali ranted in the background.

Rue and Elliot ignored him.

"The party is tomorrow. You're coming?"

"Of course. I'm also gonna bring a buddy of mine." Elliot replied.

"Sounds good. We'll all meet here tomorrow morning and then go ahead to Cincinnati. It's not far."

"Alright then Foxey Lady... sounds like a plan. I'll see you later."

"Later." Rue said before they kissed again and parted ways while Ali was still ranting about catching them fucking in his car.

After she got back inside, her mother gave her a look as she put the leftover Chinese food in the fridge.

"What happened out there?"

"Uh, nothing."

"Rue?"

"I'm tired, I'm going to bed. Goodnight!" She said as she ran upstairs to the room she shared with her sister as her mother called after her.

Gia sat up in her bed and sized Rue up.

"Did you have sex? You look like you did."

"Go to sleep Gia." Rue replied with an annoyed gaze.

Gia rolled her eyes before laying back down.

"You're never taking my car anywhere ever again." Ali said to Elliot after they said their goodbyes to Leslie.

"Aw come on, man."

"Don't man! You're not taking my car anywhere, not after this shit... fucking disgusting."

"But Ali-"

"Nope! Get in the car!"

"Fine, dad!" Elliot teased as he took another drag from his cigarette and got in the car.

"Lucky I can't whoop your ass like a dad. Shit." Ali muttered as he got in the car, before pulling out of the driveway.

Nate had finally let Cassie into his office with his permission. He was finally going to tell her some of what was going on in regards to The Organization the night before the party was to happen.

Pink Floyd's Welcome To The Machine played on the radio in his office as she came down the hallway. As she made it to the door to his office in her robe, she knocked on the door.

"Come in." Nate said as he put the last of the documents in a filing cabinet.

"You told me to be in here at ten o'clock sharp... here I am." Cassie said.

"Good girl. Come, sit right here on my desk." He said as he patted a spot on his desk near him.

She closed the door behind her and sat down on his next near him.

"I've got something important to tell you. Aspen... the leader of The Organization is dead."

"I already knew that, Nate."

"Well, who do you think takes over The Organization now?"

"Um... well, did he have any kids? If he did then his kids take over, right?"

"No. The idiot actually never had any kids, oddly enough."

"I... I don't know who could take over The Organization then Nate."

"You wonderful stupid cunt. I'll show you who's taking over." He got up and pulled a bunch of Aspen's documents from his desk.

"Take a look at these."

Cassie looked at some of them... they had all been addressed to Aspen.

Then, suddenly it clicked.

"W-What? No... Why do you have these? I... You... Nate... How?"

"You don't need to know the specifics. But, that's why I'm throwing this party. The press is gonna be there and everything to announce that I'm taking over The Organization. Cassie..." He took her face in between his palms.

"This is bigger than just you and me. This is the future. This is what we were born to do. I'm their God and you're gonna be their Goddess... their blueprint... their mother. We're fucking wealthy right now, but by tomorrow night... we're gonna be fucking powerful."

She looked scared and unconvinced.

"Think about your lowest moment... I want you to think about a moment where you felt exceedingly weak. So weak that you felt like you didn't fucking matter. Now dial that weak feeling down to nothing... and now I want you to imagine feeling absolutely fucking powerful like you're the only person who matters when you walk in any fucking room. The type of power you can only dream of." He said as he looked into her eyes.

Her look of uncertainty faded as she took a deep breath.

"By tomorrow you're gonna fucking have that kind of power. As your husband, I promise you that Cassie. People are going to fall at your feet and worship you for once in your goddamn life, and it's all because of me." Nate said.

Cassie was breathless, tears streaming down her face as she swallowed and digested each word he spoke.

He leaned down and kissed her. They kissed for a few minutes before coming up for air.

"Thank you Nate."

"For what?"

"For making me a Goddess." She said with a smile as they kissed again before he picked her up bridal style and carried her out of his office, shutting the door with his foot and carrying her to their bedroom where he made passionate love to her.

They had a rushed doctor's appointment that had both Fez and Lexi nervous.

"This appointment has me nervous... and so will our flight." Lexi said with a less than thrilled tone of voice.

"I know ma. I'm nervous about this appointment too... but, you know if you ain't actually pregnant yet... we've got so many chances to make sure you are." Fez said.

"And I know you ain't happy about the flight today but we gotta take a plane to get there Lex. Driving would take too damn long and I know you want us to get to Cincinnati real quick, go to your sister's party then go back home." Fez added.

"I know. It's not gonna be fun either way."

The doctor came back into the room with the test results.

"Mr. and Mrs. O'Neill, I have the results of the test. Congratulations, you're pregnant." The doctor said.

Lexi grinned at Fezco who grinned back at her.

"So you really are-"

"Yeah! I know! Oh I'm so happy!" Lexi replied.

"I'll have to do an ultrasound to see how far along you are and if it's more than one." The doctor said as she brought the ultrasound machine into the room and put the ultrasound goo onto Lexi's stomach before going over it with the wand.

On the screen what they saw surprised them.

"What is that?" Fez asked.

"Oh my... well, it looks as if you're about five weeks pregnant and your belly is already growing at a more rapid pace than it would with a normal pregnancy because that Mr. and Mrs. O'Neill are three babies on the screen." The doctor confirmed.

"I'm sorry... three!?" Lexi asked.

"Yes, you're going to be having triplets."

"Holy fucking shit!" Fez exclaimed as he gazed at the screen. He suddenly felt... extremely overwhelmed. He was going to be a father, but not just to one kid... to three kids!

Fez started breathing heavily as he tried to make sense of everything in his head, but Lexi touched his hand which caused him to calm down.

"It's okay Fez. We're gonna be great parents. Remember what we talked about. Remember what I told you? You're going to be an amazing father." Lexi said as she gazed into his eyes.

"You're gonna be such a great mom, Lexi. I mean it ma." He said before he kissed her on the cheek.

The doctor wiped the goo from Lexi's belly and Fez put his hand to her belly.

"Three of our babies in there... I honestly couldn't be more happier."

Lexi teared up as she smiled.

"Me too." She said as she put her hand on top of his.

Marie, Faye and Ashtray were all in the waiting room.

"So, is she like... dead? Oh my god did Lexi die?" Faye asked.

"No dumbass. Lexi's getting a checkup because she might be pregnant." Ash replied as he glared at Faye.

"Aw... a baby. That's so cute. When I get older, I want one." Faye said.

"Some people just don't need to have kids, hun. And you're one of those people." Marie said as she smoked her fourth cigarette of that day.

Fez and Lexi came into the waiting room after the checkup was over.

"So? What's the verdict?" Marie asked.

"You're gonna be a great grandma." Lexi said excitedly.

Marie immediately stood up, an incredulous look on her face before she took her cigarette out of her mouth, her arms dropping to her side as she stared at Lexi and Fez in disbelief.

"Holy fucking shit." She said.

Faye reached for the cigarette in between Marie's fingers and managed to get it and put it between her own lips, taking a drag from it.

"And that ain't all, we're havin' triplets." Fez revealed.

Now it was Ash's turn to speak.

"What the fuck!?" He shot up out of his seat.

"Triplets!? You fuckin' knocked her up that much to the point where we gon' be livin' with three of youse!? What the Hell!?" He yelled. Ash looked... insulted.

"Yeah, man. You gonna be an uncle three times over so you better get used to it."

"Fuck this!" Ash said as he stormed out of the waiting room.

Lexi was taken aback.

"I'm sorry about him Lex. He really don't like change in a short amount of time. He gotta get used to it though." Fez replied sheepishly.

"Yeah Fez, I get it. Let's just give Ash some space and time to digest everything." She said reassuringly.

"I'm happy for you kids. I really am. Hey blondie you ain't got nothin' to say?" Marie said as she turned around to look at Faye who oddly enough hadn't spoke.

"Uh, yeah... how are the babies gonna like, come out? Do they like, come out of your vagina at the same time or something?" Faye asked with a dumbfounded look on her face.

"I... don't think so. I... hope not. That sounds really... horrific." Lexi replied.

"Yeah Faye, that sounds like a goddamn horror flick, where the fuck did that come from?" Fez asked.

"Was just asking. Congrats by the way. Does that like mean I'm a godmother?"

"Nah, you gon be a auntie." Fez replied.

"Oh. Far out."

"Alright, let's get going. Our flight is in a few hours and I just want it to be over with." Lexi said as she started to walk out of the waiting room.

"Yeah, let's go." Fez said as he followed her alongside his grandma and Faye.

Ash was leaning against the car in the parking lot. Thinking over all these new changes in his head when his family got over to the car. After the doors were unlocked, everyone piled in.

He didn't speak, which slightly irked Fez.

"Bro, you ain't gonna at least congratulate us?" Fez asked as he pulled the car onto the highway.

Ashtray shrugged wordlessly as he looked out of the window.

"Come on man, use your fuckin' words. I know a cat ain't got your tongue."

Ashtray stuck his middle finger up at his brother.

"Ooh he stuck up the finger..." Faye said, slightly instigating as she popped a pill into her mouth.

