#like we've always gone to the gym together

[shanti-ashant-hai]

not to be a slut but nitya lifting weights Does Things™ to me

[boozenboze]

141 and male reader who is angry and when he’s angry, he goes in the gym area they have and just punches the punching bad with bare fists for hours on end and basically breaks the punching bags but keeps putting new ones up. his fists are bloody and bruised and everyone is looking for him and they can’t find him so they search everywhere and find him with blood running down his hands from the countless hours of punching and they have to practically drag him out of the gym and they make him lay down which he wont go down without a fight but YA

SORRY ITS LONG💗😭

Calm Down!

Summary: After a certain soldiers constant slip ups and slacking off Lieutenant Rage gets angry.

Females She/Her and She/ They DNI

Today hadn't gone so well, in fact it went terribly. For starters two of the new recruits lost the files that the team had been sent to retrieve. Secondly, one of the same men had flunked out during training, only to later be seen running about with some of the other soldiers. And the cup of tea to pull everything together he did something he shouldn't have. That thing being talking about one of the higher ups, Lieutenant Rage, also known as M/n. The h/c haired male had his eyes on the recruit since the beginning, knowing that he'd be trouble from the start. The childish acts, the constant slacking off, and always holding everybody back by getting injured. It was clear as day that the man shouldn't be in the military for those exact reasons. The mans carelessness for himself and others would get them all killed.

"Captain do you not understand what i'm saying?" The h/c haired male asked as Price hummed, showing that he was paying attention to the males words as he filled out some papers.

"Rage look, I understand your concern but I haven't seen anything wrong with the seargent." Price explained as M/n glared into his skull.

"Besides maybe your overreacting-"

"I AM NOT OVERREACTING!" The male finally snapped as that cold glint in his eyes that would normally only be seen on the field was now visible. Price flinched at the males change of tone, it was hot yet scary.

"That bastard could get us all killed at some point and your sitting on yer ass like that's ok. THAT IS NOT OKAY!" The male yelled as Price shook slightly from the males booming voice. He was the males Captain, he shouldn't be getting yelled at like this. With one final huff of anger the male stormed out as Price sat in his chair stunned.

The h/c haired male stormed down the hallway, knocking a solider down in the process.

"Hey! Whats your problem....." The soldiers voice dragged as he realized it was his Lieutenant. "I-i'm sorry sir!" The soldier squeaked as he ran down the hallway. M/n was already breathing heavily out of anger, and that anger seemed to double after that small accident. He had to let off some steam at this point. If he was pushed any further he'd end up killing someone. The man was speeding over to the training area that he knew would be empty considering that it was around the time the soldiers would go to their barracks. The h/c haired male couldn't do that, his adrenaline was high and that would only keep him awake longer. He just hoped that he could blow off some steam before going to bed.

Timskip (Gaz pov)

I just came from Prices office and he seemed to be deep in thought. I asked if everything was oky but he said no. He told me about the conversation he had with M/n and from how he explained it, it seemed like he was pissed off. M/n was always the most aggressive out of us all, hell he'd probably yank a mans head off if he could.

We were all walking around the base looking for our beligerant soldier known as M/n. The man could do the unthinkable when he's angry so we hope he isn't doing anything crazy.

"We've checked everywhere for the man it's clear he isn't here!" Soap complained, getting tired of feeling like he had been walking circles. I looked at the man before turning my attention to Ghost. Seemed like he didn't wanna be here either, but he had no choice. We passed the training area and heard a loud slam which caught our attention. Price gave us a look before opening the door. I was surprised to see M/n standing over a punching bag, i'm guessing he broke it considering that the chain that the bag was connected to wasn't there anymore. The man was out of breath as he picked up the punching bag and throwing it to the side.

Ghost had walked over and put his arms under the shorter males arms. The man immediately threw a fit, he was kicking and yelling incoherantly and the men were only able to hear snippets of his words.

"Get the fuck off me-BITCH!" The male yelled as he whipped his head back hitting Ghosts mask. Ghost grunted from the sudden pressure being put on his face as he crouch down to the floor with the male still in his hold. The taller man had the h/c haired male pinned to the ground as the position they were in restricted his movements.

3rd pov

"M/n calm down, we can stay like this for as long as we have to, to make your relax." Price said as M/n huffed angrily. Slowly but surely the mans breathing steadied, despite that he still wasn't calm. Gaz had held the mans hand and furrowed his brows at the sight of the males bleeding knuckles. Ghost had already noticed the mans hands, so he picked him up and walked to the infirmary.

Timeskip

Ghost was seated on the couch next to Ghost, who was currently sipping on some tea as the h/c haired male groaned in annoyance. The slurping sounds aggravated him but he couldn’t since Ghost had him wrapped up in a blanket. He looked like a burrito, a angry one at that. The lieutenant looked at him for a moment before offering the male a biscuit, to which he took. He may be angry, but when snacks are offered there can’t be much of an argument. The male muttered a “thank you” while chewing the savory treat. In that moment Soap and the others came into the room in their pajamas. The Scot almost laughed when he saw the position the private had been put in.

“Well ain’t this nice to see.” Soap said while ruffling the males hair to which the male attempted to bite his hand. Soap laughed and poked the males side before sitting down.

“L/n...look, I thought about what you had said and your right.” Price said as M/n looked him dead in the eye.

“We’ll be terminating him tomorrow, he won’t be bothering anyone else.” Price explains as M/n visibly relaxed. Seems like the removal of that one recruit made a big difference in the males mood which made them all happy.

“Alright...Lets watch a movie since we’re still up!” Gaz said happily while the other men hummed in agreement as M/n squirmed under the blanket.

“If one of you dont get me out this hot ass blanket we’re having problems.” M/n said as Soap hurriedly tool the blanket from around the male. The sound of the movie could be heard as all the men sat back and relaxed. M/n had his head on Ghosts shoulder while Soap had his head on M/n’s. Seems like they would be having a peaceful night.

[peachesofteal]

if we combine all the angst au’s over the past few anons i believe we have ultimate angst:

darling finding out she’s pregnant the day before simon and johnny break up with her ✨

because we all know darling, she’s not gonna stick around and tell them… 👀🫢

SCREAMS! This is gold. A gut punch. An ultimate angst for sure. I could kiss your brain. This could be an entire fic, honestly. 🩵

18+ Mature themes. Disco baby AU (the AUs, they’re multiplying) Reader is pregnant unintentionally.

Just tell them. The words repeat in your head all the way home, over and over. Just tell them. They’ll understand. They won’t turn you away. They won’t be mad. Just tell them.

Easier said then done, you guess. You imagined them, at home, relaxing on the couch, maybe just coming back from the gym, waiting for you walk through the door after work. How could you drop this giant bomb in everyone’s lap, and expect it not to blow up?

You still couldn’t even process it, couldn’t think about this morning, when you were in the bathroom at work, peeing on a little plastic stick, trying not to throw up.

You take a breath in the elevator, trying to steady yourself, trying to relax, desperately, but it doesn’t do much to quell your nerves. You can’t not think about how they might react, how upset they might be or… if they’ll be mad at you. Disappointed.

It's not like you didn't want kids. You've always loved them. Always thought, it might be nice, to have a child, or two. But it's not like you were the best at taking care of yourself, and the nightmares of your own mother played on repeat in your head whenever you considered it. Could you be a good mother? Could you take care of another human?

It wasn't until you met Johnny and Simon that you thought it might be possible. That you might, be able to do it. With them. The three of you, together. Raising a family.

Used to feel like a pipe dream. Now it feels really, really fucking real.

When you finally get through the door, you’re not surprised to see them on the couch. Their posture seems stiff though, like something is off, and you frown while you put your stuff away. A uneasy feeling curls around your heart, and when you step over towards them, Johnny looks distressed.

“What’s wrong?” Your fingers tighten in the cushion, and Simon motions for you to sit, and you do, nervously.

“We have some news.” Johnny says, voice thick. His hand reaches for Simon’s, and you try not to let your breath shake on the exhale. “We’re going out on an op and…” he trails off, and Simon takes over.

“It’s going to be a long mission. Months. Possibly six, to twelve.” The earth fucking tilts on it’s axis, and you can just feel the blood draining from your face. "We don't know when we'll be able to come home, at all." Nausea pitches in your stomach, and you try not to spew the bile that's collecting there to come out through your mouth while you consider his words. Six to twelve months. Gone.

You'll be alone. You'll have to do this, this pregnancy, alone. Without them.

Maybe if you tell them, something will change. Maybe they can stay.

An overwhelming feeling of despair creeps over you, urges you to just spit the words out, tell them your news and let it be done, let the chips fall and see what happens. Surely, the three of you can figure this out. Surely, you all can find a way forward, together.

"We've transferred the ownership of the flat to your name," What? You don't even realize you'd been looking at the floor until your head snaps up, and you see Johnny trying to hide his face for a moment. "And we've decided, that what's best for you, and us, all of us, is that we... take a break, from this relationship, during this op."

No, no no.

It's funny, how the words don't register right away. How they seem to hang in the air, flailing, like they're looking for a place to land. You stare at Simon, and then Johnny, eyes flicking back between the two until it finally hits you, what he said. What he's saying. What he means.

You're going to be sick.

"I-" Your stomach heaves, and you cover your mouth with the back of you hand before swallowing it. Simon looks pained, like he's actually experiencing physical pain, while Johnny just stares at you, red rimmed eyes and all. "I don't understand? What... why?"

Please. Don't do this. Please don't leave me. You promised. You can't. You can't leave me.

You want to scream at them. Hit them. Beg them. Barter.

You'll be better. You'll be stronger. You'll be good. You promise.

Don't leave me.

"It will be healthier for everyone. We... we think it's for the best." Johnny croaks, and hot tears roll over your cheeks, splashing onto the couch. "When we get back, whenever it is, maybe we can have lunch, and catch up. See how we're all doing, and-"

"Have lunch?" the words are incredulous, shocked. You're surprised they come out so clear. "Have... lunch..." Have lunch? Lunch? You'll probably have- oh god. You could have a baby by then.

Their baby.

You stand. You don't know why, except for you need to put immediate space between you and them, and your legs shake while you step away from the couch. You wipe your face hastily, holding your breath to keep yourself from bursting into tears, or worse, falling onto your knees and begging them not to leave you.

"Darling-"

"Don't call me that." you snap, and Simon swallows. "Don't, please." He nods.

"We've arranged a place to stay, for the next two nights, until we leave. We didn't want to stay in your space after..."

"After you dumped me." you finish for him, and he shifts uncomfortably. "Are you already packed, then?" Your voice is higher, pitch like nails on a chalkboard, nearly hysterical. When they both nod, you bark out a sharp laugh, and the palm of your hand presses to your stomach, where a clump of cells sits inside of you. "Well, don't let me hold you up." You step aside, moving halfway into the kitchen and pointing at the door. "Get out." They both hesitate.

"Darling, we still care about you, we still lo-"

"Don't... say that." you cut him off. "I don't need your pity, or whatever this is. I just... need you to leave."

"We don't want to go until we're sure-"

"GET OUT!" you shout, scream as loud as you can. Loud enough the people on the floor above you probably heard. They exchange an uncomfortable glance. "Get. The. Fuck. Out." You point at the door. "Or I'm calling the police." You won't, but they don't know that, at least they don't know it now, and Johnny raises his hands in surrender.

"Okay... okay. We'll go. But, we want to make sure you're okay, we-"

"Leave!" you hiss, and turn your back. You can't even look at them.

Please don't leave me. You promised.

As soon as the door shuts, you fall to the floor, crumpling into a ball while you lose your composure, tears tracking down your cheeks as you scream against the carpet. You scream like your heart is being torn from your chest, scream like your body is being ripped in two. The gaping hole where your love, your life used to be sits rotting, and black. Eviscerated.

Alone. You were alone. You were going to have to do this, make this choice, alone. You were always going to be alone.

[sweet-honey-tears]

🌸If You Give Them Your Hand BNHA🌸

Characters: Sero, Bakugou, Denki, Hawk, Shoto, Shinso, Izuku {GenderNeutral Reader}

What happens when you give the Boys of BNHA your hand? Some are you just straight up give them your hand, others are scenario. As always feel free to leave a request and thank you all so much for the support! ❤️🥺

Warning: Swearing and there are some suggestive parts.

◾️🟨Sero 🟨◾️

Sero was working in the kitchen, putting dishes away while making something for lunch for the both of you. Music swayed in the air as you approached. Your hand, and arm, outstretched waiting for his reaction. Sero seemed a tad bit startled by your sudden presence and then at your action. Like you just walked into the kitchen with your arm in front of you… what is happening? He looked at you, puzzled for a moment before smiling. The confusion in his eyes was gone.

He grabbed your hand, kissed your knuckles first, then wrist, then made his way up your arm. He kissed your cheek, nose, then lips. His eyes met yours, the red blush evident on your face as you stared at him.

“Entertained Amor?”

💥Katsuki Bakugou💥

Bakugou is sitting on the couch with your dog watching TV. Some old American movie about a superhero is playing, and Bakugou seems both hypnotized and confused. “Rip off ALL MIGHT” he mutters. You walk over to him, standing at his side as you place your arm/hand out, waiting.

“What are you doing Dumbass?”

You don’t answer, just smirk at him. He glanced back at the movie, pausing it and turning his full attention onto you. Wtf are you doing? He carefully grabs your hand, wondering if you have some stupid trick shocker in it. But nothing- nothing except your reaction. You smile, and it clicks. It's that stupid TikTok thing.

He gives you this sweet smile and brings your hand to his lips. He turns your palm to face him, before licking your entire hands and wrist. His snarky smile comes through as you see his sharp  canines.

“Kat that's so gross!” You try to yank your hand away but he won’t let you.

“Aw come on Teddy Bear, we've done a lot grosser.”

“Kat-”

“Like last night we-”

“KAT STOP!”

⚡️Denki⚡️

Denki had just stepped back into the house, sweaty from the gym and hazy. His eyes land on you, your arm and hand outstretched and he just stares. He’s both tired and a bit out of it so it takes him a good couple of seconds to realize what the hell is happening. Then he does He grabs your hand and kisses your knuckles. He then, of course, does his little flirty wink and smile, gazing up at you through his bands and eyelashes.

“I thought you wanted me to pull your finger for a moment” he laughs, your hand still in his as he weaves them together, standing up straight.

You can't help that laugh that leaves your chest at the confession. He chuckles too, more so at your bubbly laugh.

🪶Keigo (HAWKS)🪶

Hawks had just left the bathroom from showering when he saw you. Standing there with your arm outstretched towards him. Your hair is mused and you're dressed for bed. Usually, he’d take that as an invitation but today, he just needed to be close to you. Something happened today, something that’s weighing heavy on his heart and mind. And he just needs you. Needs you close. Keigo gives you a soft smile before moving towards you, hand holding yours as his other cups your back. One of his feathers departs and goes towards the record player in the corner, flicking the record over and putting it on. The two of you just dance, both slowly stepping to the beat of the music as the sun fully sets. At some point, his wings cave around the both of you, protecting you from everything outside.

“I love you chickadee”

🌿 Izuku Midoriya🌿

Izuku takes it as a hint to pull you to him since you were sitting down. Laying down actually, you both had just woken up but

Another lovely morning in bed was ruined by Izuku’s alarm. Hero work. You grumbled and groaned as you felt Izuku try to unweave himself from you. Trying his best to not wake you, but it didn’t matter. You had become somewhat used to his work schedule at this point, being able to wake up even without his alarm going off. But that doesn't mean you were happy about it.

“ZooZoo come back.”

You groaned as you peeked open your eyes to see your boyfriend shut the bathroom door; trying to stop the bathroom light from hitting you. Time passed by and you found yourself more awake, now in the kitchen making coffee for the two of you, sitting on the counter as you waited. You could hear Izuku moving around, putting on his hero uniform. You hummed as you saw his familiar head of hair enter. You reached your arms out to him, wanting a hug because I mean- you didn’t get to have your peaceful morning with him. But, he thought you need him to pull you down. Why? Because he usually has to pull you out of bed. And his un-caffeinated, tired mind processed you as still being in bed. (Man had a hard week, cut him some slack.) But unlike those times, when he’d tug you out from the covers, you weren’t prepared for the jank off the counter. So you go pretty much flying from the counter and crumble to the ground since you had no balance. Izuku reacted fast, thanks to constantly training his reflexes, and catches you, his arms going under yours

“Well, that didn't go as planned.”

“Heh yeah sorry.”

“What happens?”

“I think my mind processed you as still being in bed.”

“Izu…baby… I think you need a day off. Just some rest. It’s been months.” Your hands cupped his face.

“Yeah, maybe your right…alright let’s go back to bed. I’ll grab us some coffee and call the commission.”

He then pushes your body up, pretty much throwing you in the air slightly till he's holding your thigh, your hands rest on his shoulders.

🧊Shoto Todoroki🔥

It was right after he did a meet and greet, you had been hanging out on the side watching. Ensuring that everything worked and went smoothly. Thankfully this one had been only two hours, not eight. Yet it came right after a rather intense interview with the press. You watched with grated TEETH as they poked and prodded Shoto for information about his family. Fucking bastards.

And the minute it ended, when both the interview and meet and greet were done, you could see the toil it took on Shoto. How his shoulders slouched a bit and his back caved. He was emotionally tired and done with socializing for the day. You walked up to him, arm outstretched ready to give him a side hug, your other arm holding fan mail and whatever esle. Yet out of the corner of his eye, he only saw a hand. His back became straighter and his shoulders rolled back. He turned to you, and you watched as Shoto enter into ‘Hero Greet’ mode. He grabbed your hand. His grip was firm and gentle as he shook it. He gave you that award-winning smile, the one you see every fan post about when they meet him. He’s about to open his mouth, about to greet you with his robotic lines until he realizes it's you. His grip doesn't loosen and instead, he pulls you into his chest. His other arm wraps around your waist as he kisses your forehead.

“Ready to head home?” You ask

“Hm”

🧠Hitoshi Shinso 🧠

You had been sitting on the couch, Shinso’s head rested in your lap as he watched the Tv. The evening had been uneventful, a nice change to the chaotic week that had perused earlier. To say the least, both of you were grateful for this slow night. Your fingers weaved in and out of his hair, and your other hand rested lax against his shoulder. To be honest, you were both zoned out to the film. Your fingers stopped momentarily brushing his hair which broke Shinso from his haze and drowsiness. His eyes shifted up towards you, he could see the sleepiness in your eyes and your struggle to stay awake. You always tried to stay awake with him, keep him company on the night his insomnia was really bad.

His hand reaches up, grabbing your free hand on his shoulder. He lightly pulled your hand to his face, brought your palms to his lips, and kissed it.

“Go to sleep kitty. It’s been a long day.”

