#long mudroom bench

[timelordoflumpyspace]

Craftsman Entry - Mudroom Example of a large arts and crafts ceramic tile and black floor entryway design with gray walls and a black front door

[joeloverture]

fair's fair | pervy!dbf!joel x f!reader

masterlist | notifs blog

pairing: pervy!dbf!joel x pervy!f!reader summary: [no outbreak] joel shoves you in his sweaty pits as a 'joke'. warnings: (18+ mdni) pervy!dbf!joel, age gap (early to mid 20s/38), somewhat mutual pining & sexual tension, joel in a wifebeater and jorts, reader has hair, smacking joel's ass like god intended, degradation, sweaty!joel, musk kink, armpit kink!!!, coming untouched, joel calls reader 'kiddo', 2 spanks, m!masturbation [no use of y/n] word count: 2.1k a/n: in another life, i'd be sorry for this fic. in this life, i am not. as always, a shoutout to the effervescent @lovesickonmybed for moodboard curation + creating this au. love to @seventeenpins for taking a glimpse at this + inspiring me. ty esquire team.... hooooly shit. pls suspend your disbelief if you can't come untouched we're here for a good time not a realistic one. btw you're all pussies for chickening out of the pit fics you 'planned' to write after this esquire photo fell into our laps /j

You awake to a rattling crash on the other side of the wall that you share with your dad’s combination garage/man cave. With an exaggerated groan, you peel yourself out of your creased sheets. Maybe the raccoons that have been terrorizing your garbage cans have finally broken into the garage. You’re still in your pajamas — a low-cut tank top and some bloomers that are entirely too short on you — when you rub the sleep from your eyes and shove your feet into your slippers to investigate. 

The house is quieter than dust so early in the morning. Your dad’s out at work, and the rest of the neighborhood is just beginning to wake up. There’s the tstststststs of the Adler’s sprinkler system and the birds are chirping. In the mudroom, you snatch up a broom and wrap your fist around it. You listen through the paneling of the door for any hissing or scuttling, but hear nothing. You are not looking to get rabies today.

You poke your head out of the door, broom pointed at the ground like a staff. Immediately, you’re blinded by a slice of sunshine cutting through the very much open garage.

You’re about two seconds away from sprinting back inside to call 911 when you see the unkempt, sunkissed hair of none other than Joel Miller.

You set the broom gently back against the wall. Joel’s not a threat – at least not to anything but that traitor between your legs. He’s just your dad’s buddy; drinking buddy, fishing buddy, jack-of-all-trades buddy. He’s also no stranger to those borderline goo-goo eyes you give him. How could you not? He’s just so broad and muscled and God, you swear up and down that you stare more at his ass than anyone has ever stared at yours.

Sometimes, if you’re lucky, he’ll even give you shit about it. Bending over directly in your line of sight at block parties, ‘play wrestling’ with you on the dock by the lake whenever you jokingly call him an old man, or, in one very special instant, giving your ass a smack that sent you into an hours long tizzy.

You deserve to give him shit about it, too.

After all, he’s the one ferreting around in your dad’s garage in the wee hours of the morning. You pad into the garage, footsteps muffled by your slippers as you navigate around your dad’s pickup. You catch a better look at Joel when you pass the truck bed. And, for better or for worse, he’s dressed like a slut.

His ribbed white wifebeater stretches over his wide chest, grass stains scattered along the small of his back. Sweat darkens the hems of his shirt under his armpits, glistening and beading on the back of his neck, too. In true dad fashion, he even has on jorts. He’s bent over your dad’s tool bench, thumbing around an assortment of screwdrivers. His denim-covered ass sticks out. A smile spreads across your face.

You slip around the truck and take soft step after soft step until you’re right behind him. You can’t help but notice a cocktail of his pheromones and B.O. surrounding him. He must’ve been outside for a while now with all of the stains he’s accumulated on his shirt already. You keep your breathing muted so he can’t hear you as you reach out and — smack!

Joel shrieks, shooting upright. His head slams into the shelf overhead and a few bolts go toppling onto the concrete below. He cusses like a sailor as his hand goes up to rub the back of his head, nursing where a lump will probably be in a few hours time. Joel whips around to see you, smothering your giggles behind your hand. “You little shit,” he huffs, still scratching at his head. You don’t miss how his cheeks are firetruck red. “The fuck are ya doin’?”

“Me? The fuck are you doing, Miller? Stomping around my dad’s garage at, like, the asscrack of dawn–”

“Nine in the mornin’ ain’t the asscrack of dawn, sweetcheeks,” Joel says. Then, he holds up a set of pliers. “Mower shit the bed. I’m thinkin’ Sarah stole my pliers to make necklaces, but she hasn’t fessed up yet. Your pops said I could borrow his.” He stretches, giving you a long whiff of his scent. The groan he lets out stirs something in your stomach, much to your chagrin.

“I think the mower is the least of your worries,” you say, wrinkling your nose. “You reek. Shower shit the bed, too?”

“You try doin’ yard work in 90 degree heat, kiddo. See how much you smell like that strawberry raspberry peach whatever-the-fuck soap you’re usin’.”

You roll your eyes so hard you’re surprised you don’t see the back of your skull. “Rosemary eucalyptus,” you correct under your breath.

“Hmm, what was that?” Joel asks, tossing the pliers down onto the workbench. “Gotta speak up.”

“Rosemary eucalyptus,” you say. “But I bet you wouldn’t know. What do you use? 18 in 1?”

Joel grunts. “Real funny.” He takes a step closer to you, lips taut with a smirk. “How ‘bout you find out?”

You don’t have time to question what the hell he means – he just cups the back of your head with one of his wide palms and shoves your face directly into his closest sweaty pit. “Mmmmph!” you protest, mouth sealed shut against the thatch of hair that’s spattered across his skin. You hold your breath for as long as you can, but eventually, you’re forced to suck in a breath through your squished nose. His musk, sweet and just as sharp, fills your airways. Your clit all but jerks between your legs in humiliation, drawing a whine out of your throat.

Joel chuckles, ruffling your hair. It’s enough to make your thighs clench. “You’re a little freak, huh?” He presses harder on the back of your head, so much so that you almost get a mouthful of his underarm.

“Youuu dick!” you try to say without opening your mouth too far. It comes out muffled against his sweat-pearled skin. You squeeze your eyes shut, trying to push him off of you.

Another wry chuckle comes from above. Joel bends his arm so that his elbow is wrapped around the back of your head, effectively trapping you in his funk. “Come on, huff ‘em. Practically fuckin’ asking for it earlier, all ‘a that mouthin’ off. So now you get a mouthful of my pits. Fair’s fair, kiddo.”

Embarrassment ribbons through your body, the kind that makes you leak into your panties against your will. Still looking for a way out, you squirm against his ironclad hold.

It’s only good for making him land a heavy-hitting slap across your ass. You yelp, a new wave of slick saturating the drenched gusset of your panties. You jump where you are, hips bucking into nothing – for escape or pressure, you’re not entirely sure. “Unless you wanna go over my knee instead?” Your face sears with humiliation.

Tentatively, you snuffle a bit against his pit, biting into your cheeks at his musk. It makes you cough a little bit – he’s been carrying the smell of cutting grass and his own sweat all morning.

“Yeah, thought so. But you can do better than that, sweetcheeks. I said huff, not fake an asthma attack.” You whimper, this time sucking in a longer breath. Here he is, holding you down, secure against his pit as you're left with no other option than to take what he gives you, when he gives it to you. All you can smell, feel, touch is just Joel, Joel, Joel. It makes you lightheaded.

Your clit is practically a kickdrum between your thighs, pulsing and doing more work than your head. You try to angle yourself so that you can rub your clit against Joel’s leg, but he puts a stop to that real quick. “Gettin’ all wound up just from being where ya belong, your pretty little face in my pit?” You mewl, reaching for Joel’s sides. You bunch your fists in the fabric of his wifebeater, and he allows it.

“Since you’re so eager to complain about it, how ‘bout you clean me up, huh?” He nudges his pit against your face again, and, confusedly, you furrow your brows. You can’t see much of him, but you do see the edge of his mouth tip up in satisfaction. “You got rocks for brains? Lick, kiddo.”

Hesitance drives the soft kitten lick of your tongue, swiping up and down across a very small portion of his pit. He loosens up on his grip on you, giving you the slightest bit more reign. You try to tell yourself that you’re scared of what he might do if you disappoint him, but hell if you don’t want this as much as he does, tongue, nose, face buried in his pits. Some sort of ultimate form of worship between the two of you.

You lave your tongue across his pit, eyes fluttering with each stroke. You swirl it in the crease of his arm, sucking his goddamn hairs clean with the fervor you’ve picked up. Enthused now, you bob your head up and down. Your clit responds, throbbing with a heartbeat of its own.

You’re panting, inhaling and exhaling him, lapping up his musk like a fucking dog, gone from reluctant to eager. Your clit twitches faster and faster, and you swear that arousal must be tacky on the insides of your thighs, leaking through your panties all over the front of your bloomers, but you can’t do anything about it. You can’t even grind against Joel – you can only slurp against his armpit, something like desperation having replaced all of your previous mortification from when he’d shoved you there in the first place.

You’re so preoccupied with pleasing him that you don’t even notice the thumping of your clit, picking up speed and pressure. Your body seizes in between your greedy little licks. You feel yourself weaken before you stiffen.

And maybe it’s the way Joel keeps groaning with each movement of your tongue. It could be how he exhales, “Kiddo,” in a raspy voice, both demeaning and endearing all at once. But in the end, it’s how he says, “Mmmm, such a good goddamn tongue. Bet it’d feel so good on my cock,” that breaks the dam between your legs.

You shudder, coming completely undone with little moans and whimpers in Joel’s arms without so much as a hand on your clit, just your face smothered in his pit. Drool runs down your lips and across your chin as you jerk and weaken in his grasp. If you weren’t so underwater, so far gone, you’d be able to hear him saying, “Fuck – whoa, whoa, whoa,” trying to stop you from falling on your ass in the middle of the garage. His hands card across your sides as he props you up against the workbench. Your vision blackens at the edges from the intensity of your orgasm, and you’re still coming, at least you think you are, when you blink yourself back to awareness. You’re wide-eyed, tears brimming at your waterline, incapacitated in a way that you didn’t know you could be.

“Holy shit,” you gasp when you finally fully come to, slumped over the workbench, still half-clinging to Joel. “Fuck.”

Joel looks stunned, looking you up and down as if he can’t get enough of you. His eyes land right between your thighs, where, sure enough, you’ve ruined your bloomers. You still feel like deadweight, and you struggle to stand upright. You’re not sure you’ve ever come so hard even with someone’s hands all over your. Joel’s glistening with even more sweat, and it’s impossible to miss the glaring bulge in his shorts. He clears his throat after a minute. “Oughta go get cleaned up before your daddy gets back for his lunch break, kiddo.”

You stumble upright, drenched in sweat yourself now, Joel’s lingering scent still pervading every breath you take. “Y-yeah,” you manage, nodding. You feel out of your own body, stumbling towards the door. You’re so wet that you can feel it with every goddamn step. Fuck Joel Miller, cocky piece of sh–

You’re immediately returned to your own body by the resounding swat Joel lands on your ass. You jump, shooting a glare over your shoulder. He puts his hands up, pleading innocence.

You’re not surprised when you crawl out of your shower, smelling of rosemary eucalyptus and dripping water all over the floor, only to see Joel’s mower abandoned in the middle of his yard. Even worse, you aren’t surprised in the slightest when you squint through your bedroom window, Joel sprawled out across his bed, hips bucking in-time with his fist before catching your eye and spraying ropes of cum all over his abdomen.

You mouth at him through the window with a taunting little wink, Clean yourself up this time.

[vodika-vibes]

Happy 500!

I would request a sapphire with Rex in autumn, a season of change, Rebels Era time frame.

Thank you!

Forever Is A Long Time

Summary: Years after the end of the Clone Wars, you and Rex have managed to make a life for yourselves on your grandparent's old farm. Autumn always brings its own challenges, but that’s not always a bad thing.

Pairing: Rebels!Rex x Former Jedi GN! Reader

Word Count: 934

Warnings: Tooth-rotting fluff. You have been warned.

Prompt: Sapphire - Wise Love

A/N: Full honesty, I've never seen Rebels, so I decided to play around with everything. I hope you like it!

You think you love autumn.

You love how the world bursts into a wild array of colors, how the miserable summer heat settles into something tolerable, and how everything is pumpkin or apple-flavored.

Lazily, you stretch your arms over your head, able to feel Rex’s shirt creep up your thighs as you reach up, though it falls back into place as your arms fall back to your side. 

Speaking of Rex, where is he?

You turn your head away from the window that looks out at the orchard, to focus your attention deeper into your home. He hasn’t gone outside yet, though you know that he plans to work on his speeder today. Your handsome Captain seems to think that having a working speeder will make the harvest easier.

And he’s right, it will.

But you’re not going to tell him that.

“Rex?”

“Back here, mesh’la!” He calls from the back of the house.

Curiously, you push away from the kitchen counter and follow his voice through the halls until you reach the back hallway which leads to the mudroom. 

“What are you doing?” You ask as you settle on the bench that was built into the wall, your head tilting to the side as you try to figure out what, exactly, he’s working on.

He glances at you, a grin on his face, “What? You can’t tell?”

You scrunch up your nose at him, and then glance at his project. It’s some kind of electronic device, based on what you can see. But what you don’t know about computers and mechanics could probably fill several archives. “I give up.”

“You didn’t even make a guess, cyare.” His voice is dancing with amusement, and you make a face at him.

“Oh, I dunno…Is it a comm?”

“Close, but no.” Rex focuses on it for a moment longer, snapping a few pieces together, “It’s the old radio that your brother gave you.”

“The radio he broke in a fit of temper? That radio?”

“The very same.”

“Huh.” You move off the bench so you’re able to lean on Rex’s shoulder to peer at his project, “Why are you fixing it?”

“Because it was broken,” He replies simply.

You nudge him gently, “Come on, Rex. It’s been broken for years.”

He glances at you and then sets his tools on the ground so he’s able to tug you onto his lap. You release a startled noise as he settles you comfortably on his lap and leans in to press his forehead against yours.

His dark eyes scan your face, and you aren’t able to stifle your soft giggle as you reach up and press your hands against his cheeks, your fingers gently brushing his beard.

Rex’s eyes crinkle with the strength of his smile, and his arms tighten around you, “Hi.”

“Hi yourself,” You reply, grinning widely. 

He tugs you into a gentle kiss that turns into several gentle kisses, pulling even more delighted laughter from you. When he kisses you like this, you feel like you’re back at the start of your relationship, all those years ago. When he was a Clone Captain, and you were an Archivist at the Jedi Temple.

“I saw you looking at the radio the other day,” Rex says lightly, “So I decided to fix it.”

“You did?”

He bumps his nose against yours, “What? You think after all these years I can’t tell what you’re thinking?” Rex teases lightly.

“Of course you do,” You murmur in turn. “I was considering throwing it away, though.”

“Well, now there’s no need.”

“Rex,” His name is a laugh, “We have so much stuff.”

“Well, seeing as neither of us had any stuff when we were younger, I think we have just enough.” He adjusts you on his lap and focuses his attention on the radio again, snapping a few more pieces back together, before putting the whole radio together and standing it up.

And then he flips the power switch, and soft music fills the hallway.

Familiar music.

You recognize the tune immediately, it's the song that was playing the day that Rex confessed to you. The song that was playing when he proposed. The song that you danced your first dance to.

“Well now,” Rex grins at you, “Seems like fate.” Gently he nudges you to your feet and then stands up to tug you into his arms. “May I have this dance?”

You beam at him, “You can have all of them.”

He spins you in the narrow hallway, before pulling you flush against him. His expression is soft and warm and for you and you alone. 

“Tell me, cyare.” He murmurs as the pair of you sway to the soft music, “Is this what you expected from life?”

“No, I didn’t.” You snake your arms around his neck, “But this is so much better than I expected.”

“That right?”

“I’ll spend forever in your arms,” You whisper to him.

Rex chuckles, “Forever is a long time, cyare.”

“And I’ll happily spend every minute of it with you.”

He kisses you then, slow and deep, “You spoil this old clone.”

“Well, someone has to.” You reply against his lips.

His grip tightens around your hips, “Do we have plans for today, cyar’ika?”

“Nothing that can’t be put off for a couple of hours.”

“Good.” He lifts you as if you weigh nothing, and then carries you into your bedroom, kicking the door shut behind him as your giggles fill the home you built with Rex.

Forever might be a long time, but in your opinion, it’s not nearly long enough.

@bad4amficideas @justiceandwar98 @Mira-Loves-Star-Wars @tiredbi-peach @dukeoftheblackstar

@trixie2023 @kimiheartblade @padawancat97 @falconfeather23435 @etod

@bb8-99 @kiss-anon @continous-mistakes @yoitsjay @imabeautifulbutterfly

@n0vqni

[ladylooch]

I’ve had a long day and I just wanna cuddle with timo imagine Emma and timo cuddling 🥺

-🌸 anon

A/N: Oh no bby. I must have known cause I had this idea of Em being sick and really leaning into T. So, here is Timo and Em to brighten your day 💕😘

The second I open the door to the mudroom, warmth covers my chilled body. I set my work bag down on the bench then slowly lower myself down to it as well. I sigh, closing my eyes and rubbing at my temples, searching for relief from this sinus headache. A shadow dances across the kitchen floor in front of me. I can see a baby on his hip as he moves. I smile despite the awful, persistent ache in my throat. 

An illness started washing over me after I left home earlier this morning. I kept trying to push through- drinking water, attending meetings virtually, keeping my distance from others. I had meant to head for home around 3:00pm, but then the caterer for an event on Friday called. They had a fire in their kitchen and could no longer support the number of attendees. 

So instead of heading home, I worked until 7:00pm, making frantic, pleading calls to all my contacts in New Jersey until I finally found one who owed me a big enough favor. My voice was giving out as I was saying my goodbyes to them.

Tenderly, I push myself back standing, groaning at the aches settling into my body. I sway slightly, dizzy from the pressure in my head and the change in position. I move into the kitchen where Lio is guzzling down some water from his Devils sippy cup while his dad finishes loading the dishwasher.

“Hi mama.” Timo smiles over his shoulder. “Long day?”

“Yeah.” I respond. Timo’s smile drops immediately.

“Baby, you sound terrible.”

“I feel worse.” I murmur, walking towards him. I pause, look at Lio. “I should stay away. You have a game tomorrow too. I’ll sleep in the guest room.”

“Absolutely not.” Timo scoffs. “He’s is ready for bed. Go sit down on the couch. I’ll make you something to eat when he’s down.”

I nod, then wander into the living room. I lay down on the cream couch, falling asleep immediately after my boys disappear upstairs. I awaken to Timo brushing my hair off my cheek. 

“I think you’ve got a fever.” He murmurs, extending his hands forward with water and Tylenol. I sit up, then a cough suddenly shakes my shoulders. Timo pouts, rubbing my back. “Time for bed.” 

“I haven’t eaten today.” I confess. 

“You? Skip meals while working? Never.” 

“I’m sick. Don’t lecture me.” I whine. He wraps an arm around my waist. I cling my hand to the back of his shirt for stability as we head up the stairs. 

“Get changed. Get in that bed. And I’ll be back with something to eat.”

“Baby, I wanna cuddle.” I moan, grabbing his wrist when he turns.

“I’m going to infuse you into my body when I get back up here. But you need to eat something. Your body needs nutrients to fight whatever you have.” He tucks my hair behind my ear. His lips brush against the end of my nose, making my eyes close. “Love you, baby. Go get comfy.”

I do as I’m told, tucking myself into all of Timo’s clothes. When he comes back into the room with a sandwich, he smiles softly at me.

“You look so cute.”

“I’m pathetic.” I say after blowing my nose. He hands me the plate, watching me until I take my first bite. 

“Whole thing.” He circles the plate, then motions to my mouth.

I eat four more bites, almost half the sandwich before I literally cannot keep my eyes open anymore. Timo takes the plate from me then gathers me into his arms. He leads my leg over his hip, tangling his hand into my hair. He gently rubs his fingers into my scalp, releasing more tension as I whimper. Chills shiver my body, so he tucks me in even tighter, bringing the covers up above my shoulders. Feathery kisses are placed along my face. Timo brings his other hand to my cheek, stroking my red skin.

“I’m sorry you don’t feel well, baby. Wish I could trade places with you.”

“If you keep kissing me you’ll be miserable too.” He chuckles.

“Love you so much I wanna share all your germs.”

“Shhh.” I murmur, bringing my finger up to his mouth. He kisses along my finger, working his mouth into my palm. He then moves my hand to cup his side. “Love you, T.” I barely mumble before I’m drifting off again.  