"Ash, I know you sixteen, but quit actin' like a damn five year old for a sec! This is great fuckin' news. Ain't you happy?"

He finally spoke.

"Fuck no. First you get married, then she starts livin' with us, then you knock her up and we find out there's three of your kids in there, man! It's too fuckin' much!" Ash yelled from the backseat.

"Oh and not to fuckin' mention the fact we gotta go to Cincinnati of all fuckin' places to go and see her dumbass sister!" He added.

"Hey! No need to be a dick, Ash. Cool your fuckin' jets. Now." Marie demanded as she gave him a look.

"Thank you Marie... and Ash, all of this change... it could be a very good thing for you. Plus when we go to Cassie's party, who knows? You might meet someone there. That's change in and of itself." Lexi said.

"Yeah, you're right ma. What about Rue's little sister, the one you were lookin' at at the luncheon?" Fez mentioned.

"What!? I wasn't lookin' at her..." Ash mumbled.

"Yes you were, you couldn't take your fuckin' eyes off of her. What's the deal with that, bro? You wanna get married to her or somethin'?" Fez asked teasingly with a smirk.

"Oh shut the fuck up!" Ash said as he blushed.

"Ooh Ash has a crush!" Faye said excitedly.

"Can all of y'all shut up! Damn." Ash retorted as he sank down into his seat as everyone chuckled.

They had arrived on time for the flight. As usual, Lexi had been miserable on the flight until it finally landed in Cincinnati.

The O'Neill's got a cab and ended up at the hotel they had booked that afternoon. Marie would be staying in the same room as Fez and Lexi, while much to Ashtray's annoyance, he'd be sharing a room with Faye.

"I got somethin' for you, ma." Fez said to Lexi as he reached into his luggage.

He got out a fur coat.

"Oh my god! Fez!"

"Just like I promised baby. You like it?"

"Oh I love it! Thank you!" Lexi said as she tried it on, it fit perfectly.

"We gotta start getting dressed. Grandma?"

"Yeah, Snowflake?"

"Can you go next door and tell Ash and Faye to start getting ready? Tell em' to put their best fuckin' outfits on. We bout to go to that mansion lookin' fly as hell."

"Gotcha." Marie said as she left the room.

"What are you gonna wear?" Fez asked Lexi.

"You'll see." Lexi said with a smirk as she grabbed her bag that had her outfit in it. She gave Fez a quick peck on the lips before heading over to the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.

"Are we there yet?" Custer asked in the backseat as he took a hit from his bong.

"No, man! Now quit asking!" Ali said.

Elliot hated the fact that he wasn't driving and that Rue wasn't in the car. She was riding in the other car with her mom, her sister and Jules.

"We'll be there soon, Cus." Elliot replied.

"Hey man, you think that blonde junkie chick is gonna be there? The one with the big ass eyes and the big ass lips? I think her name was Faye." Custer said.

"Probably. Rue told me that Faye lives in Boston with the O'Neill's who might be coming to the party. You might see her. Why? You like her?"

"Yeah... she's kinda hot. In a... dumb junkie bimbo kind of way."

"You dudes got some strange taste in women." Ali said with a chuckle as he shook his head, switching lanes on the highway.

"Says the man who turned on the Ali charm on my fiancés mom last night." Elliot retorted.

"Hey man, Leslie isn't just a fox... she's a respectable woman who deserves more than charm. She needs a man like me to take her out and show her how respectable a man can be." Ali said.

"You? Respectable? Yeah, sure..."

"You can't be fucking talking Elliot. You had sex in the backseat last night with your fiancé, in her mama's driveway after one date. You're the last person to be talking about respectable anything!"

"What!? He fucked her!? Wait... in the... backseat? Ewwwww! Did you guys fuck right where I'm sitting!?" Custer asked frantically almost dropping his bong.

"Uhhh..."

"Fuck Elliot! That's disgusting! I don't wanna sit where you fucking came inside of her, man! Switch seats with me!"

"No! What are you nuts!? We're on the goddamn highway! I'm not switching seats with you! And for the record I didn't cum inside of her... I wore a condom you dumbass."

"Ooh yeah, like that makes it any better!" Custer yelled his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Fuck you, man!"

"Will the both of y'all shut the fuck up!? Almost made me miss my turn. Shut up and listen to the radio goddammit!"

Come Together by The Beatles came on the radio and Ali turned it up as he kept driving down the highway.

"That flower arrangement needs to be in the middle of the table." Cassie said as she pointed at the lilac and daisy arrangement.

Nate had hired party organizers to arrange and decorate the entire house for the party. Cassie decided to make herself useful by telling them what should go where and what looked good and what didn't.

"That's perfect." Nate said with a smile as he tightened his cufflinks as he came downstairs.

He kissed Cassie on the cheek as he admired the huge decorated living room.

"You did a great job. Now, go get dressed and I'll kick everyone out before our guests and the press get here. The outfit I picked out for you is hanging on the closet door."

"Okay, thank you daddy." Cassie said as she started going upstairs.

"Oh and Cassie?"

"Yes honey?"

"If you embarrass me at this party, you're going to be sorry." He warned with a cheerful tone before disappearing further into the living room.

Cassie gulped as she slowly made her way to their bedroom.

Her outfit was indeed where he said it would be and it was a light pink poodle skirt dress with white polka-dots and pink heels. It was very housewife-esque... and she loved it. A tear fell from her eyes as she went to the bathroom to put her dress on.

The guests and the press arrived at the house that evening. Nate was busy speaking to the press about what was possibly in store for the evening, while Cassie busied herself with greeting and talking to her family and friends. She couldn't help but notice however, that Lexi and the O'Neill's hadn't shown up yet.

"Did you invite your sister?" Suze asked her, she already had a glass of champagne that she was almost finished with and was eyeing her second glass.

"Of course I did, mom. It's her decision on if she even wants to come or not." Cassie replied.

"I just want you girls to get along. That's all I want."

Elliot, Ali and Custer had finally arrived and Elliot had started making out with Rue the second he saw her in the living room.

"Woah, okay when did they get cozy together?" Kat asked as she took a sip of wine as she spoke to Ethan, Maddy and Jules.

"She told me that he came over to her house the other day... I think they fucked." Jules said quietly.

Maddy almost choked on her caviar covered crostini.

"What the fuck!? Did she tell you they fucked or...?"

"No, but I think they did... why would she be so willing to makeout with him at a party?" Jules asked as she cut her eyes over at her friend who was still making out with Elliot.

"Are you jealous?" Kat asked as she raised a brow.

"What!? Me? No..." Jules said as she sipped her beer.

"Mhm..." Maddy replied as she gazed at Jules.

"I enjoyed our conversation yesterday." Ali said to Leslie as he gazed at her.

"I really enjoyed it too." She replied.

"I was wondering if you uh... wanted to go out sometime? Maybe get something to eat, so we can talk more?" Ali asked.

"I... think that would be a wonderful idea." Leslie said with a smile.

Marsha, Aaron and Cal had briefly mingled with the press before talking amongst themselves.

"Is his wife's sister and that ginger bastard gonna come to the party?" Aaron asked.

Marsha rolled her eyes wordlessly.

"No idea... but, I hope so." Cal said with a dark look on his face.

The speakers in the house started playing Miracles by Jefferson Starship.

"I just hope your sister shows up. Anyways I'm just... so proud of you sweetie. Being a wife is such a good look on you." Suze said as she got her second glass of champagne.

"Thanks mom." Cassie said as she smiled.

Nate walked over and hugged Suze.

"Mrs. Howard, it's great to see you. Are you enjoying the party?" He asked as he put his arm around her as the cameras snapped a picture of the two of them.

"Oh, definitely! Oh it's wonderful! Thank you for having me. Cassie, he's such a great guy! I love my son-in-law!" A tipsy Suze said as she hugged Nate.

Cassie stood there with a frown on her face... the friendly and obedient wife façade dropping from her face momentarily as she heard what her mother said.

She wanted to scream that he wasn't a good husband, that he was awful... but she couldn't. She knew she had to keep up appearances.

"Yeah, he's definitely the best husband I could have ever asked for. He's perfect." Cassie said with a grin that was plastered onto her face, before the cameras snapped a picture of her.

"Would you look at that shit? She looks like a fucking doll." Maddy said from the other side of the room as she watched Cassie and Nate.

"Yeah. I wonder why the hell the press is even here? What the fuck does he have up his sleeve?" Ethan said as he sipped his wine.

"Right? I don't fucking trust it." Kat said.

Rue and Elliot came over to them and sat down on the nearby couch.

"Where the fuck is Lexi? I thought she was coming?" Rue asked as she sipped her water.

"No idea. I haven't seen her or Fez's family or Fez yet." Jules replied.

"I hope that Fezco's brother comes too..." Gia said from her spot in the nearby corner.

"Why? You like him?" Rue asked with a smirk.

"No! I just... think he's interesting..." Gia said as she blushed.

"Ooh Gia has a crush!" Jules said.

"Shut up!"

Custer sat down near Elliot on the couch.

"You doing alright, man?" Elliot asked.

"Yeah, I'm not used to being in a big ass swanky house like this..." Custer replied as he looked up at the massive chandelier on the living room ceiling.