[billthedrake]

BACK IN THE GAME

"Damn, bro... you got magic hands."

Kent Green said it as a joke, but it was true. His best friend Bryan knew how to give a fucking neck message. And after going hard on shoulders at the gym, his buddy's strong fingers were working out the knot just right.

"I must be doing something right, bro. You're getting a fucking boner."

Kent blushed. He was close with Bry, but over the last half a year had gotten closer. He still had a lot of hang ups, though. "Sorry, man."

"Don't be sorry," Bryan said. His voice was crazy deep, deeper than Kent's still frat-bro affect. That baritone also fed his boner. "I like getting you hard, man." Those fingers were working deeper into Kent's traps now. "When was the last time you got laid?"

"You mean besides us fooling around?"

"Yeah, bro. Besides that."

Kent let out a sigh. "Fuck, Bryan. Too long. Ten, maybe eleven months?" He turned his head to look back. Bryan had a great body but was more regular looking, not a pretty boy. But the 25-year-old had a gruff handsomeness that grew on you. Kent tried not to crush out on his workout buddy and just enjoy the sex that happened when it happened. "I guess I'm a little messed up."

Bryan gave him a wry smile and removed his hands, patting the platelike pecs of Kent's chest. Kent had a leaner, taller build than Bryan but the dude's muscle was harder, more compact even. Bry sometimes teased his bud for being the golden boy - blond, college educated, from a well-off background. They were polar opposites in a lot of ways but had bonded at the serious bro gym they went to. Working out together, even cycling together.

"Not messed up, dude," Bryan assured him. "I just hate to see a dude like you blue balled."

Kent laughed. He leaned into Bryan's warm, muscular body. He had a good feeling sex was gonna happen. Post-workout sex, which was the best kind. But neither man was rushing it. "What about you, bro? You getting laid."

"Yup," came that deep voice. Then with hesitation, Bryan added, "I gotta boyfriend, actually."

That made Kent's body tense. They'd never talked about being gay. Kent, for the record, wasn't or at least didn't think of himself that way. He'd compartmentalized the fucking around with Bryan, too. Now his friend was putting it all out there.

"That's cool," he said softly.

"Am I weirding you out, bro?" Bryan asked. That bariton almost scratchy soft in its question.

"A little. But not really," Kent said. The spell had been broken, though, he scooted up away from Bryan, turning to face forward on the couch. He still had the erection his buddy's hands had given him, but that wasn't going down fast. "Sorry, man," he started. "I'm a little messed up in the head."

Bryan grimaced and nodded. "I guess I'm not the best at respecting the bro code," he said with a self-deprecating laugh. He settled back into his previous seating position, from before he offered the neck massage. But Kent could see that telltale thick rod poking up Bry's workout shorts, too.

Kent wished he didn't feel the sexual attraction he did. "So... who is this guy?"

"His name's Chris," Bryan said. Bashful as he spoke, but it was weird for Kent to see an almost kidlike glee in that gruff dude face as Bryan described his love interest. "He's kind of a normal dude, not a muscle guy like us... we've been going out for a couple months now."

That surprised Kent. "What the fuck? For real?" Then, "does he know about... you know..." he gestured between him and Bry.

Bryan nodded. "Not specifically, but he knows I play around. He does too when he travels."

"That's cool," Kent said. He felt dumb, and wondered if gay dudes were always easygoing like that.

The two sat on the sofa, a little awkward but that sexual chemistry not yet gone as their eye contact grew heavier.

"Bro..." Bryan started. "You wanna fool around? Like I say, Chris is cool with it. He's probably nailing some dude in a hotel room in Miami right now," he added with a chuckle.

Kent thought for a second. The gay thing added a layer of doubt to all of this, but at the end of the day this was still Bryan. He knew they could have fun and still be buds after. He gave a nod and shot Bryan a grin. "If you're up for it, bro... yeah, I'm pretty hard up right now."

"Hell yeah you are," Bryan grinned as he stood up off the couch, his boner pretty hard. He peeled off his workout shirt and involuntarily flexed a little as he tossed it aside. He was on a gaining cycle, as was Kent, but his beefy genes made the bulk that much bigger and more vascular looking.

Kent took in the vision and decided if he was gonna be gay for a dude, this was the kind of man he was into. A muscle guy like him. Even bigger than him. He stood up and followed suit, and by the time his shirt cleared his head, Bryan's hands were on his chest, lightly dusted with blond fur.

"You decided to stop shaving," Bryan observed, his fingers exploring the striated muscle be beneath the soft hair.

"Yeah," Kent chuckled. "Too much fucking work."

Bryan looked up from the chest and into Kent's eyes. His own brown eyes playful and a smile forming on that gruff face. "You think you could help me out this weekend? Chris likes me smooth."

This was weird as fuck, Kent thought, but he was strangely turned on. "Yeah, bro," he said. And like that the two buddies were lip locked. And Kent was now openly feeling up that magnificent bulking bod. Indeed he could feel the bristle short chest hairs starting to come in, and he imagined all that Bryan Walker beef shaved baby smooth...

"Let's take it to the bedroom, bro," Bryan hissed, reaching down to cup his buddy's erection for a second before stepping back and leading the way.

It had been a couple of months since they'd done this. Usually it was a quick BJ swap. But Kent felt a thrill as he watched that bulked up back and that meaty ass, evident beneath the gym shorts even. And fuck, even Bry's hamstrings and calved were off the charts. An inspiration.

The two twenty-something men were horny but they took their time. Getting naked, embracing on Bryan's queen sized bed, rolling around, making out. For all of Kent's hang ups, he'd never balked at the kissing part. Maybe because it was hard wired to his dick. Or maybe because he liked the way it just felt different kissing a man than a woman. Even when Bryan shaved, the dude had a lot of stubble.

Bryan Walker had fucked Kent, twice. It was OK, Kent guessed, but decided he liked it better the other way, and once Bry had made it clear he wasn't keeping score, that it wasn't tit for tat, it became a regular thing that Kent would do the plowing, and Bryan would give up his muscle ass for his buddy.

This was how it was gonna play tonight. Bryan leaning back, relaxed, legs spread wide as he let Kent lube and finger him good. Nice and slow, both men enjoying the foreplay.

"I'm glad you told me, bro," Kent said as three fingers were now buried inside his friend's snug ass. "About Chris."

"I shoulda before," he said. "Was too fucking chicken." He gave Kent a nod that he was good to go. This is how buddy sex often was. Two dudes free to talk while they boned each other.

Kent wiped the excess lube on his hard cock, a nice 7-incher that seemed just big enough to make Bryan know he was getting fucked good, without being too much a challenge. He scooted into the saddle and whacked his hardon against that wide-spread crack. Bryan fucking shaved down there, too, though his manscaping had been neglected long enough for the dark hairs to grow back.

"Hope you don't think I'm ass about things." He watched the connecting point of that puckered hole and his dick. Kent didn't realize before, maybe was too dumb, but Bryan Walker got fucked a decent bit. He was tight, but the ring was crinkled in a way that showed regular use. Rather than be a turn off, it excited Kent and he nudged his wet cut cock against the folds. He looked up at Bry. "I guess I should ask... you completely gay, bro?"

Bryan nodded. God his buddy's dick felt good, right in that spot. "Yeah, bro. I guess I lied when it came to chicks."

"I didn't," Kent said. Not judgmental, but clearing the air. "I just don't know how to put in the work anymore when it comes to women."

Bryan looked up at Kent with brotherly concern. He never knew how this golden boy could have a problem on the dating market. Kent was a total stud, a cute fucker, and he didn't act like a douche. "You just got off your game, bro," he said, reaching up with one hand to caress the bare chest and ab muscle. "We'll get you back."

Kent nodded in thanks. He contracted his core and let his hips move forward. And like that he was sinking into Bryan's warm body.

"Aw fuck yeah..." Bryan hissed. That deep voice was excited, and Kent wondered how much Bryan played up liking a cock inside him. Just hearing that thrill in Bry's voice was driving Kent to push in further... another inch, then another, and all the fucking way in.

"Oh God, you're fucking big, bro!" Bryan gasped.

"Too much?" Kent asked, checking in.

"Fuck no. Fuck me, man."

Kent did. He leaned forward and started a slow, steady fuck, then increased his pace. His cock was boning Bry deep and good soon.

Bryan's mouth was slack, halfway between a smile and a leer. His brown eyes met Kent's green one in a hungry gaze. "Fuck yeah... go for it buddy."

Kent really had hoped to make this about Bryan. He felt he owed it to his friend. But this all felt too good. The tight sensations around his cock, the feeling of all that bulking muscle beneath him, that connection and love he had for his best bud. And maybe this is why Kent didn't have a steady girlfriend. Not matter what head games he tried he could never last more than a minute.

He wasn't gonne break the minute mark now, either. "Shit!" he hissed. Orgasm was hitting quick and hard. Like lightning.

"Get it bro!" Bryan urged. "Get that fucking nut, man."

Did Kent get it, all right. The sweet goofy ex-frat boy tossed his head back and let out a loud and surprisingly loud cry. "Fuck! FUCK FUCK!" Kent yelled as he came deep in Bryan's hole, his thrusts nearly stopping to lock his hips in place to deliver his seed, with just small mini pumps of his dick along the inner walls of Bryan's ass.

Once he finished cumming he let his body relax and his forehead come down to rest on Bry's "God, man, that was incredible." Kent gave Bryan a soft kiss then pulled back. "Sorry I couldn't last longer," he said.

Bryan grinned but was mostly horny as fuck now. "It's all good man.... I like seeing you turned on." He looked down between their bodies at his own hardon. "You ready to suck me off, buddy?"

This was their arrangement. Kent fucked. And after, he serviced Bry orally. Kent slowly pulled out and then got in place, kneeling between Bryan's spread legs. One hand caressing Bryan's shaved ballsac while the other went to the ass to prod that cummy hole with a finger or two while Kent sucked.

Kent Green wasn't an expert cocksucker but he was pretty good for a mostly straight dude. He knew what would get his bud off and he went for it. Steady, quick bobs focusing on the top three or four inches. Pretty quick he felt the warmth and tasted the brininess of Bryan's hot seed. Unlike Kent, Bryan was a quiet cummer, but the soft caresses of Bryan's fingers in Kent's blond hair was the guy's way of showing appreciation.

The two men lay in silence next to one another for a minute. Between the gym and the sex Kent was tired and relaxed. He could almost fall asleep right there in Bryan's bed. But that was a line he didn't feel like crossing at this point.

He looked over at Bryan. Happy he could have the experience he just had and still be friends. "So... tell me about this Chris guy."

Bryan got a coy smile on his face. "You sure, man?" he asked.

"Dude... he's your fucking boyfriend. Of course I wanna know," Kent replied.

"Well, he's older, divorced... an airline pilot, actually."

"Yeah?"

Bryan grinned. "Yeah. It's definitely fucking hot... kind of a bucket list thing for me actually... to bang a pilot. It just turned out to be more than a one-time thing."

"That's cool, bro," Kent said, turning on his side to face Bryan. They'd done this before, talking man to man in bed after sex, only it had been Kent filling Bryan in about some hot date he had. "Um, how much older is he?"

Bryan paused. "A lot older. You might thing I'm weird, bro. But we kinda do the daddy-son thing."

Kent laughed. He'd been a connoisseur of "stepmom" porn and had enjoyed a few encounters with cougars, so the idea didn't seem so far fetched. But it was wild to hear it from the other side. "For real, bro?"

Bryan laughed nervously. "For real. Dude's 51 and pushes my buttons big time. Gray hair, dad bod the whole works."

"You're a man of surprises, Walker," Kent said, plopping back on the mattress and resting his head on the pillow.

"I guess," came the deep voiced reply.

Kent felt his eyes get heavy.

"Bro..." Bryan said. "If you wanna crash here, that's cool."

Already Kent's eyes were closing. "Yeah?" He could feel the bed shift beside him. Bryan was getting up. To shower off, or maybe just to brush his teeth. Kent should probably get up the energy to get back home himself. But it had been a long day. Just another minute....

Bryan got back in beneath the sheets and looked over Kent. He used to resent how fucking good looking his buddy was. Roman nose, rosy cheeks, blond hair, not thinning like Bryan's. Kent was tall, athletic, and cute in an easygoing masculine way, and Bryan had spent a solid year being jealous of a lot of things about Kent Green until he decided it was better just to be happy for the friendship. Everthing else... the sex, the intimate time like this, was just a bonus.

"We'll get you back in the game, buddy," Bryan said aloud.

But Kent didn't hear. He was already sleep.

[luvhynjinnnn]

I MISS HIM a/n: actually wasn't gonna post this but hey lets see what happens. we all know that im only good at angst.

"you always do this! I told you that I just came from the studio!"

"oh yeah! you obviously came from the studio with your MALE members, smelling like perfume!"

"oh my god, you're crazy!" he scoffs.

this was all your relationship had succumbed too. han would come home at two in the morning and and be out of the house before you even woke up.

people think that life with a k-pop idol was all glamour and unicorns and rainbows. and dating hanji was. until it wasn't. now, he was rarely home. he was always either on tour, or at the studio, or at the gym. and he never sent you so much as a text to tell you he was staying over. he'd rather simply let you stay up until 2am waiting.

and at first, he apologized. whenever he came home too late, he'd apologize and get you flowers the next day. now, he just denied, denied, denied. and told you that you were crazy.

were you?

"I miss him" now it'd been three weeks since the two of you broke up. part of you understood that it had to happen. that it wasn't healthy. that you weren't happy. but another part of you wanted to believe that it could've worked out. maybe you were the problem. had you done something wrong? had you driven him to become the person he was towards the end?

"do you? or do you miss the version of him you created? the version of him that you saw at the very beginning?" felix cocked his head at you as you both sat on your bed, the soft light illuminating from the tv screen reflecting on his face. freckles.

felix was the best friend you'd ever had. being friends from the fifth grade to college had made you closer than ever.

"i... i didn't create a version of him; it was there. he was there. we used to go on picnics and go on date nights. we've gone to the arcade together so many times that they have a picture of us pinned on the wall behind the counter." you giggled.

"and where's that version of him now?" felix raised an eyebrow.

"it's still inside him. i know it. he's just been stressed, that's all." a painful lump began to form in your throat as tears welled up in your eyes. even you didn't believe what you were saying. but you had to.

"the sooner you accept that he's not who he used to be, the sooner it'll stop hurting." he whispers. his voice was rather soothing.

just like han's used to be. when he wasn't yelling or drunk. but that was only sometimes.

you knew what felix was saying was true but you couldn't bear to face reality. the thought of having to live without him drove you insane. the thought of the loss of warmth from his arms around you.

who would ever love you if not him?

"will I ever get him back?" you asked, not wanting to accept any version of the answer he would give you.

truth be told, you didn't even hear his response.

as you closed your eyes, you took a deep breath. when you reopened them, you were still in your bedroom. but something had changed. when you turned, Hanji was lying beside you.

"you're back." you whispered.

he nods.

"I missed you. I love you."

he looked over at you, "I know. but this can't keep going on."

"I know. say it please. just once."

he sighed.

"I love you, my love. now I have to go."

"I know" you whispered as you silently sobbed.

the moment you closed your eyes again and reopened them, goosebumps painted you skin. you were greeted with felix's presence once more as he looked at you and sighed.

"I miss him."

"I know."

[blorbocedes]

blorbie, read this take of george x toto, lewis x toto, by george himself:

"I was talking to Toto before the break and I said ‘I want to try this and try that’. Toto is one who does a lot of activities and he sort of lets Lewis get away with it, but when it comes to me, he's like, ‘no, you've got to be careful of this. If you jump on that foil board, there’s a really good chance of hurting yourself. If you go skiing, there’s a really good chance of hurting yourself.'"

It's interesting that Toto wants to advise and nurture you like that. Do you think your relationship with him is different to Lewis'? Is he almost almost paternal towards you?

"I'm not too sure, to be honest. I think when Lewis and Toto were acquainted, Lewis was already world champion. He was already this megastar. There was perhaps more respect from Toto to Lewis when he joined because Toto was completely new to Formula 1 at that time. Toto was the rookie and Lewis was the household massive name.

Whereas myself obviously, Toto signed me as a 16-year-old. They've always nurtured me along my way, advised me, helped me reach my full potential, and I guess to a degree you could be right. But I think our relationship now has gone more from, I'm not going to say paternal figure, but I class ourselves as more friends now. Also, with Susie [Wolff] and Carmen, my girlfriend, we've got a really great relationship. We spend a lot of time together doing activities together, dinner together. We see them all the time so he's my boss, but he's also a friend. We live probably 200 meters away from each other. We go to the gym together and get coffee together daily."

what in the codependent family dynamics with your boss (who signed you at 16 and nurtured you) and his wife 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫 Toto not letting George do any activities to hurt himself while Lewis skydives HMMM...

"we live 200 meters away from each other" gives the distinct vibes of George staring over with a pair of binoculars like Joe from You...

[asktheisle]

(@eevee-crossing) Appie @ Draco: "Omigosh heya, splash!" she excited to meet a Garchomp. "Wow, you seem to have a human friend, how did ya meet 'em?

I'm not all too sure of it, and neither is Nat... but the story goes that when everyone still lived in Unova, Nat's dad knew Drayden-the dragon gym leader. I think he worked for him, or was a family friend and knew Nat's grandfather, something like that.

He gifted Nat an egg before they all moved to Sinnoh, that egg was me. I wasn't the first of the team, that goes to Walter. But I was the first dragon Nat got to raise.

Nat was the first thing I ever laid eyes on when I hatched, the whole world started for me when we made eye contact.

We've gone through so much together, there were so many highs and lows that got us to this island. And despite the shakiness of the road and the close calls... Nat was always there.

He's... my north star.

My Thuban.

(( @eevee-crossing ))

[jxtina-86]

Tell Me When It Kicks In - Part 1

Late night conversations in hotel rooms lead to so much more.

Split into two parts - first is Seth/Siobhan. Part 2 is Dean/Becca. See here for the rest of the series/order to read.

Follow-up to Wonderwall

Warning: Language/hints of smut

Rating: MA

I've been waiting all night for you to tell me, Tell me that you need me Tell me that you want me Waiting All night, Rudimental ft Ella Eyre

“Do we really have to go?” I can't help the whine that enters my voice as Siobhan picks through her suitcase.

“Yes.”

I frown at her bent form, my eyes casting down over her towel-covered back to her ass which is barely covered by said towel. I shift uncomfortably from my position in the bed, the sheets doing nothing to hide my arousal as she straightens, clothes in hand and lets the towel fall to the floor.

I curse silently as she slowly slides her panties up her legs, completely oblivious to the torture she's putting me through. Who'd have thought watching a woman dress would be as bigger turn on as watching her strip? I had that pleasure earlier, when she pushed me back onto the bed and slowly peeled away her shorts and tank top, revealing her pale skin to me for the first time in weeks.