Several times during the night, I wake up because I’m coughing so hard. Every time, T sits up with me, rubbing my back. I whimper after the latest one. My fever is coming back and my teeth begin to chatter in my mouth.

“I’ll get you some cold medicine this time.” He says, walking into the bathroom. “All we have is kid stuff for Lee.”

“I’ll take it.” I croak out. 

He hands me the dosage then disappears back into the bathroom. 

“Come here.” He whispers, gathering me back into his arms. “You are staying home tomorrow. No work.” I nod. “I’m going to skip morning skate to take care of you.” I nod again as he pulls me tighter into his chest. His lips ghost my hair. I melt into his strong body, appreciating how well he is taking care of me. “I’ll take Lee to Lexi tomorrow night for the game. Pick him up after. You’re only job is to rest in this bed.” My nod is extremely lethargic this time. His lips softly brush over mine, barely connecting. I wrap my hand around the back of his neck, holding him down to me.

“There you go again… loving me perfectly.” I feel his lips tilt up.

Then his hand presses into my lower back, trying to devour me into his chest until there is no me or him, just us.

[alexanderlightweight]

if prompts are still open, I'd love to see something about how Alec has been raised to be extremely practical and (through his relationship with magnus) finally gets to experience the joy allowing oneself to indulge

Hey anon thanks for prompt! Yup still open :)

Hope this works!

—

Magnus grew up in the Silent City, he has some —unfortunately more than most— knowledge of nephilim society.

Which means that while he’s not surprised by how many luxuries Alexander is delighted by, he’s still indignant about it.

So he plans and he plots and every spare minute they aren’t entwined together, Magnus does his level best to spoil his boy.

And Magnus is very well versed in decadence.

Alexander soaks up the attention lavished upon him eagerly, like ivy in a drought, delicate and enduring, but so eager when the rain comes.

So Magnus showers him with affection and attention and learns about what Alec likes, and what he’s never known he could like.

—what he’s never been allowed to enjoy—

When Magnus asks what he wants for dinner and Alexander suggests sushi, he summons it from Japan or portals them there.

When he’s had a long day and craves the dark, bitter sweetness of chocolate, Magnus summons it from Belgium and feeds it to him with kisses, one piece at a time.

He paints Alexander’s hands one night in France, as they giggle and titter over champagne and strawberries and still warm baguettes covered in soft cheese.

—Magnus forgets to take it off for Alexander before he returns to work, and he’s surprised and delighted when Alec comes home with it still on—

He rubs Alexander’s sore muscles and kisses his bruises, hiding his scowl in Alexander’s skin when Alec laughs and says, ‘Magnus I’m fine.’

After two weeks of Alec constantly returning home, sore and aching, Magnus creates a hot spring on their roof and adds a garden, for ambience.

He takes Alexander ice skating on the frozen lakes on the islands of ice and keeps him warm with magic as they dance under the moonlight.

Magnus slowly replaces every single piece of Alexander’s clothing, even what remains at the Institute. Continuing until Alexander no longer steps outside of their home without being dressed in Magnus’ choices.

He adds a mudroom to the loft, with benches to sit and racks for weapons and a magical stool that cleans Alexander’s boots for him.

Alexander gives him a look when he does, kisses him sweetly and tries to assure Magnus that he’s fine. That Magnus doesn’t have to change his space for Alec to fit, that Alec loves him without all of these gifts.

Alexander was raised with all the practicality of a nephilim commander and his assurances only make Magnus want to spoil him more.

So Magnus ignores him, pins him to the bench he magically created, and rides Alexander until he has nothing left to say.

The next day, Magnus hands Alexander's his bag and smiles when Alec sighs, opens it and then shakes his head.

But he’s smiling as he does it and he kisses Magnus’ cheek gently. Like he’s overwhelmed that Magnus charmed his bag to be weightless and protected.

Alexander brings his own gifts.

Several priceless cuttings from the Institute greenhouse that he brought, admitting with soft delight that they ‘ reminded him of Magnus’.

—that those gorgeous, nephilim-hoarded, angelically blessed and magically powerful plants make him think of Magnus, when every other nephilim thinks of them as reminders of Raziel—

Magnus turned the rooftop garden into a magical greenhouse after that.

He does other things. Like making Magnus tea and snacks when he’s busy experimenting, sitting nearby and listening to Magnus ramble and gently, occasionally, nudging him to drink and eat until Magnus is done.

Then he’ll sit in a chair with his own snack, reading a book or sometimes just watching Magnus.

He hardly ever rushes Magnus, only ever when they have a meeting it would be bad to miss.

Alexander also picks up after him, not because he needs to, because he wants to.

Magnus is used to throwing things when done with them and using magic to eventually get them where they belong.

Alexander will laugh and shake his head and smooth a pillow back into place, eyes soft as they stare at Magnus with an adoration that consumes him.

And so they play their little games. Loving each other in a way that no one else has ever done for them.

[whatinthefreshhellisthisman]

Dressed In Civilian Clothes

◊ Prologue ◊ Next ◊

Chapter One ~ A Pocket Full Of Snapdragons

            The sun had barely risen high enough in the sky to gently cast elegant beams of light that caught the drifting dust and mist. Refracting the sun just right; the morning air sparkled. Blinking away the fog from his vision, he slowly sat up. Rolling his head and pushing out his chest, a simple stretch of his muscles and joints. He pulled an arm across his chest, tugged it close for a few seconds before switching arms, and repeated the same procedure. Pushing the covers to the side, he stood, taking a moment to adjust himself. A yawn escaped his lips as he meandered his way out of the guestroom. With tired eyes, he shuffled his way to the only other open doorway. White tile floor, marble counter and sinks, a large white porcelain tub with jets, and a walk-in shower adorned by several luxury water fixtures. This bathroom was a gift from heaven, causing a dopy smile to spread across his face.

            A clean towel hung on the metal rail on the glass shower door, giving the future occupant some privacy. Stripping himself of the borrowed sleepwear, he neatly plopped them off to the side before entering the shower. Turning the nozzle, he lavished the feeling of water pelting his skin. Even if it was freezing cold at the moment, it still felt heavenly. As the water heated up, he sluggishly looked for shampoo and or soap. He didn’t recognize any of the brands or fancy labels on any of the containers. Grabbing one of the two shampoo bottles, he took a small amount and slathered it into his hair. Scrubbing his hair and scalp in earnest, he found himself swaying slightly. Caught up in the warmth and relaxing contact of the water. Once he was sure he was clear, he rinsed out his hair. Letting the water do the work, he stood under the never-ending torrent.

            ‘Five more minutes’

            Forcing himself to help about the process with a few swipes of his hands, he spotted an old bottle of body wash. After checking for stray suds, he poured a tiny amount of the liquid soap into his hand, generously lathering it all over his body before working caked-up dirt and grime loose. It was a privilege to take a shower here, and he was going to make sure he didn’t waste it. Rubbing his skin raw, he rinsed off, already missing the water and heat. Turning off the water, he shivered. Exiting the shower, he toweled off, eyes trying to find the pile of clothes he had left. All he found was a neatly folded pile of fabric waiting on the counter for him. Tying the towel around his waist, he investigated the stack. It was his faded old blue jeans and worn grey long-sleeve shirt. Washed with care and tatters mended. ‘How? When?’ He was sure his shirt was done for with how many holes he had in it, but now it looked like it never got torn up in the first place.

            Then he saw a simple pale-yellow button-up jacket with a neon orange sticky note stuck to it. ‘It cold’, scribbled haphazardly on it. A hushed laugh came from his nose, ending with a gentle honk. He pocketed the note, then pulled on the jacket and left it unbuttoned. Leaving the heavenly shower behind him. Retracing his steps from the night before, he hobbled back towards the elevator. His eyes rediscovered the wacky paintings and beloved flowers. Making it to the mudroom of sorts, an open landing with a half-wall and a bench, coats hung on hangers while footwear were placed in cubbies. He found his shoes and tugged them on, holes sporting where his toes rubbed against the fabric. Turning his attention to the elevator, he pressed onto the lower part of the screen, and a bright, down-facing arrow greeted him with a high-pitched bing.

            Swallowing his apprehension, he stepped into the contraption when it opened its reflective maw. Pushing in the button labeled ‘1’, he waited with bated breath. It felt like it was consuming him, and when the doors closed, he leaned against the railing for support, remembering his close call from last night. The electrical hum gave some comfort before he was rudely jostled from his resting position. Stopping just like it had the night prior. ‘Can you be gentle for once? Geez, now I’m cursing out machines’ Letting out a disgruntled sigh, he stepped out into a brightly lit room; it was strikingly empty. Entering the set of double doors, voices relayed a heated argument coming from around the corner. He didn’t recognize any of them; panic bubbled up to the surface.

            ‘Fuck’

            Brown eyes locked with his own as a shorter man rounded the corner. Frozen in place, he stared, unsure of what to do, the other seemingly confused as well, “Who the fuck are you?”

            Before he could answer, the second voice rounded the corner with a hand resting on her hip, “This is employees only, hun. Come back in an hour,” they huffed, rolling their eyes in a dismissive manner, a strange accent coating her words. Clearly unimpressed with him, “Leave out the front, scram.”

            Stuck looking between the two, the man with a dark blue letterman and the woman wearing a fluffy pink top and bleached jeans, he paled. This wasn’t going well, and he regretted waking up as soon as he did. If he was lucky, maybe they’ll just ignore him if he sits there long enough. The woman started to tap her foot against the rough carpet. ‘Double fuck’ His time was ticking by fast, yet it felt like an eternity.

            “Ayo, did any of ya see the fight last night- …” another voice came bounding into the room from where the other two had entered from. Their tone was light and carefree, pausing to look him up and down once. They even sniffed the air, a cat-like animalistic with dark grey fur, before questioning him, “Wow, you lost, dude? Bro, standing there wide-eyed ain’t helping you.”

            “Don’t encourage him! He needs to leave; what don’t you understand about ‘we’re closed, leave’ Droid,” she huffed, getting worked up by the other’s response. She folded her arms in front of her chest, standing slightly askew to look both at him and who he registered as Droid.

            “What? I’m just trying to help,” Droid pouted, turning to face her fully. “Come on, Toby.”

            His attention was taken by the other man, his face covered by a black balaclava. They had waved faintly at him, “Hey, need help or somethin’, bud?”

            He nodded his head softly before struggling to find his voice, “I’m looking-”

            “Can I not leave y’all alone for five minutes before you start arguing?” the kind stranger from before balked, momentarily freezing when he himself let out a frightened yelp, placing a hand over his heart.

            “Can you stop doing that?! Nearly killed me,” he hissed, turning around to face his mystery man. A shocked look crossed their face for a split second.

            “Sorry, I tend to sneak up on everyone. I’ll try to keep it to a minimum, if at all. How did you sleep?” they gave a sheepish smile, a pile of vibrant fabrics held to his chest. Teal eyes quickly flicked to the others, and a sigh left his lips, “He’s cool, guys, spent the night. Told him to find me down here.”

            “Oh shit, sorry, dude,” Droid hummed, turning on a dime, a pawed hand reaching out towards him. He took it with caution after covering his hand with his sleeve, and a firm shake was given. “I’m Droid.”

            Toby relaxed at once, her stern demeanor falling away into a gentle one, “Sorry, force of habit. We get a lot of head-strong bricks for brains around here.” She leaned onto one side with a wide grin after closing the distance, “I’m Toby, and mister condom over there is Swagger.”

            “Hey, that was uncalled for, I didn’t say shit to you!” Swagger glared in her direction before ignoring Toby entirely, “But yes, I’m Swagger. It’s nice to meet you.”

            “Hi,” was all he could voice, his eyes still darting between the new faces. He was just waiting for someone else to pop up and scare him. Or shoo him off again; he was very convinced he still wasn’t allowed back here.

            “John, can I go grab breakfast or something already? I’m starving, bro!” Droid was pouting; his fur pattern, a mix of greys and some white, made him look wolfish. Toby was rolling her sky-blue eyes, obviously used to this behavior.

            He could hear Swagger groan, though it didn’t seem like it was directed at anyone. Like he was in a decent amount of pain, “Can’t. John has to go grab it. I need a large.”

            He watched as everyone turned to Swagger, who was now sitting at a work desk. A bunch of metal scraps and welding tools littered the top of it. It was a shock to see them all look so defeated, a sad expression drenching their features. Sagging shoulders and tight-lipped frowns. Yet he noticed no one tried to fight it, excepting whatever was going to happen. It was like someone had died. ‘Am I missing something?’ Turning to gage John, his savior and kind-hearted host, yet was met with guilt-ridden eyes. But he nodded, and a pent-up sigh left his lips.

            “Alright, Swaggs. I’ll even grab extra treats for you, Droid,” John said as he continued to do what he was doing before stopping to chat. Seemingly to disturb the heavy air in the room. “I just need to set up my desk before we head out.”

            ‘We? Why did he look at me when he said that?’

            Droid took it in stride, bouncing on his feet. His tail lashing back and forth like an excited dog, “Oh hell yeah, Pezzy’s banana muffins are to die for!”

            John walked past him and to a desk at the end of the room to his left. It was pushed fleshed up against the wall. A blanket rack full of fabric is boxing in one side of the workspace. On the other side was a cubby full of tread and other sowing equipment. Toby hummed slightly before waving her hand softly; she walked up to him, trying to posture herself in a non-threatening manner. Trying not to scare him, it seems.

            “Here, I’ll show you around while you wait for John. He takes his sweet time organizing his desk before work,” she waved he hand dismissively, a playful smirk on her lips as John shouted a quick “Hey!” before trying to grab his hand.

            Instinctively pulling his hand away before she could, he cradled it protectively to his chest, “I’m nervous right now, so I wouldn’t grab my hand for a good while if you don’t mind slime. I’m slightly poisonous on a good day.”

            Toby blinked in quick succession before chewing the inside of her cheek, deep in thought. ‘Shit’ A smile was soon back on her lips, “Then can I hold onto your sleeve? Also, that sounds cool as fuck, not gonna lie about that one.”

            “Sure,” holding out his arm, letting the sleeve swallow his hand whole. A shy smile on his lips as she grabbed it. Pink nail polish covered in white stars caught his attention almost eminently. “Woah, cool nails! And thanks, I didn’t want to burn you accidentally.”

            She tugged him through the double doors, her steps full of excitement. Toby smiled brightly, “John painted them; he’s my go-to when it comes to my nails. This is the ‘liminal space’; it has the elevator and the stairwell entrance,” Pointing at the metal door across from them, “We don’t put anything in here because Droid had a habit of tripping over everything.”

            “I heard that!”

            “And no one can decide on what posters we want to put up. Without a full-blown fight, John lets us decorate, surprisingly. Saying it’s our space, too,” Toby continued as if Droid hadn’t yelled, interrupting her—a devilish smirk plastered on her lips.

            He nodded along with her as they walked towards the way he had entered last night. A grimace crept onto his face when they entered the sitting room; he could see the paint peeling from where he had leaned against the wall. There was also a dent in the wall where the hallway met with the room. Toby again blinked rapidly before she turned towards him. He gulped. ‘Fuck me’

            “This is our breakroom, usually unfucked, but seems like shit went down last night,” she shrugged after seeing his face. Sensing and noticing his sudden change in demeanor with a single glance. “We also let VIPs sit back here in as an impromptu meeting room. John’s probably excited that he can repaint the room.” She paused to drag him further into the room to show him the hallway, “Follow the hall, and you’ll be greeted by the fire exit.”

            He could see her scrunch up her face at the damaged paint. ‘I did a number on that, huh?’ Clearing his throat, he tried to calm himself before speaking, “Yeah, I may have also left imprints in the door. I was being chased last night,” pointing a look at his left leg, “Probably thinkin’ I’m an easy target. But I broke in to try and escape them. I wasn’t so lucky as they entered behind me. But, uh, John saved me.”

            ‘I owe him so much already’

            “Shit, really? No wonder why you reeled back. Thank you for looking out for me,” she said with an unreadable glimmer in her blue eyes. He swears he can hear her heart thump excitedly in her chest, “So what’s your tick? Mine is enchanting. I can give abilities or rework the laws of how it works with objects. Some are permanent, depending on the size of the item. I can temporarily enchant humans and animals and lasts, at most, an hour.”

            They were heading back into ‘liminal space’ as she ranted, her body language telling him she was holding back. He was nervous; he hated talking about his tick for obvious reasons to him and to him alone for the most part. But he let out a sigh; he needed to get over it, “I’m a frog animalistic, Mantella Nigricans or Guibé’s Mantella, a poison dart frog related to the golden dart frog. But I also have claws from the African clawed frog. My tick lets me alter my mucus; it’s an irritant unless you let it soak into your sink or get it into your system,” he let out a shaky sigh. He’s hurt so many people just by touching them. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t turn off his poisonous goop. ‘No one sticks around long enough to grow resistant’

            Toby led him to the elevator, tapping it once, “We’ll go down first, then back up. I’m going to show you the storage ‘rooms’.” She held up her hands and flexed her pointer and middle finger like bunny ears, air quoting the word rooms. A smile was still held firmly to her lips, “What does your mucus do? Like, is it corrosive?”

            “Yes and no, it is when I’m nervous or upset. When I’m calm or relaxed, it has a slight burn before numbing the area. That version only affects the area it touches, so otherwise, it's harmless if it gets into your system,” he shrugged as they entered the mechanical contraption—his new archnemesis. She pressed a button labeled ‘-2’, the doors closed swiftly after. “And why are there two storage rooms?”

            “One’s for equipment and the suits we work on. As well as the materials Droid and Swagger use to make said equipment. Droid focuses on the tech side of things, while Swagger works on the frame or armor pieces. The other one is for John; all of his fabrics and designs are stored up there,” she hummed softly, beaming at him as they talked, “He likes working around us, hence his desk is downstairs. But he works up there occasionally, usually on commissions and personal projects.”

            “Hm,” he thinks, rather confused. His questions were being answered but caused more to pile up in his mind, “What do you guys do here? I’m not from the city, let alone the state.” He had been slowly moving from place to place. Never staying in one place for very long. Hell, he was about to move into the next city, in a constant cycle of moving.

            She froze for a second, a look of surprise dwarfing her. Then she let out a soft laugh, “That explains a lot. But we create and fix hero and villain suits and equipment. The government made laws to make this place a neutral zone. We don’t ask questions; nothing made to kill is allowed. I work with enchanting the finished products, and it costs a pretty penny for my work.”

            The elevator buckled as it stopped; he was ready this time. Bracing for the bump, Toby seemed unfazed. Watching him with an amused giggle. Heat rose to his face quickly. ‘Once again foiled by a machine’ He pursed his lips slightly before gawking at the sight before him. It was a large open floor plan; a mini-warehouse had been hiding beneath his feet. Shelves, filled with electrical components and metals of all sorts, cut rows on one side of the floor. On the other side, it was like a museum. Glass cases held suits and equipment pieces as if being permanently displayed for all to see. Every case is connected to the ceiling, bright white lights shining from above. There were empty spots here and there. Marking open places for new orders, his mind was blown by how many different suits there were.

            “John is famous ‘round here and in the super world, too. Everyone fights over his commission slots like it’s the end of the world. But he makes and repairs the suits,” she said, gesturing to the suits. “We store our projects down here. There are buttons on our desks that can send up a suit and equipment to us. So, we don’t have to go up and down to grab stuff constantly.”

            He didn’t see her push another button, but he heard it ding; he was slightly disappointed. There was so much more to see down there. Toby gave him a fond look when he pouted, jutting his bottom lip out, giving her a much unpracticed big ol��� puppy-dog eyes. She rolled her eyes and gently shook her head, a soft chuckle leaving her lips. The burn in his left leg grew worse the longer he stood on it; he adjusted his stance. He leans to his right and picks up his foot, only letting his toes touch the floor. He kept it there for a few seconds before dropping it. It was obvious that Toby noticed the adjustment. Yet said nothing about it.

            “The floor above this one is a parking garage. Swagger and I drive. John and Droid prefer to walk everywhere like idiots,” she joked, “And John’s storage floor is an organized mess. No one really goes in there except him, so we’ll only take a quick peek. Also, don’t worry about investing around the basement; Droid is going to sucker ya into grabbing things for him.”

            “Sick,” he smiled, then it was his turn to freeze, “What do you mean by that last part?”

            Toby snorted a laugh, her eyes crinkling at the corners, “John has a habit of picking up strays. Droid, Swagger, and I are strays in that regard. Took us in when no one else would.” She paused, lost in thought, before shaking her head, “You’ve just been hired; welcome to the family.”

            He balked, “Wha? What?”