"Just don't fucking steal anything." Elliot warned.

"Alright, alright. I won't!"

The party was in full swing, everyone was talking, some guests were dancing when Janis Joplin's song Piece of My Heart blasted through the speakers.

"Come on, let's dance!" Jules said as she grabbed both Elliot and Rue's hands.

She started dancing as if no one was watching.

"Damn Jules, you really know how to bust a move." Elliot said with an impressed look on his face.

Rue was dancing as well and laughed a bit.

"Yeah, but I'm a better dancer." She said as she kissed Elliot's cheek.

All three of them laughed and landed on the couch as the song ended.

Meanwhile Cassie was at the bar, drinking some Coca-Cola when Maddy strolled up to her.

Angie by The Rolling Stones played over the speakers.

"Hey." Maddy said.

"Hi." Cassie replied.

"I just wanted to-"

"I don't wanna hear it. Whatever you have to say Maddy, I just... I don't wanna hear it."

"Why? Cassie... I'm your best fucking friend. Why won't you listen to me when I tell you that you're in danger and that Nate is no good for you?"

"Because you don't have my best interest at heart. You're always looking at the negatives when it comes to him... and... I just can't take it anymore. He's a good man. And you just can't see that."

Tears welled up in Maddy's eyes.

"Cassie, I've always had your best interest at heart. How could you say that shit? Everyone has always had your best interest at heart. Everyone except for the man you married. If he really had your best interest at heart, he wouldn't have hurt you. What's so difficult to understand about that? And honestly if there was anything good about him at all, then yeah I'd talk about the good things... but there isn't any. Not from where I'm standing anyhow."

Cassie shook her head and looked at Maddy with a sad yet exhausted look.

"You just don't get it. You don't understand me, or him, or our relationship. And... I don't have time to deal with that."

"Cassie. You're digging yourself into a deep fucking hole that you won't be able to dig yourself out of. And to say I don't get it? Remember when I literally ran to your house barefoot in the rain in the middle of the night with a black eye and a busted lip because Travis hit me in the face and pushed me down the fucking stairs? I'm lucky I got out alive that night. That's exactly where it's headed for you. And I'm trying to help you because I care about you, I'm your best friend, bitch." Maddy said with tears in her eyes as she gave Cassie a hurt look.

"Maybe you should stop caring about me then." Cassie responded with a cold gaze.

"What are you saying Cassie?"

"You and I... are done as friends. After tonight, I don't wanna see you again." Cassie said coldly.

Maddy looked at Cassie in shock.

"Fine. Have a nice life." Maddy said as she took a deep breath and went back over to the rest of their friends.

Tears threatened to fall from Cassie's face as she stared down at her Coca-Cola.

What the fuck had she just done?

How Many More Times by Led Zeppelin started to blast in the speakers.

Tonight was absolutely awful for her so far. She wished she wasn't pregnant so she could just get drunk... but Cassie's night would go from bad to worse when the doors to the mansion opened.

Cassie turned around in her seat at the bar in the living room, she could slightly hear the guests gasp as they turned their attention to the mansion doors while Robert Plant's voice in the song reverberated through the speakers.

Marie, Ashtray and Faye came into view first.

It was as if everyone watched the O'Neill's enter the mansion in slow motion.

Faye wore a loose fitting gold party dress with gold sandals and a gold necklace. Her hair was slightly messy and she smiled as she walked in.

Custer's jaw dropped and his eyes nearly popped out of his skull when he saw her.

Marie wore a white pantsuit with a white fedora and white platform boots.

Ashtray wore a zigzag pattern Polo shirt with black dress pants and a black suit jacket.

Gia simply couldn't stop looking at him from the corner she had been sitting in.

Then, Fez and Lexi walked in.

"Holy shit." Rue muttered as she spotted Lexi.

Nate noticed that the press stopped talking to him and was staring at... Lexi and Fez.

Nate stared daggers at Fezco from across the living room as he walked in.

Fezco briefly stared Nate down as he walked in with Lexi.

Fez wore a dark blue suit with a fuzzy long dark blue coat and white dress shoes. His chains clinking around his neck as he walked arm in arm with Lexi.

Lexi's hair was wavy but combed out down her back. She was wearing the expensive fur coat that Fez had given her, she then spun around once and threw her fur coat off to the side where the butler caught it.

Fez grinned as Lexi revealed her outfit to everyone.

It was a red floor length dress that showed off her right leg with the slit up the side, with red platform heels, red lipstick, red nail polish, and a diamond necklace around her neck.

As they walked in, Fez captured Lexi's lips in a brief yet passionate kiss before they continued onwards into the living room.

They were all smiles as Lexi's friends and intoxicated mother came over to greet her and Fez, as well as the press who wanted to take pictures of this gorgeous couple who they knew to be quite a wealthy couple in Boston and were now related to the Jacobs who were throwing the party in the first place.

Fez and Lexi posed for pictures and Lexi just so happened to make eye contact with Cassie, who was still sitting at the bar with her Coca-Cola across the room, staring at her sister with an unreadable look in her eyes and her lips slightly parted in disbelief.

The song was near it's end and Fez caught Lexi's attention again and Cassie turned back to her Coca-Cola before she gazed at the bartender.

"Give me a Piña Colada... heavy on the rum." She ordered with an unreadable gaze.

She needed something to deal with it all... after all, this was going to be a long night... a very long night...

Link to Part 1:

[wandaluvstacos]

THE ONLY SECONDS THAT MATTER

CHAPTER TWELVE IS UP!

Genre: Contemporary Romance Rating: 18+

Includes: Extensive horse nerdery + cowboys, mxm romance (1 trans + 1 cis), some discussion child abuse, some instances of trans/homophobia (it is rural Oklahoma, y'all), depression, occasional sex scene (but it’s a slow burn for sure)

Victor Ortiz-Bennett had some reservations about moving to Oklahoma, but his late aunt willed him a 70-acre horse farm, and he decides to fulfill his dream of running and operating his own training facility. Victor’s been around the reining horse show circuit for a while, and he’s ready to settle down, travel less, and spend more time with the horses he loves and away from the people he can do without. That is, until he picks up a horse at an auction with a bucking problem he can’t fix, and he has to take her to the one guy who can ride anything– Johnny Stearns, a retired professional rodeo rider.

Johnny Stearns is loud, chatty, eccentric, and fears nothing, exactly Victor’s opposite. However, Victor finds himself sinking into an odd friendship with this new foul-mouthed cowboy without a filter, diving deeper into the mess that is Johnny’s life until there’s no way to extract himself from it. Johnny may talk a tough game, but there’s more to him than he’ll let most people see. Victor knows getting in too deep will mean a rough ride, but if there’s anything Johnny’s taught him, it’s how to stay in the saddle.

Excerpt:

“Come to my office. Maybe we can chat a little there.”

Taylor followed Victor to his office. He left the door open so as not to seem inappropriate, then pointed Taylor to the couch.

“Can I stand instead?” Taylor said.

“If you want.” He sank down onto his desk chair, straddling the back of it and crossing his arms over the backrest. “Wanna tell me what’s up? Don’t say nothing, because I know that’s not true.”

Taylor squeezed her hands together, face pink. She refused to meet Victor’s eyes, which struck Victor as odd, considering how bold she usually was.

“Taylor? Come on, hon. Something is clearly wrong.”

“You can’t tell Uncle Johnny,” she whispered, eyes darting toward the open door. “He’ll get mad.”

“What is it?”

Suddenly tears rose up in Taylor’s eyes, and she started crying. Victor rose from his chair, and before he could even stretch out a hand, her arms were around his waist like tentacles, her face buried deep in his shirt. Christ. What had happened?

“I can’t ride!” she blurted through her sobs. “It’d hurt too much.”

Victor felt himself tense, and he placed a hand on Taylor’s shoulder to pull her back slightly. “What hurts?”

She sniffed and wiped at her nose with an arm until Victor grabbed a tissue from his desk and offered her that instead.

“I said some mean things to Mike,” she muttered miserably. “He got real mad and gave me a whooping.” She paused, flushing even redder before whispering, “On my butt.”

“Oh, honey.” Victor yanked Taylor back into a hug, and she started crying again. “When did this happen, hmm?”

“This—this morning,” she stuttered. “It still hurts.”

“Did he do it with his hand, or—”

“His belt.”

Victor sucked in a slow breath, trying to work the mess of emotions this admission raised. Most of it was rage born out of protectiveness. She wasn’t his kid, but Taylor was his student, and the only bruises his students got were the ones the horses put there. He was the last person to pick a fight, but for Taylor he might be willing.

[woozyvee]

part one: hand soap

　　　　　 ( hyunjin x female reader )

જ⁀➴ first part of the clean series

genre: strangers to lovers au, meet-cute.

word count: 1k

synopsis: the first thing you need if you're going to start washing yourself clean is regular, old soap. you meet someone who seems to have had a similar idea.

author's note: don't forget to read the prologue! i really hope y'all enjoy.

You need to pee.