WWE has demanded more and more of my time over the last few months, whilst Siobhan's own work has moved away from being exclusively at home, taking her across the country every few weeks. Considering that our first foray into this arrangement didn't start particularly well, we've both been cautious to make sure that we have time for each other. Even if it's just for a few hours on a Wednesday evening before Siobhan heads to the airport early the next day. By the time she returns, I'm long gone.

But despite all this, the effort is still there. Work is banned from any long periods of time we spend together, unless absolutely necessary. We refuse to spend our time exclusively in my apartment. We go out. We go to bars, we drink, we laugh, we crunch our way through bowls of nachos whilst watching the game. We go out to dinner, tease each other in dark corners of restaurants, casually touch each others thighs under the table, exchange soft, lingering kisses next to the car before driving home, her hand in mine as I kiss her knuckles. But on the evenings where we all we want to do is curl up on the couch and order in, our phones are switched off, hidden away out of sight. We surround ourselves with blankets and cushions, tucked away in our own little world.

The tension caused by our chosen employers will always be there. We can never truly escape it. But we do our best. We fight back, fight for a few hours here and there, fight to hear each others voices, even if it's just for a couple of minutes before one of us is hustled off to a meeting or to board a plane.

I haven't seen her in almost three weeks. I arrived at the hotel just after midday, finding it empty apart from her own bags and a note explaining she'd gone to lunch with Lex and Becca. So I headed to the gym, returning a couple of hours later to find her waiting for me. Despite my aching limbs, hunger took over. She felt so damn good in my arms, beneath me, on top of me. Her breath was hot on my ear, letting go of a shaky gasp, a whisper of my name as I wrapped my arms around her and held her to me.

And then she was gone, slipping from the covers and scurrying to the bathroom to shower and get ready for dinner. When I scowled, she'd chuckled and then looked pointedly at the clock and I realised that nearly four hours had passed in what felt like a few minutes. Another afternoon slipping through our fingers, our evening together sacrificed for the sake of being social.

“Where are we going anyway?” I exhale as I finally resign myself to getting out of bed.

“Some Italian place. It's only a block away.”

“And why do we have to go again?”

“They asked, we said yes,” she says, turning to face me and sliding her bra straps into place.

“But–”

She rolls her eyes as she steps towards me, her arms circling my waist. “But nothing. You get me all day tomorrow, remember?”

True. But I want more than that. And she knows it.

“We can order room service, take a long shower together...” Her lips press briefly against my shoulder. “Sleep...”

“Why can't we do that tonight?” My hands run down her back, my fingers plucking at the waistband of her panties.

“Good things come to those who wait,” she tells me with another soft kiss to my skin before pulling back. “And if we don't turn up, Lex will lose her shit. She was very specific about us all going tonight.”

“Why?” I turn to my own suitcase to draw out my wash-bag.

“I dunno. She was acting really weird.”

“How so?” I call over my shoulder as I head to the bathroom. I turn on the shower, stepping inside as Siobhan starts to rattle through her make up on the vanity unit.

“I dunno. She point-blank refused a glass of wine.”

I chuckle. “I doubt that means anything.”

“C'mon, how long have you known Lex? Since when did she ever turn down a glass?”

“Maybe she was driving?” I close my eyes as water pounds my face.

“We were in the hotel restaurant.”

“I don't know, sweetheart. Maybe she just didn't want any.” I wipe the steamed glass with my hand and see Siobhan frowning at her own reflection. “You're reading way too much into this.”

“See, that's where you're wrong,” she turns, pointing at me with a brush. “The plot thickens, Rollins. We finish eating, the waiter asks if we want coffee. Lex pulls out this packet of herbal tea from her purse.”

“She's given up coffee?” I'll give her that, it is kind of weird to think of Lex without a Starbucks glued to her hand.

“Apparently so. I have no idea how though. That stuff smelt horrific and she's just sitting there, drinking it like it's the best damn thing she's had all day.”

My laugh echoes around the bathroom as I dip back under the stream of water to rinse. Siobhan mutters something that I don't hear.

“What's that?” I shut off the shower.

“Doesn't matter.”

Wrapping a towel around my waist, I step behind Siobhan, my hands gliding over her hips as she leans closer to the mirror to line her eyes black. “I'm sure Lex is fine. And if something's up, she'll tell you.”

“I just...” she pulls back, dropping the pencil with a small clatter. “I just feel like a shit friend. I haven't seen her in months, in fact, we've barely spoken. I've been so busy with work and then trying to fit in time with you and–”

My lips press against her neck, interrupting her flow. “You know I would never want you to put me before your friends. I would never hold that against you, you know that right?”

“Of course, but I just... I just feel like I should know what's wrong with her.”

“Nothing is wrong with her. Pretty sure Roman would have said something if there was.”

“I guess...” But she doesn't seem convinced, her brow furrowing as she leans forward again to coat her eyelashes.

I head back out into the bedroom, swiping another towel as I pass and scrubbing it over my head and hair. I'm convinced there is nothing wrong with Lex. Mainly because Roman has been strutting around backstage, his smile so wide, it's like he slept with a damn coat-hanger in his mouth. The guy is beyond pleased about something, yet no-one can get it out of him. I've tried, Dean's tried. Nothing. Jimmy, Jey and Naomi tried. Nothing.

“Life's good, bro.”

That's all any of us get. Life's good.

Siobhan's hand grazes my arm as she brushes past me, as I pull out pants and a shirt from my suitcase.

“Why don't you spend some time with Lex tomorrow?” I suggest as she tugs on black jeans.

“She's flying back home in the morning. But she mentioned about going back to see her mom in a few weeks, so I might go and check in on my apartment for a couple of days and catch up with her then.”

“Right.”

“That's sweet of you though,” she smiles, adjusting her hair which is striking against the green of her shirt. “But tomorrow is about us, like we agreed.”

Slipping on her heels, she approaches me, her fingers smoothing the collar of my blazer. She steps behind me and starts to pull back my semi-dry hair into a familiar knot at the base of my neck. Her fingertips brush against the back of my ears and a shiver ripples through me. Her hands slide over my shoulders when she's done, her body pressed against my back. My eyes drift closed as she presses a soft kiss to my earlobe.

She sighs, pulling back and I groan inwardly. Twisting round, I pull her back into my arms, my fingers brushing a thick lock of hair behind her ear.

“You sure I can't tempt you to start tomorrow now?” I whisper against her lips.

She allows me one, fleeting kiss before pulling back. “Later.”

Later can't come sooner.

---

Siobhan nudges me in the side as Lex covers the rim of her glass with her hand, shaking her head as  the waiter offers to pour her wine. I roll my eyes in response, my focus drifting back to the menu in front of me.

“You're really taking this tee-total thing to the limit,” Siobhan comments, lifting up her own glass.

“I'm not tee-total. I'm driving,” Lex responds and I glance up in time to see Roman's hand engulf hers and squeeze softly. Lex's eyes dart up to him and they exchange similar smiles.

Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Siobhan about to open her mouth again, but the waiter re-appears, asking for our orders. He slowly makes his way through our orders and after I've handed him back my menu, I slip my hand under the table and squeeze Siobhan's jean-clad thigh. She glances towards me and I shake my head ever so slightly, willing her to leave whatever she was about to say unspoken. She widens her eyes in response, pursing her lips together.

She'd continued her examination of the facts as we'd made the short walk to the restaurant, only quitting the subject when we entered and saw the other four already seated. It was the first time I had seen Lex in a few months and whilst I couldn't put my finger on it, there was definitely something different about her. Roman's eyes never left Lex as she hugged both me and Siobhan on greeting, her loose white shirt billowing around her small frame as she moved.

“So Lex, what's the deal?” Dean questions as the waiter pulls back from the table.

“The deal, Ambrose?”

“Yeah, why are you dragging our asses out here for dinner?”

“Ignore him,” Becca smiles apologetically at Lex.

“Ignore me? Darlin', I ain't seen you in weeks. They,” Dean jerks a thumb towards Roman and Lex. “They know exactly what that's like, yet they still drag us out here.”

“Tell me about it,” I mutter, wincing as Siobhan elbows my side. “Hey, what was that for?”

She scowls at me and then turns back to Lex. “So c'mon then. Spit it out.”

Lex almost chokes on her water. “Spit what out?”

“Dean's right. There is obviously something you want to tell us, so let's hear it.”

“I told you this was a bad idea,” Roman chuckles, his arm circling around Lex's shoulders and pulling her closer to him.

“What was a bad idea?” Becca's eyes have narrowed, her gaze darting between the couple.

“I wanted to tell them all together,” Lex reminds Roman.

“Tell us what?” Siobhan asks, her impatience clear.

Another smile is exchanged before Lex takes a breath. “Well, we have some news.”

There's a brief pause, only punctured by a gasp from my side. I turn to see Siobhan's eyes start to widen.

“You're pregnant.”

My gaze snaps back towards Lex and Roman, who are both staring at Siobhan in surprise. Lex slowly opens her mouth and then closes it again as if realising that whatever she's about to say has... Well, already been said.

“How–” Roman blinks, breaking the stunned silence.

“I... I guessed,” Siobhan says slowly. “Hang on, I was right?” Her voice shoots up an octave. “You are pregnant?”

“Yes,” Lex finally speaks, a grin slowly transforming her face.

Siobhan lets out a squeal, her chair scraping back as she leaps to her feet. “Lex! Girl, come here!”

I chuckle softly as Siobhan bounds around the table and almost wrenches her friend from her chair to hug her once again.

“Congrats, bro,” I nod at Roman, who grins back almost sheepishly.

“Yeah, man. Fuck,” exclaims Dean. “I feel bad about complaining now. That's amazing news.”

“Thanks,” Roman nods in response, scraping a hand over his face. “She made me promise not to tell you both. Sorry.”

Behind him, Becca is releasing Lex from her own hug of congratulations. I watch with a smile as Lex smooths down her shirt, spreading the material tightly over the slight swell of her belly. Siobhan looks at it in awe, her fingers nervously sweeping across her cheeks as she grins and then pulls Lex back into another hug.

“No worries,” Dean is brushing aside Roman's apology. “Least this explains the permanent grin that's been plastered across your face. We were this close to beating that outta you.”

Roman holds up his hands in surrender. “We had the first scan a few weeks back. I couldn't help myself.” He turns, reaching for Lex. “You got the printout, baby girl?”

Siobhan and Becca return to their seats as Lex retrieves a small square of paper from her purse. Passing it to Siobhan, she points out the head and body.

“Wow,” Siobhan exhales, “He's so tiny.”

“See, told you Pumpkin's totally gonna be a boy,” Roman winks at Lex.

“Pumpkin?” I question as Siobhan passes me the scan photo, pointing out the fuzzy shape in the centre.

“The due date is October,” Lex explains. “And I'm not allowed to use 'it.'”

Just above the body is another spot of white and I suddenly realise it's a hand, raised as if waving at the camera. Passing it to Dean, I watch as Becca leans in to look as well, her head resting on his shoulder as she points out the hand as well.

“So how far long are you?” she asks, passing the scan photo back to Roman.

“Almost 15 weeks,” Lex's hand drops instinctively to her stomach, no longer attempting to hide behind her loose shirt. “But we found out about six weeks ago.” Her gaze turns to Siobhan. “So, it was really just a guess?”

“Well... We–”

“We?” Lex's eyes cut to me.

“Becca and I,” Siobhan corrects her. “We thought it was a bit weird when you turned down wine at lunch. And then coffee. And how you must have gone to the bathroom about five times in the space of two hours.”

“And the only logical explanation was pregnancy?”

“That was all Shiv,” Becca points. “I just thought it was a bit odd, s'all.”

Lex giggles and sighs. “The coffee thing is so damn hard. Like all I can smell is coffee and I'm sitting there drinking this shitty herbal tea because it's the only thing stopping me from vomiting.”

Siobhan's face crinkles in disgust. “That nasty smelling stuff prevents the vomiting?”

“The doctor said it would stop after the first trimester, but this one,” Lex points at her stomach. “This one has decided to continue on past that, just for shits and giggles.”

“You gonna find out if it's a boy or a girl?” Becca asks.

Lex shrugs as does Roman. “We haven't decided.”

“Oh, it's so going to be a boy,” Siobhan grins. “No girl would put their mama-to-be through that. He's gonna be little trouble-maker, breaking hearts wherever he goes.”

Becca chuckles. “Can you imagine if it is a girl though? Poor thing's never going to get a chance to date, not with these three.”

“Damn straight,” Roman nods.

“That's where we come in,” Siobhan nods at Becca. “Show her a few tricks.”

Lex giggles as Roman groans. “No way.”

“What?” Siobhan's face is a picture of mock-innocence. “Oh please, if you have a girl she'll have you wrapped around her little finger the second she opens her eyes.”

“Some boy'll turn up to take her to prom and despite all your scowling, she'll just bat her eyelids at you and you won't be able to say no to her,” Becca chimes in.

“Boys, c'mon, back me up here,” Roman pleads to me and Dean.

“Dude's right,” Dean tells Becca. “Time to get your own back on all those dads that gave us the death-look when we turned up for their daughters.”

“My high school girlfriend's dad took me down to the basement to show me his collection of hunting rifles,” I recall with a grimace. “He didn't say a word, just looked me in the eye and nodded. Then I'm sat in the car with her fucking hand on my thigh and whispering in my ear and all I can think about is those damn guns.”

Siobhan snorts beside me. “You mean he saw through those puppy-dog eyes of yours? What a surprise.”

I squeeze her thigh under the table. “I ain't got puppy-dog eyes.”

Dean is recalling his own memory, with a slightly more violent edge to it. But I'm distracted by the coy look in Siobhan's eye as she bites her lip.

“You do,” she murmurs quietly. “They come out when you beg.”

“I never beg.”

“Oh, really?” She looks up at me through thick lashes. “Sounded like begging earlier.”

I frown. “When?”

She raises an eyebrow in response. “When you were trying to convince me to stay in bed.”

“I'd say I was entitled to use them then.”

“And when I was riding you.”

I swallow hard as she turns back to the rest of the table. I shift uncomfortably in my seat, trying and failing to shake the image of her hands pressed against my chest as she slowly wound her hips in a figure of eight, my own hands gripping her thighs as my eyes rolled back in my head.

I blink frantically, reaching for my water.  Across the table, Lex has shifted her chair closer to Roman's. His arm has snuck around her waist, his hand resting on her stomach. The now-trademark grin is plastered across his face as he looks down at Lex, who is oblivious to his gaze, her own eyes focused on Dean and Becca, giggling at the former's story.

Siobhan's hand slides over mine, resting on the table between us. Her fingers slip between mine, curling our hands into a fist and squeezing. I glance at her out of the corner of my eye and find her watching Roman and Lex too. Her eyes are soft, a small smile tugging at her lips. And then Dean makes a comment and her eyes cut to him, her voice dripping in sarcasm as she responds and my heart pounds.

---

Siobhan rocks against me as I fumble for the room key.

“I can't believe she's pregnant.”

“I can't believe you guessed,” I reply as the door clicks open and I let her enter before me.

I watch as she sits on the edge of the bed, kicking off her shoes before falling back on the crumpled sheets.

“Well, what other news could they possibly have?”

I shrug. “A new house?”

“I doubt they would have announced that over dinner.”

I join her on the bed, relishing in the way she automatically snuggles into my side. My fingers find their way through her hair, slow strokes that make her sigh happily.

“She's over the moon,” she murmurs.

“I know.”

Her hand brushes against my chest, nails scratching softly through my shirt as her lips brush against the side of my neck.

I remember the look on her face as she watched Lex and Roman and my heart starts to pound once again. A few years ago, a look like that would have had me running to the hills and I always found an excuse to extract myself from a girl's life should I ever see that look. All I wanted was company, nothing serious, nothing that required more of me than a couple of hours here and there to leave us both satisfied.

Yet...

Now that look fills me with excitement. I wouldn't say the nerves are completely gone, but they sure as hell aren't going to scare me away. No, seeing that look appear on Siobhan's face makes me want to explore the possibilities that it unearths. That look on her face tells me that there is so much more ahead of us. That look makes me wonder if a similar one has ever graced my face as well.

“You're quiet,” Siobhan whispers. “You okay?”

“Yeah, sweetheart. I'm good,” I tell her, smiling up at the ceiling as she kisses my cheek and sits up.

I shift up onto my elbows, watching as she plucks my discarded workout shirt from the floor, along with her shorts and tank top from earlier in the day. Folding them neatly, she stacks them next to our suitcases before she starts to strip. In her bra and panties, she heads for the bathroom, pushing the door half-closed behind her.

If I close my eyes and blot out the hotel room, it's like we're back in my apartment. The sounds of her moving around the bathroom are as comforting to me here as they are back in Iowa. I love her being in my space, seeing her clothes alongside mine in the closet, opening the bathroom cabinet to find my stuff pushed into a corner, whilst hers takes up the majority of the shelves. I love coming home to find her in my bed or on my couch.

I hate it when I'm there alone.

Everywhere are reminders that she should be there with me. I find her clothes in the laundry basket, her favourite TV shows set up to record. The bedsheets, however clean and fresh, still carry a whiff of her perfume and shampoo. I find her favourite brand of gum stashed in the driver's door of my car, the seat pulled all the way forward, the radio tuned into a station that plays nothing but old school R'n'B.

I forget that she technically still has her own apartment. Not that she stays there often. In the last six months, I could count on one hand the time she's spent there. Her mention of going back there in a few weeks was a stark reminder that none of this is official. I've wanted to broach the subject of her moving in with me permanently for a while now, but for one reason or another, the words don't come. I hesitate. I bite my tongue and push the thought away.

Why?

I told her at the beginning that she was more than welcome to move in with me. I wonder if I should have made it clearer, been more insistent on this becoming official rather than the weird no-mans-land we seemed to have found ourselves in. But at the time, the fact that she was even willing to consider opting for a career path that would allow us to do that just that eventually was enough. It was a big, scary step for the pair of us and neither of us wanted to rush it.

Siobhan comes back out of the bathroom, her face bare, her hair pulled up into a messy knot. She rubs her face with a yawn before tugging out a clean shirt from her suitcase.

“Why bother?” I mumble as I stand and stretch. “Only gonna take it off you in a few minutes.”

She grins. “A few minutes huh? You mean I could actually get into bed before you start pawing at me?”

“Funny.” I squeeze her waist as I pass to the bathroom.

When I return, she's curled up against the pillows, thumbing through her phone.

“That better not be work,” I frown as I remove my shirt and pants.

She twists her hand, giving me a glimpse of her screen. “It's not. I was texting Lex.”