            The elevator sputtered to a stop, almost throwing him into Toby. She caught him by his elbow, steadying him. ‘Fucking hell in a shoe basket!’ He stared at her in an attempt to get her to explain further; he was ignored in favor of pointing out into the space. Tearing his eyes away from her, he looked into the room. It was very much an organized mess of fabric. There was an ironing board in the middle of the ample space, covered in several fabric piles. Noting how everything was color-coated, at the very least. He momentarily forgets the whole process of getting adopted and hired without his knowledge. It was probably better than what he thought was going to happen to him. Pushing it to the back burner, he noticed the paintings. Similar to the ones in John’s apartment, they added life to the place. A few flowerpots hung from the high ceiling as vines climbed the walls. Giving the place an ethereal feel.

            ‘Fuck this is cool as shit too!’

            “John seems to like paintings and flowers,” he said, his eyes still dancing wildly around the room. Several beanbag chairs circled a low coffee table in one corner. The support beams are planted with swirling designs. Any other tables or cabinets were completely hidden by the amount of fabric covering them.

            “He loves to paint, so everything you see was done by him,” Toby informed, her tone was soft. Glancing at her, he could see the fondness in her eyes. “John also loves flowers; they always calm him down. Takes great care of them, too. He stole my Hibiscus’ because I forgot to water them once.”

            He laughed. ‘Flowers, noted’ The doors closed, signaling that he missed Toby pressing another button. A smile hesitantly pulled its way across his face, “So, I got the job?”

            Wild laughter came from her chest. Causing him to laugh along with her as well, honking here and there when he tried catching his breath. Toby had an even bigger smile on her lips as if it was even possible in the first place. Holding him in place again, the elevator dinged as it stopped. He was thankful for her help, giving her a thumbs up. His balance was shit.

            “Also, the bathroom is to the right of the double doors,” she added; it was very out of nowhere, “It kinda looks like a storage closet.”

            ‘Oh, that’s why’

            “All right, I’ll keep that in mind,” he shrugged as they walked out of the elevator, a light smirk on his face.  They traversed through the double doors, his eyes looking back over everything. A dining table was placed in the empty space between a desk pressed against the wall; pictures lined the entirety of the workspace. Pink cushion covers protected the chair from any impending harm. The wall above it was decorated with signed posters and stickers.

            He noticed Droid at the desk across from Swagger’s, who was to his immediate left. Droid’s desk had high walls on the sides and the back, covered in hooks and baskets. All of which were full of wires, solder wires, and tools. Small figurines were spaced sporadically on the desk; he didn’t recognize any of the characters. The feline was lying face down, his cheek pressed against the hard surface, moaning about being hungry under his breath. Swagger had taken off his baklava, and a look of discomfort was painting his features. His brown hair was messy, and his chocolate eyes squinting at something on his desk. Then his heart dropped in his chest. Swagger was massaging his skelp, a nasty wound taking up the majority of the back of his skull. It looked like it was growing in size by the second.

            “Hey, Swagger, can you hold still for a second?” he asked, his voice small as if it would destroy everything around him if he spoke any louder. His mind was racing, but he forced his body and mind to relax like he had been practicing for the past several years. Wiping all the mucus off his hand and onto his shirt.

            Swagger looked up at him, only moving his eyes, “Sure?”

            Making a fist with his hand, he squeezed with a good amount of strength. Letting a few drops of goo land on Swagger’s wound. No matter how hard he could try, he would never be able to turn a blind eye to those around him, especially if they needed help. Even when it got him into serious trouble. ‘Over my ass’ Swagger hissed when it made contact, “It’s going to sting at first. But this should help with the pain.”

            “The fuck did you do?” Swagger said, sucking in a deep breath, his eyes screwed shut. He could suddenly feel everyone’s eyes on him, and now he was panicking again. ‘Trust me! Please!’ Then, a sudden sigh left the welder’s lips, “Holy shit, that’s so much better.”

            “It’s just my tick. I don’t like seeing others in pain,” he answered, a nervous, tight-lipped smile made with a suddenly dry mouth. Swagger was looking at him now; he had a cleft lip and long, angry scars covering his face, and his facial muscles were now relaxed. Looking around, he could see Toby giving him a thumbs up; Droid was wide-eyed and practically falling out of his chair. And John looked perplexed for a moment, only to vanish with a blink.

            “Thanks, it’s a nice relief. Nothing helps it much these days,” Swagger hummed, “If you need anything, let me know. You did me a big favor.”

            “That was cool as fuck!” Droid had officially fallen out of his seat. “Ow!”

            “Seems not all cats land on their feet,” he joked, releasing the tension in his gut. He had a really bad habit of putting himself into uncomfortable positions. ‘I hope my joke lands at least’

            Swagger gave a hearty, high-pitched cackle when Droid let out an embarrassing noise, almost doubling over. Droid huffed as he quickly stood up, brushing off his fur, “It’s not funny, Swagger!”

            He had to admit he liked Swagger’s laugh and Droid’s when he recently joined in with a soft giggle. Toby was rolling her eyes again, leaning against the wall with an amused stare. John, too, seemed to join in as well with an almost silent, breathy laugh. It was infectious and extremely tricky to hold back from laughing, too. The laughter lasted for a few minutes, leaving most trying to catch their breaths. Focusing on John as he calmed himself, he gave a soft smile.

            “Ready to head out? Pezzy doesn’t have all day,” John said, patting his pockets, a strange way of checking them for his things. Nodding in response, John quickly took the lead. They rapidly walked around the bend, pushing past a set of curtains separating the front room from the workspace. A comfortable office chair, minus the armrests, sat behind the hook-shaped front desk. “I’ll show you the ropes after we get back and eat.”

            Humming, they continued, leaving through a set of glass doors. They weren’t facing the street, nor were they next to it. A thin alley carved a path to the public eye. His eyes looked up above the doors, a trivial-looking sign sticking out into open space, locking in on the bold words written on it. ‘Villainous Virtue’ in chunky, slightly skewed letters. Under it was more text, such as ‘Heroic Threads & Fiendish Devices’. ‘Huh’ With a brisk pace and a slight limp, he caught up with John, who had stepped onto the busy sidewalk. He had never heard of the shop once, but to be fair, he wasn’t genuinely listening for something like it in the first place. John moved close to his side, their shoulders almost touching. Making sure neither of them got separated, it also gave a much-needed comfort. He was safe when he was next to John; he could relax.

            He was constantly being bumped into as they walked; the morning rush was just starting. Forcing his hands into his jean pockets, he looked around at the shops lining the sidewalk. Most were filled to the brim with clothes; some held household items and the like within them. However, nothing held his interest for more than a second or two before moving on. John waved as they passed a small flower shop. An elderly lady even made eye contact and gave a friendly wave back to the both of them. Slowly, as they weaved their way forward- John not so much, he noticed stores filtering into cafes and restaurants. The smell of freshly baked goods made his mouth water, and the ever-so-persistent hunger pains reared their ugly head in an uproar. His stomach rumbled pathetically at him in spite.

            Only a few places that were opened so far were filled up with early risers and night shift enders. He could barely tear his eyes from the steaming cups of coffee and fresh pastries. All he knew was the sick kind of torture. Starvation was no laughing matter. Looking over to John, he was met with teal eyes, a gold ring in their center, eyeing him lazily. It wasn’t uncommon for people to stare at him; he looked quite strange to the average person. Yet, he didn’t feel like he was being studied, let alone judged by John. It was like he was being seen, not just some random person on the street asking for handouts. Tilling his head to the side, he made a soft noise; it was drowned out by the crowd and passing cars stuck in traffic. John only shrugged before looking away; his hands were fiddling with something in his sweatshirt pocket.

            Next thing he knew, a pair of gloves were slapped against his chest. It was held there in an invitation to take them. Swamp green, soft to the touch, and most importantly, goo-proof. ‘Fuck yeah, concrete!’ Taking them with excitement, he slipped them over his cold and drying-out hands. John whistled with a happy impression carved on his face. A new wave of energy washed over him. His steps grew more confident as they pushed onwards. It might have looked odd with his current ensemble, but he did not have a single fuck to give about it. Glancing back over at John, he realizes it is probably John’s personal pair. It would go well with his dull grey plaid sweater and his dark green sweatshirt, which had the single word ‘skrimp’ in white lowercase letters and thin font printed on it. Strange choice, but he couldn’t complain about it in any sense.

            They had been walking for a good ten minutes at this point. John was now actively looking for a storefront. Following his example, he too tried to look over the many people to help if anything. He knew it was pointless but continued anyway. Then something bright and bubbly drew his eyes in. ‘Sipping Vitality’ was made of white lights in a bubble-like font, and he could not help but try getting a closer look. It was packed, much to his surprise; every table outside in the frozen morning air was taken. John took his arm with a gentle grip, pulling them towards the packed business. Upon getting closer, he could see happy faces and hear bubbly conversations. Warm coffee and a myriad of different pastries littered the customers who left the shop.

            The front door had a cute animated soda can plastered against it. Under the obvious mascot were the words, ‘Refresh and Indulge’. John held the door open so he could enter first. Finding a line waiting for them, John didn’t seem too bothered by it. Three people were working behind the counter, and they worked fast. Calling names and starting new orders with a single action. He, too, wasn’t bothered by the line now either. The place had the 50’s diner theme; white, pinks, reds, and even some browns made up the palette. It was strange; he could see several people glancing at John before turning away to gossip. Some even swooned at the mere sight of the man. Stranger still, John didn’t even acknowledge the fact that he was being ogled at. As if this was a normal part of his day, John turned to him.

            “Somethin’ wrong?” the dirty blonde asked, teal eyes flicking around, searching for something.

            “Yer- being stared at. Some even gossiping,” he answered, strangling the first word, eyes moving between John and random strangers. John let out a soft laugh. “What?”

            “It’s nothin’ new. I just ignore them now,” John said, glancing around the café, and he swore he saw several women duck for cover. “They don’t do much. So, nothing to worry about.”

            “Oh, I feel kinda stupid now. Toby did say something about you being famous or something like that,” he paled, just barely stopping himself from smacking his forehead with an open palm.

            John slapped a hand to his back, only giving it just enough force to feel it through the jacket. A mischievous glint lit up in his eyes, “Droid had the funniest reaction when he found out. The dude ran face-first into the wall and then wouldn’t shut up about how it was fate or some shit.”

            “I feel like you are arming me with ammo,” he grinned back, his lips pulled up, showing off his teeth. Crinkling his nose, he couldn’t help but give a short, entertained wheeze. John laughed along with him with a shit-eating grin.

            “What can I help you with, sir,” he didn’t even realize they were up next; shifting nervously on his feet, he looked back at John. The barista already looked like she was done with their shit. ‘Wha? What did I do, lady!’

            “Can you grab Pezzy?” John spoke; he, too, looked done with her shit, and she sneered at him. He was stuck staring at them, wondering who was going to back down first.

            Her tone grated against his ears, “No can do, sir, he personally deals with VIPs only.”

            “Figured you were new. Have it your way,” John snickered back; he leaned onto the white marble countertop. He took a deep breath, “PEZZY!” the employee flinched, barely able to catch herself before falling backward.

            She opened her mouth to say something only to get cut off by a man’s voice yelling back, not as loud as John though, “I’ll be out in a moment!”

            A mocking glare sat on John’s face as he happily hummed to himself. A victory he was sure he had won; the barista only huffed. She, too, thought she had won. Neither was willing to back down. He was in favor of John winning, though he was biased. The lady was downright pompous. A few seconds later, a man in a pink dress shirt and black half-apron took the frontline. At first, he looked unimpressed and disinterested in whatever was going on. Then, like a switch being flipped, he was smiling a large, happy smirk.

            “John! What brings you in today?” they beamed, their light-brown hair looking fluffy and untamed.

            “Pezzy! Swagger needs a large. And Droid wants his muffins; he has a sixth sense, I swear,” John laughed, then patted his back as he diverted the man’s attention to him. “I also need two of everything to go. He’s new ‘round here.”

            Pezzy hummed, looking him over before giving that all-to-familiar customer service sigh, “Even so, he needs a card. Can’t even hand him a drink without it.”

            John groaned but took a double take when he spoke, “Got one, let me-” he paused to bend down. Pushing his gloved fingers into a hidden slit in his left shoe, right where the heel meets the meat of the foam, “here.”

            “How the fuck,” John questioned, his face twisted in surprise, confusion, and unfiltered wonder.

            Pezzy took his card, inspecting it thoroughly, “It’s real. This is a first.”

            “I got it when I turned sixteen; it was a rite of passage where I was growing up,” he laughed lightly; John laughed with him. “I was the only one to pass first-try.”

            “Well, it's nice to meet you, Matthew. I’m Pezzy,” Pezzy smiled, handing his card back, yet held his hand out to shake.

            Pocketing the card, he shook his hand, “Matt.”

            John, in an act of defiance, placed his hand on top of theirs; another round of laughter left their lips before they separated, “Toby and Droid want their usuals. I’ll go with a large, too.”

            “Got it, what about you, Matt?” he was asked, blue-brown eyes looking into his own.

            “Surprise me, I guess; I haven’t ordered anything fancy in years,” Matt shrugged. Pezzy and John smiled at each other before Pezzy quickly disappeared.

            “Ayo! Grizzy, I need a double fresh; John’s here with new blood!” the man yelled as Matt followed John out of the way. A perplexed look fell onto his face.

            “Who the fuck is Grizzy?” John only laughed as he relaxed, leaning against the bar.

            “Wha!! WheRe!” another voice called back. Their voice cracked, followed by the sound of tin clanging against each other. They, very much dropped something. John laughed into a hand, muffling it slightly. ‘Enjoying yourself, fucker?’

            “Where do you think!” Pezzy launched back. “I swear you are a literal bear sometimes, man!”

            “Shut the fuck up! I’m tired!” Grizzy whined in retaliation. ‘Okay, that’s funny’

            “See what I mean? Comedy gold,” John gleamed, proud of the shitshow happening around them.

            Matt grinned back, “Yeah, definitely have to come back again now.”

            They snickered back and forth as they waited, taking up two bar spots presently. Matt’s stomach growled as the fresh scent of baked goods entered his nose. John nodded in agreement. Both hungry and craving a sweet bite. Falling into a comfortable silence, John started playing with his card. Tapping it to a warbled rhythm. He hummed, resting his head in his hands. The volley of insults continued in the background between Pezzy and Grizzy, causing the other two to laugh. But it was calm; Matt had already blocked out the staring and hushed whispers. Preferring to enjoy the moment rather than worry about anyone else. Three pink paper bags landed between John and Matt, startling Matt. He spun to see a tall, ‘giant’, man with dark skin. Tight curls pulled back into a bun, a hairnet covering his beard. ‘Grizzy’ A soft, friendly grin was directed towards him, dark oak eyes filled with joy.

            “Hey, I’m Grizzy,” they introduced, essentially ignoring John, who pouted in jest.

            Hold out his hand, Matt smiled back, shaking off his panic, “’M Matt. Pleasure.”

            “Nice to meet you; seems you got adopted, huh?” Grizzy laughed with a low chuckle, temporarily turning to John, “Hi, John.”

            “Yeah, I didn’t get a choice. Not that I’m complainin’,” Matt huffed, a sly smirk joining his sass. John gasped as if Matt had the audacity to call him out.

            “Yeah, figured,” he shrugged.

            “Traitor!” John puffed, crossing his arms like a child, “You’re no longer my favorite.”

            “Wooah! That was uncalled for, man!” Matt only laughed as Grizzy pointed a finger menacingly at John. Who only gave him a wicked smirk back. He let out a tired sigh, handing John the win, “Next time you stop by, come say hi! It gets lonely in the kitchen.”

            “Hey! I heard that, bitch!” Pezzy appeared next to the towering behemoth, a disappointed stare piercing into Grizzy. Two red paper bags made with built-in cup holders were gently placed in front of Matt. “I made you two drinks by the way, since I couldn’t decide on what to make you.”

            “Favoritism at its finest,” John joked, sliding over his card, “Droid is going to be foaming at the mouth when we get back. The man prides himself in being Pezzy’s favorite.”

            Matt cackled, “Suck it! This only proves I’m the best.”

            Grizzy laughed while Pezzy wheezed as he ran the card a few feet over. John shook his head with a knowing look, “But we better get going. The shop isn’t going to open itself.” John hummed as his card was tossed back at him. Catching it between two fingers.

            ‘Holy fuck, that was cool!’

            “Alright, stay safe, you two!” Pezzy waved a lazy grin on his lips before turning and heading back to wherever he had come from originally.

            “You better come back at some point, Matt!” Grizzy pressed, and he gave a single wave of a hand before turning. Looking back over his shoulder, “See ya!”

            Matt grabbed the drinks before hopping off the stool. John held all three bags in a single hand, waving goodbye for the both of them. The designs on the bags made them look like soda; bubbles outlined the top of all five bags. Their logo is slapped right in the middle of the bags on both sides. He was careful when managing the cups full of scalding liquid. John once again grabbed the door for him. A gust of freezing cold wind slapped him in the face; he grimaced before pushing forward and into the tidal wave of people. It took a few steps for Matt to find his pace; John caught up a couple of seconds later. Glaring over his shoulder at someone, probably for ramming into him or something. People were rushing past both of them, and Matt was thankful John had taken the outside. Leaving him without much resistance as they walked back.

            By the time they reached the front doors, Matt could hear yelling. Peeking in, he saw someone screaming at the front desk. John quickly checked his phone before frowning. Pulling the door open, a soft ping sounded. Alerting the bizarre customer to their presence. The man, wearing a black suit, turned to them with a deep angry frown.

            “I demand to speak to your manager! This is no way to run a business!” they started, their voice nasally and high; Matt inwardly hissed.

            “Go on to the back; I’ll take care of this,” John whispered into his ear, giving Matt a light shove with his elbow. Nodding before rushing past the belligerent man, Matt paled, wanting nothing to do with it. He could hear John huff, “I’m the owner. Is there something I can help you with? But I do have to say, I’m still closed at the moment.”

            Matt quickly ducked behind the curtain, finding Toby pacing around the table angrily. Droid looked dead as he lay on the floor in all of his dramatic glory. To be fair, the rough carpet looked far more comfortable than listening to the howler monkey in the front. Swagger wasn’t even there, probably escaping further into the back if Matt had to guess. Mindful of the coffee, Matt placed it on the dining table. Toby gave a sigh of relief when she saw him.

            “I can’t believe what I’m hearing. I traveled all the way out here to place a commission, and this is the thanks I get!” he screeched. “I’m giving you my business!”

            “I’d rather eat pants than listen to this!” Matt groaned, taking a seat; Toby laughed faintly. “Now I see why you were short with me this morning.”

            “Sir, I’m closed. I can’t help you anyways. My COMMISSIONS are also CLOSED!” John’s patience was already wearing thin. Everyone could tell. “They have been for the past four months. And won’t be opening for another four.”

            “See, bricks for brains, no one is safe from it,” she sighed, stopping her pacing to open the bags, “I’m guessing John has the grub.”

            “Uhg, I swear my ears are bleeding, dude,” Droid moaned, slowly pushing himself off the floor. Matt noticed a grey head sleeve covering his ears.

            ‘That sucks balls! Yet adorable’

            “Where did Swagger go?” Matt asked, wincing when someone slammed their fist against a hard surface.

            “What do you mean another four months!? I own the entirety of the Shmucks’ Hardware!” the man hissed, “Such shitty service too. That bitch of a woman can’t do anything right! I can buy you out five times over, yet she dares to call me imprudent!”

            ‘Shmucks’ run by a shmuck’

            Matt froze as the room started to rise in temperature at a startling rate; Toby recoiled before saying anything, “He forgot something in his truck. But damn, this guy is digging his own grave. Swagger would’ve already chained him to a light pole.”

            “I demand retrobu-”

            “Shut your asinine declarations up. Get out of my store,” John’s voice was eerily calm; every single one of his instincts told Matt to run for it. Even when he knew full well, it wasn’t directed at him. “This is your last chance to appeal to your self-preservation before I make a choice for you. No one says shit about my employees like that.”

            “Hey, what did I-” Swagger was cut off.

            “You’ll regret this!” the man roared before everyone heard the ping chime confirming his departure.

            “-ah. A dumbass?” Swagger asked; Droid only shook his head.

            “Suicidal more like it, called me a bitch to his face,” Toby grimaced, pulling out warm cups, placing two in front of Matt.

            “What, wait! Why do you get two!” Droid whined, crouching down and using a chair to support his weight.

            Matt shrugged with a smug grin, “I don’t know. I just might be Pezzy’s new favorite.”

            “Haha!” Swagger basically squealed at this comment, throwing his head back, howling with laughter.

            Droid groaned lightly, bashing his head against the wooden chair, “So not fair!”

            John pushed through the curtains, his free hand gliding between curly strands of dirty blonde hair. A heated sigh left his lips. His eyes clamped shut as he nearly tossed the rest of the bags onto the table, “I’m going to go take a breather. I was gonna strangle the bastard.”

            “Sure thing, bud!” Swagger waved, a pained smile flickering across his features. “I’ll show the kid the ropes.”

            “Thanks, Swaggs,” and John was gone and out through the double doors.