Clumsily navigating your way through the inattentive bodies in the room, you manage to step into the hallway with a drunken stumble. A frown creases the skin between your brows as your heavy-lidded eyes land on the queue of wobbly party-goers outside the half-bath. Your thighs flex as if holding your pee inside you and you bite your lip at your situation. Before regarding the stairs ahead of you.

You remember that one of the guys who lives here, the one your friend likes (you think), said not to go roaming upstairs. But there is another voice that is much clearer in your ears at this moment - the voice of your tight bladder. So, with the ethanol of four beers racing through your veins, you do not even hesitate as you march your way up to the second floor.

It surprises you how much quieter it is up there, music seeming miles away as you carefully eye the doors surrounding you. Though, you quickly find the bathroom on your second try and feel smart as you slip inside.

After what feels like the longest pee of your life, you make sure to wash your hands thoroughly, vigorously rubbing the soap into your skin until all you see is bubbles. But as you rinse and dry, you notice with a sneer that the skin on your hands is getting dry, nowadays.

The thought is squashed as you get a whiff of something lovely and citrusy. Lifting your hands to your nose, you realize that it is the soap that you are smelling. With another inhale, you let out a sigh, somehow mesmerized by the fresh, sweet scent.

You must be drunker than you thought, you note in the back of your mind.

To your utter dismay, an impatient knock on the door ruins your moment, followed by a whiny “I need to piss, hurry!” You grimace, huffing irritably. Apparently, you are not the only one willing to break house rules.

Reluctantly, you let the impatient stranger inside and make your way downstairs again. But as you turn into the living room, it appears much more crowded and stuffy than you remember it being a while ago. Your eyes find the patio doors on the other side of the room and there is only a hint of a wobble in the steps you take to get there.

You welcome the chill of the outside as the doors slide shut behind you and take a seat on the small set of porch steps straight ahead. Without having to consider it, you press your hands to your face, eyes falling shut as you revel in the soap’s refreshing scent again. A pleased hum is sung into your skin, only to be interrupted by “what are you doing?”

Hands leaving your face, you turn your head to the right. A man stands there, leaned against the porch’s railing with a beer in his hand and a bag of corn snacks by his side. You vaguely remember greeting him earlier, his hair bleached blond where it lay framing his face, eyes dark and sharp as they watch you quizzically.

If you were not drunk, you are sure you would have blushed at being caught in your odd trance. But now your face is red with intoxication instead as you slowly move your hands to hide them in your armpits.

The man’s eyebrows shoot upward. When he understands you will not answer his question, he tries again, “so... what was all that about?”

Your eyes wander the backyard for a moment before meeting his stare again from under your heavy lids. “All what?” you ask, rubbing the grass beneath your feet with the soles of your shoes.

“Like, sniffing your hands like a schizo,” he says, as though it is obvious.

His voice is airy and nice to listen to, you notice. It suits him. Posture relaxed and demeanor soft, like his honeyed skin.

Eventually, you shrug your shoulders. “What hands?” you retort, palms still firmly pressed against your sweaty armpits.

The man scoffs, akin to a chuckle. Grabbing the bag of snacks, he moves to sit down beside you and you scoot over to let him. He sips his beer, then places it on one of the steps.

“Came out here to cool off?” he asks with what you think is curiosity in his eyes.

“Yeah, ‘s a damn sauna in there now.”

An agreeing nod makes the man’s hair sway prettily before he pops a couple of corn snacks in his mouth. His fingers are slender and long, decorated with touches of silver.

He catches your stare and seems to misinterpret it, because he asks, “want some?” and holds the bag out to you. You have only come halfway in reaching out to grab a piece or two when the bag is retracted away from you again. “Too bad you don’t have hands then.”

Confusion turns into distaste turns into amusement and you feel yourself roll your eyes and smile in time with his triumphant smirk. He is attractive, you realize. Really attractive.

You watch him shove a hand in the bag, which resurfaces with a couple of pieces pinched between its fingers. He lifts the pieces up toward your face until they are just barely grazing your lips. Obediently, you open your mouth and let him place them inside, the tip of his finger briefly touching your tongue as he does. You think that if it were not for your intoxication, the moment would have frazzled you more. Thank the gods for beer.

But there is something else you notice before he pulls his hand away to take another swig from his bottle. His hands smell like yours - that wonderful, comforting smell of lemon from the soap on the second floor.

A part of you wonders how he is interpreting your wide-eyed stare that is scrutinizing him so openly now and another part of you wonders how he should. But he only smiles at you, pretty and warm, tossing some more snacks in his mouth.

He lives here, you remember now. His name is Hyunjin.

copyright © 2024 woozyvee. all rights reserved.

[theharddeck]

except for maybe you, and your simple smile

Pairing: Jake Seresin x Julie Floyd (OC)

Synopsis: Hangman's girlfriend makes sure Jake is taken care of during Payback’s bachelor party, and the morning after, he decides to return the favor

Warnings: 18+, minors please DNI – starts out pretty fluffy, then it does devolve into smut and swearing, the usual (i.e. explicit freceiving!oral and PiV sex)

Length: 6.7k

A/N: I'm considering writing a holiday fic with Julie, so wanted to start bringing her over from ao3. if this goes well, i might cross-post their meetcute, so lmk if y'all want more! tldr Julie Floyd is Bob's older sister; they meet during TGM when they both go to the infirmary to check in on Bob and Phoenix after the training crash.

tagging: @peakyrogers @wildbornsiren @fuckyeahhangman @laracrofted (ik you’ve already seen it but still), @princessofglitterland @callsignvalley @daggerspare-standingby @almostgenerallyalways @jadore-andor @bioodforbiood @blue-aconite @winterrebel04 @gigisimsonmars and if you're not on the list but want to be, or the inverse, let me know!

read on ao3 instead

Which meant she alone bore tribute to the judges’ poor rationale on the GBBO.

Which meant she alone bore tribute to the judges’ poor rationale on the GBBO.

Which meant she alone bore tribute to the judges’ poor rationale on the GBBO.

Julie’s favorite baker had produced 46 macarons, just short of the requisite four dozen, which would be a valid criticism except she had made four dozen, but had startled into crushing two of them when another contestant dropped his kitchen aid on his foot. And now Xiomara was being voted off, because Paul Hollywood couldn’t appreciate the absolute genius that was a flight of macarons inspired by Camille Saint-Saens’ Carnival of the Animals , even if she was two short of perfection.

Julie was pulled out of her brooding by the vibrating of her phone on the bedside table. 

She checked the caller ID and sat up quickly, muting the TV as she answered the call. 

“Natasha? Everything okay?” she asked.

“Yeah, babe, all good,” Natasha shouted into the phone, over the clamor of a noisy bar. “Your boyfriend’s getting sloppy drunk; we found him feeding quarters into a decorative payphone, trying to call you, so here he is.”

There was a shuffling sound, and Julie relaxed back into the pillows against the headboard. Natasha sounded perfectly sober, but Julie had heard stories about how she could drink any of the guys under the table, so her friend’s voice wasn’t a tell of how far gone the others could be.

“Julia,” she heard a moment later, Jake’s voice making her smile. He was the only one who used her full name, but she’d decided years ago that she didn’t mind.

Or maybe that was just the power of a Texan accent.

“Hey, Hangman,” Julie said into the phone. “You having fun?”

“Phoenix is bullying me,” he said, and she heard him grunt as Natasha presumably swatted at him, before he turned away from her. “I think she’s a cyborg or something, Jules; she’s downing shots like they’re water.”

Julie shook her head. “Just make sure you’re drinking water, yeah? Let’s do our level best to keep the hangover at bay.”

There was a loud sigh, so close that it shorted out the microphone. “You’re so good at that,” Jake said, and he sounded cross.

“At what?” Julie asked, trying her hardest to keep her amusement out of her voice.

“Taking care of me,” Jake said, his voice somehow still put out.

“Why are you saying that like it’s a bad thing?”

“S’not,” Jake said, then he sniffed. “You’re just…very good.”

He was sweet when he was sentimental, like it snuck up on him. Jake was pretty good about compliments when he was sober, but it was always affirming to hear the guileless version when he was a little tipsy.

“I hear you’re pretty good too,” Julie reassured him, thinking that Jake was probably the only person she knew who could get away with having a catch phrase in real life.

“Course I am,” Jake responded immediately, then he paused as he thought it over. “But I’m good at things, you’re just decent. Like kind and shit.”

Julie smoothed the comforter, the white down feeling soft under her fingers, rippled around where her weight crumpled it. “We’re getting you there.”

Jake hummed a little, like he disagreed but didn’t want to say it. “I like when you say we’re a we.”

Julie pushed the wrinkles back the other way on the comforter. “We are, aren’t we?”

“I know, but I like it. It’s nice,” Jake paused. “I miss you.”

Julie stopped fidgeting with the comforter, surprised by the sweet longing in his voice. “Babe, you saw me like four hours ago,” she said gently.

“What happened to my feelings being valid?” Jake asked, candor replaced by petulance. 

“They are, of course,” Julie amended quickly. 

Jake huffed. “Well I miss you.”

“I’ll see you in a couple hours more, yeah?” Julie offered. “How’s that sound?”

“Good,” he said wistfully. “That sounds good. You’re so good, Julia, I mean it.”