“Surely she'll be a little preoccupied to reply,” I chuckle as I join her in bed.

“Probably. Roman could never keep his hands to himself around her before. Now that she's carrying their baby, he can't help himself.”

“I don't blame him,” I murmur as I curl around her.

“What do you mean by that?”

I yawn, my mind drifting. “If that was you, I'd be the same.”

She stiffens slightly and I silently curse.

“You... You think about stuff like that?” she says slowly, shifting in my arms so she can turn to look at me.

“I...” Fuck.

“Seth...”

“Not really. I just...” That look on her face.

“Not really?”

Her expression is unreadable and I have no idea what to say. I honestly haven't thought about that. It was just an observation, a recognition of how much this pregnancy obviously means to both Lex and Roman, not an implicit hint that one day I want to have the same with Siobhan. I mean, it would be great, but fuck. Not yet.

“I just meant,” I clear my throat. “That if that was me and you, I would think that I would be inclined to do the same. Not that I have thought about that.”

Christ, this sounds just as bad as it did in my head.

“Sounds to me like you have thought about it.”

“I haven't!”

“It's okay, y'know.”

“What is?”

“To think about that. If you want to...” she trails off.

I eye her carefully. “Do you think about that kind of stuff?”

She drops her gaze. “Seth, we don't even live together.”

“You stuff all over my apartment suggest otherwise.”

“I mean officially.”

“Then we can make it official.”

My words are met by silence. I brush the hair back from her cheek, my fingers slipping to under her chin and raising her head so I can meet her eyes.

“I'm serious, Siobhan. You spend most of your time at mine as it is. You've been back to your apartment a handful of times since our anniversary. Sure, it was rough to start with, but we're managing, right? We're making it work, aren't we?”

She gives me the smallest of nods. “I guess.”

“So what's stopping us?” I gently nudge, my heart pounding as she wets her lips.

“Me.”

I swallow hard. “What do you mean?”

“I... I'm scared, Seth.” Her voice is barely a whisper. “What if I fuck up again? What if it's more serious this time? What if you don't want me anymore?”

My arms grip her tightly as I pull her against me under the sheets. “Firstly, that's never going to happen–”

“It might.”

“It won't.”

“Seth–”

“No,” my voice is firm. “Listen to me, Siobhan. I love you. I want to be with you. I want you to move in with me. I want it to be our apartment, not mine.” I take a deep breath. “I want you there. With me.”

Her eyes are wide, unsure.

“I'm serious, sweetheart. I fucking hate being there without you,” I continue. “And I get that it's a big move, I really do. But maybe it's time we did it and see what happens.”

“And what is going to happen?” she murmurs. “With us? We move in together and that goes okay. Then what?”

I shrug. “Whatever you want.”

“I'm selfish, Seth.”

“That makes two of us,” I grin down at her.

“I... I don't know if I want what Lex and Roman have.”

I frown. “What do you mean?”

“A baby.” She stares up at me, her eyes starting to glisten. “I don't know. I don't know if I want that or not. I look at them and I think that's amazing and a little part of me thinks that maybe, one day... But then I think about what that means and it's too much. But... But if that's what you want, then I don't want to stop you. I don't want you to wait on me to change my mind if that's not going to happen. Because I don't know if I will decide.”

“Hey...” I cup her face, my thumbs brushing over her cheeks. “I'm not asking you for anything other than to move in with me.”

“But–”

I brush my lips across her forehead. “I just want to be with you, Siobhan. I just want it to be you and me. If that changes in the future, then we cross that bridge when we come to it.”

“And if it doesn't?” she mumbles against me.

“Then it'll just be me and you forever.”

“I can't let you do that, not if that's–”

“Ssh.” I nuzzle the top of her head. “All I want is you. Nothing more.”

“I'm not saying no.”

“To what?”

“Everything,” she whispers.

I ease her back to meet her gaze once again. “So you'll move in with me?”

“Yes...”

“That's all I wanted, sweetheart. Everything else can wait.”

“Everything else?”

I smile softly, cupping the back of her head as I lower my mouth to hers. “I love you, Siobhan. Maybe one day I'll show you just how much.”

“You already do,” she breathes against my lips as I seek out her hand.

Drawing back, I raise her hand to my lips, brushing against the tip of her finger and then the knuckle, followed by the base as I hold her gaze.

“One day,” I promise her.

---

Part 2 with Dean/Becca incoming...

[mortemoppetere]

TIMING: june 25th PARTIES: @honeysmokedham, @chasseurdeloup, & @mortemoppetere LOCATION: the wicked's rest zoo SUMMARY: when an innocent man is framed for murder, axis investigations is on the case! hey, wait, what's animal control doing here? CONTENT WARNINGS: none!

"Wake up." Nora burst into Emilio's bedroom, door banging against the wall, Perro barking at her heels. "We've got a case." Nora scanned the ground of his bedroom. Neither of the Axis employees could claim to be neat in their lifestyles. Nora picked up two of the less aggressive-smelling articles of clothing and tossed them at the sleeping figure. "It's urgent, come on." Nora also dropped the three-legged dog onto the bed, hoping the little guy would go right for Emilio's face and force him to wake up. Nora slammed the door behind her as she left his room. While she waited for her boss to get it together, she paced a trail in the office space. Back and forth, hands shoved in her pockets. 

Nora had been in the office late that night. It wasn't for work. Sometimes she came in when Emilio wasn't home to use a working bathroom. She was pretty sure he knew but never said anything. Nora liked that arrangement. Nora loved her crypt and the freedom it represented, but she missed the utility of running water. Now that she had added a training routine to her night that left her covered in sweat from pushing herself with exercise, access to a shower was life-changing. Since Nora was playing a game of pretending not to need help, she kept a rotation of places she went to shower. Sometimes it was Van's, Thea's, Metzli's. A gym membership would probably help but the ten dollars a month needed to come from a bank account which she didn't have access to. 

Anyway, she'd been about to leave when a man knocked at the door. He'd been older and looked nervous to be there. "You're the private investigator?" He'd asked upon seeing her, Nora could tell from the look in his eye he didn't believe it. Probably because she looked like a child and knew it. Instead of answering the man, Nora had pointed to the cheap Private Investigator sign on the desk. The man must have been desperate enough to need help because he went right into the story. 

As soon as Emilio came out Nora went into recounting the story. "There's been a murder." Nora kept pacing while she spoke. "They think they know who did it, but our client wants to prove it wasn't who they think it was." Nora started stating the facts she knew. The body was discovered three days ago in the morning when the zoo opened. The cameras were down that night, so there was no video footage. "We won't be able to talk to the suspect. He's a polar bear." Nora stopped her pacing to look at Emilio. This was where she thought the grouchy old man might say no. But, despite her own hatred for her own bear, Nora had a deep fondness for bears. Especially the polar kind. Nora grabbed a file she'd prepared for Emilio off the desk and tossed it to him. "That's everything I know and found on Google." She'd gone to the library to print it off this morning. "Our client is a keeper at the zoo. He says he knows for certain the bear didn't do it." 

Blood on the floorboards, in the dirt, on the walls. The stench of it was overpowering, all iron and rust. He was running, but the ground under his feet was moving in the opposite direction so no step he took actually projected him forward. But he could see her ahead, anyway — dark hair tangled in every direction, tiny body curled into a ball, blood pooling all around her. He’d get there too late, because he always did, but he could see her. He was so close, he just needed to —

A voice cut through the silence of the bedroom, and Emilio started awake, eyes wide and wild. His heart was pounding in his chest as he shifted on the mattress, not yet sitting up but far from sleep. He probably ought to thank Nora for waking him; he’d only been asleep an hour or so, but the nightmares only ever got worse the longer he let himself stay in them. More than an hour of sleep and he woke up screaming his throat raw, shouting out names of long-dead ghosts that had never found him worth haunting. 

Nora was saying something about a case, and then there were clothes being tossed at him, and then a dog. Perro licked his nose once, a very intentional kind of move, as if he, too, was urging Emilio to wake up and listen to Nora. The detective grumbled, pulling on the dirty shirt and sweatpants she’d tossed his way as she exited the bedroom. It took him a moment to get off the mattress; it always did. His knee was stiff, hurting more than usual after the ‘rest’ he’d granted it. He did his best to ignore it as he limped into the living room.

“Do you live here now?” It was only half a joke. Inviting her to move in and forgetting about it wasn’t entirely outside the realm of possibility to Emilio. Nora accepting such an offer, however, seemed entirely unlikely. He moved into the kitchen as she spoke, starting the process of making a cup of coffee in his ancient, moldy coffee maker. 

Murder wasn’t Axis’s usual fare. That kind of thing was better left to the police, if only because Emilio attempting to take on such a thing seemed like a short walk to a prison cell for him. But apparently, the police hadn’t done their job. He listened as Nora told the story, finding it entirely unsurprising that the cops had the wrong man behind bars for this one. The police liked easy answers, most of the time. They tended to go with whatever suspect looked the best without digging into the evidence. Sometimes, that meant the wrong person got caught up in things. And sometimes, that wrong person had the funds and determination to hire Axis to help them. Not the worst case, really. It was nice of Nora to take it for him, nice of her to…

Wait. 

“Did you say a polar bear?” He caught the file she threw his way, looking down at the printout of some webpage about a polar bear. “A bugbear? It’s a bugbear, right? We can get them to transform and talk to them then?” He wanted, so badly, for the answer to be yes. The more Nora spoke, however, the less likely that seemed to be. “It’s a bear.”

"Live here? In this sty?" Nora rolled her eyes. "Never." It wasn't that Nora hated Axis. It was the opposite. Nora loved Axis. Nora loved how the noire feel of the office space made her feel like a star in a detective movie. She loved that blocked off from prying eyes was Emilio's home, a place where she was welcome to traverse, making her feel welcomed and like she belonged somewhere. There was joy in being able to come in, wake up Mimi, and get to work. No harsh words, no yelling. No demands to keep to a schedule. Axis was the easy and simple life she loved and always wanted. 

But the Crypt was everything to Nora. The Crypt was the symbol of freedom that she'd fought tooth and nail for. An oasis unto herself where no one could tell her what to do, how to exist, and what to be. There was nothing in that Crypt that demanded she twisted herself into different shapes to fit a box that wasn't designed to fit her. The Crypt was someplace she couldn't see herself giving up ever. She knew Emilio hated the Crypt. All of his mentions of the place came with reminders that there were creatures there that wanted to kill her. He was convinced that one day something would claw its way out of death and attack her down there. He was probably right, but her freedom was something she'd discovered she'd die for. 

Nora wasn't done pacing. Her boots slammed a steady beat against the worn wood floor. "A bugbear? It’s a bugbear, right? We can get them to transform and talk to them then?" Those words came with a sting of pain. Nora kept her eyes fixed on the ground in front of her, one boot in front of the other. The hope that it could be a fellow bugbear had crossed her mind when she first heard about the case, but further research into the bear had revealed that the bear was born and raised in captivity. The true sting came from the knowledge that even if it was a bugbear, Nora would have no clue how to tell. As far as she was aware, she was the only bugbear in existence at this current time. Despite her efforts to find others, there had only been one in her life. Her. It was blatantly apparent to her that she lacked something. Something to tell her where the other bugbears were. Something that could answer a question like "It's a bugbear, right?" 

"A bear." Nora repeated. Her voice and face remained as impassive as ever. "It can't defend itself. Someone has to do it." As Nora spoke her hands started fumbling through her pockets. Change. Ham. Snake. Some string. Finally, they came across what she was looking for. Nora pulled out two all-access zoo passes, tossing one at Emilio. "He gave us a way in." Not only did he give them a way in, but the man had also said these would be good all season. Unlimited zoo trips. Nora wasn't going to admit it to Mimi, but she was stoked. She was going to use this pass to try and free all the animals. Sometime. Not now. Right now they had a murder to solve. 

"He said we'd be able to use this to get into where they are holding the bear too." Nora stopped pacing, turning to look at Emilio. "He's sure the bear didn't do it. The bear doesn't have a history of violence. He was originally supposed to be picked up for rehabilitation and then release, but after she was healed her caretakers declared she was too dependent on humans that they didn't think she would survive in the wild." 

“It’s better than your place,” Emilio huffed, though he wasn’t entirely sure that was true. Axis and the Crypt were probably equally terrible for different reasons. Sure, the Crypt was in a graveyard that was potentially full of undead, but Axis was in a building of potentially dangerous people. The guy across the hall had come at Emilio with a switchblade more than once, and it was a lot harder to fight off crazy neighbors than it was to kill spawn vampires. Spawns were easy. You hit them in the chest with a stake and they turned to dust. But people were complicated. You kill one, even in self defense, and you’ve got a world of shit coming down on you. Especially if you were Emilio, he suspected. An undocumented Mexican murdering his neighbor probably wasn’t going to be given any kind of benefit of the doubt. People not turning to dust after dying was, frankly, a little rude of them when you threw that into consideration. 

Still, Emilio was a stubborn bastard. He’d die before he admitted that Nora might have a point about the Crypt being a step above Axis. He’d also never try to convince her to leave it. For whatever reason, she seemed to genuinely like being there. And Nora wasn’t the kind of person who seemed to genuinely like many things at all, so Emilio figured he ought to let her keep whatever she could find. He thought she might do the same for him. 

The coffee machine finished, and Emilio poured the liquid into a reasonably clean mug he pulled out of the sink, pulling a bottle of whiskey down from the cabinet to add a bit of that into the mix as well. With both the cup and the bottle in hand, he walked over to his desk and settled into the rickety chair, leaning back to watch Nora pace.

She was worked up about this. That much was obvious from the way she moved, stress coming off her in waves. It reminded him a little of Rosa when she got herself wrapped up in something, the way she’d walk and talk while making gestures with her hands, frustration clear in her expression. (He and Edgar used to make bets on who she’d take a swing at first. The bets were stupid. It was always Emilio. As the youngest brother, it was his God-given right to be the more annoying of the two.) 

But while Rosa often got worked up over things Emilio could relate to, Nora’s reaction seemed a little more foreign. If it was a bugbear, he’d get it. Even with his disconnect from the life, he’d still feel some sympathy for a slayer wrongfully accused of something and suffering the consequences of it unjustly. But a bear? Nora had admitted that she hadn’t even spent a large amount of time in that form, using it only when she needed to. Did she really feel such a connection to this animal? 

He thought, unwillingly, of Teddy and the way they’d spoken to the animals Joy had trapped away, the anguish in their face when they’d saved Emilio’s life at the cost of letting the baukbear die. He thought of Perro, of the anger he’d felt when he’d seen the condition the dog had been living under in the home of the vampire he’d taken him from. Maybe Nora’s frustration wasn’t as perplexing as he’d first thought. It was just a bear, but it was still something. Something that couldn’t look out for itself, something that needed someone on its side. Emilio bit back a groan. 

Reaching out, he caught the lanyard she threw his way, making a face at it. A zoo pass? Christ, he’d never even been to a zoo. He could only imagine how overwhelming it would be for a man who disliked crowds and had trouble maintaining a strong hold on his own mind. But this was clearly important to Nora, and she’d done plenty for him without protest, so he wrapped the string around his wrist and held the little piece of plastic in his hand. “Okay,” he agreed. “We’ll go in, and we’ll find out what happened. But if we find out the bear did do it, kid, I don’t know what we can do.” It seemed unfair, punishing a bear for doing what bears did. It wasn’t like the vampires Emilio took out who killed with intent; it was a fucking animal. It shouldn’t be punished for that. But how could they stop it? They couldn’t exactly sneak a bear through town and release it into the woods. Emilio didn’t even think polar bears lived in Maine. 

If they had to, he guessed, they could go to Teddy about it. The very thought filled him with irritation, but Teddy had proven to be useful when it came to animals. They’d probably know what to do with a polar bear. With a backup plan that he desperately hoped they could forgo, Emilio forced himself to his feet. “I know someone we can call if we have to,” he said, “but I’d rather we not have to. So tell me everything you know about the murder, and why they think the bear did it. We’ll start there.”

Emilio’s face was a carousel of emotion. With each passing bit of information Nora imparted his face contorted into different shades of what the fuck. “The bear didn’t do it.” The bear probably did it, but Emilio didn’t need to know about Nora’s internal monologue over this case. Nora wanted the bear to be guilt-free, and if it wasn’t well, “If the bear did do it, we can break him out.” Nora always had a straight face; it was part of the emotionless exterior she wore on a day-to-day basis. But this time? She meant it. She wanted it said with a straight face because if the bear did do it, then she would break out the bear. Like for fucks sake, it was a bear not a badly behaved human. Of course, it didn’t know better than to eat a human. “He can live in the crypt with me and Babs.” Nora continued. “We have the space.”

Babadook was taller than Nora while standing on hind legs, and the bear would be taller than Babs and together they would be raising the bar. Ha. That was an old commercial, why did she even think of that? “Who do you know? Mimi, do you…” Nora lowered her voice, as if what she was about to say was the most sacrilegious thing that came out of her mouth today. “Do you have a friend? I’m impressed, Mimi. I was starting to worry that you sat around wallowing by yourself when I’m not around to kick you into gear.” A tease. Her mentor may have the attitude of an ostrich, but he was a good guy. Anyone would be lucky to be his friend.

“Come on, I’ll tell you about the case in the car. I got us a ride.” Neither of them had a car. Nora walked everywhere, and she wasn’t sure how Emilio got anywhere. She wasn’t going to ask him to walk, not with that limp. That’s why she arranged for Mrs. Penelope to drive them. Nora knew basically nothing about the woman except she was very easy to scare. In fact, for the last three months she’d been showing up to Mrs. Penelope’s house at three am on the 18th of every month. Recently she’d approached the woman and told her she knew all about her little monster problem. “I want to help,” Nora had told the woman, “But the only way I can help you is if you drive me and my friend to the zoo.” The fact that it worked was truly a testament to the stupidity of humans.

Nora slid open the soccer van’s door, holding it for Emilio to get in, before following in and slamming the door after them. Mrs. P was a shivering shaking mess in the front seat. Her mascara stained her face, and her hands couldn’t keep a straight grip on the road. “To the zoo, Mrs. P!” Nora announced, slapping a hand against her shoulder. The woman practically jumped out of her seat at the contact, but at least she listened. The car slid out of its parallel parked spot, and they were on their way.

Mrs. P had five kids which meant there were snacks somewhere in this van. Nora rummaged around until she pulled out fruit snack baggies. She threw one at Emilio. He didn’t eat enough. “The bear’s name is Nanook.” Dumb name for a polar bear, considering it was polar bear in Inuit. Almost as dumb as someone naming their dog Perro. “The body was discovered three days ago, but they think he was killed four days ago around midnight. There was an electrical malfunction causing the cameras to go down.” Nora popped fruit snacks in her mouth and kept talking. “The guy killed was the polar bear trainer. He’s been working with that bear since it was born at the zoo.”