            Matt quickly dug into one of the pink bags, pulling out a chocolate drizzled croissant, “’M Matt, by the way. No one asked me for my name earlier.”

            “Shit, sorry. But hi Matt,” Droid gave a very toothy smile, two rows of sharp, pointy teeth. “How was Pezzy’s?”

            “The girl working the front was mean. Started a war with John,” Matt took a bite, finding a peanut butter center; he moaned as he continued to munch. “This is so fucking good! But it was fine. Pezzy was nice, so was Grizzy.”

            ‘So good…I’m in heaven’

            “That’s one of my favorites right there, especially if it’s warm,” Toby hummed, grabbing a chocolate muffin from another bag. “Did you have any problems?”

            “Nope, aweady had a card,” Matt said with his mouth full, having had stuffed his face with another comically large bite, “Told Pezzy to surprise me. Got two as a result.”

            “Wucky!” Droid had just stuffed an entire muffin into his mouth. Toby rolled her eyes at the both of them.

            Swagger took a strawberry and cream cheese Danish from the last bag, “Say, Matt, have you ever seen a healer’s tick in action before?”

            He turned his attention to the injured man, shaking his head. Swallowing his last bite hastily, “Never.”

            “Come here and watch,” Swagger took a seat, turning his back to Matt. Curiosity piqued, Matt hovered over him in anticipation. A long sip was taken from his drink, “Now this is cool shit.”

            Matt was in complete awe as he watched the edge of the wound start to knit itself closed. Leaving irritated pink skin behind, slowly closing in on the worst of it. It was fast at first, slowing to a crawl until Swagger took another sip. Rinse and repeat; the wound never closed up in its entirety.

            “It didn’t close up,” Matt frowned; Swagger had drunk half already.

            “That is a story I don’t want to dive into. But it’s never going to heal,” Swagger shrugged, taking a bit of his pastry, “It’ll kill me one day. Tis’ the tale of the hero.”

            “Huh?” Matt paled for a second time. ‘Swagger’s gonna die?’

            “Don’t worry, he has over ten years left. And with Pezzy’s healing tick growing stronger, double that. Also, fair warning, Swagger always talks about hero shit,” Toby talked between sips of hot liquid, “He used to be a Hero. Forced to retire due to his injury.”

            “I was a Super Hero, thank you,” Swagger pouted as he corrected her. Matt only raised an eyebrow in surprise.

            “Wait? Actually?” Matt deadpanned as he looked between the two. “You had the super title?”

            “Yep, SwaggerSouls The Final Crusader,” Droid answered, cutting in after almost choking on a third muffin. Man is chaos; Matt is here for it. “I was a big fan growing up, but I still am, really. No one could fight one-on-one with Swagger.”

            Swagger shook his head, “There was only one I couldn’t go toe-to-toe with. The only reason I won that fight was because I got a lucky shot. And no, it stays between me and them.”

            “Aw! Worst day ever!” Droid frowned, curling in on himself.

            Swagger laughed as Toby silently mocked the cat; Matt snorted, “I didn’t grow up with many Heroes around. A lot of Vigilantes, but the rest were Villains.”

            “Really? Anyone cool?” Toby asked, leaning forward in her seat, “Villains count too. There is no shame here.”

            Everyone else nodded in agreement with her statement. Matt sat back to think, taking a sip of one of his two drinks. Slapping Droid’s hand paw thing away from the other, nothing came to his mind, “Someone had the ability to talk to animals, and one could phase through things. I don’t really remember anyone else.”

            ‘Scrapping the bottom of the barrel with those two’

            “You had some lame picks!” Droid groaned, “We have a shit ton of cool ticks running around here. Wildcat and his animal shifting, BigPuffer and his water manipulation. Hell, Grizzy can turn into a flaming skeletal bear, for crying out loud!”

            ‘Big and cuddly’

            Toby laughed at Droid’s desperation, “Point being you had a boring community.”

            Matt shrugged, wondering if it was okay to share. “We did have one Super. Though they disappeared after a bad fight.”

            “And no one knows where they went?” Swagger frowned, stopping to let it sink in.

            “Running theory was he died before he could find help. The closest healer was several cities over,” Matt said, picking at the muffin he grabbed. “Doubt it tho. I never paid close attention, teenage angst running rampant, to have an opinion.”

            “That sucks,” Toby busied herself by digging through another bag. Trying to find something else to snack on.

            “A shame,” Swagger hummed to himself, “No one is undefeatable.”

            Droid was tapping a screen on his wrist before jumping to his feet, “Shit, five ‘till opening.”

            “Fuck me!” Toby groaned, dragging her body from the chair. Her search ended with empty hands as she moved to her desk.

            Swagger was to his feet in seconds, only to wait for Matt to follow, “You can eat at your post. Just put your snacks under the counter.”

            “Sure,” Matt juggled both of his drinks and a bag still full of treats. “So, what am I supposed to do?”

            He watched as Swagger turned on the touchpad Matt swore was a monitor. “Here, there is no login required for this part, but the only way to access something is to enter the code. Your job is to help people with their orders. You’ll ask for their ticket; most are digital, and a five number and letter code will be under the name registered,” he spoke lightly, swiping the console screen. Showing him the list of clients' names, what they had in, and the completion status attached. “Tap the name of the client and enter the code if it is ready for pickup. You will press ‘return to sender’, John thought he was being funny.”

            “Cool, and where do I grab it?” Matt asked, hovering over his shoulder at the touchscreen.

            “The glass case next to Toby’s desk, you’ll find it waiting for you in the time it takes to turn around,” Swagger turned, a light pat on his shoulder, and he moved towards the front door. Flipping a switch before coming back, “If you need anything, help or whatnot, just grab one of us.”

            “Sure thing,” Matt hummed. He was so not ready, but he had a job to do. If not for himself, then for John.

            He watched Swagger weave his way to his own workstation, leaving Matt all alone, “Good luck.”

            Matt picked at his or John’s gloves as he waited with bated breath. It had been so long since his last job, and he didn’t even stay employed there for very long, either. He really didn’t want to fuck this up, so he went back over the steps in his head. However, the big reason why he was fired was solved for the most part. As dissolving almost anything and everything you touch isn’t good for business. That and no one liked him; his limp was worse back then, slowing him down and dictating that he got the easier tasks. No one thought that was fair to them, disabled or not. Everyone threw him to the wolves when they got a chance. Injuries plagued him daily. Hopefully, he wouldn’t have to deal with anything like that here. John seemed protective of his charges, and Matt was now included in that. Minutes ticked past before someone walked in, and just like that.

            Matt’s new life started. Whether he was ready for it or not.

[nei-ning]

Very old dream again from my teen years. Long, confusing etc so I can't remember everything. Trying to keep it short still.

My dad took me with him somewhere via car and we ended up looking for something and we then ended up in a big farm which was owned by one of my ex neighbors from the area where I lived as a child.

I was feeling hell tired while being inside the house, sitting on the floor near corner in the kitchen area. If we look the room from above (long square, long sides and short top and bottom walls, like a block building), I'm sitting at the bottom left corner, left wall has kitchen cabins, fridge etc all other kitchen stuffs. In the middle of the room is long old table with long benches and on the right side is long old couch and beside it a door which leads to mudroom. Old house.

As I'm leaning against the wall, sliding on my left side on the floor eventually, I close my eyes, listening the sound of conversation my father is having with the woman who lives there. She also has a son, my age, and I know he's sitting on the couch with my father, just staring at me. I can feel his eyes on me (I'm facing the couch leg first, head towards the wall).

While I know he is my ex friend from my childhood, I also can't stop feeling he is not really he himself. I keep feeling Aomine instead and it's confusing. But one thing what I'm certain of is that he is interested in me (trying to keep it hidden tho) while we also are supposed to get married. I'm not sure was that the reason my father and I ended up visiting him and his mother, so that our parents could talk about it.

At one point I hear him getting up, coming to stand near my feet as I pretend to be sleeping. He places fully black cat next to me, saying her name but I can't remember it! The cat instantly rolls on her back and I reach to pet her chest and stomach gently with my fingers. I have NEVER pet so smooth and soft fur! It brings smile on my face and I keep staring at her, left eye open while petting her. She's clearly comfortable and enjoying this. Next, I feel black throwing blanket being spread on my legs. It's nice and warm. I know he put it on me. He was actually caring enough to care about me falling asleep on the floor!

Then I ended up outside at the farm's edge. There's grassy ground and mud with muddy tractor tracks etc. Very farm like and I'm enjoying it, ahaha! My sis is with me now and as we keep walking, we come across a store shelf with different cloth washing soaps (liquid). We start to check them and now my mom is there too! She keeps pointing at one bottle after another, asking if I would like that.

I say I can't buy those ones since their scent is too strong for me, I can't inhale near them (which is true even in real life). I also added I don't know how Aomine is. Can he stand strong scents and what kind of scents he likes overall. It's in this moment I realize that only clothing what I actually need to wash is my bra...

Then I'm in my current living place all of the sudden, standing at the tiny forest road area where I feed birds every winter. I'm actually filling their feeder with seeds now, hearing a lot of happy and loud chirping around me. This is definitely a sign, haha! Tho, I was thinking of starting feeding them in this week anyway since weather channel has promised COLD AND SNOW LATER THIS WEEK, FINALLY!!!

[firstflooradditionsinsydney]

Must-Have Features for Family-Friendly First Floor Additions Sydney

Adding a first-floor addition to your Sydney home is a fantastic way to create extra space for your growing family. But with so many design considerations, it can be overwhelming to know where to begin. This blog dives into the must-have features for First Floor Additions Sydney that cater to the needs of a busy family, ensuring your new space is both functional and delightful.

Understanding Your Family's Needs

Before diving into specific features, take a moment to understand your family's unique needs. Consider factors like:

Family Size and Age: Are you a young family with small children or teenagers who crave their own space? The number of bedrooms and bathrooms will depend on your family's current and future needs.

Lifestyle: Do you love to entertain? Do you need a dedicated workspace for work-from-home parents? Tailoring the addition's features to your lifestyle preferences is crucial.

Storage: Families create a lot of stuff! Plan for ample storage solutions throughout the addition to keep clutter at bay.

Must-Have Features for Family Harmony

With your family's needs in mind, let's explore some essential features for a family-friendly First Floor Addition Sydney:

Dedicated Playroom: Creating a dedicated playroom keeps toys and mess contained and allows children a space to unleash their creativity. Consider built-in storage solutions for toys, books, and art supplies.

Multi-Functional Rooms: Not every family needs a formal living room. Consider a multi-functional room that can serve various purposes, such as a playroom that converts into a guest room when needed, or a media room that doubles as a home office.

Ample Storage: As mentioned earlier, storage is key. Utilize built-in wardrobes, cabinets, and shelving in bedrooms, bathrooms, and hallways. Explore hidden storage solutions like under-bed drawers or ottomans with storage compartments.

Durable Flooring: Opt for durable and easy-to-clean flooring materials like engineered timber, laminate flooring, or high-quality tiles in high-traffic areas. These materials can withstand spills and the wear and tear of active children.

Enhancing Functionality and Safety

Beyond the basic features, consider these elements for a more functional and safe family environment:

Natural Light: Ample natural light creates a cheerful and inviting atmosphere. Skylights, strategically placed windows, and light shelves can help maximize natural light penetration.

Safety Features: Install safety features like window locks, stair guards, and smoke detectors throughout the addition. Consider child-proof door knobs and cabinet latches for areas with younger children.

Laundry Chute (Optional): A laundry chute can simplify laundry day for busy families, especially with a first-floor addition potentially located above the laundry room.

Mudroom (Optional): A mudroom near the entry point provides a designated space to store shoes, coats, and bags, preventing clutter from spreading throughout the house. Consider built-in benches for easy shoe removal and a drying rack for wet clothes.

First Floor Additions Sydney: Balancing Family Fun with Adult Serenity

While prioritizing your family's needs, don't forget to create a space for adult relaxation:

Master Suite Retreat: If space allows, consider incorporating a dedicated master suite retreat within the addition. This could include a spacious bedroom, a luxurious ensuite bathroom, and a walk-in closet. This creates a haven for parents to unwind after a long day.

Balcony or Deck (Optional): A balcony or deck accessible from the addition offers a lovely outdoor space for relaxation and entertaining.

Essential Considerations Beyond Design

Planning a First Floor Addition Sydney requires more than just functionality:

Structural Engineering: Ensure the new addition is structurally sound and integrates seamlessly with the existing framework of your home. Engage a qualified structural engineer to assess your property and design the necessary support structures.

Building Codes and Approvals: Always obtain the necessary building permits and approvals from your local council before commencing construction. Be mindful of any heritage overlays or zoning restrictions that may apply.

FAQs: First Floor Additions Sydney - Creating a Haven for Your Family

What are the benefits of incorporating family-friendly features in a first-floor addition?

Family-friendly features offer numerous benefits:

* Increased functionality:  Dedicated playrooms, multi-functional spaces, and ample storage solutions make family life easier and more organized.

* Improved safety:  Features like safety gates and child-proof locks help create a safer environment for children.

* Enhanced livability:  A well-designed addition with designated spaces for family activities and relaxation fosters a more enjoyable living environment for everyone.

How much does it cost to incorporate family-friendly features in a first-floor addition?

The cost of incorporating family-friendly features can vary depending on the specific features chosen. Built-in storage solutions and laundry chutes can add to the overall cost, while opting for durable, yet affordable flooring materials can help manage expenses.

Can I add a first-floor addition to a terrace house in Sydney?

Yes, adding a first-floor addition to a terrace house in Sydney is possible, but there might be limitations. Be sure to consult with your local council and a heritage architect (if your terrace house is heritage-listed) to understand any restrictions or guidelines regarding size, materials, and overall design.

What are some alternative solutions for creating more space in a Sydney home if a first-floor addition isn't feasible?

If a first-floor addition isn't feasible due to budget constraints, space limitations, or heritage restrictions, consider alternative solutions like:

* **Converting existing underutilized spaces:** Explore converting an attic or basement into a usable living space. Ensure proper ventilation, insulation, and egress are addressed before commencing any work.

* **Building a granny flat in the backyard:** Depending on council regulations, a granny flat can provide additional living space. Explore granny flat designs that complement the style of your existing home.

* **Extending outwards on the ground floor:**  In some cases, extending outwards on the ground floor may be a viable option, but again, council approval is essential.

Conclusion

Adding a first-floor addition to your Sydney home can be a transformative project, especially for families. By understanding your family's needs, incorporating essential features like dedicated playrooms, ample storage, and safety considerations, and creating a space for adult relaxation, you can create a First Floor Addition Sydney that fosters harmony, functionality, and joy for your entire family. Remember, planning is key. Take your time, research your options, and consult with qualified professionals to ensure a successful outcome that meets the needs of your growing family for years to come.

First Floor Additions North Shore

[homeimprovementway]

Mudroom Paint Colors: Transform Your Space with Stunning Shades

For the best mudroom paint colors, consider creamy white, blue-gray, soft blue, olive green, burgundy, greige, dark blue, and aqua. To achieve a tough, furniture-like finish, consider using ADVANCE® interior paint. A well-designed mudroom can serve as a functional and stylish entryway to your home. From providing storage for shoes and outerwear to offering a convenient spot to sit and put on shoes, a mudroom serves as a versatile space within your home. With the right paint colors, you can enhance the overall aesthetics and functionality of your mudroom. By choosing suitable paint colors and finishes, you can create an inviting and organized space that complements the rest of your home's interior. We'll explore some popular mudroom paint color options to help you make the best choice for your space.

Choosing The Best Mudroom Paint Colors

When it comes to selecting the perfect hues for your mudroom, the right paint color can transform this functional space into a stylish entry point for your home. Creamy White - Creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere - Timeless and versatile choice Blue-gray - Adds a soothing and calming vibe - Perfect for creating a serene ambiance Soft Blue - Sets a relaxing and fresh tone - Ideal for a light and airy feel Olive Green - Brings a touch of nature indoors - Elegant and earthy option for a mudroom Burgundy - Infuses richness and depth - Dramatic and bold choice for a statement look Greige - Combines warmth of beige with coolness of gray - Modern and sophisticated color palette Dark Blue - Elegant and moody atmosphere - Brings a sense of depth and coziness Aqua - Refreshing and uplifting color - Adds a pop of brightness to the mudroom

Selecting The Right Type Of Paint

Selecting the Right Type of Paint for your mudroom is crucial for creating a durable and long-lasting finish that can withstand high traffic and various weather conditions. When choosing a paint, it's essential to consider both the aesthetics and functionality to ensure your mudroom remains a stylish and practical space. Durable Finish With Advance® Interior Paint For a tough, furniture-like finish—the kind you need in a mudroom—ADVANCE® interior paint is a great choice. This premium paint offers exceptional durability, making it ideal for high-traffic areas like mudrooms. Its advanced formula provides a smooth, long-lasting finish, resistant to wear and tear, scuff marks, and stains. In addition, ADVANCE® interior paint dries to a hard, furniture-quality finish, ensuring your mudroom stays looking fresh and clean. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2xJIpEn2Oo

Enhancing The Aesthetics Of Your Mudroom

Your mudroom is the first space you and your guests see when entering your home, so why not make it a visually appealing and functional area? With the right paint colors, furniture, and materials, you can transform your mudroom into a stylish and organized space that leaves a lasting impression. In this article, we will explore some essential elements you can incorporate to enhance the aesthetics of your mudroom. Incorporating Functional Furniture In order to maximize the functionality of your mudroom, it's important to include furniture pieces that serve a purpose. A built-in bench provides a convenient place to sit while putting on shoes, and can also offer hidden storage space for shoes, bags, and other items. Adding hooks or a coat rack near the entrance allows you to hang coats, hats, and umbrellas, keeping them easily accessible and off the floor. Including Practical Elements When designing your mudroom, it's crucial to consider practical elements that will make your daily routine more efficient. Installing a large sink with prep space is not only great for cleaning dirty shoes and boots, but also for completing arts and crafts projects or arranging flowers. Additionally, a washable rug can help protect the flooring in your mudroom from dirt and moisture while adding a pop of color or pattern to the space. Choosing Washable And Durable Materials Since the mudroom is a high-traffic area, it's important to select materials that can withstand the wear and tear of daily use. When choosing paint colors for your mudroom walls, opt for washable paints that can easily be cleaned in case of scuffs or stains. Consider using semi-gloss or satin finishes for their durability and resistance to moisture. For the flooring, materials such as ceramic tile, vinyl, or rubber are ideal due to their easy maintenance and ability to withstand muddy or wet shoes. By incorporating functional furniture, including practical elements, and choosing washable and durable materials, you can transform your mudroom into a visually appealing and highly functional space. Whether it's a dedicated room or a part of your entryway, a well-designed mudroom sets the tone for your home and provides a welcoming space for both you and your guests.

Exploring Trendy Paint Colors

When it comes to designing a mudroom, the choice of paint color can have a significant impact on the overall look and feel of the space. From moody and muddy tones to soothing spa-like hues and bold and vibrant shades, there are plenty of trendy options to consider. This blog post will take you through some of the most popular paint colors for mudrooms, ensuring that your space is not only functional but also aesthetically appealing. Moody And Muddy Tones Moody and muddy tones are perfect for creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere in your mudroom. These colors add depth and warmth to the space, making it feel more intimate and welcoming. - Dark Green: A deep shade of green like forest or olive can evoke feelings of nature and provide a sense of calmness. - Earthy Brown: Brown tones, such as taupe or chocolate, create a rustic and earthy feel, bringing the outdoors inside. Soothing Spa-like Hues If you prefer a more serene and spa-like atmosphere in your mudroom, consider using soothing hues that promote relaxation and tranquility. - Soft Blue: Light blue shades like sky or powder blue can mimic the feeling of being by the beach or a tranquil spa. - Subtle Gray: Light gray tones create a clean and sophisticated look, adding a touch of elegance to your mudroom. Bold And Vibrant Shades If you want to make a statement and add a pop of personality to your mudroom, don't be afraid to go bold with your paint color choice. - Fiery Red: Red is a vibrant and energizing color that can create a focal point in your mudroom and make a bold statement. - Sunny Yellow: A cheerful shade of yellow adds warmth and brightness to your space, making it feel more inviting.