Julie went back to the comforter. “You’re not so bad yourself,” she told him.

“See this is what I mean!” Jake said, annoyed again. “Just take the compliment, okay? It doesn’t have to be about me too.”

Julie tipped her head. “What happened to liking ‘we’?”

“Of course I like ‘we’,” Jake said, thinking. “I love you.”

Julie smiled. “I love you, too.”

“I love you too,” Jake said, and Julie could practically see everyone around him rolling their eyes. 

“Alright, Seresin, you get back to having fun, okay?” she told him.

Jake sighed, like he was steeling himself for a daunting task.

“Okay,” he agreed. “Well, not okay, but I’ll try. The guys won’t let me play pool.”

“Bastards,” Julie said, loyally.

“It’s okay; the sticks are awful sharp, did you know? They are,” he said solemnly, and the background noise got louder as someone pulled his attention away from the phone. “Oh, hey, Fanboy. Yeah, it’s Julia. Now, wait–-”

There was a rustling sound on the other end, which Julie assumed was Mickey fighting the phone away from Jake. She waited for it to stop, and then a moment later heard the wizzo’s voice on the line.

“Julie, your boyfriend’s bringing this down,” Mickey complained. “At this rate, he’ll be tapping out in an hour.”

Julie didn’t think Mickey sounded 100% either, but she wasn’t about to say it.

“Do me a favor and keep him vertical,” she said instead, and she heard Mickey snort. 

“Anything for my second favorite Floyd,” he rejoined.

Julie shook her head, reaching over to grab the binder inside the nightstand, flipping pages till she found room service.

“Alright, I’ll take the hint and sign off,” she told Mickey. “Have a reasonable amount of fun, okay?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Mickey said. “Here’s Phoenix.”

There was a shuffling as the phone was passed back, and Julie heard Natasha’s longsuffering sigh before she put the phone up to her ear.

“All the men I love are lightweights,” Natasha said. “What are we gonna do about that?”

Julie laughed quietly. “Are they lightweights, or are you superhuman, Nat?”

“Now you sound like Jake,” she said, and Julie could hear the grin on her friend's voice. “At this rate, we’ll be home before 2am. Call you if anything changes, but don’t wait up, okay?”

“Okay,” Julie agreed. “Make good choices.”

“Don’t I always,” Natasha said, and she hung up. 

Julie put the phone back on the side table, a small smile on her face as she looked around the room. 

That group was special. Some of them went back to their first pass through Top Gun, some of them had first met when they were trained by Captain Mitchell, but their friendship was sweet to get to witness. Julie knew Robbie was disappointed to miss out on this weekend, but he was needed at Lemoore and had negotiated for the week of Reuben’s wedding off.

Julie checked the amount of time left in the episode, then the finale, then took a quick break to order room service. If she was going to watch more minor atrocities be committed for the sake of British baking, it was going to be accompanied by hotel-made creme brulee.

----

Julie hadn’t meant to fall asleep, but between the sugar of the dessert and the soothing accents on her screen, she blinked awake in the bright lights of the room. There was something else too…

A moment later, she heard it again, the beeping of the room key reader, as it declined entry. Julie rolled off the bed pulling her sweatshirt over her thumbs and padding over to the door, to check the peephole. 

It was nearly covered by brown hair and through the door, Julie could hear Jake muttering, coaching himself through opening the door. 

The reader beeped again and Julie waited until she heard weight shift away from the door before opening it slowly. 

Jake startled, hands coming out for balance as the hallway moved around him. He was weaving slightly, not enough for monumental concern, and Julie waited for him to gain his bearings and find her. 

“Julia,” he grinned broadly, relieved. “I think our door is broken.”

Julie looked down to where he was pressing his credit card against the hotel room door, the reader determinedly showing red as it waited for the room key. “We’ll call the desk in the morning, get them to come check it out.”

“I guess,” Jake frowned, doubtful, then looked back up at her. 

Julie held out a hand, opening the door further to pull him back into the room. Jake took her hand as he walked by her, but then he raised her arm over her head.

Julie let him lead her into a twirl, knowing they looked absolutely ridiculous in the hallway. She, barefoot in pajama shorts and a sweatshirt, Jake in a button down, jeans, and the cowboy boots he wore on principle when he was out of uniform. Smiling stupidly, moving gracelessly, but Jake looked pleased when she centered back on him, and so she was okay with it.

“Hey, darlin’,” he said, voice lower closer, proud of himself for the move.

“Sugar,” Julie teased, always amused when Jake’s Texan came out stronger when he was a little out of it.

She closed the door behind them, but Jake didn’t let go of her hand, pulling her back to him, their arms settling around each others’ waists. Jake was still weaving, but in context, it felt almost like dancing. Side to side between feet, stomachs and hips close together, quiet in the bright lights of the room. Julie tilted her head to rest her chin on Jake’s shoulder. He was just taller than her barefooted, and the boots helped a little, as they turned in a slow circle in the entryway.

“We should go line dancing,” Jake said, his voice rumbling through his chest. He was warm, his shoulders heavy and chest broad against her, and he felt soft, relaxed.

“In Chicago?” Julie asked, swaying along with him. 

“In Chicago,” Jake scoffed. “Absolutely not.”

“Alright,” Julie agreed, trying not to laugh, “location to be determined at a later date. Want to take your boots off?”

Jake looked down, seemingly surprised to find them still on his feet.

“Yeah, okay,” he said, and dropped his arms immediately. 

He moved over to an ottoman in the entryway, sitting widely and leaning down to pull off his boots. Julie stayed near the door, watching him. 

For all his arrogance when she’d first met him, this version of him always seemed the closest to real. Honest and bumbling, dutifully following instructions, twirling her because he could, dancing because he wanted to. With his thighs spread and hands tugging at the leather, Julie thought she could see him a century ago, coming home to a ranch in Wyoming, after a cattle drive. 

Of course, in that image, she’d have an apron instead of pajama shorts, and a kitchen instead of a nursing degree.

Jake lined his boots up carefully and looked back up at her.

“I smell like a bar,” he announced.

Julie pressed her lips together. “That does track, yes.”

“I’m gonna shower,” he said, nodding determinedly.

“Sounds good,” Julie said. She needed to get ready for bed anyway, so she could keep an eye on him.

“Don’t fall asleep without me, okay?”

Julie looked back at him at his simple request, worry clear on his face. 

He was drunk enough that she hadn’t planned on leaving him unattended near a running tap, or pushing for anything other than sleep. But the sweetness in his ask settled over her, and she smiled softly. 

She crossed over to him, cupping the side of his face with her hand. When he was on duty, Jake kept himself clean-shaven, but on weekends like this, or ends of weekends like this, he was a bit of a scratchy scruff going, and it was rough against her palm. One of Jake’s hands circled her wrist and he turned his head to press against the inside of it, waiting for her answer. 

“Take a shower, Dallas,” she told him. “I’ll wait for you.”

He smiled, a simple thing that turned the corners of his mouth up slightly and he nodded. He pushed himself to his feet, weaving slightly before he regained his balance and started towards the bathroom. 

Julie stopped by his suitcase to grab pajama pants and a Longhorns tshirt before following him. Her toiletries were already on the counter and she left Jake’s clothes on the commode. She brushed her teeth, keeping an eye on her boyfriend through the frosted glass of the shower doors, then washed her face. By the time she’d made it to the serum portion of her skincare routine, Jake was simply standing under the shower spray, water running over his body, his rote actions completed.

“How we doing in there?” she asked, and Jake jumped.

“Uh, good,” he said, rolling his shoulders. “Good. Almost done.”

“Take your time,” Julie said reassuringly, leaning back against the countertop as she worked the serum in with a jade roller.

A couple minutes later, the tap turned off, and as Jake pulled the towel off the top of the shower door into the stall with him, Julie let herself out of the bathroom to give him some privacy. She kept the door cracked, of course, so she could hear if anything happened, but moved the creme brulee dishes and tray from the bedside table, clearing the area. 

Jake was humming Jingle Bells as he brushed his teeth, a habit he normally kept inaudible, to get him to two minutes. Julie flipped off the overhead lights, leaving on the headboard light on Jake’s side as she turned down the covers. As she slipped under the comforter, she heard Jake opt up for the final “one horse open sleighhhh”. 

A minute later, Jake stood silhouette in the bathroom light, pausing as he looked into the room. His hair was obviously towel dried, sticking straight up at the crown of his head, none of his normal styling methods implemented. It was an endearing effect, especially combined with the rumpled pajamas. 

“Come over,” Julie said, flipping the edge of the comforter open. Thankfully, her nap earlier hadn’t been deep enough that she now didn’t want to sleep, but she was sure Jake was more tired than he was aware.

Jake flipped off the light and ambled over to the bed, dropping heavily into it.

“No, you come over,” he mumbled, holding open an arm. 

Julie smiled to herself, rolling over towards him. “You’re not gonna get that light are you?” she asked. 

“What light?” 

When she looked up at him, Jake’s brow was wrinkled in confusion, and his eyes were very much closed. Julie lifted herself over him, flipping off the light before tucking herself back into his side.