Nora had been doing extensive research about the polar bear all night, but what was the information that Emilio would find useful? Nora tapped her foot against the driver’s seat as she thought. Mrs. P let out a startled yelp, increasing the speed of the minivan. “No one saw it happen, and no one knows why he would have been there that late. It was after hours, he should have been home by then. Oh, the dude is married. She’s alive. Maybe she did it.” Wasn’t that what they said on crime shows? The spouse was always the one who did it? Nora figured the chances of being killed by your spouse were probably higher than being killed by a polar bear.

More fruit snacks down the hatch as Nora tried to dig some more information out of her brain. “The man loved his polar bear, and from the articles I’ve read the polar bear liked him.” That was the real shame about Nanook, he could have been so much more terrifying. “The body’s cause of death was assumed to be a bear attack because it was super shredded. Like the kind of shredded that if something else was the cause of death no one would know.” At least that’s what the zoo director had told her when he’d hired them for the case. "That's it, I think." Nora looked over to Emilio. "Do you think we should steal the body to do our own examination?" Nora had never stolen a dead body before, but if she had to guess that would be her greatest triumph yet. Body thief would sound so good on her resume of accomplishments.

This had to have been the stupidest case he’d ever agreed to take on. Stupider than the otter trapper, stupider than the cases that weren’t cases at all, stupider than the line of divorce lawyers who wanted him to help their clients come out on top. Polar bear wrongfully accused of murder really took the fucking cake here, but what could he do? Nora wanted this case solved, and Emilio wouldn’t deny her that. 

But… he wasn’t sure he could allow her to keep a polar bear in her crypt. Especially not a polar bear that might or might not kill people. “What would you feed it?” As if that was the biggest question here. “Look, if we break it out, the guy I’m thinking of probably has some way to get it to… wherever polar bears live.” It seemed like the kind of thing Teddy would know. Asshole. “But they’re not my friend. I have friends. Just not this guy.” Teddy had said as much themself. Do you think we could have been friends in another life meant that they weren’t friends in this one, meant that they never could be. And that was fine, because they were annoying. But he didn’t want Nora… worrying that he didn’t have friends. She had other things to worry about.

She had a ride? Emilio tried to decide whether or not he wanted to question that. It felt like the kind of thing he should probably be concerned about — either they were about to catch a ride from one of Nora’s friends, who would probably be another kid, or they’d catch a ride with someone she’d met and coerced on her way here, which would mean someone from Worm Row. Neither option was entirely appealing. He was about to suggest they just steal Jeff’s car instead, but Nora was already on her way down the hall. Great. Her ride it was, then. 

It wasn’t what he’d been expecting, in any case. The minivan was at least easy to get into, with enough room for him to stretch his leg out in the backseat. The woman driving it looked terrified, which did answer some questions. He nodded to her as he settled into the seat, inspecting her carefully to determine that she wasn’t a threat before saying, “Appreciate the ride, señora.” She didn’t acknowledge him. He slid back against the headrest, shooting Nora a half-amused glance. 

The ride to the zoo was uneventful, with Emilio listening as Nora filled him in on the case. He caught the baggie she threw his way, glancing down at the packaging and making a face, but opening it anyway and popping one of the candies into his mouth. It tasted far too sweet, and he held it back out towards Nora with a shake of his head. She needed it more than he did, anyway, and she certainly seemed to enjoy it more. “Maybe she did,” he agreed when hearing about the wife, nodding his head. Wives and husbands killed each other all the time. As someone who’d been married once, Emilio couldn’t quite understand it. He and Juliana fought sometimes, but he’d never had the urge to feed her to a polar bear. Maybe she’d felt differently about him, though. Who knew? “Anybody talk to the wife? Maybe she can at least tell us why he was there so late. Think that’ll be important to know.”

Despite the outlandish nature of the case, he found himself being sucked in by the evidence all the same. A man, a zoo, a polar bear. If the bear knew him, why would it have attacked him? It had never attacked him before, and he’d presumably been in the enclosure plenty of times. What were the odds that it would only choose to break that pattern when the cameras were down and no one could confirm it? It wasn’t as if the bear would have seen the need to hide the nature of the man’s death from anyone; it was a bear. Stuffing the body in the enclosure would have been a smart move, too, had the killer been of the non-bear variety. When authorities found a corpse in a bear enclosure torn to shreds, they didn’t tend to ask any questions beyond that. They let the obvious answer be the thing they believed, even if it wasn’t true. Which it very well might be — despite Nora’s evidence, which was compelling, Emilio wasn’t entirely sure that this wasn’t just a case of a hungry bear taking a bite out of the wrong meal. 

But Nora was right, he figured. Even if the bear had eaten its trainer, it didn’t really deserve to die. Not if it could be placed somewhere where it wouldn’t be a threat to anyone instead. If they could get it back to its natural habitat, or to some sanctuary somewhere where no humans would bother it, that was what they were going to do. 

As they pulled into the zoo, he considered Nora’s question. “I don’t know how to examine a body,” he admitted. “And if I call the ME, she’s going to be pissed at me.” If Regan found out he’d stolen a body, she’d definitely turn him in. He had no question about that. “Better to just… look at the things we know how to. Like the polar bear’s, uh…” He struggled for the word. “Home. Cage? Where it lived. Can your contact get us in there?” Mrs. P parked the car, still trembling. Emilio glanced between her and Nora before deciding, “You can wait in the car. Only got two passes.” She looked relieved. Emilio decided not to ask.

There had been a time in Nora’s childhood where her life was filled with research of Polar Bears. Each new fact she collected on her Polar Bear board went into her plan to run away one day to the Artic so she could meet her birth family of Polar Bears and ask what went wrong. It was a funny memory, now that Nora knew she wasn’t actually a polar bear. But her fondness for the creatures persisted. “Food.” Nora answered Emilio’s question as if it was the dumbest thing, he could ask her. Like what? Was she going to feed a polar bear trash? What kind of animal did Emilio think she was? “We’ve got a lot of honey at Axis.” Nora commented. They had a lot of honey at Axis because she kept filling Emilio’s kitchen with it.

Emilio was going on about how he knew a person, a person that wasn’t his friend, but could probably help. Also, that Emilio had friends. Nora side-eyed Emilio as she let himself talk his way through that one. “Whatever, sure. You have friends.” Nora rolled her eyes. An exaggerated movement made for Emilio’s benefit. “Just not that friend. At least this not friend can help.”

“Did anyone talk to the wife?” Nora repeated back at Emilio, shooting him a look. He was making a disgusted face over the fruit snacks. God. That man had absolutely no taste when it came to anything. Nora accepted the bag and ate his share of fruit snacks as well. “You think the cops did anything that wasn’t blaming Nanook?” That was a big assumption. The zoo wanted to do something, and they did, by hiring Axis. Talking to the wife was going to be their job. Everything was going to be their job. Humans hated animals. Nora shifted in her seat, her feet slapping against the back of Mrs. P’s seat causing the woman to scream again in absolute horror. “Chill Mrs. P. I’m just moving.” Nora found herself rolling her eyes again. Perhaps it was time to stop scaring the lady so much. She looked like she hadn’t slept in years.

"What do you mean you can't examine a body?” Nora had seen two dead bodies in her life, and she knew how both of them died since one was killed in front of her and the other, she’d killed herself. “You just look at it.” She was also filled with the endless confidence of youth that told her there was nothing in this world she couldn’t do. “You know the ME?” Nora had pulled out her phone and was lounging in the chair scrolling through some social media website as the ride dragged on. This got her to look up from her phone. “Is she one of those friends you keep telling me you have?” Nora went back to scrolling. “Maybe if she’s a good friend of yours she can examine the body for you and tell you what she finds.”

“Habitat.” Nora supplied the word while not looking up from the phone. “Cage works, but I think they want the enclosures to feel like a house and not a jail.” Nora stopped replying long enough to leave a long and scathing comment on something Elias had posted. She knew she was probably still blocked by him, but for some reason Elias liked to unblock her every now and then to see what she was up to. Those were the moments those reviews were for. With that done Nora shoved her phone back into her pocket. “That’s what our passes are for. He said it’ll get us wherever we want to go.” Nora hoped he hadn’t been lying. “He said he’ll meet us behind the polar bear exhibit, or send someone to meet us. I don’t remember.” Nora had to get better at listening when people were giving her direction.

As soon as the car was parked, Nora was slamming the door open and jumping into the nice morning breeze. Normally Nora wasn’t a morning person. They were the worst times to be awake. This morning was different based on the intent. Today Nora would free an innocent Polar Bear. Emilio was saying something to Mrs. P, and taking his sweet ass time about it. “Come on.” Nora called, joining the crowd headed to the gates. Nora made sure to not get too far ahead of Emilio, tracking him by scent in the crowd instead of turning around to look.

At the gates Nora presented her pass and was given a map and ushered in. Nora unfurled the map as she waited for Emilio to finally catch up. The arctic wasn’t that far from where they were. “We can stop by and see penguins on our way there.” Nora told him, pointing out the location on the map. Nora worked very hard on keeping up her tough cool girl exterior. When people saw her, she wanted them to have no doubt in their minds that she was cool, calm and collected. Unfortunately for her, there was something about animals that made her want to lose control and scream for joy like a fucking child. Nora wanted to see those penguins so badly.

The walk through the crowds made their proceedings slower, but they got to the polar bear exhibit eventually. The arctic area was a collection of motifs all designed to look like they were in a snowy paradise. Years of use had caused the once white snow mounds and igloos to turn a shade of gray from wear. A sign hung on the polar bear exhibit that said the animal was currently unavailable. Nora spotted the employees only access tucked away and led them back there. The door was unlocked, and no one was there to stop them. In the center of the employee only area was a polar bear, locked in a cage too small, obviously under supervision from cameras pointed at it. 

“I don’t think polar bears eat honey.” Though, really, what did he know? It wasn’t as if anyone had ever taught Emilio the ins and outs of nonsupernatural wildlife, especially when it came to creatures no one imagined he’d ever come face to face with. Why did a hunter growing up in Mexico need to know anything about a polar bear? His mother certainly never would have guessed that he’d be trying to clear one from a murder charge one day. If she had, maybe she would have added a fact or two into the curriculum. 

Then again, she’d always known he’d be dealing with people, and she’d never taught him much of anything about those, either. If she had, maybe he’d be a little better at understanding friendship, and what did and didn’t qualify as such. “I think they can probably help. They’re good with animals. And they care about them.” And they were a demon, which would probably come in handy somewhere. Maybe Teddy could open some kind of a demon portal to the bear’s natural habitat and let it go there. Or shrink the bear so it would be easier for Nora to keep in her crypt. Whatever.

All right, so Nora probably had a point. Cops, as a whole, were lazy. When they found an answer they liked, they didn’t spend a lot of time looking for alternatives. Even if their answer was wrong. It was why there were prisons full of innocent people… and why guys like Emilio tended to wind up picking up the slack with the ones who got away scot free. The police had decided the bear was to blame, so they wouldn’t talk to the wife. That’d be Axis’s job. And Emilio hated that. Talking to spouses, in cases like this one, was second only to talking to parents on the list of things he couldn’t stand. There was a chance the wife had done it, sure. But if she hadn’t? Then she was someone preparing to bury the person she’d thought she’d spend the rest of her life with. And Emilio could relate to that a lot more than he wished he could.

“I mean I don’t know how to examine a body,” Emilio replied dryly. “There are going to be a lot of wounds on it. I don’t know how to tell if those were there before he died, or if they happened after. And I have a…” He trailed off, trying to think of the right word. “Working relationship with the ME. We’re not friends. She doesn’t like me. But she helps me out when I find a body. I don’t think she’ll help us with this one. She’s weird about corpses.” He tried not to think about it, because if he thought about it, he was going to start trying to figure out what Kavanagh was. A hunter’s mind was a hard thing to shake, even when you were a shitty hunter. He didn’t want to be a man who went around having conversations with people and spending the whole damn time trying to figure out what kind of beast they might be. 

He nodded as Nora provided the correct term, filing it away for later. And he liked the way she did it; casual, without looking. Not like he was stupid, not like he should have known. English was a slippery thing, and there were times when Emilio couldn’t grip it quite right, despite his best efforts. Some people would make you feel stupid in those moments, but Nora didn’t. For all that she liked to poke at people, she never seemed to actively try to hit the buttons that would really hurt. Not with him, at least. “Maybe the bear had a pass,” he said dryly, flipping the little piece of plastic between his fingers absently. 

It was clear that Nora was in a hurry, so Emilio didn’t waste too much time conversing with their reluctant driver before following the kid towards the entrance. She seemed to know where she was going, and he trailed along as quickly as he could without setting himself up for a day of discomfort. They’d probably be on their feet for a while as they trekked through the zoo, so he needed to make sure he didn’t overexert his damn leg. This case was clearly far more important to Nora than she’d admit, and he wasn’t going to risk dropping the ball on it. 

Getting in was easy enough, though he’d figured it would be. Nora had clearly done her due diligence here. It was the first time she’d gotten this involved in a case, though Emilio knew better than to get used to it. This case was special. Raising a brow at her request, he nodded. “All right,” he said. “Never seen a penguin before. Those are birds, right?” Maybe he was playing up his ignorance a little bit, but he figured Nora’d probably get a kick out of it. Maybe she’d like to make fun of him and look at penguins. That seemed right up her alley. 

By the time they finally made their way to the arctic exhibit, Emilio’s leg was aching a little more than he’d like to admit. He trailed a little ways behind Nora, jaw clenched a little as they slipped into the employee’s only section. The sight of the bear caged in the center of the room did fill him with more anger than he’d like to admit, but he was careful not to let it show too much. They’d need to keep a level head here. As much as he’d like to just open the bear’s cage and let it loose, it wasn’t feasible with the crowds outside. “What, they think it’s gonna do a jailbreak?” He scoffed, glancing up at the cameras. “Seems like a little much.” He walked over to the cage carefully, stopping just before he got to the bars. The bear only watched, looking incredibly docile all things considered. It certainly didn’t look like the kind of bear that had killed someone. “Not violent,” he observed. Carefully, he grabbed one of the bars with his hand. The bear still made no move towards it. “What do you think, kid?”

Texting on her phone in the car, body positioned in a way that car seats were not supposed to hold human bodies, Nora dropped her phone as Emilio said something odd about the ME. Nora looked up, turning to face him. “What do you mean she’s weird about corpses? Weird how?” Thoughts were racing, none of them good. Nora swiveled back, resuming her optimal phone position. “I’ve thought about it, and I don’t want to. She’s not your friend, she’s friends with the corpses. Got it.” This had a lot of implications, and all these implications were being saved for a day Nora wasn’t busy trying to save a polar bear’s life.

It was unfortunate that they hadn’t gotten a look at the penguins, but Nora’s one-track mind had forgotten to lead her boring mentor there. What kind of man had never seen penguins before? Was this his first time at the zoo? If Nora could retain any thoughts that didn’t revolve around saving Nanooks life, she would try to remember to take him around to see all the animals. She could tell him that she wanted to show him her favorites, but her favorites were all of them. Besides, Nora had never been to this particular zoo.

Nora had been to a lot of zoos. Nora had made a point of visiting the polar bears every single time she went to zoos. But that didn’t change the feeling she got every time she saw one. The feeling of wonder and longing and confusion all bundled into a tight package presented with a bow. This time it had something new, it had the knowledge that she wasn’t a polar bear but a bugbear, but the old feelings still remained. Nora followed Emilio’s approach to the cage and watched as his hand touched the bars and did nothing. “I told you he didn’t kill anyone.” Nora shoved her own hand through the bars, palm forward hand outstretched. The polar bear sniffed in her direction. Could he smell the sameness on them? That in a different life their roles could have been reversed?

For a brief moment, Nora considered transforming. Maybe if she was a bear then she could talk to a bear. A glance around the room reminded her that was a bad idea. Too many cameras. First, she’d have to take off her clothes, and transform, and then that would turn into a viral sensation, and then she’d be found out as still alive. Better to not tempt YouTube fame over a bear to bear she didn’t know would work. Instead, Nora moved Emilio, positioning him so his back was blacking a camera and then moved herself so her back was blocking another. Reaching inside herself she found that thread of power within her and tapped it.

An illusion bloomed in front of the bear, the perfect image of the man who he’d killed. The bear did nothing. The illusion shifted, showing Nora turning into a bear and the two of them hugging because she wanted the bear to know they were friends and honestly didn’t know how to convey that in bear terms. The bear did nothing. “I don’t know how to talk bear.” It sounded frustrated, even in her monotone voice. Once more she was lacking at something she felt she ought to be able to do. Nora was having the illusion of the bears shake hands when the door swung open, and a familiar scent filled her nose.

Nora flipped around, dropping her illusion, but she was aware that if the man had been paying attention there was no way he would have missed it. “Well, if it’s not my ex-lover.” Because Nora was nothing if not confident that this man wasn’t paying attention. Everything always worked out for her, after all. “You’re a lot shorter than I remembered.” Nora pointed over at Emilio. “This is inspector gadget, John Brown, world renown private investigator and bear fanatic. We’ve been hired by the zoo to clear this bear of all charges. Why are you here?” 

When Kaden heard the talk going around the station about the case where a bear killed its handler, he knew something sounded a little off about all of it. There’s no way someone who worked with this bear day in, day out would be stupid enough to get himself killed by it, not without anyone seeing it. And he wasn’t even mauled? There were too many fucking weird things about it all for him to ignore it. Thankfully, the detective on the case was fine with his suggestion to have animal control go give an inspection of the situation and report back. Probably because there were so many other bullshit cases on his plate for him to want to babysit the glorified dog catcher. Which was fine by Kaden.

That was, until he remembered where the polar bear was located. And what happened the last time he’d been to the zoo. 

Putain de merde. For once in his goddamn life, he opted to wear his uniform. Maybe no one would recognize him as the idiot who fought a mascot with an umbrella if he looked moderately professional. He also made sure to park by the back and use the employee entrance, hoping to avoid as many people as he could manage. When he explained why he was there, the guard let him in and took him to the back office where the coordinators and managers were. “Officer Langley,” he said when he approached the coordinator. “I’m with Animal Control. I’m here to look into the polar bear for Detective Peterson.”

A knowing smirk was spread across the coordinator’s face when he looked up at Kaden. “Here to fight another one of my mascots?” he asked.

Putain. He could feel his cheeks getting red. “I’m, uh, not sure what you’re talking about. But if you could just point me in the right direction, I’ll get to work.”

The zoo employee was clearly not fooled by his attempt at subterfuge and raised a brow. Still, he decided to let it go, nodding towards the direction of the door. “The bear’s being held behind the exhibit. We already have a team of PI’s looking into it. I’m not sure if they’re here yet, but one of the zookeepers can lead the way if you insist. Just so long as you’re not armed with an umbrella, it should be fine.”