Inspiring Design Ideas

Looking for inspiring design ideas to elevate your mudroom? Incorporating the right paint colors can transform your space. From creamy white to olive green, these hues can create a welcoming and functional mudroom. Enhance your mudroom design with these stylish paint colors and give your space a fresh new look. Mudroom Design Inspirations When it comes to designing your mudroom, color choices play a crucial role in setting the tone and atmosphere of the space. Whether you want a vibrant and energetic mudroom or a calm and soothing haven, the paint colors you choose can make all the difference. Here are some inspiring design ideas to help you find the perfect color palette for your mudroom. Colorful Examples For Renovation 1. Creamy White: A warm white shade can create a clean and inviting look in your mudroom. It pairs well with any decor style and allows other elements in the room to stand out. 2. Blue-Gray: For a touch of sophistication and tranquility, consider a blue-gray hue. This color brings a sense of calmness while adding a subtle pop of color to your mudroom. 3. Soft Blue: Create a relaxing and refreshing atmosphere in your mudroom with a soft blue paint color. This color choice is perfect for those looking to add a touch of serenity to their entryway. 4. Olive Green: If you want to bring a natural and earthy feel to your mudroom, consider an olive green shade. This color choice adds warmth and a hint of nature's beauty to your space. 5. Burgundy: For a bold and dramatic look, go for a burgundy paint color. This rich shade adds depth and sophistication to your mudroom and makes a statement. 6. Greige: A combination of gray and beige, greige is a versatile paint color that complements any style or decor. It brings a sense of warmth and comfort to your mudroom. 7. Dark Blue: Create a sense of depth and elegance with a dark blue hue. This color adds a touch of drama and creates a striking focal point in your mudroom. 8. Aqua: For a fresh and invigorating look, consider an aqua paint color. This vibrant shade adds a pop of color and brings a lively energy to your mudroom. Cabinetry And Trim Recommendations When it comes to choosing the right paint color for your mudroom cabinetry and trim, there are a few recommendations to keep in mind. Here are some options to consider: - Benjamin Moore: Check out their bold paint colors for cabinetry and trim, such as their Interior Paint Color Palette Ideas and Best Grays collection, to find the perfect shade that complements your mudroom. - Sherwin Williams: Consider their Greige Paint Color collection for a modern neutral house paint color palette. This collection is perfect for creating a modern farmhouse aesthetic in your mudroom. - Farrow & Ball: For those who seek a more luxurious paint option, Farrow & Ball offers a wide range of elegant colors to choose from. Their high-quality paint will give your mudroom a refined and polished look. - Home Depot: Explore their extensive range of paint colors, including budget-friendly options, to find the perfect shade for your mudroom cabinetry and trim. Remember, the color choices you make for your mudroom can greatly impact the overall look and feel of the space. Consider the mood you want to create and the style that suits your taste. With the right paint colors, your mudroom can become a functional and beautiful entryway to your home.

Budget-friendly Paint Options

Discover budget-friendly paint options for your mudroom with these top color choices. Try creamy white for a warm feel, or opt for blue-gray and olive green for a sophisticated touch. Transform your mudroom into a stylish space without breaking the bank. Creative Alternatives From Etsy Find unique paint colors on Etsy that won't break the bank. From bold hues to modern neutrals, Etsy offers a diverse range of paint options for your mudroom. High-quality Selections From Home Depot And Benjamin Moore Explore top-notch mudroom paint colors at Home Depot and Benjamin Moore. These trusted brands provide a wide selection of high-quality paints for your budget-friendly makeover.

Expert Tips For Application

Professional Advice On Paint Application Techniques Proper paint application is key to achieving a flawless finish in your mudroom. Here are some expert tips to help you get the job done professionally: - Start by prepping the surfaces by cleaning and sanding them for better adhesion. - Use high-quality paintbrushes or rollers to ensure smooth and even application. - Apply paint in thin, even coats to prevent drips and streaks. - Allow sufficient drying time between coats for optimal results. DIY Strategies For Painting Success If you prefer to tackle the painting project yourself, here are some DIY strategies to ensure painting success in your mudroom: - Choose the right paint type for high-traffic areas, like a durable latex or acrylic paint. - Use painter's tape to protect trim and edges for clean lines. - Work in sections to maintain a consistent finish across the entire space. - Consider using a primer for better coverage and adhesion, especially on bare surfaces.

Final Thoughts On Mudroom Design

When it comes to creating a functional and stylish mudroom, choosing the right paint color is key. It can set the tone for the entire space, making it both welcoming and practical. Additionally, maintenance is crucial to ensure the longevity of the paint. Let's delve into some essential considerations for a well-designed mudroom. Creating A Welcoming And Stylish Entryway Choosing the perfect paint color for your mudroom is essential in creating a welcoming and stylish entryway. Creamy White, Blue-Gray, and Soft Blue are popular choices that can make the space appear larger and more inviting. Forbes Home suggests that Olive Green and Burgundy can add a touch of sophistication, while Greige and Dark Blue bring a sense of coziness to the area. Whichever color you choose, it's crucial to consider its impact on the overall ambiance. Maintenance Tips For Longevity To maintain the longevity of your mudroom's paint, it's important to invest in a durable and washable paint that can withstand the wear and tear of daily use. Benjamin Moore recommends using their ADVANCE® interior paint for a tough, furniture-like finish that is ideal for a mudroom. Additionally, investing in a washable rug and incorporating a bench or seating area can help keep the space clean while adding functionality.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Best Color To Paint A Mudroom? The best color to paint a mudroom is Creamy White, Blue-Gray, Soft Blue, Olive Green, Burgundy, Greige, Dark Blue, and Aqua. What Type Of Paint To Use For Mudroom? For a mudroom, use ADVANCE® interior paint for a durable, furniture-like finish. Best colors include creamy white, blue-gray, soft blue, olive green, and burgundy. Include seating, a sink, and a washable rug for a functional and stylish mudroom. How Can I Make My Mudroom Look Nice? To make your mudroom look nice, use warm white, blue-gray, soft blue, olive green, or other soothing colors. Add a bench, a large sink, and a washable rug for functionality and style. Consider using a tough, furniture-like paint such as ADVANCE® interior paint. What Color Is Sherwin Williams Silver Lake? Sherwin Williams Silver Lake is a beautiful spa-like blue-gray color that is perfect for bathrooms and en suites. It creates a soothing and calming atmosphere.

Conclusion

In the quest for the perfect mudroom paint color, the options seem endless. From calming blues to warm neutrals, it's clear that your choice can greatly impact the overall ambiance of the space. Considering your personal style and the desired atmosphere, it's worth exploring these recommended hues to create a welcoming mudroom that suits your lifestyle. Read the full article

[fernkids58]

Transform Your Space: Furniture Solutions for Every Corner of Your Home and Classroom

Enhance Your Home Decor with a Stylish Small Bookshelf

Transform your living space with a versatile small bookshelf. Perfect for compact rooms or cozy corners, this sleek and practical furniture piece adds both style and functionality to your home. Organize your favorite novels, display decorative items, or showcase family photos with ease. With its space-saving design, a small bookshelf is the perfect solution for maximizing storage in any room. Available in a variety of styles and finishes, finding the perfect small bookshelf to complement your decor has never been easier.

Keep Your Entryway Neat and Tidy with a Convenient Boot Rack

Say goodbye to cluttered entryways with a durable boot rack. Designed to keep your footwear organized and easily accessible, this essential storage solution is a must-have for any home. Whether you’re dealing with muddy boots, wet shoes, or everyday sneakers, a boot rack provides a designated spot for all your footwear needs. Its compact design makes it ideal for small spaces, while its sturdy construction ensures long-lasting durability. Say hello to a tidier entryway and goodbye to tripping over stray shoes — invest in a boot rack today.

Spark Joy in Your Child’s Playtime with Exciting Slides for Kids

Make playtime unforgettable with colorful slides for kids. Designed for endless hours of fun, these vibrant playground essentials are sure to delight children of all ages. Whether they’re racing down the slide, climbing to the top, or exploring imaginative worlds, slides for kids encourage active play and creative expression. With their sturdy construction and safety features, parents can rest assured knowing their little ones are having fun in a secure environment. Add a touch of excitement to your backyard or playroom with slides for kids and watch as laughter and smiles abound.

Streamline Your Entryway with a Functional Shoe Bench: Organize Footwear Effortlessly

Say goodbye to cluttered entryways with a practical shoe bench. Perfect for keeping shoes neatly stored and easily accessible, our benches add style and functionality to any foyer or mudroom. With multiple compartments and a comfortable seating area, our benches make getting ready to go out a breeze. Say hello to a tidier, more organized home.

Display Your Favorite Reads with a Stylish Book Stand: Showcase Literature in Style

Enhance your reading experience with a chic book stand. Perfect for displaying your favorite novels, cookbooks, or magazines, our stands add a touch of elegance to any book collection. Choose from a variety of designs and finishes to complement your home decor. Keep your reading material organized and easily accessible with a stylish stand that doubles as a decorative accent.

Elevate Learning Experiences: The Power of Effective Learning Space Design

Transform your classroom or training facility with strategic learning space design. Explore innovative layouts and furnishings that promote active participation and knowledge retention. With thoughtful consideration of lighting, acoustics, and ergonomic furniture, you can create an environment that fosters creativity and supports diverse learning styles.

Transform Learning Spaces with Quality School Furniture Canada: Enhancing Educational Environments

Searching for reliable school furniture Canada suppliers? Look no further! Our extensive range of high-quality classroom furniture is designed to create engaging and functional learning environments for students of all ages. From desks and chairs to storage solutions and collaborative workstations, we offer everything you need to furnish your classrooms with style and durability.

Elevate Learning Experiences with Leading Commercial Kids Furniture Brands

Discover top-notch commercial kids furniture brands that prioritize quality and safety. Our curated collection features a wide selection of furniture specifically designed for children, ensuring comfort and durability in commercial settings such as schools, daycare centers, and recreational facilities. With attention to detail and innovative design, these brands deliver furniture solutions that enhance both learning and play experiences for children.

Optimize Educational Spaces with Innovative Furniture for Classrooms

Upgrade your educational spaces with versatile and durable furniture for classrooms. Our comprehensive range includes desks, chairs, tables, and storage solutions designed to meet the diverse needs of modern learning environments. Whether you’re furnishing a traditional classroom, a STEM lab, or a collaborative workspace, our classroom furniture solutions are tailored to enhance functionality, comfort, and aesthetics, creating inspiring spaces for teaching and learning.

Elevate Your Space with Modern Kids Furniture: Stylish and Functional Designs for Every Room

Transform any room into a vibrant and inviting space with modern kids furniture. From sleek bunk beds to colorful study desks, our collection offers a wide range of stylish and functional pieces to suit every taste and budget. Whether you’re furnishing a nursery, playroom, or bedroom, our modern kids furniture is sure to inspire creativity and comfort for your little ones.

Showcase Your Favorite Reads with a Book Display: Organize and Beautify Your Home Library

Enhance the charm of your home library with a versatile book display. Whether you prefer wall-mounted shelves or freestanding bookcases, our collection offers a variety of options to showcase your favorite reads in style. With sleek designs and ample storage space, our book display units are perfect for keeping your literary treasures organized and easily accessible.

Keep Your Entryway Neat and Tidy with a Boot Rack Wood: Functional and Stylish Storage Solution

Say goodbye to cluttered entryways with a boot rack wood. Crafted from high-quality materials, our boot racks offer a durable and stylish storage solution for your footwear collection. Whether you’re dealing with muddy boots or wet shoes, our boot rack wood provides the perfect spot to keep them neatly organized and off the floor, preserving the cleanliness of your home.

Foster Collaboration and Comfort with Classroom Bench Seating: Ideal Seating Solution for Learning Environments

Create a conducive learning environment with classroom bench seating. Designed for comfort and versatility, our bench seating options are perfect for classrooms of all sizes. Whether you’re arranging them in rows or clusters, our classroom bench seating promotes collaboration and engagement among students, making it an ideal seating solution for modern educational settings.

Optimize Learning Spaces with Class Room Table: Functional and Versatile Tables for Educational Settings

Enhance the functionality of your classroom with a sturdy class room table. Available in a variety of shapes and sizes, our tables are designed to accommodate different teaching and learning styles. Whether you need individual desks or collaborative workstations, our class room table options offer durability, versatility, and ergonomic design to optimize learning spaces for students and educators alike.

Discover the Ultimate Study Companion: The Adjustable Student Table

Looking for the perfect study solution for your child? Look no further than the adjustable student table. This innovative piece of furniture is designed to grow with your child, providing a comfortable and ergonomic workspace at every stage of their academic journey. With its adjustable height and spacious surface, the adjustable student table is the ideal choice for creating a productive and organized study environment.

Organize Your Space with the Adjustable Wooden Shelf

Transform your living space with the versatility of the adjustable wooden shelf. Crafted from high-quality wood, this customizable shelving unit offers the perfect blend of style and functionality. Whether you need extra storage in the living room, bedroom, or home office, the adjustable wooden shelf can be easily adjusted to suit your needs. From books and decorative items to kitchen essentials and office supplies, this versatile shelf is a must-have addition to any home.

Affordable Kids Furniture: The Key to Creating a Fun and Functional Space

Creating a stylish and functional space for your child doesn’t have to break the bank. With affordable kids furniture, you can design a room that reflects your child’s personality and interests without compromising on quality or style. From colorful beds and playful storage solutions to sturdy desks and cozy seating, affordable kids furniture offers endless possibilities for creating a space that your child will love to call their own.

Create a Cozy Retreat with the Children’s Reading Nook

Encourage a love of reading with the childrens reading nook. This cozy corner is the perfect spot for your little bookworm to escape into their favorite stories and adventures. With its soft cushions, bookshelves, and reading light, the children’s reading nook provides a comfortable and inviting space for hours of literary exploration. Whether it’s a rainy day or a quiet afternoon, the children’s reading nook is sure to become a cherished retreat for your little one.

Keep Things Tidy with the Children’s Shoe Bench

Say goodbye to cluttered entryways with the childrens shoe bench. This stylish and practical piece of furniture is designed to keep shoes, boots, and accessories neatly organized and out of sight. With its sturdy construction and ample storage space, the children’s shoe bench is the perfect solution for busy families on the go. Whether you place it in the entryway, mudroom, or bedroom, this versatile bench will help keep your home tidy and organized.

Discover the Versatility of Adjustable Storage Shelves for Your Home or Office

Looking for flexible storage solutions? Adjustable storage shelves offer the perfect answer. These shelves can be customized to fit your space and organizational needs, providing a versatile storage solution for any room. Whether you need to maximize vertical space in a closet, garage, or pantry, adjustable storage shelves can be adjusted to accommodate items of various sizes and shapes. Say goodbye to clutter and hello to organized bliss with these convenient and adaptable shelves.

Embrace Comfort and Style with an Angle Chair for Your Home or Office

Upgrade your seating experience with an angle chair. Designed for both comfort and style, these chairs feature a unique angled design that provides ergonomic support while adding a modern touch to any space. Whether you’re working at your desk or lounging in the living room, an angle chair offers the perfect blend of functionality and aesthetics. Say goodbye to discomfort and hello to relaxation with this innovative seating solution.

Transform Your Child’s Space with the Best Kids Furniture

Create a fun and functional environment for your little ones with the best kids furniture. From colorful beds and playful storage solutions to sturdy desks and cozy seating options, the best kids furniture combines safety, durability, and style to meet the needs of growing children. Whether you’re decorating a nursery, bedroom, or playroom, investing in high-quality kids furniture ensures that your child’s space is both inviting and inspiring. Let their imagination run wild with furniture that’s as unique and special as they are.

Elevate Learning Environments with Classroom Benches

Enhance collaboration and comfort in educational settings with classroom benches. These versatile seating solutions are perfect for classrooms, libraries, and common areas, providing students with a comfortable and supportive place to learn, collaborate, and socialize. With durable construction and ergonomic design, classroom benches are built to withstand the rigors of daily use while promoting proper posture and concentration. Whether used individually or in groups, classroom benches are a practical and stylish addition to any learning environment.

Foster Collaboration with Classroom Group Tables

Encourage teamwork and interaction in educational settings with classroom group tables. Designed for collaborative learning activities, these tables provide students with a dedicated space to work together, share ideas, and problem-solve as a team. With various shapes, sizes, and configurations available, classroom group tables can be customized to fit any classroom layout or teaching style. From traditional rectangular tables to innovative modular designs, classroom group tables offer endless possibilities for creating dynamic and engaging learning environments.

[house-organizing-hacks]

25 Functional and Attractive Shoe Storage Ideas

Kicking off your shoes after a long day is a great feeling — unless you have no place to store them. Avoid the frustrating shoe pile on the floor with a handy shoe storage solution. If you're short on closet space, consider an over-the-door system to utilize every inch of storage possibilities. Messy mudroom? Opt for a shoe storage bench that offers storage as well as a place to sit and put your shoes on.

Click here for further information - https://www.hgtv.com/lifestyle/clean-and-organize/the-best-shoe-organizers

[wynilthyrii]

A Strand of Pearls

“Joros, will you meet me at home?  I have a wound that needs cleaning.”

I have a soul that needs mending.  I need your touch and your warmth and to hear the sound of your heartbeat against my hand, I need—

“Yes, sweetheart.  On my way.”

The relief made my knees weak and I slumped against the cold stone of the keep.  Vyas had seen me in the hall when I’d made my escape.  I just hoped he hadn’t noticed the tears on my face.

No one needed to see those right now.  They were birthed of an ache and a fear that I couldn’t dare voice because it might make them real, might put them out into the universe.

“Thank you.”

There were a thousand things I should be doing instead of retreating.  I was more than half certain there were a thousand things that he should be doing, too, instead of coming home to tend to me.  The Everlight was a powder keg fit to explode, and what was I doing?

Running home to lick my wounds and dragging a Warden that wasn’t mine—that wasn’t anyone’s, not yet, but would be soon enough—with me.  Two fewer blades on watch in a realm balancing on a razor’s edge, enemies within and without baying for blood.

I could have just as easily asked one of the others to clean it—Vyas, Amaris, Tess, even athair, if only to give him something to focus on other than what had driven him to drinking so early—but I hadn’t.  No.  No, after what we’d done and seen at Deatholme, after the beach yesterday, after Lum’s anger and hurt in the kitchen, the words that crystallized into something else, something different and driven a spike into my heart, I couldn’t.

What I was doing was a luxury I shouldn’t allow myself.  It wasn’t something that was sustainable.

But right then, at that second?  All the strength that it would have taken to stop myself had ebbed away.  Maybe it had been the effort to hold the shield back in Deathholme, or the sting of an authirus-laced wound, one that very well could have been deeper than I realized, one that would add another scar to the collection on my back.

The portal home was one I was able to manage almost without thinking.  It spat me out in the mudroom off the gardens, and I sank down onto one of the benches that ran the length of the room.  With shaking hands, I took off my boots, stacking them in one of the cubbies beneath the bench.

One breath.  Another.  Steady.

Adrenaline was wearing off.  It was only a matter of time before I got the shakes.

It felt wrong.  It had been so long.

Steady.

I heard him calling my name from the foyer.  Swallowing hard, blinking back tears I didn’t remember welling up, I lurched to my feet.  Out of the mudroom, through the kitchen, the sitting room.

His face was the only thing I saw as I stepped into the foyer, and it was enough.  Concern contorted his expression and my breath caught, rasping.

He didn’t say anything when I threw myself into his arms, not giving a damn that I’d just thrown myself against plate and that the clasp of his cloak, his Warden insignia, was digging into my cheek.  I didn’t care because his arms closed around me and his fingers laced through my hair and that was all it took to calm my racing heart, to ease the panicked fear that had welled up inside.

It’s okay.  It’s okay.  You’re okay.  He’s here.  Everyone’s safe.  It’s okay.

The litany kept going through my head as he guided me back to our bedroom and we helped each other out of armor—though he tried to stop me from helping him, protesting that I was still bleeding, what are you doing, I can handle it myself—

But I needed to do it.  I needed it, and he relented.

Cleaning the wound stung, but it wasn’t as bad as it could have been, wasn’t as bad as he’d clearly feared when he laid eyes on it.  I probably could have saved the effort, had someone back at the Keep stitch it instead of using the Light to speed the healing after it was cleaned.

I hadn’t even dared to figure out how bad it was until after he’d cleaned it.  Not knowing what authirus did.  That was a horror neither of us needed, one that would throw us both back into another time.  What I’d seen was bad enough.  He didn’t need it, too.

Of course, I would tell him.  He wouldn’t ask, but I’d tell him, but not yet.  Not yet.

His fingers were soft and warm against my back, the touch gentle as he smoothed a rag over the wound after it was cleaned, after I’d started it knitting back together.  His breath stirred the hairs on the back of my neck as he pressed a kiss to my spine.

I shivered a little and his arms closed around me, his chest against my back and his breath warm against my cheek and ear.  I closed my eyes, letting go of the tension by inches and fractions.  My pulse slowed and I turned my face just enough to look at him, managing to smile.  He pressed a kiss to my forehead and murmured the words that even after almost five years made my heart stutter in my chest.

It was half an hour later when he managed to get me into the shower.  I don’t remember if it was trying to convince me or if it was just getting me to move from where we knelt on the bed that was the problem, but it took longer than it should have for us to end up under a steaming stream of water.