“There ya go,” Jake said, sounding very pleased with himself for someone who didn’t do anything.

“There you go,” Julie repeated into his chest. Jake’s tshirt was a little damp from the humidity in the bathroom, but she could feel the warmth of him through it, and, relaxed like this, he felt so comfortable.

“Thanks for fixing the broken door,” Jake mumbled, craning his neck to press a kiss to the top of her forehead.

“Of course,” Julie whispered back. “Did you have a good time?”

“Yeah,” Jake said, breaking off in a yawn. “Drank water too, like you said.” 

Julie patted his chest consolingly. “Well done, babe.”

“Thank you,” Jake yawned again. “Night, darlin’.”

Julie smiled in the darkness, knowing he couldn’t see. “Goodnight, sugar.”

Her eyes drifted shut as she heard Jake’s breathing even out, the steadiness of his heartbeat like a simple lullaby as sleep washed over them both.

-----

Sunlight filtered softly through the sheer curtains, casting the room in a gentle warm light, and Julie blinked awake. She lay still for a moment, following the narrow beam of light from between where the two curtains almost met, a ray of sunlight across the bottom of the bed. She could feel Jake’s breath against her neck, uneven enough for her to know he was awake before she turned around to face him. 

He let go of her as she rolled over, but his hand returned to her waist when she settled. His thumb stroked lightly underneath the hem of her sweatshirt, brushing a little half moon over her skin. Julie settled onto the pillow, their noses just a breath apart, and she couldn’t help but smile at him. 

His green eyes were bright in the morning light, his mussed hair stuck up in an unkempt pattern, and Julie reached up to smooth it down. Jake’s eyes fluttered slightly when her nails met his scalp, and she ran her fingers through his hair to settle it, 

“Hey,” Julie whispered.

“Hey,” Jake said back, his voice scratchy, and Julie smiled at the rough texture of it. “How’d you sleep?”

“Good,” Julie ran her hand down the back of his head, curling around the back of his neck. “I think we need to get better sheets for the apartment.”

Jake smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “I knew splurging on the hotel was gonna cost me more than the weekend.”

“You and me both,” Julie sighed, stretching a little. “What about you–-did you sleep okay? How’re you feeling?”

Jake hummed. “Someone reminded me halfway through the night that I should be drinking water. Saved me a hell of a hangover, I think.”

Julie scratched lightly at the hair at the nape of his neck. ��She sounds like a genius.”

“Definitely that,” Jake agreed. “She also waited up to make sure I got in okay, and that I didn’t drown myself in the shower.”

“She should probably be nominated for sainthood,” Julie prompted, but then she couldn't keep up the charade. “I have a confession.”

“That’s thematic,” Jake said.

“I didn’t wait up for you, not at first. I fell asleep watching Great British Bakeoff, and woke up when the door kept beeping because you were trying to open it with your credit card instead of the room key”

Jake laughed, and Julie lifted herself off his chest to look at him. 

God, he was handsome. 

Such a classic, silly, word, but it fit him. Fit his charm and his ease, his straight teeth and stubborn chin, and how he’d just woken up and his hair was barely finger-combed, but he still looked like something gorgeous.  

He calmed down, face pressed into the pillow across from her, and under her sweatshirt, his fingers stilled. 

“Ah, Julia,” he said, his voice somehow still scratchy. “You can’t look at me like that.”

Julie rolled her eyes, pulling her hand away from his hair to press it over her eyes. “Take it up with your pretty face; it’s not my fault.”

She heard him laugh again, quieter this time, and then he pulled her hand away from her face. He didn’t let go of her wrist, circled by his fingers, and the hand on her waist pushed further under her sweatshirt, spreading over the skin there. 

“Either way,” Jake said quietly, his eyes intent. “Thank you.”

Julie licked her lips. “For what?”

Jake’s eyes crinkled, but his mouth barely moved into a smile. “You answered when Phoenix called, and we yelled at you like lunatics in the middle of Clark Street. You got out of bed to let me in, and waited up after that, to make sure I was okay.”

Julie sighed, wishing Jake understood those weren’t monumental acts of kindness, as much as they were things people did when they cared. And he knew she cared, but he seemed to forget how much. 

“That’s my job, honey,” Julie said softly.

Jake was still for a moment, and the lines around his eyes deepened before he leaned across the pillow to kiss her. Julie smiled at the first brush of his lips over hers, soft and careful, just quick appreciation. After a moment, he went to pull back, but Julie followed him. Jake’s hand tightened on her waist as her body pressed against his, and he kissed her slow and deep, until the world felt like maple syrup around them.

“Always taking care of me,” Jake murmured against her skin. His stubble scraped against her face as he nudged her chin up with his nose, tipping Julie’s head back. She swallowed heavily as he kissed her neck, a slow press of lips and a tease from his tongue before he moved on to a new spot. “I think it’s my turn now.”

“Tor what?” Julie asked, her voice sounding breathless, which Jake seemed to appreciate. He blew out a slow breath, cool air over a spot he’d just licked, and Julie shivered.

“To take care of you,” Jake said against her skin. His lips closed over her and Julie bit back a whine as she felt the pressure of his mouth and the carefulness of his words at her core.

“I told you it’s not like that,” Julie managed to say, carding her hands through his hair. When she pulled lightly, he sucked a little harder and Julie gasped.

Her hand fell from his hair to his shoulders, pulling him closer to her. She wanted his weight, more pressure, more of him, and when he let her lead him, she felt his chuckle through his chest. Jake shifted, obliging, his strong thighs on either side of hers, and the hand at her waistband moved over her stomach and down. 

“I know,” Jake said soothingly, his fingers skimming across her hip bone, over her underwear. “But I want to anyway. Will you let me?”

Julie looked up at him, his broad shoulders and his tan skin, bright eyes and morning hair, and shook her head. 

“Why’d you have to bring reciprocity into it?” she asked.

Jake raised an eyebrow. “So you’re saying you don’t want me to…” he trailed off as his fingers dipped below the hem of her Calvin Kleins. His hand brushed over smooth skin and dense hair before his broad palm settled warmly over her core. His thumb rubbed lightly over the inside of her thigh, but his palm settled, cupping her.  

Julie’s hips canted up of their own volition, wanting more pressure, more friction. Jake didn’t move though, just stayed, waited, eyes laughing, as Julie willed her body to still. 

“Need something, darlin’?” Jake teased.

Julie scowled at him. “Why do you have to be so smug about it?”

Jake shrugged lightly, his thumb continuing its maddening pattern inside her thigh. “Why do you have to be so principled about it?”

He rolled his hips slightly, pushing his hand more firmly against her, but still not moving beyond giving her more of his weight.

“Come on, Julia,” Jake whispered. He braced himself on his elbow before leaning down to kiss her, pulling away almost as soon as she rose to meet him. He kissed her jaw, her neck, and she felt his lips curl into a smile over his teeth as he pulled back again. Julie realized she was grinding up against the hand he was insisting on keeping still, and she pulled at his hair to bring him back to her mouth.

Jake inhaled sharply as he kissed her, his lips soft and hungry and Julie loved that she could feel his chest expanding with his breath as he moved over her. He pushed his torso off of her, their noses touching, their lips a breath away, and Jake’s eyes were dark as they traced over her face. His hand lifted, his thumb moving up to brush over her clit, and Julie jolted at the contact.

“You’re so beautiful like this,” Jake murmured. He moved his thumb again, and Julie shuddered as he circled over her. 

“Jake-–” she started, breaking off as he pulled back.     

“Please,” he said, determinedly, and his middle finger traced along her slit. Julie gasped as he dragged his finger through the wetness there, and Jake groaned quietly. “Let me taste you here, Jules.”

How the hell was she supposed to say no to that?  

Julie nodded mutely, rewarded by the nearly canine smile that Jake’s mouth curled into. 

“Thank you, baby,” Jake breathed, leaning down to kiss her again before pushing himself off of her. He settled back on his thighs, kneeling around hers, and his hands smoothed down her sides before grabbing the waistband of her shorts and underwear. 

“Lift,” he commanded quietly, and Julie lifted her hips off the bed so he could pull them off of her. “Good girl.”

Julie pressed her lips together, not even pretending that his praise didn’t affect her. They both knew it did, he loved that it did, and so it worked out pretty great all around.

Jake pressed her back to the bed with a hand over her stomach, fingers splayed and pressure steady. With his other hand, he reached for one of her knees, guiding it down towards the mattress, and Julie’s legs opened. Jake made a sound low in his throat, looking down at the apex of her thighs, and his hand on her stomach drifted down over her thigh to the same spot just above her knee.

“So pretty,” he said quietly, almost to himself, and Julie blushed. It wasn’t like she was bashful at this point in their relationship, but his frank appreciation still felt like it set her skin aflame. Jake slid off the end of the bed, his grip on her legs turning so he could grasp the back of her knees, and he pulled her sharply to the edge of the bed. He knelt then, his face so close to the core of her, and when he blew out a shaky breath, Julie felt it against her.