Kaden didn’t have to be told twice and rushed out the door and towards the polar bear exhibit. When he reached it and was let into the back, he’d hoped to be alone in the room, just him and the bear. Only when he entered, careful to be quiet and not startle the animal, he saw two figures standing by the cage. Must be the private investigators. He opened his mouth to say something, but shut it closed when he felt the hair on his arms all stand on edge – a shifter was in the room. Beyond that, he recognized both the man and the young woman there. It took everything he had not to curse aloud right then and there. These were the PI’s hired by the zoo? He refrained from cursing and stood back to watch what the fuck Emilio and Nora were doing when they thought no one was watching. 

The hunter thought he was imagining things, slightly worried he’d been hit with some ballybog toxin again when he saw the illusions conjured in the cage with the polar bear. He thought he had a lot of questions before he walked into the room and now they’d all but tripled. He was about to speak up when the kid turned on her heel to face him and had to fucking remind him about the incident at the coffee shop.

Wait. His brows knit together. Did she just call him short? “Putain de merde, first off I’m not your ex-lover or lover of any kind so don’t fucking start with that shit. Second,” he turned to Emilio, “What are you doing here with her?” Kaden crossed his arms against his chest. “And I’m here because I’m animal control, part of the WRPD. Trying to examine the case, report on the bear.” He hoped that sounded convincing since, while he was there on the job, it was hardly at anyone’s request. “I take it you’re the crack team of PI’s they hired. You, I should have guessed,” he nodded to Emilio. “You,” he said, looking at Nora, “not so much. And both of you, get your hands away from the bear, for fucks sake.” 

Whatever conclusions Nora seemed to have jumped to, Emilio wouldn’t correct her. Regan would probably prefer it if Nora thought she was weird enough to avoid, anyway, given how weird she got online any time anyone even suggested friendship in her general direction. They had bigger fish to fry right now, anyway. Or… bigger bears to fry. Or not fry. Bigger bears to free?

This was stupid.

But it wasn’t stupid in the kind of sense that made him think Nora’s insistence that the bear was innocent was wrong. The more time he spent by the cage, the more he figured the kid was onto something. He watched as she made illusions appear, marveling at how different these were than the last ones he’d seen her put up. In the graveyard, that first day they’d met, she’d been trying to scare him. It was clear that her intentions were different now. There was some attempt at communication, but Emilio didn’t know enough about bugbears to know if it would be successful or not. Emilio’s marriage to Juliana meant he knew more about shifters than the average slayer might, but hunters didn’t tend to know much more about what they hunted than they had to. He didn’t know if bugbears could talk to bears; neither did Nora. They were both just taking guesses here. 

“That’s all right,” he told her lowly. “I don’t know how to speak bear, either. We’ll figure out another way, okay?” He could tell she was frustrated, even if she wasn’t one to admit to something. Emilio had spent enough time with the bugbear to read her blank expressions, to notice the minute differences between one and the next. Despite what people tended to assume about him, he was a half decent detective. It was one of the only things he was really good at. Other things, he thought, were much harder to accomplish.

For example… this. The door behind them opened, and Emilio spun around so quickly that he ached with the movement. He was expecting some zoo employee to tell them to keep their hands out of the damn cage, which probably would have been fair. Instead, there was a familiar face in an unfamiliar uniform. And Emilio had a thousand thoughts at once.

Kaden was a ranger. He’d be able to sense a shifter in the room. Kaden knew Emilio was a hunter. He wouldn’t mistake the slayer for the beast that was making his hair stand up on end. Emilio had asked him enough about bugbears to make him at least a little suspicious. Nora had been positioned to hide her illusions from the camera, but not from the door. It didn’t take a half decent detective to string all those things together and realize that Kaden probably had enough to know what Nora was now, and it didn’t take a man as paranoid as Emilio to fear for what that might mean.

His eyes darted between the two, listening as Nora spoke. They’d met each other before. Kaden must have known she was a shifter from the start. Was he planning on targeting her? He wasn’t here for her now — the uniform said he was probably here on official business — but did that mean she was safe later? Andy said that she and Alex didn’t hunt anymore, but Kaden said he killed ‘dangerous shifters.’ How much weight did that qualifier carry? Was Nora dangerous in the eyes of a ranger who seemed to think not everything was? 

He was tense as Kaden turned to him, trying and failing to school his expression into something neutral. “She was hired by the bear,” he replied dryly, a hint of something like a threat in his tone. “I thought the police were finished with this one. We were told you weren’t coming for the bear yet.” They were supposed to have time to actually look at this case before wrenches were thrown into it. But a ranger stumbling into the room with Emilio and his bugbear assistant? That was one hell of a wrench. 

You're not supposed to speak bear, I am. Nora had wanted to snap out the words. Lash out for her own failings. Instead, the words choked in her throat, swallowed down by her own feelings of self loathing. "Fine. Yeah." Nora reluctantly agreed. But wouldn't it have been easier if Nora could figure out how to work the bear part of Bugbear? Fuck. She didn't even know if speaking to bears was something that bugbears could do. Could werewolves talk to wolves? It was another one of those 'fuck you birth parents why couldn't you've given me to another bugbear so I could at least understand something basic about myself.' moments. 

Some people were experts at reading a room. They could look at people's body language and parse out exactly what was happening. Those people could react accordingly to keep tensions at bay. Nora was not one of those people. It slipped by her completely that Emilio had become tense with recognition the moment Kaden entered the room. Nora was too busy caught in the mirth of meeting the man that was the target of so many funny rumors. "Don't start with that shit?" Nora lay a hand over her mouth in mockery of someone who might actually be offended. "Kaden, don't tell me you're here because you're continuing your crusade as the zoo's most invasive species." Nora's eyes raked up Kaden's body. "At least you're wearing clothes today." 

Seeing Kaden there was the perfect redirection for her frustration from moments before. There were many quips and jabs Nora wanted to toss at the man. He was funny. There was something about him that made people want to lie. She'd noticed it online. How did he create such an interesting conundrum he kept putting himself into. Oh, Nora wanted to scare him. Her fingers itched and twitched at the thought. There was a second where she almost reached into the power deep within her and unleashed it, creating a massive creature coming at him. Nora took a deep breath and composed herself. Because she was mature, and this wasn't about her and her love of tormenting Kaden. This was about a polar bear named Nanook and his right to live a long and happy life. 

Because Nora, at this point, and if she was being honest with herself, probably at any point of time, would back up anything Emilio wanted to say to fuck with Kaden. Nora may not have been the proudest of bugbears, it was taking work for her to even become on, but she was a proud fan of bears! They were large, scary and, well, scary! They deserved to eat people if they wanted to. Nora particularly didn't like the way Kaden called them the crack team, or the tone he took with Emilio. Nora could take all the smoke Kaden wanted to throw at her, but Emilio was a good man and a good detective who was here helping her. Nora hadn't believed it at first that he was a good detective, and he'd already proved Nora wrong. Since revealing that he'd known who she was this whole time and had just been keeping it quiet cause he'd detected she didn't want to talk about it, Nora believed the man could solve anything. He didn't deserve Kaden's insults.

Kaden seemed mad that they weren't supposed to be here and it took everything in Nora's trembling body to not make fun of him for being bad at his job. But she refrained. Because she was here to help Nanook. It was a herculean task, holding back the barrage she had for him. Nora forced herself to turn away from Kaden's stupid face and to look at Nanook. The polar bear caught her eye. He looked so sad in the small little cage instead of being in his large habitat, allowed to walk around as he wanted. Nora took a deep breath, centering herself. "If you don't believe us, you can always call the zoo director." Nora tugged at the pass around her neck. "He's the one who gave us these to investigate." Clasping her hands behind her back, she turned herself back towards animal control. “We’re going to prove he’s innocent. You can’t take him.”

Nora's body trembled as she kept back the rage within her. The tongue that wanted to lash out every single insult and rumor she knew about this man. The way she wanted to see his sad and pathetic life made fun of in that moment. He'd go 'stop please I'm so old and tired and I didn't actually want to fight' just like the last time he'd engaged her online and thought he could play her game.  But she refrained. Because she was here to help Nanook. It was a herculean task, holding back the barrage she had for him. Nora forced herself to turn away from Kaden's stupid face and to look at Nanook. The polar bear caught her eye. He looked so sad in the small little cage instead of being in his large habitat, allowed to walk around as he wanted. Nora took a deep breath, centering herself. 

With a quick glance at Kaden, Nora stuck her arm further into the bear cage. "We know he's not a man eater, is that what you're trying to cover up, cop?" Nora asked, a tone of accusation melded into her monotone. It had just been the way he'd added get your hands away from the bear for fuck sakes. Like he, on the team condemning the bear, knew better than them, the heroes of the story. "You're just jealous because if you stuck your hand in here, he'd bite you and it'd be deserved." Nora looked back at Nanook. "It'd be self defense, right buddy?" 

Hired by the bear. Hired by the fucking bear? “Putain de merde,” Kaden muttered to himself. This was going to be a long fucking day. “I’m not coming for the bear. I’m here to investigate, alright.” Alright, sure, he came because he didn’t really believe the reports. Detective Peterson might have thought this was an open and shut case, but Kaden didn’t buy it. Animals in captivity sometimes exhibit aggressive behaviors to their handlers, but rarely was it out of nowhere with no history. And if anything it would be out of boredom or frustration and that would be the fault of the zoo, not the goddamn polar bear. 

“Very fucking funny,” he said, rolling his eyes. “You know I was never naked here in the first place.” Not that it would matter to her one way or the other. He hadn't been sure that Nora was the shifter in the room when they met in the cafe; it was nearly impossible to narrow down in that sort of crowded space, but now there was no mistaking it. And the illusions. Hired by the bear. 

Ah. Bugbear. Had to be.

Wait. Kaden side-eyed Emilio, the guy who had been asking a whole lot of questions about bugbears. And his “apprentice” (if that was even the truth he couldn’t tell with these two) was a bug bear. Was he asking because he was planning to kill her? Seemed like a lot of wasted effort for that. Did that mean he was helping her? Or using her? Strange. He’d taken the man to be the kind to stab first, ask questions later. That still didn’t make him comfortable with the idea of him hanging around Alex. Last time that he’d talked to her, it sounded like Emilio didn’t know what she was. He didn’t plan on changing that anytime soon. But he sure had a lot more questions for the other hunter now. He’d have to figure out when to ask them because here and now wasn’t the place or the time.

“I’m not trying to cover up shit.” Kaden sighed and got closer to the polar bear, keeping his eyes on that seemingly docile predator. His cage was way smaller than it should be – the enclosure was barely large enough and that was far larger. And even so, the bear was calm as ever, even with all these strangers staring at him and sticking their hands in his cage. He tried to look for any signs that the bear might have been sedated, any signs of tranq darts, dilated eyes, anything. There was nothing like that he could see. It was funny that the last time he’d been here, he thought the damn golf cart was a polar bear and he was petting it and now he could practically reach out and touch the creature for real. No illusions. Not anymore, at least. 

It was stupid, but her last jab that the bear would bite him hurt a little. He didn’t care about a lot of things and he wasn’t good at a whole lot of shit, either, but he was good with animals. Someone accusing him otherwise always stung. The other shit she said, about being her lover or being naked at the zoo, that was frustrating, sure, but it didn’t hit quite the same way this had. “I don’t think he’d bite anyone, kid,” he said, unwilling to meet her gaze lest she caught sight of the hurt that might be lingering in his own. “If he’s this calm with no stimulation, I don’t buy that he did anything to the handler.” Kaden crouched down to get a better look at the bear’s paws and legs. “I don’t see any blood stains, either. I would expect those would still be there even if they cleaned him.” 

Kaden rubbed his face with his palms as he stood back up. He had no fucking clue what to do here, he doubted the detective wanted to hear from him, the animal control officer, that he’d fucked up or at the very least had gotten lazy. “So what’s your plan for clearing the bear?”

It was clear that she was frustrated, even if she was trying to hide it. There was a large part of Emilio that wanted to offer her comfort, somehow, wanted to put a hand on her shoulder or share some sage words to help her accept that these things took time or whatever, but he didn’t have much of a chance because there was a ranger in the room staring at them both like they had two heads a piece and Nora was talking to him like he wasn’t built to kill her. It was probably just as well, anyway; Emilio would have been shit at the ‘words of wisdom’ thing, anyway. Losing his daughter was never going to make him a better father, and he’d already been a pretty shit one.

But that didn’t mean he’d repeat all the same mistakes. He might not know how to comfort Nora about her inability to communicate with the bear, but he knew how to protect her from Kaden if he had to. Subtly, he positioned himself with his shoulder between the hunter and the bear, ready to step in if Kaden made a move. He probably wouldn’t do anything here — his reputation at the zoo was already bad enough — but Emilio wouldn’t bet Nora’s life on a logical hunch.

“Nora,” he said quietly as she began mocking Kaden, “not now.” She’d probably have questions about that later, he knew, because it was uncharacteristic of him to stop her. Typically when she went in on someone, Emilio was content to watch and allow himself to be entertained. He doubted she’d assume it was because they were on a case, given the fact that he tended to let her do whatever while they were working, and he wouldn’t have lied to her, anyway. When they got out of here and she asked, he’d tell her. Outing a fellow hunter felt wrong in a way that made his insides twist, but Nora deserved to know this. Especially given how much she seemed to enjoy driving Kaden out of his mind.

Speaking of which… Emilio glanced down to see Nora’s fingers twitching, and he could practically feel how much she wanted to craft some illusion or another against the ranger. In all honesty, Emilio didn’t even know if it would work. Were rangers immune from bugbears’ illusions? He was kicking himself now for all the things he’d never asked Juliana about, though given the fact that she hadn’t tended to hunt bugbears, he wasn’t sure even she would have known. And it wasn’t as if he could ask Kaden now — he’d already made the other hunter suspicious with his questions regarding bugbears the last time they’d had a conversation about it.

In a subtle attempt to communicate to Nora that she should not, under any circumstances, try to scare Kaden right now, the hunter knocked his wrist against hers. He wasn’t sure if the lack of illusions was because his message got across or if she really was so focused on saving the bear that she decided to forgo her usual level of shenanigans, but he was glad for it either way. Less glad that she seemed unwilling to forgo all shenanigans, but she wouldn’t be Nora if she didn’t cause at least a little bit of trouble.

Even without the bugbear of it all, he expected Kaden to argue with them. If he really was here on police business — and given his last experience at the zoo, Emilio couldn’t imagine anything else that would drive him to return — then he shouldn’t be on Axis’s side here. The police had already decided the outcome of this case; it was the zoo that wanted a different answer. Emilio was expecting Kaden to insist that the police’s official stance was the correct one, that the bear had killed the handler and would be put down as a result. Instead, he took a surprising turn, and… agreed with Nora? Emilio blinked, trying not to let his surprise show.

“No shit he didn’t bite anyone,” he replied, though the words weren’t as harsh as they normally might have been. “Look at him. I’ve got clients I’d be more worried about taking a bite out of me than him.” Throughout it all, the bear remained calm behind them. 

Emilio tensed as Kaden approached, but all the ranger did was crouch beside the cage to inspect the bear further. The lack of blood was an important enough observation, though it hardly cleared the bear of any wrongdoing. The presence of blood wouldn’t have condemned him, either, given the fact that the body had been in the bear’s original enclosure. It was a tough case to prove in either direction; without cameras, and with the only ‘witness’ to the case being a bear they couldn’t talk to, there was really only one solution. “Only thing we can do is find out who actually did it,” he replied with a shrug. “Clear the bear by finding the actual killer. The one the police aren’t looking for.”

Two hunters and two bears enter a room. There was a punchline here, but Nora didn't know it probably because she was unaware of the joke's existence, with Kaden firmly remaining a frail and easily targetable human in her mind's eye. The only thing Nora knew was Emilio acting weird. Her favorite thing about the man who'd taken to helping her was his proclivity to play along. "Tell Gael, if you speak to him, that I broke your kneecaps." "Let me scare the shit out of that suspect so he talks." and not even questioning why Mrs. P was crying the whole way here. So why was this a not not situation? It wasn't just a no mocking situation, it was a no illusions situation, his wrist knocking against her as if to say 'knock it off.' Fine. Nora could play the human. 

Kaden wasn't making it easy. Didn't she know he was never naked there? God. The words stung her lips as her teeth bit down to try and keep from retorting 'Oh yeah? Is that what the orangutan said?' Her eyes shifted to the side to Emilio, as if to gauge how serious he was. How far could she push this? The answer was she couldn't. Emilio had already won her steadfast and unwavering loyalty. If there was a reason for this good behavior, it was probably good. Once again she was reminded that her biggest curse in Wicked's Rest was knowing that this sad sad man was basically always right. Nora swallowed back her other retort of 'Oh, was that why you're here today? To strip off for the bear and set the record straight?' This was some shit character development. It would be much more fun to bully the French Canadian. 

As Kaden called Nora kid, she let her normal mask of indifference slip into a death glare. It was an easy step. Instead of looking bored, her eyes burrowed into Kaden. He didn’t get to call her that. “My name is Penny, not kid.” Nora informed him, using the identity of Inspector Gadget’s niece. Not that he expected any of the men to know who that was, or remember that Nora had introduced Emilio under the Inspector’s name. It was disappointing that they’d already known each other. What was the point of fake identities if they already knew the real ones. This was ruining her noir detective experience. 

As the two discussed what they were going to do, and to keep her mind off the burning need to bare her teeth and dig them deep into Kaden's metaphorical hide, Nora turned her attention fully to the bear. The bear looked back at her. They looked at each other. Then the bear stepped forward close to Nora's hand and sniffed her hand. Did it smell the bear on her? Did it smell that they were comrades? The bear rubbed its head against her hand and Nora found her heart shattering into ten million pieces before repairing itself into the face of Nanook. If anything happened to this bear she would burn down the whole town. "Jailbreak the bear." Nora told them. "Come on. We won't need to solve anything, and he'll be free to return to the wild." Or Nora's crypt. Either one. 

Nora reached into her pocket and pulled out a bit of the ham she was saving for later and gave it to the bear. Building trust started like this, right? Giving up what she loved for something she suddenly found herself loving more. "Or we could go talk to his wife." Nora mumbled, knowing already that breaking the bear out was supposed to be their last option. It was worth the try with 'I'm on your side', bootlicker animal control Kaden here.