I don’t remember if I cried.  I think I must have.  The water drew the words from me—Corey, athair, Deathholme, Dazen, the kitchen after.  I recall the trace of pain that washed through his expression, the determined set to his jaw, the tenderness of his touch and his voice when he told me that somehow, it would be all right, that I didn’t need to worry.

It would be okay.

I let the fear out, the one I knew that he already knew full well.  We both carried it for each other, and the promise between us was unspoken.

Forever.  Because we’d asked.  Because we’d vowed it under a summer sky.  Forever.

Steam and water were cleansing for the soul as much as the body.  Exhaustion washed over and through me like waves against the shore, where craggy rocks weathered away and the sand was long gone.

I’d forgotten what a bitch adrenaline and fear could be, coupled with magic and pain.  How much of that was because of the authirus that had been the wound, I wasn’t sure.

He carried me to bed and stretched out beside me, propped against our pillows.  I curled against his side as he pulled the covers up over me and I pressed my cheek against his shoulder.  The book we’d been reading filled his hands, and the sound of his voice filled my ears as I closed my eyes, fingers tracing the old scars on his shoulder and collarbone.  His cheek rested against my damp hair and I exhaled a quiet, shaky sigh.

Centuries, athair had said that night in the war room after the others had made their strategic escapes once they’d realized what I was talking about.  Light and fate willing, we’d have centuries.

I clung to that, especially now.  Especially the way things seemed to be turning out.  It would be hard work, but we’d done that before.  Fought hard.  Won.  The fight to keep him was one I was willing to wage, so long as we came out of it together in the end.

Forever.

He drew the blanket a little closer and kissed me once, then again.  I kissed him back and settled, closing my eyes again as he wrapped his arm around me, its weight comforting, protecting.  He probably wouldn’t sleep tonight, but I would.  The cadence of his voice was as familiar to me now as breathing and the steady beat of his heart matched my own.

The last of the tension drained away as sleep closed in.  It was too early, of course, but it was coming just the same, and I had no choice but to welcome it.  I could only hope, as I drifted off into the gray, that the dreams that came would be good ones—or none at all.

The last thing I felt before sleep claimed me was the touch of his fingers lifting hair away from my face before he pulled me a little closer, held me a little tighter, before he started the next chapter.

[smurphyse]

Bunny's New Rules

Smurph's Masterlist | Series Masterlist

Part 8 of Bunny and the Beast

Warnings: Extremely dubious consent, emotional manipulation, possessive behavior, toxic relationship behavior, rough sex, dominating behavior, sex rules, dirty talk, choking, choking with a belt, spanking, blacking out, aftercare

Summary: Spencer takes you to the new house, and you quickly figure out which room to break in first... and things get a little out of control

A week after asking you to move in, Spencer took you to his house in a much too nice area of DC for you to feel at home there. The block was lined with large brownstones, intricate structures with their own fences and gates and a guard at the front of the neighborhood.

“Jesus Christ,” you marveled as you pulled up. Snow had started to fall, and Christmas was only a month away. The gated community had decorated itself with lights and displays, and only Spencer’s house sat dark and empty in the snowbed.

He’d had a company move all your things to the house already, and his as well from the duplex except the bed so he could sleep there when needed. In a big puffy coat, you turned to him excitedly in the front seat of the car and grinned, “Can we put up lights this weekend?”

He made a face, “We’ll just have to take them down in a few weeks.”

You deflated a bit and looked longingly at the house. It needed color, and you hadn’t had the chance to really decorate for Christmas in years. You’d never had a place to call your own besides the duplex and the other shitty apartments you had over the years, always dreaming of a real home to decorate and beautify.

You felt Spencer’s hand rest on the back of your neck, and he groaned in annoyance, "Okay, we'll put up the damned lights, but I'm drawing the line at an animatronic Santa."

You giggled happily and looked over to him. He was trying to scowl at you but his smile was peeking through so you bumped him with your elbow, "We're putting up a tree too, right?"

Spencer scoffed and nodded, "Where else am I going to put the presents I got you?"

"You buy me too many things, Spencer," you told him, but he just cocked his head at you. 

"I don't buy you enough things, bunny."

He didn't let you reply, instead turning off the blessedly warm car and hopping out. He rounded the front and nearly tripped on the ice, flashing it a glare before opening your door. The cold air blew in and made you flinch, but Spencer grabbed your hand and pulled you from your seat. He laced his fingers with yours as you walked together up the walkway, and when he got to the front door he pulled out a d-ring with some keys.

One was purple, the other blue with a sunflower keychain while his had a stack of books, and he gave you the blue one with a smile, “This one’s yours.”

It was a simple act, but you couldn’t hold back your happy stupid grin as it landed in your palm. It was the same color as the sundress you wore the first day you slept with Spencer so long ago. Even though the small sliver of metal weighed next to nothing, the emotional weight it held for you was almost too much to bear. It was your key… to your home with Spencer.

He watched you expectantly as you stared at the key, pointing to the door, “Do the honors, bunny.”

Sliding the key into the heavy lock, the deadbolt opened with a loud thwack. The door was thick with a large window, and your jaw dropped as you peered inside. 

The mudroom had a bench on either side with room to put shoes under and a coat rack, but it was empty. Another door lay a few feet in front, and Spencer didn't waste any time as he tugged you along and opened it, ushering you in out of the cold, locking both behind him. 

You stepped into a large parlor with dark mahogany flooring, a long staircase leading to the upstairs while a living room lay to the left, a sunroom on the right. 

Spencer's voice made you jump as he leaned down to whisper in your ear, "Which way do you want to go first?"

"Uhmm," you hummed, unsure. You didn't know this place, and to be honest you felt a bit uncomfortable in it as it was so much larger and more lavish than you could have imagined. "Left?"

"Left it is," Spencer chuckled heartily, and then he was pulling you into the living room. 

Boxes lined the walls, some with your name on them, others with Spencer's. The walls were dark, a light gray blue and lined with mahogany trimming and hand carved moldings. A television hung on one side while your couch laid across it, the bright yellow velvet shining in the dim lighting. 

"How long has it been since you lived here?" you asked, eyeing the cobwebs in the corners. 

"I've never lived here, I just sleep here sometimes," Spencer shrugged, pulling you along. "I inherited it from a friend when he died."

"Oh," you said, coming to a stop. Spencer turned back to look at you, frowning. "I'm sorry you lost him, Spencer."

He smiled sadly at you, cupping your jaw with his free hand and kissing your forehead. He jerked his head toward the next room and said, "C'mon sweet girl, let's look at the dining room."

There wasn't much in there besides the built-in China cabinets in the corners and a hutch on one wall, the walls painted the same as the living room and a small bathroom off to the side, but when Spencer brought you into the kitchen you gasped as your mouth hung open. 

"Holy shit," you whispered, making Spencer laugh. 

The walls were a pale Robin egg blue with silver appliances and white cabinets. The countertops were a beautiful white quartz, and he watched from the doorway as you walked inside, running your fingers lightly across the surface. There was a bar peninsula at one end of one counter with little stools, room enough for all the coffee you and Spencer drank and to enjoy soft mornings together. 

A breakfast nook overlooked the back yard that was now covered in snow, but you could see where the large patio sat behind the back door and the massive length of the fenced in yard. 

You could see summer in your mind, the big oak tree flourishing with green leaves. There was room for your herb garden next to the giant windows at the back of the kitchen, even larger than the one you had at the duplex. 

"I can't wait to cook in here," you marveled, turning to catch his eye. 

Spencer grinned like a cat, "I can't wait to fuck you on these counters."

"Don't you think about anything else?" you scolded playfully. 

He shrugged, "I think about you most of the time, bunny."

Pushing himself from the frame, he reached out for your hand once more and led you into the next room. They all connected in these types of houses, old and nearing ancient, but Spencer had kept it in top condition. 

The last room downstairs wasn't just a sunroom, but a massive library with large windows overlooking the front of the house. A fireplace sat in the middle of the exterior wall, and you could already tell you were going to spend a lot of time there. 

Your shoes clicked on the wood floor, echoing around the empty house as Spencer led you through. The stairs had two beautiful carved railings, and you delicately ran your fingertips along the cool wood as he took you up them. 

The two rooms at the top of the stairs were larger than yours at the duplex, with big closets and their own small bathrooms, but the master suite nearly made your heart stop beating in your chest. 

It spanned the entire front of the upstairs, overlooking the neighborhood with wide wall length windows. A four-poster bed sat near the middle as the centerpiece of the room. Two walk in closets on one end and the door to the bathroom on the other, the walls painted a bright light blue. 

"Do you like it?" Spencer asked softly, setting his hands on your shoulders. You were grateful for it, as it grounded you when you were surely about to float away. 

Turning in his arms you wrapped yours around his waist and squeezed him tight. He hugged you back and chuckled as you spoke muffled into his chest, "I love it, Spencer, it's perfect."

"We'll decorate however you want," he mused aloud, making you grin until his shirt. "The place will be covered in velvet before we know it, but I don't mind. It reminds me of you."

"Velvet is amazing," you declared, and he laughed. 

"You can use the library or the little bedroom for your office so you can work. It'll be great, bunny. I'm so happy you're here."

You finally glanced up at him, and he was smiling down at you. You couldn't help yourself as you broke into a mischievous grin, "When are we going to break in this room?"

Spencer's eyes lit up, and before you knew it his hand shot out and gripped your throat tight enough to bruise. Heat rushed to your cheeks and the puffer coat became too much, but Spencer was pushing you towards the bed too quickly for you to do anything about it. Your gasp was quickly silenced by his choking grip, and he loomed dangerously above you as the backs of your knees hit the high footboard of the bed. 

"Now I've got you all alone, bunny," he whispered hotly, his breath fanning your face as you clutched his wrist just to keep yourself upright. "New house, new rules."

You watched him with wide eyes, gulping under his strong palm against your vulnerable throat. Spencer kissed your cheek much softer than his tone, "I've got you all to myself…and I'm going to take full advantage."

"H-how are you going to do that?" you asked quietly, a bit nervous. 

Spencer pouted at you mockingly, and it sent a delightful shiver up your spine, "Are you scared, bunny?"

You swallowed thickly and shook your head, "Excited."

Releasing you, Spencer reached out and slowly unzipped your coat. It fell to the floor with a loud echo that reverberated throughout the empty house as he pushed it off your shoulders, and soon enough he was gently pushing you down onto the bare mattress. 

You laid with your legs hanging off the edge, watching him as he took off his own and set it on the side of the bed. You wore a pair of leggings and a sweater since it was so cold outside, and the house was chilled due to it being empty for so long, but it wasn’t the reason you trembled. 

The dark look in his eyes could have swallowed you whole, and the way they trailed down your vulnerable body alone here with him… it had you feeling like prey caught underneath a predator. 

Spencer slipped his hands underneath the hem of your sweater, his fingertips cool and biting against your body heat. You took in a shuddering breath as he pushed it up to palm your breasts, kneading them and moaning quietly to himself. 

"You're so small and sweet," he murmured, leaning over you to press his lips to your sternum. "I love being with you. You know that, don't you bunny?"

He grazed his teeth along the sensitive skin before looking up at you, and you barely managed to squeak out, "Yes, daddy."

Spencer dragged one of his hands from your breast and over your chest, threading his fingers around your throat. It was gentle this time, and you extended your neck to make room for him. 

"You fit so perfectly in my hands…" he murmured, "I think you were made for me."

You let out a happy chuckle and wriggled on the bed and he smiled at you, "Are you ready for your new rules?"

"Yes, daddy."

Spencer licked his lips before kissing your exposed nipple, the heat nearly sizzling your skin in the cool house. He groaned and his hips bucked forward. You knew that sign, that he was holding himself back.  

"You are to be wet, open, and ready for me anytime," he growled lowly, a guttural thing coming from his chest. "I'll always take care of you, so you're going to take care of me."

"But I'm always ready for you," you frowned. 

"I know, but things are different now. I'm all yours and I need you," he told you, and you nodded. "I need you to be here for me."

This time you weren't tied down, so you reached out and cupped his jaw. You wanted to kiss him so he could feel your words, your intentions, but he didn't want that. Instead you pressed your thumb to his lips and rubbed them so they dragged. 

"I'm right here, Spencer," you said emphatically, putting every bit of yourself in it that you could. "I'm here for you, okay?"

Spencer kissed the pad of your thumb and nodded, then turned his cheek so he could lean into your palm, "You have no idea what that means to me, bunny."

You started to sit up, and Spencer pulled his hands from you so you could. You knew he still wanted to pound you into the mattress, but he needed a moment of sweet comfort and you were damned if you weren't going to give it to him. 

Pressing your forehead against his you nuzzled close, holding him to you. You squeezed him in as big a hug as you could muster, and when his arms wrapped around your waist you knew he could feel what you wanted to tell him. 

You kissed his cheek, each firm press of your lips staining a promise into his skin. Spencer leaned into each one, sighing and reveling in your attention. The scent of his cologne washed over you, his cinnamon shampoo flooding your nostrils as you kissed the shell of his ear. When you kissed that spot behind the back of his ear that he loved, Spencer actually whimpered and his hips twitched beneath you. 

"I'm ready for you now, daddy," you whispered seductively in his ear. "Just for you, and only you, forever. In our house together, you can take me whenever you like."

A guttural snarl burst from his chest, and you knew you were in for it now. Suddenly you were being shoved back onto the bed and flipped onto your belly, your warm leggings pulled down just enough to expose your ass and your pussy to the cold air. 

Spencer pushed up your sweater to show more of your back, trapping your thighs between his legs. You arched your back when you heard the clinking of his belt buckle in aching anticipation, twitching with excitement as his zipper pulled down. 

His hand came down on the back of your neck to hold you down, but he didn't need to. You wiggled your ass to entice him, smiling when he groaned and pressed the blunt head of his cock to your wet pussylips. Unlike his apology the week before, he wasn’t slow. Spencer shoved inside you with one sharp thrust, splitting your walls wide and open and trapped around his thick throbbing length and making you yelp as you gripped the fabric of the mattress.

He leaned over you, shaking you by the back of your neck as he growled in your ear, “I’ll take you whenever I want, as slow or fast as I want to be."

You shuddered at his words, dripping at the mere thought. 

"You belong to me, bunny," he hissed, but it was full of longing and care as he filled you. "I belong to you. We're going to take care of eachother."

Pushing back into him and whining, you said, "Let me take care of you, daddy."

He chuckled darkly and kissed your cheek, "Thank you sweet girl, thank you for taking care of me."

Without letting you reply, Spencer put one hand on your back, his big hand nearly covering all of it as he palmed your waist and started pounding into you. Each thrust made a small gasp or whine huff from you, the cool air fogging as Spencer held you down by the back of your neck. 

Your dripping cunt pulled him back in, his guttural snarls making your eyes roll into the back of your head. You could see the houses outside the window, the neighborhood going on without knowing that you were being fucked into oblivion. 

"My sweet little fuck bunny," Spencer groaned. His hips bruised the back of your legs with each slap of his skin against yours, the warming skin stinging in the cold room. "I can't believe I found you, I can't believe you're all mine."

"Just yours, daddy!" you whimpered into the bed, your voice muffled. 

His hands left you and his hips stilled, the sounds of his belt clinking behind you. Just as you turned to see what he was doing you felt the leather slip around your throat, tightening in an instant and pulling you back. Your back arched as a near painful shudder ripped through you, Spencer holding your neck with the belt like a leash. 

"Little velvet rabbit," he grunted, thrusting sharply to accentuate his point. You let out a groan as the fronts of your thighs hit the footboard, no doubt bruising them as much as the belt. "Daddy's little fuck toy…"

You yelped when he tugged on the belt, your hips pushing back to take as much of him as you could. There was something virulent coursing through you at his dehumanization, something primal and fucked up. Your head swam as the world went hazy, going limp as he screwed you like a piece of meat. 

When Spencer’s hand came down on your ass, you let out a shaky moan, heat coursing through your body. The world faded away until there was only this, now, right here with him. His cock pummeled your cervix, your quaking walls shaking around him as you took what he gave. 

"You're so beautiful like this. Maybe I should get you a collar of your own with my name on the tag," he chuckled darkly, panting with each thrust. "I'll get you a set of bunny ears and a little tail plug to keep you open for me, any hole, any time I want."

He hit you again, harder and the stinging radiated up your back, "What do you think, bunny? You want daddy to use this toy any time he wants?"

"Hnnnngg," you groaned, barely conscious between the subspace and his merciless pounding of you from behind. 

He gripped your hair, making you gasp and drip your juices down your thighs, "I can't hear you, cocksleeve."

"Yesdaddy!" you barely managed to cry out. Your body was cold and so hot, tight and limp all at the same time, that belt squeezing your neck and leaving bruises to enjoy tomorrow. "Fuck your hole, play with my little cunt and my ass any time!"

He let you babble, knowing how you got once he dominated you into this headspace. Tears streamed down your cheeks as your breath escaped in quick pants, "Keep me on my knees, in a cage! Tied to the bed, I don't care! Just breed your little bunny pleaseee!"

You heard his shivering moan at your words, pushing him over the edge as they so often did. He twisted the end of the belt over his hand and held you taught and tight as he buried himself balls deep. His cum spurting into your cervix ignited your own orgasm, your heated body curling up the best it could in the position. 

Your toes curled, your cries cut off by his grip, each new bit of spend flooding your cunt and soaking you in its warmth. Your vision whited out as you came again, barely breathing as your body lost all control. 

When you came to, blinking blearily at the ceiling, Spencer loomed above you. He lightly slapped your face, speaking to you in quick tones. 

"Oh thank god," he gasped as you locked eyes with him. "You scared the shit out of me."

"Mmm," was all you could reply, pushing at him so you could sleep, but he grunted and slapped at your hands. 

"Let me look at you, don't go to sleep," he snapped. His hand slid up the column of your throat, pressing gently on the forming bruises. "Did you black out from cumming or could you not breathe?"

"I don't know," you grumbled.

Spencer sighed, "Bunny you have to tell me if you can't breathe. If you need a break or I'm being too rough, you have to tell me so I don't accidentally kill you."

You groaned in annoyance, "But I like it…"

Spencer broke into laughter, but it was a bit panicked. He brushed back your hair and you let your head loll to the side, realizing he'd slipped the belt from your neck and tossed it aside. He leaned over you and pressed his forehead to your cheek, one hand rubbing your tummy to soothe. 

"You have to tell me, okay?" he begged, and you glanced sleepily at him, patting his arm in response. "You can't actually let me do whatever I want if it's really hurting you."

"But it felt so good," you insisted, and he pulled away to glare at you. You reached between you to touch his soft, pussy soaked cock, "I can go again right now, daddy."

"Oh fuck no," he said, pulling your hand from him. He stuffed himself into his pants and pulled up your leggings before scooping you up and carrying you into the bathroom. 

A large clawfoot tub with stairs and a ledge sat in the center of the room, much bigger than even the ones you'd seen before like it was made for multiple people. A large shower with glass doors and tile floors sat on one wall, a bay window opposite the sink counters with their massive mirrors. 

Even through your post-fuck haze you marveled at the beauty of it. Spencer held you like a baby in both arms, sitting on the tub ledge and corking the bottom. You clung to him limply as he filled it, going in and out until you found yourself in the water. 

You hadn't even felt him undress you, nor set you down long enough to undress himself. Spencer set you between his legs with your back to him, his strong fingers immediately digging into your back and massaging you. 

"Seriously," he murmured in your ear, and you smacked your lips as you tried to stay awake. "Are you okay?"

"I feel fine, Spencer," you rasped, realizing your throat was dry. "That was amazing."

He groaned and pressed his forehead to the back of your hair, "I don't want to hurt you for real, bunny."

"I think I just came too hard," you chuckled. "If your other partners can take it, so can I."

"I've never had anyone black out like you do sometimes," he said quietly. "I don't like thinking I lost control."

"Spencer, I don't think I ever had a real orgasm before I met you," you told him, and you felt his small laugh behind you. "You worry too much."

"You make me worry… I'm so scared of losing you or driving you away."

You groaned as you turned to straddle him and wrap your arms around his neck. He watched you with fearful eyes even as you bumped your nose with his, "I promise I'm okay. I'll tell you if it's too much. I just get so lost in you, I don't always realize."

"I feel the same way," he whispered. His hands rubbed lines up and down your back as he clung to you. "That's why this is so scary. You're so young, you can have anyone you want."

"I want you, Spencer. Even if you're an old man," you said playfully, and he chuckled embarrassingly. 

"I'm twenty years older than you, Y/N."

"Like I said, old man." You pressed your lips next to his so you didn't push his boundaries, whispering, "My old man, though. Just mine, and I'm just yours. It'll only work if we work at it."

He smiled softly at you, bringing his hand up to cup your face and watch you softly in the dim light. The water sloshed around you, warm and safe, but really it was him that kept you grounded. 