“Jake, please-–”

“No, baby,” Jake said, his voice quiet and steady. He pressed a slow kiss to one of her thighs, then the other, ignoring the place where she was aching for him. His mouth was soft and warm, his jaw scratchy from his beard, and he rubbed his chin against her thighs like he was getting comfortable. “You almost didn’t let me down here, and now you want to tell me how it goes? I don’t think that’s how it works.”

He was so close, she could practically feel his words against her skin, but he still didn’t touch her, the sweetest torture. Julie’s hips rose and Jake’s grip on her thighs tightened slightly, pressing her deeper into the mattress. 

“Say please, angel,” he said quietly, and Julie felt his words past her skin, in her blood, her breath catching.

“Please, Jake,” she breathed, and he made a sound in the back of his throat, like a purr. 

“That’s my girl,” he murmured, and then he leaned into her. 

God, his tongue. 

Julie’s head fell back as he licked up her center, tongue flat and broad as he spread her with it. He made that low sound again, like approval and hunger, and he licked her. Slow like he wasn’t in a hurry, like he wanted to savor her, like he knew it would drive her crazy. He pulled back, teasing her with light kisses and Julie’s back bowed away from the bed when his tongue found her clit. He sunk into her, and she parted for him, succumbed, accepted and wanted and needed him. 

“Fuck, sweetheart,” Jake whispered against her skin, and Julie looked down at him when he pulled back. He brushed his thumb across his lower lip, “You taste damn good.”

He lowered that hand to her, teasing her opening, and Julie’s eyes fluttered touch at the lightness of that touch. As his mouth returned to her clit, his finger traced through her folds, soothing and searching. 

“Jake,” Julie moaned as his mouth laved over her, “you feel so good, please, I need–-”

She broke off as he pressed his finger into her, sitting back on his heels to look at her. His eyes were dark and he lifted his chin, panting, watching her. Julie could see his chest rising as he steadied his breathing, his tongue darting out to wet his lips and, fuck, taste her while he looked down at her. 

“I know,” Jake said, voice low. “I always know, don’t I?”

“Yes,” Julie whispered, and it was true. He eased another finger into her, slow and steady, stretching her gently. 

“That’s it, sweetheart,” Jake said, his accent thickening as he looked over her. “Open up for me.”

Julie shuddered when he moved his wrist, curling his fingers inside her. The stretch of him felt heavenly, grounding, and when his mouth returned to her clit, Julie whimpered. 

Jake worshipped her with his mouth, worked her with his fingers, and she heard his breathing grow ragged again as he pleasured her. Pressure built in her core, low and pulsing, driven by the stroke of his fingers and the pull of his tongue and Julie felt her thighs start to tremble.

Jake pulled back, chest heaving, his breath warm against her. 

“Fuck, sweetheart, it’s so pretty,” he murmured, his fingers pressing deeper into her and wringing a cry out of Julie. “That’s it, angel, look how well you’re taking me.”

Julie’s hips stuttered at his words, arching up into his hand as he worked her. No matter how far gone she was, Jake could always push her farther with his words, running over her like a caress, like velvet. His fingers brushed against a deep part of her and Julie’s back bowed off the bed as she cried out.

“Shit, Jake,” she moaned, reaching blindly for him. Her hand found his shoulder, and she traced up the curve of his neck, burying her fingers in the hair at the nape of his neck. 

Jake groaned when she pulled, and she felt the mattress shift as his hips jerked forward, unintentional. The motion sent a jolt of clarity through Julie’s pleasure-addled brain and she opened her eyes, looking down at the man on his knees between her legs. 

“Babe,” she whispered, and Jake hummed, looking up at her. The vibration rocked through Julie, almost as devastating as his eyes, glittering and hungry, while his mouth was buried in her. 

“What do you need, sweetheart?” he rumbled against her, and Julie’s thighs clenched at the gravel in his tone. She bit her lip, fighting off the rising waves, holding on to him. 

It was good, so fucking good, but she wanted more, needed him closer, needed him with her.

“I want you to come with me, babe,” she said. 

Jake grunted, but he didn’t move from between her legs, his tongue tracing over her, sucking hard enough to make Julie’s eyes snap shut as she shuddered.

“Jake,” she moaned, “I want it with you, I want to feel you–-”

Jake increased the pressure of his fingers, thrusting into her and cutting off her words. And Julie knew what he was doing, wanted to see her finish first, the stubborn man, and she’d be more upset about it if it didn’t feel like the best fucking thing.  

Unfortunately for him, she was pretty stubborn, too. 

She untangled her hand from his hair, reaching down to wrap around his wrist. His hand stilled and he looked up at her through the hair falling in his face; though her body was screaming in frustration, Julie’s heart warmed when his sweet eyes met hers. 

“I need you, Jake,” she whispered, a different tactic. “So fucking bad, please.”

Jake shuddered, his shoulders tensing at her words and his hips jutted forward towards the bed. 

“Jules, I want you to–-”

The distance he needed to speak was enough for Julie to wiggle out of his grip. She slid back, quickly, up the bed, reaching into the nightstand for a condom and tossing it back down the bed.

“And what I want,” she rolled over onto her stomach, heard Jake groan as she pushed back from the headboard, “is to come on your cock.”

“Jesus, Jules,” Jake muttered, a million things on his voice. She heard the foil tearing and Julie rocked back on her hips, aching, empty.

“Ah, sweetheart, I can see you from here,” Jake groaned. “Dripping for me, aren’t you?” 

Julie looked over her shoulder, intending to say something provocative, but her words failed at the sight of him. In the time she’d been at the front of the bed, Jake had peeled off his tshirt and stepped out of his pajama pants. His legs were spread, strong thighs flexing as he rolled the condom over his length. He grunted when he reached the base, his hand pumping over himself once more, thick and hard.

Julie’s mouth actually watered.

“Come on, Lieutenant,” she breathed, swaying her hips. “Let’s have it.”

Jake licked his lips, fisting his cock once more, but he didn’t crawl up the bed. Instead, he walked around the side of it, step slow and cock hanging heavy. When he got up to the headboard, he reached across the bed, hand tracing down the side of Julie’s face before fisting the hair at the nape of her neck. He pulled and she turned to him as his mouth sought hers like he was starving. She tasted herself on his lips, on his tongue, whimpered as he thrust into her mouth. Her body hummed, still desperate from the denied high, and she moaned in relief when she felt Jake shifting to climb onto the bed.

His body was warm, taut with tension, and he let go of his grip on her hair to reach under her sweatshirt to palm her breasts. Julie gasped when his fingers found her nipples, smoothing over her as he groped her, graceless, perfect. They were past finesse, hungry for as much skin as possible, and she pressed backwards into him. Jake released her to pull off her sweatshirt, and guided her back down to the bed with a hand pressed to the small of her back. His body came down on top of her, delicious weight that made Julie want to combust, purr, dissolve into the bedding or into him. She moaned when she felt the outline of his dick against her thighs, and Jake smoothed her hair away from the side of her neck so he could suck on the skin there. 

“You ready for me, angel?” he whispered into her neck and Julie whimpered, nodding quickly. 

She needed him, could feel how desperately empty she was without him, and when he pressed his head against her center, Julie thought she might sob in relief. 

He eased his cock into her. 

It was impossibly slow, deep and inescapable, and Julie’s mouth hung open as Jake kept pushing. Refusing a rhythm, or friction beyond entrance, stretching and filling her and Julie didn’t realize he thighs were shaking until Jake pushed himself onto his elbows, reaching down with a wide hand to smooth over her legs, whispering as he pushed in. 

“You’re doing so good for me, baby,” he kissed her hair, the back of her neck, her shoulder. “Look at you, taking all of me, like this.”

“Jake,” Julie whispered, almost sobbed, heat coiling through her body. He was everywhere, over and around and in her, steady and strong and so fucking big and rocking home.

“I'm right here, sweetheart,” he whispered, jaw clenched tight as he waited for her body to adjust to him. “You’re doing so fucking good, baby, you feel perfect.”

Julie reveled in his touch, in his words, warm and dirty and perfect. She wanted more. She shifted her hips and Jake cursed as she moved, before his hands snaked down to grip her waist. He rolled his hips and he pressed deeper into her, pulling back before stroking into her, and pleasure threaded through both of them. Jake’s breath strained as he fucked into her, pulling her hips into him and driving impossibly deep.

He groaned her name, and Julie’s core clenched; this was what she’d wanted what she’d chased. Needed him this close, wanting her this bad, driving into her. She felt unmoored, starved, her fingers digging into the comforter as she pushed back to meet him, hips moving to the rhythm he set.

“Baby,” Jake choked, “you can’t...you feel...wait--” 

He reached down for her hair again, pulling, and Julie pushed herself off the bed. He lifted her against his chest, sitting back on his thighs, thrusting up into her as he reached between her legs.

Julie cried when he brushed over her clit, his forearm banding across her chest, forging their bodies together like he was just as desperate for this closeness. He rutted up into her, rubbing and pressing and as Julie felt herself going boneless, Jake growled.

“So that’s what you needed, angel, huh?” he ground into her, holding her at the highest point, breath hot against her shoulder, “to get this cock so deep your body forgets how to do anything but take it?”

Julie writhed in his lap, his words and his body driving her higher and the room swam. She was melting, tightening, desire pulsing through her and he kept on. 