Either way there was no point in remaining here. Except to talk to the bear. Which Nora still hadn't figured out. "I'll be back for you, I promise." Nora whispered to the bears, in a hushed voice that she hoped the two men couldn't hear. They didn't need to know how invested Nora was in this case. Not that she hadn't made it glaringly obvious already. Nora turned away from the bear, and pointed at Kaden. "You've been no help. At least you know you're playing for the wrong team." Not the cease fire she’d been instructed in, but like Hoobastank’s hit song “The Reason”, Nora was not a perfect person.  Her finger moved to Emilio. "Back to Mrs. P? I've got a home address in the file." 

Kaden tried not to turn his head or furrow his brows or make any sort of visible reaction when he heard the slayer whisper to the kid. Had to wonder if Emilio forgot that rangers had super hearing. Or if he just didn’t care one way or the other if Kaden heard him tell Nora (was that her name?) ‘not now.’ There were too many possibilities as to what that could mean considering that Kaden still didn’t understand the dynamic here. It almost felt like he was being protective of the kid. But from what? Wait, from him? Kaden couldn’t help it, his brows knit together at the thought alone. He had to be wrong about that, there was no way that was what was happening here. He knew he was playing by a different set of hunter codes than most but he didn’t expect anyone else to. There was no way a slayer was knowingly protecting a bugbear. It was weird enough that there were two rangers in town living with a werewolf. 

“Penny?” he asked, looking at the kid. “Here I thought it was Nora.” Probably wasn’t the best idea potentially clueing in Emilio that he’d heard the man before but Kaden couldn’t help himself. “But fine, I won’t call you kid, connasse. That better?” He didn’t know what the fuck he’d done to make himself her target but he was fucking sick of it. Fucking baffling that she was nice to Emilio, maybe even respected him, and all Kaden got was insults and coffee thrown at him. Just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He sighed and crossed his arms, watching Nora interact with the polar bear. A smile found its way onto his face even though he tried to keep his countenance flat. “No jailbreaking the bear,” he told her. “None of us have anywhere to put it and no way to feed it.” That said, if the worst came to worst, well… he didn’t have any better ideas. And he would volunteer to help.

Kaden rolled his eyes as the kid pointed at him. Why was she so fucking obnoxious to him in particular? “Putain, I’m not playing for any team, alright. Other than the bear’s. And I’d rather not have to help you two find it a new habitat if you fuck up the investigation and have to jailbreak the goddamn bear.” He looked back at the polar bear in his cage, as calm and quiet as he had been the whole time. There was no way Kaden was letting anything happen to that bear, whether or not the other two in the room believed him on that front. 

“Anyway, you better figure it out quick. Best I can do is put in my report about the bear and let Detective Peterson know the behavior profile doesn’t match up with the assessment of the crime. But I doubt he’s going to put a whole lot of weight on the dog-catcher cop’s word.” It probably wasn’t wise to clue Nora in on the fact that his job wasn’t exactly respected at the station, but it didn’t seem like it was worth it to hide the reality of things. It didn’t bother him much, to be honest, he knew that if any of those idiots had to work half a day in his job, most of them wouldn’t survive it. They fucking knew it, too, even if they acted like their jobs were more important. The last thing Kaden needed was to be respected as a cop so that was fine by him. The only time it was a problem was in the rare situations like this where he needed the WRPD to listen to him for once. “Hopefully I can help stall things long enough for you to do the rest.” Emilio better be as good a detective as he said he was. He really didn’t want to have to help jailbreak a bear if it came down to that.

 Emilio bristled as Kaden responded with Nora’s name, kicking himself internally. Of course he knew that rangers had enhanced hearing — he’d been married to one for years. He couldn’t grab a beer from the fridge without Juliana hearing him from across the house and asking him to get her one, too, and he couldn’t whisper Nora’s name without Kaden hearing it and taking advantage. He shot his assistant a look that was half an apology and half a promise to explain everything just as soon as they were out of Kaden’s very impressive earshot. 

But first, they had to deal with this. “I told you,” he said at the same time as Kaden’s protest, “that is the last option.” Maybe not the best thing to admit to a cop, even if he was just a cop for animals, but Kaden didn’t seem to disagree. Emilio still didn’t trust the ranger around Nora, but he thought he might trust him around the other bear in the room. “We have a plan for that,” he told Kaden, eyeing him carefully. “We won’t be telling you.” Wasn’t plausible deniability a good thing? They were doing Kaden a favor by keeping him in the dark. If it did come down to breaking the bear out of the zoo and convincing Teddy to help them transport it to wherever it needed to be, Kaden could lose his job for knowing about it. And as much as Emilio distrusted the guy, he didn’t particularly want to be responsible for that. Finding another job that he was similarly suited for would be difficult at best, impossible at worst. 

With a faint smile, he nodded at Nora. “First we talk to the wife,” he agreed. She was either going to be a prime suspect or a potential witness to the discrepancies of the story and, as much as Emilio disliked the process of dealing with other people’s grief, he was good at telling when that grief was genuine. If the wife was lying, he’d be able to sniff it out. She’d be easier to read than Kaden, in any case. And as an added bonus, there was no way the animal control officer would insist on joining them on that leg of their journey considering there were no animals. 

Looking back to Kaden, Emilio tilted his head a little. Dog catcher cop. And here he thought the ranger was still trying to sell his ‘I’m a respected member of the police force’ lie. He’d have to remember this the next time Kaden threatened to arrest him for something. “We’ll let you know what we find out… probably,” he told Kaden with a brief shrug, looking amused. To Nora, he added, “I’ll take the lead with the wife. You can snoop around her house while we’re talking. See if you can find where she keeps her food or something.” The instruction was half in hopes of distracting her from pissing off a ranger… and half genuine. Nora snooping around the house really would come in handy. He began ushering the bugbear out of the room, turning on his heel to offer Kaden a lazy half-salute. “Officer.” 

Kaden said her name, her real name, causing Nora’s eyes to narrow in a glare that attempted to strike Kaden dead on the spot. Had this man recognized her? Did he know? Nora missed the Emilio was giving her as she contemplated Kaden like she could cause him to spontaneously combust if she focused hard enough. What did connasse even mean? Nora made a mental note to google it when they got back to the car.

Emilio often let Nora take point on interrogations because he knew she enjoyed it. He knew she loved scaring people until they told them the truth. But telling her he was going to take the interrogation part so she could snoop also wasn’t odd, because he knew she loved snooping through their houses. Especially the part where she got to eat their food. Her stomach let out a loud grumble just thinking of her next meal. Honestly? Maybe Nora was born to be a private investigator. This work was very conducive to her hobbies. Anyways, those words had been enough to distract Nora for a moment, but then Emilio was shuffling her out the door and Nora realized it was her last chance to bully Kaden.

Looking over her shoulder, Nora winked at Kaden. “Officer.” Her tone oozed with mocking disrespect. “I’m sure they respect you as much as I do.” Nora added, flashing the ACAB badge sewn into her jacket. Before Emilio could weirdly tell her to stop again, Nora walked herself out the door. At least the bear was safe for now. Even if it came from an unlikely ally.

[haunted-plush]

Shower Me With Kisses

A KyMarried au fic (nsfw)

(about 2k words)

"Meow?"

"Teehee, no, it's not for you, kitty. I already fed you, silly boy."

Eric looked down and the black and white fluffball winding around his legs as he stood at the stove browning the ground beef in a pan. He went over to give the spaghetti a stir in the pot so they wouldn't stick together or to the sides, and went back to tending to the meat.

He glanced over at the clock and frowned. It was 6:42, far past the time his husband should've been home. He sighed exasperatedly and wiped his hands on his apron, making his way over to the pantry to get spices for the beef.

While he was seasoning it, the timer went off and he took the pot off the stove, putting the noodles into the strainer and turning off both burners he was using. 

The spaghetti, meat, and red sauce all went into the pot, making a delicious meal more than enough for two. But it looked like Eric would be eating it alone.

He scooped it into a nice big bowl for himself and sat down, no need to get another one. He decided to give it a few more minutes and pulled out his phone.

Five minutes went by.

Then it was ten.

Fifteen.

Twenty.

Eric's stomach growled, and he sighed and dug into the spaghetti. It was delicious. He ate in silence, watching a youtube video on his phone. When he finished, he put his dishes in the dishwasher. He started at the pot in disappointment for a moment before putting the leftovers in containers in the fridge and putting the dishes in the dishwasher. He ran the load, and went to the living room, his three cats following behind.

It was even later when Eric heard the apartment door open, not even bothering to look up from his book. He could tell by the smell alone that Kyle had been to the gym. When he walked past without giving him a kiss on the cheek or even a verbal greeting, he growled under his breath and slammed his book shut.

He got up off the couch and stormed over to the bathroom, almost tripping over his husband's gym bag laying in the doorway.

He stood there with his arms crossed, staring at Kyle, who was wordlessly undressing, until he finally looked up and noticed Eric.

"What?"

"You knew I was making spaghetti tonight. You were going to be there."

Kyle sighed.

"It was a long frustrating day at work, and I went to the gym to blow off some steam. I'm sorry you were left alone tonight."

"I didn't even see you this morning! You were gone before I was awake! Which is rare, since I'm the one who feeds the cats."

"Like I said, it was a long and tiring day."

Kyle went back to taking off his clothes, leaving them in a sweaty heap on the floor, and Eric advanced physically and verbally.

"Did you even fucking eat?"

Kyle responded without looking up.

"I finished the bag of beef jerky in my car and I got a post workout drink from the vending machine."

This was apparently too much for Eric, who snapped back even angrier.

"Well I hope you fucking enjoy heating up those leftovers for lunch tomorrow. I'm not making you dinner only for you to not eat it and make you lunch also. Maybe I should just stop expecting to see you altogether, huh? I can't believe the first thing you do when you come home late is run for the shower without so much as a word."

"Dammit, Eric, why are you so bitchy? It was one day, calm down. I'll see you tomorrow morning, and in the evening. But right now I'm hot, and I'm sweaty, and I want a hot shower."

Eric stood there with his arms crossed, pouting. He muttered something under his breath, which Kyle heard.

"Fuck did you say?"

"Nothing."

"No, you're mumbling something. What was it? Don't be a child, Eric."

"It's just that you're always too tired or too busy these days to… to…" 

It started as a yell, but puttered out by the end to flustered stuttering. 

Kyle looked up and put his hand on his husband's shoulder.

"To… have sex?"

"Do you have to be so blunt about it!?"

"We've literally been married for over a year now, but okay…"

The smaller man sighed.

"I'm sorry, I don't actually care. It's just… we haven't been able to find time to be intimate together in weeks. A month, maybe. I guess today was the straw that broke the camel's back."

Neither of them said anything for a moment before the redhead spoke up.

"Then let's do it right now."

"What?"

"Right now. Come and shower with me."

Eric had snapped his gaze over to meet Kyle's, and he looked into his eyes for a moment.

"Yeah… yeah, that sounds great, Kahl."

The taller man chuckled.

"What, you're using my first name? No 'sweetheart', no 'babe', no nothing?"

Eric laughed cutely.

"I'm still a bit mad at you."

Kyle rolled his eyes and started pulling off his husband's top.

"Whatever, just get in here."

Their clothes were left in unorganized piles on the floor, black and pink lumps mixed together. Kyle turned on the water and stepped under, not caring that for the moment the water was freezing.

He held out his hand and Eric took it, tentatively stepping in with him, trying to avoid the spray until it heated up at least some. 

The water soon turned hot and Eric wrapped his arms around Kyle's shoulders.

"Mmm, that feels good."

"Heh, it feels even better for me. I'm all gross and sweaty remember?"

"That's hot."

Kyle threw his head back and laughed at Eric's remark, which he made without missing a beat.

"And this isn't hot?"

Kyle's hands went around Eric's waist, and one of them slowly trailed down to his ass, which he squeezed gently. 

Eric whimpered slightly.

"Fuck, it's been too long…" he whispered.

Kyle smiled devilishly.

"I'll make it extra good then."

The steam had begun to fog up the glass door and the mirror, and there were faint white clouds filling the whole room's atmosphere.

Eric put his face into his husband's chest and hugged him as close as he could.

"Oh please do."

Kyle stuffed his nose into Eric's wet brown hair, groping his ass with one hand and his rolls with the other.

"Heh, you're needier than I thought. You want me to keep going? Hmm?"

Eric's knees went a bit weak, and he had to take a deep shaky breath. He leaned down and grabbed the shampoo bottle.

"Let's take care of this first, then we can get to the fun," he said, opening the bottle and squeezing some out onto his hand.

"You just want an excuse to put your hands in my hair."

"Hmm, maybe," said Eric, grinning as he reached up and began to massage Kyle's hair so the shampoo would foam up. Kyle closed his eyes and let Eric's fingers work. All the while he gently ran his hands up and down his body, and even though nothing was really happening he somehow found himself breathing heavily, his chest expanding and contracting, and he had to lean against the wall.

"I think I'm more starved than I realized, too," he managed to get out between breaths. He opened his eyes when he felt Eric removing his hands, and saw him squirting another substance onto a loofah.

"I need to wash your gross sweaty self, you nasty boy." Eric scowled when he said it, but when Kyle caught his eye he saw sparks of laughter in it. Kyle let his husband scrub him down, enjoying every second, every stroke on his skin. He put a hand on Eric's head, exhaling. 

Before long he was all lathered up, covered in white fluffy foam. He stood there and watched Eric rinse him off, holding out his arms and legs for him. While Eric was busy with Kyle's leg, he slowly looked up into his face, making eye contact. He looked so small like that, bent down in the shower, washing his husband. Meeting Kyle's eyes with his own large brown and blue ones. 

Without a word, and without breaking eye contact, he slowly leaned forward until his lips were brushing the spot just above Kyle's hard dick. He slowly opened his mouth and slid it inside, his tongue smoothly gliding around it, a familiar feeling to the both of them.

He closed his eyes and Kyle put his hand back on his head, letting out a long breath as he felt his dick being sucked and the hot water streaming down his back and shoulders.

"Mmm, you always do it just the way I like," Kyle mumbled breathlessly. Eric responded by putting his hands on Kyle's hips, feeling them and his lower torso up. Kyle involuntarily pushed his hips into Eric's mouth with a small thrust, which made the smaller man whimper and suck harder, savoring his dick like it was the best thing he'd ever put in his mouth. 

Too bad his spaghetti hadn't gone in Kyle's mouth.

Kyle scrunched his eyes in pleasure, furrowing his brow and tightening his grip on Eric's hair, putting his other hand which had been laying idly by his side next to it. He grunted, gritting his teeth, while Eric made moaning sounds, pressing his face against his husband's lower torso as if it would never be enough.

"Grrgh, Er-eric, god, fuck-" 

He had to reach out one of his hands to steady himself against the wall, about to cream in Eric's mouth, but he pulled his dick away at the last moment. Eric made a small whimper, perhaps not even of his own volition, craning his neck a little, the saliva connecting from his still parted lips and tongue to Kyle's dick, it all mixing with the shower water.

"What-" but before Eric could finish, Kyle stood him up and turned him around, pushing him into the corner between the wall and the glass shower cover with a sharp gasp from Eric.

"Legs apart," he growled, almost ferally, a far cry from his gentle tone of voice earlier. Eric quickly obeyed, his heart beginning to pound in his chest. Before anything else could happen, he let out a yelp as Kyle's dick plunged in between his sizable ass cheeks.

He felt himself being pounded from behind as he leaned against the wall for support, gasping and moaning. Kyle’s hands held Eric’s sides with a strong grip, feeling his soft wet flesh as his dick was pleasured immensely. He let out growls and grunts, his lips pulled back in a snarl.

“Fuck, Eric, you happy now? Grrgh, fuck, fuck, fuck…”

Eric couldn’t do anything but nod violently as he let out loud breathy moans, his dick quivering and his knees trembling. Kyle leaned forward and shoved his face into the crook of Eric’s neck, opening his mouth to put his teeth on his flesh, though he didn’t actually bite down.

Eric felt a whole load be blown into him, thick and hot. He leaned forward, his legs weak, opening his mouth and letting the loudest longest moan yet escape, tears forming in his eyes and streaming down his face as it mixed with the shower water.

“Kaaaahhl, oh my god, K-kaahl-”

His own cum spurted out of his penis, buckets of it, coating the walls and the glass. Eric stood there with his head hanging between his arms, every muscle in his body trembling, and his breath heaving in and out of his chest as he took in hot stuffy air to fill his lungs with. Kyle leaned forward and slid his arms around his torso, pulling him close and letting him lean on him for support. Eric responded by turning to face his husband and putting his face in his chest, leaning into him with his whole being as he wrapped his arms around his shoulders for further support. 

They stood under the hot steady stream of water as they rinsed off, Kyle taking the time to put conditioner in, and standing wordlessly under the shower head as he rinsed it out. He turned around and turned it off, stepping out and grabbing a soft white fluffy towel and wrapping it around his smaller husband, who currently had his head drooping and eyes that seemed so so heavy.

Kyle dried himself off and then dried off Eric, making sure he was nice and warm afterwards. He led him into their bedroom, where he put boxers and nice warm pajamas on him. He picked him up bridal style after putting his own clothes on and walked him to the bed, pushing a lock of hair out of his eyes with his nose and planting a kiss on his forehead. 

He gently set his husband down on the mattress, who had already fallen asleep, looking peaceful and honestly downright adorable. Kyle smiled gently, grateful for his husband and everything that he did. How did they get here? One day you’re screaming at each other, ready to throw hands, and the next you’re pounding ass in the shower that you share. Crazy world.

Kyle sighed and laid down next to Eric, facing him and draping his arm over him. His face was so precious while he was asleep, relaxed and peaceful, and Kyle enjoyed looking at his round features in general. 

He was surprised when his eyes fluttered open, and in a moment focused on him.

“Thanks, honey,” he whispered, smiling.

“No problem, Eric,” Kyle smiled back. Kyle leaned in and pressed his lips against his husband’s, whispering even quieter this time.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Eric’s breathing became deep and rhythmic, and Kyle knew he’d fallen asleep. He cradled him close, putting his lips on top of his head and falling asleep like that, kissing him the whole night long.

♡♡♡

(Big big thanks to @wndelta for beta reading! You're a star!)