"I'm in this for real, bunny. Okay?" he asked tearfully, his eyes turning red rimmed and watery. "You're the only one I want, you're the only one I need. I'm in it for as long as you'll have me."

"Okay," you said back, smiling at him. "You have me."

He broke out in a devilish grin, "We're waiting a few days, but what room do you want to break in next?"

You tapped your jaw as you pretended to think, trying to decide how you'd entice him to fuck you before then. 

"The kitchen," you decided. "Right on the counter, in front of that big window."

"Sounds like a plan."

Notes: Please tell me what you think! Do you think Bunny will start telling Spencer her boundaries? How do you think Spencer might take advantage of Bunny's new rules?

CM Forever Tag:

@thedancingcostumeyoungadult @muffin-cup @simplyparker @spencerreidsmommy @hotchandspencearedilfs @gspenc @kbakery @nomajdetective @givemeth @hoshihiime @halloween-is-my-nationality @reidselle @thisiscalmanditsdoctorreid @dreatine @thebloomingeagle @fortheloveofwonderland @theforgottenwinter @parkerreidnorth @reidselle @randomhoex @scargarcia-magshotchner @stitchwrites @pygmygoat-bicyclehelmet @cle13 @aysixdy @elhotchner @directioner5life @elhotchner @loveeee2134 @preciousbabypeter @la-stuffs @stories-you-wont-hear @hotchlover @fortheloveofwonderland @lokiandhisdagger @bellanutellababyyy @dark-night-sky-99 @straightforbuckybutgayfornatasha @maltamurdock @charelletjee @kansas-reid @zephyrmonkey @spencer-reid-wonderland @spencersprettyslut @im-sure-its-fine @tvdstelenaforever @teddylupintonks  @lilibet261 @kneelforloki @dirtytissuebox @almostgenerallyalways

[sims4luxury]

Farmhouse ~ Entry (part 2)

Hello everyone 😊

As you may know now, I'm working on a long-term collab with @katesimblr @pineandhome and @indoorsim around a farmhouse we are creating altogether.

We are starting with the entry hall/mudroom and this month I added some new meshes to the collection, which is not completely finished yet as I want to create some modular pieces such as wall panels, modular bench and hooks.

The new items available can be seen in the first picture of this post. You'll find:

an open-double door arch

a console

3 artwalls

and 2 new doormats

I can't wait to show you the entire Farmhouse - Entry collection as soon as I finish it 😛 Next room will be about the kitchen!

These items can be downloaded as early access on my Patreon.

Wish you all to enjoy and thank you so so much for your support ❤❤❤

[highqueenofelfhame]

funny story. this was supposed to be a yulemas drabble, but that didn't happen. i didn't edit this. i don't have the brain power but i'm so glad it's finally done, you're getting it as is. so sorry.

rowaelin || 7.6k words || masterlist

“This is a tragically horrible idea.” Rowan’s eyes were unfixed as they drove up the long path to her parents’ house. It wasn’t the first time that he had shared these sentiments out loud, nor would it be the last. Aelin was choosing to ignore him every time he said it. Not because he was wrong. No, quite the opposite, really. It was a tragically horrible idea. 

“You saying it over and over isn’t going to change our current situation.”

“That you roped me into.”

“That you let me rope you into,” she corrected, reaching up to push the garage door opener. Rowan was taking in the expanse of property that was her parent’s home when she put the car in park and closed the door behind them. 

Aelin was old enough to know that her parent’s wealth was obscene. Their mansion was settled in the Staghorn Mountains with no neighbors for miles and miles. Surrounding the home were trees that were likely centuries old and towered over the property working as a dense, pine barrier. The outside was tastefully decorated with Yulemas lights wrapping the tree trunks and following the lines of the house. Her mother did this every year, and every year Aelin loved it. 

Rowan looked almost queasy as he slid out of the passenger seat and stepped into the garage, holding the door carefully to not knock against her brother’s classic muscle car. His skin was nearly ashen as he took in the number of other fancy cars filling the space. It was a ten car garage, and all but two spaces stayed filled year round– only her and Aedion’s cars were missing at any given time. 

With an encouraging smile, she looped her arm through his and led him toward the door that would open into a mudroom off the kitchen. She knew the nine bedrooms was daunting for Rowan as it was, and she wanted to avoid his mental spiral that she could see all over his face. The longer he looked at the cars and placed their makes, models, and years to their frames, the worse he would get. It was too late for them to back out now but she was sure he would find a way. 

He might still try to find a way once he saw the simple yet opulent decor her mother had all over the house. Aelin was determined to not let that happen.

“I’m going to say it again–”

“I know it’s a tragically terrible idea, Rowan, but I am so sick of my mom trying to set me up with every son of every friend she has ever known. I can’t suffer through another one of those dates, Ro.” Aelin brought them to a stop outside the door and placed her hands on his shoulders. “You’re my best friend. We just have to hold hands, cuddle, and kiss a few–”

“Kiss?!”

“Don’t be such a prude. You’re saving me from dozens of bad dates and saving yourself from having to hear about them. I don’t want to be some arm-candy of a trophy-wife for some asshole riding his trust fund to Jupiter and back. It’s not my type. Case-in-point: Chaol. He was–”

“Bloody awful,” Rowan mumbled, rubbing at his jaw with the heel of his hand. Aelin gave him the best puppy-dog eyes she could muster. The smile that tugged at her lips was involuntary when he rolled his eyes. She had won. “You owe me.”

“I will forever be in your debt,” she confirmed with a nod, rising up on her toes to kiss his cheek. 

“I hate you.”

“That’s funny, because I love you.” Rowan’s green eyes rolled once more before he nodded toward the door, the look on his face telling her to rip it off like a bandaid. 

With a final deep breath, Aelin pushed into the house and shouted that she was home while dropping her small purse onto the bench beside the door. They would have to get their luggage out of the car later, but she wanted to get this initial meeting out of the way. Maybe if Rowan saw how laid back her parents were, he would relax. It was doubtful, the man was always hyper aware of everything happening around him, but a girl could dream. 

They made a bee-line for the living room where she was sure everyone would be gathered. Passing through the kitchen, sweet scents of cinnamon and vanilla made her stomach grumble for attention. Everyone would be decorating sugar cookies later and she couldn’t wait to squirt icing directly into her mouth from the icing bag while sneaking nibbles of crumbs from the counter. Yulemas music filled the air and became more prominent as she led her fake boyfriend into the den. Decorations were beautifully perched and wrapped around every surface. She was pretty sure Rowan was gaping when they passed a fourth tree in as many rooms. 

“Little Ae!” A deep timbre shouted, sweeping her off her feet before she could even register what was happening. A shrill squeak slipped from her lips as she wrapped her arms tightly around her brother, allowing him the simple pleasure of twirling them in a circle. 

“A little warning, asshole,” she teased while being righted on her feet. 

“Since when do I ever give you a warning?” Following Rowan’s lead from earlier, Aelin rolled her eyes and stepped back to slide her hand into his. 

“We have company. Try to behave. Aedion, this is  my boyfriend, Rowan. Rowan, this is my cousin slash brother slash bane of my existence, Aedion.”

Doing his duty well, Rowan extended his hand to shake Aedion’s. Rowan was a year older and an inch taller than Aedion and it pleased Aelin to no end. Her brother thrived on being able to make her significant others cower into submission by his size. Rowan, however, was bigger than Rowan in just about every way. Even as far as muscle mass went, her best friend had at least a few pounds on Aedion. He could take him. 

Probably.

“It’s nice to meet you. You played baseball for Wendlyn State in college, right?” 

“I did, yeah.” Rowan was a foreigner– he was born and raised in Wendlyn. His accent was far more rolling and lilting compared to Aelin and Aedion. Truthfully, she could listen to him talk forever. The way her name rolled off his tongue made her stomach flip, but it was something she was determined to ignore. 

“Shame about that shoulder injury,” Aedion said, a genuine apology in his tone. Aelin knew that Rowan usually didn’t like talking about his shoulder– he tore his rotator cuff so badly his senior year that it ruined his chance for the pros and saw him benched for the rest of the season. Even now at twenty-nine, his shoulder still gave him trouble. It wasn’t uncommon that some days she found him flopped on his couch with a heating pad hugging his body.

“Why would you even bring that up in the first handful of words you said to him?” Aelin shoved his shoulder playfully, but Aedion grimaced. An apology was written on his face that Rowan shrugged off.

“She’s just defensive. It’s completely okay.” Rowan even offered him a small smile as Aelin slipped her hand back into his and tugged him down the hall where her parents would be waiting. She wouldn’t be surprised if they were unaware she was there and hadn’t heard her entry– her father was stationed at the piano, playing ‘Carol of the Bells’ while her mother hummed along from her seat on the couch. 

“Mom!” It came out more of a chirp and Evalin jolted in her seat, immediately making her way over to her daughter.

“Hello, my love. I didn’t hear you come in, your father is–”

“Playing beautifully as always,” Rhoe interjected, reaching to hug Aelin before her mother got the chance. She loved her father’s hugs. Loved the way he always smelled like pipe tobacco and aftershave. Ever since she was a kid, she had never felt safer than when her father cocooned her in his arms. 

Until she met Rowan, and found that his arms were her favorite place to be. But he couldn’t know that and would never know that. Every embrace was far too short when she wanted him to linger just a bit longer. He never did.

Shaking her head of the thoughts, she pulled from her dad to hug her mom, hearing Rowan introduce himself to her father behind her. Realizing her poor manners, she stepped back and reached for his hand again, ignoring the thump of her heart when his thumb brushed over hers in small circles.

“Mom, Dad, this is my boyfriend Rowan. Rowan, my parents, Evalin and Rhoe.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you both, I’ve heard so much about you.” He didn’t have to lie; Aelin talked about her family endlessly. Rowan knew the ins and outs of the Ashryver-Galathynius clan like the back of his hand at this point. In a trivia of her family history, Rowan would pass with flying colors. 

Aelin knew just as much about his family. His parents had died when he was twenty in a fatal car accident before Yulemas, and his oldest cousin Endymion had taken over the father figure role as he was fifteen years older than Rowan. Aelin had met many of his cousins, Sellene being her favorite, and they always told her she fit right in. 

Hopeful that Rowan would fit in with her family just the same, she ushered him over to the couch that sat before a roaring fire. The biggest Yulemas tree in the house sat in the corner opposite the baby grand piano. It stood twelve feet tall and the explosion of stars, trinkets, and glittery ribbons that took the place of an angel nearly brushed the ceiling. It turned in a slow circle to show off all sides, the branches dragging across the tops of presents. 

“Do you want a drink? Beer? Whiskey? I’m going to make a mule for myself.”

“How about you sit down and I’ll make your drink for you so you can catch up with your parents.” It was less a question, one that she wasn’t meant to object to. So she didn’t, sitting on the couch and pulling her boots off so she could curl up in the middle of the couch. Aedion offered to show Rowan where the liquor was kept and they disappeared down the hall. 

“He’s handsome,” Evalin said, nudging her daughter with an elbow. Aelin nodded in agreement as she pulled a fluffy red blanket over her lap. “And so far seems to be a gentleman.”

“He makes drinks better than I do. Bartending experience through college really comes in handy in these situations. You would love his old fashioneds.”

“In that case, I’ll have to persuade him into making me one later.” Aelin grinned at her mother, leaning to rest a temple against her mom’s shoulder. A warm hand pat her knee affectionately as her father settled back in at the piano and began to play the delicate notes of Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy. 

“He treating you well?” He asked without missing a note. Rhoe’s gaze was stern but Aelin could see the glint of amusement and mischief in his eyes.

“I wouldn’t have brought him here if he didn’t.” Aelin snorted after a beat, “Actually, I would have so you could take him out back and shoot him, but–”

“Take me out back and what?” Rowan’s voice had gone up several octaves as he appeared at her side with two drinks in hand. “I leave you for five minutes and you’re asking your father to shoot me?”

“I said you treat me well, but I would let him shoot you if you didn’t. There’s a difference. He only has permission if you start making me cry.”

“I’ve never made you cry,” Rowan declared proudly. He was right, of course. Over the course of their friendship they had bickered but he had never purposely made her cry. The only time she had shed tears over Rowan was in private while grieving a short-lived relationship with a girl from work, Lyria. But Rowan didn’t know about those tears and he never would. Aelin refused to show her hand when it came to her true feelings for her best friend.

It hadn’t been on purpose. In fact, as Rowan would put it, she knew it was a tragically terrible idea. The stupid thumping organ in her chest didn’t seem to care how awful it would end. It beat her down into a hole of feelings so deep she couldn’t find hand or foot holds to crawl back out of. Her own mind, body, and soul betrayed her constantly when he was around. 

This trip was only going to make everything worse. She could acknowledge that. There was genuine need for him here, that much she hadn’t made up. Her mother was constantly trying to set her up with trust fund baby boys that she wanted nothing to do with. None of them were Rowan, none of them came anywhere close to beginning to compare, either. Nobody ever would, and Aelin was certain now, at twenty-seven, that she would be dying alone. Her body would rot and decay in a hole where the shallow reach of his love wouldn’t breathe her back to life.

Being friends wasn’t going to be enough forever. At some point her feelings would explode like the ticking time bomb that she was. It wouldn’t end prettily, she knew that. But for now she was going to make him hold her hand and give her shallow kisses like they really were together. Like one day he would be before her on one knee with a ring he picked out just for her. 

She tried not to think about the alternative. It made her eyes burn when she thought about their inevitable falling out and how one day, possibly soon, they wouldn’t even talk anymore. For now, it was enough. She was going to force it to be enough just a little while longer. 

“Keep it up, buttercup,” she replied, forcing a smile to her lips while she tilted her head back to look at him. Aelin knocked his chin with her knuckle before taking her drink and settling a bit more into his side. Rowan pulled the blanket over his own lap and moved his arm to the back of the couch like they so often sat in social gatherings. 

This part wouldn’t be too damaging– the curling up on a couch together, her leaning into his side and his fingers twirling a strand of her hair around his finger. They did this often enough that they both received comments about what a cute couple they were from people that didn’t know them well enough. Dealing with it often enough, the pair learned to laugh it off for what it was: a mistake. 

Aelin tried to pretend that his laugh wasn’t starting to chafe and burn when the notion came up.

To no surprise on her part, Rowan fit in with her family like warm mittens on an icy morning: perfectly. Even Rhoe seemed pleasantly surprised at how well he could dish and take the banter throughout the evening. During dinner, Aelin had avoided catching her mother’s eye when Rowan helped her load her plate before going in for his own. She ignored the squeeze of her heart when he personally cut a massive slice of chocolate cake for her when dessert rolled around, knowing that despite being nearly uncomfortably full, she would find the room to eat a whole cake if it were allowed. 

After dinner, when she was snug against Rowan’s side with her head on his shoulder while The Santa Claus played on the television, Aelin swore they had a moment. Rowan’s chest shook with laughter, the sound rich and rough and everything she wanted to drown in. With a wide smile she tilted her head back to look at him. As soon as she did, their gazes locked. Aelin found it hard to breathe with him looking at her like that. It became harder still when he brought his fingers up to brush against her cheek, gently tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear. 

But none of this was real. It was all fake, two adults playing pretend to get her through the holidays. She just wasn’t sure she would make it out unscathed. 

~*~

“I can sleep on the floor.” 

Aelin shifted her eyes to look at Rowan in the mirror behind her while turning the water back on. His suggestion was stupid, they had slept in the same bed on more than one occasion. As she splashed water on her face he was on the room behind her rustling around. 

“Don’t be stupid,” she finally said, grabbing a washcloth to pat her skin dry. Aelin tugged a headband off and released her hair from her ponytail. Golden strands settled over her shoulders as she walked back into the room and tugged the blanket all the way back. 

Rowan sighed, but crawled in when her fingers drummed impatiently on the bed beside her. He had never been opposed to sleeping with her before, and she wasn’t sure why he was starting now. Maybe it was because her family was in the house and this was the room she had grown up in. It was updated for her mature adult tastes— the walls were no longer baby pink with fairie lights twinkling down the walls behind her bed. Now, everything was in rich tones of emerald and silver. 

“I like this room,” Rowan said, head settling against his fluffy pillow. Aelin rolled onto her side to face him. 

“My mom surprised me when I came home from college one weekend. It’s been done over three times— when I was a little girl that loved everything pink and sparkly, my high school years when I wanted to be edgy, and then to this as I settled into adulthood. This version is my favorite.” 

“I’ve never slept on sheets as soft as you always seem to have.” Aelin laughed, tracing a fingertip over the sheets in question. A creature of luxury, she always had the highest thread count the world had to offer her. Once, she had tried silk sheets but didn’t like the way they caught on any piece of skin that wasn’t baby smooth. How people tolerated those was a mystery. “It’s so boujie of you.”

“I can’t believe you just used the word boujie.” 

“Sometimes it’s the only word to describe you,” he laughed, flipping onto his stomach with the pillow bundled beneath his head. 

“I thought you said that was brat.”

“You’re a boujie brat, Aelin Galathynius.” Her laughter was contagious, pulling yet another out of him while she assaulted him with tiny punches to his bare arms. 

“You love it,” she teased, but her heart sank when she realized he wouldn’t ever love it— love her the way she loved him. 

~*~

Something about waking up was pure bliss. Soft light filtered in through the sheer curtains, and the low hum of her fan across the room threatened to lull her back to sleep. Aelin was so warm, humming in content as she tugged the blanket up just a bit to her chin, arm bumping— 

Another arm that was draped over her middle. 

She froze, suddenly wide awake as her blood throbbed and pounded through her veins. Never in her life had she been so alert upon waking as she was now, lifting the blanket to peer beneath at Rowan’s tattooed arm slung over her waist. His fingers were on her bare stomach where her t-shirt had ridden up while she dreamed. She felt the touch of his fingers over her entire damn body. 

She should move, she realized. Yet no movement was made. Instead, she sank deeper into his embrace until her back was pressed flush to his chest. In his sleep, Rowan tightened his arm around her and tugged her impossibly close. The warmth of his breath fanned over the back of her neck, sending chills to erupt all over her body. It was all she could do to not shiver and wake him, because as soon as he did wake, the moment would be over. 

Aelin was living in a snow globe, where everything was perfect and nothing had to hurt. She could savor it for a few moments longer before it got dropped and shattered all over the floor. 

It felt too good, too natural, to be in his arms like this. Aelin was hyper aware of every place their bodies touched, which was almost everywhere. One of his knees was up and tucked between her legs, and while she normally would have found the position a little uncomfortable, Aelin had never been so comfortable in her life. His breathing was slow and even, tickling the hair at the nape of her neck with each exhale. Rowan’s fingers had started to trace the smallest, laziest circles over her lower stomach that caused heat to pool in her core. She was going to combust if she kept this up. 

Almost as if he heard her racing thoughts, Rowan inhaled sharper, the tell tale sign that he was beginning to wake up. Just as she had, she felt him freeze behind her, but he soon relaxed again. That caused a whole other flurry of thoughts to rush through her mind. 

But it was over too soon. Rowan slowly began to extract himself from her like he didn’t want to wake her, completely unaware that she was squeezing her eyes shut to pretend she was still deep in a dream. It was hard to not grab his hand and hold him in place, the fear of rejection and knowledge that he wasn’t interested keeping a tight grip on the leash holding her self control. 

Rowan didn’t get out of bed for twenty-two heartbeats. Aelin thought she felt his fingers ghost across her cheek, but that couldn’t have been the case. It would have been too intimate and affectionate and those were two things that wouldn’t make sense. She stayed still, even as she felt the mattress shift when he got out of bed. His feet scuffed over the carpet on the way to the bathroom, at which point the door to the en-suite snicked shut behind him. 

Only then did she open her eyes and flop onto her back. The ceiling fan whirled above her head and she tried to count the number of rotations just to get her heart to slow down. It was harder to get the heat to fade from her cheeks, but by the time he exited the bathroom she thought she was mostly safe. 

This was going to be a long trip. 

~*~

Flour was splattered all across the front of her apron, and she was pretty sure that some of it was in her hair. Wearing a black shirt to bake had been a mistake, but the electric happiness of Yulemas kept her from running upstairs to change. Aelin didn’t want to miss a single second of the activities. Especially when they included the opportunity to sneak bites of cookie dough every time she added something to the recipe. 

Rowan manned the oven behind her, having been tasked with the actual baking. Nobody, including her fake boyfriend, trusted her where the cookies were concerned, and every batch of dough was taste tested by her mom before refrigeration, and now Aelin was carefully cutting them into various shapes to decorate. 

Beside her, Evalin was getting a headstart on making the royal icing. Every time Aelin tried it came out way too runny. As much as she loved baking, it wasn’t her forte and never had been. When she was a kid helping her mom, she’d accidentally substituted salt for sugar and spent the remainder of the holiday with tear-stained cheeks. The idea of ruining Yulemas had been too much for her five-year-old heart to handle. Ever since, Aelin did the easier parts of cooking and baking and didn’t complain.