“Fuck,” Julie cried, her head falling back over his shoulder. “Jake, babe, please, I’m so close…” 

“I know, sweetheart,” Jake ground, kissing her neck. His tongue laved over her skin as he rocked the bed with his thrusts. “Give it to me, come on now.”

Julie moaned and Jake bit down lightly at her pulse point and she shattered. Her vision blurred as she shivered, trembling at the force of pleasure he wrung out of her. She felt tears leaking from the corners of her eyes from the force of it, beautiful and relentless and the hot pulses of it wracked her as she lay back on Jake’s chest.

“That’s it,” Jake breathed. “It’s so good, you’re so good, fuck, baby-–”

Jake’s thrusts sped up, his thighs slapping against hers as he chased his own release. He pumped into her frantically, still working a finger over her to coax her through her orgasm and Julie felt him jerk when she whimpered his name. He came with a shout as he thrust into her, choking on his breath and Julie felt him pulsing as he came hard. Her core was throbbing, aching and satisfied but she curled her hips, milking him, and Jake moaned as she pulled out his orgasm. His chest heaved under her, and they stayed locked together, trembling, working out their pleasure in each others’ bodies. 

Julie came out of it first, slowly becoming aware of Jake’s hands smoothing over her thighs and around to the curve of her ass, soothing himself and her. She rolled her head off his shoulder, craning around to kiss his cheek. 

“Well done, Dallas,” she whispered, and he chuckled warmly, nestling into the curve of her neck. 

“Have I told you lately how perfect you are?” he mumbled into her neck.

Julie smiled softly; it did feel pretty perfect. “Not today,” she told him. “But I forgive you.”

Jake snorted, leaning back so they could stretch across the bed. Julie rolled over to face him fully, and Jake fixed her hair so she wasn’t lying on it, and then sighed as he relaxed into a pillow.

“Julia Floyd,” he said somberly, eyes closed and lips curled up into the most endearing smile. “You’re fucking perfect.”   

Julie leaned across the pillow to kiss him. He caught his breath and she felt his thumb graze over her cheekbone before she pulled back. 

Jake grinned, a smile like sunlight as his eyes crinkled. His hand curled up to tuck some of her hair behind her ear, and he sighed, something deep and happy, a sound Julie wished she could always hear with him.

“Love you,” she whispered.

Jake smiled. “Love you more,” he said back. 

It was a perpetual disagreement, but when he pushed out of bed to fetch her a warm washcloth and order room service of espresso and chocolate croissants, Julie found herself hoping that that was a disagreement they’d have for decades to come.

[daisydeacks]

Jim Hopper Comfort Blurb 

Jim Hopper x Reader

A/N: my first attempt at hopper, dippin my toesies in for writing him. hope y'all enjoy :,)  it’s just fluff, comforting. that sort of thing. very short. sorry in advance to my jackass followers

It was late when pounding knocks came from your front door. You were already in bed, your dog Peanut curled up at your feet. You had been sleeping, almost curled up on your side on one side of the bed. You didn’t hear the pounding at first; you were a deep sleeper in the winter. Something about the cold kept you knocked out until your morning alarm. 

The feeling of Peanut jumping jumping off of your bed followed by her barking had woken you out of your slumber. You muttered intelligible words under your breath as you forced your eyes open, blinking as you tried to adjust to the darkness. You weren't sure what time it was. The first thought to cross your mind was “well, you can just go back to bed and let her bark, it won’t matter if you sleep in. You have tomorrow off!” 

You almost did succumb to your half asleep thoughts before the sounds of knocking echoed throughout the house and to your bedroom again. You groaned loudly this time, throwing your blankets off of you and storming through your hallway and down the stairs towards the front door, ignoring the cold floor under your bare feet. You reached a hand for the lock before you stopped, finally realizing it was the middle of the night. Who would be knocking in the middle of the night?

“Y/N?” A familiar voice was heard through the door, your dog now staring intently where the door would open, her tail swishing back and forth. Hopper?

“Jim?” You frowned now, finally unlocking the door and swinging it open. The golden retriever quickly bolted to the tall man, tail wagging as she sniffed at his boots. Your frown quickly dissipated at the sight before you moved aside, letting Hopper into your home. “Why are you knocking? I gave you a key, silly.” You gave him a small smile, closing the door once your dog followed him in. 

“I-” Jim frowned, looking down at his keys in his hand before his regular tough facade went soft. “Yeah, you did.” He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as his eyebrows furrowed. “Shit, I’m sorry-” 

“No, don’t.” You cut him off, reaching up to help him out of his coat. He took his hat, setting it on a hook by the front door you had hung specially for him. You hooked his heavy coat over your arm, brushing a few wrinkles out before looking up at him in the dimly lit entryway. You could see his eyebrows knit with stress. 

“What’s wrong?” 

“Huh?” Jim snapped out of whatever thoughts he was stuck in, eyes tired. 

“I asked what’s wrong?” You frowned a bit now, reaching your free hand up to brush a few strands of hair out of his face. You cupped his jaw once his hair was out of his face, thumb brushing over his cheekbone. 

Hopper’s eyes fell shut at the feeling, his shoulders sagging a bit as he leaned into your touch. “Do you ever feel like you’re cursed? Like you're destined to be the reason horrible shit happens all the time?” 

Your face softened at his words. It had obviously been a rough day at work for him. “Sometimes.” You answered truthfully, voice quiet. This caused Jim’s eyes to open and meet yours, his expression a bit curious. “But it’s not the...destined to be the reason sort of thing. It’s the..” You sighed, trying to think of the right words. You dropped your hand from his face, moving to the closet to hang his jacket. 

Jim trailed behind you, finally kicking his boots off near your door and making sure it was locked. The two of you started walking up the stairs, Peanut seeming to race the two of you to the master bedroom. 

“Maybe being there? When it happens? So it seems like you’re maybe the reason, but in reality, it’s some shitty version of ‘in the wrong place at the wrong time’ sort of thing.” You finished your thought, rubbing your eyes as you padded down the hall, Jim right behind you, his steps heavy in comparison to yours. 

He was silent as he mulled over your words. 

“Shitty things happen everyday, hun.” Your voice was empathetic. “Whether you’re there or not. But,” You turned towards him before entering your room, grabbing his larger hands in your own, “look at me.” 

Jim's eyes flickered up from your hands, his expression almost protective as he forced himself to meet your eyes. You hated seeing his pretty blues so sad. 

“It probably helped them that you were there. From start to finish.” 

“Y/N-” 

“No, I know what you're going to say.” You shook your head, squeezing his hands a bit tighter to get your point across. “You think everyone sees you as some lazy police chief. Most don’t. I don’t. That dad you helped find answers for today? He doesn’t.” 

Jim was still silent as you spoke, eyes still staring into your own before he looked down again. He let out a long sigh, chest almost deflating. “You heard.” 

You exhaled through your nose, giving him a sad, tight smile before you pulled him to you best you could. It didn’t help that he was so much taller than you when you tried to comfort him, but Hopper appreciated it nonetheless. Your actions alone were enough sometimes to remind him that he’s not as awful as he thinks he is, that the world wasn't as awful as he thinks it is. Because if you existed, it couldn’t all be bad, right? Maybe that was a little dramatic on his part but he didn’t care.

“It was on the news.. I didn’t want to bother you until you were ready.” 

The two of you stood in the dark hallway for a while, Jim’s face nuzzled into the top of your hair. You pretended not to notice the wet feeling on the top of your head, the raggedness of his breathing, how his arms tightened a bit more around you with each shaking breath. 

It wasn’t long before he pulled away with another sigh, hand coming up to wipe his face quickly. You watched him for a bit before leaning up on your tiptoes, pressing a kiss to his damp cheek. It was near his mouth you could smell the whiskey. You pushed aside the thoughts of him possibly drunk driving. If you had to be that close, it was probably a while ago, and he could hold is liquor. “Let’s get some sleep, yeah? It’s late.” 

“Yeah.” Was his mumbled response, the two of you finally entering your room. He had quickly stripped down to his boxers, clothes kicked off to the side, setting his utility belt on top of the empty bedside table as he normally did. You watched as he crawled into your bed once he kicked his socks off, his larger frame causing your blankets to pull more to his side. 

You picked up his clothes before your dog could snatch any of the articles of clothing as her new chew toy, setting them on top of your chester drawers for the time being. You patted Peanut on the butt, mumbled a quiet ‘good girl’ before crawling under the blankets next to Hopper, the man seeming to hesitate a second before he pulled you to him. You folded your arms to your chest as you were pulled flush against his chest, the both of you on your sides facing each other. You felt your dog jump onto your bed soon after, her tags jingling as she wedged herself in between the both of you best she could.

“Really?” Jim’s muttered tone was sour as she continued to wedge herself up as far as she could. You couldn’t help the giggle that left you before you pressed a kiss to his chest.

“You knew we were a package deal, Hop.”

“I know.” His voice was still bitter, his voice rumbling a bit in his chest. You laughed quietly again before you nuzzled closer to him, his arms tightening their hold on you once everyone- Peanut- was settled.