(-Salty)

[captainshyguy]

with the last chapter posting tomorrow, i'm yeeting my playlist for something to believe in right here! song choice/reasoning's under the cut. most of it is simple plan bc thats kinda the sound i built the story around. i wanted something a little edgy, a little prickly, a little 2000s (but ultimately not too hardcore)

(some spoilers under the cut for story beats kjfnjskgsd)

playlist here!

anyway, song reasonings

young the giant- something to believe in: eyyy, its song i named the fic after, and the theme for the fic! a bunch of the core themes come from here. mainly the idea of being given 'something to believe in' obviously fkjnsjd, like luke learning to open up and believe in and trust others again, his mum learning to believe in him, being a "slave to your mind". plus 'tragedy has a hold of my mind, but i can see the light between the lines' really fits luke once he befriends arven.

sleeping at last-eight: luke's overall theme. i dont think a single song sums up his journey better. its about someone who has clearly closed themself over very guardedly to avoid getting hurt, with a lot of motifs of brokenness. as the song goes on the subject learns to open up, be vulnerable, and becomes stronger as a result. all the lyrics are perfect, i particularly enjoy 'now i'm a broken mirror' 'i'm standing guard, i'm falling apart' i am strong enough, to let you in' 'im shattered porcelain, glued back together again'

simple plan- i'm just a kid: a good moody one that sets up his general demeanour at the start of the fic. 'i'm just a kid and life is a nightmare' 'what the fuck is wrong with me, dont fit in with anybody'

simple plan- you don't mean anything: early story, dealing with nemona and feeling isolated and distant and frustrated about it. 'I know you think you know me, you don't know anything'

simple plan- welcome to my life: early treasure hunt dealing with the first titan/base/gyms. the kids very disgruntled an not in a fantastc place. 'Are you sick of everyone around, with the big fake smiles and stupid lies, while deep inside you're bleedin'

simple plan- me against the world: song for the big low point, one i think he identifies with a lot i think. harsh, edgy, and pained. defiant, snarled spiteful yelling. 'i'm a nightmare, a disaster, that's what they always said, i'm a lost cause, not a hero, but I'll make it on my own'

simple plan- fire in my heart: song for the moment arven wakes the kid back up and pulls him out of that depression slump and back to earth by explaining the whole mabo situation to him. upbeat, not edgy. 'i bet you didn't know, you started up a chain reaction'

simple plan- everytime: theme for the boys, at least, from luke's pov. the song has a sort of melancholy and longing to it (heck, the lyrics imply the singer is talking about a past relationship) but i think thats the lens he'd view this developing relationship through anyway. 'every time I see your face, every time you look my way, it's like it all falls into place, everything feels right'

owl city- bird and the worm: representing arvens music taste and also luke branching out and connectign with his friend. listening to each others songs and sharing their hobbies. song is sweet and upbeat and a little romantic. 'swirl me around your room with feeling, and as we twirl, the glow in the dark stars on your ceiling, will shine for us'

simple plan- gone too soon: luke opening up about the death of his dad. the song fits how he feels about it all. a lot more subdued than most of the simple plan ones. 'oh I miss you now, i wish you could see, just how much your memory, will always mean to me'

pokemon- area zero: we know why this is here >:] theme for the kids going down into the crater.

simple plan- holding on: latter half of the crater, the quiet talk in research station four, and parts of the climax. mainly here for 'in the night there's a fire in my eyes, and this paradise has become a place we've come to cry'

simple plan- take my hand: aftermath, luke and arven kinda sticking together as the latter tries to navigate his grief. the song is a lot more upbeat, but i see it as almost like...determination on luke's part, to be there for him. its a good song for them in general too actually. splashes of romance since he's aware of his feelings now. 'take my hand tonight, let's not think about tomorrow'

simple plan- last one standing: song for luke's fight with the other miraidon and resolve to finish his pokedex. defiant, confident and reckless. 'did you think that I would surrender easily, that just like that, you were getting rid of me'

simple plan- when i'm gone: this song is an interesting one. its unanimously turo's theme for me, but also luke's in his worst moments.(parallels, narrative foils, all that) like when he recklessly explores area zero by himself to finish his pokedex. 'another day, another casualty, but that won't happen to me'

simple plan- promise: luke coming clean to arven, panicked but resolved to fix this. a little fast paced, scattered, but still determined. 'i promise, i won't let you down (you down), if you take my hand tonight'

ed sheeran- celestial: BOO ed sheeran jumpscare. gkjngjkds no but seriously i did really like this one as a credits theme. the space theme still doesnt really fit the game or story, but i cant resist 'you make me feel like my troubled heart is a million miles away'. like what a great summary of how luke feels now that he has friends, his mum, and his pokemon by his side.

[allthemusic]

Week ending: 23rd April

Okay, this is exciting, some real time capsule songs for us, this week. And both with a real distinctive, rebellious energy. I can feel my toes tapping already...

C'Mon Everybody - Eddy Cochran (peaked at Number 6)

Oh, yeah. This is the stuff! From the get go, in this track, you know you're in for something fun, with this dirty, repeated bass note that sounds like something you'd get in a surf rock song, followed by some strummy Buddy Holly-style guitar and some satisfyingly echoey, clattering percussion, including a thupmy, stompy bass drum and a driving tambourine beat, all of it mixed together in this rough and ready garage-y style, very DIY, very unpolished. It's a distinctly Eddie Cochran sort of sound, if you know any of his other songs - I heard it and immediately thought "huh, sounds a lot like Summertime Blues". But I guess if it ain't broke, don't fix it?

Actually, the comparison to Summertime Blues isn't a bad one, because just like this one, that's a rockabilly song about teenage rebellion and the angst and frustrations of regular teenage life. In the case of Summertime Blues, it's about not wanting to work over summer, when it's nice out. And in this case, we've got a song about wanting to blow off steam and throwing a party, then hoping your parents don't find out. If you thought that that was the most "teen movie" setup for a song ever, you'd be correct. From lines about how I've been doin' my homework all week long / And now the house is empty and the folks are gone to lines about how we'll relly have a party, but we gotta put a guard outside because if the folks come home, I'm afraid they're gonna have my hide, it's just cliché on cliché, in the best possible way.

All this is the sort of thing that Buddy or the Everlys might sing, but somehow, there's just a bit more swagger to Eddie's self-portrayal, a bit more edge, in keeping with the rougher guitar and drums. You see it in the wild partying he's desribing, and in the slightly callous confidence with which Eddie proclaims that my baby's number one, but I'm gonna dance with three or four. None of Buddy's stuttering awkwardness, or the Everlys' tame hand-holding here! And then at the end, you also get the who cares line, where Eddie almost seems to be mocking his previous caution. Sure, Eddie's folks might not let him go out to the movies for a few weeks, might ground him so he can't run round with the usual crew, but who really cares? Certainly not Eddie! He's way too teenaged and rebellious for that.

It's all just as manufactured as what you get from the other, more clean-cut rockers, of course. It's another way that the "teenage experience" is increasingly being packaged and marketed back to teenagers at this point. Heck, I'm willing to bet that songs like this, in some ways, "created" the teenage ideal, confirming in minds nationwide that yeah, teenagers are "supposed" to want to blow off steam and party when their folks are away. It's what all the cool American teenagers are doing, didn't you hear?

Charlie Brown - The Coasters (6)

And from one very adolescent American song to another, except where Eddie was trying to project swagger and coolness, the Coasters are going for maximum goofiness, this time with more of a R&B doo-wop vibe. It was written as a follow-up to their previous hit, Yakety Yak, and all the hallmarks of that song are here - we've got silly lyrics, lots of energy and somebody just going nuts on the saxophone throughout.

Insofar as it's "about" anything, Charlie Brown is about a classmate of the Coasters, a real clown, who's always pulling tricks and messing around. Even as the song opens, he's potentially setting fires (fee fee fi fi fo fo fum, I smell smoke in the auditorium) and as the song goes on, he's gambling in the gym, writing on walls, throwing spitballs and most amusingly to a modern listener, he also commits the unpardonable sin of calling the English teacher daddy-o. Which, as well as apparently being a reference to the influential 1950s teenage rock and roll film Blackboard Jungle, is just about the most harmless 1950s act of rebellion ever. I mean, don't get me wrong, he sounds like a nightmare student who you absolutely don't want in your class. But it's all low-level stuff, general nuisance-ness, rather than anything more harmful or malicious. In that way, he's kind of the spiritual ancestor of Bart Simpson, acting out teenage rebellion in this exaggerated, comedic way that listeners are meant to identify with and half-admire. It's basically the in-school flipside to Eddie and his wild parties.

It's probably got nothing to do with Peanuts character Charlie Brown. I say probably, because it has been noted by some commenters that the downbeat Why's everybody always pickin' on me? and Who me? lines sound a bit like something Charlie Brown would say. Except if you listen to the song, it's sung in a comically deep bass voice that is absolutely not a Charlie Brown voice. Plus, other people have pointed out that Peanuts, while it had been running for a decade at this point, hadn't really hit the height of its popularity yet, in 1959. Also, Charlie Brown is a pretty common name. So. Probably not a reference.

I'm also just gonna note, without comment, that the little yeah, you line you get after who, me? is pitched up chipmunk-style. Which is what, the third time we've heard that effect being used in maybe a year. I guess people know a good gimmick when they hear one.

Both of these songs are silly, in different ways. And like I've said, they're both songs that are trying to portray a sort of idealised, relatable teenager, rebellious, but in a way you're supposed to admire, at least a little. In that respect, both songs are pretty great, not least because a lot of the folks involved were teenagers themselves not long ago. So yeah, there's at least a veneer of authenticity here, plus a youthful, fun energy that your Perry Comos, your Frankie Laines and yes, even your Elvises, to an extent, couldn't really hope to match.

Favourite song of the bunch: Summertime Blues C'mon Everybody

[raevenlywrites]

weird morbid musings ahead

so my wife is in the middle of a six week training program that has her overnighting 4-5 days a week, home with me 2-3. And while this obvious isn't 1:1 what it would be like losing her, this is the most time we've spent apart since basically high school. She has been a fixture in my life longer than not at this point, so it's been very ...educational? living without her

The first week, I did that kind of new years resolution thing, where I went to the gym almost every day and kept the house clean and wrote on my fanfic and all those little things that seem to not happen when she's here bc I'd rather be spending time with her

As time has gone on, I've lost that energy. I'm settling into what could be my new normal if she were gone for good. Obviously I'm not tackling the massive grief that would come with it, but like, this is the first time I've gotten to see the shape of my life without her. This is the first time I've had proof that it could be okay.

there's something awful about love that makes it feel like more important than air. like you can't imagine living life without it. and of course a lot of that is amatonormativity, I'm not immune to that, as queer and polyamorous as I am. But some of it just...that's how love is. I've always been on the fence on wtf romance is, but I know love, both from its presence and its lack in my life. I know love, and love is a fucking wound. It's a wound that if you're lucky is sealed up and protected by the other person pressing their love wound up against yours, but its still a place where hurt gets in. To care about something is to be vulnerable to it.

And that's okay. I'm not mad about it. I don't think love sucks just bc its a place where hurt can happen. I'm glad I care enough about a thing that it can hurt me. but I've been with my wife for over twenty years. We've been aggravating and protecting each other's love wounds for so long, its inconceivable to imagine what it would be like without her there.

So living it, even on this small scale, is kinda wild.

They tell young queers it gets better. And it does. Being able to control you own environment and expression and associations makes a HUGE difference. But they don't really tell a lot of narratives that tell you what to do after the amatonormative dream is over, when one of you is gone. Partly bc its a fucking bummer, yeah, and partly bc we don't talk about aging.

So like, I'm living my own "it'll be okay" narrative. And I guess I wanted to share this bc it's been so reassuring to know it'll be okay. Yes, there's a big wife shaped hole where she's not right now. But like, my life hasn't crumbled. I still do pretty much all of the same things I used to do, just, without her there beside me. It's not a codependence thing, we used to be wildly codependant and so I know the difference of how that feels vs this. This is a lifelong partner thing. We've already been together longer than a lot of marriages. We've got a lot longer left to do, Fate willing.

But if the worst happens, and I do lose her for whatever reason,

It's nice to know that I'll eventually be okay

[myaquariusheart]

26/3

Hey, I've been AWOL. I'm currently on placement two and a lot has happened. The PGCE is going well even though the first placement was not easy it was my fault and has let me develop a lot. although I'm still finding it difficult to wake up on time and get to school early. I'm currently rotting Royas brain and making her chill and watch a YouTube video on mice that she needs to keep an eye on. She was enjoying it until she started biting my phone and I disturbed her. It's currently Ramadan and it is been good as well as stressful. Since we have been back from Umrah a lot has gone on. We've been mourning and there isn't a day where I don't think about Bubu's death and honestly, I think about it every day. I miss her and regret not keeping in touch as much as I should of and even cherishing the time we had as selfish enough I thought we would all be growing old together and we would all bring our children up being best friends. we can still do that but a piece is missing. It also makes me think about life and death more, and how easily life can be taken away. I'm always deep in thought and usually lie awake at night thinking Allah could take me any time and I should live each day but who's to know. Life, we only have one chance at it. I'm currently watching Gone Girl because I've actually never seen a Ben Aflek movie and I probably should as he's JLO's man. So far it's okay, his wife has gone missing and she's an author or writer or something. I'm going to finish this degree soon and I can't wait. there's so much paperwork to do with all of this and it's hard to keep up. I have an essay as well it's not done yet, but I'm just hoping it doesn't count toward our final grade. After the easter break, I have my formal observation with L and B and I am really nervous but I just need to crack down on the behavior of the class and the content that I'm teaching. just need to remember some simple things like don't talk until the class is quiet and all that kinda stuff so it's easy but I'm sure when someone is watching me it is more nerve-wracking. the last Geography lesson I did there was about 3 teachers in the classroom and I was so nervous but at the end of the lesson R said the lesson went really well so I was happy, she even said it in front of the head teacher but I doubt ill get a job there. I have been applying to some abroad like Abu Dhabi and Dubai but I need to take a professional picture soon so I can upload it onto my CV. unfortunately, I have been super ugly lately but I'm going to speak to the hairdresser tomorrow, my hair is still short but it's growing. really slowly though, I'm thinking of going back to orange or brown, I do not want to go back to black hair, it is too hard to change and dye over. We'll see, I'm kinda over this color now, I always feel like it doesn't compliment me and then a few months down the line, I'm going to look back on my pictures and then regret it. Look at me talking about stupid irrelevant shit that doesn't matter if I'm a good person or not, just superficial but i guess if I don't look good I don't feel good, but even when I do look good I still don't feel good. I don't know why I'm feeling so low and insecure lately. I and T have been hitting the gym but with everything going on its been really difficult as iftar is at 6 and that's when T gets to the gym. After Eid I'm sure everything will be back to normal.

[craftyinfluencerfun]

Breathtaking Valentine Gift For Wife To Wonder

Introduction: The importance of Valentine Gift For Wife

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and it's time to start thinking about that perfect gift for your wife. After all, she is the one who fills your life with love, laughter, and endless joy. This special day presents an opportunity to show her how much you appreciate her presence in your life. But finding the right Valentine gift for wife can be a daunting task. Should you go for something traditional or opt for a more modern gesture? Don't worry! We've got you covered with some breathtaking gift ideas that will make her heart skip a beat.

Whether you're celebrating decades of marriage or still in the honeymoon phase, these unique gifts are sure to make your wife feel cherished and loved on this romantic occasion. So let's dive into our list of creative Valentine gifts for wives that are bound to leave them feeling utterly amazed!

Traditional vs Modern Valentine Gift For Wife

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and it's time to start thinking about the perfect gift for your wife. While traditional gifts like flowers and chocolates are always a safe bet, why not consider something a little more modern this year? Gone are the days of predictable presents. Instead of sticking to tradition, surprise your wife with something she'll never see coming. How about planning a romantic getaway? Take her on a weekend trip to her favorite destination or explore somewhere new together.

If travel isn't feasible this year, you can still opt for a modern twist on traditional gifts. Instead of giving her a bouquet of roses, how about surprising her with an arrangement of stunning succulents? Not only will they last much longer than cut flowers, but they also add a trendy touch to any home decor. Another unique idea is personalized jewelry. Engrave her initials or a special message onto a necklace or bracelet that she can cherish forever. This thoughtful gesture shows that you went the extra mile to make her feel loved and appreciated. In today's digital age, technology has become an integral part of our lives. Consider gifting your wife a high-tech gadget that aligns with her interests - whether it's an e-reader for the bookworm in her or wireless headphones for when she hits the gym. The key is to think outside the box and choose something that reflects your wife's personality and interests. By opting for a modern Valentine gift instead of going down the conventional route, you're showing your creativity and thoughtfulness in selecting something truly unique. Remember, while tradition holds its charm, embracing modernity can add excitement and surprise to this special day dedicated to celebrating love. So go ahead and break away from tradition by choosing an extraordinary Valentine gift for your wife that will leave her speechless!

Creative and unique Valentine Gift For Wife ideas for wives to make them feel special

When it comes to showing your wife just how much she means to you on Valentine's Day, a creative and unique gift can make all the difference. Instead of going for the usual flowers or chocolates, why not think outside the box and surprise her with something truly special? One idea is to create a personalized photo album filled with memories from your time together. Gather photos from throughout your relationship and arrange them in a beautiful album that tells the story of your love. Not only will this gift be sentimental, but it will also show her how much thought you put into creating something meaningful.

Another unique idea is to plan a romantic scavenger hunt for your wife. Leave clues around the house or even around town that lead her to different locations or small gifts along the way. This playful and thoughtful gesture will keep her guessing and add an element of excitement to Valentine's Day. If your wife loves experiencing new things, consider booking a couples' spa day or cooking class. These activities allow you both to spend quality time together while learning something new or indulging in relaxation. For the artistic wife, consider gifting her with art supplies or enrolling her in an art class she has been wanting to take. Encourage her creativity by supporting her passion for painting, drawing, pottery, or any other medium she enjoys. If you want to go all out and really impress your wife on Valentine's Day, plan a surprise weekend getaway. Choose a destination that holds special meaning for both of you or somewhere she has always wanted to visit. The adventure and spontaneity of this gift will leave lasting memories. Remember that what matters most is not necessarily the cost of the gift but rather the thought behind it. By choosing a creative and unique gift tailored specifically for your wife's interests and personality, you are sure to make this Valentine's Day one she won't forget!

Conclusion: It's the thought that counts, but these gift ideas will definitely impress your wife on Valentine's Day Finding the perfect Valentine gift for your wife is a wonderful way to show her how much you love and appreciate her. Whether you opt for traditional gifts like flowers, chocolates, or jewelry, or choose more modern and creative options such as personalized photo albums or experiences to create lasting memories together, the key is to put thought into selecting something that reflects her interests and passions. Remember that it's not just about the material value of the gift, but also about the sentiment behind it. The effort you put into choosing a meaningful present will undoubtedly make your wife feel special and loved. So go ahead and surprise her with something breathtaking this Valentine's Day! Make sure to consider her preferences, hobbies, and personality when selecting a gift. And don't forget that sometimes simple gestures can be just as impactful as extravagant presents. A handwritten love letter expressing your feelings can touch her heart in ways no store-bought item ever could. What matters most is showing your wife how much she means to you on this day dedicated to love and romance. So whether you choose a traditional token of affection or think outside the box with a unique and unexpected present, let your love guide you in finding a breathtaking Valentine gift for your beloved wife this year!