“Do you have the last batch ready for me?” Rowan asked her, one hand resting on her hip while he leaned against the counter. She tried to force the butterflies to calm down at his touch, but with every slow drag of his thumb she felt like she was going to explode out of her skin. Instead of speaking, she removed the risk of saying something stupid by humming a response as she lay the last cookie on the pan. “How did you get flour up here?”

Aelin looked over at him in confusion as he brought his fingers up to brush his fingers along her cheek. Sure enough, as soon as he lowered his hand she was able to spot the white dusting his fingers like snow. A laugh bubbled out of her chest because she wasn’t sure how it got there, either. Probably from one of the several times she wiped the back of her hand across her face to get a few stray strands out of her face. 

Rowan’s grin was wide as he scooped up the cookie sheet and slid it into the oven. When she looked over her shoulder, she was greeted by two plates of cooled cookies ready to be decorated, and… well, a nice view of Rowan’s ass while he deposited the raw dough into the oven to cook. 

With her cheeks burning red, she turned to see how her mother was coming along. All of the colors were mixed so Aelin swooped in to help put the icing into bags with various tips, purposely ignoring the knowing look on Evalin’s face. Her mother didn’t miss a thing, she had eyes like a hawk. It was a wonder that this fake dating thing hadn’t been ruined the second they stepped into the front door. 

“I think I left my phone upstairs. I’ll be right back.”

“Oh, I’ll come with you. I want to put on a t-shirt to decorate in. This one is too fancy to ruin.” Rowan snorted, but waited for Aelin to finish stuffing red icing into the bag in her hand before they both made way for the stairs. Neither said anything until they reached her room, the blonde shutting the door behind them while Rowan shook out the bed blankets in search of his phone. 

Aelin found a t-shirt, one she’d stolen from Rowan in the early days of their friendship after a night of drinking. By the time he turned around she had her other shirt off and was fumbling with the hem so she could tug it over her head. Aelin hoped she wasn’t imagining the pink flush that crept up his neck to kiss his cheeks. It was confirmed she wasn’t by the way he cleared his throat and turned his head.

“You’ve seen me change a hundred times, I don’t know why you’re getting shy about it now.”

“I just wasn’t expecting it,” he replied, only looking at her once she was fully clothed. It took him a single heartbeat to recognize the shirt she had on, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. “That’s my shirt.”

“I left it here when I came home for my birthday and Beltane. My wardrobe hasn’t been the same.” 

Rowan’s expression changed ever so slightly as he looked her over, legs clad in black leggings with his shirt hanging on her shoulders. Aelin glanced down self consciously, noting how his t-shirt swallowed her lithe frame. 

“It looks better on you,” he finally stated, nodding his head ever so slightly. Blood rushed to Aelin’s face and stained her cheeks a rosy red. Coming from anyone else, she might think he was interested in her. If he were someone else, she would think he was looking at her with hunger in his eyes. 

But this was Rowan; they were just best friends, and it was all they ever would be.

~*~ 

Aelin’s head was just a little too full of champagne bubbles, giddy laughter pouring from her lips. She had lost count of how many flutes she filled and sipped, repeating the process until her cheeks were flushed and warm to the touch. 

Her legs were draped over Rowan’s lap, his hands resting on her knees. It was a casual contact that they’d had before, but in her current state she could feel the sensation of his hands on her body everywhere. The desire to pull his hands up her body was becoming a little too much.

 Needing to retire to bed soon, she placed the now-empty flute on the table in front of her and stretched her arms high over her head. A long groan slipped out as she finally stood up and mock saluted her family. Everyone laughed as she stumbled around the couch while announcing her departure. 

“I will see you all in the morning,” she giggled, tripping over the corner of the rug. Rowan was quick, though, jumping from the couch to steady her before she could fall to her knees. 

“I think you need some help up the stairs,” he said, laughter rumbling in his chest. All she could manage to respond with was a witch-like cackle, her hand waving to everyone over her shoulder. Rowan steadied her, his hands falling to her hips to keep her from toppling over. 

Getting to the top of the stairs was full of snickers from both parties as Aelin still managed to trip and stumble during their ascent. Her best friend was diligent in his duties of keeping her balanced even when they reached the landing that led toward her room. Even as she reached for the handle, his hands were firm on her sides— likely because she had managed to trip a handful of times in the fifteen feet from the top step to the door. 

She burst into her bedroom with a little too much enthusiasm, the door flinging back and smacking into her dresser. Several bottles of perfume and various knick-knacks shuddered from the impact. The gold jewelry tree that displayed numerous pieces she’d work throughout adolescence and her teenage years lost its footing and tumbled to the floor. Aelin could only laugh, not caring about the jumbled mess of chains she hadn’t touched in years. Instead of picking it up, she turned in Rowan’s arms and wrapped her’s securely around his neck.

“Hi,” she giggled, walking them backward toward her bed. Rowan was grinning, a singular dimple appearing in his cheek that she poked with the tip of her nail. “I like this.”

“The dimple?” Laughter was hidden in his voice as she nodded as though she were a bobble head. “Thank you.”

“Mhm.” 

Still smiling, Rowan paused at the side of her bed and began stripping the blankets back. Aelin was acutely aware of the pieces of his hair that tangled with her fingers, acutely aware of the feelings bubbling up the back of her throat like champagne. Words were threatening to spill from her lips, ones she wanted to keep on lock so as to not ruin their friendship. The desire to rock up on her tip-toes and press her lips to his was becoming too much with this close. This close, she was completely enveloped in his scent, his warmth.

 It was all becoming too much to ignore, and in a drunken stupor she did the dumb thing. Aelin rose up and kissed him firmly on the mouth. 

~*~ 

Rowan had known that this whole fake dating thing was a mistake. He had known when she brought it up, but the way her eyes had widened and pleaded with him silently after her request, he couldn’t tell her no. Telling Aelin no just wasn't something he was ever capable of doing and now it was ruining everything. 

Now, she was kissing him, and that it meant nothing to her shattered everything in him. As badly as he never wanted it to stop, he wouldn’t be able to bear the regret etched on her face in the morning. He couldn’t stand the distance that would part them, full of the roaring silence of an angry ocean. 

Instead of kissing her back, instead of carrying her to the bed and pushing so deeply inside her he wouldn’t know where his body ended and her’s began, he planted his hands on her shoulders and pushed her back. The repercussions of tomorrow were almost bearable to deal with if it meant getting the hurt that flooded her face. Her cheeks were flushed, but not because of anything he had earned. He hated that she was rapidly blinking tears back because of something he did so utterly wrong.

“I’m so sorry,” she spluttered, the back of her hand just barely touching her lips while her other went to her chest. It was the disbelief of being so drunk she kissed her best friend that he saw there, and any lingering strands of hope tethered to his heart snapped. 

“It’s okay.” Rowan swallowed thickly, nearly choking on the heavy lump in his throat. Still blinking furiously, Aelin nodded and disappeared into the bathroom. He didn’t know what to do. It was the first time he had ever felt like that with Aelin, like he was so far out of his depth he might drown. 

It took him much too long to change into pajamas and crawl into bed. The water was still running in the sink as he tugged the blankets up to his ears. He laid on his side with his back to the bathroom door and stared at the drapes fluttering from the ceiling fan. When he stared long enough, his vision turned black at the edges and he could almost pretend he was sleeping and that the last fifteen minutes hadn’t happened.

Rowan was still laying like that, trying to chase the taste of her lips from his mouth with every deep breath. The feeling of her mouth on his was branded with a white-hot iron. As long as he lived, he would never forget that short-lived kiss and how it had healed every part of him and crushed him into nothing. 

“Rowan?” Aelin whispered as she crawled into bed. He could feel her hand hovering over his shoulder, but he closed his eyes to feign sleep. It felt like an eternity before he felt her shift and heard the rustle of the blankets as she laid down to sleep. With her so close, breathing sweetly and slowly, he knew that he would be getting little sleep.

~*~

The smell of coffee was the first thing to alert Rowan that he had slept at all. It seemed to be the thing to stir Aelin, too, because by the time he opened his eyes she was scooting off the edge of the bed and gathering her hair into a bun on the top of her head. 

“After we all have our coffee, we’ll do presents,” she said, nearly at the door. Rowan nodded as he sat up though she couldn’t see him. The heels of his hands dug into his eyes so hard it almost hurt, but they were burning from the sunrise peeking through the curtains. It was a lose, lose situation. 

“I’ll be right down.”

“Rowan–”

“It’s okay, Aelin.” It wasn’t, not really. Most of the night had been him trying to think of any reality where he could pretend he didn’t know what it felt like to be kissed by her. There was no reality where he wasn’t madly in love with her. No reality where he wasn’t going to feel stupid when she opened his gift. There was no chance in hell his lips would stop burning where her’s had touched them. He was so fucking screwed.

By the time he’d readied himself for the day and got downstairs to the kitchen, only Evalin and Aedion were still making their coffee. Evalin took hers much like her daughter, with plenty of cream and sugar. Aedion was grimacing at the amount of sugar lumps their matriarch was plopping into her cup. Rowan could only imagine the verbal sparring he had missed; anytime that he gave her even an ounce of shit for the amount of sugar she consumed first thing in the morning, Aelin was adamant that it was essential to start the day off sweet. 

“If you start it out bitter, you’re going to be bitter. With a bit of sweetness, it sets the tone for the day right.”

“You can hardly call the cup of sugar you just dumped into that cup ‘a bit’, Ace.”

“It wasn’t a cup, my gods. You’re so dramatic.” 

Rowan sprinkled the smallest bit of cinnamon over the top of his coffee and set out for the living room. The entire walk he wondered where he would sit, but Aelin patted the couch cushion beside her. Right. Nobody could know they were having some sort of rift in their relationship. They were here to play the happy couple. It was the entire reason he was here. He could sit beside her without losing his mind for a little while. 

Rhoe and Evalin spent some time pulling gifts out from under the tree, depositing them to each of their new owners around the room. He was surprised he even had a few of his own. The stack beside him was nothing compared to the mountain beside Aelin, but it was still nice that her family had thought of him. Even if the reason was sitting on his tongue, more bitter than any cup of coffee he’d ever tasted.

In Aelin’s family, they all tore into their stockings and smaller gifts, saving the big ones for last. Aelin had leaned close to whisper their traditions, telling him to save her gift for last because it was the biggest. When it came to the bigger gifts, they went around the room one by one.

“We’re too nosy to miss anything, and we made a rule a long time ago that even tiny gifts that had big significance have to be in big boxes so we don’t miss any of the good action. That rule is fairly new, because a couple years ago my dad got my mom this amazing ring for their thirtieth wedding anniversary, and we all missed it because he forgot to hold it back.” There was a fond smile on her face while she imagined a Yulemas past, her cup of coffee warming her fingers as she took a small sip. It was enough to make Rowan smirk at what lengths her father had to go through to earn forgiveness for something like that. He imagined it included several boxes of her favorite chocolates for forcing her to miss her mother’s genuine joy. 

True to her directions, they eventually all settled after shouting thank you’s to each other for their less-important things. Aelin still had three big boxes left, one of them Rowan’s gift. Multiple times last night he had debated sneaking down to pull a Grinch heist. The contents of that box now seemed entirely too personal. But Aelin had been badgering him about the gift for the last two weeks and she would know it was missing. That left his eyes focusing in and out on the small box he’d put on the corner and the lights that reflected against the satin ribbon.

“Can I open it?” Her voice pulled him from his trance and he took a deep breath. Rowan had definitely missed a chapter or two of what everyone else had received and hoped his lack of reaction wasn’t too noticeable. Judging by the way Aelin nudged his arm to get his attention, it had been.

“Of course,” he nodded, leaning forward to pull it closer to her. It was a heavy thing— Rhoe had nudged it across the room with his foot instead of lifting it.

With a grin that melted the coldest of hearts, Aelin began shredding the shimmering, golden paper down the sides of the box. Soon it lay on the ground like fallen petals and she was dragging a pair of scissors through the tape that held the box closed. 

Rowan had wrapped it carefully. At the bottom there was a layer of tissue paper and silk flowers surrounding the vintage, and fully functional, typewriter. It was a soft cream color, one that would match well with the colors of the second bedroom she had turned into a library and office. It had been a small lump sum to have the keys restore and all of the missing hardware replaced. But the look on her face was worth it. 

Aelin leaned over the box, her long fingers carefully traced over the keys. When their demands to know what was in the box went ignored, her family had begun to gather around them to peer inside as well. It was about the time that her mother wistfully sighed that Rowan knew Aelin had finally noticed the three words typed into the middle of the page he had fed through the machine. 

To whatever end.

“Oh, Rowan,” she whispered, exhaling a hard breath as she looked over at him. Aelin had recently been promoted at the publishing company she worked at, and it was her biggest dream to be a published writer. Six months ago Aelin had swooned over this typewriter on one of their thrifting days, and Rowan had returned the next morning to purchase it. It had sat in the furthest corner of his closet until he took it in for repairs, and had been sitting on his kitchen table to taunt her for the last few weeks. It was the perfect gift, and his typed message hadn’t been for show. In fact, he knew how he was going to wrap the present from the first time she had laid her eyes on it. 

Only now, while they were faking a relationship for the sake of her family, it looked like he was just playing the role of a doting boyfriend. To Aelin, that was all it seemed, and all it had to be. It wasn’t the reality of him dumping his feelings into her lap and hoping for the best. 

“It’s… it’s so perfect,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. “Goodness, excuse me for a moment.”

She tried to laugh as she stood, brushing a tear from her eye, but it came out a little too hollow to his ears. When Rowan looked up to see if anyone else had noticed, Evalin was giving him a look that was a little too knowing. That very look had him excusing himself from the room to go after his best friend.

Aelin had snuck out onto the back patio, her breath drifting away in thick clouds. Her feet had been stuck into a pair of fur boots and she was clutching her sweater around her body. With her cheeks and nose pink from the winter chill, her hair messy and falling in her face, even with a few tears still shining on her cheeks, she was devastating. 

“Fireheart,” he said softly, fingers grazing her elbow. She turned to look at him, forcing a watery smile onto her face.

“I didn’t mean to–” She gestured at the house behind her, dropping her hand with a slap on the outside of her thigh. “It really is perfect, Rowan.”

“What did I do to upset you?” He couldn’t let it keep going. Whatever he’d done had to be fixed. He would grovel on his knees for hours if he could just fix it.

“Inviting you here was a mistake. You were right. I was trying to… self indulge? Of what it would be like to–” Her words cut off and she twisted her mouth. The brims of her brilliant blue eyes spilled more tears. Rowan couldn’t stop himself from wiping them with a soft brush of his thumb. 

“Finish that sentence,” he begged, words catching and fracturing in his throat. 

“To be with you.”

And then, as if he had been doing it for his whole life, he gathered her into his arms and kissed her. There would be no more pushing her away, physically or otherwise. Rowan would kiss her until the earth turned to dust and they were nothing but ashes in the wind. His skin was too-hot everywhere she touched him, fire blazing in his soul and filling him with warmth despite the adolescent temperature. 

“I love you,” he whispered against her lips, feeling the curl of them against his own as she smiled at the admission. Last night, he had gotten her reactions all wrong. It wasn’t embarrassment on her face, but dread. Dread that she had maybe ruined their friendship or outed her feelings. Gods, he was an idiot. 

“I love you,” she said back, trailing a few kisses from his lips to his ear. “Come on. You still have your present to open.”

With her arm threaded through his, she pulled him back into the house with a wide smile plastered on her face. She dropped straight into his lap instead of sitting beside him, her cheek resting against his hair. 

This Yulemas would be a hard one to beat.

[50calmadeuce]

Ch. 29: Court

Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Top Gun: Maverick world, trademarked by Paramount Pictures Corporation. I do not claim ownership of the characters and the world that I am borrowing.

The story and situation I am creating are a work of my imagination and I do not ascribe them to official story canon. This work is for entertainment only and is not a part of the storyline.

I am not profiting financially from the creation and publication of this story, but I do hope it gives you happy thoughts.

These stories are my own, so please do not take them and use them for yourself without my permission. If you see them somewhere else, please let me know. :)

A fresh layer of snow fell overnight, and the temps had fallen into the low thirties. You took a pic and sent it to Jake. 'Fresh snow and cold temps this morning. Wish you were next to me keeping me warm.'

You get dressed for work, even though you were going to court. You wore long underwear under your khaki 5.11 cargo pants, long sleeve dark green DNR shirt and black winter work boots. You buckled your black duty belt and strapped your leg holster around your right leg as you walked into your office and into the closet. There you walked to your steel gun cabinet, typed in the code to open it and too out your .45 Glock 21. You secured your Glock in your leg holster and placed your two spare magazines on your bullet proof vest. The magazine you used in your Glock was out in your truck along with your shot gun and rifle. You tried not to have loaded weapons around Christian.

You secured your gun safe, grabbed your vest, walked out of the closet and headed to the kitchen where Christian sat in his highchair eating breakfast with Montgomery.

"Thank you, Montgomery."

"It's no problem, Doctor. Miss Abigail deserves a vacation."

You look at him. "You know, you're welcome to take a vacation too."

"Doctor. You and Christian are the only family I have."

You nod understandingly as you place your vest on the back of the kitchen bar char and walk over to Christian in the highchair. "You behave for Montgomery."

"Gumree," Christian repeats as he stuffs his mouth with toast, and you kiss his forehead.

You grab your winter DNR coat and put it on along with your beanie hat. You grab your vest off of the chair. "I'm not sure when I'll be home. I'm even afraid to see my desk."

"No worries. We'll be okay."

"Okay. See you guys later. Love you, C.J." You blow Christian a kiss.

"Lub you, Mommy." Chrisitan blows you a kiss back.

You walk to the mudroom that led to the garage.

Judge Arnold Krawczak looked at his watch from his bench as you and Whitaker sat behind the attorney table to the right of the judge's bench.

"I'll give them five more..." Judge Krawczak stopped as the doors to the courtroom opened.

Celine walked behind two attorneys. Dressed as though she was a movie star from Hollywood.

"We apologize, Your Honor," the attorney dressed in the gray suit said as they got behind the other attorney's desk. "Traffic was horrendous!"

Judge Krawczak raised an eyebrow quizzically along with you and Mr. Whitaker.

"Mister...?"

"Attorney Nathan Crawley and Attorney Justin Dodge, Your Honor."

You and Whitaker looked at each other.

"Mister Crawly, let's get this started since you've already waisted 10 minutes of my morning."

"Yes, Your Honor." He opened his briefcase and took out some papers. "We're here to contest the restraining order Mrs. Y/N Astor has placed on Ms. Celine Astor-Davenport."

Whitaker stood up and cleared his throat. "Excuse me, Your Honor. My client's name is Doctor Y/N Astor. As of Wednesday, last week, it's Doctor Y/N Astor-Seresin or Doctor Y/N Seresin. She deserves that respect."

"Agreed. She will be addressed as such."

Celine's attorney glared at her, and she just shrugged.

"Again, I apologize, Your Honor." He paused. "We're here to contest the restraining order Doctor Y/N Astor-Seresin placed on my client, Celine Astor-Davenport. We're also contesting the marriage."

Judge Krawczak sighed. "Let's start with the restraining order."

"Christian Astor Junior is Mrs. Astor-Davenport's only grandchild. She has the right to see her only grandchild."

"Agreed. Mr. Whitaker?"

"We also agree, Your Honor, but supervised. Per the contract Christian Astor and Charles Astor left behind, Mrs. Astor-Davenport cannot be trusted."

"I object, Your Honor!" Crawley intejected.

"Mr. Whitaker, please explain?"

"Due to Christian Junior being the sole heir to the Astor fortune, Mrs. Astor-Davenport cannot be trusted due to financial issues. Both Christian and Charles expressed that in their Wills. Hence why we recommend supervised visitation."

"After reading the Wills, I agree."

"What!?" Celine scoffed loudly.

"Mrs. Astor-Davenport. Another outburst and you'll be held in contempt." Judge Krawczak looked at Attorney Crawley. "Next subject."

"Uhm, we're contesting her current marriage."

Judge Krawczak sighed. "Mr. Crawly. Doctor Astor-Seresin is an adult. According to her previous marriage, she knew Christian Astor only three weeks before they eloped and were married for 3 years. I trust Doctor Astor-Seresin's judgement. Let's get real, Mr. Crawley." Judge Krawczak looked at both attorneys. "If that is all, court is adjourned." He beat his gavel, stood up and walked to his chambers.

Celine glared at you. "This isn't over." She walked away with her attorneys.

Whitaker shook his head as he watched Celine walk away. "That woman." He looks at you. "Come on, Y/N. Let's get out of here."

You leave the courthouse and go out to your work truck where you open the door and get in. Your phone dings that you got a text and you look at it after you start the engine.

'Me too, Darlin,' Jake responded.